JP7712697B2 - Gaming Machines - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an amusement machine.

Gaming machines (reel type gaming machines, slot machines) equipped with multiple reels with symbols arranged on the outer periphery have been known for some time. This type of gaming machine provides a certain gaming value for gaming media such as medals and pachinko balls, and players play to acquire this gaming value. This type of gaming machine also performs an internal lottery and starts the rotation of the multiple reels when the player operates to start the rotation, and controls the multiple reels to stop in a manner according to the result of the internal lottery when the player operates to stop the reels. The result of the game is determined by the combination of symbols displayed on the winning determination line when the multiple reels are stopped, and medals and the like are paid out according to the result of the game.

In recent years, gaming machines with instruction functions that provide instruction information to assist in winning a minor prize, which pays out gaming value when the minor prize is won, thereby changing the probability of winning a minor prize and making it easier to win gaming value such as medals in the AT state where instruction information can be provided, have become popular.

In gaming machines with such instruction functions, a method is known in which the expected gain in gaming value is biased according to the order in which the stop operations are performed, thereby creating a large difference in the gain in gaming value between normal play and play in which instruction information is provided (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2013-169321 A

However, in recent years, when implementing an instruction function, it has become necessary to design it so that non-advantageous and advantageous zones are set up and processing related to the instruction function is not executed in the non-advantageous zones, and processing related to the instruction function is executed in the advantageous zones. For this reason, if there is a bias in the expected value of game value acquired depending on the operation sequence of the stop operations, there is an inherent strategy element of reducing the consumption of game value by intentionally selecting an operation sequence with a high expected value of game value acquired in the non-advantageous zones, and measures to ensure the fairness of the game are necessary.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a gaming machine that can ensure the fairness of games.

(1) The present invention is a gaming machine capable of setting non-advantageous zones and advantageous zones, and having an instruction function capable of providing instruction information to assist in winning a winning combination in an advantageous zone, the gaming machine comprising: a plurality of reels having a plurality of types of patterns arranged on the outer peripheral surface; an internal lottery means for conducting an internal lottery to determine whether a winning combination will be won; a reel control means for rotating the plurality of reels and controlling the reels to stop in a manner corresponding to the result of the internal lottery when a stopping operation is performed; and a specific performance means for notifying a player that a stopping operation should be performed in a specific operation order in which a specific reel among the plurality of reels is stopped first. and a presentation control means for enabling the execution of the above, in which when the stop operation is performed in the specific operation sequence, the expected acquisition value of the game value is lower than when the stop operation is performed in a non-specific operation sequence in which a reel other than the specific reel stops first, and the presentation control means executes the specific presentation when the stop operation is performed in the non-specific operation sequence in the non-advantageous zone, and executes the specific presentation when the stop operation is performed in the non-specific operation sequence in the advantageous zone in a situation in which the provision of the predetermined instruction information is not permitted.

In this invention, because the expected value of game value gained with a specific operation sequence is lower than with a non-specific operation sequence, there is an inherent strategy element that can reduce the consumption of game value by performing a stop operation with a non-specific operation sequence. However, by making it possible to execute a specific presentation when a stop operation is performed with a non-specific operation sequence in both a non-advantageous zone and an advantageous zone, it is not easy to distinguish between the non-advantageous zone and the advantageous zone. Therefore, according to this invention, it is possible to ensure the fairness of the game by preventing a game method that utilizes a strategy element.

1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of a gaming machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 1 is an oblique view showing the internal configuration of a cabinet of a gaming machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a diagram illustrating the functional blocks of a gaming machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an internal lottery table in the gaming machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the winning patterns of small prizes in the gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the winning patterns of small winning combinations and replays in the gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of symbols on a reel in a gaming machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the order in which stop buttons are pressed and winning combinations in the gaming machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the order in which stop buttons are pressed and winning combinations in the gaming machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between winning roles and symbol combinations in the gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between winning roles and symbol combinations in the gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between winning roles and symbol combinations in the gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between winning roles and symbol combinations in the gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between winning roles and symbol combinations in the gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between winning roles and symbol combinations in the gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. A transition diagram of the game state in the gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention. A transition diagram of the presentation state in the gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention. A transition diagram of a game zone in the gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a winning combination when the batting order bell A3 is won in a BB formation state in the gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention. A figure to explain the method of stopping control when the batting order bell A3 is won in the gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention. A figure to explain the method of stopping control when the batting order bell A3 is won in the gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention. A figure to explain the method of stopping control when the batting order bell A3 is won in the gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention. A figure to explain the method of stopping control when the batting order bell A3 is won in the gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the winning combination when the batting order bell A3 is won in the normal state in the gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention. A figure to explain the method of stopping control when the batting order bell A3 is won in the gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention. A figure to explain the method of stopping control when the batting order bell A3 is won in the gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a process for realizing a stop control method in the gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention. A figure comparing the expected value of the ball payout rate for each game state in the gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a batting order bell in a gaming machine according to a modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a batting order bell in a gaming machine according to a modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a batting order bell in a gaming machine according to a modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention. A diagram showing the relationship between the game zone, the presentation state, and the state of the zone display in the first embodiment of the present invention and the conventional method. A figure showing an example of a specific presentation in the gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of a gaming machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 13 is an oblique view showing the internal configuration of a cabinet of a gaming machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. A diagram illustrating the functional blocks of a gaming machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 13 is a diagram illustrating an internal lottery table in a gaming machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the winning patterns of small prizes in the gaming machine of the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the winning patterns of small prizes in the gaming machine of the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of symbols on the reels in a gaming machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the order in which stop buttons are pressed and winning combinations in the gaming machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the order in which stop buttons are pressed and winning combinations in the gaming machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the order in which stop buttons are pressed and winning combinations in the gaming machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between winning roles and symbol combinations in a gaming machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between winning roles and symbol combinations in a gaming machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between winning roles and symbol combinations in a gaming machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between winning roles and symbol combinations in a gaming machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between winning roles and symbol combinations in a gaming machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. A transition diagram of the game state in a gaming machine of a second embodiment of the present invention. A transition diagram of the presentation state in the gaming machine of the second embodiment of the present invention. A transition diagram of a game zone in a gaming machine of a second embodiment of the present invention. A figure showing the role configuration of a batting order special role in the gaming machine of the second embodiment of the present invention. A figure explaining a method of stop control regarding special role of batting order in the gaming machine of the second embodiment of the present invention. A figure explaining a method of stop control regarding special role of batting order in the gaming machine of the second embodiment of the present invention. A figure explaining a specific example of stop control regarding the batting order special role in the gaming machine of the second embodiment of the present invention. 13 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of symbols on the reels in a gaming machine according to a modified example of the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between winning roles and symbol combinations in a gaming machine according to a modified example of the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of special order roles in a gaming machine according to a modified example of the second embodiment of the present invention, and the relationship between the order in which stop buttons are pressed and winning roles. FIG.

The following describes embodiments of the present invention. Note that the embodiments described below do not unduly limit the content of the present invention described in the claims. Furthermore, not all of the configurations described in each embodiment are necessarily essential components of the present invention.

First Embodiment
1-1. Configuration Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal configuration (excluding the reel unit) of the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The gaming machine of this embodiment is a so-called slot machine or reel type gaming machine, which is a type of gaming machine that uses medals as the gaming medium.

In the gaming machine of this embodiment, a reel unit consisting of a first reel R1 to a third reel R3 (multiple reels) is stored in a box-shaped housing consisting of a storage box BX, an upper front door UD, and a lower front door DD. In addition, a power supply unit EU having a built-in power supply unit and various switches such as a power switch ES, a setting change key cylinder KS, and a setting change button BS, and a hopper unit HP as a medal payout device are stored in the lower part of the reel unit storage space PS in the storage box BX. The hopper unit HP is equipped with a medal storage tank MT for storing medals to be used in a game, a payout motor (not shown) consisting of a stepping motor, and a rotating disk (not shown) supported by the payout motor, and is configured so that the rotating disk is rotated by the payout motor to pay out medals one by one. In addition, when the amount of medals stored in the medal storage tank MT reaches a certain amount, the hopper unit HP sends out surplus medals to a cash box CB. In the housing of the gaming machine of this embodiment, for example, a main board MAIN is attached above the reel unit storage space PS, and a sub-board SUB is attached to the side of the reel unit storage space PS. These control boards (main board MAIN, sub-board SUB) are equipped with a CPU (an example of a calculation means), a ROM (an example of an information storage medium), a RAM (an example of a temporary storage means), etc., so that the operation of the gaming machine can be controlled. In this embodiment, the power supply unit EU is provided with a setting change key cylinder KS and a setting change button BS, but the setting change key cylinder KS and the setting change button BS may also be provided on the surface of the main board MAIN.

The first reel R1 to the third reel R3 shown in FIG. 1 have their outer periphery divided into 20 regions (each region is called a "frame") at regular intervals, and each frame has one of several types of symbols. The first reel R1 to the third reel R3 are supported by a stepping motor (reel drive means: not shown), and are rotated around the axis of the stepping motor, and are arranged so that they can be stopped in frame units (predetermined rotation angle units, predetermined rotation amount units) by controlling the number of pulses and pulse width of the drive pulse of the stepping motor. That is, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, the stepping motor rotates the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 in response to the drive pulse supplied from the control board, and when a drive pulse of all phases is supplied from the control board, the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 stop as the rotation of the stepping motor stops.

The upper front door UD and the lower front door DD can be opened and closed separately, and the upper front door UD has a display window DW that allows the spinning and stopped states of the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 to be observed. When the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 are stopped, three patterns (upper row pattern, middle row pattern, and lower row pattern) that are consecutively arranged on the outer periphery of each of the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 can be observed from the front of the gaming machine through the display window DW.

In addition, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, each reel is provided with an upper, middle, and lower display position for observing the patterns through the display window DW, and an active line is set by combining the display positions of each reel. In addition, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, the number of medals required for one game, the so-called specified insertion number, is set to three, and when a number of medals equivalent to the specified insertion number are inserted, an active line L1 consisting of the middle row of the first reel R1, the bottom row of the second reel R2, and the top row of the third reel R3 is activated.

The game result is determined by the symbol combination that is stopped and displayed on the winning line in the display window DW, and if the symbol combination on the winning line corresponds to a predetermined winning combination, that winning combination is treated as a winning combination and medals are paid out from the hopper unit HP.

The upper front door UD is also provided with a game information display unit DS and a zone indicator SEC. The game information display unit DS is made up of LEDs, lamps, seven-segment displays, etc., and displays various game information such as the number of medal credits, the number of medals paid out or won in one game, and the total number of medals paid out or won in BB state. The zone indicator SEC (an example of a specific notification means) notifies whether the player is in a favorable zone and AT state by turning on and off the built-in LED.

The upper front door UD is also provided with a liquid crystal display LCD for game presentation. Various videos (or images) for supporting or livening up the game are displayed on this liquid crystal display LCD. In addition, in this embodiment of the gaming machine, multiple speakers SP for game presentation are provided on the upper front door UD and the lower front door DD. Various sounds for supporting or livening up the game are output from these speakers SP.

The lower front door DD is also provided with various operating means. The operating means include a bet button (insertion operating means) B0 for inserting credited (stored) medals, a start lever (game start operating means) SL for spinning the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 to start a game, and stop buttons (stop operating means) B1 to B3 for stopping each of the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 that are driven to rotate by a stepping motor.

In this embodiment of the gaming machine, when a player inserts a medal into the medal slot MI or presses the bet button B0, the machine is set to a ready state in which it is possible to start controlling the rotation of the first reel R1 to the third reel R3. Then, when the player presses the start lever SL, the control board starts to rotate the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 by driving a stepping motor, and an internal lottery is performed using a random number value. On the condition that the rotation speed of the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 has increased to a predetermined speed, pressing the stop buttons B1 to B3 is permitted (enabled).

After that, when the player presses the stop buttons B1 to B3 at any timing, the stop switch (stop signal output means: for example, a photosensor, a continuity sensor, a pressure sensor, etc.) built into each of the stop buttons B1 to B3 turns on, changing the reel stop signal input to the control board from the OFF state to the ON state.

When the player releases any of the pressed stop buttons B1 to B3 at any time, the stop switches corresponding to the stop buttons B1 to B3 turn off, changing the reel stop signal input to the control board from on to off.

The control board then stops the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 at a stop position that corresponds to the result of the internal lottery based on the change from OFF to ON of the reel stop signal, whose state changes depending on when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed and released.

A medal payout port MO and a medal tray MP are provided at the bottom of the lower front door DD, and a number of medals according to the results of a game are paid out from the hopper unit HP through the medal payout port MO to the medal tray MP. When medals are paid out according to the results of a game, if crediting (internal storage) of medals is permitted, medals equivalent to some or all of the payout number are credited up to a credit limit (50 in this embodiment), and the display value of the credit indicator consisting of a 7-segment display of the game information display unit DS is changed in accordance with the change in the number of medals credited.

Figure 3 is a functional block diagram of the gaming machine of this embodiment.

The gaming machine of this embodiment is controlled by a gaming control means (main board MAIN and sub board SUB) 100. The gaming control means 100 is started by power supplied from the power supply unit EU by the operation of the power switch ES, and receives input signals from input means such as the medal insertion switch 210, the bet switch 220, the start switch 230, the stop switch 240, the setting change permission switch 250, and the setting change switch 260, and performs various calculations to execute a game, and controls the operation of output means such as the reel unit 310, the hopper unit (payout device) HP, the display device 330, and the sound device 340 based on the calculation results. The functions of the gaming control means 100 are realized by hardware such as various processors (CPU, DSP, etc.), ASICs (gate arrays, etc.), ROMs (an example of information storage media), or RAMs, or software consisting of a given program pre-stored in the ROM, etc.

The game control means 100 includes a setting change means 103, an input acceptance means 105, a random number generation means 110, an internal lottery means 120, a reel control means 130, a winning determination means 140, a payout control means 150, a replay processing means 160, a game status control means 170, an AT control means 175, a communication control means 177, a presentation control means 180, a game information storage means 190a, and a presentation information storage means 190b. In this embodiment, the setting change means 103, the input reception means 105, the random number generation means 110, the internal lottery means 120, the reel control means 130, the winning determination means 140, the payout control means 150, the replay processing means 160, the game state control means 170, the AT control means 175, and the communication control means 177 are realized by the CPU of the main board MAIN executing various programs, and the performance control means 180 is realized by the CPU of the sub-board SUB executing various programs. The game information storage means 190a is composed of a main ROM and a main RAM mounted on the main board MAIN, and the performance information storage means 190b is composed of a sub ROM and a sub RAM mounted on the sub-board SUB. In addition, the various programs executed by the CPU of the main board MAIN are stored in the main ROM of the game information storage means 190a, and the various programs executed by the CPU of the sub board SUB are stored in the sub ROM of the performance information storage means 190b.

The setting change means 103 controls the change of the setting values stored in the setting value storage area 1913 provided in the main RAM of the game information storage means 190a. In this embodiment, the game machine is switched between starting in game mode and starting in setting change mode depending on the state of the setting change permission switch 250 when the power is turned on. When the setting key is inserted into the setting change key cylinder KS and turned clockwise from the initial position, the signal state of the setting change permission switch 250 becomes ON. When the power switch ES is operated in this state to supply power from the power supply unit EU, the setting change means 103 starts the game machine in the setting change mode. In this embodiment, the setting value can be selected from six setting values from setting 1 to setting 6, and the probability of winning the internal lottery changes so that the expected value of the ball payout rate increases from setting 1 to setting 6. In this embodiment, the setting values are expressed in the order of setting 1 < setting 2 < setting 3 < setting 4 < setting 5 < setting 6.

When the setting change switch 260 is activated by pressing the setting change button BS in the setting change mode, the setting change means 103 changes the setting value in the order of setting 1 → setting 2 → ... setting 6 → setting 1 → ... each time it receives an input signal from the setting change switch 260, confirms the setting value based on a game start signal from the start switch 230 that is activated by pressing the start lever SL, and controls the confirmed setting value to be stored in the setting value memory area 1913. In this embodiment, the signal state of the setting change permission switch 250 can be changed to the OFF state by returning the setting key inserted into the setting change key cylinder KS to its initial position, thereby making it possible to transition from the setting change mode to the game mode.

In this embodiment, when the power is turned on with the setting change key cylinder KS in the initial position, the gaming machine is started in the game mode based on the signal state of the setting change permission switch 260 being in the off state. In this embodiment, in the game mode, it is possible to play games but it is not possible to change the setting values, and in the setting change mode, it is possible to change the setting values but it is not possible to play games.

In addition, in the setting change mode, the setting change means 103 performs an initialization process to initialize information stored in a predetermined storage area of the main RAM of the game information storage means 190a. In particular, in this embodiment, with respect to the main RAM of the game information storage means 190a, the information stored in the lottery flag storage area 1915, the game status storage area 1916, the performance status storage area 1918, the high probability transition counter 1919, the AT stock number counter 1920, the AT game number counter 1921, the clear counter 1922, and the ceiling counter 1924 is initialized by the initialization process in the setting change mode. More specifically, the memory areas in the main RAM of the game information storage means 190a other than the lottery flag memory area 1915, game status memory area 1916, performance status memory area 1918, high probability transition counter 1919, AT stock number counter 1920, AT game number counter 1921, clear counter 1922, and ceiling counter 1924 are designated as information holding areas, and information stored in the memory areas other than the information holding areas of the main RAM is initialized. For this reason, in the main RAM, the setting value memory area 1913 and credit information memory area 1914 are designated as information holding areas, and the information stored in these memory areas is retained without being initialized by the initialization process in the setting change mode.

The insertion acceptance means 105 accepts the insertion of medals for each game, and performs a process to activate the game start operation for the start lever SL (game start operation means) based on the insertion of medals equivalent to the specified insertion number (3 medals). In the gaming machine of this embodiment, the first press of the start lever SL, which is activated based on the insertion of medals equivalent to the specified insertion number, is accepted as the game start operation, and serves as a trigger to start the rotation of the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 and also serves as a trigger to execute an internal lottery.

In the gaming machine of this embodiment, when a medal is inserted into the medal insertion slot MI, the medal insertion switch 210 is actuated, and the insertion acceptance means 105 sets the inserted medal to an inserted state, up to a specified insertion number. In the gaming machine of this embodiment, a maximum of 50 medals can be stored (accumulated) in the credit information storage area 1914 provided in the main RAM of the gaming information storage means 190a, and when the bet button B0 is pressed with medals credit-stored in the gaming machine, the bet switch 220 is actuated, and the insertion acceptance means 105 sets the medals credit-stored in the credit information storage area 1914 to an inserted state, up to a specified insertion number.

The random number generating means 110 is a means for generating random numbers for the lottery. The random numbers can be generated, for example, by a 16-bit random number circuit that generates 65,536 random numbers from 0 to 65,535 without duplication within one period. Note that in this embodiment, the "random number" includes not only values that are generated randomly in the mathematical sense, but also values that, even if their generation is regular, can actually function as random numbers because the timing of their acquisition is irregular.

The internal lottery means 120 is a means for conducting an internal lottery to determine whether a winning combination will be achieved based on a start signal from the start switch 230, which is activated when the player operates the start lever SL to start playing (first pressing of the activated start lever SL), and performs lottery table selection processing, random number determination processing, lottery flag setting processing, etc.

In the lottery table selection process, it is determined which of the multiple internal lottery tables stored in the main lottery table storage area 1910 provided in the main ROM of the game information storage means 190a is to be used to perform the internal lottery. In the gaming machine of this embodiment, three types of internal lottery tables (internal lottery table 1 to internal lottery table 3) as shown in FIG. 4 are stored in the main lottery table storage area 1910. In each internal lottery table, various roles such as replays, small roles, and bonuses and misses (non-wins) are associated with each of multiple random number values (for example, 65,536 random number values from 0 to 65,535). In this embodiment, three types of internal lottery tables are prepared for each of the six setting values, and the probability of obtaining some winning modes in the internal lottery differs depending on the setting value, and the correspondence between roles and random number values is set so that the higher the setting value, the higher the expected value of the ball payout rate.

In the gaming machine of this embodiment, minor roles 1 to 38 are prepared as minor roles, and the winning patterns of the minor roles are set as shown in Figures 5 and 6, and include batting order bell group a (batting order bell a3 to batting order bell a6), batting order bell group b (batting order bell b3 to batting order bell b6), batting order bell group c (batting order bell c3 to batting order bell c6), batting order bell group d (batting order bell d3 to batting order bell d6), special role group a (special role 1 to special role 3), special role group b (special role 4 to special role 11), common bell a, common bell b, common 1-coin role, cherry a, cherry b, JAC1, and JAC2.

In addition, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, replays are provided as Replay 1 to Replay 4, and replay a and replay b are set as winning modes of the replay, as shown in FIG. 6.

In addition, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, the probability of winning a small prize is the same on internal lottery table 1 and internal lottery table 2, the probability of winning a replay is higher on internal lottery table 2 than on internal lottery table 1, replays are not included in the lottery on internal lottery table 3, and the way in which small prizes are selected on internal lottery table 3 is different from that on internal lottery table 1 and internal lottery table 2, and the probability of winning a small prize is higher than that on internal lottery table 1 and internal lottery table 2.

In addition, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, a big bonus (BB) is provided as a bonus, and the big bonus (BB) is the subject of a lottery on the internal lottery table 1.

In addition, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, the game state can be set to a normal state, a BB established state, and a BB state, and in the lottery table selection process, one of internal lottery tables 1 to 3 is selected as the internal lottery table to be used in the internal lottery depending on the game state.

In this embodiment, the probability of winning bonuses and replays does not change depending on the setting value, but the probability of winning some minor winning patterns changes depending on the setting value, and the higher the setting value, the higher the probability of winning JAC1 and JAC2.

In the random number determination process, a random number value (random number for lottery) is obtained from the random number generating means 110 for each game based on a start signal from the start switch 230, and the obtained random number value is used to determine whether or not it has won a winning combination by referring to the internal lottery table stored in the main lottery table memory area 1910 provided in the main ROM of the game information memory means 190a.

In the lottery flag setting process, the lottery flag corresponding to the winning combination determined to be a winning combination is set from a non-winning state (first flag state, off state) to a winning state (second flag state, on state) based on the result of the random number determination process. In the gaming machine of this embodiment, when two or more types of combinations are won in a overlapping manner, the lottery flags corresponding to the two or more types of combinations that are won in a overlapping manner are set to a winning state. The setting information for the lottery flag is stored in the lottery flag storage area 1915 provided in the main RAM of the gaming information storage means 190a.

In addition, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, a lottery flag (carry-over flag) that can carry over a winning state to the next game or later until a prize is won, and a lottery flag (non-carry-over flag) that is reset to a non-winning state without carrying over a winning state to the next game or later regardless of whether a prize is won or not are prepared. The former carry-over flag corresponds to a big bonus (BB), and the latter non-carry-over flag corresponds to a small bonus and a replay. In the lottery flag setting process, for example, when a big bonus (BB) is won in an internal lottery, a process is performed to carry over the winning state of the lottery flag of the big bonus (BB) until the big bonus (BB) is won. At this time, the internal lottery means 120 performs an internal lottery to determine whether or not the small bonus and the replay are won, even in a game in which the winning state of the lottery flag of the big bonus (BB) is carried over. That is, in the lottery flag setting process, when a small win or replay is won in a game in which the winning state of the lottery flag of the bonus associated with the carryover flag is carried over, the lottery flag corresponding to two or more types of roles consisting of the lottery flag of the already won bonus and the lottery flag of the small win or replay won in the internal lottery is set to the winning state.

