JP7701264B2 - Gaming Machines - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to gaming machines such as pachinko machines, arrange ball machines, mahjong ball gaming machines, slots, and enclosed pachinko machines (managed gaming machines) that circulate enclosed gaming balls internally, and more specifically, to gaming machines that can perform appropriate processing up to and after the forced termination without affecting the control related to other games, even when the number of game values acquired by the player reaches a certain level and the game is forcibly terminated.

As a conventional gaming machine such as a pachinko machine, for example, a gaming machine as described in Patent Document 1 is known. This gaming machine is equipped with a stop function that forcibly ends the game when the number of winning balls (game value number) acquired by the player reaches a certain number.

JP 2014-217645 A

However, the above gaming machines had a problem in that they did not provide sufficient measures for control immediately before and after the game was forcibly terminated.

In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a gaming machine that can perform appropriate processing up to and after the forced termination without affecting the control related to other games, even if the number of game values acquired by the player reaches a certain level and the game is forcibly terminated.

The above object of the present invention is achieved by the following means. Note that the parentheses indicate reference symbols of the embodiments described below, but the present invention is not limited to these.

According to the gaming machine of the present invention, there is provided an out detection means (e.g., an out switch 50a shown in FIG. 4) for detecting a gaming ball that is launched into a gaming area (e.g., the gaming area 40 shown in FIG. 2) or discharged from the gaming area to the outside of the gaming area;
winning detection means (e.g., special symbol 1 start port switch 44a, special symbol 2 start port switch 45a1, upper right general prize port switch 49a1, upper left general prize port switch 49b1, left middle general prize port switch 49c1, lower left general prize port switch 49d1, and large prize port switch 46c shown in FIG. 4) for detecting game balls that have passed through the winning ports (e.g., special symbol 1 start port 44, special symbol 2 start port 45a, upper right general prize port 49a, upper left general prize port 49b, left middle general prize port switch 49c1, lower left general prize port switch 49d1, and large prize port switch 46c shown in FIG. 2);
A counter (e.g., a difference ball counter) that counts according to the number of outs based on the detection result of the out detection means and the number of game values based on the detection result of the winning detection means;
A command transmission means (e.g., a main control CPU 600a shown in FIG. 4) for transmitting a specific command (e.g., a game stop command) when the counting counter exceeds a predetermined value;
A sub-control means (e.g., a sub-control CPU 800a shown in FIG. 4) that receives the specific command transmitted by the command transmission means;
A game stop means (for example, a main control CPU 600a shown in FIG. 4) that stops the game when the counting counter exceeds the predetermined value,
The game control state can be changed to a plurality of game control states (e.g., an operation state flag (see paragraph [0203] of the specification) according to the value of the counting counter (e.g., a difference ball counter),
Among the game management states, in a game management state in which the counting counter is equal to or less than the predetermined value and the game is not stopped (for example, an operation state flag = "0" or "1"), when power is restored, the game returns to a first game management state in which the counting counter is initialized (for example, an operation state flag = "0"), whereas when power is restored in a game management state in which the counting counter exceeds the predetermined value and the game state is a special game state, the game returns to a second game management state (for example, an operation state flag = "2") in which the game transitions to a game stopped state after the special game state ends by checking an operation flag that manages the game management state or by not initializing the counting counter;
The sub-control means (for example, the sub-control CPU 800a shown in FIG. 4) has an error notification means for notifying an error,
When the error notification means notifies an error in response to an error occurring before the specific command is received,
Among the errors, if a first error (e.g., an error with a low urgency) occurs before receiving the specific command and a first error notification is being performed, the first error notification is stopped by transitioning to the game stop state, while
Among the errors, if a second error (for example, a fraud error in which a fraudulent act by a player is detected by the fraud detection board 55 shown in FIG. 4) occurs before the specific command is received and a second error notification is being made, the second error notification is continued even if the game is stopped.
This device is characterized in that even if the second error has not occurred before the game stop state and the second error newly occurs after the game stop state, the second error notification is performed (see paragraphs [0278] to [0280] of the specification).

According to the present invention, even if the amount of game value acquired by a player exceeds a certain amount and the game is forcibly ended, appropriate processing can be performed for control up to the forced end and control after the forced end without affecting control related to other games.

1 is an oblique view showing the appearance of an amusement machine according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a front view of the game board according to the embodiment. 1A and 1B are side cross-sectional views of the special pattern 2 starting device according to the embodiment, in which FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control device of the gaming machine according to the embodiment. FIG. (a) to (e) are example screens to explain what happens when the difference in balls exceeds 90,000 during a fluctuation and a suppression device activation warning command is sent to the sub-control board. (a) to (c) are example screens to explain what happens when the difference in balls exceeds 95,000 during fluctuation and a game stop command is sent to the sub-control board. (a) to (e) are example screens to explain what happens when the difference in balls exceeds 95,000 during a jackpot and a suppression device activation warning command is sent to the sub-control board. (a) to (e) are example screens to explain that when the difference in balls exceeds 95,000 during a jackpot and a suppression device activation warning command is sent to the sub-control board, the game will be stopped after the jackpot despite the effects that create a sense of anticipation in the player. (a) to (e) are example screens for explaining how the promotion effect is restricted or stopped depending on the state. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a main process of a main control according to the embodiment. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the continuation of the main process of the main control shown in FIG. 10 . FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the setting switching process shown in FIG. 10 . FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a power supply abnormality check process. A flowchart illustrating the setting for starting play outside the area shown in Figure 11. FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating the game stop processing shown in FIG. 14. A flowchart explaining the winning ball number management process 1 shown in Figure 11. FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating the initial setting of the measurement RAM area shown in FIG. 16. FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating the counting process shown in FIG. 16 . FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating the counting process shown in FIG. 16 . FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating the suppression device counting process shown in FIG. 16 . FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a timer interrupt process of main control according to the embodiment. FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating the suppression device operation management process shown in FIG. 21 . A flowchart explaining the normal pattern processing shown in Figure 21. FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating the special pattern processing shown in FIG. 21. 25 is a flowchart illustrating the start port check process 1 (2) shown in FIG. 24. A flowchart explaining the special pattern change start processing shown in Figure 24. A flowchart explaining the processing during the special pattern change shown in Figure 24. FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating the processing during the special pattern confirmation time shown in FIG. 24. FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating the out-of-use area process shown in FIG. 21 . FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing main processing of sub-control according to the embodiment. FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing the data analysis process shown in FIG. 30 . FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a command reception process of sub-control according to the embodiment. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a timer interrupt process of the sub-control according to the embodiment. 13A is a flowchart illustrating an initial command list for moving images, FIG. 13B is a flowchart illustrating a regular command list for moving images, and FIG. 13C is a flowchart illustrating a command list for still images.

Below, one embodiment of the gaming machine according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings, using a pachinko gaming machine as an example. Note that in the following description, when directions such as up, down, left and right are indicated, they refer to up, down, left and right when viewed from the front of the illustration.

<Explanation of the external appearance of the pachinko machine>
First, the external configuration of the pachinko gaming machine according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

<Explanation of the external appearance of the front of the pachinko machine>

As shown in Figure 1, the pachinko machine 1 is configured with a rectangular front frame 3 attached to the front of a wooden outer frame 2 so that it can be opened and closed, and a game board 4 mounted inside a game board storage frame (not shown) attached to the underside of the front frame 3. The game board 4 is mounted with the game area 40 shown in Figure 2 facing the front, and a glass door frame 5 supporting transparent glass is provided in front of this game area 40 as shown in Figure 1. The game area 40 is an area surrounded by a ball guide rail 6 (see Figure 2) arranged on the surface of the game board 4.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko game machine 1 has a front operation panel 7 disposed below the glass door frame 5, an upper tray unit 8 disposed on the front operation panel 7, and an upper tray 9 for storing ejected game balls formed integrally with the upper tray unit 8. The front operation panel 7 also has a ball loan button 11 and a prepaid card ejection button 12 (card return button 12). The upper tray surface of the upper tray 9 is provided with a push-button type performance button device 13 that can be pressed by the player to change the performance effect when a built-in lamp (not shown) is lit. The upper tray 9 also has a ball ejection button 14 for ejecting the game balls stored in the upper tray 9 downward, and a setting button 15 consisting of an approximately cross key. The setting buttons 15 can be operated by the player and are made up of a circular decision key 15a located in the center, a triangular up key 15b located above the decision key 15a in the figure, a triangular left key 15c located to the left of the decision key 15a in the figure, a triangular right key 15d located to the right of the decision key 15a in the figure, and a triangular down key 15e located below the decision key 15a in the figure.

As shown in FIG. 1, a launch handle 16 for operating the launch unit is provided on the right end of the front operation panel 7, and speakers 17 for emitting background music and sound effects are provided on both sides of the upper part of the front frame 3 and near the launch handle 16. In addition, decorative lamps such as full-color LED lamps that create a dramatic effect through light decoration are arranged around the perimeter of the front frame 3.

<Explanation of the appearance of the game board>
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, a liquid crystal display device 41 consisting of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like is arranged in the approximate center of the game area 40 of the game board 4. The liquid crystal display device 41 divides the display area into three areas, left, center, and right, and can independently display numbers, characters, letters (character conversations, lyrics telops, etc.) or patterns (special patterns and normal patterns). Around the liquid crystal display device 41, a top decoration 42a, a left decoration 42b, and a right decoration 42c for decoration are provided, and a movable role device 43 is arranged on the back side of the top decoration 42a, the left decoration 42b, and the right decoration 42c. In addition, decorative lamps such as full-color LED lamps that produce a performance effect by light decoration are arranged on the top decoration 42a, the left decoration 42b, and the right decoration 42c.

As shown in FIG. 2, the movable part device 43 is composed of an upper movable part 43a, a left movable part 43b, a right movable part 43c, and an upper left movable part 43d, which perform predetermined performance operations as the game progresses, and a motor (not shown) such as a two-phase stepping motor that drives each of the upper, left, right, and upper left movable parts 43a to 43d. In addition, decorative lamps such as full-color LED lamps that create performance effects through light decoration are arranged on these upper, left, right, and upper left movable parts 43a to 43d.

On the other hand, the special symbol 1 start hole 44 is arranged directly below the liquid crystal display device 41, and inside it is provided a special symbol 1 start hole switch 44a (see FIG. 4) that detects winning balls. The number of valid winning balls detected by this special symbol 1 start hole switch 44a (see FIG. 4), that is, the number of first start reserved balls, is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 41 as a predetermined number (for example, 4). Note that, when a game ball enters the special symbol 1 start hole 44 and is detected by the special symbol 1 start hole switch 44a (see FIG. 4), this number of first reserved balls is added by 1 (+1), and when the variable display of special symbols such as numbers, characters, or symbols (decorative symbols) begins, it is subtracted by 1 (-1). Note that decorative lamps such as full-color LED lamps that create a dramatic effect by light decoration are arranged around the special symbol 1 start hole 44.

On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 2, a special symbol 2 start device 45 is disposed on the lower right side of the liquid crystal display device 41. As shown in Fig. 3, this special symbol 2 start device 45 is composed of a special symbol 2 start port 45a, an opening/closing section 45b that can change the special symbol 2 start port 45a between an "open state" in which the game ball YK can enter and a "closed state" in which the game ball YK cannot enter, an entry guide section 45c that can change between a "guiding state" that guides the game ball YK toward the special symbol 2 start port 45a and a "non-guiding state" that does not guide the game ball YK, and a special symbol 2 start port switch 45a1 (see Fig. 4) that detects the game ball YK that has entered the special symbol 2 start port 45a.

The special symbol 2 start hole 45a opens almost horizontally toward the right side in the front left-right direction shown in FIG. 2, and a special symbol 2 start hole switch 45a1 (see FIG. 4) that detects winning balls is provided inside the special symbol 2 start hole 45a. The number of valid winning balls detected by the special symbol 2 start hole switch 45a1 (see FIG. 4), that is, the number of second start reserved balls, is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 41 as a predetermined number (for example, 4). Note that when a game ball enters the special symbol 2 start hole 45a and is detected by the special symbol 2 start hole switch 45a1 (see FIG. 4), the number of second start reserved balls is increased by 1 (+1), and when the variable display of special symbols such as numbers, characters, or patterns (decorative patterns) begins, the number of second start reserved balls is decreased by 1 (-1).

The opening/closing section 45b is equipped with an opening/closing member 45b1 that can move left and right relative to the special symbol 2 starting hole 45a, and a normal electric role solenoid 45b2 (see FIG. 4) that drives and controls the opening/closing member 45b1. When the opening/closing section 45b is in the closed state, as shown in FIG. 3(b), the opening/closing member 45b1 protrudes into the special symbol 2 starting hole 45a (moves to the left in the figure) to prevent the game ball YK from entering the special symbol 2 starting hole 45a, and when in the open state, as shown in FIG. 3(a), it retreats to the right in the figure to allow the game ball YK to enter the special symbol 2 starting hole 45a.

The ball entry guide section 45c is equipped with a guide member 45c1 that slopes downward from the right side to the left side as shown in FIG. 2 (sloping downward toward the special symbol 2 starting hole 45a). This guide member 45c1 is driven and controlled by the normal electric role solenoid 45b2 (see FIG. 4).

As shown in FIG. 3(a), when the ball entry guide section 45c is in the guide state, the guide member 45c1 slides and protrudes to the front side of the play area 40 (the glass door frame 5 side shown in FIG. 1) and guides the game ball YK placed on the upper side to the special symbol 2 start hole 45a, and when in the non-guide state, the guide member 45c1 slides backward (to the rear side of the play area 40) and retreats, as shown in FIG. 3(b). As a result, even if the game ball YK is placed on the guide member 45c1 when it is in the guide state, if the guide member 45c1 changes to the non-guide state before the game ball YK enters the special symbol 2 start hole 45a and the guide member 45c1 slides backward, the game ball YK will flow downstream without entering the special symbol 2 start hole 45a. The guide member 45c1 and the opening and closing member 45b1 are designed to operate in conjunction with each other. That is, when the guide member 45c1 is in the guiding state, the opening/closing member 45b1 retreats to the right side as shown in FIG. 3(a) to allow the game ball YK to enter the special pattern 2 starting hole 45a, and when the guide member 45c1 is in the non-guiding state, the opening/closing member 45b1 protrudes to the left side as shown in FIG. 3(b) to prevent the game ball YK from entering the special pattern 2 starting hole 45a.

In the following, the special symbol 2 starter 45 described above may be referred to as a normal electric device. In addition, the special symbol 2 starter 45 is equipped with decorative lamps such as full-color LED lamps that create a dramatic effect through light decoration.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, a winning device 46 is arranged on the right side of the special symbol 1 starting hole 44. When the winning device 46 wins the lottery for the special symbol described below, that is, during a winning game state, the opening and closing door 46a is driven and controlled by a special electric device solenoid 46b (see FIG. 4) so that the large winning hole (not shown) closed by the opening and closing door 46a opens, allowing the game ball to enter the large winning hole (not shown). The game ball that enters the large winning hole (not shown) is detected as a winning ball by a large winning hole switch 46c (see FIG. 4) provided inside the large winning hole (not shown).

On the other hand, when the special symbol is not selected, i.e., when the game is not in a winning state, the special electric device solenoid 46b (see FIG. 4) drives and controls the opening and closing door 46a, and the large prize opening (not shown) is closed. This prevents the game ball from entering the large prize opening (not shown). In the following, the device combining the opening and closing door 46a and the special electric device solenoid 46b may be referred to as the special electric device. In addition, the winning device 46 is equipped with decorative lamps such as full-color LED lamps that create a dramatic effect through light decoration.

The prize-winning device 46 is provided with a distribution device 47, which is a conventionally known structure. As shown in FIG. 2, the distribution device 47 has a V-area 47a and an outlet 47b. When a game ball enters the large prize opening (not shown), the game ball is distributed to either the V-area 47a or the outlet 47b. The distribution device 47 does not distribute a game ball that has entered the large prize opening (not shown) to the V-area 47a, but to the outlet 47b, unless a specified game state is reached.

On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 2, a normal symbol start port 48 consisting of a gate is arranged in the upper right part of the liquid crystal display device 41, and a normal symbol start port switch 48a (see Fig. 4) that detects the passage of the game ball is provided inside the normal symbol start port. In addition, a general prize port 49 is arranged on the right side of the winning device 46 and on the left side of the special symbol 1 start port 44. This general prize port 49 is composed of an upper right general prize port 49a arranged on the right side of the winning device 46, an upper left general prize port 49b arranged on the left side of the special symbol 1 start port 44, a middle left general prize port 49c, and a lower left general prize port 49d. Inside the upper right general winning opening 49a is an upper right general winning opening switch 49a1 (see FIG. 4) that detects the passage of the game ball, inside the upper left general winning opening 49b is an upper left general winning opening switch 49b1 (see FIG. 4) that detects the passage of the game ball, inside the middle left general winning opening 49c is a middle left general winning opening switch 49c1 (see FIG. 4) that detects the passage of the game ball, and inside the lower left general winning opening 49d is a lower left general winning opening switch 49d1 (see FIG. 4) that detects the passage of the game ball. In addition, the general winning openings 49 are equipped with decorative lamps such as full-color LED lamps that create a dramatic effect with light decoration.

On the other hand, just below the special pattern 1 starting hole 44, there is an outlet 50 into which game balls (out balls) that flow down to the lowest part of the game area 40 without winning are placed. The game balls that enter this outlet 50 are detected as non-winning balls by the outlet switch 50a (see FIG. 4) provided inside, and the winning balls described above also flow down to the lowest part of the game area 4 through the back side of the game board 4, so they are detected by the outlet switch 50a (see FIG. 4). Therefore, the outlet switch 50a (see FIG. 4) detects the total number of outs discharged, that is, the same number of game balls as the game balls launched into the game area 40 by the launch handle 16. In addition, when counting the game balls launched into the game area 40 by the launch handle 16, a switch may be provided at the point where the ball guide rail 6 enters the game area 40 to count them.

On the other hand, three seven-segment displays are arranged in the lower right periphery of the play area 40 of the game board 4, two of which are special symbol display devices 51, and the remaining seven-segment display device 53a displays special symbol 1, special symbol 2, the number of balls reserved for the start of normal symbols, and the game status (for example, favorable game status, etc.). As shown in FIG. 2, this special symbol display device 51 is composed of a special symbol 1 display device 51a and a special symbol 2 display device 51b, and to the left of the special symbol 1 display device 51a is a normal symbol display device 52 consisting of one LED, and furthermore, a round lamp 53b that notifies the number of rounds of the jackpot game, and a right hit notification lamp 53c that notifies the right hit are provided.

In addition, an identification lamp device 51A that displays identification information corresponding to special pattern 1 and special pattern 2 is provided on the upper end side of the left ornament 43b.

This identification lamp device 51A has first and second identification lamps 51Aa and 51Ab for informing the player that special symbol 1 or special symbol 2 is changing, or that special symbol 1 or special symbol 2 has won or lost. This first identification lamp 51Aa corresponds to special symbol 1, and the second identification lamp 51Ab corresponds to special symbol 2. When special symbol 1 is changing, the first identification lamp 51Aa flashes, when special symbol 1 is a win, the first identification lamp 51Aa is lit, and when special symbol 1 is a loss, the first identification lamp 51Aa is turned off. Furthermore, when special symbol 2 is changing, the second identification lamp 51Ab flashes, when special symbol 2 is a win, the second identification lamp 51Ab is lit, and when special symbol 2 is a loss, the second identification lamp 51Ab is turned off.

In addition, although not shown, multiple game pegs are arranged in the play area 40 of the game board 4, and a windmill 54 is arranged as a member for changing the falling direction of the game ball.

<Description of the control device>
Next, the control device that performs electronic control according to the progress of the game and is provided in the pachinko game machine 1 having the above-mentioned external configuration will be explained using Fig. 4. As shown in Fig. 4, this control device is mainly composed of a main control board 60 that controls the overall game operation, a payout/launch control board 70 that pays out game balls based on control commands from the main control board 60, and a sub-control board 80 that controls images, lights, and sounds.

<Description of the main control board>
The main control board 60 is mainly equipped with a one-chip microcomputer 600 consisting of a main control CPU 600a, a main control ROM 600b which stores a game program describing a series of game control procedures, and a main control RAM 600c which functions as a working area, buffer memory, etc., a measurement/setting display device 610 consisting of 7 segments which displays (performance display) information related to the ratio of the number of winning balls when the probability of winning is low (when the probability of winning is in a normal low probability state), and also displays the setting contents of the probability of generating a game state advantageous to the player, a RAM clear switch 620, and a setting key switch 630.

The main control board 60 configured in this manner is connected to a payout/launch control board 70 which controls the payout motor M to pay out game balls. In addition, there are connected a special pattern 1 start port switch 44a which detects winning at the special pattern 1 start port 44, a special pattern 2 start port switch 45a1 which detects winning at the special pattern 2 start port 45a, a normal pattern start port switch 48a which detects passage through the normal pattern start port 48, an upper right general prize port switch 49a1, an upper left general prize port switch 49b1, a middle left general prize port switch 49c1, and a lower left general prize port switch 49d1 which detect winning at the general prize ports 49 (upper right general prize port 49a, upper left general prize port 49b, middle left general prize port 49c, and lower left general prize port 49d), a large prize port switch 46c which detects winning at a large prize port (not shown) which is opened or closed by the opening and closing door 46a, and an outlet switch 50a which can detect the same number of game balls as the game balls launched into the game area 40 by the launch handle 16. In addition, a normal electric role solenoid 45b2 that drives and controls the opening and closing member 45b1 and the guide member 45c1, a special electric role solenoid 46b that controls the operation of the opening and closing door 46a, a distribution device 47, a special symbol 1 display device 51a, a special symbol 2 display device 51b, a normal symbol display device 52, a 7-segment display device 53a, a round lamp 53b, and a right-hit notification lamp 53c are also connected. In addition, a fraud detection board 55 that detects fraudulent behavior by the player is connected.

