JP7745255B2 - gaming machines - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an amusement machine.

Some pachinko gaming machines, a type of gaming machine, are configured to execute specific effects that suggest the likelihood of a jackpot in a symbol change game that has not yet started and is stored as reserved memory (see, for example, Patent Document 1). These specific effects are known as pre-reading effects, and by suggesting the likelihood of a jackpot in a specific symbol change game that will be played in the future prior to that symbol change game, they create a sense of anticipation in the player that the specific symbol change game will result in a jackpot over multiple symbol change games.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-29726

For pachinko gaming machines that are capable of executing such specific effects, it is desirable to further improve the execution of these specific effects in order to increase the excitement of the game.

The gaming machine that solves the above problem is a gaming machine equipped with a display means that can display a symbol change game when a gaming ball is detected by a ball entry detection means, and is equipped with: a variation pattern pre-reading means that identifies a variation pattern that indicates the variation content of a symbol change game whose execution is suspended each time a gaming ball is detected by the ball entry detection means; an output means that outputs a variation pattern specifying command that indicates the variation pattern identified by the variation pattern pre-reading means; and a notice control means that executes a continuous notice performance that suggests the possibility that the symbol change game whose execution is suspended will be a win over a plurality of symbol change games based on the input variation pattern specifying command, and the notice control means specifies the variation pattern of the symbol change game that is suspended based on the input variation pattern specifying command, and determines whether the variation pattern other than the variation pattern of the symbol change game that is the last in the continuous notice performance is a first variation pattern, and whether the variation pattern of the symbol change game that is the last in the continuous notice performance is a second variation pattern that has a longer variation time than the variation time of the first variation pattern. In the case of a pattern, it is decided to execute the continuous preview effect, and the continuous preview effect is executed in the reserved pattern change game, and the content of the effect during execution of the pattern change game based on the first variation pattern can differ between a first situation in which one of the first variation patterns is included in the variation patterns of the multiple pattern change games in which the continuous preview effect is executed, and a second situation in which a number of the first variation patterns different from the first situation are included in the variation patterns of the multiple pattern change games in which the continuous preview effect is executed, and a first type effect and a second type effect can be executed in each of the first situation and the second situation, and the content of the second type effect is taken over in the pattern change game based on the second variation pattern in both the first situation and the second situation, and the timing at which the first type effect starts to be executed can be the same in the first situation and the second situation, and the timing at which the second type effect starts to be executed can differ.
In the above gaming machine, the power supply to the gaming machine may be cut off during the execution of a pattern change game based on the first change pattern that executes the continuous preview effect, and after the power supply is restored, some elements of the effect may be different in content from before and after the power supply to the gaming machine was cut off.

This invention can increase the enjoyment of games.

1 is a perspective view schematically showing a pachinko gaming machine. FIG. 2 is a front view schematically showing the game board. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the pachinko game machine. FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a fluctuation pattern. A diagram showing the conditions under which a pre-reading effect can be executed. A diagram showing the relationship between the number of miss variations and presentation patterns. This is a timing chart showing the flow of pre-reading effects based on effect patterns. This figure shows the soldier number patterns that can be executed during the pre-reading performance. A diagram showing battle patterns, which are the contents of effects that can be executed during the pre-reading effect. 10A to 10C are diagrams showing the manner in which reservation changes occur.

An embodiment of a pachinko gaming machine will be described below with reference to FIGS.
In the following description, up, down, left, right, front (front), and back (back) indicate the respective directions as seen by the player.

As shown in FIG. 1, a pachinko gaming machine 10, which is an example of a gaming machine, has a frame 11. The frame 11 is composed of an installation frame for fixing the pachinko gaming machine 10 to an island facility in an amusement parlor, and a mounting frame for mounting various gaming components. The pachinko gaming machine 10 has a gaming board YB. The gaming board YB is mounted on the frame 11. The pachinko gaming machine 10 also has a launch handle HD. The launch handle HD is operated to launch a gaming ball into the gaming area YBa. As an example, the launch handle HD is provided on the front side of the mounting frame. The pachinko gaming machine 10 is configured so that the launch strength of the gaming ball can be adjusted by adjusting the amount of rotation of the launch handle HD.

The pachinko gaming machine 10 is equipped with a decorative lamp LA. The decorative lamp LA is an example of a light-emitting means that produces effects (hereinafter referred to as light-emitting effects) by causing a light-emitting element (not shown) to light up, flash, and turn off. The decorative lamp LA is, for example, provided on the frame 11 or the game board YB. The pachinko gaming machine 10 is equipped with a speaker SP. The speaker SP is an example of an audio means that produces effects (hereinafter referred to as audio effects) that output sounds such as human and animal voices, sound effects, and music. For example, the speaker SP is provided on the frame 11.

As shown in FIG. 2, the pachinko gaming machine 10 is equipped with a first special symbol display unit 13a and a second special symbol display unit 13b as display units capable of displaying a special symbol changing game (hereinafter referred to as a special game). The special symbol changing game is divided into a first special symbol changing game (hereinafter referred to as a first special game) and a second special symbol changing game (hereinafter referred to as a second special game). In a special game, predetermined symbols are displayed in a changing manner, and ultimately, a special symbol is displayed as a fixed, stopped symbol. The special symbol is a symbol used to notify the result of an internal lottery (a special lottery described below). The first special symbol display unit 13a displays the first special game. The second special symbol display unit 13b displays the second special game. In this specification, "changing display" means a state in which the type of displayed symbol changes over time. In this specification, "fixed, stopped display" means a state in which a symbol is displayed as a fixed, stopped symbol, and the type of displayed symbol does not change. With respect to symbols, "determined stop display" and "derivation" have the same meaning. In this embodiment, the first special symbol display unit 13a and the second special symbol display unit 13b are display means capable of displaying a special game, which is an example of a symbol-changing game.

In the pachinko gaming machine 10, the second special game is executed with priority over the first special game. The first special game and the second special game are not executed simultaneously in parallel. Special symbols include jackpot symbols, which are an example of a jackpot display result, and loss symbols, which are an example of a loss display result. In the pachinko gaming machine 10, when a jackpot is won in a special lottery, a jackpot symbol is derived in the special game, and after the special game for that jackpot has ended, a jackpot game is awarded. A jackpot is an example of a win.

The pachinko gaming machine 10 is equipped with a first special hold display unit 13c and a second special hold display unit 13d that display information that can identify the number of reserved balls for the special game. The first special hold display unit 13c displays information that can identify the number of reserved balls for the first special game (hereinafter referred to as the first special hold number). The second special hold display unit 13d displays information that can identify the number of reserved balls for the second special game (hereinafter referred to as the second special hold number). For example, the upper limit for the first special hold number and the second special hold number is 4.

The pachinko gaming machine 10 is equipped with a normal symbol display unit 13e. The normal symbol display unit 13e displays the normal game. In the normal game, predetermined symbols are displayed in a variable manner, and finally, the normal symbol is displayed as a fixed, stopped symbol. The normal symbol is a symbol used to notify the result of an internal lottery (the normal lottery described below). The normal symbols include a normal win symbol, which is an example of a normal win display result, and a normal loss symbol, which is an example of a normal loss display result. In the pachinko gaming machine 10, when a normal win is won in the normal lottery, a normal win symbol is derived in the normal game, and after the normal game for that normal win ends, a normal win game is awarded. The pachinko gaming machine 10 is equipped with a normal hold display unit 13f. The normal hold display unit 13f displays information that can identify the number of holds for the normal game.

A game area YBa is formed on the front side of the game board YB provided in the pachinko gaming machine 10, where game balls, an example of a game medium, flow down. An opening window YBb is formed in the game board YB approximately in the center when viewed from the front. A center frame W with various designs is attached to the opening window YBb.

The pachinko gaming machine 10 is equipped with an effect display device EH. The effect display device EH has an image display unit GH that can display images. Examples of the image display unit GH include a liquid crystal panel and an organic EL panel. The effect display device EH is attached to the gaming board YB so that, when viewed from the front, the display area of the image display unit GH is visible through the opening window YBb (center frame W) of the gaming board YB. The effect display device EH is an example of a display means that performs an effect (hereinafter referred to as display effect) that displays images that resemble specified characters or letters. In the following description, when the effect display device EH refers to "displaying" letters, numbers, symbols, icons, characters, landscapes, etc. as specified information (pictures), it means that this information is displayed as an image.

The effect display device EH displays an effect game as one of the display effects. In the effect game, multiple columns of effect symbols are displayed in a variable manner, and ultimately a combination of effect symbols (hereinafter referred to as a symbol combination) is derived. The effect symbols (decorative symbols) are symbols decorated with characters, patterns, etc., and are used to diversify the display effects. As an example, the effect game of this embodiment is performed by displaying (scrolling) the effect symbols in the left, middle, and right column in a variable manner in a predetermined direction.

The effect game starts and ends with the special game. In the effect game, a symbol combination is derived according to the special symbol derived in the special game. When a jackpot symbol is derived in the special game, the effect game derives a jackpot symbol combination. A jackpot symbol combination is a symbol combination in which the same symbol is displayed in all columns, such as "777." When a losing symbol is derived in the special game, the effect game derives a losing symbol combination. An example of a losing symbol combination is a symbol combination in which the symbol in at least some columns is different from the symbol in the other columns, such as "778" or "787." In this specification, a "temporary stop display" refers to a temporary stop state before the symbol is displayed as a fixed stop, such as a fluctuating display. In this way, pachinko gaming machine 10 has special games and effect games that are executed in response to the special games.

In a presentation game, a reach effect may be executed. A reach effect is an effect that forms a reach in a presentation game and ultimately leads to a predetermined symbol combination. A reach is a state in which the same presentation symbol is temporarily displayed as a static symbol in multiple specific symbol columns, and the presentation symbols continue to be displayed in a variable manner in other symbol columns. As an example, in this embodiment, the left and right symbol columns correspond to the specific symbol columns, and the center symbol column corresponds to the other symbol columns.

The pachinko gaming machine 10 is equipped with a first special start winning opening 15. The first special start winning opening 15 is always open so that gaming balls can enter. The pachinko gaming machine 10 is equipped with a first special start sensor SE1 that detects gaming balls that enter the first special start winning opening 15 (see Figure 3). In the pachinko gaming machine 10, when a gaming ball is detected by the first special start sensor SE1, the reservation conditions for the first special game may be met, and the conditions for the payout of a predetermined number of prize balls are also met.

The pachinko gaming machine 10 is equipped with a second special start winning opening 16 that opens into the gaming area YBa. The pachinko gaming machine 10 is equipped with a second special start sensor SE2 that detects a gaming ball that has entered the second special start winning opening 16 (see Figure 3). In the pachinko gaming machine 10, when a gaming ball is detected by the second special start sensor SE2, the reservation conditions for the second special game may be met, and the payout conditions for a predetermined number of prize balls are met. The pachinko gaming machine 10 is equipped with a normal variable member 17 that can be moved between an open state in which a gaming ball can enter the second special start winning opening 16 and a closed state in which a gaming ball cannot enter the second special start winning opening 16. The closed state may be a state in which a gaming ball can enter the second special start winning opening 16, but is more difficult to enter than the open state. The pachinko gaming machine 10 is equipped with a normal solenoid SL1 (see Figure 3) as an example of a means for operating the normal variable member 17. The normal variable member 17 is operated to the open state during normal winning games.