The reel control means 130 starts the rotation drive of the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 by the stepping motor based on a start signal from the start switch 230, which is operated by the player's operation to start playing by operating the start lever SL, and controls the reel control means 130 to activate the stop operation by pressing the stop buttons B1 to B3 (stop operation means) corresponding to the reels that are rotating steadily at a predetermined speed (approximately 80 rpm: a rotation speed of approximately 80 rotations per minute), and also controls the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 that are being rotated by the stepping motor to stop in a manner according to the setting state of the lottery flag (the result of the internal lottery).

When the player presses the stop button B1 to B3 while the stop operation for the stop buttons B1 to B3 is enabled and the stop switch 240 is activated, the reel control means 130 controls the reels to stop, by supplying a full-phase excitation drive pulse to the stepping motor of the reel unit 310, based on the reel stop signal from the stop switch 240.

That is, each time one of the stop buttons B1 to B3 is pressed, the reel control means 130 determines the stop position of the reel among the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 that corresponds to the pressed button, and controls the reel to stop at the determined stop position. Note that in the gaming machine of this embodiment, pressing the stop button B1 corresponds to an operation for stopping the first reel R1, pressing the stop button B2 corresponds to an operation for stopping the second reel R2, and pressing the stop button B3 corresponds to an operation for stopping the third reel R3. That is, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, if the order in which the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed is changed, the stop order of the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 is changed. In this embodiment, the stop operation corresponding to the first reel to be stopped among the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 is called the first stop operation, the stop operation corresponding to the second reel to be stopped the second stop operation, and the stop operation corresponding to the last reel to be stopped the third stop operation, and the stop of the reel corresponding to the first stop operation may be called the first stop, the stop of the reel corresponding to the second stop operation the second stop, and the stop of the reel corresponding to the third stop operation the third stop. Also, in this embodiment, the operation sequence of the stop operations that stops the first reel R1 (an example of a specific reel) first may be called the recommended hitting order (an example of a specific operation sequence), and the operation sequence of the stop operations that stops the second reel R2 or the third reel R3 first may be called the irregular hitting order (an example of a non-specific operation sequence).

In the gaming machine of this embodiment, the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 are stopped within 190 ms from the time when the stop button B1 to B3 is pressed. When the reels are stopped within 190 ms from the time when the stop button is pressed, the stop position of each reel is determined by the number of frames required from the time when the stop button is pressed until the reel stops, which is within the range of 0 to 4 frames (predetermined pull-in range). The reel control means 130 controls the reel to stop, which corresponds to the stop button B1 to B3 that was pressed, so that when the symbol corresponding to the winning combination in the internal lottery is located within the range of 0 to 4 frames from the display position on the pay line at the time when the stop button was pressed, the symbol corresponding to the winning combination for which the lottery flag is set to the winning state is displayed at the display position on the pay line on the outer periphery of the reel that corresponds to the stop button B1 to B3 that was pressed.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the red 7 symbol a "red 7a", the red 7 symbol b "red 7b", the BAR symbol a "BARa", the BAR symbol b "BARb", the special symbol "SP", the replay symbol "RP", the bell symbol a "BLa", the bell symbol b "BLb", the watermelon symbol "WM", and the cherry symbol "CH" are arranged on the outer periphery of the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 constituting the reel unit 310. When a symbol existing within 4 frames from the pressing detection position is drawn onto an active line, the symbols arranged at intervals of 4 frames or less on the outer periphery of each reel can be displayed on the active line regardless of the pressing detection position, which is the position of the reel at the time when the stop switch 240 is activated (the time when the pressing of the stop button is detected). In this embodiment, the pressing detection position is the display position of the upper row of each reel.

In addition, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, the reel unit 310 is equipped with a reel index 315 consisting of a photosensor, and the reel control means 130 is able to monitor the current rotation state of the reel by determining the rotation angle (the number of rotation steps of the rotating shaft of the stepping motor) from the reference position of the reel (the frame detected by the reel index 315) based on the reference position signal detected by the reel index 315 each time the reel rotates once. In other words, the reel control means 130 can obtain the position of the reel when the stop switch 240 is activated by determining the rotation angle from the reference position of the reel.

The reel control means 130 also determines the stopping position of the reel during rotation by referring to the stop control table stored in the stop control table memory area 1911 provided in the main ROM of the game information memory means 190a.

The stop control table sets the correspondence between the push detection position, which is the position of the reel at the time the stop switch 240 is activated (the time when the press of the stop button is detected), and the actual stop position, depending on the setting state of the lottery flag. Note that the stop control table may also set the correspondence between the push detection position and the number of sliding frames, which indicates the amount of rotation from the push detection position to the actual stop position, depending on the setting state of the lottery flag.

In addition, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, the priority order for small wins, replays, and bonuses is set as "replay > bonus" and "small win > bonus", and the stop control table is set so that a stop position containing the symbol that constitutes the winning form of the high-priority win is selected according to the priority order associated with each win.

In addition, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, in the stop control table that is referenced when the lottery flags for multiple types of minor roles are set to a winning state in the internal lottery, there are cases where the stop position is set according to the number of pattern combinations that indicate winning forms that can be displayed on the active line (number priority control) and cases where the stop position is set according to the number of medals paid out based on a predetermined payout for the minor role (payout number priority control). When the stop position is set according to the number of pattern combinations that indicate winning forms that can be displayed on the active line, the stop position relative to the press detection position is set so that the stop position with a greater number of pattern combinations that indicate winning forms that can be displayed on the active line is given priority, and when the stop position is set according to the number of medals paid out, the stop position relative to the press detection position is set so that the stop position with a greater number of medals paid out based on the payout for the minor role corresponding to the pattern displayed at the display position on the active line (the stop position that can win a minor role with a greater payout) is given priority. However, when the stop positions are set according to the number of medals paid out, for multiple stop positions that pay out the same number of medals, the priority of each stop position is treated as being the same and a stop position is set relative to the press detection position, and when the stop positions are set according to the number of pattern combinations that indicate winning forms that can be displayed on an active line, for multiple stop positions that pay out the same number of pattern combinations that indicate winning forms that can be displayed on an active line, the priority of each stop position is treated as being the same and a stop position is set relative to the press detection position.

Then, in the stop control table that is referenced when a batting order bell belonging to any of batting order bells a3 to a6 (an example of a specific winning mode), b3 to b6 (an example of a specific winning mode), c3 to c6 (an example of a specific winning mode), or d3 to d6 (an example of a specific winning mode) is won in the internal lottery, the correct batting order (an example of a specific operation order, an example of a specific operation mode) is set for each batting order bell, as shown in Figures 9 and 10.

In the stop control table that is referenced when any of the batting order bells is won, the stop positions are set for the press detection positions so that when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in the correct batting order, a 9-coin small win (an example of a correct small win) will win, and when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in a press order different from the correct batting order, the stop positions are set for the press detection positions so that there are cases where a 1-coin small win (an example of an incorrect small win) will win or where no win will win (a miss). In Figures 9 and 10, "1-coin small win (1/2)" means that in that press order, there is a 1/2 probability that a 1-coin small win will win, and there is a 1/2 probability that a miss will occur. In Figures 9 and 10, "1-coin small win (1/4)" means that in that press order, there is a 1/4 probability that a 1-coin small win will win, and there is a 3/4 probability that a miss will occur.

In addition, when each batting order bell is won, the stop positions are set in each stop control table for the pressing detection positions so that in the correct batting order, the payout number priority control causes the symbols that make up the winning form of a 9-coin minor prize to be preferentially displayed on the active line, and in the pressing order different from the correct batting order, the number priority control causes the symbols that make up the winning form of a 1-coin minor prize to be preferentially displayed on the active line.

In this embodiment, for the batting order bell group a (an example of the first group) and the batting order bell group b (an example of the first group), the correct batting order is valid only when the BB is established, and when the batting order bell is won in the normal state, even if the stop operation is performed according to the correct batting order, there is a 1/2 probability that a 1-coin small role will be won, and there is a 1/2 probability that a role will be missed. That is, in the normal state, for the batting order bell group a and the batting order bell group b, even if the stop operation is performed in a manner that allows the 9-coin small role to be won in the BB state, the stop position is determined so as to avoid the winning of the 9-coin small role by the number priority control. On the other hand, for the batting order bell group c (an example of the second group) and the batting order bell group d (an example of the second group), the correct batting order is valid in both the normal state and the BB state, and the stop position is determined so that the winning of the 9-coin small role is prioritized by the payout number priority control in the correct batting order in both game states.

In addition, in the stop control table that is referenced when a special role belonging to either special role group a (special role 1 to special role 3) or special role group b (special role 4 to special role 11) is won in the internal lottery, the stop position relative to the press detection position is set so that a one-coin small role will be won regardless of the manner in which the stop operation is performed, and if the stop operation is performed in an order that stops the first reel R1 first, a unique stop pattern according to the type of special role can appear.

In addition, in the stop control table that is referenced when common bell a or common bell b is won in the internal lottery, the stop position relative to the press detection position is set so that a 9-coin small prize is won, and when each common bell is won, the 9-coin small prize is always won regardless of the manner in which the stop operation is performed. However, in the stop control table that is referenced when common bell a or common bell b is won in the normal state, the winning of the 9-coin small prize is avoided by number priority control regardless of the manner in which the stop operation is performed, and a 1-coin small prize is always won. That is, in this embodiment, if common bell a or common bell b is won in the BB formation state, a 9-coin small prize is won, and if common bell a or common bell b is won in the normal state, a 1-coin small prize is won.

In addition, in the stop control table that is referenced when a common 1-coin role is won in the internal lottery, the stop position relative to the press detection position is set so that a 1-coin minor role will be won, and when a common 1-coin role is won, the 1-coin minor role will always be won regardless of the manner in which the stop operation is performed.

In addition, in the stop control table that is referenced when Cherry A is won in the internal lottery, the stop position relative to the press detection position is set so that, of the one-coin small wins of small win 14, small win 32, small win 33, small win 36, and small win 38, one-coin small win is given priority, and when Cherry A is won, the one-coin small win is always won regardless of the manner in which the stop operation is performed.

In addition, in the stop control table that is referenced when Cherry B is won in the internal lottery, the stop position relative to the press detection position is set so that the 3-coin minor win 7 is given priority over the 1-coin minor win 36, and when Cherry B is won, there are cases where the 3-coin minor win is won and cases where neither win is won.

In addition, in the stop control table that is referenced when JAC1 is selected in the internal lottery, the stop position relative to the press detection position is set so that a 9-coin small win is always won, and in the stop control table that is referenced when JAC2 is selected in the internal lottery, the stop position relative to the press detection position is set so that a 1-coin small win is always won.

In addition, for the winning patterns of various replays such as replay a and replay b, the stop position relative to the press detection position is set so that one of the replays included in the winning pattern will always win regardless of the pattern of the stop operation.

As for the Big Bonus (BB), it can only be won if the Big Bonus (BB) is won alone in the normal state. There are no misses when the BB is formed, and since there are always overlapping wins of minor prizes or replays with higher priority than the Big Bonus (BB), the stop position for the press detection position is set in the stop control table so that the Big Bonus (BB) is not won.

The winning determination means 140 performs a winning determination process to determine whether or not a winning combination has been achieved based on the stopping state of the first reel R1 to the third reel R3. Specifically, the winning determination means 140 refers to a winning determination table stored in the winning determination table storage area 1912 provided in the main ROM of the game information storage means 190a to determine whether or not the symbol combination displayed on the pay line when all of the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 have stopped is a winning form of a predetermined winning combination. Then, a winning determination table is prepared so that the presence or absence of a winning combination of a big bonus (BB), replay 1 to replay 4, and small prize 1 to small prize 38 can be determined based on the symbol combination displayed on the pay line when each reel has stopped, as shown in Figures 10 to 15.

In the gaming machine of this embodiment, when a winning combination is achieved, a winning process is executed based on the result of the determination by the winning determination means 140. As the winning process, for example, when a small combination is achieved, a medal payout process is performed by the payout control means 150, when a replay is achieved, a replay process is performed by the replay processing means 160, and when a bonus is achieved, a game state transition process is performed by the game state control means 170 to transition the game state.

The payout control means 150 performs a payout control process for the payout of medals according to the game results. Specifically, when a small winning combination is achieved, the payout number of medals in the game is determined based on the payout amount determined in advance for each combination, and the payout control means 150 controls the hopper unit HP (payout device) to pay out medals equivalent to the determined payout number.

The hopper unit HP performs the operation of paying out the number of medals instructed by the payout control means 150. The hopper unit HP is equipped with a payout medal detection switch 325 that is activated each time a medal is paid out, and the payout control means 150 is configured to be able to manage the number of medals actually paid out from the hopper unit HP based on the input signal from the payout medal detection switch 325.

When credit storage (accumulation storage) of medals is permitted, instead of actually paying out medals using the hopper unit HP, a credit addition process is performed to add the payout number to the credit number (the number of medals stored as credits) stored in the credit information storage area 1914 provided in the main RAM of the game information storage means 190a, and a process of virtually paying out medals is performed.

When a replay wins, the replay processing means 160 performs a replay process (replay process) that sets the next game to the same preparation state as the previous game without the player having to insert any medals owned by the player. That is, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, when a replay wins, an automatic insertion process is performed that automatically inserts a number of medals equivalent to the specified insertion number required for the next game without using any medals (including credit medals) held by the player, and the machine waits for the next game start operation of the start lever SL with a winning line corresponding to the specified insertion number set.

The game state control means 170 performs a game state transition process to transition the game state between the normal state, the BB established state, and the BB state, as shown in FIG. 16. In this embodiment, information indicating the current game state is stored in a game state storage area 1916 provided in the main RAM of the game information storage means 190a. The game state transition condition may be one condition or multiple conditions. When multiple conditions are defined, the game state can be transitioned to another game state based on the establishment of one of the multiple predetermined conditions, or the establishment of all of the multiple predetermined conditions.

The normal state is a game state that corresponds to the initial state among multiple game states, and it is possible to transition from the normal state to the BB established state or the BB state. Specifically, if a big bonus (BB) is won in the normal state but the big bonus (BB) is not awarded, the state transitions to the BB established state, and if a big bonus (BB) is won and also awarded in the normal state, the state transitions to the BB state. In the normal state, the internal lottery is performed by referring to internal lottery table 1, of internal lottery tables 1 to 3 shown in FIG. 4, where the probability of winning a replay is set to about 1/7.3 or more and the big bonus (BB) is set as a lottery target.

The BB state is a game state to which a player transitions when a big bonus (BB) is won in an internal lottery in the normal state, but the big bonus (BB) is not awarded. Of the internal lottery tables 1 to 3 shown in Figure 4, the probability of a replay winning is higher than that of internal lottery table 1, so a miss (non-win) does not occur, and an internal lottery is held with reference to internal lottery table 2, which excludes the big bonus (BB) from the lottery.

In addition, in the BB state, the lottery flag corresponding to the big bonus (BB) is maintained in the winning state until the big bonus (BB) is won. In this embodiment, since the symbol combination indicating the winning form of the big bonus (BB) is not displayed on the pay line in the BB state, once the game state transitions to the BB state, it will not transition to the BB state again.

The BB state is a game state to which the player enters when a symbol combination indicating a big bonus (BB) winning form is displayed on an active line. Of the internal lottery tables 1 to 3 shown in FIG. 4, an internal lottery is performed with reference to internal lottery table 3, which has a different selection pattern for minor roles from internal lottery table 1 and internal lottery table 2.

In addition, in the BB state, it is determined whether or not the end condition is met based on the total number of medals paid out during play in the BB state. If it is determined that more than a predetermined number of medals (e.g., 83 medals) have been paid out, the game state control means 170 performs control to end the BB state and return the game state to the normal state. Note that in this embodiment, count information regarding the number of medals paid out in the BB state is stored in the game state memory area 1916.

As shown in Fig. 17, the AT control means 175 changes the presentation state between a plurality of presentation states including an initial presentation state, a normal presentation state (an example of a first state), and an AT state (an example of a second state), sets the presentation state to an AT state under a predetermined condition, determines whether the AT state termination condition is met based on the value of the AT stock number counter 1920 and the value of the AT game number counter 1921, and performs control to terminate the AT state when the AT state termination condition is met. In this embodiment, information indicating the currently-held presentation state is stored in a presentation state memory area 1918 provided in the main RAM of the game information memory means 190a. In this embodiment, when the player is in the AT state, the AT control means 175 displays information (an example of instruction information) corresponding to the correct batting order on the main display 300, which is a 7-segment display provided in the game information display unit DS, when the batting order chance role or the batting order bell is won, thereby performing a correct batting order notification that assists in the winning of the 9-coin minor role (minor role 3 to minor role 6), and the performance control means 180 displays an image corresponding to the correct batting order on the liquid crystal display LCD when the batting order chance role or the batting order bell is won, thereby performing a winning assistance performance that assists in the winning of the 9-coin minor role (minor role 3 to minor role 6), allowing the player to play an assist time game in which it is easier to win medals than when playing in the initial performance state or the normal performance state. In this embodiment, the function of executing the assist time game in the advantageous zone is the instruction function, and the processing that affects the execution of the assist time game is the processing related to the instruction function.

As shown in FIG. 18, the AT control means 175 can set a normal zone (non-advantageous zone) and an advantageous zone, and in the normal zone, the presentation state is fixed to the initial presentation state, which is the initial state, and a lottery is held to transition to an advantageous zone, and by winning the lottery to transition to an advantageous zone, the advantageous zone is started, and the presentation state can be set to the AT state on the condition that the zone is an advantageous zone.

The AT control means 175 performs a lottery for a transition to a favorable zone when the presentation state remains in the normal state or the BB establishment state during play in the normal zone. In the normal state, the AT control means 175 performs a lottery for a transition to a favorable zone based on the fact that a winning pattern of any of the following has been obtained in the internal lottery: special role group a + BB, special role group b, batting order bell group a, batting order bell group b, batting order bell group c, batting order bell group d, common bell a, common bell b, cherry a + BB, cherry b, common 1-piece role + BB, and normal replay a. In the normal state, there are cases where a winning pattern in which the big bonus (BB) is won alone is obtained, in which case the lottery for a transition to a favorable zone is not performed. In addition, in the BB establishment state, the lottery for moving to the advantageous zone is held based on whether the winning pattern of the special role group a, special role group b, batting order bell group a, batting order bell group b, batting order bell group c, batting order bell group d, common bell a, common bell b, cherry a, cherry b, common 1-coin role, or normal replay a has been obtained in the internal lottery. In the BB establishment state, there are cases where the winning pattern of normal replay b is obtained, in which case the lottery for moving to the advantageous zone is not held.

In the advantageous zone transition lottery, the random number value acquired for the internal lottery is compared with the advantageous zone transition lottery table stored in the main lottery table memory area 1910, and it is determined whether or not the advantageous zone transition lottery has been won (advantageous zone win) based on the comparison result. In the advantageous zone transition lottery table, a win or a loss is assigned to the random number value for the internal lottery that corresponds to the winning mode that triggers the execution of the advantageous zone transition lottery, and it is determined that the advantageous zone transition lottery has been won if the random number value acquired for the internal lottery corresponds to the winning mode that triggers the execution of the advantageous zone transition lottery and corresponds to a win in the advantageous zone transition lottery table.

When the AT control means 175 wins the advantageous zone transition lottery in the normal zone, it performs advantageous zone transition processing based on the fact that the advantageous zone transition lottery has been won, starts the advantageous zone from the next game of the game in which the advantageous zone transition lottery has been won, and sets the presentation state to the normal presentation state. In this embodiment, a low probability mode and a high probability mode can be set as the selection mode of the AT lottery in the normal presentation state, and when in the normal presentation state, it stays in either selection mode, and when the presentation state is transitioned to the normal presentation state, a mode determination lottery is performed and the selection mode is determined according to the result of the mode determination lottery. The mode determination lottery obtains any of the random numbers from 0 to 255 in association with the stop operation corresponding to the third stop of the game that transitions the presentation state to the normal presentation state, and obtains either the low probability mode or the high probability mode associated with these random numbers as the lottery result. In this embodiment, the mode determination lottery is performed in a manner in which the low probability mode is more likely to be selected than the high probability mode. A game that transitions the presentation state to the normal presentation state refers to a game in which the player wins the lottery to transition to the favorable zone, or a game in which the AT state ends in the favorable zone. In a game in which the player wins the lottery to transition to the favorable zone, a mode determination lottery is held as part of the favorable zone transition process, and in a game in which the AT state ends in the favorable zone, a mode determination lottery is held as part of the process to return the presentation state to the normal presentation state.

The winning pattern of the advantageous zone transition lottery may be, for example, of two types, a low probability of winning and a high probability of winning, and it may be determined whether the lottery mode is to be transitioned to the low probability mode or the high probability mode in the advantageous zone transition process. In this case, if the result of the advantageous zone transition lottery is a low probability of winning, the lottery mode can be set to the low probability mode in the advantageous zone transition process, and if the result of the advantageous zone transition lottery is a high probability of winning, the lottery mode can be set to the high probability mode in the advantageous zone transition process.

The AT control means 175 performs an AT lottery (an example of processing related to the instruction function) in the advantageous zone when the game state is a BB established state and the presentation state is a normal presentation state. Specifically, the AT lottery is performed based on whether the internal lottery results in a winning pattern of any of the special role group a, special role group b, cherry a, cherry b, common bell a, common bell b, or normal replay a. In this embodiment, the AT lottery is not performed when the game state is a normal state or a BB state. However, the AT lottery may be configured to be performed when the game state is a normal state or a BB state, or at least one of the cases.

In the AT lottery, when a winning pattern that triggers the execution of the AT lottery is obtained, a random number value in the range of 0 to 255 is obtained, and the obtained random number value is compared with the AT lottery table stored in the main lottery table storage area 1910 to determine whether or not the AT lottery has been won based on the comparison result. In the AT lottery table, AT win or loss is assigned to the random number value for the AT lottery, and it is determined that the AT lottery has been won if the random number value obtained for the AT lottery is associated with an AT win in the AT lottery table. In this embodiment, the probability of winning the AT differs between the low probability mode and the high probability mode, and the probability of winning the AT is set higher in the high probability mode than in the low probability mode. However, in this embodiment, for the special role group a and the special role group b, the AT lottery always results in an AT win in both the low probability mode and the high probability mode.

In this embodiment, when a winning pattern that triggers the execution of the AT lottery other than the batting order bell is obtained, the AT lottery is executed before the stop operation for the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 is enabled, but for the AT lottery when the batting order bell is won, the AT lottery is executed when the 1-coin small role included in the winning batting order bell is won. Therefore, in a game in which the batting order bell is won, the AT lottery is not executed if the 9-coin small role is won or if no role is won. Note that the AT lottery may be executed with the same execution trigger as when other winning patterns are obtained when the batting order bell is won, and the result of the AT lottery may be invalidated based on the fact that the 1-coin small role is not won. In this embodiment, when the first stop operation is to stop the first reel R1 when the batting order bell is won, the 1-coin small role is always won, so the AT lottery may be executed when the first stop operation is to stop the first reel R1. Thus, in this embodiment, the recommended batting order in which the first reel R1 stops first is treated more favorably in terms of the AT lottery than the irregular batting order in which the second reel R2 or the third reel R3 stops first.