When the main control board 60 configured in this way receives a signal from the special symbol 1 start port switch 44a, the special symbol 2 start port switch 45a1, or the normal symbol start port switch 47a at the main control CPU 600a, it conducts a lottery and determines the special symbol variation pattern and the display content of the stop symbol or normal symbol according to the winning/losing information that is the lottery result, and transmits the determined information to the special symbol 1 display device 51a, the special symbol 2 display device 51b, or the normal symbol display device 52. As a result, the lottery result is displayed on the special symbol 1 display device 51a, the special symbol 2 display device 51b, or the normal symbol display device 52. Furthermore, the main control board 60, i.e., the main control CPU 600a, generates a performance control command DI_CMD including the determined information and transmits it to the sub-control board 80. In addition, when the main control board 60, i.e., the main control CPU 600a, receives signals from the special symbol 1 start port switch 44a, the special symbol 2 start port switch 45a, the upper right general prize port switch 49a1, the upper left general prize port switch 49b1, the middle left general prize port switch 49c1, the lower left general prize port switch 49d1, and the large prize port switch 46c, it determines how many game balls to pay out to the player, and sends a payout control command PAY_CMD containing this determined information to the payout/launch control board 70, which then pays out the game balls to the player.

In addition, if the result of the lottery is that a normal symbol is selected, the normal electric role solenoid 45b2 is controlled to keep the opening/closing member 45b1 in the open state and the guide member 45c1 in the guide state for a specified time, and if the result is that a special symbol is selected, the special electric role solenoid 46b is controlled to open the big prize opening (not shown).

In a type 1/type 2 mixed gaming machine, when a small win game state is reached, the opening and closing door 46a is controlled to repeatedly open and close the large prize opening (not shown), and when a game ball enters the large prize opening (not shown), the distribution device 47 is controlled so that the game ball is distributed to the V area 47a.

On the other hand, the main control board 60, i.e., the main control CPU 600a, measures the number of winning balls each time it receives a signal from the special symbol 1 start port switch 44a, the special symbol 2 start port switch 45a1, the upper right general winning port switch 49a1, the upper left general winning port switch 49b1, the middle left general winning port switch 49c1, the lower left general winning port switch 49d1, and the large winning port switch 46c, and measures the total number of game balls discharged each time it receives a signal from the outlet switch 50a. Then, the main control board 60, i.e., the main control CPU 600a, outputs to the measurement/setting display device 610 the content (performance display) regarding the ratio of how many winning balls were generated during low probability, etc., based on the measured number of winning balls and the total number of game balls discharged. As a result, the content (performance display) regarding the ratio of how many winning balls were generated during low probability, etc., is displayed on the measurement/setting display device 610.

Furthermore, the measurement and setting display device 610 can display the setting contents of the probability of generating a game state advantageous to the player in six steps, for example, from "1" to "6". When changing such setting contents, a dedicated key is inserted into the setting key switch 630 and turned ON, and the setting contents of the probability of generating a game state advantageous to the player can be changed in six steps, for example, from "1" to "6" by the RAM clear switch 620 (for example, the setting "6" has the highest probability of generating a game state advantageous to the player, and the setting "1" has the lowest probability of generating a game state advantageous to the player). The setting change contents are then displayed on the measurement and setting display device 610, and when the setting change contents are confirmed, the dot on the lower right side of the 7-segment lights up to indicate that the setting contents have been confirmed.

On the other hand, when the RAM clear switch 620 is pressed except when a dedicated key is inserted into the setting key switch 630 and turned ON, the entire memory area of the main control RAM 600c is not cleared, but only a portion of the memory area is cleared.

On the other hand, when the main control board 60, i.e., the main control CPU 600a, receives a fraud detection signal that detects a player's fraudulent behavior using a magnetic sensor, radio wave sensor, or vibration sensor mounted on the fraud detection board 55, it generates a fraud error command (presentation control command DI_CMD) and sends it to the sub-control board 80.

<Explanation about the payout/launch control board>
The payout/launch control board 70 receives a payout control command PAY_CMD from the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) and generates a payout motor signal based on the received payout control command PAY_CMD. The payout motor signal thus generated controls the payout motor M to pay out game balls to the player. Furthermore, the payout/launch control board 70 performs processing to start or stop the operation of firing game balls in response to the player's operation based on a prize ball count signal indicating the payout operation of game balls and a status signal related to an abnormality in the payout operation.

Meanwhile, a touch sensor is provided on the periphery of the launch handle 16 shown in FIG. 1, and when the player's hand touches the touch sensor of the launch handle 16, the touch sensor outputs a detection signal to the payout/launch control board 70, as shown in FIG. 4. In response to this, the payout/launch control board 70 transmits the detection signal to the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a). The main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) then transmits the detection signal to the sub-control board 80 as a presentation control command DI_CMD. This makes it possible to transmit information as to whether or not the player has touched the handle 16 to play to the sub-control board 80.

The payout/launch control board 70 also processes balls to be loaned to the player. That is, when the ball loan button 11 shown in Figures 1 and 4 is pressed, a ball loan signal is sent to the CR unit (not shown) located adjacent to the pachinko game machine 1. In response to this, the CR unit sends a ball loan request signal to the payout/launch control board 70. Then, in response to this signal, the payout/launch control board 70 pays out game balls to the player, and when the payout is complete, it sends a ball loan completion signal to the CR unit. Thus, in this way, the payout/launch control board 70 processes balls to be loaned to the player.

<Explanation about the sub-control board>
The sub-control board 80 is equipped with a sub-one-chip microcomputer 800 which is made up of a sub-control CPU 800a which receives performance control commands DI_CMD from the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) and controls the execution and image displayed on the liquid crystal display device 41, a sub-control ROM 800b which stores control programs describing performance control procedures, and a sub-control RAM 800c which functions as a working area, buffer memory, etc.

Furthermore, the sub-control board 80 is equipped with a sound LSI 801 that generates desired background music and sound effects, a sound RAM 802 that functions as a working area or buffer memory, a VDP 803 that generates image data to be displayed on the liquid crystal display device 41 based on instructions from the sub one-chip microcomputer 800, a DDR2 SDRAM 804 that is composed of a working area for expanding compressed video data and a frame buffer area for temporarily storing image data to be displayed on the liquid crystal display device 41, and a game ROM 805 that stores in advance CG data of compressed still image data and compressed video data, and sound data such as background music and sound effects. Note that a still image is a so-called sprite image, which represents a single image such as text data such as characters, a background image, or a special pattern. Also, a moving image means a collection of multiple still images (multiple frames) that change continuously, and smooth operation is reproduced by drawing multiple still images continuously on the liquid crystal display device 41.

The sub-control board 80 thus configured is connected to a decorative lamp board 90 equipped with decorative lamps such as full-color LED lamps that produce lamp effects, and is further connected to a push-button type effect button device 13 that the player can press to change the effect when the built-in lamp (not shown) is lit, and a speaker 17 that emits background music and sound effects. The sub-control board 80 is further connected to a movable role device 43 that performs a predetermined effect operation as the game progresses, an identification lamp device 51A that notifies the player when the special symbol 1 or special symbol 2 is changing, or when the special symbol 1 or special symbol 2 has won or lost, a setting button 15 that allows various settings, and a liquid crystal display device 41.

The sub-control board 80 thus configured receives a presentation control command DI_CMD sent from the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) at the sub-control CPU 800a, which includes basic information required for the special symbol variation pattern based on the lottery result, the current game state, the number of balls on hold for starting, the decorative symbols to be stopped based on the lottery result, etc. Then, the sub-control CPU 800a determines by lottery the presentation pattern corresponding to the received presentation control command DI_CMD from among a large number of presentation patterns previously stored in the sub-control ROM 800b, and temporarily stores a control signal instructing the execution of the determined presentation pattern in the sub-control RAM 800c.

The sub-control CPU 800a transmits to the sound LSI 801 a control signal related to sound, among the control signals that instruct the execution of the presentation pattern stored in the sub-control RAM 800c. In response to this, the sound LSI 801 reads out sound data corresponding to the control signal from the game ROM 805 or sound RAM 802, and outputs it to the speaker 17. This causes the speaker 17 to produce background music and sound effects corresponding to the presentation pattern determined above.

The sub-control CPU 800a also transmits to the decorative lamp board 90 a light-related control signal among the control signals that instruct the execution of the performance pattern stored in the sub-control RAM 800c. This causes the decorative lamp board 90 to control the turning on and off of decorative lamps such as full-color LED lamps that produce the lamp performance effect, thereby executing a lamp performance corresponding to the performance pattern determined above.

Then, the sub-control CPU 800a transmits to the VDP 803 a command list relating to images among the control signals for instructing the execution of the performance pattern stored in the sub-control RAM 800c. As a result, the VDP 803 generates image data to display an image based on the command list, and transmits the generated image data to the liquid crystal display device 41, so that an image corresponding to the determined performance pattern is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 41. Note that the image data displayed on the liquid crystal display device 41 is updated every frame, but the VSYNC (vertical synchronization signal) shown in FIG. 4 is transmitted from the VDP 803 to the sub-control CPU 800a as an interrupt signal so that the sub one-chip microcomputer 800 (sub-control CPU 800a) can know that the display operation of this one frame has ended. This allows the sub-control CPU 800a to know that one frame's worth of image data has been displayed on the liquid crystal display device 41. Note that this VSYNC interrupt signal is generated, for example, every 33 ms.

Furthermore, the sub-control CPU 800a transmits to the movable role device 43 a control signal related to a movable role among the control signals that instruct the execution of the performance pattern stored in the sub-control RAM 800c. As a result, the movable role device 43 moves in accordance with the determined performance pattern.

<Power supply board explanation>
Incidentally, power is supplied to each of the boards described above from a power supply board 130 shown in Fig. 4. This power supply board 130 is configured to include a voltage generation unit 1300, a voltage monitoring unit 1310, and a system reset generation unit 1320. This voltage generation unit 1300 receives an AC voltage of 24V, which is an external power source supplied from a transformer (not shown) installed in the game arcade, and generates multiple types of DC voltages, and the generated DC voltages are supplied to each board (not shown).

The voltage monitoring unit 1310 monitors the AC 24V voltage, and outputs a voltage abnormality signal ALARM to the main control board 60 if a voltage abnormality is detected due to a cutoff of this voltage or the occurrence of a power outage. The voltage abnormality signal ALARM outputs an "L" level signal when a voltage abnormality occurs, and outputs an "H" level signal when the voltage is normal.

On the other hand, the system reset generation unit 1320 generates a system reset signal RST when the power is turned on, and the generated system reset signal RST is output to each board.

<Explanation of the suppression device (saving function)>
Incidentally, the above-mentioned pachinko game machine 1 is equipped with a suppression device (saving function) that stops the game when the player has acquired a certain number of prize balls. This suppression device (saving function) will be explained below.

<Outline of the suppression device (saving function)>
The suppression device (saving function) stops the game when the difference ball exceeds 95,000. The difference ball is "the number of game balls paid out to the player" minus "the number of game balls fired by the player into the game area 40 using the firing handle 16" = "the number of prize balls actually won by the player". The main control CPU 600a counts the difference balls using a difference ball counter, which is set (cleared) to 100,000 when the power is turned on, and subtracts 1 (-1) every time the player fires a game ball into the game area 40 using the firing handle 16, and adds (+) the number of prize balls every time a game ball enters the special symbol 1 start hole 44, the special symbol 2 start hole 45a, the upper right general winning hole 49a, the upper left general winning hole 49b, the middle left general winning hole 49c, the lower left general winning hole 49d, and the large winning hole (not shown) shown in FIG. 2. Therefore, each time a game ball is shot, one is subtracted (-1) from the difference ball counter, and the game starts with 100,000 shots. If the suppression device (saving function) is not activated and the business of the parlor (game parlor) closes for the day, the employee of the parlor (game parlor) turns the power of the pachinko game machine 1 on and off the next day, and the difference ball counter is set (cleared) to 100,000 shots.

Thus, when the result of counting using this difference ball counter is that the difference balls exceed 95,000 (when the difference ball counter > 195,000), the game is stopped. This game stop state can be released by pressing the RAM clear switch 620 (see FIG. 4) and clearing the main control RAM 600c. Note that if the pachinko game machine 1 is powered back on without pressing the RAM clear switch 620 and clearing the main control RAM 600c, the game will remain in the stopped state.

The process for stopping the game when the difference in balls exceeds 95,000 shots is different depending on whether the game is in normal play or jackpot play. In other words, during normal play (a state in which patterns can change without a jackpot, including probability change and pattern change during time-saving play), the game is stopped immediately when the difference in balls exceeds 95,000 shots.

On the other hand, if a jackpot game is in progress, the game will be stopped when the jackpot game ends.

<Explanation of the control of the suppression device (saving function)>
Next, the control of the suppression device (saving function) will be described.

The control of this suppression device (saving function) has stages according to the state of the ball difference before the suppression device (saving function) is activated, and when each state is reached, the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) sends a performance control command DI_CMD to the sub-control board 80 to notify the sub-control board 80 of the state. Specifically, the following four basic states are notified.

(1) When the restraining device (saving function) is not activated: This state indicates that there is still some time until the game stops, and the player cannot know how much time is left until the game stops.

(2) In the case of the suppression device (saving function) operation notice state In this state, the difference ball exceeds 90,000 shots and there are less than 5,000 shots remaining until the game is stopped. At this time, the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) will send a suppression device operation notice command (presentation control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80.

The above states (1) and (2) alternate back and forth. Therefore, each time the state transitions from (1) to (2), the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) sends a suppression device activation notice command (performance control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80.

On the other hand, when the difference in balls decreases and the state transitions from state (2) above to state (1) above, the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) will send a suppression device inactive state command (presentation control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80.

The main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) will send a suppression device activation notice command (presentation control command DI_CMD) or a suppression device inactive state command (presentation control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80 according to the state, even if the difference ball changes by even one ball and the state goes back and forth between the above states (1) and (2). Therefore, even if the sub-control board 80 (sub-control CPU 800a) receives a suppression device inactive state command (presentation control command DI_CMD) or a suppression device activation notice command (presentation control command DI_CMD) within a predetermined period after receiving the suppression device activation notice command (presentation control command DI_CMD), it will not issue a notice according to the command (or erase the notice).

(3) In the case of the suppression device (saving function) operation warning state This state is a state where the difference in balls exceeds 95,000 shots and is before the game is stopped. If the player is in a state where he can gain profits, such as during a jackpot, the game is not stopped immediately, but is stopped after the state where the player can gain profits, such as during a jackpot, ends. Therefore, when the state transitions to this state, the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) will send a suppression device operation warning command (presentation control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80.

Note that the transition from (2) to (3) above is one-way; there is no transition from state (3) to state (2) or (1) above.

(4) In the case of the suppression device (saving function) operating state This state is a state in which the difference in balls exceeds 95,000 and the game is stopped. The state indicates a state in which the game is stopped due to the difference in balls exceeding 95,000 due to the prize balls generated when the game balls shot during fluctuation or fluctuation stop other than during a jackpot enter the winning holes (special pattern 1 starting hole 44, special pattern 2 starting hole 45a, upper right general winning hole 49a, upper left general winning hole 49b, middle left general winning hole 49c, lower left general winning hole 49d, and large winning hole (not shown) shown in FIG. 2), or a state in which the player can gain profits such as during a jackpot ends and the game is stopped after transition from the above state (3). Therefore, when transitioning to this state, the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) will send a game stop command (presentation control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80.

If the difference in balls exceeds 95,000 during the fluctuation, the state will transition from (2) above to (4) without passing through (3) above.

<Explanation of the process leading up to the operation of the suppression device (saving function)>
Next, an image of how the suppression device (saving function) operates will be explained. Figure 5 shows a case where the difference in balls exceeds 90,000 during a fluctuation and a suppression device operation notice command (performance control command DI_CMD) is sent to the sub-control board 80.

First, as shown in FIG. 5(a), the liquid crystal display device 41 displays a stopped decorative pattern (see image P1, "767" in the figure), and then a stopped resident pattern (see image P2, "767" in the figure).

Next, the liquid crystal display device 41 shown in FIG. 5(b) displays a decorative pattern that changes at high speed (see image P1), and further displays a resident pattern that changes at high speed (see image P2). At this time, if the player wins a prize ball and the difference in balls exceeds 90,000, the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) will send a suppression device activation notice command (presentation control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80. In response to this, the sub-control CPU 800a will send to the VDP 803 a command list related to an image (video) that will cause the liquid crystal display device 41 to display the suppression device activation notice. As a result, the VDP 803 will generate image (video) data to display an image based on the command list, and by sending the generated image (video) data to the liquid crystal display device 41, the liquid crystal display device 41 will display (see image P3) that there are approximately 5,000 balls remaining until the saving function is activated, as shown in FIG. 5(c).

Next, when the change of the decorative pattern stops and the change of the resident pattern stops, as shown in FIG. 5(d), the liquid crystal display device 41 displays the stop pattern of the decorative pattern (see image P1, "567" in the figure) and the stop pattern of the resident pattern (see image P2, "567" in the figure). At this time, even if the change of the decorative pattern stops and the change of the resident pattern stops, if the liquid crystal display device 41 is in the above (2) suppression device (saving function) operation notice state, the display (see image P3) that there are about 5000 shots remaining until the saving function is activated will continue. At this time, the display (see image P3) that there are about 5000 shots remaining until the saving function is activated is displayed on the back side of the decorative pattern, or is displayed so that the decorative pattern and the text of image P3 do not overlap. At this time, a voice guide may be provided in parallel, and may be notified at the same time as the sound effects of the change effect and the notice effect.

Next, when the decorative pattern starts to change and then the resident pattern starts to change, as shown in Fig. 5(e), the liquid crystal display device 41 displays the decorative pattern changing at high speed (see image P1) and the resident pattern changing at high speed (see image P2). At this time, if the liquid crystal display device 41 is in the (2) suppression device (saving function) activation warning state, it will continue to display that there are approximately 5,000 shots remaining until the saving function is activated (see image P3). As described above, in order to deal with the case where the above states (1) and (2) go back and forth, even if the sub-control board 80 (sub-control CPU 800a) receives a suppression device non-operation state command (performance control command DI_CMD) or a suppression device operation notice command (performance control command DI_CMD) within a predetermined period after receiving the suppression device operation notice command (performance control command DI_CMD), the display (see image P3) indicating that there are approximately 5,000 shots remaining until the saving function is activated is erased or not displayed. Instead of erasing or not displaying the display (see image P3) indicating that there are approximately 5,000 shots remaining until the saving function is activated, the size of the display indicating that there are approximately 5,000 shots remaining until the saving function is activated may be reduced or the display position may be changed. Specifically, since a player who is playing can be sufficiently informed that the saving function may be activated by being notified for a specified period of time, after the specified period has elapsed, the display may be made smaller so as not to interfere with the game, or the display position may be moved to a corner of the liquid crystal display device 41. Furthermore, after making the display smaller or changing the display position, when the player finishes playing and goes through a fluctuation stop state and enters a waiting state for customers, the display indicating that there are approximately 5,000 shots remaining until the saving function is activated may be returned to its original size, or may be made to a display for the waiting demo. This is to ensure that the next player to play does not overlook that there are approximately 5,000 shots remaining until the saving function is activated.

Figure 6 shows a case where the difference in balls exceeds 95,000 during fluctuation and a game stop command (presentation control command DI_CMD) is sent to the sub-control board 80. Note that in Figure 6, it is assumed that the display content displayed on the liquid crystal display device 41 is changed as the difference in balls approaches 95,000. In other words, it is assumed that each time the difference in balls increases to 91,000, 92,000, 93,000, and 94,000, the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) transmits suppression device operation notice command 2 (presentation control command DI_CMD), suppression device operation notice command 3 (presentation control command DI_CMD), suppression device operation notice command 4 (presentation control command DI_CMD), and suppression device operation notice command 5 (presentation control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80 accordingly.

As shown in FIG. 6(a), the liquid crystal display device 41 displays a decoration pattern (see image P1, "567" in the figure) and a resident pattern (see image P2, "567" in the figure). At this time, the difference in balls exceeds 94,000, and the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) transmits a suppression device operation notice command 5 (performance control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80. In response to this, the sub-control CPU 800a transmits to the VDP 803 a command list for an image (video) that displays the suppression device operation notice on the liquid crystal display device 41. As a result, the VDP 803 generates image (video) data to display an image based on the command list, and transmits the generated image (video) data to the liquid crystal display device 41, so that the liquid crystal display device 41 displays a message (see image P4) that the saving function will be activated soon, as shown in FIG. 6(a).

Next, when the decorative pattern starts to change, and then the resident pattern starts to change, as shown in FIG. 6(b), the liquid crystal display device 41 displays the decorative pattern changing at high speed (see image P1), and the resident pattern changing at high speed (see image P2). Furthermore, a message indicating that the saving function will be activated soon (see image P4) will also be continuously displayed. At this time, if the player wins a prize ball and the difference in balls exceeds 95,000, the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) will send a game stop command (presentation control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80. In response to this, the sub-control CPU 800a will send to the VDP 803 a command list related to an image (video) that will cause the liquid crystal display device 41 to display a game stop. As a result, the VDP 803 generates image (video) data to display an image based on the command list, and transmits the generated image (video) data to the liquid crystal display device 41, causing the liquid crystal display device 41 to display a message (see image P5) saying "Play stopped. Savings achieved. Play is over. Play stopped," as shown in FIG. 6(c).

When the game stops during such a change, the game stops without informing the player of the lottery result. Furthermore, no pattern change performance is performed to stop the decorative pattern change, and the output port of the main control CPU 600a that outputs signals to the special pattern display device 51, the normal pattern display device 52, and the 7-segment display device 53a is cleared, so that the special pattern display device 51, the normal pattern display device 52, and the 7-segment display device 53a are turned off, and the display of the number of balls reserved for starting is also hidden. This is because if the pattern change being performed is a jackpot, and this is notified, the player will feel disadvantaged, and it may even cause trouble with the hall (game center).