The pachinko gaming machine 10 is equipped with a jackpot opening 18 that opens into the gaming area YBa. The pachinko gaming machine 10 is equipped with a special variable member 19, which is an example of a means that can be operated between an open state in which a gaming ball can enter the jackpot opening 18 and a closed state in which a gaming ball cannot enter the jackpot opening 18. The closed state may be a state in which a gaming ball can enter the jackpot opening 18, but in which it is more difficult to enter than in the open state. The pachinko gaming machine 10 is equipped with a special solenoid SL2, an example of a means for operating the special variable member 19 (see Figure 3). The special variable member 19 is operated to the open state during a jackpot game involving a special symbol. The pachinko gaming machine 10 is equipped with a special variable member SE3, which detects a gaming ball that has entered the jackpot opening 18 (see Figure 3). In the pachinko gaming machine 10, when a gaming ball is detected by the special winning sensor SE3, the conditions for paying out a predetermined number of prize balls are met.

The pachinko gaming machine 10 is equipped with a gate 25 through which gaming balls flowing down the gaming area YBa can pass (enter). The pachinko gaming machine 10 is equipped with a normal start sensor SE4 that detects gaming balls passing through the gate 25 (see Figure 3). When a gaming ball is detected by the normal start sensor SE4, the pachinko gaming machine 10 is configured so that the reserve conditions for the normal game can be met, but the payout conditions for prize balls are not met.

The pachinko gaming machine 10 has a normal winning opening 26 that opens into the gaming area YBa. The pachinko gaming machine 10 also has a normal winning sensor (not shown) that detects gaming balls that enter the normal winning opening 26. In this embodiment, when a gaming ball is detected by the normal winning sensor, a payout condition for a predetermined number of prize balls is met. Note that the pachinko gaming machine 10 may also have winning openings other than the winning openings 15, 16, 18, and 26. A gaming ball entering a winning opening is referred to as a "winning." The pachinko gaming machine 10 also has an outlet 27. As an example, the outlet 27 opens into the gaming area YBa at the lower end of the gaming area YBa. Of the gaming balls that are shot into the gaming area YBa, those that do not enter any of the winning openings 15, 16, 18, and 26 are ejected outside the machine through the outlet 27.

As described above, the pachinko gaming machine 10 can adjust the launch strength of the gaming ball by adjusting the rotational operation amount of the launch handle HD. That is, the pachinko gaming machine 10 can selectively hit the gaming ball so that it flows down either the left area of the center frame W or the right area of the center frame W. The flow path of the gaming ball in the left area is formed, from the upstream side, with the normal winning opening 26 and the first special start winning opening 15. Therefore, in the pachinko gaming machine 10, when a gaming ball is launched so as to flow down the left area of the gaming area YBa (so-called left hit), the gaming ball can enter the first special start winning opening 15 and the normal winning opening 26. The flow path of the gaming ball in the right area is formed, from the upstream side, with the gate 25, the big winning opening 18, and the second special start winning opening 16. Therefore, when a gaming ball is launched so that it flows down the right area of the gaming area YBa (a so-called right hit), the gaming ball can enter the second special start winning hole 16, the big winning hole 18, and the gate 25.

In this embodiment, the performance display device EH, speaker SP, and decorative lamp LA are each performance devices capable of executing performances, and these constitute a performance device group DE, which is an example of a performance execution means. The performance execution means is not limited to including all of the performance display device EH, speaker SP, and decorative lamp LA, and may be composed of one or more performance devices that can be arbitrarily selected from these performance devices.

Next, we will explain about the jackpot.
The pachinko gaming machine 10 has multiple types of jackpot symbols as special jackpot symbols. The types of jackpot symbols also represent the types of jackpots. The jackpot symbols are classified into one or multiple types. In this embodiment, they are classified into two types: specific symbols and normal symbols. In the pachinko gaming machine 10, a jackpot game is awarded according to the type of jackpot symbol (type of jackpot).

In a jackpot game, a predetermined effect is first played for a predetermined time (hereinafter referred to as the opening time). For example, the predetermined effect is an opening effect that can identify the start of a jackpot game. In a jackpot game, after the opening time has elapsed, a round game in which the large prize opening 18 is opened is played up to a predetermined maximum number of times. A round game ends when a predetermined maximum number of game balls enter the round or when the predetermined maximum time has elapsed. In a round game, the large prize opening 18 is opened in a predetermined opening manner (opening pattern). A round effect is played in each round game. In a jackpot game, when the final round game has ended, a predetermined effect is played for a predetermined time (hereinafter referred to as the ending time). For example, the predetermined effect is an ending effect that can identify the end of a jackpot game. The jackpot game ends as the ending time has elapsed.

Next, the electrical configuration of the pachinko gaming machine 10 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3 , the pachinko gaming machine 10 includes a main control board 40 and a sub-control board 50. The main control board 40 and the sub-control board 50 are connected so that a control signal can be output in one direction from the main control board 40 to the sub-control board 50. The main control board 40 performs various controls and outputs various control information (control commands). In this embodiment, the main control board 40 corresponds to the main control means. The sub-control board 50 controls the performance device group DE, which is an example of a performance execution means, by executing various processes related to performance based on the various control information (control commands) output by the main control board 40. In this embodiment, the sub-control board 50 corresponds to the sub-control means.

First, the main control board 40 will be described in detail.
The main control board 40 includes a microprocessor 41. The microprocessor 41 includes a processing unit (hereinafter referred to as the main control CPU 42) and a memory unit. The main control CPU 42 executes various processes by executing a main control program. The memory unit of the microprocessor 41 includes a ROM area (hereinafter referred to as the main control ROM 43) from which information can be read but to which information cannot be written, and an RWM area (hereinafter referred to as the main control RWM 44) from which information can be read and written.

The main control ROM 43 stores judgment values and tables used for various judgments and lotteries. The main control ROM 43 stores multiple types of fluctuation patterns. A fluctuation pattern is information that can identify the fluctuation time from the start to the end of a special game. A fluctuation pattern is information that can identify at least a portion of the presentation content (variation content) of a presentation game that is played during execution of a special game. There are jackpot fluctuation patterns, miss reach fluctuation patterns, and miss fluctuation patterns. A jackpot fluctuation pattern is a fluctuation pattern in which a reach presentation is performed in a presentation game and a jackpot symbol combination is ultimately derived. A miss reach fluctuation pattern is a fluctuation pattern in which a reach presentation is performed in a presentation game and a losing symbol combination is ultimately derived. A losing fluctuation pattern is a fluctuation pattern in which a losing symbol combination is ultimately derived in a presentation game. A losing fluctuation pattern is a fluctuation pattern in which a reach presentation is not performed in a presentation game.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a variation pattern provided in the pachinko gaming machine 10 of this embodiment.
The fluctuation patterns include a miss fluctuation pattern HP1, a miss-reach fluctuation pattern HP2, and a jackpot fluctuation pattern HP3. These fluctuation patterns are associated with fluctuation times from the start to the end of the special game. The fluctuation time t1 of the miss fluctuation pattern HP1 is shorter than the fluctuation time t2 of the miss-reach fluctuation pattern HP2 and the fluctuation time t3 of the jackpot fluctuation pattern HP3. In this embodiment, the miss fluctuation pattern HP1 is the first fluctuation pattern, and the miss-reach fluctuation pattern HP2 and the jackpot fluctuation pattern HP3 are second fluctuation patterns with longer fluctuation times than the miss fluctuation pattern HP1. As an example, the fluctuation time t1 is 10 seconds, and the fluctuation times t2 and t3 are 90 seconds.

The main control RWM 44 is capable of storing predetermined information. The main control RWM 44 stores various information that is rewritten depending on the results of processing by the main control CPU 42. For example, the information stored by the main control RWM 44 includes flags, counters, and timers. The microprocessor 41 is equipped with a random number circuit 45 that generates hardware random numbers. The microprocessor 41 may also be capable of generating software random numbers through the random number generation process performed by the main control CPU 42. Note that the main control CPU 42, main control ROM 43, main control RWM 44, and random number circuit 45 do not necessarily have to be configured on a single chip as the microprocessor 41, but may also be configured separately.

The main control board 40 is connected to sensors SE1 to SE4. The main control CPU 42 can input the detection signals output by sensors SE1 to SE4 when they detect a gaming ball. The main control board 40 is connected to display units 13a to 13f. The main control CPU 42 can control the display content of display units 13a to 13f. The main control board 40 is connected to solenoids SL1 and SL2. The main control CPU 42 can control the operation of variable members 17 and 19 by controlling the operation of solenoids SL1 and SL2, respectively.

The sub-control board 50 will now be described in detail.
The sub-control board 50 comprises a sub-control CPU 51, a sub-control ROM 52, and a sub-control RWM 53. The sub-control CPU 51 executes a sub-control program to perform various processes related to the effects. The sub-control ROM 52 stores the sub-control program and judgment values used in predetermined lotteries. The sub-control ROM 52 stores display effect data used for display effects, light-emitting effect data used for light-emitting effects, and audio effect data used for audio effects.

The sub-control RWM 53 stores various information that is rewritten during operation of the pachinko gaming machine 10. For example, the information stored by the sub-control RWM 53 includes flags, counters, and timers. The sub-control board 50 is also configured to be able to generate software random numbers through the random number generation process performed by the sub-control CPU 51. The sub-control board 50 may also be equipped with a random number generation circuit, enabling it to generate hardware random numbers.

The sub-control board 50 is connected to the performance display device EH. The sub-control CPU 51 can control the display content of the performance display device EH. The sub-control board 50 is connected to the decorative lamp LA. The sub-control CPU 51 can control the light emission mode of the decorative lamp LA. The sub-control board 50 is connected to the speaker SP. The sub-control CPU 51 can control the output mode of the speaker SP.

The pachinko gaming machine 10 of this embodiment is equipped with a backup function.
The backup function is a function that stores predetermined information including information about games (hereinafter referred to as game information) even when the power supply from an external power source is cut off, and enables recovery based on the various pieces of information when power supply is resumed.

The pachinko gaming machine 10 is equipped with a backup power supply (not shown). The backup power supply supplies power to the main control board 40 even after the power is cut off. By receiving power from the backup power supply, the main control RWM 44 can retain the contents stored in the main control RWM 44 at the time of power cut even after the power is cut off. The main control RWM 44 serves as a storage means capable of storing backup information. In the pachinko gaming machine 10, a backup function is realized by providing a backup power supply. Note that the main control RWM 44 may be a non-volatile memory that can retain its stored contents even when the power supply is stopped, and may therefore be able to retain the stored information even after the power is cut off.

Game information to be backed up includes information about special games and information about jackpot games. For example, information about special games includes information that can identify the results of a special lottery, information that can identify the fluctuation patterns of special games, and information that can identify the special symbols that are displayed in a stopped state during special games. Information about jackpot games includes information that can identify the progress of jackpot games.

Next, various processes performed by the main control CPU 42 of the main control board 40 will be described.
The main control CPU 42 executes a plurality of processes, such as a special symbol input process and a special symbol start process, as timer interrupt processes that are performed every predetermined period (for example, 4 ms). In this embodiment, the control information (commands) stored in the output buffer are output to the sub-control board 50 by output processes that are executed as timer interrupt processes.