In addition, when the AT control means 175 is in the low probability mode in the normal presentation state, it performs a process (an example of a process related to the instruction function) to update the value of the high probability transition counter 1919 when a one-coin small role is won in a game in which the batting order bell is won, and the value of the high probability transition counter 1919 is not updated when a nine-coin small role is won or when no role is won even if the batting order bell is won. In other words, the recommended batting order in which the first reel R1 stops first is treated more favorably in terms of transition to the high probability mode than the irregular batting order in which the second reel R2 or the third reel R3 stops first. In this embodiment, when the normal presentation state is in the low probability mode, a predetermined value "255" is set in the high probability transition counter 1919, and the AT control means 175 determines the subtraction value for updating the high probability transition counter 1919 to either "3" or "29" by drawing a high probability transition subtraction value when the batting order bell is won, and subtracts the determined subtraction value from the value of the high probability transition counter 1919.

The high probability transition subtraction value lottery obtains a random number between 0 and 255 when a 1-coin minor role is won in a game in which the batting order bell is won, and the subtraction value that is pre-assigned to these random numbers, either "3" or "29," is the lottery result.

Then, the AT control means 175 judges that the high probability transition condition is met based on the value of the high probability transition counter 1919 reaching the initial value "0" in the low probability mode, and transitions the lottery mode to the high probability mode. In a situation where the player is staying in the high probability mode in the normal performance state, the AT control means 175 performs a fall lottery based on the winning of the batting order bell group a, batting order bell group b, batting order bell group c, batting order bell group d, or common 1-piece role. In the fall lottery, the random number value acquired for the internal lottery is compared with the fall lottery table stored in the main lottery table storage area 1910, and it is determined whether or not the fall lottery has been won based on the comparison result. In the fall lottery table, a fall win or miss is assigned to the random number value for the internal lottery that corresponds to the winning mode that triggers the execution of the fall lottery, and if the random number value acquired for the internal lottery corresponds to any of the batting order bell group a, batting order bell group b, batting order bell group c, batting order bell group d, or common 1-piece role, and corresponds to a fall win in the fall lottery table, it is determined that the fall lottery has been won. In this embodiment, the AT control means 175 determines that the high probability end condition has been established based on the lottery result of the fall lottery being a fall win, and transitions the lottery mode to the low probability mode.

In addition, in this embodiment, when the presentation state is changed to the normal presentation state, the AT control means 175 sets the ceiling counter 1924 to a predetermined value "1024", and performs a process (an example of a process related to the instruction function) of subtracting a subtraction value according to the result of the internal lottery from the value of the ceiling counter 1924 each time a game is played in the normal presentation state. In particular, in this embodiment, when the batting order bell is won, the value of the ceiling counter 1924 is subtracted on the condition that a 1-coin small role is won, and the value of the ceiling counter 1924 is not updated if a 9-coin small role is won or if no role is won. In other words, the recommended batting order in which the first reel R1 stops first is treated more favorably in terms of updating the ceiling counter 1924 than the irregular batting order in which the second reel R2 or the third reel R3 stops first.

The AT control means 175 controls the transition of the presentation state from the normal presentation state to the AT state based on the result of the AT lottery being an AT win or the value of the ceiling counter 1924 reaching the initial value "0". In addition, the AT control means 175 adds a fixed value "1" to the AT stock number counter 1920 based on the decision to transition to the AT state, and when transitioning the presentation state to the AT state upon the end of a game in which the transition condition to the AT state is met (a game in which the lottery result is an AT win or a game in which the value of the ceiling counter 1924 reaches the initial value "0"), it subtracts a fixed value "1" from the AT stock number counter 1920 and sets the value "30" corresponding to 30 times, which is the number of times of play that is the end condition of the AT state, to the AT game number counter 1921.

The AT control means 175 then plays an assist time game based on the fact that the presentation state is the AT state, and subtracts a fixed value "1" equivalent to one game from the value of the AT game number counter 1921 each time an assist time game is played. In this embodiment, when a batting order bell belonging to the batting order bell group a, batting order bell group b, batting order bell group c, or batting order bell group d is won in the AT state, a correct batting order announcement that announces the correct batting order and a winning assistance presentation are performed.

In addition, in this embodiment, when the AT control means 175 notifies the correct batting order for the batting order bell, the operation instruction number corresponding to the correct batting order for the winning batting order bell ("03" (batting order 3), "04" (batting order 4), "05" (batting order 5), "06" (batting order 6)) is displayed on the main display 300.

In addition, when the performance state is in the AT state in the advantageous zone, the AT control means 175 performs an add-on lottery (an example of processing related to the instruction function) based on the fact that the special role group a, special role group b, cherry a, cherry b, common bell a, or common bell b has been won in the internal lottery. In the add-on lottery, when a winning pattern that triggers the execution of the add-on lottery is obtained, a random number value in the range of 0 to 255 is obtained, and the obtained random number value is compared with the add-on lottery table stored in the main lottery table storage area 1910, and whether or not the add-on lottery has been won is determined according to the comparison result. In the add-on lottery table, an add-on win or a miss is assigned to the random number value for the add-on lottery, and it is determined that the add-on lottery has been won when the random number value obtained for the add-on lottery is associated with an add-on win in the add-on lottery table. Note that in the add-on lottery performed when a winning pattern belonging to either the special role group a or the special role group b is obtained, the lottery result of the add-on lottery is always obtained. In this embodiment, the AT control means 175 adds a fixed value "1" to the AT stock number counter 1920 based on the result of obtaining an additional win in the additional lottery.

Then, when the value of the AT game number counter 1921, which is subtracted by a fixed value each time an assist time game is played in the AT state, reaches the initial value "0", if the AT stock number > 0, the AT control means 175 subtracts a fixed value "1" from the value of the AT stock number counter 1920 and resets the value of the AT game number counter 1921 to "30" to continue the AT state, and if the AT stock number = 0, it determines that the termination condition is met because the AT game number = 0 and the AT stock number = 0, and returns the presentation state to the normal presentation state.

In this embodiment, the AT control means 175 sets the value of the clear counter 1922 provided in the main RAM of the game information storage means 190a to an initial value of "0" during the advantageous zone transition process, and during the advantageous zone, updates the value of the clear counter 1922 according to the difference in the number of medals in each game, subtracts the value "3" corresponding to the number of medals inserted in the game (3 medals) from the value corresponding to the number of medals paid out (for example, "15" if 15 medals are paid out, and "0" if no role is won and no medals are paid out) to obtain the calculation result of the difference in the number of medals in that game, and performs an update process in which this calculation result is added to the value of the clear counter 1922, and also determines that the condition for ending the advantageous zone has been met if the value of the clear counter 1922 exceeds a threshold value (for example, 2400). The value of the clear counter 1922 is controlled so that it does not fall below the initial value "0". For example, if the value of the clear counter 1922 at the start of a game is "2" and no winning combination is won as a result of playing the game and no medals are paid out, the calculation result of the difference in the number of medals in that game will be "-3", and adding the calculation result of the difference in the number of medals to the value of the clear counter 1922 will fall below the initial value "0". However, the count of the clear counter 1922 after the update is stopped with the initial value "0" as the lower limit. Also, if a replay is won in a game, the difference in the number of medals is calculated by treating the game in which the replay was won as having paid out medals equivalent to the specified number of medals for that game, and the difference in the number of medals for the next game provided free of charge due to the replay winning as having been inserted is calculated by treating the insertion of medals equivalent to the specified number of medals for that game, even if no actual medals have been inserted.

In addition, in the advantageous zone, the clear counter 1922 is updated even if a transition in the game state or presentation state occurs, unless the conditions for ending the advantageous zone are met.

The AT control means 175 also performs an initialization process to initialize information stored in a predetermined storage area of the main RAM of the game information storage means 190a based on the end of the favorable zone. In particular, in this embodiment, with respect to the main RAM of the game information storage means 190, the information stored in the performance state storage area 1918, the high probability transition counter 1919, the AT stock number counter 1920, the AT game number counter 1921, the clear counter 1922, and the ceiling counter 1924 is initialized by an initialization process associated with the end of the favorable zone. More specifically, the storage areas other than the performance state storage area 1918, the high probability transition counter 1919, the AT stock number counter 1920, the AT game number counter 1921, the clear counter 1922, and the ceiling counter 1924 in the main RAM of the game information storage means 190a are designated as information storage areas, and information stored in storage areas other than the information storage area of the main RAM is initialized. Therefore, when the initialization process is performed following the end of the favorable zone, unlike when the initialization process is performed in the setting change mode, in addition to the setting value storage area 1913 and credit information storage area 1914, the lottery flag storage area 1915 and game status storage area 1916 are also designated as information storage areas, and the information stored in these storage areas is retained without being initialized by the initialization process following the end of the favorable zone. When the initialization process is performed following the end of the favorable zone, the presentation state is initialized to the initial presentation state, and the values of the high probability transition counter 1919, AT stock number counter 1920, AT game number counter 1921, clear counter 1922, and ceiling counter 1924 are initialized to their initial values (e.g., 0) to return to the normal zone.

In this embodiment, the initialization process is executed at the end of the favorable zone to return to the normal zone, so that if the value of the clear counter 1922 exceeds a threshold value while remaining in the AT state, each AT state is forcibly terminated by the initialization process at the end of the favorable zone, the presentation state is initialized to the initial presentation state, and the values of the high probability transition counter 1919, the AT stock number counter 1920, the AT game number counter 1921, the clear counter 1922, and the ceiling counter 1924 are initialized to their initial values (e.g., 0). Also, if the value of the clear counter 1922 exceeds a threshold value while remaining in any other presentation state, the initialization process at the end of the favorable zone also forcibly terminates the currently present presentation state, the presentation state is initialized to the initial presentation state, and the values of the high probability transition counter 1919, the AT stock number counter 1920, the AT game number counter 1921, the clear counter 1922, and the ceiling counter 1924 are initialized to their initial values (e.g., 0). In this embodiment, the presentation state is not initialized by turning the power on and off, but when started in the setting change mode, if the initialization process is performed in the setting change mode, the presentation state is initialized to the initial presentation state, and the values of the high probability transition counter 1919, AT stock number counter 1920, AT game number counter 1921, clear counter 1922, and ceiling counter 1924 are initialized to their initial values (e.g., 0).

In addition, in this embodiment, the advantageous zone is initiated by winning the advantageous zone transition lottery in the normal zone, and within the advantageous zone, the presentation state is set to the AT state under certain conditions to play the assist time game, but even if the AT state ends, the advantageous zone is maintained as long as the conditions for the advantageous zone termination are not met. In other words, in this embodiment, since the advantageous zone continues even after the AT state ends, there are cases where the player remains in the advantageous zone even if the presentation state transitions to a presentation state different from the AT state.

The AT control means 175 also controls the LED built into the section indicator SEC to light up when the AT state is reached in the advantageous section, to notify the player that the player is in the AT state, and turns off the LED built into the section indicator SEC when the AT state ends. In this embodiment, the LED built into the section indicator SEC is turned off when the player is in a normal section or when the player is in a presentation state other than the AT state in the advantageous section. In other words, in this embodiment, it is possible to determine whether the player is in the AT state by checking the lighting state of the section indicator SEC.

In this embodiment, the AT control means 175 starts or ends a specific notification that indicates that the player is in the AT state based on the presentation state in which the player is in the advantageous zone. For example, the specific notification is started when the presentation state transitions to the AT state, and is ended when the AT state ends. In particular, in this embodiment, there are cases where the advantageous zone continues even after the AT state ends, but the specific notification is ended not only when the AT state ends and the advantageous zone ends, but also when the AT state ends and the advantageous zone continues.

The section indicator SEC does not need to be provided exclusively as in this embodiment, and may be used in combination with the main display 300. For example, the dot display unit that displays the decimal points of the seven-segment display may be switched on and off to indicate whether or not the player is in the AT state, and the dot display unit may be turned off in a performance state other than the AT state, and the dot display unit may be turned on in the AT state to provide a specific notification. When the AT state begins, an LED built into the section indicator SEC lights up to immediately notify the player that the player is in the AT state, but the section may be a non-notification section that does not notify the player that the section is in an advantageous state until a predetermined number of games have been played since the start of the AT state, or a non-notification section that does not notify the player that the section is in an advantageous state until the first correct batting order notification in the AT state is executed.

When the presentation state is an AT state in the advantageous zone, the communication control means 177 controls the output of a specific external signal to an external device such as the data counter 410 or hall computer 420. In this embodiment, the specific external signal is output to the external device via the external centralized terminal board from the main board. The specific external signal is also output based on the game start operation of the start lever SL for the first game (first game) in each set in the AT state. The specific external signal may also be output based on the end of the last game (thirtieth game) in each set in the AT state. In this embodiment, the number of completed sets in the AT state can be tallied in the external device by outputting a specific external signal corresponding to each set in the AT state.

The performance control means 180 controls the display performance using the display device 330 (an example of a performance device) and the sound performance using the sound device 340 (an example of a performance device) based on the performance data stored in the performance data storage area 1926 provided in the sub-ROM of the performance information storage means 190b. For example, in response to the occurrence of game events such as the insertion of medals, the operation of the bet button B0, the start lever SL, and the stop buttons B1 to B3, and changes in the game state, the performance control means 180 controls the execution of performances to liven up the game or assist the game according to the progress of the game, by turning on or blinking lamps and LEDs, changing the display content of the liquid crystal display LCD, and outputting sounds from the speaker SP. The content of the performance executed in the game is determined by referring to the performance lottery table stored in the sub-lottery table storage area 1927 provided in the sub-ROM of the performance information storage means 190b, depending on the game state, the performance state, the result of the internal lottery, etc. In this embodiment, image data corresponding to the progress of the game, etc. is read from the performance data memory area 1926 of the sub-ROM into an image buffer 1928 provided in the sub-RAM, and an image based on the image data read into the image buffer 1928 is output to the liquid crystal display LCD, and sound data corresponding to the progress of the game, etc. is read from the performance data memory area 1926 of the sub-ROM into a sound buffer 1929 provided in the sub-RAM, and sound based on the sound data read into the sound buffer 1929 is output from the speaker SP.

Then, when the presentation state is the AT state, the presentation control means 180 controls the display device 330 and the audio device 340 to execute a winning assistance presentation that notifies the player of the correct batting order when the batting order bell is won and assists in the winning of 9 small prizes (small prize 3 to small prize 6).

When playing in the AT state, the presentation control means 180 also controls the execution of a remaining number display presentation that displays the remaining number of plays until the AT state ends on the display device 330, such as a liquid crystal display LCD. In the remaining number display presentation, when the value of the AT game number counter 1921 is subtracted by playing, the display content is changed so that the remaining number of plays also decreases to reflect the subtraction.

The effect control means 180 also controls the execution of a specific effect that notifies the player that a stop operation should be performed in the recommended batting order in which the first reel R1 is stopped first. In particular, in this embodiment, the effect control means 180 executes a specific effect when a stop operation is performed in an irregular batting order in which the second reel R2 or the third reel R3 is stopped first in the normal section, and executes a specific effect when a stop operation is performed in an irregular batting order in which the second reel R2 or the third reel R3 is stopped first in the advantageous section while staying in the normal performance state. As a specific effect, for example, a warning including a message "left push recommended" can be displayed on the display device 330 such as a liquid crystal display LCD. The specific effect may be executed in response to the first stop operation in the irregular batting order, the second stop operation in the irregular batting order, or the third stop operation in the irregular batting order. The specific effect may also be executed in the case of an irregular batting order after all reels have stopped. Furthermore, the trigger for determining whether the order of the stop operations is an irregular batting order may be different from the trigger for executing the specific effect. For example, the first stop operation may be used as a trigger to determine whether the batting order is irregular, and if it is determined that the batting order is irregular, the third stop operation may be used as a trigger to execute the specific effect.

The functional block configuration of this embodiment can also be applied to computer systems (including game systems). In these systems, the functions of the game control means 100 of this embodiment can be realized by downloading a program that causes a computer to function from an information storage medium such as a CD or DVD, or from a web server on the Internet via a network. In the above computer system, the medal insertion switch 210, bet switch 220, start switch 230, stop switch 240, etc. can be realized by virtually assigning their functions to operating means such as a keyboard, pointing device (mouse, etc.), touch panel, or controller. In the above computer system, the reel unit 310, hopper unit HP, etc. are not essential components, and these device units can virtually realize their functions by controlling the images displayed and output on the display (display device 330).

1-2. Method of this embodiment In this embodiment, there are batting order bell a group (batting order bell a3 to batting order bell a6), batting order bell b group (batting order bell b3 to batting order bell b6), batting order bell c group (batting order bell c3 to batting order bell c6), and batting order bell d group (batting order bell d3 to batting order bell d6) as winning modes of small roles, and in the BB establishment state, it is possible to win 9 small roles for any batting order bell belonging to the batting order bell a group to the batting order bell d group by performing a stop operation according to the correct batting order according to the winning mode, but in the normal state, it is impossible to win 9 small roles for the batting order bell a group and the batting order bell b group, and it is possible to win 9 small roles for the batting order bell c group and the batting order bell d group as in the BB establishment state. In this embodiment, the difference between the stop control in the normal state and the BB establishment state will be explained by taking the case where the batting order bell a3 belonging to the batting order bell a group wins as an example.

Figure 19 shows the winning combination when the batting order bell A3 is selected in the BB state.

As shown in FIG. 19, when the winning pattern of batting order bell a3 is obtained in the BB established state, small prize 3, small prize 16, small prize 17, small prize 24, small prize 27, small prize 28, and big bonus (BB) are won, and when the order of stopping operation is batting order 3 (B2 → B1 → B3), small prize 3, which is a 9-coin small prize, is won.

The following describes the case where the reels are stopped according to batting order 3 when batting order bell a3 is won in a BB state.

When the stop button B2 is pressed while the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 are spinning, and the pressed position of the first stop operation for the second reel R2 is detected as number 6 as shown in FIG. 20(A), the stop position of the first reel R1 is determined by payout number priority control since the first stop operation is in line with the correct hitting order.

Specifically, the symbols present within the pull-in range for the push detection position of number 6 on the second reel R2 are as shown in Figure 21, and the largest number of medals will be paid out when the replay symbol "RP" is displayed on the winning line.

As shown in FIG. 20(B), the second reel R2 is stopped so that the replay symbol "RP" for number 5 is displayed on the pay line. Then, as shown in FIG. 20(C), when the second reel R2 is stopped, the winning combinations that can win a prize among the small combinations included in the batting order bell a3 are small combination 3, small combination 24, and small combination 27.

Next, when the stop button B1 is pressed while the second reel R2 is stopped and the first reel R1 and the third reel R3 are rotating, as shown in FIG. 22(A), if the press detection position of the second stop operation for the first reel R1 is number 7, the symbols present within the pull-in range for this press detection position are as shown in FIG. 23, and the symbols that can display the symbol combination that shows the winning form of the winning combination that can be won are the BAR symbol a "BARa" and the bell symbol a "BLa". Here, the BAR symbol a "BLa" is a symbol that can win a 1-coin small role, and the bell symbol a "BLa" is a symbol that can win a 9-coin small role, so the winning of the 9-coin small role is prioritized by the payout number priority control, and the first reel R1 is stopped so that the bell symbol a "BLa" of number 6 is displayed on the winning line, as shown in FIG. 22(B). Then, as shown in FIG. 22(C), when the first reel R1 stops, the only winning combination among the small combinations included in the batting order bell a3 is small combination 3.

Finally, when the third reel R3 is stopped during rotation, the replay symbol "RP" is positioned on the third reel R3 in such a way that it can be displayed on the pay line regardless of the touch detection position, so minor win 3 is always won. For example, if the touch detection position on the third reel R3 is number 8, as shown in FIG. 22(D), the third reel R3 stops in a position that displays the number 4 replay symbol "RP" on the pay line, and minor win 3 is won.

Figure 24 shows the winning combination when the winning pattern of batting order bell A3 is obtained in the normal state.

As shown in FIG. 24, when the winning pattern of batting order bell a3 is obtained in the normal state, small prize 3, small prize 16, small prize 17, small prize 24, small prize 27, and small prize 28 are won, and even if the stopping operation order is batting order 3 (B2 → B1 → B3), the winning of small prize 3, which is a 9-coin small prize, is avoided. Note that even if the stopping operation order is other than batting order 3, the winning of the 9-coin small prize is avoided.

The following describes the case where the reels are stopped in the order of batting order 3 when batting order bell A3 is won under normal circumstances.

When the stop button B2 is pressed while the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 are spinning, and the pressed position of the first stop operation for the second reel R2 is detected as number 6 as shown in FIG. 20(A), the stop position of the first reel R1 is determined by number priority control since the first stop operation is not the correct hitting order.

Specifically, the symbols present within the pull-in range for the push detection position of number 6 on the second reel R2 are as shown in FIG. 25, and the largest number of symbol combinations showing the winning form of a winning combination that can be displayed on an active line occurs when the replay symbol "RP" is displayed on an active line.

As shown in FIG. 20(B), the second reel R2 is stopped so that the replay symbol "RP" for number 5 is displayed on the pay line. Then, as shown in FIG. 20(C), when the second reel R2 is stopped, the winning combinations that can win a prize among the small combinations included in the batting order bell a3 are small combination 3, small combination 24, and small combination 27.

In this embodiment, if the first stop operation is to stop the second reel R2 when the batting order bell a3 is won, the second reel R2 stops in the same manner in both payout number priority control and number priority control. This is because even if the first stop operation is in line with the correct batting order in each batting order bell, the second stop operation may result in an incorrect batting order, and the stop position is determined so that the pattern common to the 9-coin small win and the 1-coin small win is drawn onto the active line.

Next, when the stop button B1 is pressed while the second reel R2 is stopped and the first reel R1 and third reel R3 are spinning, and the press detection position of the second stop operation for the first reel R1 is number 7 as shown in Figure 26 (A), the patterns present within the pull-in range for this press detection position are as shown in Figure 23, and the patterns that can display the pattern combination indicating the winning form of the possible winning combination are the BAR pattern a "BARa" and the bell pattern a "BLa". Here, the number of symbol combinations that indicate the winning form of the BAR symbol a "BLa" that can be displayed on the pay line is two, and the number of symbol combinations that indicate the winning form of the BAR symbol a "BLa" that can be displayed on the pay line is one, so the display of the BAR symbol a "BARa" is prioritized by the number priority control, and the first reel R1 is stopped so that the seventh BAR symbol a "BARa" is displayed on the pay line, as shown in FIG. 26(B). Then, as shown in FIG. 26(C), at the time when the first reel R1 stops, the only winning symbol that can be won among the minor symbols included in the batting order bell a3 is the minor symbol 24.

Finally, when the third reel R3 is stopped during rotation, if the third stop operation is performed at a push detection position that includes the watermelon symbol "WM" No. 2 or the red 7 symbol b "red 7b" No. 7 within the pull-in range on the third reel R3, the small prize 24 will be awarded. For example, as shown in FIG. 26(D), if the push detection position on the third reel R3 is the number 8, as shown in FIG. 26(E), the third reel R3 will stop at a position that displays the red 7 symbol b "red 7b" No. 7 on the pay line, and the small prize 24 will be awarded. Note that if the push detection position of the third stop operation on the third reel R3 does not include either the watermelon symbol "WM" No. 2 or the red 7 symbol b "red 7b" No. 7 within the pull-in range, the third reel R3 will stop in a manner that does not award any prize.