Figure 7 shows a case where the difference in balls exceeds 95,000 during a jackpot, and a suppression device activation warning command (presentation control command DI_CMD) is sent to the sub-control board 80.

As shown in FIG. 7(a), the words "Jackpot!" (see image P6) are displayed in the center of the screen of the liquid crystal display device 41, indicating that the game is in a jackpot game state, and the words "Hit Right" (see image P7) are displayed in small letters at the bottom right corner of the screen, encouraging the player to hit to the right (the player uses the launch handle 16 to hit the game ball to the right side of the game area 40 of the game board 4). At this time, a message is displayed at the top of the screen of the liquid crystal display device 41 indicating that the saving function will be activated shortly (see image P8).

Next, when the jackpot game starts, as shown in FIG. 7(b), instead of the word "jackpot!" (see image P6), the liquid crystal display device 41 displays a character saying "You did it!" (see image P9), and the top left corner of the screen of the liquid crystal display device 41 displays "Round 1" (see image P10), indicating the round of the jackpot game. At this time, if the player wins a prize ball and the difference in balls exceeds 95,000, the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) will send a suppression device activation warning command (presentation control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80 because the game state is a jackpot game. In response to this, the sub-control CPU 800a sends to the VDP 803 a command list related to an image (video) that will cause the liquid crystal display device 41 to display a warning of the suppression device activation. As a result, the VDP 803 generates image (video) data to display an image based on the command list, and transmits the generated image (video) data to the liquid crystal display device 41, which causes a display (see image P11) to be displayed on the liquid crystal display device 41, indicating that the saving function will be activated after a win ends, as shown in FIG. 7(c). Note that at this time, in order to make the player aware that the saving function will be activated, a display (see image P11) is displayed indicating that the saving function will be activated after a win ends, with the display having a higher priority than the performance display during the round.

Thus, the jackpot game continues with the display (see image P11) indicating that the saving function will be activated after the end of the jackpot. Then, as shown in FIG. 7(d), when a character saying "RUSH in!" is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 41 (see image P9), indicating that the jackpot game has ended and that the special game state will begin after the jackpot game, the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) sends a game stop command (presentation control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80, since the jackpot game has ended. In response to this, the sub-control CPU 800a sends to the VDP 803 a command list related to an image (video) that will cause the liquid crystal display device 41 to display the game stop. As a result, the VDP 803 generates image (video) data to display an image based on the command list, and transmits the generated image (video) data to the liquid crystal display device 41, causing the liquid crystal display device 41 to display a message (see image P12) saying "Play stopped. Savings achieved. Play is over. Play stopped," as shown in FIG. 7(e).

However, if the player stops playing when the suppression device (saving function) described above is activated and a character is displayed (see image P9) saying the line "Enter RUSH!" as shown in FIG. 7(d), the player will not be able to obtain the profits he or she would have received, which not only reduces the player's interest in the game but can also cause problems. Therefore, in this embodiment, the following process is carried out.

<Explanation of how to change the presentation during a big win in accordance with the operation of the suppression device (saving function) to stop the game>
First, the conventional technology will be described.

The main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a)'s look-ahead judgment is processed mechanically until just before the suppression device (saving function) is activated, and a look-ahead command (performance control command DI_CMD) based on the look-ahead judgment result is sent to the sub-control board 80. In response to this, the sub-control CPU 800a will execute a look-ahead performance during fluctuation or a jackpot, depending on the look-ahead command.

However, when actually performing a look-ahead performance, unless the decision as to whether or not to perform the look-ahead performance is made with the assumption that the suppression device (saving function) may be activated and stop the game, there is a possibility that the game will be stopped before seeing the result derived by the look-ahead performance, even though the look-ahead performance has been performed and the player has been given a sense of expectation. Also, even if the sub-control CPU 800a performs a performance during a jackpot that promotes the game to a special game state after the jackpot, such as a probability fluctuation or RUSH state, there is a possibility that the game will be stopped after the jackpot game. This point will be explained using a specific example.

As shown in FIG. 8(a), the words "Jackpot!" (see image P20) are displayed in the center of the screen of the liquid crystal display device 41, indicating that the game is in a jackpot game state, and the words "Hit Right" (see image P21) are displayed in small letters at the bottom right corner of the screen, encouraging the player to hit to the right (the player uses the launch handle 16 to hit the game ball to the right side of the game area 40 of the game board 4). At this time, a message is displayed at the top of the screen of the liquid crystal display device 41 indicating that the saving function will be activated shortly (see image P22).

Next, when a promotion challenge effect is executed during a round of play, as shown in Figure 8 (b), instead of the words "Jackpot!" (see image P20), the liquid crystal display device 41 displays a character saying the line "RUSH promotion challenge" (see image P23), along with a square box image containing the word "?" (see image P24), and the upper left corner of the screen of the liquid crystal display device 41 displays "Round 1" (see image P10), indicating the round of the jackpot play. Whether or not such promotion effects will be performed during a round of jackpot play is determined by a lottery held by the sub-control CPU 800a when it receives a fluctuation pattern command (presentation control command DI_CMD) at the start of fluctuation resulting in a jackpot sent from the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) or when it receives a jackpot start fanfare command (presentation control command DI_CMD) sent from the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) to determine whether or not such promotion effects will be performed during a round of jackpot play.

Next, as shown in FIG. 8(c), even if the player wins the RUSH promotion and the LCD display 41 displays "RUSH Get!" (see image P26), if the player wins the prize ball and the difference in balls exceeds 95,000, the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) will send a suppression device activation warning command (presentation control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80 because the game state is a jackpot game. In response to this, the sub-control CPU 800a will send to the VDP 803 a command list related to an image (video) that displays a warning of the suppression device activation on the LCD display 41. As a result, the VDP 803 will generate image (video) data to display an image based on the command list, and by sending the generated image (video) data to the LCD display 41, the LCD display 41 will display a message (see image P27) that the saving function will be activated after the win ends, as shown in FIG. 8(c). At this time, in order to let the player know that the saving function is being activated, a message is displayed stating that the saving function will be activated after a win (see image P27), giving the message a higher priority than the display of effects during the round.

Thus, the jackpot game continues with the display (see image P27) indicating that the saving function will be activated after the end of the win. Then, as shown in FIG. 8(d), even if the liquid crystal display device 41 displays a character saying "Entering RUSH!" (see image P23), which indicates that the jackpot game has ended and that the player has been selected for promotion to RUSH, and thus will be in a special game state after the jackpot game, the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) will send a game stop command (presentation control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80 because the jackpot game has ended. In response to this, the sub-control CPU 800a sends to the VDP 803 a command list related to an image (video) that will cause the liquid crystal display device 41 to display the game stop. As a result, the VDP 803 generates image (video) data to display an image based on the command list, and transmits the generated image (video) data to the liquid crystal display device 41, causing the liquid crystal display device 41 to display the message "Play stopped" (see image P28) as shown in FIG. 8(e).

However, this means that the player cannot obtain the profits that he or she should have obtained, which not only reduces the player's interest in the game but also causes problems. The same is true for the reserved consecutive performance during a jackpot (a performance that notifies the player that a jackpot is included in the current reserved starting balls). As with the promotion performance, whether or not this reserved consecutive performance will be performed is determined by lottery when the sub-control CPU 800a receives the fluctuation pattern command (performance control command DI_CMD) at the start of the fluctuation that resulted in a jackpot sent from the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) or when it receives the jackpot start fanfare command (performance control command DI_CMD) sent from the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a).

In this embodiment, when the sub-control CPU 800a receives a look-ahead command (presentation control command DI_CMD), if a game stop is approaching or a game stop command such as a suppression device activation command or a suppression device activation warning command is received before or after the reception, the look-ahead presentation or promotion presentation will be restricted or stopped depending on the situation. This eliminates the loss of interest in the game and the cause of trouble caused by the player not obtaining the profit that should have been obtained despite being notified of it, as in the past, and therefore allows appropriate processing to be performed for control up to and after the forced termination without affecting control related to other games.

To explain this point using a specific example, when the sub-control CPU 800a receives the jackpot start fanfare command (presentation control command DI_CMD) transmitted from the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a), it checks the contents of the suppression device operation notice command that has already been received. In this embodiment, it is assumed that each time the difference balls increase to 91,000, 92,000, 93,000, and 94,000, the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) transmits the suppression device operation notice command 2 (presentation control command DI_CMD), the suppression device operation notice command 3 (presentation control command DI_CMD), the suppression device operation notice command 4 (presentation control command DI_CMD), and the suppression device operation notice command 5 (presentation control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80 accordingly. Here, we will explain the state in which the suppression device operation notice command 5, which indicates 1,000 remaining shots, has been received as an example.

The sub-control CPU 800a checks whether the received jackpot start fanfare command (presentation control command DI_CMD) is a jackpot that can award more than 1000 prize balls. Here, there are two types of jackpots: a 10R jackpot (a jackpot that may increase the difference in balls by 1300) and a 4R jackpot (a jackpot that may increase the difference in balls by 400), and the sub-control CPU 800a checks whether the received jackpot start fanfare command is a 10R jackpot or a 4R jackpot.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 9(a), the LCD display device 41 displays the words "Jackpot!" (see image P30) in the center of the screen, indicating that the game is in a jackpot state, and in small letters at the bottom right corner of the screen, the words "Hit Right" (see image P31) are displayed, encouraging the player to hit the ball to the right (the player uses the launch handle 16 to hit the ball to the right side of the game area 40 of the game board 4), and a message appears at the top of the screen indicating that the saving function will be activated shortly (see image P32).

Next, when the sub-control CPU 800a confirms that it is a 10R jackpot, it does not execute the promotion effect or the reserved consecutive effect during the jackpot, or does not perform a lottery, when it receives the variation pattern command at the start of the variation when it becomes a jackpot, or when it receives the jackpot start fanfare command and confirms that it is a 10R jackpot, because there is a risk that the suppression device (saving function) will be activated during the jackpot. As a result, the sub-control CPU 800a will perform normal effects during the jackpot round. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9(b), instead of the word "jackpot!" (see image P30), a character saying "Good job!" is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 41 (see image P33), and the word "Round 1" (see image P34), which indicates the round of the jackpot game, is displayed in the upper left corner of the screen of the liquid crystal display device 41. In other words, by executing the normal round performance, the suppression device (saving function) is put into a state where it can be activated at any time.

Next, when the player wins a prize ball and the difference exceeds 95,000 balls, the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) transmits a suppression device activation warning command (presentation control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80 since the game state is a jackpot game. In response to this, the sub-control CPU 800a transmits to the VDP 803 a command list related to an image (video) that displays a warning of the suppression device activation on the liquid crystal display device 41. As a result, the VDP 803 generates image (video) data to display an image based on the command list, and transmits the generated image (video) data to the liquid crystal display device 41, so that the liquid crystal display device 41 displays (see image P35) that the saving function will be activated after the win ends, as shown in FIG. 9(c). At this time, in order to make the player aware that the saving function is activated, a display (see image P35) that the saving function will be activated after the win ends is displayed so that the display has a higher priority than the presentation display during the round.

By the way, this round performance corresponds to the operation of the suppression device (saving function). For example, as shown in FIG. 9(c), a character saying the line "Well done!" is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 41 (see image P33).

Next, when the sub-control CPU 800a receives the jackpot end ending command (presentation control command DI_CMD) sent from the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a), it will perform an effect that coincides with the stopping of play after the jackpot. For example, as shown in FIG. 9(d), the word "Congratulation" will be displayed on the liquid crystal display device 41 (see image P36). In this way, the player can have a sense of satisfaction that he or she has won all of the benefits, thereby increasing the player's interest in the game.

Next, since the jackpot game has ended, the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) will send a game stop command (presentation control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80. In response to this, the sub-control CPU 800a will send to the VDP 803 a command list related to images (video) that will cause the LCD display device 41 to display a game stop. This will cause the VDP 803 to generate image (video) data to display an image based on the command list, and by sending the generated image (video) data to the LCD display device 41, the LCD display device 41 will display the message [Game stopped] Savings achieved. You're done [Game stopped] (see image P37), as shown in FIG. 9(e).

By not executing the promotion effect or the consecutive reserved effect during a jackpot in this way, the player is not notified of the profit that he or she would have obtained, which can eliminate the loss of interest in the game and the cause of trouble due to not obtaining the profit. Therefore, appropriate processing can be performed for control up to and after the forced termination without affecting the control related to other games.

On the other hand, if the sub-control CPU 800a confirms that it is a 4R jackpot, as in the past, when it receives the variation pattern command (presentation control command DI_CMD) at the start of the jackpot variation sent from the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) or when it receives the jackpot start fanfare command (presentation control command DI_CMD) sent from the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a), it will hold a lottery to determine whether or not to perform a promotion presentation or a consecutive reserved presentation during the jackpot game round. This is because even if the difference in balls increases by 400, the suppression device (saving function) has not yet been activated, so there is no problem in executing the promotion presentation or consecutive reserved presentation.

However, it is possible that the difference in balls has increased since the sub-control CPU 800a received the suppression device activation notice command 5. Therefore, in consideration of such cases, a command for the number of out balls and the planned number of winning balls (presentation control command DI_CMD) may be sent from the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) to the sub-control CPU 800a. In this way, the sub-control CPU 800a can manage the detailed difference in balls, making it possible to determine whether or not the suppression device (saving function) will activate even in the case of a 4R jackpot. Therefore, an appropriate presentation can be executed.

<Description of the payout process of game balls when the suppression device (saving function) is activated and the game is stopped>
Incidentally, the difference balls explained above are based on the number of prize balls counted by the main control CPU 600a based on the number of balls entering the special symbol 1 start hole 44, the special symbol 2 start hole 45a, the upper right general winning hole 49a, the upper left general winning hole 49b, the middle left general winning hole 49c, the lower left general winning hole 49d, and the large winning hole (not shown) shown in Figure 2. Therefore, it is not the number of game balls actually paid out. Therefore, when the suppression device (saving function) is activated and the game is stopped, there is a possibility that the actual payout process of the game balls has not caught up.

Therefore, in this embodiment, even when the game is stopped, communication of payout control commands PAY_CMD related to the payout of game balls between the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) and the payout/launch control board 70 continues. In other words, only the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) stops playing, and the payout/launch control board 70 only operates in response to the payout control command PAY_CMD from the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a), so there is no need to put the payout/launch control board 70 itself into a game-stopped state. Therefore, even when the game is stopped, communication of payout control commands PAY_CMD related to the payout of game balls between the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) and the payout/launch control board 70 continues.

To explain this in more detail, when the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) and the sub-control board 80 (sub-control CPU 800a) send a game stop command (presentation control command DI_CMD) from the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) to the sub-control board 80 (sub-control CPU 800a) when game play is stopped, the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) will no longer send a presentation control command DI_CMD to the sub-control board 80 (sub-control CPU 800a). If, in a game stop state, the power supply to the pachinko gaming machine 1 is cut off, the RAM clear switch 620 is not pressed, and the main control RAM 600c is not cleared, and the pachinko gaming machine 1 is restored to its power-off state, the game will remain in the game stop state. Even in this case, the payout control command PAY_CMD is sent from the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) to the payout/launch control board 70 so that the payout process can be performed for the prize balls that have not yet been paid out. This causes the payout/launch control board 70 to execute the payout of game balls for the prize balls that have not yet been paid out.

This prevents a situation in which game balls that should have been paid out are not paid out due to a game being stopped, and allows appropriate processing to be performed for control up until and after the forced termination without affecting control related to other games.

<Explanation of the stages that are set depending on the state of the ball difference before the suppression device (saving function) is activated>
As described above, the stages are divided according to the state of the difference balls until the suppression device (saving function) is activated, such as (1) when the suppression device (saving function) is not activated, (2) when the suppression device (saving function) is activated, (3) when the suppression device (saving function) is activated and warning state, and (4) when the suppression device (saving function) is activated. This is because if the game is suddenly stopped during a big win game just because the difference balls exceed 95,000, the player will feel more disadvantaged, which may reduce the interest in the game. Therefore, in this embodiment, the change in the state leading to the game stop is made different depending on whether the game state when the difference balls exceed 95,000 is during the pattern fluctuation or during the big win. This reduces the risk of reducing the interest in the game, and therefore, the control until the forced end and the control after the forced end can be appropriately processed without affecting the control related to other games.

In this embodiment, even if the difference in balls exceeds 95,000 during a jackpot game, the game does not immediately stop. Therefore, if the power supply to the pachinko game machine 1 is cut off for some reason before the game stops, when the pachinko game machine 1 is powered off and restored, the difference ball counter is initialized (set (cleared) to 100,000 balls) as explained above, so the game does not stop even after the jackpot game ends. Therefore, in this embodiment, in order to avoid such a situation, when the power supply to the pachinko game machine 1 is cut off for some reason before the game stops, when the pachinko game machine 1 is powered off and restored, the difference ball counter is not initialized. This makes it possible to prevent a situation in which the game does not stop even though it should have.

<Explanation of the relationship with the suppression device (saving function) in the event of an illegal error>
Incidentally, when the magnetic sensor, radio wave sensor, or vibration sensor mounted on the fraud detection board 55 detects fraudulent behavior by a player, there are cases where a high priority error notification is issued without stopping gameplay, and cases where gameplay is stopped.

First, we will explain the case where a fraud error is notified without stopping the game when a magnetic sensor, radio wave sensor, or vibration sensor mounted on the fraud detection board 55 detects a player's fraudulent behavior.

When the cheating detection board 55 detects a player's cheating, the main control CPU 600a sends a cheating error command (presentation control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80 (sub-control CPU 800a). In response to this, the sub-control CPU 800a sends a command list for an image (video) that displays a cheating error on the liquid crystal display 41 to the VDP 803. As a result, the VDP 803 generates image (video) data to display an image based on the command list, and sends the generated image (video) data to the liquid crystal display 41, so that the content of the cheating error is displayed on the liquid crystal display 41. Furthermore, the sub-control CPU 800a sends a signal to the sound LSI 801 to notify the cheating error by audio to perform a cheating error by audio. In response to this, the sound LSI 801 plays audio from the speaker 17 so that a cheating error is issued by audio.

On the other hand, if the difference in balls exceeds 95,000, the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) will send a game stop command (presentation control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80. In response to this, the sub-control CPU 800a will send to the VDP 803 a command list for an image (video) that will cause the liquid crystal display device 41 to display the game stop. As a result, the VDP 803 will generate image (video) data to display an image based on the command list, and by sending the generated image (video) data to the liquid crystal display device 41, the liquid crystal display device 41 will display the images shown in Figures 6 (c), 7 (e), 8 (e), and 9 (e). Furthermore, the sub-control CPU 800a will send a signal to the sound LSI 801 to notify the game stop by audio. In response, the sound LSI 801 will play a sound from the speaker 17 to indicate that play has stopped.

When the cheating detection board 55 detects cheating by a player and game play is stopped due to the difference in balls exceeding 95,000, both of these events are necessary information and must be reported. However, since one of these events is an error report due to cheating, the suppression device (saving function) is activated to report that game play has been stopped, but it is necessary to report an error due to cheating before the game is stopped so that the hall (amusement facility) can become aware that the player has been cheating.

Therefore, in this embodiment, even if the suppression device (saving function) is activated and the sub-control CPU 800a receives a game stop command (presentation control command DI_CMD), the sub-control CPU 800a displays an error notification due to fraud on the liquid crystal display device 41 along with the display shown in Figures 6 (c), 7 (e), 8 (e), and 9 (e), and prioritizes the sound emitted from the speaker 17 to notify the error notification due to fraud. In addition, errors with a lower degree of urgency compared to fraud errors such as launch position warning notifications such as right-hit warning notifications and left-hit warning notifications are erased when the game is stopped. To explain this in detail, in the normal game state, these errors are transmitted to the sub-control board 80 (sub-control CPU 800a) in the error management process of the timer interrupt process described later in the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a), and the presentation control command DI_CMD corresponding to the error occurrence/cancellation is transmitted to the sub-control board 80 (sub-control CPU 800a). In addition, at this time, when the game is stopped, the error with a low urgency will be erased. Therefore, in this embodiment, the sub-control board 80 (sub-control CPU 800a) erases the error with a low urgency when it receives a game stop command or an error erasure command sent together with the game stop command.

As explained above, even if the game is stopped due to a ball jam error or a supply shortage error in which the game balls in the pachinko game machine 1 are insufficient, the payout process for the prize balls that have not yet been paid out may be performed, so the sub-control CPU 800a gives priority to errors related to the prize balls acquired by the player over game stop notification. However, in this case, even if the game is stopped, the error management process of the timer interrupt process is executed, so the presentation control command DI_CMD corresponding to the occurrence of the error is sent to the sub-control board 80 (sub-control CPU 800a). However, at this time, as explained above, errors with low urgency are erased by the sub-control board 80 (sub-control CPU 800a) (no error notification is performed). Note that the fraud error notification is performed by the sub-control CPU 800a, so it is erased when the pachinko game machine 1 is restored from power failure.

By doing this, appropriate processing can be carried out for control up until and after the forced termination without affecting control related to other games.

Next, we will explain how to stop play when a magnetic sensor, radio wave sensor, or vibration sensor mounted on the fraud detection board 55 detects fraudulent behavior by a player.

When play is stopped due to an illegal error, play is stopped based on an illegal play stop flag that is separate from the play stop flag that indicates play is stopped due to the operation of the suppression device (saving function). Note that this illegal error will result in the game stop state of the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) being resolved by powering down the pachinko game machine 1. In this case, unlike powering down due to the operation of the suppression device (saving function), the game stop state will be resolved even if the pachinko game machine 1 is powered down without pressing the RAM clear switch 620 and clearing the main control RAM 600c.