First, the special symbol input process will be described.
In the special symbol input process, the main control CPU 42 determines whether a gaming ball has entered the first special start winning port 15 based on whether a detection signal has been input from the first special start sensor SE1. When a gaming ball has entered the first special start winning port 15, the main control CPU 42 determines whether the first special reserve number stored in the main control RWM 44 is less than the upper limit number (4 in this embodiment). If the first special reserve number is less than the upper limit number, the main control CPU 42 updates the first special reserve number by adding 1. Next, the main control CPU 42 controls the first special reserve display unit 13c to display information that can identify the updated first special reserve number. In this way, the reserve condition for the first special game is met when a gaming ball is detected by the first special start sensor SE1 when the first special reserve number is less than the upper limit number.

Next, the main control CPU 42 acquires the random numbers generated within the microprocessor 41 and stores random number information based on the acquired random numbers in the main control RWM 44. For example, the random numbers may be special winning random numbers used in the special lottery (jackpot lottery), winning symbol random numbers used to determine winning symbols, and variation pattern random numbers used to determine variation patterns. The main control CPU 42 stores the random number information so that it is possible to identify that it is random number information for the first special game and the storage order of the random number information. The random number information may be the acquired random numbers themselves, or may be information obtained by processing the random numbers using a predetermined method. By storing the random number information used for the first special game in the main control RWM 44, the pachinko gaming machine 10 of this embodiment can suspend its execution until the execution conditions for the first special game are met. In this embodiment, the main control CPU 42 and the first special start sensor SE1 serve as ball entry detection means for detecting ball entries related to the first special game.

If a gaming ball has not entered the first special start winning port 15 and if the first special reserve number is not less than the upper limit, the main control CPU 42 determines whether a gaming ball has entered the second special start winning port 16 based on whether a detection signal has been input from the second special start sensor SE2. If a gaming ball has entered the second special start winning port 16, the main control CPU 42 determines whether the second special reserve number stored in the main control RWM 44 is less than the upper limit (4 in this embodiment). If the second special reserve number is less than the upper limit, the main control CPU 42 updates the second special reserve number by adding 1. The main control CPU 42 controls the second special reserve display unit 13d to display information that can identify the updated second special reserve number. In this way, the reserve condition for the second special game is met when a gaming ball is detected by the second special start sensor SE2 when the second special reserve number is less than the upper limit.

Next, the main control CPU 42 acquires the random number generated within the microprocessor 41 and stores random number information based on the acquired random number in the main control RWM 44. The main control CPU 42 stores the random number information so that it is possible to identify that it is random number information to be used for the second special game and the storage order of the random number information. By storing the random number information to be used for the second special game in the main control RWM 44, the pachinko gaming machine 10 of this embodiment can suspend its execution until the execution conditions for the second special game are met. In this embodiment, the main control CPU 42 and the second special start sensor SE2 serve as ball entry detection means for detecting ball entry related to the second special game. When the random number information for the second special game is stored in the main control RWM 44, if a game ball has not entered the second special start winning hole 16 and if the number of second special reserved balls is not less than the upper limit, the main control CPU 42 terminates the special symbol input process.

During the special symbol input process, the main control CPU 42 performs command setting processing when it stores random number information for the first special game in the main control RWM 44. The command setting processing is a process included in the special symbol input process.

In the command setting process, the main control CPU 42 determines whether the numerical value corresponding to the acquired special win random number is a jackpot value that will win the jackpot lottery described below, or a losing value that will not win the jackpot lottery. Next, in the case of a jackpot value, the main control CPU 42 identifies a jackpot fluctuation pattern to be selected from the jackpot fluctuation patterns based on the numerical value corresponding to the acquired fluctuation pattern random number. Then, the main control CPU 42 stores a jackpot pre-read command as a control command in the output buffer based on the identified content. The jackpot pre-read command can identify information indicating the first special reserved number when the random number was acquired, information indicating that the numerical value corresponding to the acquired special win random number is a jackpot value, and information indicating the jackpot fluctuation pattern selected by the numerical value corresponding to the acquired fluctuation pattern random number.

On the other hand, in the case of a loss value, the main control CPU 42 identifies a fluctuation pattern to be selected from a group of fluctuation patterns consisting of loss fluctuation patterns and loss-reach fluctuation patterns based on the numerical value corresponding to the acquired fluctuation pattern random number. The main control CPU 42 then stores a loss-prediction command as a control command in the output buffer based on the identified content. The loss-prediction command can identify information indicating the first special reserved number when the random number was acquired, information indicating that the numerical value corresponding to the acquired special win random number is a loss value, and information indicating the fluctuation pattern selected by the numerical value corresponding to the acquired fluctuation pattern random number. The fluctuation pattern that can be identified from the loss-prediction command is either a loss fluctuation pattern or a loss-reach fluctuation pattern.

The jackpot pre-read command or loss pre-read command stored in the output buffer is output to the sub-control CPU 51 of the sub-control board 50 during output processing from the next cycle onwards. The command setting process in this embodiment is performed for the first special game, not the second special game. Having set the jackpot pre-read command or loss pre-read command, the main control CPU 42 performs processing related to the second special game in the special symbol input process described above. In the following description, when the jackpot pre-read command and loss pre-read command are not distinguished, they are referred to as "pre-read commands." In the command setting process in this embodiment, each time a game ball is detected by the main control CPU 42 and the first special start sensor SE1, a fluctuation pattern indicating the fluctuation content (including fluctuation time) of the symbol fluctuation game (first special game) whose execution is suspended is identified. The main control CPU 42 then performs the command setting process, thereby functioning as a fluctuation pattern pre-reading means. In addition, the jackpot read ahead command and the loss read ahead command correspond to fluctuation pattern specification commands that indicate the fluctuation pattern specified in the command setting process, and the main control CPU 42, which outputs the jackpot read ahead command and the loss read ahead command, serves as the output means.

Next, the special symbol start process will be described.
In the special symbol start processing, the main control CPU 42 determines whether the conditions for executing a special game are met. The main control CPU 42 makes a positive determination when neither a jackpot game nor a special game is being played is in progress, and makes a negative determination when a jackpot game or a special game is being played is in progress. If the conditions for executing a special game are not met, the main control CPU 42 ends the special symbol start processing. If the conditions for executing a special game are met, the main control CPU 42 determines whether the second special reserved number is greater than zero. If the second special reserved number is zero, the main control CPU 42 determines whether the first special reserved number is greater than zero.

When the first special reserved number and the second special reserved number are both zero, the main control CPU 42 determines whether to store a wait command in the output buffer based on the output information stored in the main control RWM 44. The output information is information that can identify whether a wait command has been output. When the main control CPU 42 determines from the output information of the main control RWM 44 that a wait command has been output, it terminates the special pattern start processing without storing the wait command in the output buffer. On the other hand, when the main control CPU 42 determines from the output information of the main control RWM 44 that a wait command has not been output, it stores the wait command in the output buffer. Then, the main control CPU 42 updates the output information of the main control RWM 44 so that it can be identified that a wait command has been output. Thereafter, the main control CPU 42 terminates the special pattern start processing.

If the first special reserve number is greater than zero, the main control CPU 42 performs processing to execute the first special game. Specifically, the main control CPU 42 updates the first special reserve number by subtracting 1. The main control CPU 42 controls the first special reserve display unit 13c to display information that can identify the updated first special reserve number. Next, the main control CPU 42 acquires the random number information for the first special game that was stored earliest from the main control RWM 44. Next, the main control CPU 42 uses the special win random number identified from the acquired random number information to conduct a jackpot lottery to determine whether or not a jackpot has been won.

If a jackpot is won, the main control CPU 42 performs jackpot variation processing. In the jackpot variation processing, the main control CPU 42 uses a winning pattern random number that can be identified from the random number information to draw a jackpot pattern and determine the jackpot pattern to be derived in the first special game. The main control CPU 42 uses a variation pattern random number that can be identified from the random number information to draw a variation pattern and determine the jackpot variation pattern. The main control CPU 42 then ends the special pattern start processing.

If a jackpot is not won, the main control CPU 42 performs a loss variation process. In the loss variation process, the main control CPU 42 determines the loss symbol to be derived in the first special game. In the loss variation process, the main control CPU 42 performs a variation pattern determination lottery using a variation pattern random number that can be identified from the random number information, and determines a loss reach variation pattern with a reach, or a loss variation pattern without a reach. The main control CPU 42 then ends the special symbol start process. Note that in this embodiment, whether to execute a reach effect in the effect game is determined depending on whether a loss variation pattern or a loss reach variation pattern is determined, but it is also possible to determine whether to execute a reach effect, and then determine either a loss reach variation pattern or a loss variation game depending on the result of that determination.

If the second special reserved number is greater than zero, the main control CPU 42 performs processing to run a second special game. The processing to run a second special game is the same as the processing to run a first special game, except that "first special game" is replaced with "second special game" and "first special reserved number" is replaced with "second special reserved number," and therefore a detailed explanation will be omitted. In other words, the main control CPU 42 subtracts the second special reserved number, performs a jackpot lottery, and performs any variation processing based on the results of the jackpot lottery, and then terminates the special symbol start processing.

The main control CPU 42 stores a fluctuation start command and a special symbol command in the output buffer during the jackpot fluctuation process and the loss fluctuation process. The fluctuation start command is a control command that can identify the fluctuation pattern determined during each fluctuation process and the start of the special game (performance game). The special symbol command is a control command that can identify the special symbol (jackpot symbol or loss symbol) determined during each fluctuation process. Note that the fluctuation start command and the special symbol command are different control commands when the fluctuation process for the first special game is executed and when the fluctuation process for the second special game is executed.

When the special pattern start process is completed, the main control CPU 42 executes a first special game or a second special game through a process separate from the special pattern start process. Specifically, when the main control CPU 42 executes the first special game, it controls the first special pattern display unit 13a to start displaying a variable pattern. The main control CPU 42 measures the variable time set in the variable pattern. When the variable time set in the variable pattern has elapsed, the main control CPU 42 controls the first special pattern display unit 13a to derive the special pattern determined in the special pattern start process. Furthermore, when the variable time set in the variable pattern has elapsed, the main control CPU 42 stores a control command (hereinafter referred to as a variable end command) capable of specifying the end of the special game (presentation game) in the output buffer.

On the other hand, when the main control CPU 42 executes the second special game, it controls the second special symbol display unit 13b to begin displaying a predetermined symbol. The main control CPU 42 measures the change time set in the change pattern. When the change time set in the change pattern has elapsed, the main control CPU 42 controls the second special symbol display unit 13b to derive the special symbol determined in the special symbol start processing. Furthermore, when the change time set in the change pattern has elapsed, the main control CPU 42 stores a change end command in the output buffer. As described above, the pachinko gaming machine 10 of this embodiment is configured to hold a special lottery when a gaming ball enters the start hole, by the main control CPU 42 executing the special symbol input processing and the special symbol start processing.