In this embodiment, if the stop operation is performed according to batting order 3 in the BB established state, a 9-coin minor role can be won, but if the stop operation is performed according to batting order 3 in the normal state, the winning of the 9-coin minor role is avoided, and a 1-coin minor role will be won, or a role will be missed. And in this embodiment, even if any batting order bell is won, there is still a possibility of falling from the correct batting order to the incorrect batting order at the time the first stop operation is performed, so the stop control is switched according to the game state at the time of the second stop operation.

Figure 27 is a flowchart showing an example of a process for switching stop control during a second stop operation.

First, when the batting order bell is won, the stop data for the correct batting order and the stop data for the incorrect batting order are set as reference data (step S100). The stop data for the correct batting order is stop data for preferentially displaying the symbols that make up the winning form of a 9-coin minor combination on the active line, and the stop data for the incorrect batting order is stop data for preferentially displaying the symbols that make up the winning form of a 1-coin minor combination on the active line.

If it is not the first stop operation (N in step S101) or the third stop operation (N in step S102), a check is made to see whether the winning batting order bell belongs to either batting order bell group c or batting order bell group d (step S103).

If the winning batting order bell belongs to batting order bell group c or batting order bell group d (Y in step S103), the process skips step S104, which determines the game status, and proceeds to step S105 and subsequent steps.

If the winning batting order bell belongs to either group a or group b (N in step S103), a check is made to see if the game state is normal (step S104), and if the game state is normal (Y in step S104), the referenced stop data is updated to stop data for incorrect batting orders (step S107).

On the other hand, if the game state is a BB established state (N in step S104), it is checked whether the second stop operation is in accordance with the correct batting order (step S105), and if it is in accordance with the correct batting order (N in step S105), the referenced stop data is updated to stop data for the correct batting order (step S106), and if it is not in accordance with the correct batting order (Y in step S105), the referenced stop data is updated to stop data for an incorrect batting order (step S106).

In this embodiment, in a game in which a batting order bell is won, the type of batting order bell that was won is determined at the time of the second stop operation, and if it is determined that it belongs to batting order bell group a or batting order bell group b, the current game state is determined and the process is branched to switch the stop control.

According to the present embodiment described above, for batting order bells belonging to batting order bell group a and batting order bell group b, 9 small prizes cannot be won in the normal state, but 9 small prizes can be won in the BB state, and for batting order bells belonging to batting order bell group c and batting order bell group d, 9 small prizes can be won in both the normal state and the BB state, so it is possible to suitably adjust the medal acquisition performance in each game state.

Figure 28 is a schematic diagram comparing the medal acquisition performance (here, the expected value of the payout rate) in each game state in this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 28, in the normal state, batting order 1, 2 < batting order 3-6, and even in the BB state, batting order 1, 2 < batting order 3-6. In other words, in the normal state and the BB state, the irregular batting order in which the second reel R2 or the third reel R3 stops first is more advantageous in terms of the expected value of the ball output rate than the recommended batting order in which the first reel R1 stops first. In the BB state, there is no bias in the expected value of the ball output rate depending on the order of the stopping operations.

As shown in Figure 28, when comparing the difference in expected value of ball output rate between game states, for batting orders 3 to 6, normal state < BB state < BB established state, and in a game method in which the second reel R2 or the third reel R3 is stopped first, the BB state has a higher expected value of ball output rate than the normal state, and furthermore, the BB established state has a higher expected value of ball output rate than the BB state.

In a specification like this embodiment where the medal acquisition performance is higher for batting orders 3 to 6 (a game method in which the second reel R2 or the third reel R3 stops first) than for batting orders 1 and 2 (a game method in which the first reel R1 stops first), it is necessary to design the expected value of the payout rate for batting orders 3 to 6 at a high level so as not to fall below the lower limit of the range of payout rates set by the rules.

In this embodiment, the expected value of the ball output rate in the BB state is designed to be low, so that even if the expected value of the ball output rate in the BB established state is increased, it does not exceed the upper limit of the range of ball output rates set by the rules, and design freedom can be ensured by the amount of the lowered expected value of the ball output rate in the BB state. And since it is required that the medal acquisition performance in the BB state exceeds the medal acquisition performance in the normal state with regard to the BB state, in order to lower the expected value of the ball output rate in the BB state, it becomes necessary to design the expected value of the ball output rate in the normal state to be low.

However, a comparison of medal acquisition performance between the normal state and the BB state is a comparison with the playing method with the highest expected value of the ball output rate in the normal state, and therefore a comparison with batting orders 3 to 6, which have the highest expected value of the ball output rate, which is an obstacle to designing a low medal acquisition performance in the BB state.

Therefore, in order to lower the medal acquisition performance in the normal state, which is an index for designing the medal acquisition performance in the BB state, the control rules for the stop control when the BB is established and when the batting order bell is won are made different in the normal state, and the desired effect can be obtained by limiting the winning of small roles with high payouts. However, in a specification such as this embodiment in which a playing method that stops the first reel R1 first is recommended when playing in a normal performance state in an advantageous zone, in order to treat a playing method that stops the second reel R2 or the third reel R3 first as unfavorable, it may be required to maintain the magnitude relationship of the expected value of the ball payout rate for each of the stopping operation orders in the normal state and the BB state.

For this reason, in this embodiment, batting order bell groups a and b are provided as batting order bell groups with different control rules in the normal state and the BB established state, and batting order bell groups c and d are provided as batting order bell groups with common control rules in the normal state and the BB established state. By making it impossible for batting order bell groups a and b to win a 9-coin minor combination in the normal state, the expected value of the payout rate in the normal state is lowered while maintaining the magnitude relationship of the expected value of the payout rate between the order of the stopping operations, and as a result, the effect of ensuring the extent of the reduction in the expected value of the payout rate in the BB state can be obtained.

In this embodiment, the game method in which reels other than the first reel R1 are stopped first is explained using an example in which the reels are designed to have the same expected value for the payout rate, but as long as the difference is only slight, it does not have to be completely the same.

In addition, in this embodiment, in providing a batting order bell group in which the control rules for stop control differ between the BB establishment state and the normal state, and a batting order bell group in which the control rules for stop control are common between the normal state and the BB establishment state, the combinations of one small role are made the same in batting order bell a3 and batting order bell c4, the combinations of one small role are made the same in batting order bell a4 and batting order bell c3, the combinations of one small role are made the same in batting order bell a5 and batting order bell c6, the combinations of one small role are made the same in batting order bell a6 and batting order bell c5, the combinations of one small role are made the same in batting order bell b3 and batting order bell d4, the combinations of one small role are made the same in batting order bell b4 and batting order bell d3, the combinations of one small role are made the same in batting order bell b5 and batting order bell d6, and the combinations of one small role are made the same in batting order bell b6 and batting order bell d5. That is, in the batting order bell group a and the batting order bell group c, the combination of one-piece small prizes with overlapping small prize 3 and the combination of one-piece small prizes with overlapping small prize 4 are swapped, and the combination of one-piece small prizes with overlapping small prize 5 and the combination of one-piece small prizes with overlapping small prize 6 are swapped. The combination of one-piece small prizes is also swapped in the batting order bell group b and the batting order bell group d in a similar manner. In this way, according to this embodiment, by taking measures to swap the combination of one-piece small prizes that overlap with nine-piece small prizes, it is possible to increase the types of batting order bells without increasing the types of one-piece small prizes.

In addition, in this embodiment, there are four types (small prize 3 to small prize 6) of correct small prizes included in the batting order bell (small prizes that can win in the correct batting order: in this embodiment, 9-coin small prizes) and in each batting order bell, small prize 3 to small prize 6 do not overlap and win, but in the BB state, small prize 3 to small prize 6 overlap and win in JAC1. This reduces the chances of winning correct small prizes in the BB state compared to the BB state, thereby lowering the expected ball payout rate in the BB state.

When adopting a method for lowering the expected value of the payout rate in the BB state as in this embodiment, the effect of lowering the expected value of the payout rate can be further achieved by increasing the number of correct minor winning combinations that do not overlap and can be won in the normal state or in the BB state.

For example, in the example shown in FIG. 29, eight types of correct small roles (correct small role 1 to correct small role 8) are provided, and correct small role 1 and correct small role 5 are set as correct small roles exclusively for batting order 3, correct small role 2 and correct small role 6 are set as correct small roles exclusively for batting order 4, correct small role 3 and correct small role 7 are set as correct small roles exclusively for batting order 5, and correct small role 4 and correct small role 8 are set as correct small roles exclusively for batting order 6. Then, correct small roles 1 to 4 are used to form the batting order bell group a and the batting order bell group b, and correct small roles 5 to 8 are used to form the batting order bell group c and the batting order bell group d. In this way, the number of types of correct small roles is increased compared to the case of the present embodiment described above, and the chances of winning a correct small role in the BB state can be significantly reduced, and as a result, the expected value of the ball payout rate in the BB state can be significantly reduced.

In addition, in this embodiment, there is no batting order bell that awards a correct minor win with batting order 1 or batting order 2, which are the order of the stopping operation that first stops the first reel R1, as the correct batting order. However, a configuration may be provided in which a batting order bell is provided in which the correct batting order is set for batting order 1 and batting order 2. In that case, a group of batting order bells in which it is not possible to win a correct minor win under normal conditions can include a batting order bell with batting order 1 as the correct batting order and a batting order bell with batting order 2 as the correct batting order.

For example, in the example shown in Figure 30, six types of correct minor roles (correct minor role 1 to correct minor role 6) are provided, with correct minor role 1 set as the correct minor role exclusively for batting order 1, correct minor role 2 set as the correct minor role exclusively for batting order 2, correct minor role 3 set as the correct minor role exclusively for batting order 3, correct minor role 4 set as the correct minor role exclusively for batting order 4, correct minor role 5 set as the correct minor role exclusively for batting order 5, and correct minor role 6 set as the correct minor role exclusively for batting order 6. Correct minor roles 1 to 6 are used to form the batting order bell group a and the batting order bell group b, and correct minor roles 3 to 6 are used to form the batting order bell group c and the batting order bell group d. In this way, even if it becomes impossible to win the correct minor prize in the normal state for the batting order bell group a and the batting order bell group b, the effect of lowering the expected value of the ball payout rate can be achieved without bias in the order of the stopping operations, so that it is possible to obtain the effect of lowering the expected value of the ball payout rate in the normal state while maintaining the magnitude relationship of the expected value of the ball payout rate for each of the stopping operation orders in the normal state and the BB establishment state.

For the batting order Bell c group and the batting order Bell d group, it is possible to increase the number of correct minor roles and ensure a reduction in the expected value of the ball payout rate in the BB state by using a different correct minor role from the batting order Bell a group and the batting order Bell b group. For example, as shown in FIG. 31, the correct minor roles that make up the batting order Bell c group and the batting order Bell d group may be correct minor role 7 exclusive to batting order 3, correct minor role 8 exclusive to batting order 4, correct minor role 9 exclusive to batting order 5, and correct minor role 10 exclusive to batting order 6.

In this embodiment, small prize 1 and small prize 2 are provided as 9-coin small prizes that do not constitute the batting order bell, and these constitute the common bell a and common bell b. When the common bell is won, the control law of the stop control is switched so that in the BB establishment state, 9-coin small prizes are won regardless of the order of the stop operation, whereas in the normal state, 1-coin small prize is won regardless of the order of the stop operation. That is, according to this embodiment, the control law of the stop control is also switched for the common bell a and common bell b according to the game state to exert the effect of lowering the expected value of the ball output rate in the normal state, but at that time, the expected value of the ball output rate is lowered without bias in the order of the stop operation, so that the effect of lowering the expected value of the ball output rate in the normal state can be obtained while maintaining the magnitude relationship of the expected value of the ball output rate in each order of the stop operation in the normal state and the BB establishment state.

In addition, in this embodiment, if only the batting order bell group a to the batting order bell group b are used, the expected value of the payout rate for games that are not in the AT state (hereinafter referred to as non-AT games) may fall below the lower limit of the range of payout rates set by the rules. Therefore, the presence of common bell a and common bell b, which can win 9 small prizes regardless of the order of the stopping operations in the BB formation state, can raise the expected value of the payout rate for games that are not in the AT state.

In addition, in this embodiment, when the batting order bell is drawn, the correct batting order is determined at the time of the second stopping operation, but it may be determined whether the batting order is correct or not at the time of the first stopping operation.

In addition, in this embodiment, for the batting order bell group a to the batting order bell group d, if the first stop operation stops the second reel R2 or the third reel R3 and is different from the correct batting order, the stop control is performed so that one small role may not win. This is because, in designing the high pure increase specification, the correct batting order is biased to batting order 3 to batting order 6, which stops the second reel R2 or the third reel R3 first, and this is to suppress the increase in the ball output rate of non-AT games in these operation orders. In particular, in this embodiment, even if the stop operation is performed along batting order 3 to batting order 6 when the batting order bell is won in the normal performance state, there is no penalty for the next game or later, so if the difference in the ball output rate of non-AT games between batting order 1, 2 and batting order 3 to batting order 6 is large, it becomes difficult to eliminate the strategy element that it is better to play with batting order 3 to batting order 6 even if you consider that you cannot receive the AT lottery. Therefore, when the first stopping operation stops the second reel R2 or the third reel R3 and is different from the correct batting order, the winning rate of the one-coin small combination can be reduced to 1/4, and the increase in the payout rate of non-AT games from batting order 3 to batting order 6 can be suppressed.

In this embodiment, when the batting order bell is won, if the stop operation is performed according to the correct batting order, the 9-coin small prize can always be won, but even if the stop operation is performed according to the correct batting order, the 9-coin small prize may not be won unless the stop operation is performed at a specific press detection position on any of the reels. In this case, the stop operation at the specific press detection position is required to be performed for at least one of the first stop operation, the second stop operation, and the stop operation at the specific press detection position may be required depending on the order of the stop operation, such as only the first stop operation, or the stop operation at the specific press detection position may be required only for a specific reel (the specific reel may be one or more) among the first reel R1 to the third reel R3. That is, in this application, the fact that the correct small prize can be won in a specific operation sequence means that the correct small prize can always be won in a specific operation sequence, or that there can be cases where the correct small prize is won and cases where the correct small prize is not won even in a specific operation sequence. Also, in this application, the specific operation mode includes an operation mode in which the order of the stop operation is specified but the touch detection position is not specified, and an operation mode in which both the order of the stop operation and the touch detection position are specified.

In addition, when a lottery for moving to a favorable zone is held in the normal zone, the lottery result of the favorable zone winning may be obtained and the player may move to the favorable zone. In this embodiment, a lottery for moving to a favorable zone is held when a winning mode other than the normal replay b is obtained during a game in the BB establishment state in the normal zone. Therefore, if the game is configured to always move to the favorable zone except when the winning mode of the normal replay b is obtained, the period of stay in the normal zone can be reduced. Here, in this embodiment, when the first reel R1 is stopped first in the BB establishment state and when the second reel R2 or the third reel R3 is stopped first, the expected value of medals is higher when the second reel R2 or the third reel R3 is stopped first, and the process related to the move to the favorable zone in the normal zone is executed in accordance with the result of the internal lottery, and there is no difference in the degree of advantage regardless of which reel is stopped first. Therefore, if the player stays in the normal zone for a long period of time, a strategy element occurs in which the game method of stopping the second reel R2 or the third reel R3 first becomes advantageous. In addition, since the player can recognize whether or not he is in the advantageous zone by the advantageous zone notification, it becomes easy to check the presence or absence of the advantageous zone notification and switch the game method. Therefore, by extremely increasing the advantageous zone transition probability, it is possible to reduce as much as possible the situation in which it is advantageous to stop the second reel R2 or the third reel R3 first. In particular, the method of increasing the advantageous zone transition rate described above is suitable for a game specification designed so that the value obtained by dividing the total number of medals paid out in the BB state and the number of medals paid out due to the correct batting order notification in the assist time game by the total number of medals paid out (the so-called instruction-included role ratio) does not exceed 70%, instead of performing advantageous zone transition processing according to the result of an internal lottery and setting a difference in processing associated with the provision of operation instruction information during the advantageous zone, and the same game specification is adopted in this embodiment.

In this embodiment, if the player is in the favorable zone in the BB establishment state, the ceiling function is installed so that the player will always transition to the AT state once before the favorable zone ends. This makes it possible to avoid the favorable zone ending without transitioning to the AT state during a series of favorable zones and without the notification of the correct batting order for winning a 9-piece small role being made when the favorable zone ending condition is met. In this embodiment, the value of the ceiling counter is updated when the player is in the normal performance state in the favorable zone, and is updated by a certain value each time a game is played. The update was permitted only when the batting order bell was won, provided that a 1-piece small role was won, but it may be updated with a value according to the result of an internal lottery, or with a value according to the game result such as the winning of a role. As for updating the value of the ceiling counter, it is preferable to allow the value of the ceiling counter to approach a predetermined value when the stopping operation is performed in the operation sequence (batting order 1, 2) in which the first reel R1 is stopped first, and not allow the value of the ceiling counter to approach a predetermined value when the stopping operation is performed in the operation sequence (batting order 3 to batting order 6) in which the second reel R2 or the third reel R3 is stopped first. The reason for providing a specification that transitions to the AT state at least once during a series of advantageous periods is to reduce as much as possible the possibility of falling below the lower limit of the range of the payout rate in the so-called new mid-term test (1600G). In particular, in this embodiment, the medal acquisition performance in the operation sequence in which the second reel R2 or the third reel R3 stops first (batting order 3 to batting order 6) is higher than the medal acquisition performance in the operation sequence in which the first reel R1 stops first (batting order 1, 2), and since it is difficult to acquire medals in the operation sequence in which the first reel R1 stops first (batting order 1, 2), if the advantageous zone continues for a long period without transitioning to the AT state even once, there is a possibility that the ball payout rate will be too low. For this reason, it is preferable to provide a ceiling function and allow the update of the ceiling counter value required to activate the ceiling function for the operation sequence in which the first reel R1 stops first (batting order 1, 2).

In addition, in this embodiment, common bell a and common bell b are provided as winning patterns in which two or more medals are paid out when the first reel R1 is stopped first in the operating sequence (striking order 1, 2) in a BB established state, and the probability of obtaining either of these winning patterns is at least 1/400.

In this embodiment, when a batting order bell belonging to any of batting order bell groups a to d is won in the BB established state, if the first reel R1 is stopped first in the operation sequence (batting order 1, 2), one small prize can be won without fail, but the lower limit of the range of the payout rate in the so-called short-time test is the number of medals paid out relative to the number of medals inserted "exceeds 1/3", and a payout rate of 33.33333...% does not meet the short-time test. For this reason, in a game method in which the first reel R1 is stopped first in the operation sequence (batting order 1, 2), it is necessary to provide a winning mode in which two or more medals are paid out at an appropriate frequency.

In this embodiment, the winning modes of common bell a and common bell b are prepared, and two or more medals are always paid out when the first reel R1 is stopped first in the operating sequence (striking order 1, 2). In this embodiment, the winning probability of common bell a and common bell b is approximately 1/64 each (combined probability approximately 1/32), and since it is almost certain that any of the common bells will be obtained at least once during the 400G of the short-time test, it is possible to design a machine that can be expected to conform to the short-time test.

In addition, in this embodiment, since the order of the stop operation that may result in the winning of the 9-coin minor role when the batting order bell is won is biased toward the operation order that stops the second reel R2 or the third reel R3 first (batting order 3 to batting order 6), it is preferable that the winning information of the batting order bell is not notified to the sub-board at least during non-AT play. In a situation where the operation instruction information is provided to the player in a favorable zone, the winning information of the batting order bell may be notified to the sub-board, or the winning information of the batting order bell may not be notified to the sub-board at all regardless of whether the game is non-AT or AT play. Even if the winning information of the batting order bell is not notified to the sub-board when the main board side notifies the correct batting order, the winning assistance performance can be executed on the sub-board side, and it is possible to play the assist time game smoothly without notifying the winning information of the batting order bell itself. In this way, by preventing the notification of winning information on the batting order bell at least during non-AT play from being sent to the sub-board, it is possible to prevent fraudulent acts such as modifying the sub-board to illegally grasp winning information on the batting order bell during non-AT play and thereby reduce the consumption of medals during non-AT play.

In addition, in this embodiment, when the presentation state transitions to an AT state in a favorable zone, a specific notification is initiated by lighting up the zone indicator SEC, and there are cases where the favorable zone continues after the AT state ends and cases where the favorable zone ends, and when the AT state ends and the favorable zone ends, the zone indicator SEC is turned off and the specific notification is terminated, and when the AT state ends and the favorable zone continues, the zone indicator SEC is also turned off and the specific notification is terminated.

Figure 32 shows the relationship between the game zone, the presentation state, and the state of the zone display SEC.

First, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 32(A), if the first AT state ends in the favorable zone but the end condition is not met, specifically, if the value of the clear counter 1992 does not reach the threshold value, the favorable zone continues. Also, as shown in FIG. 32(A), if the end condition is met in the second AT state in the favorable zone, specifically, if the value of the clear counter 1922 reaches the threshold value, the AT state ends and the favorable zone ends, returning to the normal zone.

In this embodiment, the interval indicator SEC remains off after the end of both the first and second AT states, so if a player changes positions while the interval indicator SEC is off, the player who plays later cannot tell whether they are in the normal zone or the advantageous zone by looking at the interval indicator SEC.

Meanwhile, conventionally, a zone indicator SEC is used to indicate advantageous zones, and as shown in FIG. 32(B), the zone indicator SEC is turned off during normal zones, and when an advantageous zone starts, the zone indicator SEC is turned on and when the advantageous zone ends, the zone indicator SEC is turned off. With such a conventional method, it is easy to know whether the player is in a normal zone or an advantageous zone by referring to the zone indicator SEC. For this reason, with the conventional method, if there is a bias in the expected medal acquisition value according to the order of the stopping operations, it is not possible to suppress the strategy element of reducing medal consumption by playing with an irregular batting order in the normal zone, which has a higher expected medal acquisition value than the recommended batting order.

In this embodiment, after the AT state ends in the advantageous zone, the specific notification by the zone indicator SEC ends whether the advantageous zone continues or ends. When the zone indicator SEC is off, it is not possible to know whether the player is in the normal zone or the advantageous zone. This makes it possible to prevent strategies that utilize irregular batting orders that have a high expected value for winning medals, thereby ensuring the fairness of the game.

In addition, in this embodiment, even if the setting value is changed, the information related to the game zone is initialized and set to the normal zone, but in a conventional configuration in which the zone indicator SEC is used to notify the advantageous zone, the player can know that he or she is in the normal zone because the zone indicator SEC is off. On the other hand, in this embodiment, when the zone indicator SEC is off, it is not possible to know whether the player is in the normal zone or the advantageous zone, so the inconvenience of being able to determine whether the setting value has been changed or not can be eliminated.

In this way, according to this embodiment, by making it impossible to distinguish between normal and advantageous zones by referring to the lighting state of the zone indicator SEC, fairness in the game can be ensured even if the player is given more favorable treatment than if the same internal lottery result was obtained in the advantageous zone during the advantageous zone transition process that is performed when transitioning from the normal zone to the advantageous zone.

The method of this embodiment also involves using the section indicator SEC to notify the player that they are in any presentation state in which instruction information is provided by the instruction function in the advantageous section. Therefore, there may be multiple types of presentation states in which instruction information is provided in the advantageous section.