When the pachinko game machine 1 is powered down and restored, as described above, the difference ball counter is initialized (100,000 balls are set (cleared)). However, in this embodiment, when the pachinko game machine 1 is powered down and restored due to an illegal error, the difference ball counter is not initialized. This is because the difference ball counter, which should be initialized every time the hall (game hall) closes for the day, is initialized during business hours due to an illegal error. If a malicious player intentionally causes an illegal error by magnetism or vibration and induces the hall (game hall) to power down the pachinko game machine 1, the difference ball counter will be initialized. This will prevent the operation of the suppression device (saving function). Therefore, in this embodiment, when the pachinko game machine 1 is powered down and restored due to an illegal error, the difference ball counter is not initialized. Furthermore, after play has stopped, even if the magnetic sensor, radio wave sensor, or vibration sensor mounted on the fraud detection board 55 detects a player's fraudulent behavior, no new winning balls or other benefits will be awarded, so the hall (game center) will not suffer any disadvantages even if a player commits fraud.

<Explanation about what happens when a game is stopped due to the operation of the suppression device (saving function) and then reset due to an illegal error>
After the game is stopped due to the operation of the suppression device (saving function), an illegal error may generate an abnormal reset signal, causing the main control CPU 600a to be reset. An illegal error occurs when an unexpected access occurs, such as when an address address beyond the final address address of the program area of the main control ROM 600b is specified and the area is accessed. When such an illegal error occurs, an abnormal reset signal is generated, only the main control CPU 600a is reset, and the control process is resumed from the start address of the program stored in the main control ROM 600b. However, the main control RAM 600c is not cleared. Therefore, since the value stored in the main control RAM 600c is maintained, it is highly likely that the game stop flag indicating that the game is stopped due to the operation of the suppression device (saving function) will still hold a value indicating the stop (for example, 5AH). However, in this case, the backup process at the time of power interruption is not executed, so that normal backup information such as a backup flag is not set in the main control RAM 600c. Therefore, even if the pachinko gaming machine 1 is restored from a power outage, a backup recovery will not be performed.

Therefore, in this embodiment, in a situation where an illegal error occurs, even if the game was stopped before the reset due to the illegal error, the main control RAM 600c is cleared due to a backup abnormality, or the setting contents of the probability of generating a game state advantageous to the player are changed as an abnormality in the main control RAM 600c, and the main control RAM 600c is cleared and the game program is started. This is because, if the game is resumed while the game is stopped, the value related to the prize balls stored in the main control RAM 600c may have been rewritten due to the illegal error. In this case, as described above, the payout process for the prize balls that have not yet been paid out is performed, so the value stored in the rewritten main control RAM 600c is treated as having won before the game was stopped, and unexpected prize balls are paid out to the player, which may cause a disadvantage to the hall (game center). Therefore, in this embodiment, the main control RAM 600c is cleared and the game program is started. This reduces the number of situations where the arcade (game center) suffers a disadvantage, and allows appropriate processing for control up until and after the forced termination without affecting control related to other games.

<Explanation about the ball loan button when the game is stopped due to the operation of the suppression device (saving function)>
In the present embodiment, the ball lending operation by the ball lending button 11 is enabled in consideration of the case where the player wishes to settle the amount after converting all the remaining balance into game balls when there is a small amount of money remaining on the lending card. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the ball lending button 11 transmits a ball lending signal to a CR unit (not shown) arranged adjacent to the pachinko game machine 1 without going through the payout/launch control board 70. Then, the CR unit receives this signal and transmits a ball lending request signal to the payout/launch control board 70. In response to this signal, the payout/launch control board 70 pays out game balls to the player, and when the payout is completed, it transmits a ball lending completion signal to the CR unit. Therefore, even if the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) stops playing, the ball lending process is performed.

By doing this, appropriate processing can be carried out for control up until and after the forced termination without affecting control related to other games.

However, when the game is stopped, the switch management process for the timer interrupt processing described below in the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) is not executed, so it is not possible to obtain information as to whether the special pattern 1 start port switch 44a, special pattern 2 start port switch 45a1, upper right general prize port switch 49a1, upper left general prize port switch 49b1, middle left general prize port switch 49c1, lower left general prize port switch 49d1, and large prize port switch 46c shown in Figure 4 are ON or not. Therefore, when the game is stopped, if the game balls that were launched into the game area 40 using the launch handle 16 before the game was stopped are still present in the game area 40, even if the game balls enter the special symbol 1 start port switch 44a, the special symbol 2 start port switch 45a1, the upper right general winning port switch 49a1, the upper left general winning port switch 49b1, the middle left general winning port switch 49c1, and the lower left general winning port switch 49d1 shown in FIG. 4, the game balls cannot be detected, so the winning is invalid, and no prize balls are generated. This is because, if a prize ball is generated by affecting the ON/OFF state of the switch due to fraud such as radio wave cheating, if the switch management process of the timer interrupt process described later in the main control board 60 (main control CPU 600a) is executed even after the game is stopped, there is a possibility that prize balls will be illegally acquired during the game stop. This may cause damage to the hall (game center). Therefore, in this embodiment, when the game is stopped, even if a game ball still present in the game area 40 enters the special symbol 1 start port switch 44a, the special symbol 2 start port switch 45a1, the upper right general winning port switch 49a1, the upper left general winning port switch 49b1, the middle left general winning port switch 49c1, or the lower left general winning port switch 49d1 shown in FIG. 4, the game ball is not detected.

<Explanation of the decorative lamp when the game is stopped due to the operation of the suppression device (saving function)>
Incidentally, when a game is stopped, it is preferable to lower the brightness of the decorative lamps, or to turn off all the decorative lamps, or to turn on some of them and turn off the rest of them, since it is better to reduce power consumption when a game is stopped.

<Main control: Program explanation>
Here, the processing method of the various contents described above will be explained in detail below. First, the outline of the program stored in the main control ROM 600b (see FIG. 4) processed by the main control board 60 will be explained in detail by referring to FIGS. 10 to 29.

First, when the power is turned on to the pachinko game machine 1, a power-on signal is sent to indicate that the DC voltage generated by the voltage generation unit 1300 of the power supply board 130 (see FIG. 4) has been applied to each control board. In response to this signal, the main control CPU 600a (see FIG. 4) reads out the program stored in the main control ROM 600b and performs the main control main processing shown in FIG. 10. At this time, the main control CPU 600a first sets itself to an interrupt-prohibited state (step S1).

Next, the main control CPU 600a performs a stack pointer setting process to set the value of the stack pointer inside the main control CPU 600a to correspond to the final address of the normal stack area (step S2).

Next, the main control CPU 600a clears a watchdog timer (WDT) (not shown) built into the main control CPU 600a (step S3), and clears the output port that outputs the launch control signal (step S4).

The main control CPU 600a then sets the startup waiting time for the sub-control board 80 (step S5), decrements (-1) the set waiting time (step S6), and clears the watchdog timer (WDT) (not shown) (step S7).

Next, the main control CPU 600a checks whether the set waiting time has become "0" (step S8), and if it is not "0" (step S8: ≠ 0), it returns to processing of step S7, and if it is "0" (step S8: = 0), it proceeds to processing of step S9.

Then, the main control CPU 600a acquires the voltage abnormality signal ALARM (see FIG. 4) output from the power supply board 130 (voltage monitoring unit 1310) (see FIG. 4) twice, checks whether the levels of the voltage abnormality signal ALARM acquired twice match, stores it in an internal register of the main control CPU 600a (not shown), and checks the level of the voltage abnormality signal ALARM (step S9). If the level of the voltage abnormality signal ALARM is the "L" level (step S10: YES), the process returns to step S9, and if the level of the voltage abnormality signal ALARM is the "H" level (step S10: NO), the process proceeds to step S11. That is, the main control CPU 600a repeats the same process until the voltage abnormality signal ALARM changes to a normal level (i.e., the "H" level) (steps S9 to S10). In this way, by acquiring the voltage abnormality signal ALARM twice, an accurate signal can be read.

Next, the main control CPU 600a permits data writing to the main control RAM 600c (step S11) and initializes the work area of the main control RAM 600c (step S12). Specifically, it sets the power supply abnormality confirmation counter to 00H and sets the system operation status to 01H.

Next, the main control CPU 600a sends a processing command (performance control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80 to cause the LCD display device 41 to display a standby screen (step S13).

Then, the main control CPU 600a clears a watchdog timer (WDT) (not shown) (step S14) and checks whether a signal indicating that power has been applied (power-on signal) has been received from the dispensing control board 70 (step S15). If the power-on signal has not been received (step S15: OFF), the process returns to step S14, and if the power-on signal has been received (step S15: ON), the process proceeds to step S16.

Next, the main control CPU 600a acquires the level data of the RAM clear switch 620 and the setting key switch 630, and saves them in the working area of the main control RAM 600c (step S16).

Next, the main control CPU 600a acquires a door open signal indicating whether the glass door frame 5 shown in FIG. 1 is open or not, the signal of the RAM clear switch 620 that has been evacuated to the working area of the main control RAM 600c, and the signal of the setting key switch 630 (step S17), and checks whether all are ON (step S18). If all are ON (step S18: YES), the main control CPU 600a performs a setting switching process (step S19).

<Main control: Main processing: Explanation of setting switching processing>
Here, this setting switching process will be specifically described with reference to FIG.

First, the main control CPU 600a sends a setting switching start command (performance control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80, indicating that a setting change is being made (step S50).

Then, the main control CPU 600a clears the backup flag (step S51). Note that this backup flag is data that indicates whether or not backup processing has been performed when a voltage drop due to a power outage or the like is detected during the power supply abnormality check processing shown in FIG. 11. In addition, this backup flag is cleared in order to detect in step S21 shown in FIG. 11, which will be described later, a case in which power is interrupted for some reason during the setting switching processing and the main control RAM 600c is not backed up normally.

Then, the main control CPU 600a sets the system operation status to 02H (step S52), obtains the set value of the probability of generating a special game state advantageous to the player stored in the main control RAM 600c (see FIG. 4), and sets it in the W register (step S53). To be more specific, if the set value is, for example, "1" to "6", the program will set the set values "1" to "6" in the W register in correspondence with values "00H" to "05H".

Next, the main control CPU 600a compares the value set in the W register with the maximum set value of the probability of generating a special game state advantageous to the player (e.g., "05H" corresponding to "6") (step S54). If the value set in the W register is greater than the maximum set value of the probability of generating a special game state advantageous to the player (e.g., "05H" corresponding to "6") (step S55: YES), the main control CPU 600a determines that the value is an abnormal value and sets 00H to the W register (step S56).

On the other hand, if the value set in the W register is smaller than the maximum probability of generating a special game state advantageous to the player (for example, "05H" corresponding to "6") (step S55: NO), it is determined to be a normal value and the process proceeds to step S57.

Next, the main control CPU 600a sets to ON a security signal that is output to a hall computer (not shown) used to manage the game island of the hall (amusement facility) via an external terminal (not shown), and outputs the security signal to the hall computer (not shown) via an external terminal (not shown) (step S57).

Then, the main control CPU 600a sets the LED common port to 00H (step S58).

Then, the main control CPU 600a outputs the value set in the W register to the LED data port (step S59).

Next, the main control CPU 600a sets the LED common port that displays the setting value to ON (step S60).

Next, the main control CPU 600a sets a predetermined value in a register in the main control CPU 600a so that a 4 ms wait is applied, and performs a countdown process (step S61). This process is to check for changes in the level data of the RAM clear switch 620 (see FIG. 4) and the setting key switch 630 (see FIG. 4) by waiting at least 4 ms from the previous acquisition of the switch level to ensure that the change in the level data is not due to an irregularity such as noise. Furthermore, when checking for changes in the voltage abnormality signal in the subsequent power abnormality check process and counting the power abnormality confirmation counter, a 4 ms time is also left to ensure that the "L" level of the voltage abnormality signal is not due to an irregularity such as noise.

Next, the main control CPU 600a performs a power supply abnormality check process (step S62). This power supply abnormality check process will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 13.

<Main control: Main processing: Explanation of power supply abnormality check processing>
As shown in Fig. 13, the main control CPU 600a acquires twice the voltage abnormality signal ALARM (see Fig. 4) output from the power supply board 130 (voltage monitoring unit 1310) (see Fig. 4) (step S80), and checks whether the levels of the voltage abnormality signal ALARM acquired twice match (step S81). If they match (step S81: YES), the main control CPU 600a checks the level of the voltage abnormality signal ALARM (step S82), and if they do not match (step S81: NO), the process returns to step S80.

Next, if the level of the voltage abnormality signal ALARM is "H" level (step S82: OFF), the main control CPU 600a clears the power abnormality confirmation counter (step S83) and ends the power abnormality check process.

On the other hand, if the voltage abnormality signal ALARM is at the "L" level (step S82: ON), the main control CPU 600a increments (+1) the power supply abnormality confirmation counter (step S84) and checks the value of the power supply abnormality confirmation counter (step S85). If the value of the power supply abnormality confirmation counter is not 2 or more (step S85: NO), the power supply abnormality check process ends.

On the other hand, if the value of the power supply abnormality confirmation counter is 2 or greater (step S85: YES), the main control CPU 600a sends a power cut command (performance control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80 indicating that the power supply has been cut off (step S86).

Then, the main control CPU 600a checks the value of the system operation status (step S87). If the value of the system operation status is 02H, it determines that the setting change process is in progress (step S87: YES), does not set the backup flag to ON, and proceeds to the processing of step S89. In this way, a case where power is interrupted for some reason during the setting change process and the main control RAM 600c is not backed up normally can be detected in step S21 shown in FIG. 11 described later.

On the other hand, if the value of the system operation status is not 02H, it is determined that the setting change process is not in progress (step S87: NO), and the backup flag is set to ON (step S88).

Next, the main control CPU 600a disables data writing to the main control RAM 600c (step S89) and clears the output data of all output ports (step S90). It then disables timer interrupts (step S91) and performs an infinite loop process to wait for the voltage to drop.

<Main control: Main processing: Explanation of setting switching processing>
Thus, when the power supply abnormality check process (step S62) is completed through the above-mentioned processes, the main control CPU 600a creates switch edge data for the RAM clear switch 620 signal and switch edge data for the setting key switch 630 signal from the previous and current level data of the RAM clear switch 620 and the level data of the setting key switch 630 (step S63).The main control CPU 600a stores the created edge data in the main control RAM 600c.

Then, the main control CPU 600a checks the edge data stored in the main control RAM 600c, and if the setting key switch 630 is ON (step S64: NO), it proceeds to processing of step S65, and if the setting key switch 630 is OFF (step S64: YES), it proceeds to processing of step S67.

Next, if the RAM clear switch 620 is ON (step S65: NO), the main control CPU 600a increments (+1) the value of the W register (step S66) and returns to processing of step S54.

On the other hand, if the RAM clear switch 620 is OFF (step S65: NO), the process returns to step S57.

Thus, the above process is repeated until the setting key switch 630 is turned OFF. When the setting key switch 630 is turned OFF, the main control CPU 600a overwrites the value of the W register with the setting value of the probability of generating a special game state advantageous to the player (for example, the setting value "00H" to "05H" corresponding to "1" to "6") stored in the main control RAM 600c (see FIG. 4) and stores it (step S67).

Next, the main control CPU 600a outputs a setting confirmation display to the LED data port (step S68).

Next, the main control CPU 600a sends a setting switching end command (performance control command DI_CMD) reflecting the setting value to the sub-control board 80 (step S69).

<Main control: Explanation of main processing>
Thus, after going through the above-mentioned processing and completing the setting switching processing (step S19) shown in FIG. 10, the main control CPU 600a proceeds to processing of step S26 shown in FIG.

On the other hand, the main control CPU 600a checks whether the signal of the RAM clear switch 620 and the signal of the setting key switch 630 are all ON (step S18), and if they are not all ON (step S18: NO), the main control CPU 600a performs the process of step S20 shown in FIG. 11.

That is, the main control CPU 600a acquires the set value of the probability of generating a special game state advantageous to the player stored in the main control RAM 600c (see FIG. 4) (for example, a set value between "00H" and "05H" corresponding to "1" to "6"), and checks whether it is equal to or less than the set maximum value (for example, "05H" corresponding to "6") (step S20). If it is equal to or less than the set maximum value (step S20: YES), it checks whether the backup flag is set to ON (step S21).

<Main control: Main processing: Explanation of RAM error processing>
If the value is not below the set maximum value (step S20: NO) or the backup flag is not set to ON (step S21: NO), the main control CPU 600a sends a RAM error command (performance control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80 indicating that there is a RAM error (step S22).

Next, the main control CPU 600a outputs an error indication to the LED data port (step S23).

Next, the main control CPU 600a performs a power supply abnormality check process (step S24), returns to the process of step S23, and repeats the process. Note that this power supply abnormality check process is the same process as the power supply abnormality check process shown in FIG. 13.

<Main control: Explanation of main processing>
On the other hand, if the backup flag is set to ON (step S21: YES), the signal of the RAM clear switch 620 is confirmed (step S25).

<Main control: Main processing: Explanation of RAM clear processing>
When the signal of the RAM clear switch 620 is ON (step S25: YES) or when the setting switching process (step S19) shown in FIG. 10 is performed, the main control CPU 600a does not clear the measurement RAM area and measurement stack area of the main control RAM 600c, but clears the normal RAM area and normal stack area of the main control RAM 600c (step S26). Since the normal RAM area and normal stack area of the main control RAM 600c are cleared, the game state becomes the normal game state. Therefore, at this time, the game stop flag indicating that the game is stopped due to the operation of the suppression device (saving function) is cleared, and the game stop state is released. Furthermore, when the game is stopped due to an illegal error, the illegal game stop flag is also cleared.

Next, the main control CPU 600a sets the RAM clear notification timer to 30 seconds (30s) (step S27), and sets the timer that outputs a security signal to a hall computer (not shown) used to manage the game island of the hall (amusement arcade) via an external terminal (not shown) to 30 seconds (30s) (step S28).

Next, the main control CPU 600a sets initial values in part of the main control RAM 600c (step S29) and proceeds to processing in step S41.

<Main control: Explanation of main processing>
On the other hand, if the signal of the RAM clear switch 620 is OFF (step S25: NO), the main control CPU 600a acquires a door open signal indicating whether the glass door frame 5 shown in Fig. 1 is open or not, and a signal of the setting key switch 630 (step S30), and checks whether all are ON or not (step S31). If all are not ON (step S31: NO), the process proceeds to step S40.

<Main control: Main processing: Explanation of setting confirmation processing>
On the other hand, if all are ON (step S31: YES), the main control CPU 600a sends a setting value command (performance control command DI_CMD) reflecting the setting value to the sub-control board 80 (step S32).

Next, the main control CPU 600a sets a timer to 30 seconds (30s) to output a security signal to a hall computer (not shown) used to manage the game island of the hall (amusement arcade) via an external terminal (not shown) (step S33).

Next, the main control CPU 600a sets to ON the security signal that is output to the hall computer (not shown) used to manage the game island of the hall (amusement arcade) via an external terminal (not shown), and outputs the security signal to the hall computer (not shown) via an external terminal (not shown) for the 30 seconds (30s) set by the timer (step S34).

Next, the main control CPU 600a outputs the setting value to the LED data port (step S35).

Next, the main control CPU 600a sets a predetermined value in a register within the main control CPU 600a so that a 4 ms wait is applied, and performs a countdown process (step S36).

Next, the main control CPU 600a performs a power supply abnormality check process (step S37). Note that this power supply abnormality check process is the same process as the power supply abnormality check process shown in FIG. 13.

Next, the main control CPU 600a creates switch edge data for the setting key switch 630 signal from the previous and current level data of the setting key switch 630 (step S38). The main control CPU 600a stores the created edge data in the main control RAM 600c (see FIG. 4).

Next, the main control CPU 600a checks the edge data stored in the main control RAM 600c (see FIG. 4) (step S39), and if the setting key switch 630 is ON (step S39: NO), the process returns to step S34.

<Main control: Explanation of main processing>
On the other hand, if the setting key switch 630 is OFF (step S39: YES), initial values such as a backup flag and an error detection timer are set in a part of the main control RAM 600c (step S40). At this time, if the game is stopped due to an illegal error, the initial value is set (cleared) in the illegal game stop flag. Therefore, even if the pachinko game machine 1 is powered off and restored without pressing the RAM clear switch 620 and clearing the main control RAM 600c, the game stop state due to the illegal error is resolved.

Thus, in this embodiment, the main control RAM 600c is cleared due to a backup abnormality, or the setting contents of the probability of generating a game state advantageous to the player are changed as a result of an abnormality in the main control RAM 600c, and the main control RAM 600c is cleared and the game program is started. This reduces the situation in which the hall (game facility) suffers a disadvantage even if the value related to the winning balls stored in the main control RAM 600c is rewritten due to the occurrence of an illegal error, and therefore appropriate processing can be performed for control up to and after the forced termination without affecting control related to other games.

Next, the main control CPU 600a sends a command (performance control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80 indicating whether power will be restored by clearing the RAM or by a backup (step S41).

Next, the main control CPU 600a performs a game status notification information update process to update the game status notification information (step S42).

Next, the main control CPU 600a sets the start of play outside the area (step S43).

<Main control: Explanation of setting to start playing outside the area>
Here, the setting for starting a game outside the area will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 14 and FIG.

As shown in FIG. 14, the setting for starting play outside the area begins by saving the stack pointer of the area in use (during normal processing) to the measurement stack area of the main control RAM 600c (step S100).

Next, the main control CPU 600a checks the game stop flag, which indicates that game play will be stopped due to the operation of the suppression device (saving function) (step S101). If the game stop flag is set to 5AH (step S101: = 5AH), the main control CPU 600a determines that game play is stopped and proceeds to game stop processing (step S102).

<Main control: explanation of game stop processing>
This game stop processing will be specifically explained with reference to FIG. 15. First, the main control CPU 600a sets the game stop flag to 5AH (step S110).

Next, the main control CPU 600a sets to ON a security signal that is output to a hall computer (not shown) used to manage the game island of the hall (amusement facility) via an external terminal (not shown), and outputs the security signal to the hall computer (not shown) via an external terminal (not shown) (step S111).