Next, various processes executed by the sub-control CPU 51 of the sub-control board 50 will be described.
The sub-control CPU 51 executes the effect game processing.
The effect game processing is processing for executing an effect game as one of the display effects related to a special game during execution of the special game. When the sub-control CPU 51 inputs a variation start command and a special pattern command, it controls the effect display device EH to execute an effect game corresponding to the special game. Specifically, when the sub-control CPU 51 inputs a variation start command, it selects an effect pattern (effect content) for the effect game based on a variation pattern that can be identified from the control command. Furthermore, when the sub-control CPU 51 inputs a special pattern command, it determines a pattern combination to be derived in the effect game based on the special pattern that can be identified from the command. If a jackpot pattern can be identified from the special pattern command, the sub-control CPU 51 determines a jackpot pattern combination. If a losing pattern can be identified from the special pattern command, the sub-control CPU 51 determines a losing pattern combination.

The sub-control CPU 51 also determines whether the conditions for executing a reach effect have been met. As an example, the reach condition is met by determining a jackpot fluctuation pattern or a miss reach fluctuation pattern. When the reach condition is met and a jackpot pattern can be identified from the special pattern command, the sub-control CPU 51 determines the effect patterns that make up the jackpot pattern combination as the reach effect pattern. When the reach condition is met and a miss pattern can be identified from the special pattern command, the sub-control CPU 51 determines a miss pattern combination that includes a reach. When the reach condition is not met and a miss pattern can be identified from the special pattern command, the sub-control CPU 51 determines a miss pattern combination that does not include a reach.

The sub-control CPU 51, upon input of a variation start command, controls the effect display device EH to begin varying the display of the effect symbols in each symbol row, thereby starting the effect game. The sub-control CPU 51 controls the effect display device EH so that the effect game is played based on the selected effect pattern during the variation time set in the variation pattern. The sub-control CPU 51 can control the effect device group DE to execute various effects while the effect game is being played. Then, when a predetermined timing arrives after starting the effect game, the sub-control CPU 51 temporarily stops the display of the symbol combination, and upon input of a variation end command, causes the symbol combination to be displayed as a confirmed, stopped combination. Note that the sub-control CPU 51 may also cause the confirmed, stopped display of the symbol combination to be triggered by the passage of the variation time set in the variation pattern, regardless of the variation end command. In this case, the variation end command may be omitted.

The sub-control CPU 51 executes a look-ahead effect setting process separately from the effect game processing. The sub-control CPU 51, which controls the look-ahead effect setting process and the execution of the look-ahead effect, serves as the advance notice control means. The look-ahead effect is an effect that gives the player a sense of anticipation that a specific pattern change game (special game) will result in a jackpot across multiple pattern change games (special games). The look-ahead effect is a type of jackpot advance notice, and because it is performed across multiple pattern change games (special games), it is also called a continuous advance notice effect. Furthermore, the specific special game is the last special game that is the subject of the look-ahead effect, and the effect game corresponding to the last special game may be referred to as a target (TG) change. Furthermore, among the special games that are the subject of the look-ahead effect, the effect game that corresponds to the special game that occurs before the target change may be simply referred to as a change. The sub-control CPU 51 executes the look-ahead effect setting process each time a look-ahead command is input. In the look-ahead effect setting process, the sub-control CPU 51 determines whether or not to execute the look-ahead effect, and if so, the number of special games to be targeted by the look-ahead effect and the content of the effect of the effect game corresponding to that number of special games. When the sub-control CPU 51 inputs a look-ahead command, it stores information specified from the input look-ahead command in a memory area of the sub-control RWM 53 corresponding to the first special reserved number that can be specified from the look-ahead command. The information stored here is information on whether it is a jackpot or a loss, and information on the variation pattern to be selected. Each time a variation start command is input and a special game is started, the sub-control RWM 53 matches the contents of the memory area for information specified from the look-ahead command with the execution order of the special games.

When the sub-control CPU 51 inputs a look-ahead command, it checks whether the setting value of the in-execution flag, which indicates the execution status of the look-ahead performance, is a value indicating that it is in execution, or a value indicating that it is not in execution. In this embodiment, if the execution of the look-ahead performance has already been decided, or if the look-ahead performance is already being executed, at the time the look-ahead command is input, the sub-control CPU 51 does not decide to execute a new look-ahead performance. Therefore, if the setting value of the in-execution flag is a value indicating that it is in execution, the sub-control CPU 51 terminates the look-ahead performance setting process. In the in-execution flag, being in execution includes having decided to execute the look-ahead performance. On the other hand, if the setting value of the in-execution flag is a value indicating that it is not in execution, the first condition, which is one of the conditions for executing the look-ahead performance, is met. In the in-execution flag, not being in execution includes not having decided to execute the look-ahead performance.

When the first condition is met, the sub-control CPU 51 checks whether the first special reserve number specified by the input look-ahead command is "2" or greater. If the first special reserve number is "2" or greater, the sub-control CPU 51 checks whether the combination of the fluctuation pattern of the target fluctuation and the fluctuation pattern of the fluctuation preceding the target fluctuation is a predetermined combination when the target fluctuation is the performance game corresponding to the special game based on the currently input look-ahead command. If the combination of fluctuation patterns is a predetermined combination, the second condition, which is one of the conditions for executing the look-ahead performance, is met. On the other hand, if the combination of fluctuation patterns is not a predetermined combination, the second condition is not met. If the second condition is not met, the sub-control CPU 51 ends the look-ahead performance setting process without deciding to execute the look-ahead performance.

Here, the cases where the second condition is met and where the second condition is not met will be described with reference to Fig. 5. "TG" in the figure means target fluctuation.
In this embodiment, the second condition is met when the fluctuation pattern of the target presentation is either the miss reach fluctuation pattern HP2 or the jackpot fluctuation pattern HP3, and all fluctuations prior to the target fluctuation are the miss fluctuation pattern HP1.

To explain using Figure 5, when the first special reserved number is "4," the second condition is met if the target fluctuation is either the miss-reach fluctuation pattern HP2 or the jackpot fluctuation pattern HP3, and the fluctuations one to three times before the target fluctuation are miss fluctuation pattern HP1. When the first special reserved number is "3," the second condition is met if the target fluctuation is either the miss-reach fluctuation pattern HP2 or the jackpot fluctuation pattern HP3, and the fluctuations one and two times before the target fluctuation are miss fluctuation pattern HP1. When the first special reserved number is "2," the second condition is met if the target fluctuation is either the miss-reach fluctuation pattern HP2 or the jackpot fluctuation pattern HP3, and the fluctuation one time before the target fluctuation is miss fluctuation pattern HP1. The "○" in the "Yes/No" column in Figure 5 indicates a case where the second condition is met. As a result of the above, the requirements for the second condition to be met include the fact that the fluctuation pattern excluding the fluctuation pattern of the symbol fluctuation game (special game) that is the last in the look-ahead performance is the miss fluctuation pattern HP1 as the first fluctuation pattern. In addition, the requirements for the second condition to be met include the fact that the fluctuation pattern of the symbol fluctuation game (special game) that is the last in the look-ahead performance is either the miss reach fluctuation pattern HP2 or the jackpot fluctuation pattern HP3 as the second fluctuation pattern with a longer fluctuation time than the first fluctuation pattern.

On the other hand, when the first special reserved number is any of "2" to "4," if the target fluctuation is either miss-reach fluctuation pattern HP2 or jackpot fluctuation pattern HP3, but one of the fluctuations prior to the target fluctuation is either miss-reach fluctuation pattern HP2 or jackpot fluctuation pattern HP3, the second condition is not met. Also, when the target fluctuation is miss fluctuation pattern HP1, the second condition is not met regardless of the fluctuation pattern prior to the target fluctuation. An "x" in the "Yes/No" column in Figure 5 indicates a case where the second condition is not met.

When both the first and second conditions are met, the sub-control CPU 51 conducts an execution lottery to determine whether or not the pre-reading effect can be executed. The execution lottery is a lottery using random numbers, and the probability of winning an execution lottery is predetermined. In this embodiment, when both the first and second conditions are met and the execution lottery wins an execution lottery result, it is ultimately decided that the pre-reading effect will be executed. The probability of winning an execution lottery result may be the same when the target fluctuation pattern is the miss-reach fluctuation pattern HP2 and when the target fluctuation pattern is the jackpot fluctuation pattern HP3. In other words, in this case, the execution lottery is conducted with the same probability when there is a jackpot and when there is a miss, and an execution lottery result is won. Alternatively, the probability of winning an execution lottery result may be different when the target fluctuation pattern is the miss-reach fluctuation pattern HP2 and when the target fluctuation pattern is the jackpot fluctuation pattern HP3. As an example, it is preferable to increase the probability of winning "Yes" when the target fluctuation pattern is jackpot fluctuation pattern HP3. The expected jackpot probability due to the appearance of the pre-reading effect can be calculated by calculating the percentage of the pre-reading effect appearing when a jackpot occurs relative to the total percentage obtained by adding together the percentage of the pre-reading effect appearing when a miss occurs and the percentage of the pre-reading effect appearing when a jackpot occurs. In other words, the expected jackpot probability of the pre-reading effect can be increased by increasing the percentage of the pre-reading effect appearing when a jackpot occurs relative to the total percentage. Furthermore, in the execution possibility lottery of the embodiment, the probability of winning "Yes" is the same regardless of the number of first special reserved numbers, but the probability of winning "Yes" in the execution possibility lottery may differ depending on the number of first special reserved numbers. As an example, the greater the number of first special reserved numbers, the higher the probability of winning "Yes" in the execution possibility lottery. For example, it may be easier to win "Yes" when the upper limit has not been reached, such as by increasing the probability of winning "Yes" in the execution possibility lottery when the number of first special reserved numbers is "3."

If the sub-control CPU 51 does not win the execution yes lottery and decides to execute the pre-reading effect, it decides not to execute the pre-reading effect and terminates the pre-reading effect setting process. On the other hand, if the sub-control CPU 51 wins the execution yes lottery and decides to execute the pre-reading effect, it sets the setting value of the in-execution flag to a value indicating that it is being executed. In addition, the sub-control CPU 51 sets the remaining number of effects in a specified memory area defined in the sub-control RWM 53 according to the first special reserved number that can be specified from the pre-reading command that was entered when it was decided that the pre-reading effect could be executed. The remaining number of effects indicates the number of times until the target changes. As an example, when the first special reserved number that can be specified from the pre-reading command is "4", the sub-control CPU 51 sets information indicating "4" to the remaining number of effects. Having set the in-execution flag and the remaining number of effects, the sub-control CPU 51 terminates the pre-reading effect setting process.

While the look-ahead effect is being executed, i.e., while the in-execution flag is set to a value indicating that it is being executed, the sub-control CPU 51 subtracts 1 from the remaining number of effects each time a variation start command is input, updating the number. In other words, the sub-control CPU 51 subtracts 1 from the remaining number of effects when the special game that is the target of the look-ahead effect starts. Then, when the remaining number of effects becomes "0", i.e., when the sub-control CPU 51 starts target variation, it sets the in-execution flag to a value indicating that the look-ahead effect is not being executed.

Next, the contents of the pre-reading effect will be explained.
As shown in Figure 6, in this embodiment, there are three types of pre-reading effects. The three types of pre-reading effects have different effects. The contents of the three types of pre-reading effects correspond to the number of miss variations that are executed before the target variation.

The predictive effects in this embodiment are based on the theme of a battle between your own army and the enemy army. The target fluctuations are set up so that the final battle between your army and the enemy army takes place, and if you win the jackpot, you will win the final battle, but if you do not win the jackpot, you will lose the final battle.