In this embodiment, there is only one type of AT state, but multiple types of AT states may be provided. If there are multiple types of AT states (performance states in which instruction information is provided by the instruction function), specific notifications may be made in association with some of the AT states, or specific notifications may be made in association with all of the AT states. In other words, there may be an AT state in which a specific notification is not executed. For example, a configuration may be possible in which a first AT state and a second AT state exist, and a specific notification is executed in the first AT state, but not in the second AT state.

It is preferable that the output of a specific external signal is permitted in an AT state in which a specific notification is made, and that the output of a specific external signal is not made in an AT state in which a specific notification is not made. In other words, on the condition that a specific notification is being made, control can be performed in which the output of a specific external signal to an external device is permitted via an external centralized terminal board.

In addition, the output of a specific external signal to an external device relayed through an external centralized terminal board can be output in different ways when transitioning from a normal presentation state to an AT state (at the time of the so-called first win) and when transitioning back from an AT state to an AT state (when the second or subsequent set of AT states is consumed). For example, a BB signal and an RB signal are provided as specific external signals, and when transitioning from a normal presentation state to an AT state, a BB signal can be output and then an RB signal can be output, and when transitioning back from an AT state to an AT state, a BB signal can be output and then an RB signal can be output.

Furthermore, when multiple types of AT states exist, different specific external signals may be output according to the type of AT state. For example, a BB signal and an RB signal may be provided as specific external signals, and a first AT state and a second AT state may exist as AT states, with a BB signal being output in response to the first AT state and an RB signal being output in response to the second AT state. Note that when multiple types of AT states exist, a common specific external signal may be output in response to different AT states.

In addition, when multiple types of AT states exist, a unique section indicator SEC may be provided for each AT state, or one section indicator SEC may be shared by multiple types of AT states. In particular, when one section indicator SEC is shared by multiple types of AT states, the notification mode of the specific notification (the lighting mode of the section indicator SEC) may be made different depending on the type of AT state, or the notification mode of the specific notification may be common regardless of the type of AT state.

The specific notification may be executed only when the AT state transitions in the advantageous zone, i.e., the zone indicator SEC is lit only when switching between a non-AT state (normal presentation state in this embodiment) and the AT state. In this case, the zone indicator SEC can be lit in the process of transitioning the presentation state to the AT state, and the zone indicator SEC can be turned off during the first play in the AT state. The timing for turning off the zone indicator SEC can be set to any trigger, such as inserting a medal, operating the start lever SL to start play, starting the reels to spin, or operating the third stop.

In addition, in this embodiment, as described above, there is a difference in the expected medal acquisition value between the recommended batting order in which the first reel R1 stops first and the irregular batting order in which the second reel R2 or the third reel R3 stops first, and since the irregular batting order has a higher expected medal acquisition value than the recommended batting order, if the player can easily understand the difference between the normal section and the advantageous section, it is difficult to suppress a playing method in which the player performs a stopping operation in the irregular batting order in the normal section, which does not affect the degree of advantage of the processing related to the instruction function, thereby reducing the consumption of medals. And in this embodiment, although it is not possible to distinguish between the normal section and the advantageous section depending on the lighting status of the section indicator SEC, if the player is staying in the normal performance state in the advantageous section, playing in the irregular batting order will be disadvantageous for the processing related to the instruction function, so it is desirable to notify the player that he or she should play in the recommended batting order to draw attention to the situation.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 33, when a game is played with an irregular batting order, a special effect is executed to encourage the player to perform the stopping operation with the recommended batting order by displaying a warning on the liquid crystal display LCD, including the message "Push left is recommended."

However, in this embodiment, playing with an irregular batting order is disadvantageous when you are in an advantageous zone and in a normal presentation state, so if special presentations were only allowed in advantageous zones, the inconvenience of being able to determine whether the zone is normal or not would arise from the occurrence of special presentations. For example, after the end of the AT state in an advantageous zone, you could intentionally play with an irregular batting order, and determine whether the advantageous zone is continuing or the normal zone has returned based on the occurrence of special presentations, or when a player is replaced, the new player who starts playing could play with an irregular batting order for the time being, and determine whether the zone is normal or advantageous based on the occurrence of special presentations.

For this reason, in this embodiment, it is possible to execute special effects in both normal and advantageous zones, and in normal zones, special effects are executed based on a stop operation being performed in an irregular batting order, and in advantageous zones, special effects are executed based on a stop operation being performed in an irregular batting order while remaining in the normal display state, making it impossible to distinguish between normal zones and advantageous zones based on the occurrence of special effects for play in an irregular batting order.

In this embodiment, since the expected medal winning value in the recommended batting order is lower than in the irregular batting order, there is an inherent strategy element that allows medal consumption to be reduced by performing a stopping operation in the irregular batting order in the normal zone. However, since it is not possible to determine whether the zone is normal or advantageous depending on whether a specific effect occurs or not, playing methods that utilize strategy elements can be prevented, ensuring the fairness of the game.

In this embodiment, a warning display on the liquid crystal display LCD is described as a special effect, but a warning sound may also be output in the special effect. Also, the special effect may not display a message, and the effect image displayed on the liquid crystal display LCD may go dark, as long as the change in effect due to the game being played with an irregular batting order can be communicated to the player.

In this embodiment, an example is given in which the end condition of the advantageous zone is set based on the value of the clear counter 1922, which is updated according to the number of medals inserted and paid out, but an arbitrary end condition of the advantageous zone may be set as a predetermined number of plays being played in the advantageous zone.

In addition, in this embodiment, when the setting value is changed, the information related to the game zone and the information related to the game state are reset, and the player will always remain in the normal zone and normal state immediately after the setting value is changed. For this reason, in a specification that gives favorable treatment when moving from the normal zone to the favorable zone, it is preferable that there is no advantage when the setting value is changed.

Therefore, in the normal state, except when a winning pattern in which the Big Bonus (BB) is won alone is obtained, the player will be entered into the advantageous zone, and in the normal state, when a winning pattern in which the Big Bonus (BB) and a small prize are both won is obtained, a special flag is set, and the degree of advantage is adjusted by referring to the game state and the special flag, thereby eliminating the advantage when the setting value is changed.

For example, in the specific period from the third stop of a game that has a winning pattern that causes a transition to the advantageous zone to the internal lottery for the next game (the first game in the advantageous zone), if the special flag is not set, more advantageous processing can be performed than if the special flag is set.

Specifically, in a game in which a big bonus (BB) and a small bonus overlap in a normal period and normal state, a special flag is set at least before the third stop.

If a special flag is set during the specific period, the selection mode for the AT selection in the normal presentation state is set to low probability mode, and even if the game state is normal during the specific period, the selection mode for the AT selection in the normal presentation state is set to low probability mode. On the other hand, if a special flag is not set during the specific period and the game state is a BB establishment state, the selection mode for the AT selection in the normal presentation state is set to high probability mode.

In this way, if a transition to an advantageous zone occurs while remaining in the normal zone and normal state, the lottery mode for the AT lottery at the time of transition to the advantageous zone will be the low probability mode, eliminating the advantage in the case of a change in the setting value. The degree of advantage can also be adjusted by changing the destination of the presentation state; for example, if a special flag is set during a specific period and the game state is in a normal state during the specific period, the destination of the presentation state may be the normal presentation state, and if a special flag is not set during the specific period and the game state is in a BB establishment state, the destination of the presentation state may be a presentation state more advantageous than the normal presentation state (for example, an AT state).

In addition, when the player is in the normal zone and in the BB state, it is preferable to prevent the player from winning in the advantageous zone in a winning pattern in which a big bonus (BB) and a small bonus are both won in the normal zone. For example, in the above embodiment, when the player is in the normal zone and in the BB state and has a winning pattern of a common 1-coin role or a cherry a, the special flag is not set, and processing related to the transition to the advantageous zone is not performed.

Another embodiment for eliminating the advantage when the setting value is changed is to have all winning patterns in which a big bonus (BB) is won in the normal state not win in the favorable zone in either the normal state or the BB state, and to perform more favorable processing in the BB state than in the normal state.

For example, for a specific period from the third stop of a game that has obtained a winning pattern that causes a transition to the advantageous zone to the internal lottery for the next game (the first game in the advantageous zone) when the game state is in the normal state, the lottery mode for the AT lottery in the normal presentation state can be set to a low probability mode, and if the game state is in the BB establishment state, the lottery mode for the AT lottery in the normal presentation state can be set to a high probability mode. In this way, when a transition to the advantageous zone occurs in the normal zone and in the normal state, the transition to the advantageous zone will be made while maintaining the normal state, so that it is possible to prevent an advantage from occurring when the setting value is changed. The degree of advantage may be adjusted by changing the destination of the presentation state. For example, if the game state is in the normal state during the specific period, the destination of the presentation state may be the normal presentation state, and if the game state is in the BB establishment state during the specific period, the destination of the presentation state may be the presentation state that is more advantageous than the normal presentation state (for example, the AT state, etc.).

In addition, in this embodiment, in the advantageous zone, the instruction information is provided in the AT state, and the instruction information is not provided in the normal presentation state, but the instruction information may be provided in the normal presentation state. Also, the presentation state that can be set in the advantageous zone is not limited to the normal presentation state and the AT state. For example, a configuration in which a premonition state (an example of the first state) in which the player stays between the determination of the right to transition to the AT state in the normal presentation state and the transition to the AT state, a configuration in which the right to transition to the AT state is granted under conditions different from those of the normal presentation state and a chance zone state (an example of the first state) in which the right to transition to the AT state is more easily obtained than in the normal presentation state, a configuration in which the player stays in the end waiting state (an example of the first state) when the end condition of the AT state is satisfied, returns to the AT state when the return condition to the AT state is satisfied in the end waiting state, and transitions to the normal presentation state when the return condition to the AT state is not satisfied, and a configuration in which the success or failure of any end condition of the advantageous zone is determined in the end waiting state after the end of the AT state, and there are cases in which the advantageous zone continues by transitioning from the end waiting state to the normal presentation state, and cases in which the advantageous zone ends in the end waiting state and transitions to the normal zone can be adopted.

In addition, in this embodiment, if the AT state is not in the advantageous zone, and a stop operation is performed in the recommended batting order in a game in which the batting order bell has been won, the game is treated more favorably in various processes related to the instruction function than if the stop operation was performed in an irregular batting order for that game, but the following aspects can also be adopted.

For example, when a stop operation is performed in the recommended batting order while in a favorable zone and in a normal presentation state, a specific game is awarded once based on the first stop operation, and this is recorded in the specific game counter. Specifically, the initial value of the specific game counter value is set to 0, and when the first stop operation is an operation on the stop button B1, 1 is added to the value of the specific game counter. The value of the specific game counter is subtracted when a game start operation is performed for a game while in a favorable zone and in a normal presentation state, and 1 is subtracted from the value of the specific game counter after processing related to the instruction function such as AT lottery is performed. In other words, before subtracting the value of the specific game counter, at least one or more processing related to the instruction function is executed by referring to the value of the specific game counter. When the value of the specific game counter is 1, processing that is more favorable than when the value of the specific game counter is 0 is performed. For example, when the value of the specific game counter is 1, an AT lottery can be executed that has a higher probability of winning the AT than when the value of the specific game counter is 0. For example, when the value of the specific game counter is 1, the execution of the AT lottery can be permitted, and when the value of the specific game counter is 0, the execution of the AT lottery can be not permitted. According to these examples, when a stop operation is performed in an irregular batting order in a game in an advantageous zone and in a normal performance state, the degree of advantage can be adjusted in the next game of the game. Therefore, by combining with the method of the above embodiment, in a game in which a stop operation is performed in an irregular batting order, it is treated as a penalty for the stop operation being performed in the irregular batting order in the processing related to the instruction function, and in the next game, it is treated as a penalty for the value of the specific counter being 0 in the processing related to the instruction function. In other words, the information that records that a stop operation was performed in the recommended batting order is carried over to the next game, and the information is referred to in the next game to perform advantageous processing, so that the effect of adjusting the degree of advantage can be generated in multiple games. The game for determining whether or not to add the value of the specific game counter may be only the game in which the batting order bell is won, or it may be the game in which all winning patterns including the batting order bell are obtained.

In addition, if the player is in a normal presentation state in the advantageous zone and a stop operation is performed in an irregular batting order in a game in which the batting order bell is won, control may be performed to make the specific presentation less likely to appear or to prevent the specific presentation from appearing until a specified release condition is met in the next or subsequent games.

Specific effects include, for example, effects that suggest the result of an internal lottery. Specifically, when a rare winning pattern such as Cherry A or Cherry B is obtained, an image suggesting that a rare winning pattern has been won may be displayed on the liquid crystal display LCD, or a lamp may be lit in a color corresponding to the rare winning pattern. Control to make specific effects less likely to appear or to prevent specific effects from appearing may be achieved by changing a table for selecting effects. The release conditions may be set arbitrarily, such as the number of times played, obtaining the result of a specified internal lottery, or performing a release lottery and winning the release lottery.

Here, we assume that when a rare winning pattern is obtained in an internal lottery in a favorable zone, a specific effect that allows the player to know that a rare winning pattern has been obtained will be executed between the detection of the game start operation and the detection of the first stop operation in a specification that is favorably treated in the processing related to the instruction function. In this case, if the specific effect does not occur, the possibility of a rare winning pattern is low, so the stop operation is performed in an irregular batting order that has a high expected value for medal acquisition, and if the specific effect occurs, the possibility of a rare winning pattern is high, so the stop operation is performed in the recommended batting order.

In response to this, by adopting control that limits the appearance of a specific effect (control that reduces the frequency of appearance, or control that does not appear) until a specified release condition is met when a stop operation is performed in an irregular batting order with a high expected value of medal acquisition, highly strategic game procedures can be suppressed. The decision on whether to perform control to limit the appearance of a specific effect may be made only when the batting order bell is won, or may be made when the batting order bell and other than the batting order bell are won. In other words, a decision on whether to perform control to limit the execution of a specific effect may be made only when a winning mode is obtained in which the degree of advantage is adjusted in relation to the processing related to the instruction function when a stop operation is performed in an irregular batting order, or a decision on whether to perform control to limit the execution of a specific effect may be made even when a winning mode is obtained in which the degree of advantage in relation to the processing related to the instruction function is not affected even when a stop operation is performed in an irregular batting order.

In addition, in this embodiment, the gaming machine inserts gaming media such as medals when playing a game, and pays out gaming media when winning combinations are achieved, but games may also be played by consuming or granting gaming value as electronic information without using gaming media. For example, the gaming machine or an external unit connected to the gaming machine may be configured to store information on gaming value owned by the player, so that consuming gaming value by subtracting the number of gaming values is replaced by inserting gaming media, and granting gaming value by adding the number of gaming values is replaced by paying out gaming media.

Second Embodiment
2-1. Configuration Fig. 34 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. Also, Fig. 35 is a perspective view showing the internal configuration (excluding the reel unit) of the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The gaming machine of this embodiment is a so-called slot machine or reel type gaming machine, which is a type of gaming machine that uses medals as the gaming medium.

In the gaming machine of this embodiment, a reel unit consisting of a first reel R1 to a third reel R3 (multiple reels) is stored in a box-shaped housing consisting of a storage box BX, an upper front door UD, and a lower front door DD. In addition, a power supply unit EU having a built-in power supply unit and various switches such as a power switch ES, a setting change key cylinder KS, and a setting change button BS, and a hopper unit HP as a medal payout device are stored in the lower part of the reel unit storage space PS in the storage box BX. The hopper unit HP is equipped with a medal storage tank MT for storing medals to be used in a game, a payout motor (not shown) consisting of a stepping motor, and a rotating disk (not shown) supported by the payout motor, and is configured so that the rotating disk is rotated by the payout motor to pay out medals one by one. In addition, when the amount of medals stored in the medal storage tank MT reaches a certain amount, the hopper unit HP sends out surplus medals to a cash box CB. In the housing of the gaming machine of this embodiment, for example, a main board MAIN is attached above the reel unit storage space PS, and a sub-board SUB is attached to the side of the reel unit storage space PS. These control boards (main board MAIN, sub-board SUB) are equipped with a CPU (an example of a calculation means), a ROM (an example of an information storage medium), a RAM (an example of a temporary storage means), etc., so that the operation of the gaming machine can be controlled. In this embodiment, the power supply unit EU is provided with a setting change key cylinder KS and a setting change button BS, but the setting change key cylinder KS and the setting change button BS may also be provided on the surface of the main board MAIN.

The first reel R1 to the third reel R3 shown in FIG. 34 are each divided into 20 regions (each region is called a "frame") at regular intervals on the outer periphery, and one of several types of symbols is arranged on each frame. The first reel R1 to the third reel R3 are supported by a stepping motor (reel driving means: not shown), and are each driven to rotate around the axis of the stepping motor, and are provided so that they can be stopped in frame units (predetermined rotation angle units, predetermined rotation amount units) by controlling the number of pulses and pulse width of the drive pulse of the stepping motor. That is, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, the stepping motor drives the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 to rotate in response to the drive pulse supplied from the control board, and when a drive pulse of all phases is supplied from the control board, the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 stop as the rotation of the stepping motor stops.

The upper front door UD and the lower front door DD can be opened and closed separately, and the upper front door UD has a display window DW that allows the spinning and stopped states of the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 to be observed. When the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 are stopped, three patterns (upper row pattern, middle row pattern, and lower row pattern) that are consecutively arranged on the outer periphery of each of the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 can be observed from the front of the gaming machine through the display window DW.

In addition, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, each reel is provided with an upper, middle, and lower display position for observing the patterns through the display window DW, and an active line is set by combining the display positions of each reel. In the gaming machine of this embodiment, the number of medals required for one game, the so-called specified insertion number, is set to three, and when a number of medals equivalent to the specified insertion number are inserted, an active line L1 consisting of the upper row of the first reel R1, the middle row of the second reel R2, and the lower row of the third reel R3 is activated.

The game result is determined by the symbol combination that is stopped and displayed on the winning line in the display window DW, and if the symbol combination on the winning line corresponds to a predetermined winning combination, that winning combination is treated as a winning combination and medals are paid out from the hopper unit HP.

The upper front door UD is also provided with a game information display unit DS and a zone indicator SEC. The game information display unit DS is made up of LEDs, lamps, seven-segment displays, etc., and displays various game information such as the number of medal credits, the number of medals paid out or won in one game, and the total number of medals paid out or won in BB state. The zone indicator SEC also notifies whether or not the player is in an advantageous zone by turning on and off the built-in LED.

The upper front door UD is also provided with a liquid crystal display LCD for game presentation. Various videos (or images) for supporting or livening up the game are displayed on this liquid crystal display LCD. In addition, in this embodiment of the gaming machine, multiple speakers SP for game presentation are provided on the upper front door UD and the lower front door DD. Various sounds for supporting or livening up the game are output from these speakers SP.

The lower front door DD is also provided with various operating means. The operating means include a bet button (insertion operating means) B0 for inserting credited (stored) medals, a start lever (game start operating means) SL for spinning the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 to start a game, and stop buttons (stop operating means) B1 to B3 for stopping each of the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 that are driven to rotate by a stepping motor.

In this embodiment of the gaming machine, when a player inserts a medal into the medal slot MI or presses the bet button B0, the machine is set to a ready state in which it is possible to start controlling the rotation of the first reel R1 to the third reel R3. Then, when the player presses the start lever SL, the control board starts to rotate the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 by driving a stepping motor, and an internal lottery is performed using a random number value. On the condition that the rotation speed of the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 has increased to a predetermined speed, pressing the stop buttons B1 to B3 is permitted (enabled).

After that, when the player presses the stop buttons B1 to B3 at any timing, the stop switch (stop signal output means: for example, a photosensor, a continuity sensor, a pressure sensor, etc.) built into each of the stop buttons B1 to B3 turns on, changing the reel stop signal input to the control board from the OFF state to the ON state.

When the player releases any of the pressed stop buttons B1 to B3 at any time, the stop switches corresponding to the stop buttons B1 to B3 turn off, changing the reel stop signal input to the control board from on to off.

The control board then stops the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 at a stop position that corresponds to the result of the internal lottery based on the change from OFF to ON of the reel stop signal, whose state changes depending on when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed and released.

A medal payout port MO and a medal tray MP are provided at the bottom of the lower front door DD, and a number of medals according to the results of a game are paid out from the hopper unit HP through the medal payout port MO to the medal tray MP. When medals are paid out according to the results of a game, if crediting (internal storage) of medals is permitted, medals equivalent to some or all of the payout number are credited up to a credit limit (50 in this embodiment), and the display value of the credit indicator consisting of a 7-segment display of the game information display unit DS is changed in accordance with the change in the number of medals credited.

Figure 36 is a functional block diagram of the gaming machine of this embodiment.

The gaming machine of this embodiment is controlled by a gaming control means (main board MAIN and sub board SUB) 100. The gaming control means 100 is started by power supplied from the power supply unit EU by the operation of the power switch ES, and receives input signals from input means such as the medal insertion switch 210, the bet switch 220, the start switch 230, the stop switch 240, the setting change permission switch 250, and the setting change switch 260, and performs various calculations to execute a game, and controls the operation of output means such as the reel unit 310, the hopper unit (payout device) HP, the display device 330, and the sound device 340 based on the calculation results. The functions of the gaming control means 100 are realized by hardware such as various processors (CPU, DSP, etc.), ASICs (gate arrays, etc.), ROMs (an example of information storage media), or RAMs, or software consisting of a given program pre-stored in the ROM, etc.

The game control means 100 includes a setting change means 103, a throw-in acceptance means 105, a random number generation means 110, an internal lottery means 120, a reel control means 130, a winning determination means 140, a payout control means 150, a replay processing means 160, a game state control means 170, an AT control means 175, a performance control means 180, a game information storage means 190a, and a performance information storage means 190b. In this embodiment, the setting change means 103, the throw-in acceptance means 105, the random number generation means 110, the internal lottery means 120, a reel control means 130, a winning determination means 140, a payout control means 150, a replay processing means 160, a game state transition control means 170, and an AT control means 175 are realized by the CPU of the main board MAIN executing various programs, and the performance control means 180 is realized by the CPU of the sub board SUB executing various programs. The game information storage means 190a is composed of a main ROM and a main RAM mounted on the main board MAIN, and the performance information storage means 190b is composed of a sub ROM and a sub RAM mounted on the sub board SUB. Various programs executed by the CPU of the main board MAIN are stored in the main ROM of the game information storage means 190a, and various programs executed by the CPU of the sub board SUB are stored in the sub ROM of the performance information storage means 190b. The setting change means 103 controls changing the setting values stored in the setting value storage area 1913 provided in the main RAM of the game information storage means 190a. In this embodiment, the game machine is switched between being started in the game mode and being started in the setting change mode depending on the state of the setting change permission switch 250 when the power is turned on. When the setting key is inserted into the setting change key cylinder KS and turned clockwise from the initial position, the signal state of the setting change permission switch 250 becomes ON. When the power switch ES is operated in this state to supply power from the power supply unit EU, the setting change means 103 starts the game machine in the setting change mode. In this embodiment, the setting value can be selected from six setting values from setting 1 to setting 6, and the probability of winning the internal lottery is changed so that the expected value of the ball payout rate increases from setting 1 to setting 6. In this embodiment, the setting values are expressed in the order of setting 1 < setting 2 < setting 3 < setting 4 < setting 5 < setting 6.