Then, the main control CPU 600a transmits a game stop command (presentation control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80 (step S112). This causes the sub-control CPU 800a to transmit to the VDP 803 a command list for an image (video) that will cause the liquid crystal display device 41 to display a game stop. In response, the VDP 803 generates image (video) data to display an image based on the command list, and transmits the generated image (video) data to the liquid crystal display device 41, causing the liquid crystal display device 41 to display the images shown in Figures 6(c), 7(e), 8(e), and 9(e).

The main control CPU 600a then sends an error clearing command (presentation control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80 (step S113). This causes the sub-control CPU 800a to stop reporting errors with a lower level of urgency compared to fraudulent errors, such as launch position warning reports, including right-hit warning reports and left-hit warning reports. Note that if the sub-control CPU 800a stops reporting errors with a lower level of urgency in response to receiving the game stop command (presentation control command DI_CMD), the processing of step S113 is not necessary.

Next, the main control CPU 600a sends a command to the payout/launch control board 70 to stop the launch of the game balls (step S114), and ends the game stop processing. Note that when the payout/launch control board 70 receives this command, it will process the signal from the launch handle 16 as invalid even if it receives it.

<Main control: Explanation of setting to start playing outside the area>
Thus, after completing this game stop processing, as shown in Figure 14, the main control CPU 600a restores the stack pointer of the used area (during normal processing) that had been saved in the measurement stack area of the main control RAM 600c (step S108), and completes the processing of setting to start game play outside the area.

On the other hand, if the game stop flag is not set to 5AH (step S101: ≠ 5AH), the main control CPU 600a determines that the game is not stopped and checks the operation status flag (step S103).

This activation status flag manages the status up until the game is stopped by a value, and is managed by the following: (1) when the suppression device (savings function) is not activated, it is "0", (2) when the suppression device (savings function) is in an activation warning state, it is "1", (3) when the suppression device (savings function) is in an activation warning state, it is "2", and (4) when the suppression device (savings function) is activated.

Thus, if such an operation state flag is not set to "2" (step S103: ≠ 2), the main control CPU 600a sets the initial value to the difference ball counter (sets (clears) 100,000 shots) (step S104). That is, the initial value is set to the difference ball counter only when (1) the suppression device (saving function) is not in operation, or (2) the suppression device (saving function) is in an operation warning state ((4) when the suppression device (saving function) is in operation, the game stop flag is set to 5AH, so the initial value is not set to the difference ball counter). In this way, even if the pachinko game machine 1 is restored to power after being turned off in (3) the suppression device (saving function) operation warning state, the initial value is not set to the difference ball counter. Thus, in this way, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the game does not stop even though it should have stopped.

When play is stopped due to an illegal error, the initial value is not set in the ball difference counter that caused the pachinko game machine 1 to be powered back on. This makes it possible to prevent situations that would prevent the operation of the suppression device (saving function).

In this case, as explained above, when the pachinko gaming machine 1 is powered back on, the illegal play stop flag is cleared. In this case, a value is set to a flag that does not set an initial value to the difference ball counter, and when setting an initial value to the difference ball counter, that value is checked to determine whether or not to set the initial value. After the determination, the flag that does not set an initial value to the difference ball counter is cleared.

Next, after completing the processing of step S104, the main control CPU 600a sets the operating state flag to the initial value "0" and sets the operating state command flag to the initial value "0" (step S106), performs processing of step S108, and ends the processing of setting the start of play outside the area.

This operating state command flag manages whether or not a command has been sent to the sub-control board 80 (sub-control CPU 800a) when the operating state has switched. That is, it is managed by setting the state where no command has been sent to "0", the state where a suppression device operation notice command has been sent to "1", and the state where a suppression device operation warning command has been sent to "2".

On the other hand, if the operation status flag is set to "2" (step S103: = 2), the main control CPU 600a sends a suppression device operation warning command (performance control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80 (step S105). As a result, the sub-control CPU 800a sends to the VDP 803 a command list for images (video) that display a suppression device operation warning on the liquid crystal display device 41. In response to this, the VDP 803 generates image (video) data to display an image based on the command list, and sends the generated image (video) data to the liquid crystal display device 41, resulting in the display on the liquid crystal display device 41 being as shown in Figures 7 (c), (d), 8 (c), (d), and 9 (c), (d).

Next, the main control CPU 600a sets the operating state command flag to the value set in the operating state flag (step S107), performs processing in step S108, and ends the processing for setting the start of play outside the area.

By the way, when the processing shown in step S26 in FIG. 11 is performed, the game stop flag is cleared and the operating state flag and operating state command flag are also cleared.

<Main control: Explanation of main processing>
Thus, after completing the process of the outside game start setting (step S43) shown in FIG. 11, the main control CPU 600a sets the internal function register (step S44). Specifically, the launch control signal is set to ON and sent to the payout/launch control board 70. As a result, the payout/launch control board 70 controls to start the operation of launching the game balls. In addition, the main control CPU 600a sets the CTC (Counter Timer Circuit) that has the function of creating a pulse output at a constant period and the function of measuring time, etc., which is provided inside the main control CPU 600a. In other words, the main control CPU 600a sets the time constant register of the CTC so that a timer interrupt is periodically applied every 4 ms.

Then, the main control CPU 600a performs a prize ball winning count management process 1 (step S46) that calculates performance such as the total number of game balls shot into the game area 40, including the number of winning balls and the number of non-winning balls, while the main control CPU 600a is in a state where interrupts to itself are prohibited (step S45).Then, the main control CPU 600a performs an update process for various random number counters (step S47), and then returns to an interrupt permitted state (step S48), and returns to step S45, performing a loop process that repeatedly performs the processes from step S45 to step S48.

<Main control: explanation of prize ball winning number management process 1>
Here, the winning ball number management process 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 16 to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 16, the prize ball winning count management process 1 first executes a save process to save the contents of the register group in the main control CPU 600a to the measurement stack area of the main control RAM 600c (step S120).

Next, the main control CPU 600a performs initial settings for the measurement RAM area of the main control RAM 600c (step S121).

<Main control: Explanation of initial settings of measurement RAM area>
This will be explained in more detail with reference to Fig. 17. In this initial setting, as shown in Fig. 17, first, the main control CPU 600a (see Fig. 4) checks the RAM error flag (step S130). If the RAM error flag is set to ON, it is determined that the flag does not indicate any of the values "1" to "6" (step S130: YES), and an abnormality has occurred in the main control RAM 600c (RAM error), and the processes of steps S131 and S132 are not performed, and the process proceeds to step S133.

On the other hand, if the RAM error flag is set to OFF, the main control CPU 600a determines that it indicates a value between "1" and "6" (step S130: NO) and acquires the value of the initialized flag (step S131). Next, the main control CPU 600a checks whether the acquired value of the initialized flag is 5AH (step S132). If it is not 5AH (step S132: NO), the initialized flag is set to 5AH (step S133), the measurement RAM area is initialized (cleared) (step S134), and the initial setting process for the measurement RAM area is completed. On the other hand, if it is 5AH (step S132: YES), it determines that the measurement RAM area has already been initialized and the initial setting process for the measurement RAM area is completed.

However, if the acquired setting value does not indicate any of the values "1" to "6" in this way, there is a possibility that measurements based on the current setting value (described below) are not being performed correctly, so even if it has been initialized, the measurement RAM area of the main control RAM 600c should be cleared.

<Main control: explanation of prize ball winning number management process 1>
Thus, as shown in FIG. 16, the main control CPU 600a performs initial setting of the measurement RAM area of the main control RAM 600c (step S121), and then executes count processing (step S122).

<Main control: Explanation of counting process>
This point will be explained in more detail with reference to Figure 18. As shown in Figure 18, the main control CPU 600a obtains a setting value (e.g., a setting value from "1" to "6") of the probability of generating a special game state advantageous to the player, which is stored in the main control RAM 600c (see Figure 4), and selects a counting counter table corresponding to the setting value using the current setting value as an offset (step S140).

By the way, this counting counter table stores the contents corresponding to the setting values 1 to 6.

That is, the counter table for set value 1 contains the following:
Total prize ball counter for setting value 1 1,
Total prize ball counter 2 for setting value 1,
First role cumulative prize ball counter 1 for setting value 1,
First role cumulative prize ball counter 2 for setting value 1,
Set value 1 for the second role cumulative prize ball counter 1,
Second role cumulative prize ball counter 2 for setting value 1,
Accumulative out counter 1 for set value 1,
Accumulation out counter 2 for set value 1,
is stored.

The counter table for setting value 2 includes the following:
Total prize ball counter for setting value 2 1,
Total prize ball counter 2 for setting value 2,
First role cumulative prize ball counter 1 for setting value 2,
First role cumulative prize ball counter 2 for setting value 2,
Set value 2 for the second role cumulative prize ball counter 1,
Second role cumulative prize ball counter 2 for setting value 2,
Accumulative out counter 1 for set value 2,
Accumulative out counter 2 for set value 2,
is stored.

The counter table for setting value 3 includes the following:
Total prize ball counter for setting value 3 1,
Total prize ball counter 2 for setting value 3,
First role cumulative prize ball counter 1 for setting value 3,
First role cumulative prize ball counter 2 for setting value 3,
Set value 3 for the second role cumulative prize ball counter 1,
Second role cumulative prize ball counter 2 for setting value 3,
Accumulation out counter 1 for set value 3,
Accumulation out counter 2 for set value 3,
is stored.

The counter table for setting value 4 includes the following:
Total prize ball counter for setting value 4 1,
Total prize ball counter 2 for setting value 4,
First role cumulative prize ball counter 1 for setting value 4,
First role cumulative prize ball counter 2 for setting value 4,
Set value 4 for the second role cumulative prize ball counter 1,
Second role cumulative prize ball counter 2 for setting value 4,
Accumulation out counter 1 for set value 4,
Accumulation out counter 2 for set value 4,
is stored.

The counter table for setting value 5 includes the following:
Total prize ball counter for setting value 5 1,
Total prize ball counter 2 for setting value 5,
First role cumulative prize ball counter 1 for setting value 5,
First role cumulative prize ball counter 2 for setting value 5,
Set value 5 for the second role cumulative prize ball counter 1,
Second role cumulative prize ball counter 2 for setting value 5,
Accumulative out counter 1 for set value 5,
Accumulation out counter 2 for set value 5,
is stored.

The counter table for setting value 6 includes the following:
Total prize ball counter for setting value 6 1,
Total prize ball counter 2 for setting value 6,
First role cumulative prize ball counter 1 for setting value 6,
First role cumulative prize ball counter 2 for set value 6,
Set value 6 for the second role cumulative prize ball counter 1,
Second role cumulative prize ball counter 2 for set value 6,
Accumulative out counter 1 for set value 6,
Accumulation out counter 2 for set value 6,
is stored.

Therefore, for example, if the current setting value is "2", the count counter table for setting value 2 will be selected. The count counter table corresponding to the setting value described above is stored in the measurement RAM area of the main control RAM 600c.

Next, in step S507 shown in FIG. 29 described later, the main control CPU 600a acquires the input flag of the upper right general winning gate switch 49a1, the input flag of the upper left general winning gate switch 49b1, the input flag of the middle left general winning gate switch 49c1, the input flag of the lower left general winning gate switch 49d1, and the input flag of the special pattern 1 start gate switch 44a stored in the main control RAM 600c (step S141). Then, these input flags are checked (step S142), and if all the input flags are OFF (step S142: NO), the process proceeds to step S146, and if any one of the input flags is ON (step S142: YES), the value is added to the value of the total prize ball counter 1 for setting values 1 to 6 in the counting counter table for setting values 1 to 6 selected in step S140 (for example, if the current setting value is "2", the total prize ball counter 1 for setting value 2) (step S143). Specifically, if the input flag of the upper right general prize opening switch 49a1 is ON, 5 balls are awarded, so +5 is added to the value of the total prize ball counter 1 for set values 1 to 6 (for example, if the current setting is "2", then +5 is added to the value of the total prize ball counter 1 for set values 1 to 6). If the input flags of the upper left general prize opening switch 49b1, the center left general prize opening switch 49c1, and the lower left general prize opening switch 49d1 are ON, 10 balls are awarded for each ON input flag, so +10 (x the number of ON input flags) is added to the value of the total prize ball counter 1 for set values 1 to 6 (for example, if the current setting is "2", then +10 is added to the value of the total prize ball counter 1 for set values 1 to 6). Furthermore, if the input flag of the special pattern 1 start switch 44a is in the ON state, 3 prize balls will be awarded, so +3 (x the number of input flags in the ON state) is added to the value of the total prize ball counter 1 for setting values 1 to 6 (for example, if the current setting value is "2", then the total prize ball counter 1 for setting value 2).

Next, the main control CPU 600a checks whether the game state is low probability (the winning lottery probability is in a normal low probability state) (step S144). If the game state is not in a low probability state (step S144: NO), the process proceeds to step S146.

On the other hand, if the game state is a low probability state (step S144: YES), the main control CPU 600a adds to the value of the cumulative prize ball counter (step S145). Specifically, if the input flag of the upper right general prize entrance switch 49a1 is ON, 5 prize balls are awarded, so +5 is added to the value of the cumulative prize ball counter. If the input flags of the upper left general prize entrance switch 49b1, the middle left general prize entrance switch 49c1, and the lower left general prize entrance switch 49d1 are ON, 10 prize balls are awarded for each input flag in the ON state, so +10 (x the number of input flags in the ON state) is added to the value of the cumulative prize ball counter. Furthermore, if the input flag of the special pattern 1 start gate switch 44a is ON, 3 prize balls are awarded, so +3 (x the number of input flags in the ON state) is added to the value of the cumulative prize ball counter. This cumulative prize ball counter is stored in the measurement RAM area of the main control RAM 600c.

Next, the main control CPU 600a acquires the input flag of the special symbol 2 start port switch 45a1 stored in the main control RAM 600c in step S507 shown in FIG. 29 described later (step S146). If this input flag is OFF (step S147: NO), proceed to the processing of step S152. If this input flag is ON (step S147: YES), add it to the value of the first role cumulative prize ball counter 1 for setting values 1 to 6 of the counting counter table for setting values 1 to 6 selected in step S140 (for example, if the current setting value is "2", add it to the value of the first role cumulative prize ball counter 1 for setting value 2) (step S148), and add it to the value of the total prize ball counter 1 for setting values 1 to 6 of the counting counter table for setting values 1 to 6 selected in step S140 (for example, if the current setting value is "2", add it to the value of the total prize ball counter 1 for setting value 2) (step S149). Specifically, if the input flag of the special symbol 2 start switch 45a1 is ON, 3 balls will be awarded, so +3 is added to the value of the first role cumulative prize ball counter 1 for setting values 1 to 6 (for example, if the current setting value is "2", then the first role cumulative prize ball counter 1 for setting value 2) and +3 is added to the value of the total prize ball counter 1 for setting values 1 to 6 in the counting counter table for setting values 1 to 6 (for example, if the current setting value is "2", then the total prize ball counter 1 for setting value 2).

Next, the main control CPU 600a checks whether the game state is low probability (the winning lottery probability is in a normal low probability state) (step S150). If the game state is not in a low probability state (step S150: NO), the process proceeds to step S152.

On the other hand, if the game state is a low probability state (step S150: YES), the main control CPU 600a adds to the value of the first gimmick cumulative prize ball counter (step S151). Specifically, if the input flag of the special pattern 2 start switch 45a1 is ON, three prize balls are awarded, so +3 is added to the value of the first gimmick cumulative prize ball counter. This first gimmick cumulative prize ball counter is stored in the measurement RAM area of the main control RAM 600c.

Next, the main control CPU 600a acquires the input flag of the large prize opening switch 46c stored in the main control RAM 600c in step S507 shown in FIG. 29 described later (step S152). If this input flag is OFF (step S153: NO), proceed to the processing of step S158. If this input flag is ON (step S153: YES), add it to the value of the second role cumulative prize ball counter 1 for setting values 1 to 6 of the counting counter table for setting values 1 to 6 selected in step S140 (for example, if the current setting value is "2", add it to the value of the second role cumulative prize ball counter 1 for setting value 2) (step S154), and add it to the value of the total prize ball counter 1 for setting values 1 to 6 of the counting counter table for setting values 1 to 6 selected in step S140 (for example, if the current setting value is "2", add it to the value of the total prize ball counter 1 for setting value 2) (step S155). Specifically, if the input flag of the large prize opening switch 46c is in the ON state, 15 prize balls are awarded, so +15 is added to the value of the second role cumulative prize ball counter 1 for setting values 1 to 6 (for example, if the current setting value is "2", then the second role cumulative prize ball counter 1 for setting value 2) and +15 is added to the value of the total prize ball counter 1 for setting values 1 to 6 in the counting counter table for setting values 1 to 6 (for example, if the current setting value is "2", then the total prize ball counter 1 for setting value 2).

Next, the main control CPU 600a checks whether the game state is low probability (the winning lottery probability is in a normal low probability state) (step S156). If the game state is not in a low probability state (step S156: NO), the process proceeds to step S158.

On the other hand, if the game state is a low probability state (step S156: YES), the main control CPU 600a adds to the value of the second gimmick cumulative prize ball counter (step S157). Specifically, if the input flag of the big prize opening switch 46c is ON, 15 prize balls are awarded, so +15 is added to the value of the second gimmick cumulative prize ball counter. This second gimmick cumulative prize ball counter is stored in the measurement RAM area of the main control RAM 600c.

Next, the main control CPU 600a acquires the input flag of the outlet switch 50a stored in the main control RAM 600c in step S507 shown in FIG. 29 described later (step S158). If this input flag is OFF (step S159: NO), the process proceeds to step S162. If this input flag is ON (step S159: YES), the value of the cumulative out counter is incremented (+1) (step S160), and the value of the cumulative out counter 1 for set values 1 to 6 in the counting counter table for set values 1 to 6 selected in step S140 (for example, if the current set value is "2", the cumulative out counter 1 for set value 2) is incremented (+1) (step S141). The cumulative out counter is stored in the measurement RAM area of the main control RAM 600c.

Next, the main control CPU 600a checks the value of the cumulative out counter (step S162), and if the cumulative total number of outs has not reached the predetermined value (60,000 balls) (step S162: NO), it proceeds to processing of step S168, and if the cumulative total number of outs has reached the predetermined value (60,000 balls) (step S162: YES), it sets the value of the total prize ball counter 1 for setting values 1 to 6 in the counting counter table for setting values 1 to 6 selected in step S140 (for example, if the current setting value is "2", then the total prize ball counter 1 for setting value 2) to "0" in step S166. The value of the first gimmick cumulative prize ball counter 1 for setting values 1 to 6 (for example, if the current setting value is "2", the first gimmick cumulative prize ball counter 1 for setting value 2) in the counting counter table for setting values 1 to 6 selected in step S140 is stored in the total prize ball counter 2 for setting values 1 to 6 (for example, if the current setting value is "2", the total prize ball counter 2 for setting value 2) in the counting counter table for setting values 1 to 6 selected in step S140 (step S163). The value of the first cumulative prize ball counter 2 for setting value 1 to 6 in the counting counter table for setting values 1 to 6 selected in step S140 (for example, the second cumulative prize ball counter 1 for setting value 2 if the current setting value is "2") is stored in the first cumulative prize ball counter 2 for setting value 1 (for example, the first cumulative prize ball counter 2 for setting value 2 if the current setting value is "2") (step S164), and the value of the second cumulative prize ball counter 1 for setting values 1 to 6 in the counting counter table for setting values 1 to 6 selected in step S140 (for example, the second cumulative prize ball counter 1 for setting value 2 if the current setting value is "2") is stored in the second cumulative prize ball counter 2 for setting values 1 to 6 in the counting counter table for setting values 1 to 6 selected in step S140 (for example, the If so, the value is stored in the second gimmick cumulative prize ball counter 2 for setting value 2 (step S165), and the value of the cumulative out counter 1 for setting values 1 to 6 in the counting counter table for setting values 1 to 6 selected in step S140 (for example, if the current setting value is "2", then the cumulative out counter 1 for setting value 2) is stored in the cumulative out counter 2 for setting values 1 to 6 in the counting counter table for setting values 1 to 6 selected in step S140 (for example, if the current setting value is "2", then the cumulative out counter 2 for setting value 2) (step S166).

Then, the main control CPU 600a clears the values of the total prize ball counter 1 for setting values 1 to 6 of the counting counter table for setting values 1 to 6 selected in step S140 (for example, the total prize ball counter 1 for setting value 2 if the current setting value is "2"), the first jackpot cumulative prize ball counter 1 for setting values 1 to 6 of the counting counter table for setting values 1 to 6 selected in step S140 (for example, the first jackpot cumulative prize ball counter 1 for setting value 2 if the current setting value is "2"), the second jackpot cumulative prize ball counter 1 for setting values 1 to 6 of the counting counter table for setting values 1 to 6 selected in step S140 (for example, the second jackpot cumulative prize ball counter 1 for setting value 2 if the current setting value is "2"), and the cumulative out counter 1 for setting values 1 to 6 of the counting counter table for setting values 1 to 6 selected in step S140 (for example, the cumulative out counter 1 for setting value 2 if the current setting value is "2") (step S167).

The main control CPU 600a then checks whether the game state is low probability (the winning lottery probability is in the normal low probability state) (step S168). If the game state is not in the low probability state (step S168: NO), the counting process ends, and if the game state is in the low probability state (step S168: YES), the low probability cumulative out counter is incremented (+1) (step S169) and the counting process ends. The low probability cumulative out counter is stored in the measurement RAM area of the main control RAM 600c.

<Main control: explanation of winning ball number management process 1>
Thus, as shown in FIG. 16, the main control CPU 600a executes a counting process (step S122) and then executes a counting process (step S123).

<Main control: Explanation of counting process>
This will be described in more detail with reference to Fig. 19. As shown in Fig. 19, the main control CPU 600a checks the value of the low probability cumulative out counter (step S170). If the value of the low probability cumulative out counter is 0 (step S170: YES), the counting process ends.