Presentation pattern PT1, selected when the number of miss variations is "1", depicts the player's own army's spear troops taking part in the final battle and fighting the decisive battle. The sub-control CPU 51 selects presentation pattern PT1 when the first special reserve number that can be specified by the look-ahead command is "2". Presentation pattern PT2, selected when the number of miss variations is "2", depicts the player's own army's musketeers taking part in the final battle and fighting the decisive battle. The sub-control CPU 51 selects presentation pattern PT2 when the first special reserve number that can be specified by the look-ahead command is "3". Presentation pattern PT3, selected when the number of miss variations is "3", depicts the player's own army's cavalry taking part in the final battle and fighting the decisive battle. The sub-control CPU 51 selects presentation pattern PT3 when the first special reserve number that can be specified by the look-ahead command is "4". As a result of the above, the content of the predictive effects in this embodiment can be said to differ depending on the type of troops appearing in your army, such as "spear troops," "musketeers," or "cavalry."

When the sub-control CPU 51 selects one of the effect patterns PT1 to PT3 based on the first special reserved number that can be identified by the look-ahead command, it stores information that can identify the selected effect pattern PT1 to PT3 in a specified memory area of the sub-control RWM 53. Then, when the sub-control CPU 51 subtracts 1 from the remaining number of effects in response to the input of the fluctuation start command, and the remaining number of effects becomes "0," it clears the information that can identify the effect pattern PT1 to PT3 that was stored in the specified memory area of the sub-control RWM 53. In other words, the sub-control CPU 51 rewrites the specified memory area to indicate that none of the effect patterns PT1 to PT3 have been selected.

Next, the flow of the pre-reading effects executed by the effect patterns PT1, PT2, and PT3 will be described with reference to FIG.
First, the predictive effect based on the effect pattern PT1 will be explained.

The predictive performance based on performance pattern PT1 is executed over a total of two fluctuations: one miss fluctuation and one target fluctuation. In the performance game, which is the one miss fluctuation before the target fluctuation, the performance progresses in the following order: Spear unit marches → Spear unit marches → Spear unit attacks. The performance times for each scene of the march, march, and attack in performance pattern PT1 are performance time z1 for the march, performance time z2 for the march, and performance time z3 for the attack. In performance pattern PT1, the time for one miss fluctuation is used to execute three performances in different categories: marches, marches, and attacks.

The predictive effect based on effect pattern PT2 is executed over a total of three fluctuations, including two losing fluctuations and a target fluctuation. The two losing fluctuations before the target fluctuation are executed in the following order: Musketeer's march → Musketeer's march → Musketeer's attack. The performance times for each of the scenes of the march, march, and attack in effect pattern PT2 are: march performance time z1, march performance time z4, and attack performance time z5. The march performance time z1 is the same as the march performance time z1 in effect pattern PT1. The march performance time z4 is longer than the march performance time z2 in effect pattern PT1. Furthermore, the march performance time z4 is set so that when combined with the march performance time z1, the total time exceeds the fluctuation time t1 of one losing fluctuation. Therefore, in effect pattern PT2, the march performance is executed across the first and second fluctuations. In other words, in terms of the presentation of the presentation game, the first and second fluctuations are not visually separated and can be seen as continuous. The attack presentation time z5 is longer than the attack presentation time z3 in presentation pattern PT1. Furthermore, the attack presentation time z5 is the time obtained by subtracting the combined time of the march presentation time z1 and the march presentation time z4 from the fluctuation time t1 x 2 (= t1 + t1) of the two miss fluctuations. In presentation pattern PT2, the time of the two miss fluctuations is used to execute three presentations in different categories: march, march, and attack.

The predictive presentation based on presentation pattern PT3 is executed over a total of four variations, including three missing variations and a target variation. The presentation games for the three missing variations prior to the target variation proceed in the following order: cavalry march → cavalry march → cavalry attack. The presentation times for each of the scenes of march, march, and attack in presentation pattern PT3 are presentation time z1 for march, presentation time z6 for march, and presentation time z5 for attack. Presentation time z1 for march is the same as presentation time z1 for march in presentation patterns PT1 and PT2. Presentation time z6 for march is longer than presentation times z2 and z4 for march in presentation patterns PT1 and PT2. Furthermore, presentation time z6 for march is set so that when combined with presentation time z1 for march, the total time exceeds the variation time t1 x 2 for two missing variations. For this reason, in presentation pattern PT3, the march presentation is executed across the first and second, and second and third variations. In other words, as a presentation game effect, the first through third variations are not visually separated and can be seen as continuous. The attack presentation time z5 is the same as the attack presentation time z5 in presentation pattern PT2. Furthermore, the attack presentation time z5 is the time obtained by subtracting the combined time of the march presentation time z1 and the march presentation time z6 from the variation time t1 x 3 (= t1 + t1 + t1) of the three miss variations. In presentation pattern PT3, the time of the three miss variations is used to execute three presentations in different categories: march, march, and attack.

The marching scene in each of presentation patterns PT1 to PT3 features the commander-in-chief of one's army encouraging his troops. The marching scene in each of presentation patterns PT1 to PT3 features the troops heading to the battlefield. The attack scene in each of presentation patterns PT1 to PT3 features the troops encountering and engaging in combat with the enemy army on their way to the battlefield. As mentioned above, in each of presentation patterns PT1 to PT3, not only do the presentation times for each scene differ, but the types of troops that appear in each scene also differ. For example, in presentation pattern PT1, the troops that appear in the marching, march, and attack scenes are spearmen. For example, in presentation pattern PT2, the troops that appear in the marching, march, and attack scenes are musketeers. For example, in presentation pattern PT3, the troops that appear in the marching, march, and attack scenes are cavalry.

Each target change in the predictive display based on each display pattern PT1 to PT3 is either a miss reach change or a jackpot change. When the target change is a miss reach change, the display time is the change time t2 of the miss reach change pattern HP2. When the target change is a jackpot change, the display time is the change time t3 of the jackpot change pattern HP3.

The content of the presentation in each target variation is that of troops arriving at the battlefield and engaging in a final battle with the enemy forces there. In other words, the losing variations prior to the target variation are presentations depicting the process of the deployed troops heading to the battlefield, and the target variation continues that process with the final battle with the enemy forces on the battlefield. As a result, the pre-reading presentation of this embodiment is presented as a presentation with a continuously progressing story from the start of the first variation that is the subject of the pre-reading presentation until the result of the final battle in the target variation, i.e., the lottery result of whether it is a jackpot or a loss, is derived. Note that the pre-reading presentations based on presentation patterns PT1 to PT3 are common in that they have continuity in the presentation itself, but the overall presentation time from the start to the end of the pre-reading presentation varies depending on the number of losing variations included up to the target variation. Furthermore, the predictive effect of this embodiment has defined effect patterns PT1 to PT3 corresponding to the number of miss variations, and the predictive effect content of these effect patterns PT1 to PT3 is different. Specifically, the characters that appear in the effect, such as the troops, and the flow of the effect up to reaching the target variation are different. This allows the player to understand how the effect will unfold when the predictive effect begins, allowing the player to focus on the variation they should pay attention to, i.e., the target variation.

In addition, in this embodiment, an element that allows the player to guess the probability of winning a jackpot is included in the process from the start of the pre-reading performance to the derivation of the lottery result by target fluctuation.
Below, elements for estimating the probability of winning a jackpot will be explained with reference to Figures 8 and 9.

In this embodiment, a first element and a second element are provided as elements for estimating the likelihood of a jackpot. The first element is created by correlating the number of defeats by the player's own army with the likelihood of a jackpot in the "attack" scenes that appear in the pre-reading effects of each effect pattern PT1 to PT3. Figure 8 shows the soldier count patterns w1 to w3 used by the sub-control CPU 51 in attack scenes. The soldier count patterns w1 to w3 correspond to the number of remaining soldiers in the enemy army as a result of the player's own army attacking. Soldier count pattern w1 is a pattern in which the player's army defeats 300 enemy soldiers out of the initial number of enemy soldiers of 1000, leaving the remaining number of soldiers at 700. Soldier count pattern w2 is a pattern in which the player's army defeats 700 enemy soldiers out of the initial number of enemy soldiers of 1000, leaving the remaining number of soldiers at 300. Soldier count pattern w3 is a pattern in which the player's army defeats 950 enemy soldiers out of an initial enemy soldier count of 1000, leaving 50 soldiers remaining.

When the sub-control CPU 51 determines that the look-ahead effect can be executed, it performs a soldier count pattern lottery to determine soldier count patterns w1 to w3. The soldier count pattern lottery is performed using random numbers, and the probability of determining each soldier count pattern is predetermined. As an example, as shown in Figure 8, the random numbers are allocated so that the expected jackpot rate is higher when the effect is executed with soldier count pattern w2 than with soldier count pattern w1, and higher when the effect is executed with soldier count pattern w3 than with soldier count pattern w2. When performing the soldier count pattern lottery, the sub-control CPU 51 checks whether the target fluctuation pattern specified from the look-ahead command is a miss-lead fluctuation or a jackpot fluctuation. The timing for determining soldier count patterns w1 to w3 may be when it is determined that the look-ahead effect can be executed, or when the first fluctuation that is the target of the look-ahead effect is started.

When the sub-control CPU 51 initiates the look-ahead effect, it executes an effect based on the soldier count patterns w1 to w3 when the "attack" scene in each of the effect patterns PT1 to PT3 arrives. During the "attack" scene, the image display unit GH displays a battle scene with an enemy army lying in wait to ambush the player's forces, along with a message image indicating the battle result, such as "700 defeated! 300 remaining." The player can determine the expected probability of a jackpot from the battle result derived during the "attack" scene. Note that the attack effect may be executed using the same soldier count patterns w1 to w3, even when the look-ahead effect is executed using the effect patterns PT1 to PT3. For example, the attack effect using soldier count pattern w1 may be executed when the look-ahead effect includes one miss variation (effect pattern PT1), two miss variations (effect pattern PT2), or three miss variations (effect pattern PT3). In other words, even if the number of miss variations included in the pre-reading effect is different, the pre-reading effect may be executed with the same content.

The second element is created by associating the characters of the enemy army who appear in the final battle of the target fluctuation with the expected probability of a jackpot. In other words, the characters of the enemy army who appear in the final battle are the opponents who will face off against your army in the final battle. Figure 9 shows battle patterns y1 to y3 used by the sub-control CPU 51 in target fluctuation. Battle pattern y1 is a pattern in which an "ashigaru taisho" appears as the opponent in the final battle. Battle pattern y2 is a pattern in which a "samurai taisho" appears as the opponent in the final battle. Battle pattern y3 is a pattern in which a "chief commander" appears as the opponent in the final battle.

When the sub-control CPU 51 determines that the look-ahead effect can be executed, it performs a match pattern lottery to determine match patterns y1 to y3. The match pattern lottery is performed using random numbers, and the probability of determining each match pattern is predetermined. As an example, as shown in FIG. 9, the random numbers are allocated so that the expected jackpot rate is higher when the effect is executed using match pattern y2 than with match pattern y1, and higher when the effect is executed using match pattern y3 than with match pattern y2. When performing the match pattern lottery, the sub-control CPU 51 checks whether the target change pattern specified from the look-ahead command is a miss-lead change or a jackpot change. The timing for determining match patterns y1 to y3 may be when it is determined that the look-ahead effect can be executed, when the first change that is the target of the look-ahead effect starts, or when the target change starts.