When the setting change switch 260 is activated by pressing the setting change button BS in the setting change mode, the setting change means 103 changes the setting value in the order of setting 1 → setting 2 → ... setting 6 → setting 1 → ... each time it receives an input signal from the setting change switch 260, confirms the setting value based on a game start signal from the start switch 230 that is activated by pressing the start lever SL, and controls the confirmed setting value to be stored in the setting value memory area 1913. In this embodiment, the signal state of the setting change permission switch 250 can be changed to the OFF state by returning the setting key inserted into the setting change key cylinder KS to its initial position, thereby making it possible to transition from the setting change mode to the game mode.

In this embodiment, when the power is turned on with the setting change key cylinder KS in the initial position, the gaming machine is started in the game mode based on the signal state of the setting change permission switch 260 being in the off state. In this embodiment, in the game mode, it is possible to play games but it is not possible to change the setting values, and in the setting change mode, it is possible to change the setting values but it is not possible to play games.

In addition, in the setting change mode, the setting change means 103 performs an initialization process to initialize information stored in a predetermined memory area of the main RAM of the game information storage means 190a. In particular, in this embodiment, with respect to the main RAM of the game information storage means 190a, the information stored in the lottery flag memory area 1915, the game status memory area 1916, the performance status memory area 1917, the AT stock number counter 1918, the AT game number counter 1919, the CZ game number counter 1921, the first clear counter 1922, and the second clear counter 1923 is initialized by the initialization process in the setting change mode. More specifically, the memory areas in the main RAM of the game information storage means 190a other than the lottery flag memory area 1915, game status memory area 1916, performance status memory area 1917, AT stock number counter 1918, AT game number counter 1919, CZ game number counter 1921, first clear counter 1922, and second clear counter 1923 are designated as information holding areas, and information stored in the memory areas other than the information holding areas of the main RAM is initialized. For this reason, in the main RAM, the setting value memory area 1913 and credit information memory area 1914 are designated as information holding areas, and the information stored in these memory areas is retained without being initialized by the initialization process in the setting change mode.

The insertion acceptance means 105 accepts the insertion of medals for each game, and performs a process to activate the game start operation for the start lever SL (game start operation means) based on the insertion of medals equivalent to the specified insertion number (3 medals). In the gaming machine of this embodiment, the first press of the start lever SL, which is activated based on the insertion of medals equivalent to the specified insertion number, is accepted as the game start operation, and serves as a trigger to start the rotation of the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 and also serves as a trigger to execute an internal lottery.

In the gaming machine of this embodiment, when a medal is inserted into the medal insertion slot MI, the medal insertion switch 210 is actuated, and the insertion acceptance means 105 sets the inserted medal to an inserted state, up to a specified insertion number. In the gaming machine of this embodiment, a maximum of 50 medals can be stored (accumulated) in the credit information storage area 1914 provided in the main RAM of the gaming information storage means 190a, and when the bet button B0 is pressed with medals credit-stored in the gaming machine, the bet switch 220 is actuated, and the insertion acceptance means 105 sets the medals credit-stored in the credit information storage area 1914 to an inserted state, up to a specified insertion number.

The random number generating means 110 is a means for generating random numbers for the lottery. The random numbers can be generated, for example, by a 16-bit random number circuit that generates 65,536 random numbers from 0 to 65,535 without duplication within one period. Note that in this embodiment, the "random number" includes not only values that are generated randomly in the mathematical sense, but also values that, even if their generation is regular, can actually function as random numbers because the timing of their acquisition is irregular.

The internal lottery means 120 is a means for conducting an internal lottery to determine whether a winning combination will be achieved based on a start signal from the start switch 230, which is activated when the player operates the start lever SL to start playing (first pressing of the activated start lever SL), and performs lottery table selection processing, random number determination processing, lottery flag setting processing, etc.

In the lottery table selection process, it is determined which of the multiple internal lottery tables stored in the main lottery table storage area 1910 provided in the main ROM of the game information storage means 190a is to be used for the internal lottery. In the gaming machine of this embodiment, three types of internal lottery tables (internal lottery table 1 to internal lottery table 3) as shown in FIG. 37 are stored in the main lottery table storage area 1910. In each internal lottery table, various roles such as replays, small roles, and bonuses and misses (non-wins) are associated with each of multiple random number values (for example, 65,536 random number values from 0 to 65,535). In this embodiment, three types of internal lottery tables are prepared for each of the six setting values, and the probability of obtaining some winning modes in the internal lottery differs depending on the setting value, and the correspondence between roles and random number values is set so that the higher the setting value, the higher the expected value of the ball payout rate.

In the gaming machine of this embodiment, minor roles 1 to 48 are prepared as minor roles, and the winning patterns of the minor roles are set as shown in Figures 38 and 39, and include batting order bell group a (batting order bell a1 to batting order bell a6), batting order bell group b (batting order bell b1 to batting order bell b6), batting order bell group c (batting order bell c1 to batting order bell c6), batting order bell group d (batting order bell d1 to batting order bell d6), batting order bell group e (batting order bell e1 to batting order bell e6), batting order special roles group (batting order special roles 1 to batting order special roles 16: an example of a specific winning pattern), weak cherry, JAC1, and JAC2.

In addition, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, replays are provided in the form of replay 1 to replay 7, and the winning types of replays are set to normal replay a, normal replay b, watermelon, chance eye a, chance eye b, and strong cherry, as shown in FIG. 39.

In addition, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, the probability of winning a small prize is the same on internal lottery table 1 and internal lottery table 2, the probability of winning a replay is higher on internal lottery table 2 than on internal lottery table 1, replays are not included in the lottery on internal lottery table 3, and the way in which small prizes are selected on internal lottery table 3 is different from that on internal lottery table 1 and internal lottery table 2, and the probability of winning a small prize is higher than that on internal lottery table 1 and internal lottery table 2.

In addition, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, a big bonus (BB) is provided as a bonus, and the big bonus (BB) is the subject of a lottery on the internal lottery table 1.

In addition, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, the game state can be set to a normal state, a BB established state, and a BB state, and in the lottery table selection process, one of internal lottery tables 1 to 3 is selected as the internal lottery table to be used in the internal lottery depending on the game state.

In this embodiment, the probability of winning bonuses and replays does not change depending on the setting value, but the probability of winning some minor winning patterns changes depending on the setting value, and the higher the setting value, the higher the probability of winning JAC1 and JAC2.

In the random number determination process, a random number value (random number for lottery) is obtained from the random number generating means 110 for each game based on a start signal from the start switch 230, and the obtained random number value is used to determine whether or not it has won a winning combination by referring to the internal lottery table stored in the main lottery table memory area 1910 provided in the main ROM of the game information memory means 190a.

In the lottery flag setting process, the lottery flag corresponding to the winning combination determined to be a winning combination is set from a non-winning state (first flag state, off state) to a winning state (second flag state, on state) based on the result of the random number determination process. In the gaming machine of this embodiment, when two or more types of combinations are won in a overlapping manner, the lottery flags corresponding to the two or more types of combinations that are won in a overlapping manner are set to a winning state. The setting information for the lottery flag is stored in the lottery flag storage area 1915 provided in the main RAM of the gaming information storage means 190a.

In addition, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, a lottery flag (carry-over flag) that can carry over a winning state to the next game or later until a prize is won, and a lottery flag (non-carry-over flag) that is reset to a non-winning state without carrying over a winning state to the next game or later regardless of whether a prize is won or not are prepared. The former carry-over flag corresponds to a big bonus (BB), and the latter non-carry-over flag corresponds to a small bonus and a replay. In the lottery flag setting process, for example, when a big bonus (BB) is won in an internal lottery, a process is performed to carry over the winning state of the lottery flag of the big bonus (BB) until the big bonus (BB) is won. At this time, the internal lottery means 120 performs an internal lottery to determine whether or not the small bonus and the replay are won, even in a game in which the winning state of the lottery flag of the big bonus (BB) is carried over. That is, in the lottery flag setting process, when a small win or replay is won in a game in which the winning state of the lottery flag of the bonus associated with the carryover flag is carried over, the lottery flag corresponding to two or more types of roles consisting of the lottery flag of the already won bonus and the lottery flag of the small win or replay won in the internal lottery is set to the winning state.

The reel control means 130 starts the rotation drive of the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 by the stepping motor based on a start signal from the start switch 230, which is operated by the player's operation to start playing by operating the start lever SL, and controls the reel control means 130 to activate the stop operation by pressing the stop buttons B1 to B3 (stop operation means) corresponding to the reels that are rotating steadily at a predetermined speed (approximately 80 rpm: a rotation speed of approximately 80 rotations per minute), and also controls the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 that are being rotated by the stepping motor to stop in a manner according to the setting state of the lottery flag (the result of the internal lottery).

When the player presses the stop button B1 to B3 while the stop operation for the stop buttons B1 to B3 is enabled and the stop switch 240 is activated, the reel control means 130 controls the reels to stop, by supplying a full-phase excitation drive pulse to the stepping motor of the reel unit 310, based on the reel stop signal from the stop switch 240.

That is, each time one of the stop buttons B1 to B3 is pressed, the reel control means 130 determines the stop position of the reel corresponding to the pressed button among the first reel R1 to the third reel R3, and controls the reel to stop at the determined stop position. Note that in the gaming machine of this embodiment, pressing the stop button B1 corresponds to an operation for stopping the first reel R1, pressing the stop button B2 corresponds to an operation for stopping the second reel R2, and pressing the stop button B3 corresponds to an operation for stopping the third reel R3. That is, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, if the order in which the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed is changed, the stop order of the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 is changed.

In the gaming machine of this embodiment, the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 are stopped within 190 ms from the time when the stop button B1 to B3 is pressed. When the reels are stopped within 190 ms from the time when the stop button is pressed, the stop position of each reel is determined by the number of frames required from the time when the stop button is pressed until the reel stops, which is within the range of 0 to 4 frames (predetermined pull-in range). The reel control means 130 controls the reel to stop, which corresponds to the stop button B1 to B3 that was pressed, so that when the symbol corresponding to the winning combination in the internal lottery is located within the range of 0 to 4 frames from the display position on the pay line at the time when the stop button was pressed, the symbol corresponding to the winning combination for which the lottery flag is set to the winning state is displayed at the display position on the pay line on the outer periphery of the reel that corresponds to the stop button B1 to B3 that was pressed.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 40, the red 7 symbol "RED 7", the bar symbol "BAR", the special symbol 1 "SP1", the special symbol 2 "SP2", the special symbol 3 "SP3", the replay symbol "RP", the bell symbol 1 "BL1", the bell symbol 2 "BL2", the watermelon symbol "WM", and the cherry symbol "CH" are arranged on the outer periphery of the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 constituting the reel unit 310. When symbols existing within 4 frames from the pressing detection position are drawn onto the activated line, the symbols arranged at intervals of 4 frames or less on the outer periphery of each reel can be displayed on the activated line regardless of the pressing detection position (an example of the operation detection position), which is the position of the reel at the time when the stop switch 240 is operated (the time when the pressing of the stop button is detected). In this embodiment, the pressing detection position is the display position of the upper row of each reel.

In the gaming machine of this embodiment, the reel unit 310 is equipped with a reel index 315 consisting of a photosensor, and the reel control means 130 is able to monitor the current rotation state of the reel by determining the rotation angle (the number of rotation steps of the rotating shaft of the stepping motor) from the reference position of the reel (the frame detected by the reel index 315) based on the reference position signal detected by the reel index 315 each time the reel rotates once. In other words, the reel control means 130 can obtain the position of the reel when the stop switch 240 is activated by determining the rotation angle from the reference position of the reel.

The reel control means 130 also determines the stopping position of the reel while it is spinning by referring to the stop control table stored in the stop control table memory area 1911 provided in the main ROM of the game information memory means 190a.

The stop control table sets the correspondence between the push detection position, which is the position of the reel at the time the stop switch 240 is activated (the time when the press of the stop button is detected), and the actual stop position, depending on the setting state of the lottery flag. Note that the stop control table may also set the correspondence between the push detection position and the number of sliding frames, which indicates the amount of rotation from the push detection position to the actual stop position, depending on the setting state of the lottery flag.

In addition, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, the priority order for small wins, replays, and bonuses is set as "replay > bonus" and "small win > bonus", and the stop control table is set so that a stop position containing the symbol that constitutes the winning form of the high-priority win is selected according to the priority order associated with each win.

In addition, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, in the stop control table that is referenced when the lottery flags for multiple types of minor roles are set to a winning state in the internal lottery, there are cases where the stop position is set according to the number of pattern combinations that indicate winning forms that can be displayed on the active line (number priority control: an example of the second control rule) and cases where the stop position is set according to the number of medals paid out based on a predetermined payout for the minor role (payout number priority control: an example of the first control rule). When the stop position is set according to the number of pattern combinations that indicate winning forms that can be displayed on the active line, the stop position relative to the press detection position is set so that the stop position with a greater number of pattern combinations that indicate winning forms that can be displayed on the active line is given priority, and when the stop position is set according to the number of medals paid out, the stop position relative to the press detection position is set so that the stop position with a greater number of medals paid out based on the payout for the minor role corresponding to the pattern displayed at the display position on the active line (the stop position that can win a minor role with a greater payout) is given priority. However, when the stop positions are set according to the number of medals paid out, for multiple stop positions that pay out the same number of medals, the priority of each stop position is treated as being the same and a stop position is set relative to the press detection position, and when the stop positions are set according to the number of pattern combinations that indicate winning forms that can be displayed on an active line, for multiple stop positions that pay out the same number of pattern combinations that indicate winning forms that can be displayed on an active line, the priority of each stop position is treated as being the same and a stop position is set relative to the press detection position.

Then, in the stop control table that is referenced when batting order bell group a (batting order bell a1 to batting order bell a6), batting order bell group b (batting order bell b1 to batting order bell b6), batting order bell group c (batting order bell c1 to batting order bell c6), batting order bell group d (batting order bell d1 to batting order bell d6), and batting order bell group e (batting order bell e1 to batting order bell e8) are selected in the internal lottery, the correct batting order is set for each batting order bell, as shown in Figures 41 and 42, and any pressing order that differs from the correct batting order is treated as an incorrect batting order.

First, as shown in FIG. 41, in the stop control table that is referenced when a batting order bell belonging to any of batting order bell groups a to d is won, the stop position is set for the press detection position so that when stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in the correct batting order, a 15-coin small win or a 1-coin small win is awarded (if batting order 3 to batting order 6 are the correct batting order, there is a possibility of a miss), and when stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in an incorrect batting order, the stop position is set for the press detection position so that a 1-coin small win is awarded (if batting order 3 to batting order 6 are the incorrect batting order, there is a possibility of a miss).

In addition, in this embodiment, when a batting order bell belonging to any of batting order bell groups a to d is won and a stop operation is performed in the correct batting order, whether or not a 15-coin small win will be awarded is determined by the press detection position of the stop operation corresponding to the reel that stops first in the correct batting order (hereinafter referred to as the first stop operation), and whether or not a 15-coin small win will be awarded is determined by whether the press detection position of the first stop operation is the first press position or the second press position shown in Figure 40. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 41, for the batting order bell group a and batting order bell group c, if the batting order is correct and the first stop operation is in the second press position, the 15-coin small prize will be awarded, but if the batting order is correct and the first stop operation is in the first press position, the 15-coin small prize will not be awarded. For the batting order bell group b and batting order bell group d, if the batting order is correct and the first stop operation is in the first press position, the 15-coin small prize will be awarded, but if the batting order is correct and the first stop operation is in the second press position, the 15-coin small prize will not be awarded.

Next, as shown in FIG. 42, in the stop control table that is referenced when a batting order bell belonging to the batting order bell group e is won, the stop position for the press detection position is set so that when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in the correct batting order, a 15-coin small prize is awarded, and when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in the incorrect batting order, the stop position for the press detection position is set so that a 1-coin small prize is awarded (if batting order 3 to batting order 6 are incorrect batting orders, there may be a missed opportunity). Note that unlike the batting order bell group a to batting order bell group d, the batting order bell group e is designed to award a 15-coin small prize regardless of the press detection position for the first stop operation in the correct batting order.

As shown in Figures 41 and 42, for all batting order bells, in the normal state, all stopping operation sequences are treated as incorrect batting orders, and only when the BB is established, there are stopping operation sequences that are treated as correct batting orders and stopping operation sequences that are treated as incorrect batting orders. Therefore, in the normal state, even if the stopping operation is performed in a manner that would allow a 15-coin small win in the BB state, a 1-coin small win will be won.

In addition, when each batting order bell is won, the stop position is set in each stop control table relative to the press detection position so that in the correct batting order, the payout number priority control causes the symbols that make up the winning form of a 15-coin minor prize to be preferentially displayed on the active line, and in the incorrect batting order, the number priority control causes the symbols that make up the winning form of a 1-coin minor prize to be preferentially displayed on the active line.

In addition, in the stop control table that is referenced when a batting order special role belonging to the batting order special role group (batting order special role 1 to batting order special role 16) is won in the internal lottery, as shown in FIG. 43, when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in a specific batting order (a predetermined operation sequence for each batting order special role) and the press detection position of the first stop operation (a stop operation related to the reel that is to be stopped first in the specific batting order) is a specific press detection position (a press detection position predetermined for each batting order special role: an example of a specific operation position), a 15-coin small role (one of the specific small roles) is generated. The stop positions are set so that when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in a specific batting order and the first stop operation is performed at a non-specific batting order (a different batting order from the specific batting order), a 1-coin small win is won, and when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in a non-specific batting order (a different operation order from the specific batting order), a 14-coin small win is won. The specific batting order shown in FIG. 43 indicates the number of the symbol located in the upper row when the stop button is pressed. For example, the specific batting order special role 1 shown in FIG. 43, which is the number 0 and the number 16, indicates the case where the cherry symbol "CH" in the number 0 or the watermelon symbol "WM" in the number 16 is located in the upper row for the batting order special role 1 when the first reel R1 is pressed in the specific batting order. In the following, as necessary, the mode of the stopping operation that results in the winning of 15 minor roles when a special role is won may be referred to as a specific operation mode.

In addition, when a special batting order role is won, in the case of a specific batting order, the stop positions for the press detection positions are set in each stop control table so that, for a specific press position, the symbols constituting the winning form of a 15-coin minor role are preferentially displayed on the valid line by payout priority control, and for a press detection position different from the specific press position, the symbols constituting the winning form of a 1-coin minor role are preferentially displayed on the valid line by number priority control, and in the case of a non-specific batting order, the symbols constituting the winning form of a 14-coin minor role are preferentially displayed on the valid line by number priority control. In other words, when a special batting order role is won, payout priority control is performed only when the specific operation mode is selected, and number priority control is performed when the specific operation mode is not selected.

In addition, in the stop control table referenced when Weak Cherry 1 is won, the stop position relative to the press detection position is set so that small win 48 takes priority over small win 29, small win 32, and small win 43, and in the stop control table referenced when JAC1 is won, the stop position relative to the press detection position is set so that any of the 15-coin small wins will always win, and in the stop control table referenced when JAC1 is won, the stop position relative to the press detection position is set so that any of the 1-coin small wins will always win.

In addition, for the winning patterns of various replays such as normal replay a, normal replay b, watermelon, chance eye a, chance eye b, and strong cherry, the stop position relative to the press detection position is set so that one of the replays included in the winning pattern will always win regardless of the type of stop operation.

As for the Big Bonus (BB), it can only be won if the Big Bonus (BB) is won alone in the normal state. There are no misses when the BB is formed, and since there are always overlapping wins of minor prizes or replays with higher priority than the Big Bonus (BB), the stop position for the press detection position is set in the stop control table so that the Big Bonus (BB) is not won.

The winning determination means 140 performs a winning determination process to determine whether or not a winning combination has been achieved based on the stopping state of the first reel R1 to the third reel R3. Specifically, the winning determination means 140 refers to a winning determination table stored in the winning determination table storage area 1912 provided in the main ROM of the game information storage means 190a to determine whether or not the symbol combination displayed on the pay line when all of the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 have stopped is in the form of a winning combination of a predetermined winning combination. Then, a winning determination table is prepared so that, as shown in Figures 44 to 48, whether or not a big bonus (BB), replay 1 to replay 7, and small prize 1 to small prize 48 have been achieved can be determined based on the symbol combination displayed on the pay line when each reel has stopped.

In the gaming machine of this embodiment, when a winning combination is achieved, a winning process is executed based on the result of the determination by the winning determination means 140. As the winning process, for example, when a small combination is achieved, a medal payout process is performed by the payout control means 150, when a replay is achieved, a replay process is performed by the replay processing means 160, and when a bonus is achieved, a game state transition process is performed by the game state control means 170 to transition the game state.

The payout control means 150 performs a payout control process for the payout of medals according to the game results. Specifically, when a small winning combination is achieved, the payout number of medals in the game is determined based on the payout amount determined in advance for each combination, and the payout control means 150 controls the hopper unit HP (payout device) to pay out medals equivalent to the determined payout number.

The hopper unit HP performs the operation of paying out the number of medals instructed by the payout control means 150. The hopper unit HP is equipped with a payout medal detection switch 325 that is activated each time a medal is paid out, and the payout control means 150 is configured to be able to manage the number of medals actually paid out from the hopper unit HP based on the input signal from the payout medal detection switch 325.

When credit storage (accumulation storage) of medals is permitted, instead of actually paying out medals using the hopper unit HP, a credit addition process is performed to add the payout number to the credit number (the number of medals stored as credits) stored in the credit information storage area 1914 provided in the main RAM of the game information storage means 190a, and a process of virtually paying out medals is performed.

When a replay wins, the replay processing means 160 performs a replay process (replay process) that sets the next game to the same preparation state as the previous game without the player having to insert any medals owned by the player. That is, in the gaming machine of this embodiment, when a replay wins, an automatic insertion process is performed that automatically inserts a number of medals equivalent to the specified insertion number required for the next game without using any medals (including credit medals) held by the player, and the machine waits for the next game start operation of the start lever SL with a winning line corresponding to the specified insertion number set.

The game state control means 170 performs a game state transition process to transition the game state between the normal state, the BB established state, and the BB state, as shown in FIG. 49. In this embodiment, information indicating the current game state is stored in a game state storage area 1916 provided in the main RAM of the game information storage means 190a. The game state transition condition may be one condition or multiple conditions. When multiple conditions are defined, the game state can be transitioned to another game state based on the establishment of one of the multiple predetermined conditions, or the establishment of all of the multiple predetermined conditions.

The normal state is a game state that corresponds to the initial state among multiple game states, and it is possible to transition from the normal state to the BB established state or the BB state. Specifically, if a big bonus (BB) is won in the normal state but the big bonus (BB) is not awarded, the state transitions to the BB established state, and if a big bonus (BB) is won and also awarded in the normal state, the state transitions to the BB state. In the normal state, the internal lottery is performed by referring to internal lottery table 1, in which the probability of winning a replay is set to about 1/7.3 or more and the big bonus (BB) is set as a lottery target, among internal lottery tables 1 to 3 shown in FIG. 37.

The BB established state is a game state to which a player transitions when a big bonus (BB) is won in an internal lottery in the normal state, but the big bonus (BB) is not awarded. Of the internal lottery tables 1 to 3 shown in FIG. 37, the probability of a replay winning is higher than that of internal lottery table 1, so no misses (no wins) occur, and an internal lottery is held with reference to internal lottery table 2, in which the big bonus (BB) is excluded from the lottery.