On the other hand, if the value of the low probability cumulative out counter is not 0 (step S170: NO), the main control CPU 600a adds the values of the cumulative prize ball counter, the first feature cumulative prize ball counter, and the second feature cumulative prize ball counter, and divides the added value by the value of the low probability cumulative out counter to calculate a base value of how many prize balls were won during low probability, and stores this in the bL base monitor work area of the measurement RAM area of the main control RAM 600c (step S171).

Next, the main control CPU 600a checks the value of the cumulative out counter (step S172). If the value of the cumulative out counter is 0 (step S172: YES), the counting process ends.

On the other hand, if the cumulative out counter is not 0 (step S172: NO), the main control CPU 600a adds up the values of the cumulative prize ball counter, the first gimmick cumulative prize ball counter, and the second gimmick cumulative prize ball counter, and divides the added value by the value of the cumulative out counter to calculate a base value of how many prize balls have been won, and stores this in the b6 base monitor work area of the measurement RAM area of the main control RAM 600c (step S173).

Next, the main control CPU 600a checks the value of the cumulative out counter 2 for set values 1 to 6 (for example, if the current set value is "2", then the cumulative out counter 2 for set value 2) in the counting counter table for set values 1 to 6 selected in step S140 shown in FIG. 18 (step S174).

If the value of the cumulative out counter 2 for setting values 1 to 6 in the counting counter table for setting values 1 to 6 selected in step S140 shown in FIG. 18 (e.g., if the current setting value is "2", the cumulative out counter 2 for setting value 2) has reached 60,000 (step S174: YES), the main control CPU 600a will select the first role cumulative prize ball counter 2 for setting values 1 to 6 in the counting counter table for setting values 1 to 6 selected in step S140 shown in FIG. 18 (e.g., if the current setting value is "2", the first role cumulative prize ball counter 2 for setting value 2) and the first role cumulative prize ball counter 2 for setting values 1 to 6 in the counting counter table for setting values 1 to 6 selected in step S140 shown in FIG. The value of the second gimmick cumulative prize ball counter 2 for setting values 1 to 6 in the counting counter table for setting values 1 to 6 selected in step S140 shown in FIG. 18 is added to the value of the second gimmick cumulative prize ball counter 2 for setting value 2 (for example, if the current setting value is "2", then the second gimmick cumulative prize ball counter 2 for setting value 2) in the counting counter table for setting values 1 to 6 selected in step S140 shown in FIG. 18, and the gimmick ratio is calculated by dividing the value by the value of the total prize ball counter 2 for setting values 1 to 6 in the counting counter table for setting values 1 to 6 selected in step S140 shown in FIG. 18 (for example, if the current setting value is "2", then the total prize ball counter 2 for setting value 2), and the gimmick ratio is stored in the y6 gimmick ratio work area of the measurement RAM area of the main control RAM 600c (step S175).

Then, the main control CPU 600a calculates the role ratio for the large prize opening by dividing the value of the second role cumulative prize ball counter 2 for setting values 1 to 6 in the counting counter table for setting values 1 to 6 selected in step S140 shown in FIG. 18 (for example, if the current setting value is "2", the second role cumulative prize ball counter 2 for setting value 2) by the value of the total prize ball counter 2 for setting values 1 to 6 in the counting counter table for setting values 1 to 6 selected in step S120 shown in FIG. 18 (for example, if the current setting value is "2", the total prize ball counter 2 for setting value 2), and stores the ratio in the yA role ratio work area in the measurement RAM area of the main control RAM 600c (step S176), completing the counting process.

On the other hand, if the value of the cumulative out counter 2 for setting values 1 to 6 in the counting counter table for setting values 1 to 6 selected in step S140 shown in FIG. 18 (for example, if the current setting value is "2", the cumulative out counter 2 for setting value 2) has not reached 60,000 (step S174: NO), the main control CPU 600a selects the first role cumulative prize ball counter 1 for setting values 1 to 6 in the counting counter table for setting values 1 to 6 selected in step S140 shown in FIG. 18 (for example, if the current setting value is "2", the first role cumulative prize ball counter 1 for setting value 2) and the first role cumulative prize ball counter 1 for setting values 1 to 6 in the counting counter table for setting values 1 to 6 selected in step S140 shown in FIG. The value of the second gimmick cumulative prize ball counter 1 for setting values 1 to 6 in the selected counting counter table for setting values 1 to 6 (for example, if the current setting value is "2", then the second gimmick cumulative prize ball counter 1 for setting value 2) is added, and the added value is divided by the value of the total prize ball counter 1 for setting values 1 to 6 in the counting counter table for setting values 1 to 6 selected in step S140 shown in FIG. 18 (for example, if the current setting value is "2", then the total prize ball counter 1 for setting value 2) to calculate the gimmick ratio, which is then stored in the y6 gimmick ratio work area of the measurement RAM area of the main control RAM 600c (step S177).

Then, the main control CPU 600a calculates the role ratio for the large prize opening by dividing the value of the second role cumulative prize ball counter 1 for setting values 1 to 6 in the counting counter table for setting values 1 to 6 selected in step S140 shown in FIG. 18 (for example, if the current setting value is "2", the second role cumulative prize ball counter 1 for setting value 2) by the value of the total prize ball counter 1 for setting values 1 to 6 in the counting counter table for setting values 1 to 6 selected in step S140 shown in FIG. 18 (for example, if the current setting value is "2", the total prize ball counter 1 for setting value 2), and stores the ratio in the yA role ratio work area in the measurement RAM area of the main control RAM 600c (step S178), completing the counting process.

<Main control: explanation of prize ball winning number management process 1>
Thus, after completing the above-mentioned processing, the main control CPU 600a executes counting processing (step S123) and then executes suppression device counting processing (step S124) as shown in FIG. 16.

<Main control: explanation of suppression device counting process>
This will be explained in more detail with reference to Fig. 20. As shown in Fig. 20, the main control CPU 600a checks the value of the game stop flag (step S180). If the game stop flag is set to 5AH (step S180: = 5AH), the main control CPU 600a ends the suppression device counting process.

On the other hand, if the game stop flag is not set to 5AH (step S180: ≠ 5AH), the main control CPU 600a checks the value of the operation status flag (step S181). If the value of the operation status flag is 2 or more (step S181: ≧ 2), the main control CPU 600a checks whether or not a jackpot game is in progress (step S182). If a jackpot game is in progress (step S182: YES), the suppression device counting process ends.

On the other hand, if a jackpot is not being played (step S182: NO), the operation status flag is set to "3" (step S183), and the suppression device counting process ends.

On the other hand, if the value of the operation status flag is less than 2 (step S181: < 2), the main control CPU 600a subtracts the number of outs from the difference ball counter (step S184). Specifically, in the process of step S206 shown in FIG. 21 described later, the main control CPU 600a reads the ON signal of the out switch 50a (see FIG. 4) stored in the main control RAM 600c and subtracts it from the difference ball counter. In addition to such a difference ball counter, a counter that reads the ON signal of the out switch 50a (see FIG. 4) and counts the number of outs may be provided. In that case, the count value will be larger than the cumulative out counter for measurement described above (e.g., 2 bytes), so it is better to increase the size of the main control RAM 600c (e.g., 3 bytes).

Next, the main control CPU 600a adds the number of prize balls to the difference ball counter (step S185). Specifically, in the process of step S206 shown in FIG. 21 described later, the main control CPU 600a reads the ON signals of the special symbol 1 start port switch 44a (see FIG. 4), the special symbol 2 start port switch 45a1 (see FIG. 4), the upper right general prize port switch 49a1 (see FIG. 4), the upper left general prize port switch 49b1 (see FIG. 4), the middle left general prize port switch 49c1 (see FIG. 4), the lower left general prize port switch 49d1 (see FIG. 4), and the large prize port switch 46c (see FIG. 4) stored in the main control RAM 600c, calculates the number of prize balls corresponding to these switches, and then adds the number of prize balls to the difference ball counter. Note that the difference ball counter has a larger count value than the prize ball counter for measurement described above (e.g., 2 bytes), so it is better to make the size of the main control RAM 600c larger (e.g., 3 bytes).

Then, the main control CPU 600a checks whether the difference ball counter is equal to or greater than the second reference value. That is, it checks whether the difference ball counter is greater than 95,000 difference balls (difference ball counter > 195,000) (step S186). If the difference ball counter is equal to or greater than the second reference value (step S186: YES), the main control CPU 600a checks whether a jackpot is being played (step S187). If a jackpot is being played (step S187: YES), the operation status flag is set to "2" (step S188), and the suppression device counting process is terminated.

On the other hand, if a jackpot is not being played (step S187: NO), the operation status flag is set to "3" (step S183), and the suppression device counting process ends.

On the other hand, if the difference ball counter is not equal to or greater than the second reference value (step S186: NO), the main control CPU 600a checks whether the difference ball counter is equal to or greater than the first reference value. In other words, it checks whether the difference ball counter is greater than 90,000 difference balls (step S189). If the difference ball counter is equal to or greater than the first reference value (step S189: YES), the main control CPU 600a sets the operation status flag to "1" (step S190) and ends the suppression device counting process.

On the other hand, if the ball difference counter is not equal to or greater than the first reference value (step S189: NO), the main control CPU 600a sets the operation status flag to "0" (step S191) and ends the suppression device counting process.

<Main control: explanation of prize ball winning number management process 1>
Thus, after completing the above-mentioned processing, the main control CPU 600a restores the contents of the register that had been saved in the measurement stack area of the main control RAM 600c, as shown in Figure 16 (step S125), and completes the prize ball number management processing 1.

<Main control: Explanation of timer interrupt processing>
Next, with reference to FIG. 21, a timer interrupt program that interrupts the above-mentioned main processing and is started every 4 ms will be described.

When this timer interrupt occurs, a save process is executed to save the contents of the registers in the main control CPU 600a to the normal stack area of the main control RAM 600c (step S200), and then a voltage abnormality check process is executed (step S201). This voltage abnormality check process is the same process as the power supply abnormality check process shown in FIG. 13.

Next, the main control CPU 600a checks the game stop flag indicating that the game is stopped due to the operation of the suppression device (saving function) (step S202). If the game stop flag is set to 5AH (step S202: = 5AH), the main control CPU 600a turns off the solenoid port (step S203), turns off the LED common port (step S204), and proceeds to the processing of step S216. As a result, when the game stops during the change, no pattern change performance that stops the change of the decorative pattern is performed at all, and further, the special pattern display device 51, the normal pattern display device 52, and the 7-segment display device 53a are turned off, and the display of the number of balls reserved for the start is also hidden. Furthermore, even if play is to be stopped when fraudulent activity is detected, the main control CPU 600a can be made to check the fraudulent play stop flag used when fraudulent activity is detected, and if 5AH is set, the main control CPU 600a can be made to carry out the same process.

On the other hand, if the game stop flag is not set to 5AH (step S202: ≠ 5AH), the main control CPU 600a performs suppression device operation management processing related to the operation of the suppression device (saving function) (step S205). Details of this processing will be described later.

Next, the main control CPU 600a inputs the ON/OFF signals of various switches including the special symbol 1 start port switch 44a (see FIG. 4), the special symbol 2 start port switch 45a1 (see FIG. 4), the normal symbol start port switch 48a (see FIG. 4), the upper right general winning port switch 49a1 (see FIG. 4), the upper left general winning port switch 49b1 (see FIG. 4), the middle left general winning port switch 49c1 (see FIG. 4), the lower left general winning port switch 49d1 (see FIG. 4), the out port switch 50a (see FIG. 4), and the large winning port switch 46c (see FIG. 4), and stores the ON/OFF signal levels and their rising states in the main control RAM 600c (step S206). Note that this process is not processed if the game stop flag is set to 5AH (step S202: = 5AH) as shown in FIG. 21. Therefore, if a game ball that was launched into the game area 40 using the launch handle 16 before the game was stopped is still present in the game area 40 after the game is stopped, the game ball will not be detected even if it enters the special symbol 1 start port switch 44a, the special symbol 2 start port switch 45a1, the upper right general winning port switch 49a1, the upper left general winning port switch 49b1, the middle left general winning port switch 49c1, or the lower left general winning port switch 49d1. This is because if the ON/OFF state of the switch is affected by fraud such as radio wave cheating, resulting in the generation of winning balls, if this switch management process is executed even after the game is stopped, there is a possibility that winning balls will be illegally acquired while the game is stopped. Therefore, by doing this, the risk of damage to the hall (game center) can be reduced.

Next, the main control CPU 600a performs timer subtraction processing for various timers (normal symbol fluctuation timer, normal symbol gimmick timer, etc.) that manage the time of each game operation (step S207).

Next, the main control CPU 600a performs random number management processing (step S208). Specifically, it performs processing to update the random numbers for the normal symbols, special symbols, etc., used in the winning/losing lottery.

Then, the main control CPU 600a executes normal symbol processing (step S209). This normal symbol processing executes a lottery to determine whether the normal symbol will be selected, and determines the normal symbol variation pattern and the normal symbol stop display state based on the lottery result. The details of this processing will be described later.

Then, the main control CPU 600a executes the normal electric role management process (step S210). This normal electric role management process generates a signal related to the control of the normal electric role solenoid 45b2 (see FIG. 4) required for the normal electric role release game to occur based on the lottery result of the normal symbol process (step S209).

Next, the main control CPU 600a executes special symbol processing (step S211). In this special symbol processing, a lottery is executed to determine whether the special symbol will be selected, and the variation pattern of the special symbol and the stop display mode of the special symbol are determined based on the result of the lottery. The details of this processing will be described later.

Next, the main control CPU 600a executes the special electric role management process (step S212). In this special electric role management process, when the big win lottery result is a "big win" or "small win", a setting process necessary for executing and controlling the winning game corresponding to the win is performed. At this time, a signal related to the control of the special electric role solenoid 46b (see FIG. 4) is also generated. In addition, when the big win lottery result is a "big win" or "small win", a command related to it (presentation control command DI_CMD) is sent to the sub-control board 80. Specifically, a big win start fanfare command (presentation control command DI_CMD) and a big win end ending command (presentation control command DI_CMD) are sent to the sub-control board 80. As a result, the sub-control CPU 800a executes the process described with reference to FIG. 9.

Next, the main control CPU 600a performs right-hit notification information management processing (step S213). In this right-hit notification information management processing, a process is performed to make a "launch position guidance effect (right-hit notification effect)" that gives a right-hit instruction notification in a situation where right-hitting is advantageous, such as when the opening and closing member 45b1 of the electric chute (normal electric role) is in the open state and the time during which the guide member 45c1 is in the guide state is extended, or when the opening and closing door 46a is opened and the large prize opening (not shown) is opened. In addition, when a right-hit notification effect is performed, a command (effect control command DI_CMD) related to the right-hit notification effect is sent to the sub-control board 80 (sub-control CPU 800a) in this right-hit notification information management processing. In response to this, the sub-control CPU 800a sends to the VDP 803 a command list related to an image (video) that displays the determined stop pattern (normal pattern stop pattern) on the liquid crystal display device 41. As a result, the VDP 803 generates image (video) data to display an image based on the command list, and transmits the generated image (video) data to the liquid crystal display device 41, causing the liquid crystal display device 41 to display "Right hit," as shown in Figures 7 to 9.

Next, the main control CPU 600a executes LED management processing (step S214).

Then, the main control CPU 600a performs solenoid management processing (step S215). At this time, the main control CPU 600a checks the signal related to the control of the normal electric role solenoid 45b2 (see FIG. 4) generated in the normal electric role management processing (step S210), and checks the signal related to the control of the special electric role solenoid 46b (see FIG. 4) generated in the special electric role management processing (step S212). Then, based on this signal, the operation/stop of the normal electric role solenoid 45b2 or the special electric role solenoid 46b is controlled, and the opening/closing member 45b1 of the electric chute (normal electric role) is opened, and the time during which the guide member 45c1 is in the guide state is extended/not extended, or the opening/closing door 46a (see FIG. 2) is operated so that the large prize opening (not shown) is opened or closed.

Next, the main control CPU 600a performs an error management process (step S216). The error management process is to determine whether there is an abnormality inside the device, such as a stop in the supply of game balls, a jam of game balls, or a disconnection of the special symbol 1 start port switch 44a (see FIG. 4), the special symbol 2 start port switch 45a1 (see FIG. 4), the normal symbol start port switch 48a (see FIG. 4), the upper right general winning port switch 49a1 (see FIG. 4), the upper left general winning port switch 49b1 (see FIG. 4), the middle left general winning port switch 49c1 (see FIG. 4), the lower left general winning port switch 49d1 (see FIG. 4), the outlet switch 50a (see FIG. 4), or the large winning port switch 46c (see FIG. 4). When an error occurs (including when the cheating detection board 55 detects cheating by the player), a command corresponding to the error (presentation control command DI_CMD) is sent to the sub-control board 80. When an error other than the case where the cheating detection board 55 detects cheating by the player is cleared, the main control CPU 600a sends a command corresponding to the error clearance (presentation control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80.

When the fraud detection board 55 detects a player's fraudulent behavior and issues a high-priority error notification without stopping the game, the sub-control CPU 800a will display the error notification due to fraud on the liquid crystal display device 41 along with the display shown in Figures 6(c), 7(e), 8(e), and 9(e) even if the suppression device (saving function) is activated and a game stop command (presentation control command DI_CMD) is received, and the sound emitted from the speaker 17 will give priority to the error notification due to fraud.

As shown in FIG. 21, this error management process will be carried out even if the game stop flag is set to 5AH (step S202: = 5AH). Therefore, as explained above, even if the game is stopped, the presentation control command DI_CMD corresponding to an error related to the prize balls acquired by the player will also be sent to the sub-control board 80. Therefore, when the sub-control CPU 800a receives a presentation control command DI_CMD corresponding to an error related to the prize balls acquired by the player, it will be given priority over a game stop notification.

Then, the main control CPU 600a executes a prize ball management process (step S217). This prize ball management process outputs a payout control command PAY_CMD to cause the payout control board 70 (see FIG. 4) to perform a payout operation. In addition, in this prize ball management process, the main control CPU 600a transmits a planned number of prize balls command (presentation control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80.

As shown in FIG. 21, this prize ball management process will be carried out even if the game stop flag is set to 5AH (step S202: = 5AH). Therefore, as explained above, even if the game is stopped, the payout/launch control board 70 will execute the payout of game balls related to prize balls that have not yet been paid out. This prevents game balls that should have been paid out from being paid out due to a game stop, so that appropriate processing can be carried out for control up to and after the forced termination without affecting control related to other games.

Then, the main control CPU 600a executes an external terminal management process (step S218). In this external terminal management process, predetermined game information, such as the number of wins during a winning game, the number of times a special pattern changes, winning ball detection information at a winning slot, information during a time-saving game state, and security information, is output from an external terminal (not shown) to a hall computer (not shown) used for managing the game island in the game center.

Next, the main control CPU 600a performs out-of-use area processing (step S219). Details of this processing will be described later.

Next, the main control CPU 600a performs an out command transmission process (step S220). In this out command transmission process, the main control CPU 600a checks whether the outlet switch 50a (see FIG. 4) of the outlet 50 (see FIG. 2) detects the entry of a game ball, and transmits an out ball count command (presentation control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80 each time it detects an entry.

Thus, by receiving the out ball count command and the planned number of winning balls command, the sub-control CPU 800a can manage the detailed difference in the number of balls, making it possible to determine whether or not the suppression device (saving function) will operate, thereby enabling the execution of appropriate presentation.

Then, the main control CPU 600a clears the watchdog timer (WDT) (not shown) (step S221), returns to the interrupt enabled state (step S222), and restores the contents of the registers that were saved in the normal stack area of the main control RAM 600c, ending the timer interrupt (step S223). This causes the process to return from the interrupt processing routine to the main processing (see FIG. 32).

<Main control: explanation of suppression device operation management process>
Next, the suppression device operation management process will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 22, the main control CPU 600a first checks the game stop flag, which indicates that game play will be stopped due to the operation of the suppression device (saving function) (step S230). If the game stop flag is set to 5AH (step S230: = 5AH), the suppression device operation management process ends. Note that even if game play is stopped when fraudulent activity is detected, the main control CPU 600a checks the fraudulent game stop flag used when fraudulent activity is detected, and if 5AH is set, the main control CPU 600a ends the suppression device operation management process.

On the other hand, if the game stop flag is not set to 5AH (step S230: ≠ 5AH), the main control CPU 600a checks the activation status flag (step S231). If the activation status flag is set to "3" (step S231: YES), the main control CPU 600a performs game stop processing (step S232) and ends the suppression device activation management processing. Note that this game stop processing is the same as the processing shown in FIG. 15.

On the other hand, if the activation status flag is not set to "3" (step S231: NO), the main control CPU 600a checks the activation status flag again (step S233). If the activation status flag is set to "2" (step S233: YES), the main control CPU 600a checks whether the value set in the activation status flag matches the value set in the activation status command flag (step S234). If they match (step S234: YES), the main control CPU 600a determines that the command corresponding to that activation status (performance control command DI_CMD) has been sent to the sub-control CPU 800a, and ends the suppression device activation management process.

On the other hand, if there is no match (step S234: NO), the main control CPU 600a sends a suppression device activation warning command (performance control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80 (step S235).

Next, the main control CPU 600a sets the value of the operating state flag to the operating state command flag (step S236). In other words, in this case, the operating state command flag is set to "2."

Then, the main control CPU 600a will end the suppression device operation management process.

On the other hand, if the activation status flag is not set to "2" (step S233: NO), the main control CPU 600a checks the activation status flag again (step S237). If the activation status flag is set to "1" (step S237: YES), the main control CPU 600a checks whether the value set in the activation status flag matches the value set in the activation status command flag (step S238). If they match (step S238: YES), the main control CPU 600a determines that the command corresponding to that activation status (performance control command DI_CMD) has been sent to the sub-control CPU 800a, and ends the suppression device activation management process.

On the other hand, if there is no match (step S238: NO), the main control CPU 600a sends a suppression device activation notice command (performance control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80 (step S239).

Next, the main control CPU 600a sets the value of the operating state flag to the operating state command flag (step S240). In other words, in this case, the operating state command flag is set to "1."