When the sub-control CPU 51 starts the look-ahead performance, it executes a performance based on battle patterns y1 to y3 at the timing when the target fluctuation occurs in each performance pattern PT1 to PT3. In the "final battle" scene, the image display unit GH displays a battle scene in which the player's army and the enemy army face each other with their backs to each other's bases, and both sides charge at the signal to start battle, along with a message image corresponding to "victory" or "defeat" as the outcome of the battle. The opponent corresponding to battle patterns y1 to y3 appears as a general leading the enemy army in the scene in which the player's army faces off against the enemy army. Furthermore, a "victory" as an outcome of the battle corresponds to a jackpot, while a "defeat" corresponds to a loss. The player can determine the likelihood of winning a jackpot depending on who the general leading the enemy army is in the battle against their own army.

Here, the control contents executed by the sub-control CPU 51 when a fluctuation start command is input will be explained.
The control content of the sub-control CPU 51 when a variation start command is input differs depending on whether the set value of the in-execution flag indicating the execution status of the look-ahead performance is a value indicating that it is being executed or a value indicating that it is not being executed. If the set value of the in-execution flag when the variation start command is input is a value indicating that the look-ahead performance is being executed, the sub-control CPU 51 specifies which variation performance game to start among the variations that are the target of the look-ahead performance based on the information that can identify the performance pattern stored in the sub-control RWM 53 and the remaining number of performances.

The sub-control CPU 51 identifies fluctuations for the look-ahead effect based on effect pattern PT1 as follows. The sub-control CPU 51 identifies a fluctuation when the miss fluctuation pattern HP1, effect pattern PT1, and the remaining number of effects is "2" as a miss fluctuation corresponding to the first fluctuation that is the target of the look-ahead effect. The sub-control CPU 51 identifies a fluctuation when the miss reach fluctuation pattern HP2 or the jackpot fluctuation pattern HP3, effect pattern PT1, and the remaining number of effects is "1" as a target fluctuation corresponding to the second fluctuation that is the target of the look-ahead effect.

The sub-control CPU 51 identifies fluctuations for the look-ahead effect based on effect pattern PT2 as follows. The sub-control CPU 51 identifies a fluctuation when the miss fluctuation pattern HP1, effect pattern PT2, and the remaining number of effects is "3" as a miss fluctuation corresponding to the first fluctuation that is the target of the look-ahead effect. The sub-control CPU 51 identifies a fluctuation when the miss fluctuation pattern HP1, effect pattern PT2, and the remaining number of effects is "2" as a miss fluctuation corresponding to the second fluctuation that is the target of the look-ahead effect. The sub-control CPU 51 identifies a fluctuation when the miss reach fluctuation pattern HP2 or the jackpot fluctuation pattern HP3, effect pattern PT2, and the remaining number of effects is "1" as a target fluctuation corresponding to the third fluctuation that is the target of the look-ahead effect.

The sub-control CPU 51 identifies fluctuations for the look-ahead effect based on effect pattern PT3 as follows. The sub-control CPU 51 identifies a fluctuation when the miss fluctuation pattern HP1, effect pattern PT3, and the remaining number of effects is "4" as a miss fluctuation corresponding to the first fluctuation that is the target of the look-ahead effect. The sub-control CPU 51 identifies a fluctuation when the miss fluctuation pattern HP1, effect pattern PT3, and the remaining number of effects is "3" as a miss fluctuation corresponding to the third fluctuation that is the target of the look-ahead effect. The sub-control CPU 51 identifies a fluctuation when the miss fluctuation pattern HP1, effect pattern PT3, and the remaining number of effects is "2" as a miss fluctuation corresponding to the third fluctuation that is the target of the look-ahead effect. The sub-control CPU 51 identifies a fluctuation when the miss reach fluctuation pattern HP2 or the jackpot fluctuation pattern HP3, effect pattern PT2, and the remaining number of effects is "1" as a target fluctuation corresponding to the fourth fluctuation that is the target of the look-ahead effect.

Then, when the sub-control CPU 51 determines which number of fluctuations has occurred, it executes the performance of each fluctuation based on the performance pattern.
7, when the sub-control CPU 51 identifies the first variation based on the presentation pattern PT1, it causes the image display unit GH to display a presentation game based on the miss variation pattern HP1 so as to execute the presentation of march → march → attack in one variation. Then, when the sub-control CPU 51 identifies the second variation based on the presentation pattern PT1, that is, in the case of a target variation, it causes the image display unit GH to display a presentation game based on the miss reach variation pattern HP2 or the jackpot variation pattern HP3 so as to execute the presentation of the final battle.

For each variation that is the target of the look-ahead effect, the sub-control CPU 51 begins displaying the variation of the effect symbols when the effect game starts, and displays the symbol combination as fixed and stopped when the effect game ends. During the look-ahead effect, the sub-control CPU 51 displays the effect symbols small and inconspicuously in the upper right corner of the image display unit GH for all losing variations and target variations until the final symbol combination is displayed as fixed and stopped in the target variation. This makes it difficult to distinguish the breaks between effect games, even when the look-ahead effect is executed across multiple variations, and the effects can be viewed as a series of effects. Meanwhile, the sub-control CPU 51 displays a message image corresponding to the decisive battle result of "victory" or "defeat" in the target variation, and then temporarily stops and displays the symbol combination in the upper right corner of the image display unit GH, for example. After that, the sub-control CPU 51 displays the fixed and stopped symbol combination in a large format in the center or approximately the center of the image display unit GH, just as when the look-ahead effect is not being executed at the time the effect game ends.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the sub-control CPU 51 identifies the first variation based on presentation pattern PT2, it causes the image display unit GH to display a presentation game based on miss variation pattern HP1 so that the presentation of march → march → attack is executed for a total of two variations, that variation and the next variation. When the sub-control CPU 51 identifies the second variation, it causes the image display unit GH to display the march presentation continuing from the previous variation, and also causes the image display unit GH to display the attack presentation at a predetermined timing. Then, when the sub-control CPU 51 identifies the third variation based on presentation pattern PT2, that is, in the case of a target variation, it causes the image display unit GH to display a presentation game based on miss reach variation pattern HP2 or jackpot variation pattern HP3 so that the presentation of the final battle is executed.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the sub-control CPU 51 identifies the first fluctuation based on the effect pattern PT3, it causes the image display unit GH to display an effect game based on the miss fluctuation pattern HP1 so that the effect of marching → marching → attack is executed for a total of three fluctuations, including the fluctuation and the two following fluctuations. When the sub-control CPU 51 identifies the second fluctuation, it causes the image display unit GH to display the marching effect, continuing from the previous fluctuation. When the sub-control CPU 51 identifies the third fluctuation, it causes the image display unit GH to display the marching effect, continuing from the previous fluctuation, and also displays the attack effect on the image display unit GH at a predetermined timing. Then, when the sub-control CPU 51 identifies the fourth fluctuation based on the effect pattern PT3, that is, in the case of a target fluctuation, it causes the image display unit GH to display an effect game based on the miss reach fluctuation pattern HP2 or the jackpot fluctuation pattern HP3 so that the effect of the final battle is executed.

As described above, the content of the presentation during the execution of the pattern change game based on the loss change pattern that is the target of the pre-reading presentation differs depending on the number of loss change patterns included in the change patterns of the multiple pattern change games (special games) that are the target of the pre-reading presentation. As shown in FIG. 5, the pre-reading presentation can be executed in a first situation in which the change patterns of the multiple pattern change games that are the target include one loss change pattern HP1, and in a second situation in which a different number of loss change patterns HP1 (in this embodiment, two or three) are included from the first situation. In this embodiment, as described in FIGS. 6 and 7, the content of the presentation during the execution of the pattern change game based on the loss change pattern HP1 can differ between the first situation and the second situation. As an example, in the first situation, based on presentation pattern PT1, the player's own spear unit challenges the final battle, and a single loss change executes presentations of marching, marching, and attacking. As an example, in the second situation, based on the presentation pattern PT2, the player's own musketeers engage in the final battle, and two miss variations are performed to display the effects of marching, marching, and attacking. In the two miss variations in this case, the content of the effects may differ between the first miss variation (marching and marching) and the second miss variation (marching and attacking), as described in FIG. 7 . Also, as an example, in the second situation, based on the presentation pattern PT3, the player's own cavalry engages in the final battle, and three miss variations are performed to display the effects of marching, marching, and attacking. In the three miss variations in this case, the content of the effects may differ between the first miss variation (marching and marching), the second miss variation (marching), and the third miss variation (marching and attacking), as described in FIG. 7 . Furthermore, in the target variation that is the target of the look-ahead presentation, a presentation is performed that inherits the content of the miss variation that was executed immediately before. In this embodiment, a failure change depicts the process of heading to the battlefield for the final battle, and a target change depicts the troops arriving at the battlefield and engaging in the decisive battle. Note that the effect (final battle effect) that occurs after one or more failure changes have been handed over to the target change is an effect that cannot be executed in a failure change that occurs before the target change.

On the other hand, if the setting value of the in-execution flag when the variation start command is input is a value indicating that the pre-reading effect is not being executed, the sub-control CPU 51 executes the effect game according to an effect pattern used for normal effects other than effect patterns PT1 to PT3. In an effect game with normal loss effect corresponding to loss variation pattern HP1, a losing symbol combination is derived by the effect symbols in the left, center, and right symbol columns starting to change and then stopping in a predetermined order. In an effect game with normal loss reach effect corresponding to loss reach variation pattern HP2, a reach is formed by the same effect symbols temporarily stopping and displaying in predetermined columns (for example, the two columns on the left and right) after each effect symbol starts to change. Subsequently, in an effect game with normal loss reach effect, after the reach is formed, a losing symbol combination is ultimately derived in the reach effect. In a normal jackpot presentation game that corresponds to jackpot variation pattern HP3, a reach is formed in the same way as a normal miss reach presentation, and then the jackpot symbol combination is finally derived in the reach presentation. Note that the type of presentation symbol that forms the reach is arbitrary, and there is no difference between a normal miss reach presentation and a normal jackpot presentation.

In this embodiment, the reach effects in the normal miss reach effects and normal jackpot effects involve a showdown between one's own army's general and the leader of the bandits. If a jackpot is won, the warlord wins the showdown, but if a jackpot is not won and the result is a miss, the reach effect is executed so that the warlord loses the showdown. In the reach effect, multiple generals can appear as one's own army's generals facing off against the leader of the bandits, and by setting the probability of selection of one's own army's general to appear depending on whether it is a jackpot or a miss, different jackpot expectations can be assigned to each general.

However, the power supply to the pachinko gaming machine 10 may be cut off due to an unexpected event, such as a power outage. After the power supply is cut off, the pachinko gaming machine 10 can be operated again by restoring the power supply. The pachinko gaming machine 10 of this embodiment is equipped with a backup power supply that supplies power to the main control board 40 even after the power supply is cut off. Therefore, if the power supply is resumed without initializing the main control RWM 44, the pachinko gaming machine 10 can be restored based on the contents (backup information) stored in the main control RWM 44.