In addition, in the BB established state, the lottery flag corresponding to the big bonus (BB) is maintained in the winning state until the big bonus (BB) is won, and when the symbol combination indicating the winning form of the big bonus (BB) is displayed on the pay line, the game state control means 170 transitions the game state from the BB established state to the BB state.

The BB state is a game state to which the player enters when a symbol combination indicating a big bonus (BB) winning form is displayed on an active line, and an internal lottery is performed by referring to internal lottery table 3, which, among internal lottery tables 1 to 3 shown in FIG. 37, has a different selection pattern for minor roles from internal lottery table 1 and internal lottery table 2.

In addition, in the BB state, the game state control means 170 determines whether or not the end condition is met based on the total number of medals paid out during play in the BB state. If it determines that more than a predetermined number of medals (e.g., 200 medals) have been paid out, the game state control means 170 ends the BB state and controls the game state to return to the normal state. Note that in this embodiment, count information regarding the number of medals paid out in the BB state is stored in the game state memory area 1916.

As shown in Fig. 50, the AT control means 175 changes the presentation state between multiple types of presentation states including a non-AT state, an AT low probability state, an AT state, and a CZ state, sets the presentation state to an AT state (assist time state) under a predetermined condition, determines whether the AT state termination condition is met based on the value of the AT game number counter 1919, and controls the AT state to end when the AT state termination condition is met. In this embodiment, information indicating the currently-held presentation state is stored in a presentation state memory area 1917 provided in the main RAM of the game information memory means 190a. In this embodiment, when the player is in the AT state, the AT control means 175 displays information (an example of operation instruction information) corresponding to the correct batting order, etc. (at least one of the correct batting order and the pressed position) on the main display 300 consisting of a 7-segment display provided in the game information display unit DS when the batting order bell is won, thereby performing a correct batting order notification that assists in the winning of the 15-coin minor role (minor role 1 to minor role 20), and the performance control means 180 displays an image corresponding to the correct batting order, etc. (at least one of the correct batting order and the pressed position) on the liquid crystal display LCD when the batting order bell is won, thereby performing a winning assistance performance that assists in the winning of the 15-coin minor role (minor role 1 to minor role 20). This allows the player to play an assist time game (an example of an assistance game) in which it is easier to win medals than when playing in a non-AT state.

As shown in FIG. 51, the AT control means 175 can set a normal zone (non-advantageous zone) and an advantageous zone, and in the normal zone, the presentation state is fixed to the initial non-AT state and a lottery for transition to the advantageous zone is performed, and the presentation state can be set to the AT state on the condition that the advantageous zone is started by winning the lottery for transition to the advantageous zone. In the normal zone game, when the game state is normal or BB established, the AT control means 175 performs a lottery for transition to the advantageous zone based on the fact that any of the winning patterns of batting order bell 1 to batting order bell 24, batting order special role belonging to batting order special role a group to batting order special role d group, weak cherry, normal replay a, watermelon, chance eye a, chance eye b, or strong cherry is obtained in the internal lottery. Note that in this embodiment, when a winning pattern including JAC1, a winning pattern including normal replay b, and a winning pattern including big bonus (BB) are obtained in the normal or BB established state, the lottery for transition to the advantageous zone is not performed.

In the advantageous zone transition lottery, the random number value acquired for the internal lottery is compared with the advantageous zone transition lottery table stored in the main lottery table memory area 1910, and it is determined whether or not the advantageous zone transition lottery has been won (advantageous zone win) based on the comparison result. In the advantageous zone transition lottery table, advantageous zone win or loss is assigned to the random number value for the internal lottery associated with each winning mode that triggers the execution of the advantageous zone transition lottery, and it is determined that the advantageous zone transition lottery has been won if the random number value acquired for the internal lottery is associated with the winning mode that triggers the execution of the advantageous zone transition lottery and is associated with advantageous zone win in the advantageous zone transition lottery table.

The AT control means 175, when the advantageous zone transition lottery is won in the normal zone, performs advantageous zone transition processing based on the fact that the advantageous zone transition lottery has been won, and starts the advantageous zone from the next game following the game in which the advantageous zone transition lottery was won. In this embodiment, if the advantageous zone transition lottery results in a win, the presentation state is transitioned to an AT low probability state in the advantageous zone transition processing. Note that there may be two or more types of winning patterns for the advantageous zone transition lottery, and it may be determined whether the presentation state is transitioned to an AT low probability state or an AT state in the advantageous zone transition processing.

The AT control means 175 performs an AT lottery for each game when the performance state is an AT low probability state or a CZ state in the advantageous zone. In the normal state, the AT lottery is performed based on the fact that the internal lottery has obtained a winning mode of a batting order bell belonging to the batting order bell a group to the batting order bell e group, a batting order special role belonging to the batting order special role group, a weak cherry, a normal replay a, a normal replay b, a watermelon, a chance eye a, a chance eye b, a strong cherry, a JAC1 + big bonus (BB), or a big bonus (BB). In the BB establishment state, the AT lottery is performed based on the fact that the internal lottery has obtained a winning mode of a batting order bell belonging to the batting order bell a group to the batting order bell e group, a batting order special role belonging to the batting order special role group, a weak cherry, a normal replay a, a normal replay b, a watermelon, a chance eye a, a chance eye b, a strong cherry, or a JAC1. In the BB state, the AT lottery is held based on whether the winning pattern of JAC1 or JAC2 is obtained, or the result of the internal lottery is a miss (non-winner).

In the AT lottery, the random number value acquired for the internal lottery is compared with the AT lottery table stored in the main lottery table memory area 1910, and whether or not the AT lottery has been won is determined based on the comparison result. In the AT lottery table, AT win or loss is assigned to the random number value for the internal lottery, and it is determined that the AT lottery has been won if the random number value acquired for the internal lottery is associated with an AT win in the AT lottery table. In this embodiment, the probability of winning the AT differs between the AT low probability state and the CZ state, and the probability of winning the AT is set higher in the CZ state than in the AT low probability state. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 51, the execution of the AT lottery is prohibited in the normal zone, and the AT lottery is executed only when the player is in the favorable zone.

The AT control means 170 also performs an AT lottery before the stop operation for the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 is enabled, and for the AT lottery when the batting order special role is won, the AT lottery is performed when the first stop operation is a specific batting order and the pressing detection position of the first stop operation is a non-specific pressing position, and when the first stop operation is a specific batting order and the pressing detection position of the first stop operation is a specific pressing position, an invalidation process is performed to invalidate the result of the AT lottery as a penalty for the current game. The AT control means 170 also performs an invalidation process when the first stop operation is a non-specific batting order when the batting order special role is won. In the invalidation process, for example, the AT lottery may be treated as not having been performed, the result of the AT lottery may be rewritten as a miss regardless of the actual result, or the process based on the result of the AT lottery after the first stop operation may be canceled. Also, the trigger for the AT lottery may be set to be after the first stop operation only when a special winning combination is won, and the AT lottery may be performed when the first stop operation is a specific batting order and the pressing detection position of the first stop operation is not a specific pressing position, and the AT lottery may not be performed when the first stop operation is a specific batting order and the pressing detection position of the first stop operation is a specific pressing position, or when the first stop operation is a non-specific batting order. Also, the trigger for the AT lottery may be set to be after the first stop operation not only when a special winning combination is won, and the possibility of executing the AT lottery may be determined only when a special winning combination is won based on the result of the first stop operation.

The processing related to the AT lottery according to the mode of the stop operation when the batting order special role is won is not limited to invalid processing, and the degree of advantage of the AT lottery may be different. For example, if the mode of the stop operation allows a 1-coin small role to be won, a more advantageous AT lottery may be performed than when the mode of the stop operation allows a 14-coin small role to be won or a 15-coin small role to be won. If the mode of the stop operation allows a 1-coin small role to be won, a less advantageous AT lottery may be performed than when the mode of the stop operation allows a 14-coin small role to be won or a 15-coin small role to be won. Also, even when the batting order special role is won, an AT lottery with the same degree of advantage may be performed regardless of the mode of the stop operation.

If the result of the AT lottery in the low AT probability state is an AT win, the AT control means 175 controls the transition of the presentation state from the low AT probability state to the AT state. In addition, the AT control means 175 adds a fixed value "1" to the AT stock number counter 1918 based on the lottery result of an AT win, and when transitioning the presentation state to the AT state upon the end of the game, subtracts a fixed value "1" from the AT stock number counter 1920 and sets the value "50" corresponding to 50 times, which is the number of times of play that is the condition for ending the AT state, to the AT game number counter 1919.

The AT control means 175 then causes an assist time game to be played based on the fact that the presentation state is the AT state, and each time an assist time game is played, a fixed value "1" corresponding to one game is subtracted from the value of the AT game number counter 1919. In this embodiment, when a batting order bell belonging to batting order bell group a to batting order bell group d is drawn in the AT state, a correct batting order notification that notifies the correct batting order and the pressed position related to the first stop operation, and a prize-winning assistance presentation are performed, and when a batting order bell belonging to batting order bell group e is drawn, a correct batting order notification that notifies the correct batting order and a prize-winning assistance presentation are performed.

In this embodiment, when the AT control means 175 notifies the correct batting order for the batting order bell group a to the batting order bell group d, the main display 300 displays information corresponding to the correct batting order and the pressed position for the first stop operation. Specifically, an operation instruction number is set for each combination of the correct batting order and the pressed position for the first stop operation, and the main display 300 displays "01" (batting order 1 and the second pressed position), "02" (batting order 2 and the second pressed position), "03" (batting order 3 and the second pressed position), "04" (batting order 4 and the second pressed position), "05" (batting order 5 and the second pressed position), "06" (batting order 6 and the second pressed position), "07" (batting order 7 and the second pressed position), "08" (batting order 8 and the second pressed position), "09" (batting order 9 and the second pressed position), "10" (batting order 10 and the second pressed position), "11" (batting order 11 and the second pressed position), "12" (batting order 12 and the second pressed position), "13" (batting order 13 and the second pressed position), "14" (batting order 14 and the second pressed position), "15" (batting order 15 and the second pressed position), "16" (batting order 16 and the second pressed position), "17" (batting order 17 and the second pressed position), "18" (batting order 19 and the second pressed position), "19" (batting order 20 and the second pressed position), "19" (batting order 21 and the second pressed position), "19" (batting order 22 and the second pressed position), "19" (batting order 23 and the second pressed position), "19" (batting order 24 and the second pressed position), "19" (batting order 25 and the second pressed position), "19" " (batting order 3 and second pressed position), "04" (batting order 4 and second pressed position), "05" (batting order 5 and second pressed position), "06" (batting order 6 and second pressed position), "07" (batting order 1 and first pressed position), "08" (batting order 2 and first pressed position), "09" (batting order 3 and first pressed position), "10" (batting order 4 and first pressed position), "11" (batting order 5 and first pressed position), or "12" (batting order 6 and first pressed position) are displayed.

In addition, in this embodiment, when the AT control means 175 notifies the correct batting order for the batting order Bell e group, information corresponding to the correct batting order is displayed on the main display 300. Specifically, an operation instruction number is set for each correct batting order, and the main display 300 displays one of the operation instruction numbers "13" (batting order 3), "14" (batting order 4), "15" (batting order 5), or "16" (batting order 6) using a 7-segment display.

In this embodiment, when the player is in an advantageous zone and the presentation state is not the AT state, if a batting order special role belonging to the batting order special role group is won, a specific batting order notification that notifies the player of a specific batting order and a winning assistance presentation are performed. Note that in this embodiment, when the player is in an advantageous zone and the presentation state is the AT state, the specific batting order notification and winning assistance presentation related to the batting order special role are not performed. Note that in the AT state, even if a stop operation is performed in a non-specific batting order, no penalty processing that is disadvantageous to the player is performed, so even if a notification is not performed when a batting order special role is won in the AT state, if the player performs a stop operation in a non-specific batting order, the player can be sure to win 14 small roles and increase the number of medals in hand.

In this embodiment, when the AT control means 175 notifies a specific batting order, information corresponding to the specific batting order is displayed on the main display 300. Specifically, an operation instruction number is set for each specific batting order, and the main display 300 displays one of the operation instruction numbers "13" (batting order 3), "14" (batting order 4), "15" (batting order 5), or "16" (batting order 6) using a 7-segment display. In this embodiment, batting order 3, batting order 4, batting order 5, and batting order 6 are specific batting orders for each of the batting order special roles, so an arbitrary operation instruction number determined by lottery in a game in which the batting order special role is won is displayed on the main display 300.

In addition, when the performance state is an AT state in the advantageous zone, the AT control means 175 performs an additional lottery based on the fact that a weak cherry, watermelon, chance eye a, chance eye b, or strong cherry has been won in the internal lottery. In the additional lottery, the random number value acquired for the internal lottery is compared with the additional lottery table stored in the main lottery table storage area 1910, and whether or not the additional lottery has been won is determined based on the comparison result. In the additional lottery table, an additional win or a miss is assigned to the random number value for the internal lottery associated with the winning mode that triggers the execution of the additional lottery, and it is determined that the additional lottery has been won when the random number value acquired for the internal lottery is associated with either a weak cherry, watermelon, chance eye a, chance eye b, or strong cherry, and is associated with an additional win in the additional lottery table. In this embodiment, the AT control means 175 adds a fixed value "1" to the AT stock number counter 1918 based on the result of obtaining an additional win in the additional lottery.

When the value of the AT game number counter 1919, which is decremented by a fixed value each time an assist time game is played, reaches the initial value "0", the AT control means 175 determines that the condition for ending the AT state has been met and sets the presentation state to the CZ state. In this embodiment, when the AT control means 175 transitions the presentation state to the CZ state, it sets the number of plays that is the condition for ending the CZ state to 50, and sets the value "50", which corresponds to the set number of plays of 50, to the CZ game number counter 1921.

In addition, in the CZ state of this embodiment, even if a batting order bell belonging to batting order bell group a to batting order bell group e is won, no correct batting order notification or winning assistance performance is performed, so the medal acquisition performance is such that the medals held by the player gradually decrease (the expected value of the payout rate is less than 100%). Also, in this embodiment, the medal acquisition performance of the AT state is sufficiently higher than that of the CZ state, with the net increase in the number of medals per game being about 8 medals (the expected value of the payout rate is about 367%).

The AT control means 175 subtracts a fixed value "1" equivalent to one game from the value of the CZ game number counter 1921 each time a game is played in the CZ state, and when the value of the CZ game number counter 1921 reaches the initial value "0", it determines that the condition for terminating the CZ state has been met, and determines the destination presentation state based on the value of the AT stock number counter 1918. Specifically, if the value of the AT stock number counter 1918 is greater than the initial value "0", it sets the destination presentation state to the AT state, and if the value of the AT stock number counter 1918 is the initial value "0", it sets the destination presentation state to the low AT probability state.

In the CZ state, the AT lottery is held as described above, but even if the AT lottery results in an AT win, the value of the AT stock number counter 1918 only increases, and if the player is in a favorable zone, the player will not transition to another presentation state until at least the condition for ending the CZ state (the value of the CZ game number counter 1921 reaching the initial value "0") is met. However, if the AT lottery is won in the CZ state, the CZ state may be ended based on the fact that the AT lottery was won.

In this embodiment, the AT control means 175 sets the value of the first clear counter 1922 provided in the main RAM of the game information storage means 190a to a predetermined value "1" in the advantageous zone transition process, and in the advantageous zone, an incremental update is performed by adding a certain value (e.g., 1) equivalent to one game to the value of the first clear counter 1922 each time one game is played, and when the value of the first clear counter 1922 exceeds a threshold value (e.g., 1500) (when the value of the first clear counter 1922 reaches "1501"), it is determined that the end condition of the advantageous zone is met. In this embodiment, the first clear counter 1922 is updated after all reels rotating in each game have stopped, but the first clear counter 1922 may be updated at any time as long as it is predetermined for each game. For example, the update may be triggered by the game start operation on the start lever SL.

In this embodiment, the AT control means 175 sets the value of the second clear counter 1923 provided in the main RAM of the game information storage means 190a to an initial value of "0" during the advantageous zone transition process, and during the advantageous zone, updates the value of the second clear counter 1923 according to the difference in the number of medals in each game, subtracts the value "3" corresponding to the number of medals inserted in the game (3 medals) from the value corresponding to the number of medals paid out (for example, "13" if 13 medals are paid out, and "0" if no role is won and no medals are paid out) to obtain a calculation result of the difference in the number of medals in that game, and performs an update process in which this calculation result is added to the value of the second clear counter 1923, and also determines that the condition for ending the advantageous zone has been met if the value of the second clear counter 1923 exceeds a threshold value (for example, 2400). The value of the second clear counter 1923 is controlled so that it does not fall below the initial value "0". For example, if the value of the second clear counter 1923 at the start of a game is "2" and no winning combination is won as a result of playing the game and no medals are paid out, the calculation result of the difference in the number of medals in that game will be "-3", and if the calculation result of the difference in the number of medals is added to the value of the second clear counter 1923, it will fall below the initial value "0". However, the count of the updated value of the second clear counter 1923 is stopped with the initial value "0" as the lower limit. Also, if a replay is won in a game, the difference in the number of medals is calculated by treating the game in which the replay was won as having been paid out with medals equivalent to the specified number of medals for that game, and the difference in the number of medals for the next game provided free of charge due to the replay winning as having been inserted with medals equivalent to the specified number of medals for that game, even if no actual medals have been inserted.

In addition, in the advantageous zone, the first clear counter 1922 and the second clear counter 1923 are updated even if a transition in the game state or presentation state occurs, unless the conditions for ending the advantageous zone are met.

The AT control means 175 also performs an initialization process to initialize information stored in a predetermined storage area of the main RAM of the game information storage means 190a based on the end of the favorable zone. In particular, in this embodiment, with respect to the main RAM of the game information storage means 190, the information stored in the performance state storage area 1917, the AT stock number counter 1918, the AT game number counter 1919, the CZ game number counter 1921, the first clear counter 1922, and the second clear counter 1923 is initialized by an initialization process associated with the end of the favorable zone. More specifically, the storage areas other than the performance state storage area 1917, the AT stock number counter 1918, the AT game number counter 1919, the CZ game number counter 1921, the first clear counter 1922, and the second clear counter 1923 in the main RAM of the game information storage means 190a are designated as information storage areas, and the information stored in the storage areas other than the information storage areas of the main RAM is initialized. Therefore, when the initialization process is performed following the end of the favorable zone, unlike the case where the initialization process is performed in the setting change mode, in addition to the setting value storage area 1913 and credit information storage area 1914, the lottery flag storage area 1915 and game status storage area 1916 are also designated as information storage areas, and the information stored in these storage areas is retained without being initialized by the initialization process following the end of the favorable zone. When the initialization process is performed following the end of the favorable zone, the presentation state is initialized to a non-AT state, and the values of the AT stock number counter 1918, AT game number counter 1919, CZ game number counter 1921, first clear counter 1922, and second clear counter 1923 are initialized to their initial values (e.g., 0) to return to the normal zone.

In this embodiment, an initialization process is executed upon the end of the favorable zone to return to the normal zone, so that if the value of the first clear counter 1922 or the second clear counter 1923 exceeds a threshold value while remaining in the AT state, the initialization process upon the end of the favorable zone forcibly terminates the AT state and initializes the presentation state to a non-AT state, and the values of the AT stock number counter 1918, the AT game number counter 1919, the CZ game number counter 1921, the first clear counter 1922, and the second clear counter 1923 are initialized to their initial values (e.g., 0). Also, when the value of the first clear counter 1922 or the second clear counter 1923 exceeds the threshold value while remaining in another presentation state, the currently present presentation state is forcibly terminated by the initialization process associated with the end of the favorable zone, the presentation state is initialized to a non-AT state, and the values of the AT stock number counter 1918, the AT game number counter 1919, the CZ game number counter 1921, the first clear counter 1922, and the second clear counter 1923 are initialized to their initial values (e.g., 0). In this embodiment, the presentation state is not initialized by turning the power on/off, but when the device is started in the setting change mode, even if the initialization process is performed in the setting change mode, the presentation state is initialized to a non-AT state, and the values of the AT stock number counter 1918, the AT game number counter 1919, the CZ game number counter 1921, the first clear counter 1922, and the second clear counter 1923 are initialized to their initial values (e.g., 0).

In addition, in this embodiment, the advantageous zone is initiated by winning the advantageous zone transition lottery in the normal zone, and within the advantageous zone, the presentation state is set to the AT state under certain conditions to play the assist time, but even if the AT state ends, the advantageous zone is maintained as long as the conditions for the advantageous zone termination are not met. In other words, in this embodiment, since the advantageous zone continues even after the AT state ends, there are cases where the player remains in the advantageous zone even if the presentation state transitions from the AT state to a presentation state different from the AT state.

The AT control means 175 also controls the LED built into the section indicator SEC to light up when the advantageous section starts, to indicate that the user is in the advantageous section, and to turn off the LED built into the section indicator SEC when the advantageous section ends. In this embodiment, the LED built into the section indicator SEC is turned off during normal sections, so that it is possible to determine whether or not the user is in an advantageous section by checking the lighting state of the section indicator SEC.

In this embodiment, the AT control means 175 starts or ends a favorable zone notification, which is a notification that the player is staying in a favorable zone, based on the value of the first clear counter 1922. For example, when a predetermined value "1" is set to the first clear counter 1922 upon transition to a favorable zone, the favorable zone notification is started based on the value of the first clear counter 1922 becoming greater than the initial value "0" (the value of the first clear counter 1922 not being the initial value "0"), and when the value of the first clear counter 1922 is initialized to the initial value "0" upon the end of the favorable zone and transition to the normal zone, the favorable zone notification is ended based on the value of the first clear counter 1922 becoming the initial value "0".

The section indicator SEC does not need to be provided exclusively as in this embodiment, and may be used in combination with the main display 300. For example, whether or not the player is in an advantageous section may be indicated by switching on and off a dot display section that displays decimal points and the like on a seven-segment display, and the dot display section may be turned off in normal sections, and turned on in advantageous sections to notify the player of the advantageous section. When an advantageous section starts, an LED built into the section indicator SEC lights up to immediately notify the player of the advantageous section, but the advantageous section may be a non-notification section that does not notify the player of the advantageous section until a predetermined number of plays have been played since the start of the advantageous section, or a non-notification section that does not notify the player of the advantageous section until the first correct batting order notification is made in the advantageous section.

The performance control means 180 controls the display performance using the display device 330 (an example of a performance device) and the sound performance using the sound device 340 (an example of a performance device) based on the performance data stored in the performance data storage area 1926 provided in the sub-ROM of the performance information storage means 190b. For example, in response to the occurrence of game events such as the insertion of medals, the operation of the bet button B0, the start lever SL, and the stop buttons B1 to B3, and changes in the game state, the performance control means 180 controls the execution of performances to liven up the game or assist the game according to the progress of the game, by turning on or blinking lamps and LEDs, changing the display content of the liquid crystal display LCD, and outputting sounds from the speaker SP. The content of the performance executed in the game is determined by referring to the performance lottery table stored in the sub-lottery table storage area 1927 provided in the sub-ROM of the performance information storage means 190b, depending on the game state, the performance state, the result of the internal lottery, etc. In this embodiment, image data corresponding to the progress of the game, etc. is read from the performance data memory area 1926 of the sub-ROM into an image buffer 1928 provided in the sub-RAM, and an image based on the image data read into the image buffer 1928 is output to the liquid crystal display LCD, and sound data corresponding to the progress of the game, etc. is read from the performance data memory area 1926 of the sub-ROM into a sound buffer 1929 provided in the sub-RAM, and sound based on the sound data read into the sound buffer 1929 is output from the speaker SP.