Then, the main control CPU 600a will end the suppression device operation management process.

On the other hand, if the activation status flag is not set to "1" (step S237: NO), the main control CPU 600a checks whether the value set in the activation status flag matches the value set in the activation status command flag (step S241). If they match (step S241: YES), the main control CPU 600a determines that the command corresponding to that activation status (performance control command DI_CMD) has been sent to the sub-control CPU 800a, and ends the suppression device activation management process.

On the other hand, if there is no match (step S241: NO), the main control CPU 600a sends a suppression device inactive state command (performance control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80 (step S242).

Next, the main control CPU 600a sets the value of the operating state flag to the operating state command flag (step S243). That is, in this case, the operating state flag is not "1" to "3" and is therefore "0", so the operating state command flag is set to "0".

Then, the main control CPU 600a will end the suppression device operation management process.

In the present embodiment, the operation status flag is managed as follows: (1) when the suppression device (saving function) is not in operation, it is set to "0", (2) when the suppression device (saving function) is in an operation warning state, it is set to "1", (3) when the suppression device (saving function) is in an operation warning state, it is set to "2", and (4) when the suppression device (saving function) is in operation, it is set to "3". However, as explained above, when the difference in balls increases to 91,000, 92,000, 93,000, and 94,000, In response to this, when the main control CPU 600a sends suppression device operation warning command 2 (performance control command DI_CMD), suppression device operation warning command 3 (performance control command DI_CMD), suppression device operation warning command 4 (performance control command DI_CMD), and suppression device operation warning command 5 (performance control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80, it is possible to more finely divide the state of "2", which is the case of (3) suppression device (saving function) operation warning state. For example, in the case of "2", a suppression device operation notice command (performance control command DI_CMD) is sent, in the case of "2A", a suppression device operation notice command 2 (performance control command DI_CMD) is sent, in the case of "2B", a suppression device operation notice command 3 (performance control command DI_CMD) is sent, in the case of "2C", a suppression device operation notice command 4 (performance control command DI_CMD) is sent, and in the case of "2D", a suppression device operation notice command 5 (performance control command DI_CMD) is sent. In this way, the value managed by the operation status flag can be increased. In addition, in this case, the state of the operation status command flag can be increased accordingly. This can increase the number of branches of the flow shown in Figures 14, 20, and 22. In other words, the processing of the operation status flags "2A" to "2D" can be added to the part related to the operation status flag "2". In this way, the sub-control CPU 800a can execute the processing described with reference to Figures 6 and 9.

<Main control: Explanation of normal pattern processing>
Next, the normal symbol processing will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 23, the normal symbol processing first checks whether the passage of a game ball is detected at the normal symbol start port 48 (see FIG. 2) consisting of a gate, that is, checks the signal level of the normal symbol start port switch 48a (see FIG. 4) of the normal symbol start port 48 (step S250). If the passage of a game ball is detected (step S250: YES), the main control CPU 600a checks the main control RAM 600c (see FIG. 4) in which the number of start reserved balls for the normal symbol is stored to determine whether the number of start reserved balls for the normal symbol is, for example, 4 or more (step S251). At that time, if the number of start reserved balls for the normal symbol is less than 4 (step S251: ≠ MAX), the number of start reserved balls for the normal symbol is increased by 1 (step S252). After that, the main control CPU 600a stores the random number value for determining whether the normal symbol is a winner, which is used to draw the winner of the normal symbol, in the main control RAM 600c (see FIG. 4) in which the number of balls reserved for the start of the normal symbol is stored (step S253), and then proceeds to the processing of step S254.

On the other hand, if the passing of a game ball is not detected in step S250 (step S250: NO), and if it is determined in step S251 that the number of balls reserved for the initial normal pattern is 4 or more (step S251: = MAX), the processing of steps S252 to S253 is not performed, and the processing proceeds to step S254.

When the main control CPU 600a proceeds to processing of step S254, it checks whether the normal symbol win activation flag is set to ON, i.e., whether the normal symbol win activation flag is set to 5AH (step S254). If the normal symbol win activation flag is set to 5AH (step S254: ON), it determines that the normal symbol is winning, updates the display data for the normal symbol (step S263), and then ends the normal symbol processing.

On the other hand, if the normal symbol hit activation flag is not set to 5AH (step S254: OFF), the process state indicating the behavior of the normal symbol, i.e., the value of the normal symbol operation status flag, is checked (step S255). Then, if the normal symbol operation status flag is 00H, the main control CPU 600a determines that the state is before the normal symbol starts to change, and proceeds to step S256, where it is checked whether the number of balls reserved for the start of the normal symbol is 0 (step S256).

The main control CPU 600a checks the main control RAM 600c (see FIG. 4) in which the number of reserved balls for starting normal symbols is stored, and if it determines that the number is 0 (step S256: = 0), it updates the display data for the normal symbols (step S263) and ends the normal symbol processing. On the other hand, if it determines that the number is not 0 (step S256: ≠ 0), it subtracts 1 from the number of reserved balls for starting normal symbols (step S257).

Then, the main control CPU 600a performs a win determination of the random number corresponding to the number of balls reserved for the start of the normal pattern stored in the main control RAM 600c using a normal pattern win determination table (not shown). At this time, if a win has been made, the normal pattern win determination flag is set to 5AH and turned ON. If a win has not been made, the normal pattern win determination flag is turned OFF.

Next, the main control CPU 600a determines the stopping pattern (normal pattern stopping pattern) based on the lottery result determined by the random number lottery process (step S259). As a result, the main control CPU 600a transmits the determined stopping pattern (normal pattern stopping pattern) to the sub-control CPU 800a as a performance control command DI_CMD.

Next, the main control CPU 600a checks whether the normal pattern time-saving flag, which shortens the normal pattern fluctuation time, is set to ON, and if it is set to ON, it sets the normal pattern fluctuation timer to a corresponding fluctuation time, and if it is set to OFF, it performs processing to set the normal pattern fluctuation timer to the normal fluctuation time (step S260).

Next, the main control CPU 600a shifts the memory area of the main control RAM 600c (see Figure 4) in which the random number value used to select the winning or losing normal symbol corresponding to the initial reserved number of balls for the normal symbol is stored (step S261). In other words, if a maximum of four regular pattern start reserved balls can be reserved, the random number value used for the lottery for the regular pattern corresponding to the regular pattern start reserved ball number of four is shifted to the main control RAM 600c (see FIG. 4) in which the random number value used for the lottery for the regular pattern corresponding to the regular pattern start reserved ball number of three is stored, the random number value used for the lottery for the regular pattern corresponding to the regular pattern start reserved ball number of three is shifted to the main control RAM 600c (see FIG. 4) in which the random number value used for the lottery for the regular pattern corresponding to the regular pattern start reserved ball number of two is stored, and the random number value used for the lottery for the regular pattern corresponding to the regular pattern start reserved ball number of two is shifted to the main control RAM 600c (see FIG. 4) in which the random number value used for the lottery for the regular pattern corresponding to the regular pattern start reserved ball number of one is stored.

After this process, the main control CPU 600a sets the normal symbol operation status flag used in step S255 above to 01H, and performs a process of setting the main control RAM 600c (see Figure 4) in which the random number value used to select the winning or losing lottery for the normal symbol corresponding to the initial reserved ball count of 4 for the normal symbol to be played is stored to 00H (step S262).

After completing the processing of step S262, the main control CPU 600a updates the display data for the normal symbol (step S263) and ends the normal symbol processing.

On the other hand, if the processing state indicating the behavior of the normal symbol, i.e., the value of the normal symbol operation status flag, is 01H in step S255, the main control CPU 600a determines that the normal symbol is changing, proceeds to step S264, and checks whether the normal symbol change timer is 0 or not (step S264). If the normal symbol change timer is not 0 (step S164: ≠ 0), the display data of the normal symbol is updated (step S263), and the normal symbol processing is terminated. Then, if the normal symbol change timer is 0 (step S264: = 0), the main control CPU 600a sets the normal symbol operation status flag used in step S255 to 02H, and sets the normal symbol change timer to, for example, about 600 ms in order to maintain the result of the lottery for the normal symbol for a certain period of time (step S265).

After completing the processing of step S265, the main control CPU 600a updates the display data for the normal symbol (step S263) and ends the normal symbol processing.

On the other hand, in step S255, if the processing state indicating the behavior of the normal symbol, i.e., the value of the normal symbol operation status flag, is 02H, the main control CPU 600a judges that the normal symbol is in the confirmation time (the normal symbol has stopped changing after the change), and proceeds to step S266 to check whether the normal symbol change timer is 0 or not (step S266). If the normal symbol change timer is not 0 (step S266: ≠ 0), the display data of the normal symbol is updated (step S263), and the normal symbol processing is terminated. Then, if the normal symbol change timer is 0 (step S266: = 0), the main control CPU 600a sets the normal symbol operation status flag used in step S255 to 00H (step S267), and checks whether the normal symbol hit determination flag is set to ON (5AH is set) (step S268).

As a result, if the normal symbol hit determination flag is set to OFF (5AH is not set) (step S268: OFF), the main control CPU 600a updates the display data for the normal symbol (step S263) and ends the normal symbol processing. Then, if the normal symbol hit determination flag is set to ON (5AH is set) (step S268: ON), the main control CPU 600a sets the normal symbol hit activation flag used in step S254 to ON (5AH is set) (step S269), and then ends the normal symbol processing.

<Main control: Explanation of special pattern processing>
Next, the special symbol process will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 24, the special symbol processing first checks whether or not a game ball (winning ball) has been detected at the special symbol 1 start hole switch 44a (see FIG. 4) of the special symbol 1 start hole 44 (see FIG. 2) (step S300), and then checks whether or not a game ball (winning ball) has been detected at the special symbol 2 start hole switch 45a1 (see FIG. 4) of the special symbol 2 start hole 45a (see FIG. 2) (step S301).

<Main control: Special pattern processing: Explanation of starting port check processing>
This process will be explained in detail with reference to Fig. 25. The main control CPU 600a checks whether the game ball has entered (won) the special symbol 1 start hole 44 or the special symbol 2 start hole 45a, that is, checks the level of the special symbol 1 start hole switch 44a of the special symbol 1 start hole 44 or the special symbol 2 start hole switch 45a1 of the special symbol 2 start hole 45a (step S350). If the game ball has not entered (won) (step S350: NO), the special symbol process ends.

On the other hand, if a game ball is detected to have entered the game (winning) (step S350: YES), the main control CPU 600a checks whether a predetermined number of start reserved balls, which are the trigger for changing the special pattern, are stored in the main control RAM 600c (see Figure 4) (step S351). If the number of start reserved balls is less than 4 (step S351: ≠ MAX), the number of start reserved balls is incremented by 1 (+1) (step S352).

Next, the main control CPU 600a stores the random number value used when the special symbol stops, the random number value for the variation pattern, and the random number value for determining a jackpot in the main control RAM 600c (see Figure 4), which stores the number of start-up reserved balls that trigger the variation of the special symbol (step 353).

Next, the main control CPU 600a checks the current game state (whether the special symbol jackpot determination flag is set to ON, etc.) and determines whether or not pre-reading is prohibited (step S354). If pre-reading is not prohibited (step S354: NO), the main control CPU 600a obtains the random number value for jackpot determination used in the lottery to determine whether or not the special symbol will win, which was stored in the main control RAM 600c (see FIG. 4) in step S353 (step S355), and further obtains a random number determination table for winning at the start port (not shown) (step S356).

Next, the main control CPU 600a performs a lottery for a big win using the random number value for determining a big win obtained in step S355 and the random number determination table (not shown) for when the start gate is entered obtained in step S356, and further determines the type of big win (rank-up bonus win, normal big win, etc.) using the random number value for the special symbol stored in the main control RAM 600c (see FIG. 4) in step S353, determines the variation pattern using the random number value for the variation pattern, and generates a corresponding special symbol start gate winning command (step S357). At this time, in addition to the big win lottery, a lottery for a small win and a lottery for a special time-saving symbol may also be performed, and the type of small win or the type of special time-saving symbol may be determined using the random number value for the special symbol described above, or a random number value different from the random number value for the special symbol, and the variation pattern may be determined using the random number value for the variation pattern, and the corresponding special symbol start gate winning command may be generated.

Next, the main control CPU 600a generates a lower byte start pending addition command corresponding to the special pattern start hole winning command generated above (step S358).

On the other hand, the main control CPU 600a ends the processing of step S358 above, or if the number of start-up reserved balls of special pattern 1 or 2 is 4 or more in step S351 above (step S351: = MAX), or if pre-reading is prohibited (step S354: YES), it generates a start-up reserved addition command for the upper byte according to the increased number of start-up reserved balls (step S359).

Next, the main control CPU 600a combines the lower byte start pending addition command generated in step S358 above with the upper byte start pending addition command generated in step S359 above, and transmits the combined command as a start pending addition command (performance control command DI_CMD) to the sub-control board 80 (step S360).

<Main control: Explanation of special pattern processing>
Thus, when the processing of steps S300 and S301 shown in Fig. 24 is completed, the main control CPU 600a checks whether the special symbol small win activation flag is set to ON, that is, whether the special symbol small win activation flag is set to 5AH (step S302). If the special symbol small win activation flag is set to 5AH (step S302: ON), it is determined that the special symbol is in a small win, and after updating the display data of the special symbol (step S308), the special symbol processing is completed.

On the other hand, if the special symbol small win activation flag is not set to 5AH (step S302: OFF), it is checked whether the special symbol big win activation flag is set to ON, i.e., whether the special symbol big win activation flag is set to 5AH (step S303). If the special symbol big win activation flag is set to 5AH (step S303: ON), it is determined that the special symbol is in a big win, and after updating the display data for the special symbol (step S308), the special symbol processing is terminated.

On the other hand, if the special symbol jackpot activation flag is not set to 5AH (step S303: OFF), the processing state indicating the behavior of the special symbol, i.e., the value of the special symbol operation status flag, is checked (step S304). To explain in more detail, if the value of the special symbol operation status flag is 00H or 01H, the main control CPU 600a determines that the special symbol is waiting to change (indicating that the special symbol has not changed and is waiting for the next change), and performs special symbol change start processing (step S305).

<Main control: Special symbol processing: Explanation of special symbol variation start processing>
This process will be explained in detail with reference to Fig. 26. The main control CPU 600a checks whether the start reserved ball count, which is the trigger for the special symbol to change, is 0 or not (step S400). That is, the main control CPU 600a checks whether it is stored in the main control RAM 600c (see Fig. 4), and if it determines that the start reserved ball count is 0 (step S400: = 0), it checks whether the value of the special symbol operation status flag is 00H or not (step S401). If the value of the special symbol operation status flag is 00H (step S401: YES), the special symbol change start process is terminated.

On the other hand, if the value of the special pattern operation status flag is not 00H (step S401: NO), the main control CPU 600a sends a customer waiting demo command to the sub-control board 80 (see Figure 4) as a performance control command DI_CMD (step S402).

Next, the main control CPU 600a sets the special pattern operation status flag to 00H (step S403) and ends the special pattern change start process.

On the other hand, if the main control CPU 600a determines that the number of start-up pending balls is not 0 (step S400: ≠ 0), it subtracts 1 from the start-up pending ball count (-1) (step S404) and sends a start-up pending subtraction command to the sub-control board 80 (sub-control CPU 800a) as a performance control command DI_CMD (step S305).

Next, the main control CPU 600a shifts the memory area in the main control RAM 600c (see FIG. 4) in which the random number values used when the special symbol stops, the random number values for the variable pattern, and the random number values for determining whether or not a jackpot has been won (see step S353 in FIG. 25) are stored (step S406), and sets the area in the main control RAM 600c (see FIG. 4) in which the random number values used to determine whether or not a special symbol corresponding to start hold 4 has been won or lost to the lottery are stored to 0 (step S407).

Then, the main control CPU 600a performs a win determination process (step S408). Specifically, the main control CPU 600a executes a lottery for determining whether or not the special symbol 1 is a winner, and a lottery for whether or not the special symbol 2 is a winner. If a big win is won, the special symbol big win determination flag is set to 5AH and turned ON, and if a small win is won, the special symbol small win determination flag is set to 5AH and turned ON.

Next, after completing the winning judgment process (step S408) as described above, the main control CPU 600a performs a special time-saving symbol winning judgment process (step S409). More specifically, the main control CPU 600a executes a lottery to determine whether the special time-saving symbol is a winning symbol. If the special time-saving symbol is a winning symbol, the special time-saving symbol winning judgment flag is set to 5AH and turned ON.

Next, after completing the special time-saving pattern hit determination process (step S409) as described above, the main control CPU 600a generates a stopping pattern for the special pattern using the random number value used when the special pattern stops, which was stored in the main control RAM 600c (see Figure 4) in step S353 of Figure 25 (step S410).

Next, the main control CPU 600a prepares to transition to a game state such as a normal state, a time-saving state, a latent high probability state, a high probability state, or an advantageous game state (step S411).

Next, the main control CPU 600a generates a special symbol variation pattern using the random number value for variation pattern stored in the main control RAM 600c (see FIG. 4) in step S353 of FIG. 23, and transmits the variation pattern command for the generated special symbol variation pattern as a performance control command DI_CMD to the sub-control board 80 (sub-control CPU 800a) (step S412).

Next, the main control CPU 600a sets the special pattern changing flag to 5AH and turns it ON (step S413).

Next, the main control CPU 600a generates a pattern designation command that designates the special pattern to be displayed on the liquid crystal display device 41 (step 414), and performs processing to transmit the generated pattern designation command to the sub-control board 80 (sub-control CPU 800a) as a performance control command DI_CMD (step S415).

Next, the main control CPU 600a sets the special pattern operation status flag to 02H (step S416) and ends the special pattern change start process.

<Main control: Explanation of special pattern processing>
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 24, when the value of the special pattern operation status flag is 02H, the main control CPU 600a determines that the special pattern is changing (indicating that the special pattern is currently changing), and performs special pattern changing processing (step S306).

<Main control: Special pattern processing: Explanation of processing during special pattern fluctuation>
This process will be explained in detail with reference to Fig. 27. First, the main control CPU 600a checks whether the time set in the special symbol fluctuation timer in step S412 in Fig. 26 has elapsed, i.e., whether it has reached 0 (step S420). If the special symbol fluctuation timer is not 0 (step S420: NO), the main control CPU 600a ends the special symbol fluctuation process.

On the other hand, if the special symbol fluctuation timer is 0 (step S420: YES), the main control CPU 600a sends a symbol determination command as a performance control command DI_CMD to the sub-control board 80 (sub-control CPU 800a) (step S421). In response, the sub-control CPU 800a sends a command list for determining the symbol to the VDP 803. In response, the VDP 803 generates image (video) data to display an image based on the command list, and sends the generated image (video) data to the liquid crystal display device 41. As a result, the liquid crystal display device 41 displays images such as those shown in Figures 5(a), (d), and 6(a).

Next, the main control CPU 600a sets the special symbol operation status flag to 03H, and sets the special symbol changing flag to 00H. Furthermore, the main control CPU 600a sets the special symbol changing timer to, for example, about 500 ms in order to maintain the result of the special symbol winning/losing lottery for a certain period of time (step S422). Thereafter, the main control CPU 600a ends the special symbol changing process.

<Main control: Explanation of special pattern processing>
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 24, if the value of the special pattern operation status flag is 03H, the main control CPU 600a determines that the special pattern is being confirmed (indicating that the special pattern fluctuation has ended and is stopped), and performs processing during the special pattern confirmation time (step S307).

<Main control: Special pattern processing: Explanation of processing during special pattern confirmation>
This process will be explained in detail with reference to Fig. 28. First, the main control CPU 600a checks whether the time set in the special symbol change timer in step S412 in Fig. 26 has elapsed, i.e., whether it has reached 0 (step S450). If the special symbol change timer is not 0 (step S450: ≠ 0), the main control CPU 600a ends the special symbol confirmation time process.

On the other hand, if the special symbol fluctuation timer is 0 (step S450: = 0), the main control CPU 600a sets the special symbol operation status flag to 01H (step S451) and checks whether the special symbol jackpot determination flag is set to ON (whether 5AH is set) (step S452). If the special symbol jackpot determination flag is set to ON (if 5AH is set) (step S452: YES), the special symbol jackpot determination flag is set to 00H, the special symbol jackpot operation flag is set to 5AH, the special symbol time-saving flag is set to 00H, the special symbol probability change flag is set to 00H, and the special symbol time-saving count counter and the special symbol probability change count counter described later are set to 00H (step S453). After that, the main control CPU 600a ends the special symbol confirmation time processing.

On the other hand, if the special symbol big win determination flag is not set to ON (5AH is not set) (step S452: NO), the main control CPU 600a checks whether the special symbol small win determination flag is set to ON (5AH is set) (step S454). If the special symbol small win determination flag is set to ON (5AH is set) (step S454: YES), the special symbol small win determination flag is set to 00H and the special symbol small win activation flag is set to 5AH (step S455).

After completing the processing of step S455 above, or if the special pattern small win determination flag is not set to ON (if 5AH is not set) (step S454: NO), the main control CPU 600a checks whether the value of the special pattern time-saving counter is 0 (step S456).

If the value of the special pattern time-saving count counter is not 0 (step S456: NO), the value of the special pattern time-saving count counter is decremented by 1 (-1) (step S457), and the main control CPU 600a checks again whether the value of the special pattern time-saving count counter is 0 (step S458). Then, if the value of the special pattern time-saving count counter is 0 (step S458: YES), various settings are made when the special pattern time-saving count ends (step S459).

After completing the processing of step S459 above, or if the value of the special pattern time-saving count counter is 0 (step S456: YES), or if the value of the special pattern time-saving count counter is not 0 (step S458: NO), the main control CPU 600a checks whether the value of the special pattern probability change count counter is 0 (step S460). If the value of the special pattern probability change count counter is 0 (step S460: YES), the main control CPU 600a ends the processing during the special pattern confirmation time.