The following describes the control procedures that are performed when the power supply to the pachinko gaming machine 10 is cut off during the execution of a losing variation that is the subject of a predictive effect, and then the power supply is restored and the effect game related to the losing variation that was being executed at the time of the cutoff is resumed.

When the main control CPU 42 returns without initializing the main control RWM 44, it executes power restoration processing by starting the power supply. During power restoration processing, the main control CPU 42 stores a power restoration command in the output buffer, which can identify restoration based on the backup information. The sub-control CPU 51, which inputs the power restoration command, executes processing related to power restoration. For example, the sub-control CPU 51 performs processing such as control to notify, by display, audio, etc., that restoration has occurred due to power restoration, and settings required for restoration before power was cut off. Note that power is not supplied to the sub-control board 50 from the backup power source. For this reason, the contents stored in the sub-control RWM 53 are not maintained after power is cut off.

The sub-control CPU 51 will return to the effect game related to the losing variation that was running when the power was cut off, but it does not have the information related to the effect of that effect game. In other words, the information is not backed up. Therefore, until the variation start command for the next special game is input, the display content of the image display unit GH will be the specified display content. As an example, the background of the image display unit GH will be displayed as a black background image, and a notification image such as "Restoring" will be displayed to notify that the game is being restored.

After recovery, when the sub-control CPU 51 inputs a fluctuation start command, it executes an effect game based on the fluctuation pattern identified by the fluctuation start command. As an example, when the sub-control CPU 51 inputs a fluctuation start command capable of identifying a miss fluctuation pattern HP1, if the setting value of the in-progress flag indicates that a pre-reading effect is not being executed, it executes an effect game with a normal miss effect. As an example, when the sub-control CPU 51 inputs a fluctuation start command capable of identifying a miss-reach fluctuation pattern HP2, if the setting value of the in-progress flag indicates that a pre-reading effect is not being executed, it executes an effect game with a normal miss-reach effect. As an example, when the sub-control CPU 51 inputs a fluctuation start command capable of identifying a jackpot fluctuation pattern HP3, if the setting value of the in-progress flag indicates that a pre-reading effect is not being executed, it executes an effect game with a normal jackpot effect. In other words, in this embodiment, when power is restored, the sub-control CPU 51 does not store information that a pre-reading effect was being executed, and therefore the effect is executed in a manner different from the effect that would have been executed if the power supply had not been interrupted. Furthermore, after power is restored, the main control CPU 42 can output a look-ahead command if a new win occurs at the first special start winning slot 15.

Next, referring to Figure 10, we will explain the hold change effect related to the pre-reading effect.
As shown in FIG. 10(a), the image display unit GH displays an effect game that variably displays effect symbols as indicated by the white arrow in the figure, and also displays an execution image H0 relating to the effect game currently being executed and reserved images H1-H4 relating to the number of effect games corresponding to the reserved special games. The reserved images H1-H4 correspond to the reserved memory number, and when the reserved memory number is "1," reserved image H1 is displayed. Furthermore, when the reserved memory number is "2," reserved images H1 and H2 are displayed, and when the reserved memory number is "3," reserved images H1-H3 are displayed, and when the reserved memory number is "4," reserved images H1-H4 are displayed. FIG. 10(a) shows the image display unit GH when the reserved memory number is "3," and reserved images H1-H3 are displayed on the image display unit GH.

In the state shown in Figure 10(a), when a new win occurs at the first special start winning slot 15, the main control CPU 42 outputs a look-ahead command, and the sub-control CPU 51 inputs a look-ahead command. If the setting value of the in-execution flag indicates that the win is not in execution, the sub-control CPU 51 determines whether or not to execute the look-ahead effect based on the input look-ahead command.

As shown in Figure 10(b), when the sub-control CPU 51 determines whether to execute the look-ahead effect, it displays the reserved image H4 in the normal display mode. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 10(c), when the sub-control CPU 51 determines whether to execute the look-ahead effect, it displays the reserved image H4 in a special display mode that is different from the normal display mode. In other words, it displays it in a way that distinguishes it from the other reserved images H1 to H3. This notifies the player that it has been determined that the look-ahead effect can be executed, and that, of the pending effect games, the effect game corresponding to the reserved image displayed in the special display mode is an effect game that corresponds to target variation.

After the start of the look-ahead effect, the display position of the reserved image corresponding to the target change changes each time the target change that is the subject of the look-ahead effect ends and the reserved amount is consumed. As an example, if reserved image H4 is indicated as the target change as shown in Figure 10(c), when the ongoing effect game ends and the reserved amount is consumed, reserved image H3 is displayed next in a special display mode. Furthermore, when the target change begins, execution image H0 is displayed in a special display mode. The special display mode of reserved images H1 to H4 and the special display mode of execution image H0 may be the same or different. Multiple types of special display modes may be provided, and the special display mode may change as the target change approaches, i.e., as the reserved amount is consumed. Multiple types of special display modes may be associated with the expected degree of victory in the final battle of the target change, and a predetermined reserved image may be displayed in a special display mode corresponding to the expected degree when a prize is won, or the special display mode may change as the target change approaches, i.e., as the reserved amount is consumed. The frequency at which the special display mode changes may be all of the changes leading up to the target change, or a portion of the changes leading up to the target change. The change in the special display mode may also occur in the execution image H0, in which case it may occur only in the execution image H0, or it may occur in addition to the changes in the reserved image.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) As a result of predicting the variation patterns of all special games that are the target of the predictive effect, if the variation pattern of the special game corresponding to the target variation and the variation patterns of all special games that occur before the target variation are a predetermined combination, it is possible to determine whether the predictive effect can be executed. Therefore, when the predictive effect is executed, the predictive effect can be executed as designed by the designer without any sense of incongruity or delay. In other words, the player can be made to recognize it as a continuous predictive effect. By making efforts to devise the execution mode of the predictive effect in this way, it is possible to increase the interest in the game.

(2) Furthermore, the pre-reading effect can be executed as a continuous effect at a predetermined time and with predetermined content, depending on the number of special games on hold. Therefore, the pre-reading effect itself is executed within predetermined rules, making it possible to realize an effect that does not drag on or run out of time.

(3) It is assumed that the fluctuation executed before the target fluctuation is a losing fluctuation, and the content of the presentation for the losing fluctuation differs depending on whether one losing fluctuation is included or two or more. This makes it possible to realize a look-ahead presentation that varies in appearance depending on the number of losing fluctuations included in the look-ahead presentation. As a result, it is possible to increase the variety of look-ahead presentations. This can therefore increase the enjoyment of the game.

(4) In this embodiment, the target fluctuation can be ascertained from the content of the pre-reading effect. This allows the player to know which fluctuation is the target fluctuation and what points to pay attention to in the pre-reading effect.

(5) When multiple miss variations are executed before a target variation, the content of the effects during these miss variations may differ. This eliminates the impression that separate effects are being executed for each miss variation, and creates a strong impression that the effects are one continuous sequence.

(6) Even if the number of missing variations executed before the target variation is different, the same effect may be executed during the pre-reading effect. This allows for more variety in the pre-reading effect compared to when the overall content of the pre-reading effect differs due to the different number of missing variations. Furthermore, by executing the same effect, it is possible to eliminate any sense of superiority or inferiority in the likelihood of a jackpot due to differences in the number, and whether the overall time for the pre-reading effect is short or long, the same sense of anticipation for a jackpot can be achieved.

(7) When a target changes, an effect is executed that inherits the content of the miss change executed before the target change. In this case, the effect executed during the target change is an effect that is not executed during a miss change. This gives a strong sense that the predictive effects are a continuous effect. In addition, the process leading up to the target change can also be entertaining.

(8) If the power supply is cut off and then restored during the execution of a losing variation among the variations that are the target of a predictive effect, the subsequent target variation will be executed in a different manner than the variation that would have been executed if the power supply had not been cut off. Therefore, when predictive effects are configured as a continuous variation, it is possible to prevent the variation from feeling unnatural, such as a partial loss of a variation due to a power supply cutoff. In other words, after the recovery, the player can be given the impression that a different variation will be executed, allowing the player to enjoy that variation.

The above-described embodiment can be modified as follows. Note that the above-described embodiments and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that no technical contradictions exist.

- The sub-control board 50 may be provided with a backup function. In this case, information regarding the look-ahead performance remains in the sub-control RWM 53 when power is restored. For this reason, if the power supply is cut off due to a miss fluctuation during a look-ahead performance, and then power is restored, the performance that was scheduled to be executed if the power supply had not been cut off during the target fluctuation may be executed. Alternatively, when the sub-control CPU 51 inputs a power restoration command, if it determines that a look-ahead performance was being executed before the power supply was cut off, the sub-control CPU 51 may execute a performance that is specifically designed for when power is restored during the target fluctuation.

- If the power supply is cut off during the execution of a failure variation that is the target of a predictive effect, and then the failure variation is restored, the resulting failure variation may have a different effect from the effect that was executed or planned before the power supply was cut off. As an example, in an effect using a "spear unit," a "musketeer unit," or a "cavalry unit," some aspects, such as the type of equipment or the number of soldiers in the unit, may be different before and after the power supply was cut off. As an example, the entire effect may be different, such as by introducing a unit completely different from the "spear unit," "musketeer unit," or "cavalry unit" (for example, a ninja unit or a cannon unit). Then, when power is restored, the target variation may also have a different effect from the effect that was planned before the power supply was cut off. As an example, a completely different general may appear and a final battle may be waged. As an example, instead of an effect in which a different general appears and a final battle is waged, other effects (for example, preview effects such as pseudo-continuous effects or step-up effects, or premium effects) may be used.

- The pachinko gaming machine 10 may be equipped with a probability variation function that varies the jackpot probability to a higher probability, a ball entry assistance function that assists game balls in entering the second special start entry port 16, and a time reduction function that shortens the variation time of the special game. The gaming state of the pachinko gaming machine 10 is configured by combining the operating states (operation and non-operation) of these functions. As an example, the pachinko gaming machine 10 has a normal state in which the probability variation function, ball entry assistance function, and time reduction function are all inoperative. As an example, the pachinko gaming machine 10 has a first advantageous state in which the probability variation function, ball entry assistance function, and time reduction function are all inoperative. As an example, the pachinko gaming machine 10 has a second advantageous state in which the probability variation function is inoperative, while the ball entry assistance function and time reduction function are inoperative. In a pachinko gaming machine 10 equipped with these game states, the predictive performance of the embodiment may be performed in any one of the game states of the normal state, the first advantageous state, and the second advantageous state, or may be performed in multiple game states that are any combination of these game states.

- The pachinko gaming machine 10 may be configured to be more advantageous when a gaming ball enters the second special start winning opening 16 than when a gaming ball enters the first special start winning opening 15. As an example, an advantageous configuration may be one in which more balls are won in a single jackpot game.

- The pachinko gaming machine 10 may be configured so that the probability of winning the regular lottery is higher when in the first advantageous state or the second advantageous state than in the normal state. The pachinko gaming machine 10 may be configured so that the probability of winning the regular lottery is not higher when in the normal state, but the probability of winning the regular lottery is higher when in the first advantageous state or the second advantageous state.