Then, when the presentation state is the AT state, the presentation control means 180 controls the display device 330 and the audio device 340 to execute a winning assistance presentation that notifies the correct batting order and the pressed position for the first stop operation when a batting order bell belonging to batting order bell group a to batting order bell group d is won, and assists in the winning of 15 small prizes (small prize 1 to small prize 20).

In addition, when the presentation state is the AT state, the presentation control means 180 controls the display device 330 and the audio device 340 to execute a winning assistance presentation that notifies the player of the correct batting order when a batting order bell belonging to the batting order bell group e is won, and assists in the winning of 15 small prizes (small prize 3 to small prize 6, small prize 9, small prize 10, small prize 15, small prize 16).

In addition, when the player is in a favorable zone and the presentation state is not in an AT state (when the player is in a low AT probability state or a CZ state), the presentation control means 180 controls the display device 330 and the audio device 340 to execute a winning assistance presentation that notifies the player of the target of the first stop operation in a specific batting order when a batting order special role belonging to the batting order special role group is won, and assists in the winning of a 15-coin small role (small role 21).

When playing in the AT state or the CZ state, the presentation control means 180 also controls the execution of a remaining number display presentation that displays the remaining number of plays until the AT state or the CZ state ends on the display device 330 such as a liquid crystal display LCD. In the remaining number display presentation, when the value of the AT game number counter 1919 or the CZ game number counter 1921 is subtracted by playing, the display content is changed so that the remaining number of plays also decreases to reflect the subtraction.

In addition, when the AT lottery performed in the CZ state results in an AT win, the presentation control means 180 withholds notification of the right to transition to the AT state until the final play in the CZ state (the play in which the value of the CZ game number counter 1921 becomes the initial value "0"), and controls the display device 330 and the sound device 340 to execute an AT confirmation presentation to notify the player of the right to transition to the AT state if the value of the AT stock number counter 1918 is greater than the initial value "0" in the final play in the CZ state.

The functional block configuration of this embodiment can also be applied to computer systems (including game systems). In these systems, the functions of the game control means 100 of this embodiment can be realized by downloading a program that causes a computer to function from an information storage medium such as a CD or DVD, or from a web server on the Internet via a network. In the above computer system, the medal insertion switch 210, bet switch 220, start switch 230, stop switch 240, etc. can be realized by virtually assigning their functions to operating means such as a keyboard, pointing device (mouse, etc.), touch panel, or controller. In the above computer system, the reel unit 310, hopper unit HP, etc. are not essential components, and these device units can virtually realize their functions by controlling the images displayed and output on the display (display device 330).

2-2. Method of this embodiment In this embodiment, there are a group of batting order special roles (batting order special role 1 to batting order special role 16) as winning modes of small roles, and when a batting order special role is won, a method is adopted in which the mode of stop control is changed so that the possibility of winning the 15-coin small role included in the batting order special role changes depending on whether the pressing detection position of the first stop operation is a specific pressing position predetermined according to the type of the batting order special role. Below, a detailed description is given with reference to Figures 52 to 55, taking the case where the batting order special role 5 is won as an example.

First, we will explain the composition of the special batting order role 5. Figure 52 shows the types of minor roles that make up the special batting order role 5.

As shown in FIG. 52, batting order special role 5 is composed of a 15-coin small role (small role 21), a 14-coin small role (small role 22), and four types of 1-coin small roles (small role 23, small role 29, small role 46, small role 47), and the specific batting order is set to batting order 3 to batting order 6, and the specific pressing position is set to number 4.

Figure 53 is a diagram illustrating a case where a stopping operation is performed to make the first reel R1 the first stop in a game in which the special batting order role 5 is won.

First, as shown in FIG. 53(A), if the stop button B1 is pressed at the press detection position where the replay symbol "RP" No. 3 is located at the top of the spinning first reel R1, the order of the stop operations that causes the first reel R1 to stop first in the batting order special role 5 corresponds to a non-specific batting order.

In this embodiment, if the first stop operation is a non-specific batting order when the batting order special role is won, the stop position is determined by the number priority control so that the number of symbol combinations that can be displayed on the active line and show winning forms is the largest, and among the symbols present within the pull-in range for the press detection position of No. 3, when the bell symbol 1 "BL1" is displayed, the number of symbol combinations is the largest at seven, and as shown in FIG. 53 (B), the first reel R1 is stopped at a position where the bell symbol 1 "BL1" No. 2 is displayed on the top row. At the time this first reel R1 stops, the small symbols included in the batting order special role 5 that have the potential to win are small symbol 22, small symbol 23, and small symbol 46.

Next, when the second reel R2 and the third reel R3 are stopped, the stop positions are determined by payout number priority control so as to maximize the number of medals paid out. Therefore, the winning of the small win 22, which has the highest payout among the small wins 22, 23, and 46, is prioritized, and the patterns that constitute the winning form of the small win 22 are arranged so that they can be displayed on the pay line on the second reel R2 and the third reel R3 regardless of the press detection position, so that the second reel R2 and the third reel R3 stop in a manner that results in the winning of the small win 22, as shown in FIG. 53(C).

Figure 54 is a diagram illustrating a case where a stopping operation is performed to make the second reel R2 the first stop in a game in which the special batting order role 5 is won.

First, as shown in FIG. 54(A), if the stop button B2 is pressed at the press detection position where the No. 4 bar symbol "BAR" is located at the top of the spinning second reel R2, the order of the stop operations that causes the second reel R2 to stop first in the special batting order role 5 corresponds to a specific batting order.

In this embodiment, if the first stop operation is a specific batting order when the batting order special role is won, the manner of control differs depending on whether the push detection position of the first stop operation is a specific push position or not. The specific push position of the batting order special role 5 is number 4, and in the example shown in FIG. 54(A), since the push detection position of the first stop operation is number 4, it corresponds to the specific push position, and the stop position is determined so that the number of medals paid out is the largest by the payout number priority control. Here, the small role 21 with the highest payout among the small roles included in the batting order special role 5 is the 15-coin small role, and as shown in FIG. 54(B), the second reel R2 stops at a position where the watermelon pattern "WM" of number 3 is displayed in the middle row. At the time when this second reel R2 stops, the small roles included in the batting order special role 5 that have the possibility of winning are the small role 21 and the small role 46.

Next, when the first reel R1 and the third reel R3 are stopped, the stop positions are determined by payout number priority control so as to maximize the number of medals paid out. Therefore, priority is given to the display of the watermelon pattern "WM" constituting the winning form of the small win 21, which has the highest payout among the small wins 21 and the small wins 46, and the watermelon pattern "WM" constituting the winning form of the small win 21 is arranged so that it can be displayed on the pay line on the first reel R1 and the third reel R3 regardless of the press detection position, so that the first reel R1 and the third reel R3 stop in a manner that results in the small win 21 winning, as shown in FIG. 54(C).

Next, as shown in FIG. 54(D), if the stop button B2 is pressed at the press detection position where the watermelon symbol "WM" No. 3 is located at the top of the spinning second reel R2, this also causes the second reel R2 to stop first, which corresponds to the specific play order.

In the example shown in FIG. 54(D), the push detection position of the first stop operation is number 3, which is not a specific push position, and the stop position is determined by number priority control to maximize the number of symbol combinations that can be displayed on the active line and show winning forms. Here, among the symbols present within the pull-in range for the push detection position of number 3, when the watermelon symbol "WM" is displayed, the number of symbol combinations is the largest at 5, and as shown in FIG. 54(E), the second reel R2 is stopped at a position where the watermelon symbol "WM" of number 3 is displayed in the middle row. At the time when this second reel R2 stops, the small symbols included in the special hit order symbol 5 that have the possibility of winning are small symbol 21 and small symbol 46.

Next, when the first reel R1 and the third reel R3 are stopped, the stop positions are determined by number-priority control so as to maximize the number of winning symbol combinations that can be displayed on the pay lines. Therefore, when the first reel R1 is stopped second, priority is given to the display of the bell symbol 1 "BL1" or the bell symbol 2 "BL2", which have two symbol combinations, and when the third reel R3 is stopped second, priority is given to the display of the cherry symbol "CH" or the special symbol 2 "SP2", which have two symbol combinations. The first reel R1 is arranged so that either bell symbol 1 "BL1" or bell symbol 2 "BL2" can be displayed on an active line regardless of the press detection position, and the third reel R3 is arranged so that either cherry symbol "CH" or special symbol 2 "SP2" can be displayed on an active line regardless of the press detection position, so that when either the first reel R1 or the third reel R3 is stopped for the second time, only the small win 46 can be won, and the first reel R1 and the third reel R3 stop in a manner that results in the small win 46 being won, as shown in FIG. 54 (F).

Figure 55 is a diagram illustrating a case where a stopping operation is performed to make the third reel R3 the first stop in a game in which the special batting order role 5 is won.

First, as shown in FIG. 55(A), if the stop button B3 is pressed at the press detection position where the No. 4 bar symbol "BAR" is located at the top of the spinning third reel R3, the order of the stop operations that causes the third reel R3 to stop first in the special batting order role 5 corresponds to a specific batting order.

The specific press position for special batting order role 5 is number 4. In the example shown in FIG. 55(A), the press detection position for the first stop operation is number 4, which corresponds to the specific press position, and the stop position is determined by payout number priority control so as to maximize the number of medals paid out. Here, the small role with the highest payout among the small roles included in special batting order role 5 is small role 21, which is a 15-coin small role, and as shown in FIG. 55(B), the third reel R3 stops at a position where the watermelon symbol "WM" number 2 is displayed in the lower row. At the time when the third reel R3 stops, the small roles included in special batting order role 5 that have the potential to win are small role 21, small role 22, and small role 47.

Next, when the first reel R1 and the second reel R2 are stopped, the stop positions are determined by payout number priority control so as to maximize the number of medals paid out. Therefore, priority is given to the display of the watermelon symbol "WM" constituting the winning form of the small win 21, which has the highest payout among the small wins 21, 22, and 47, and the watermelon symbol "WM" constituting the winning form of the small win 21 is arranged so that it can be displayed on the pay line on the first reel R1 and the second reel R2 regardless of the press detection position, so that the first reel R1 and the second reel R2 stop in a manner that results in the small win 21 winning, as shown in FIG. 55(C).

Next, as shown in FIG. 55(D), if the stop button B3 is pressed at the press detection position where the No. 2 watermelon symbol "WM" is located at the top of the spinning third reel R3, this also causes the third reel R3 to stop first, which corresponds to the specific play order.

In the example shown in FIG. 55(D), the push detection position of the first stop operation is number 2, which is not a specific push position, and the stop position is determined by number priority control so as to maximize the number of symbol combinations that can be displayed on the active line and show winning forms. Here, for symbols present within the pull-in range for the push detection position of number 2, when the watermelon symbol "WM" is displayed, the number of symbol combinations is the largest at 7, and as shown in FIG. 55(E), the third reel R3 is stopped at a position where the watermelon symbol "WM" of number 2 is displayed in the lower row. At the time this third reel R3 stops, the small symbols included in the special hit order symbol 5 that have the potential to win are small symbol 21, small symbol 22, and small symbol 47.

Next, when the first reel R1 and the second reel R2 are stopped, the stop positions are determined so that the number of symbol combinations that can be displayed on the pay line is the largest by the number priority control. Therefore, when the first reel R1 is stopped second, the display of the cherry symbol "CH" or the special symbol 2 "SP2" that has two symbol combinations is prioritized, and when the second reel R2 is stopped second, the display of the cherry symbol "CH", the special symbol 2 "SP2", or the replay symbol "RP" that has two symbol combinations is prioritized. Note that the replay symbol "RP" on the third reel R3 is a symbol that constitutes the winning form of the small symbol 22, which is a 14-piece small symbol, but in this embodiment, the winning of the small symbol 47, which is a 1-piece small symbol and has the same number of symbols, is prioritized. And because the first reel R1 and the second reel R2 are arranged so that either the cherry symbol "CH" or the special symbol 2 "SP2" can be displayed on the active line regardless of the press detection position, when either the first reel R1 or the second reel R2 is stopped for the second time, only the small win 47 can be won, and the first reel R1 and the second reel R2 stop in a manner that results in the small win 47 being won, as shown in FIG. 55(F).

According to the present embodiment described above, in a game in which a special role is won, if the push detection position of the first stop operation is a specific push position, the reel stop position is determined by payout number priority control to allow the 15-coin small role to be won, and if the push detection position of the first stop operation is different from the specific push position, the reel stop position is determined by number priority control to avoid the winning of the 15-coin small role. In this way, since the possibility of winning the 15-coin small role in a game in which a special role is won is affected by the push detection position, it becomes possible to control the winning rate of the 15-coin small role simply by changing the setting mode of the specific push position, and the design freedom of the gaming machine can be improved.

Specifically, in this embodiment, a unique specific press position is assigned to 16 types of batting order special roles, and there are 16 types of setting modes of the specific press position. In this embodiment, when a batting order special role is won in a favorable zone when the AT state is not reached, the specific batting order is notified, but the player cannot know the specific press position. Therefore, in this embodiment, the expected value of the winning rate of the 15-piece small role in a specific batting order when the batting order special role is won can be set to 1/16. And the setting mode of the specific press position can be configured to be fewer than that of this embodiment. For example, if 10 types of batting order special roles are provided and two specific press positions are uniquely assigned to each batting order special role, 10 types of setting modes of the specific press position can be provided, and in this way, the expected value of the winning rate of the 15-piece small role can be set to 1/10. It is also possible to configure the number of settings for the specific press position to be greater than in this embodiment. For example, if 20 types of batting order special roles are provided and each batting order special role is assigned a unique specific press position, 20 types of settings for the specific press position can be provided, and the expected winning rate for the 15-coin small role can be reduced to 1/20. In this way, according to the method of this embodiment, the expected winning rate can be controlled by the setting mode of the specific press position, which increases the design freedom of the gaming machine. In addition, in this embodiment, the control law is switched using the press detection position, which also leads to an increase in the design freedom of the results (stop mode).

The method of this embodiment is optimal when the target role for controlling the winning rate is set to a symbol combination that indicates a winning form that can be drawn regardless of the pressing detection position on any reel, and it is preferable to win with a combination of roles that can draw a role with a lower payout than the target role by number priority control when the stopping operation is not performed at a specific pressing position. In addition, when determining the composition of the special role in the batting order, the target role for controlling the winning rate and the role that will be won when the specific pressing position is not present can be fixed, so it can be realized without increasing the number of roles unnecessarily, which also leads to saving memory usage.

In this embodiment, the example has been described in which the manner of stop control is changed by determining whether or not a specific press position is reached on the first reel that stops when a special batting order role is won. However, the manner of stop control may also be changed by determining whether or not a specific press position is reached on the second reel that stops (the reel that stops second) or the third reel that stops (the reel that stops third).

In this embodiment, the first reel out of the three reels that stops is determined to be at a specific pressed position, but it may be possible to determine whether two or more reels are at a specific pressed position and change the manner of stop control.

In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which payout number priority control is applied when it is determined that the position is a specific press position, and number priority control is applied when it is determined that the position is not a specific press position. However, it is also possible to apply number priority control when it is determined that the position is a specific press position, and apply payout number priority control when it is determined that the position is not a specific press position.

In the example described in this embodiment, when the batting order special role is won, a judgment is also made as to whether the first stop operation is a specific batting order or not. Specifically, if the first stop operation is a non-specific batting order, payout number priority control is performed, and if the first stop operation is a specific batting order, payout number priority control is performed if the specific pressing position is selected, and number priority control is performed if the specific pressing position is not selected. However, as in this embodiment, when the first stop operation is performed in a specific batting order, the symbols common to the 15-piece small role and the 1-piece small role are displayed on the pay line in both the specific pressing position and the non-specific pressing position, so that the stopping result is the same for the reels stopped by the first stop operation in the specific batting order regardless of which control rule is used. For this reason, if the first stopping operation is a non-specific batting order, number priority control is performed for the reel corresponding to the first stopping operation, and if the first stopping operation is a specific batting order, payout number priority control is performed for the reel corresponding to the first stopping operation, and for the reels that stop after the second stopping operation, payout number priority control continues to be performed if the first stopping operation is a specific batting order and is in a specific pressed position, and it may be switched to number priority control if the first stopping operation is a specific batting order and is not in a specific pressed position.

In addition, in this embodiment, when a batting order special role is won, a specific batting order is notified, but a specific pressing position is not notified. However, a mode in which a specific pressing position is notified may be adopted. In addition, the specific batting order notification for a batting order special role in an advantageous zone is performed when the AT state is not in effect, but the specific batting order notification for a batting order special role may be performed even in the AT state.

In this embodiment, the number of reels is three, but the number of reels may be four. In this embodiment, the number of reels is 20, but the number of reels may be 21 or less than 20.

In addition, in this embodiment, the gaming machine inserts gaming media such as medals when playing a game, and pays out gaming media when winning combinations are achieved, but games may also be played by consuming or granting gaming value as electronic information without using gaming media. For example, the gaming machine or an external unit connected to the gaming machine may be configured to store information on gaming value owned by the player, so that consuming gaming value by subtracting the number of gaming values is replaced by inserting gaming media, and granting gaming value by adding the number of gaming values is replaced by paying out gaming media.

In addition, the configuration of the special batting order role that differs from other winning patterns in the AT lottery process may be implemented in the manner described below. The following explanation will be given with reference to Figures 56 to 58.

First, Figure 56 shows the arrangement of symbols on the first reel R1 to the third reel R3 used in this example, and based on this arrangement, small wins A to F are configured as shown in Figure 57. "ANY" in Figure 57 indicates that any symbol arranged on the reels is acceptable.

As shown in Figure 58 (A), there are special batting order roles a through d, and these special batting order roles are composed of one of four types of 13-coin minor roles (minor roles A through D) and two types of 1-coin minor roles (minor roles E and F).

The winning combinations according to the stopping operations for each batting order special combination are as shown in Figure 58 (B). A specific batting order (batting order 3 to batting order 6) is set for each batting order special combination. When the stopping operations are performed according to the specific batting order, a 13-coin small combination is won, and when the stopping operations are performed according to a non-specific batting order (a different stopping operation sequence from the specific batting order), two types of 1-coin small combinations are won in combination. When 1-coin small combinations are won in combination, two medals will be paid out.

In this example, when the presentation state is different from the AT state in the advantageous zone, a non-specific batting order is notified to assist in the winning of a 1-coin small prize, and when the presentation state is the AT state, a specific batting order is notified to assist in the winning of a 13-coin small prize. In this way, the winning rate of a 13-coin small prize when the presentation state is different from the AT state can be lowered, and a game specification can be created in which the medal winning rate in the AT state is relatively higher. Furthermore, when the presentation state is different from the AT state in the advantageous zone (when the presentation state is the AT low probability state or the CZ state), a specific batting order is notified to assist in the winning of a 13-coin small prize, and when the presentation state is the AT state, a non-specific batting order is notified to assist in the winning of a 1-coin small prize.

Regarding the processing related to the AT lottery when a batting order special role is won in an AT low probability state or CZ state, if the stop operation is performed in a specific batting order, the AT lottery is performed, and if the stop operation is performed in a non-specific batting order, the AT lottery is not performed. In other words, when a batting order special role is won, the AT lottery is performed if a 1-coin small role is won, and if a 13-coin small role is won, the AT lottery is not performed. In this way, by providing an advantage to performing the stop operation in a specific batting order when the performance state is different from the AT state, it is possible to provide motivation for performing the stop operation according to the specific batting order. Note that if the stop operation is performed in a specific batting order (if a 1-coin small role is won), the AT lottery is not performed, and if the stop operation is performed in a non-specific batting order (if a 13-coin small role is won), the AT lottery may be performed.

BX storage box, UD front upper door, DD front lower door, DW display window,
L1: active line, DS: game information display, LCD: liquid crystal display,
BS Setting change button, KS Setting change key cylinder, SEC Section indicator,
EU power supply unit, ES power switch, SP speaker,
PS Reel unit storage space, MAIN Main board, SUB Sub board,
HP Hopper unit, MT Medal storage tank, CB Cash box,
R1 1st reel, R2 2nd reel, R3 3rd reel,
B0 bet button, SL start lever, B1-B3 stop buttons,
MI medal insertion slot, MO medal payout slot, MP medal tray,
100 Game control means,
103 setting change means, 105 input acceptance means, 110 random number generation means,
120 Internal lottery means, 130 Reel control means, 140 Winning determination means,
150 Payout control means, 160 Replay processing means,
170 game state control means, 175 AT control means, 177 communication control means,
180 performance control means,
190a game information storage means, 1910 main lottery table storage area,
1911 stop control table storage area, 1912 winning determination table storage area,
1913: setting value storage area, 1914: credit information storage area,
1915 lottery flag storage area, 1916 game status storage area,
1918 performance state memory area, 1919 high probability transition counter,
1920 AT stock number counter, 1921 AT game number counter,
1922 Clear counter,
1924 Ceiling counter,
190b performance information storage means, 1926 performance data storage area,
1927 Sub lottery table storage area,
1928 Image buffer, 1929 Sound buffer,
210 coin insertion switch, 220 bet switch, 230 start switch,
240 stop switch, 250 setting change permission switch,
260 setting change switch, 300 main display unit,
310 reel unit, 315 reel index,
325 payout medal detection switch, 330 display device, 340 sound device,
410 Data counter, 420 Hall computer

Claims (1)

A gaming machine having an instruction function capable of setting a non-advantageous zone and an advantageous zone and providing instruction information to assist winning of a combination in the advantageous zone,
The game device includes a plurality of reels on which a plurality of types of symbols are arranged on an outer peripheral surface, a main control unit, and a sub control unit,
The main control unit,
An internal lottery to determine the winner, and
a reel control for spinning the plurality of reels and stopping the reels during rotation in a manner according to the result of the internal lottery when a stop operation is initiated;
The sub-control unit:
A specific effect can be executed to notify the player that a specific operation sequence should be performed to stop a specific reel among the plurality of reels first,
When the stop operation is performed in the specific operation sequence, the expected acquisition value of the game value is lower than when the stop operation is performed in a non-specific operation sequence in which a reel other than the specific reel stops first,
In the advantageous section, there are a specific section in which the provision of the predetermined instruction information is permitted and a non-specific section in which the provision of the predetermined instruction information is not permitted,
As the non-specific interval, there is a first non-specific interval from the start of the advantageous interval to the transition to the specific interval, and a second non-specific interval in the case where the advantageous interval continues even after the end of the specific interval,
The main control unit,
In the specific section of the advantageous section, control is performed to cause the section notification means to perform a section notification operation to notify the user that the user is staying in the specific section, and in the non-advantageous section and the first non-specific section and the second non-specific section of the advantageous section, control is performed to cause the section notification means not to perform the section notification operation;
The sub-control unit:
A gaming machine characterized in that in the non-advantageous zone, the specific presentation is executed when the stop operation is performed in the non-specific operation sequence, and in the advantageous zone, the specific presentation is executed when the stop operation is performed in the non-specific operation sequence in both the first non-specific zone and the second non-specific zone, and the frequency of execution of suggestive presentations suggesting the result of the internal lottery is reduced until a specified release condition is met in a game after the game in which the stop operation is performed.