On the other hand, if the value of the special symbol probability change counter is not 0 (step S460: NO), the main control CPU 600a subtracts 1 (-1) from the value of the special symbol probability change counter (step S461) and checks again whether the value of the special symbol probability change counter is 0 (step S462). If the value of the special symbol probability change counter is not 0 (step S462: NO), the main control CPU 600a ends the processing during the special symbol confirmation time.

On the other hand, if the value of the special symbol probability change count counter is 0 (step S462: YES), the main control CPU 600a sets the special symbol time-saving flag to 00H, performs processing to set the special symbol probability change flag to 00H (step S463), and ends processing during the special symbol confirmation time.

<Main control: Explanation of special pattern processing>
Thus, when any one of the processes in steps S305, S306, and S307 shown in FIG. 24 is completed, the main control CPU 600a updates the display data of the special symbols (step S308), and then ends the special symbol processing.

<Main control: Explanation of processing outside the use area>
Next, the out-of-area processing will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The main control CPU 600a saves all registers to the measurement stack area of the main control RAM 600c (step S500), and saves the stack pointer during normal processing to the measurement stack area of the main control RAM 600c (step S501).

Next, the main control CPU 600a sets the stack pointer address for outside the area of use to the stack pointer inside the main control CPU 600a (step S502).

Next, the main control CPU 600a checks the game stop flag, which indicates that game play will be stopped due to activation (step S503). If the game stop flag is set to 5AH (step S503: = 5AH), the main control CPU 600a performs processing to display "E," indicating an error state, on the measurement/setting display device 610 (see FIG. 4) (step S504), and proceeds to processing in step S508.

On the other hand, if the game stop flag is not set to 5AH (step S503: ≠ 5AH), the main control CPU 600a performs the winning ball number management process 2 (step S505). In this winning ball number management process 2, the performance display value calculated in the winning ball number management process 1 in step S46 shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the measurement and setting display device 610 (see FIG. 4).

Next, the main control CPU 600a performs an outside-area LED update process (step S506).

Next, the main control CPU 600a stores input flags, which are detection information of switches outside the use area, such as the special pattern 1 start port switch 44a (see Figure 4), the special pattern 2 start port switch 45a1 (see Figure 4), the normal pattern start port switch 48a (see Figure 4), the upper right general prize port switch 49a1 (see Figure 4), the upper left general prize port switch 49b1 (see Figure 4), the middle left general prize port switch 49c1 (see Figure 4), the lower left general prize port switch 49d1 (see Figure 4), the out port switch 50a (see Figure 4) and the large prize port switch 46c (see Figure 4), in the measurement RAM area of the main control RAM 600c (step S507). Note that the switches described above are the same switches detected in the switch input management process (S206) of the timer interrupt process shown in FIG. 21, but in this process, they are stored in a measurement RAM area of the main control RAM 600c that is different from the main control RAM 600c in the usage area for ball difference counts, etc. This is because data used in the processing outside the usage area must use the main control RAM 600c outside the usage area that is prepared separately from the main control RAM 600c in the usage area.

Next, after processing step S507 or after processing step S50, the main control CPU 600a performs processing to update the test firing test signal used when outputting various signals related to the game to the test machine during the gaming machine certification test (test firing test) (step S508), restores the stack pointer from normal processing that was saved to the measurement stack area of the main control RAM 600c (step S509), and restores all registers (step S510). The main control CPU 600a then finishes processing outside the area of use.

<Processing contents of the sub-control board>
Next, the processing contents (program outline) of the sub-control board 80 will be specifically described with reference to FIGS.

First, when the power is turned on to the pachinko game machine 1, a power-on signal is sent from the power supply board 130 (see FIG. 4) to each control board to indicate that power has been turned on. Then, upon receiving this signal, the sub-control CPU 800a performs the main processing shown in FIG. 30.

<Sub-control: Main processing>
As shown in Fig. 30, the sub-control CPU 800a first initializes the internal registers and sets the input/output direction of the input/output ports. It then sets the data to be sent from the output port set in the output direction so that it is transferred serially (step S1000).

Next, the sub-control CPU 800a initializes the memory area in the sub-control RAM 800c that stores the performance control command DI_CMD received from the main control board 60 (see FIG. 4) (step S1001). The sub-control CPU 800a then performs interrupt permission setting processing for the input port that receives the interrupt signal from the main control board 60 (step S1002).

Next, the sub-control CPU 800a initializes the memory areas in the sub-control RAM 800c used as a working area and stack area (step S1003), and issues an initialization command to the sound LSI 801 (see FIG. 4). This causes the sound LSI 801 to initialize the registers provided therein (step S1004).

Then, the sub-control CPU 800a checks whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the motor (not shown) that operates the top, left, right, and top left movable parts 43a to 43d (see Figure 2), and checks the memory area in the sub-control RAM 800c in which the motor data that operates the motor (not shown) is stored. If abnormal data is stored, the sub-control CPU 800a issues a command to return the motor to its origin position. This causes the top, left, right, and top left movable parts 43a to 43d to return to their initial positions (step S1005).

Next, the sub-control CPU 800a sets the CTC (Counter Timer Circuit) that is provided inside and has functions such as generating a pulse output at a constant period and measuring time. In other words, the sub-control CPU 800a sets the time constant register of the CTC so that a timer interrupt occurs periodically every 1 ms (step S1006).

Then, the sub-control CPU 800a performs a checksum calculation, which is an 8-bit addition calculation, on the working area of the sub-control RAM 800c (step S1007), and compares the checksum calculation value with the checksum calculation value calculated in the memory backup (see step S1015) described below and stored in the sub-control RAM 800c to confirm whether they match (step S1008). If they do not match (step S1008: NO), a process is performed to clear all areas in the sub-control RAM 800c (step S1009).

On the other hand, if there is a match (step S1008: YES) or after completing the processing of step S1009, the sub-control CPU 800a disables the watchdog timer function (not shown) (step S1010) and refreshes the hardware of the sub-control CPU 800a, VDP 803, etc. (step S1011).

Next, the sub-control CPU 800a reads the presentation control command DI_CMD received from the main control board 60 (see FIG. 4) stored in the memory area of the sub-control RAM 800c, and determines by lottery a presentation pattern corresponding to the content from among a large number of presentation patterns pre-stored in the sub-control ROM 800b (step S1012). At this time, if there is no customer waiting demo command and the game state transitions to a customer waiting demo state in response to a pattern determination command, when the pattern determination command is received, a timer is started and begins counting for a predetermined period of time.

Next, the sub-control CPU 800a performs a process to analyze the input contents of the setting button 15 or the effect button device 13 obtained in the timer interrupt process described below (step S1013). Specifically, the sub-control CPU 800a analyzes whether the setting button 15 or the effect button device 13 was pressed by the player at the moment it was released, or whether it was still pressed.

Next, based on the presentation pattern determined by lottery in step S1012, the sub-control CPU 800a controls the operation of the top, left, right and top left movable parts 43a to 43d (see Figure 2), controls the turning on and off of decorative lamps such as LED lamps mounted on the decorative lamp board 90 (see Figure 4), controls the speaker 17 and controls the image displayed on the liquid crystal display device 41 (step S1014).

Next, the sub-control CPU 800a performs a checksum calculation, which is an 8-bit addition operation on the working area of the sub-control RAM 800c, and performs memory backup processing to store the checksum calculation value in the sub-control RAM 800c (step S1015).

Then, the sub-control CPU 800a checks whether a VSYNC interrupt signal has been sent from the VDP 803 to the sub-control CPU 800a (step S1016). If a VSYNC interrupt signal has not been sent (step S1016: NO), the sub-control CPU 800a repeats the process of step S1016 until a VSYNC interrupt signal is sent, and when a VSYNC interrupt signal is sent (step S1016: YES), the process returns to step S1007 again and repeats the processes of steps S1007 to S1016.

<Sub-control: Data analysis processing>
Next, the data analysis process of step S1014 of the main process will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 31. First, the sub-control CPU 800a generates a command list for generating image data to be displayed on the liquid crystal display device 41 by the VDP 803 based on the performance pattern determined by lottery in step S1012 (step S1050). At this time, when the sub-control CPU 800a receives a suppression device operation notice command, it generates a command list for generating image data for displaying a suppression device operation notice on the liquid crystal display device 41. Then, when the sub-control CPU 800a receives a suppression device operation warning command, it generates a command list for generating image data for displaying a suppression device operation warning on the liquid crystal display device 41. Furthermore, when the sub-control CPU 800a receives a game stop command, it generates a command list for generating image data for displaying a game stop on the liquid crystal display device 41. And further, when the sub-control CPU 800a receives a suppression device non-operation state command, it generates a command list for generating image data for erasing the display related to the suppression device operation displayed on the liquid crystal display device 41. Furthermore, even if a suppression device non-operation state command or a suppression device operation notice command is received within a predetermined period of time after receiving a suppression device operation notice command, a command list corresponding to the command is not generated.

On the other hand, if suppression device activation notice command 2, suppression device activation notice command 3, suppression device activation notice command 4, or suppression device activation notice command 5 is received, a command list will be generated accordingly.

On the other hand, when the sub-control CPU 800a receives a look-ahead command, if a game stop is approaching, such as a suppression device activation command or a suppression device activation warning command, or if a game stop command has been received, the sub-control CPU 800a will generate a command list that limits the look-ahead effects or promotion effects depending on the situation, or will cancel the generation. To explain using a specific example, when the sub-control CPU 800a receives a jackpot start fanfare command, it checks the contents of the suppression device activation notice command that has already been received.

The sub-control CPU 800a checks whether the received jackpot start fanfare command is a jackpot that will give more than 1000 prize balls. Here, there are two types of jackpots: a 10R jackpot (a jackpot that may increase the difference in balls by 1300) and a 4R jackpot (a jackpot that may increase the difference in balls by 400), and the sub-control CPU 800a checks whether the received jackpot start fanfare command is a 10R jackpot or a 4R jackpot.

Next, when the sub-control CPU 800a confirms that it is a 10R jackpot, since there is a risk that the suppression device (saving function) will be activated during the jackpot, when the sub-control CPU 800a receives the fluctuation pattern command at the start of the fluctuation when the jackpot is reached, or when the sub-control CPU 800a receives the jackpot start fanfare command and confirms that it is a 10R jackpot, it does not execute the promotion effect or the reserved consecutive effect during the jackpot, or does not execute the lottery. As a result, the sub-control CPU 800a executes the normal effect during the jackpot round. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9(b), instead of the word "jackpot!" (see image P30), a character saying "Good job!" is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 41 (see image P33), and the upper left corner of the screen of the liquid crystal display device 41 displays "Round 1" (see image P34), which indicates the round of the jackpot game. In other words, by executing the normal round effect, the suppression device (saving function) is ready to be activated at any time.

Next, when the sub-control CPU 800a receives a jackpot end ending command, it will perform an effect that coincides with the stopping of play after a jackpot. For example, as shown in FIG. 9(d), the word "Congratulation" will be displayed on the liquid crystal display device 41 (see image P36). In this way, the player will have a sense of satisfaction that he or she has won all of the benefits, which will increase the player's interest in the game.

Thus, by not executing the promotion effect or the consecutive reserved effect during a jackpot, the player is not notified of the profit that he or she would have obtained, which can eliminate the loss of interest in the game and the cause of trouble due to not obtaining the profit. Therefore, appropriate processing can be performed for control up to and after the forced termination without affecting the control related to other games.

On the other hand, when the fraud detection board 55 detects a player's fraudulent behavior and the suppression device (saving function) stops play, the sub-control CPU 800a generates a command list for generating image data that causes the liquid crystal display device 41 to display both an error due to fraud and information indicating that play has been stopped.

Then, the sub-control CPU 800a generates a control signal for light based on the presentation pattern determined above, and stores it in the sub-control RAM 800c. At this time, if the game is stopped, the brightness of the decorative lamps can be reduced, or all of the decorative lamps can be turned off, or some of the decorative lamps can be turned on and the rest can be turned off. This can reduce power consumption.

The sub-control CPU 800a also determines the operation content of the upper, left, right, and upper left movable parts 43a to 43d based on the performance pattern determined above, and generates motor data for the motor (not shown) of the movable part device 43 according to the determined operation content.

The sub-control CPU 800a further generates a control signal for sound based on the presentation pattern determined above (step S1051). At this time, if the fraud detection board 55 detects a player's fraudulent behavior and the suppression device (saving function) stops the game, a control signal is generated that gives priority to an error notification due to fraud. The generated control signal for sound is then sent by the sub-control CPU 800a to the sound LSI 801. In response, the sound LSI 801 reads sound data corresponding to the sent control signal from the game ROM 805 or sound RAM 802, and outputs it to the speaker 17. As a result, the sound emitted from the speaker 17 gives priority to an error notification due to fraud.

Thus, the sub-control CPU 800a repeats the processing of steps S1050 and S1051 described above until all data based on the presentation pattern determined by lottery in step S1012 shown in FIG. 48 has been generated (step S1052: NO), and when all of the data has been generated (step S1052: YES), it proceeds to processing of step S1053.

Next, the sub-control CPU 800a performs button-enabled processing based on the contents stored in the sub-control RAM 800c in step S1051 and the input contents of the setting button 15 or the effect button device 13 processed in step S1013 shown in FIG. 30 (step S1053).

<Sub-control: command reception interrupt processing>
Next, referring to Figure 32, we will explain the processing that occurs when a performance control command DI_CMD and an interrupt signal are sent from the main control board 60 while such main processing is being executed.

As shown in FIG. 32, when the sub-control CPU 800a receives the interrupt signal, it executes a save process to save the contents of each register to a stack area in the sub-control RAM 800c (step S1100). The sub-control CPU 800a then reads the register of the input port that received the performance control command DI_CMD (step S1101) and calculates a pointer indicating the address of the command transmission/reception memory area in the sub-control RAM 800c (step S1102).

Then, the sub-control CPU 800a again reads the register of the input port that received the performance control command DI_CMD (step S1103) and checks whether the value read in step S1101 matches the value read in step S1103. If they do not match (step S1104: NO), the process proceeds to step S1107. If they match (step S1104: YES), the performance control command DI_CMD received from the main control board 60 is stored in the address corresponding to the calculated pointer (step S1105). This stored performance control command DI_CMD is read out by the sub-control CPU 800a when processing step S1012 shown in FIG. 30.

Next, the sub-control CPU 800a updates the pointer indicating the address of the command transmission/reception memory area in the sub-control RAM 800c (step S1106), and restores the registers saved in the processing of step S1100 (step S1107). This causes the process to return to the main processing shown in FIG. 30.

<Sub-control: Timer interrupt processing>
Next, referring to FIG. 33, a process to be performed when a timer interrupt occurs every 1 ms, which is set in step S1006 (see FIG. 30) of the main process, will be described.

As shown in FIG. 33, when a timer interrupt occurs every 1 ms, the sub-control CPU 800a executes a save process to save the contents of each register to the stack area in the sub-control RAM 800c (step S1150).

Next, the sub-control CPU 800a twice acquires the data of the setting button 15, the data of the performance button device 13, the motor data of the movable role device 43, etc. (step S1151), and checks whether the data acquired twice matches (step S1152). If the data does not match (step S1152: NO), the sub-control CPU 800a repeats the processing of step S1151 until the data matches, and if the data matches (step S1152: YES), it stores the matching data in the sub-control RAM 800c (step S1153).

Next, the sub-control CPU 800a receives a signal from the setting button 15 or the effect button device 13 (step S1154). This received signal is analyzed by the button analysis process of step S1013 shown in FIG. 30.

Next, the sub-control CPU 800a transmits the light-related control signal stored in the sub-control RAM 800c in step S1051 shown in FIG. 31 to the decorative lamp board 90 (see FIG. 4), and also transmits the control signal required to turn on or off the identification lamp device 51A (see FIG. 2) (step S1155). This causes the decorative lamp to be turned on or off, and the lamp performance is performed.

Next, the sub-control CPU 800a restores the registers that were saved in step S1150 (step S1156). This returns to the main processing shown in FIG. 30.

<Sub-control: Command list>
The command list generated in step S1050 shown in FIG. 31 will now be described in detail with reference to FIG.

This command list is a sequence of commands for the VDP803, but the contents and order of the commands differ slightly depending on whether you are instructing the drawing of a video or a still image.

When instructing VDP803 to draw a video, the initial command list is as shown in Figure 34(a) and the regular command list is as shown in Figure 34(b).

As shown in FIG. 34(a), the sub-control CPU 800a first generates a command to set the memory area of the DDR2 SDRAM 804 in which the frame buffer area is set, and the memory area of the DDR2 SDRAM 804 in which video data is stored (step S1200).

Next, a command is generated to instruct the decoding of the video (step S1201). Specifically, this is an instruction as to which compressed video data to decode, and is given together with the address of the CG data storage area of the game ROM 805 shown in FIG. 4 where the relevant video is stored, the number of frames of the video, etc.

Next, the command for the termination process is entered to complete the generation of the initial command list (step S1202).

Next, the sub-control CPU 800a generates the regular command list shown in FIG. 34(b).

As shown in FIG. 34(b), this steady command list is composed of video rendering instructions, and in the initial command list, a command is generated to determine which frame number of the decoded data is to be rendered at which coordinate position on the liquid crystal display device 41 for the decoded video data (step S1203). Next, a termination command is entered to complete the generation of the steady command list (step S1204).

On the other hand, when instructing the VDP 803 to draw a still image, as shown in FIG. 34(c), the sub-control CPU 800a first generates a command to set the memory area of the DDR2 SDRAM 804 in which the frame buffer area is set, and the memory area of the built-in VRAM (not shown) in which the still image data is stored (step S1210).

Next, a command is generated to instruct decoding of the still image (step S1211). Specifically, this is an instruction as to which still image compressed data to decode, and is instructed together with the address and data size of the CG data storage area of the game ROM 805 shown in FIG. 4 where the corresponding still image is stored.

Next, a command is generated to indicate at what coordinate position on the liquid crystal display device 41 the decoded still image data should be drawn, and in what manner (rotation angle, reduction/enlargement, etc.) (step S1212). Next, a termination command is entered, completing the generation of the command list for still images (step S1213).

These command lists for moving images and still images are sent to the VDP 803 (see FIG. 4), processed appropriately, and then sent to the liquid crystal display device 41. This causes the desired image to be displayed on the liquid crystal display device 41. To give specific examples, the images shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 9 are displayed.

According to the present embodiment described above, even if the amount of game value acquired by the player exceeds a certain amount and the game is forcibly ended, appropriate processing can be performed for control up to the forced end and control after the forced end without affecting control related to other games.

In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the initial value of the difference ball counter is set to 100,000 balls, but the initial value of the difference ball counter may be set to 0. In this way, the difference balls described above are the "number of game balls paid out to the player" minus the "number of game balls fired into the game area 40 by the player using the firing handle 16" = the "number of prize balls actually won by the player (the number of prize balls actually in the player's hand)". This is the maximum number of difference balls actually won by the player, and even if the negative state continues, it is possible to stop the game if the number of prize balls won by the player increases drastically.

When the difference ball counter is set to 0 as an initial value, if the difference ball counter is 0, the difference ball counter is not decremented even if the player has fired a ball into the play area 40 using the firing handle 16. That is, in step S184 shown in FIG. 20, if the difference ball counter is 0, the number of outs is not decremented. Then, in step S185 shown in FIG. 20, the number of winning balls is added to the difference ball counter, and when the difference ball counter reaches a value indicating that the difference balls have exceeded 95,000 (difference ball counter > 95,000), the game is stopped.

In addition, in this embodiment, an example is shown in which the sound LSI 801 and the VDP 803 are configured separately, but they may also be integrated into one chip.

In addition, in this embodiment, an example is shown in which the sub-control CPU 800a is provided within the sub one-chip microcomputer 800, but this is not limiting, and the sub-control CPU 800a may be provided within the VDP 803.

1 Pachinko game machine 44 Special pattern 1 starting hole (winning hole)
44a Special symbol 1 start switch (winning detection means)
45a Special pattern 2 starting hole (winning hole)
45a1 Special symbol 2 start switch (winning detection means)
46c Large prize opening switch (prize detection means)
49a Top right general prize entry gate (prize entry gate)
49b Top left general prize entry (prize entry)
49c Left center general prize entrance (prize entrance)
49d Bottom left general prize entry (prize entry)
49a1 Upper right general winning port switch (winning detection means)
49b1 Upper left general winning port switch (winning detection means)
49c1 Left center general winning port switch (winning detection means)
49d1 Lower left general winning port switch (winning detection means)
50 Outlet 50a Outlet switch (out detection means)
600a Main control CPU (command transmission means)
800a Sub-control CPU (sub-control means)

Claims (1)

An out detection means for detecting a game ball launched into the game area or discharged from the game area to outside the game area;
A winning detection means for detecting a gaming ball passing through a winning hole;
a counter that counts according to the number of outs based on the detection result of the out detection means and the number of game values based on the detection result of the winning detection means;
a command transmission means for transmitting a specific command when the counting counter exceeds a predetermined value;
a sub-control means for receiving the specific command transmitted by the command transmission means;
A game stop means for stopping a game when the counting counter exceeds the predetermined value,
A plurality of game management states can be transitioned to according to the value of the counting counter,
Among the game management states, when the counting counter is equal to or less than the predetermined value and the game is not stopped, if power is restored, the game returns to a first game management state in which the counting counter is initialized, whereas when power is restored in a game management state in which the counting counter exceeds the predetermined value and the game state is a special game state, the game returns to a second game management state in which the game transitions to a game stopped state after the special game state ends by checking an operation flag that manages the game management state or by not initializing the counting counter;
The sub-control means has an error notification means for notifying an error,
When the error notification means notifies an error in response to an error occurring before the specific command is received,
Among the errors, if a first error occurs before receiving the specific command and a first error notification is performed, the first error notification is stopped by transitioning to the game stop state,
Among the errors, if a second error occurs before receiving the specific command and a second error notification is performed, the second error notification is continued even if the game is stopped,
The gaming machine performs the second error notification even when the second error has not occurred before the game stop state and the second error newly occurs after the game stop state.

Images