- In a configuration in which the second special game is executed with priority over the first special game, as in the pachinko gaming machine 10 of the embodiment, if a game ball enters the second special start winning slot 16 while the look-ahead effect is being executed, the second special game will be executed in an interruptive manner, even if the look-ahead effect is being executed. If such an irregular event occurs, the sub-control CPU 51 may suspend the execution of the look-ahead effect while the second special game is being executed. Alternatively, the sub-control CPU 51 may cancel the look-ahead effect that would have been executed in the first special game midway due to the execution of the second special game. Alternatively, the sub-control CPU 51 may execute a special effect in the effect game corresponding to the second special game, so that the player does not feel uncomfortable about the interruption of the look-ahead effect.

- The pachinko gaming machine 10 may increase the number of types of variation patterns. As an example, it may be provided with multiple loss variation patterns with different variation times. All of the multiple loss variation patterns may be used as the first variation pattern to determine whether or not to execute the pre-reading effect, or one or more of the multiple loss variation patterns may be used as the first variation pattern to determine whether or not to execute the pre-reading effect. When a loss variation pattern with a different presentation time is used as the first variation pattern to execute the pre-reading effect, even if the number of loss variations leading up to the target variation is the same, the time until the target variation is reached may change. This allows for an increase in the variety of pre-reading effects.

- Various jackpot predictions may be executed for each variation that is the subject of the look-ahead performance. Alternatively, an operation performance may be executed that prompts the player to operate an operation button provided on the pachinko gaming machine 10, and the content of the look-ahead performance may branch depending on whether or not the operation button is operated.

- The look-ahead effect is performed by displaying an image on the image display unit GH, but it may also be performed as a hold change effect that causes some kind of change to the hold images H1 to H4. Also, the look-ahead effect may be performed by adding an effect that changes the execution image H0 to the hold change effect.

- In the embodiment, the predictive performance is based on the theme of a battle between the player's army and the enemy army, but the theme may be changed as desired. As an example, by creating a performance that forms a series of stories from the target changes and the changes leading up to the target changes, such as a treasure-hunting theme or a mystery-solving theme, it is possible to create a continuous predictive performance.

The pachinko gaming machine 10 of the embodiment is developed with an effect similar to the pre-reading effect, but may also be provided with an effect that does not move on to the next stage, so-called a false effect.
The pachinko gaming machine 10 may be a circulating type pachinko gaming machine in which gaming balls are circulated inside the machine. In this case, the balls held by the player may be electronically managed in the pachinko gaming machine 10.

- The functions of the main control board 40 may be realized by dividing them among multiple boards. The main control board 40 may be composed of multiple CPUs mounted on a single board. The functions of the sub-control board 50 may be realized by dividing them among multiple boards. For example, the pachinko gaming machine 10 may be equipped with a display board that specializes in controlling the effect display device EH, a lamp board that specializes in controlling the decorative lamps LA, and an audio board that specializes in controlling the speaker SP, and may further be equipped with a master board that controls these boards in an integrated manner. Furthermore, the sub-control CPU 51 may be composed of multiple CPUs mounted on a single board.

Next, the technical ideas that can be understood from the above-described embodiment and modified examples will be additionally described below.
(A) A gaming machine equipped with a display means capable of displaying a symbol change game when a gaming ball is detected by a ball-entering detection means, the gaming machine is provided with: a variation pattern predicting means for predicting a variation pattern indicating the variation content of a symbol change game whose execution is suspended each time a gaming ball is detected by the ball-entering detection means; an output means for outputting a variation pattern specifying command indicating the variation pattern specified by the variation pattern predicting means; and a notice control means for executing a continuous notice performance that suggests the possibility that the symbol change game whose execution is suspended will be a hit over multiple symbol change games based on the input variation pattern specifying command; the notice control means specifies the variation patterns of all symbol change games that are suspended based on the input variation pattern specifying command, and determines that the variation pattern other than the variation pattern of the symbol change game that is the last of the continuous notice performances is a first variation pattern. and when the fluctuation pattern of the pattern change game that is the last in the continuous preview performance is a second fluctuation pattern having a longer fluctuation time than the fluctuation time of the first fluctuation pattern, the execution of the continuous preview performance is decided, and the continuous preview performance is executed in the reserved pattern change game, and the content of the performance during the execution of the pattern change game based on the first fluctuation pattern can be different between a first situation in which one of the first fluctuation patterns is included in the fluctuation patterns of the multiple pattern change games that are the subject of the continuous preview performance, and a second situation in which the fluctuation patterns of the multiple pattern change games that are the subject of the continuous preview performance include a different number of first fluctuation patterns from the first situation, and the content of the performance during the execution of the pattern change game based on the first fluctuation pattern included in the fluctuation patterns of the multiple pattern change games in the second situation can be different.

(b) A gaming machine equipped with a display means capable of displaying a symbol change game when a gaming ball is detected by a ball entry detection means, the gaming machine comprising: a variation pattern predictor means for predicting a variation pattern indicating the variation content of a symbol change game whose execution is suspended each time a gaming ball is detected by the ball entry detection means; an output means for outputting a variation pattern predicting command indicating the variation pattern identified by the variation pattern predictor means; and a notice control means for executing a continuous notice effect that suggests the possibility of the suspended symbol change game becoming a win over multiple symbol change games based on the input variation pattern predicting command, the notice control means identifying the variation patterns of all symbol change games that are suspended based on the input variation pattern predicting command, and the variation patterns excluding the variation pattern of the symbol change game that is the last in the continuous notice effect are a first variation pattern, and the continuous notice effect is a first variation pattern. A gaming machine in which, if the fluctuation pattern of the last symbol fluctuation game in a continuous preview performance is a second fluctuation pattern with a longer fluctuation time than the fluctuation time of the first fluctuation pattern, it decides to execute the continuous preview performance and executes the continuous preview performance in the reserved symbol fluctuation game, and the content of the performance during execution of the symbol fluctuation game based on the first fluctuation pattern may differ between a first situation in which one of the first fluctuation patterns is included in the fluctuation patterns of the multiple symbol fluctuation games that are the target of the continuous preview performance, and a second situation in which a different number of first fluctuation patterns than in the first situation are included in the fluctuation patterns of the multiple symbol fluctuation games that are the target of the continuous preview performance, and the same content of the performance may be executed during execution of the continuous preview performance even if the number of first fluctuation patterns included in the multiple symbol fluctuation games that are the target of the continuous preview performance is different.

(c) A gaming machine equipped with a display means capable of displaying a symbol change game when a gaming ball is detected by a ball entry detection means, the gaming machine comprising: a variation pattern prediction means for predicting a variation pattern indicating the variation content of a symbol change game whose execution is suspended each time a gaming ball is detected by the ball entry detection means; an output means for outputting a variation pattern specification command indicating the variation pattern specified by the variation pattern prediction means; and a notice control means for executing a continuous notice effect that suggests the possibility of the symbol change game whose execution is suspended becoming a win over multiple symbol change games based on the input variation pattern specification command, the notice control means specifying the variation patterns of all symbol change games that are suspended based on the input variation pattern specification command, and determining that the variation patterns excluding the variation pattern of the symbol change game that is the last in the continuous notice effect are a first variation pattern, and that the variation pattern of the symbol change game that is the last in the continuous notice effect is a first variation pattern. If the second fluctuation pattern has a fluctuation time longer than the fluctuation time, it decides to execute the continuous preview effect and executes the continuous preview effect in the suspended symbol fluctuation game, and the content of the effect during execution of the symbol fluctuation game based on the first fluctuation pattern may differ between a first situation in which one of the first fluctuation patterns is included in the fluctuation patterns of the multiple symbol fluctuation games that are the target of the continuous preview effect, and a second situation in which a different number of first fluctuation patterns than the first situation are included in the fluctuation patterns of the multiple symbol fluctuation games that are the target of the continuous preview effect, and in the symbol fluctuation game based on the second fluctuation pattern that is the target of the continuous preview effect, an effect is executed that takes over the content of the effect during execution of the symbol fluctuation game based on the first fluctuation pattern that was executed immediately before, and the effect after the takeover is an effect that cannot be executed in the symbol fluctuation game based on the first fluctuation pattern that is the target of the continuous preview effect.

(D) A gaming machine according to the technical idea (C), in which, when the multiple symbol change games that are the subject of the continuous preview performance include multiple first change patterns, the symbol change game based on the first change pattern that is executed next after the symbol change game based on the first change pattern that is executed first is executed with content that inherits the content of the previous symbol change game.

(e) A gaming machine equipped with a display means capable of displaying a symbol change game when a gaming ball is detected by a ball entry detection means, the gaming machine comprising: a variation pattern prediction means for predicting a variation pattern indicating the variation content of a symbol change game whose execution is suspended each time a gaming ball is detected by the ball entry detection means; an output means for outputting a variation pattern specification command indicating the variation pattern specified by the variation pattern prediction means; and a notice control means for executing a continuous notice effect that suggests the possibility of the suspended symbol change game becoming a win over multiple symbol change games based on the input variation pattern specification command, the notice control means specifying the variation patterns of all symbol change games that are suspended based on the input variation pattern specification command, and determining that the variation patterns excluding the variation pattern of the symbol change game that is the last of the continuous notice effect are a first variation pattern, and that the variation pattern of the symbol change game that is the last of the continuous notice effect is a variation pattern of the first variation pattern. If the second fluctuation pattern has a fluctuation time longer than the predetermined time, it decides to execute the continuous preview effect and executes the continuous preview effect in the suspended symbol change game. The content of the effect during execution of the symbol change game based on the first fluctuation pattern may differ between a first situation in which one of the first fluctuation patterns is included in the fluctuation patterns of the multiple symbol change games that are the target of the continuous preview effect, and a second situation in which a different number of the first fluctuation patterns than in the first situation are included in the fluctuation patterns of the multiple symbol change games that are the target of the continuous preview effect. Furthermore, if the power supply to the gaming machine is cut off during execution of the symbol change game based on the first fluctuation pattern that is the target of the continuous preview effect, and then the pattern change game is resumed, the effect is executed in a manner different from the content of the effect that would be executed if the power supply to the gaming machine was not cut off during execution of the symbol change game based on the second fluctuation pattern that is executed after the symbol change game.

10... Pachinko machine 13a... First special symbol display unit 13b... Second special symbol display unit 40... Main control board 40a... Main control CPU 50... Sub-control board 50a... Sub-control CPU SE1... First special start sensor SE2... Second special start sensor EH... Effects display device GH... Image display unit HP1-HP3... Change pattern PT1-PT3... Change pattern t1-t3... Change time

Claims (2)

In a gaming machine having a display means capable of displaying a symbol variation game when a gaming ball is detected by a ball entry detection means,
A variation pattern pre-reading means for specifying a variation pattern indicating the variation content of the symbol variation game whose execution is suspended each time the game ball is detected by the ball-entry detecting means;
an output means for outputting a fluctuation pattern specifying command indicating the fluctuation pattern specified by the fluctuation pattern pre-reading means;
and a notice control means for executing a continuous notice effect that suggests the possibility that the symbol variation game whose execution is suspended will be a winning game over a plurality of symbol variation games based on the inputted variation pattern specifying command,
The advance notice control means
Identify the variation pattern of the reserved symbol variation game by the input variation pattern identification command,
When a variation pattern other than the variation pattern of the symbol variation game that is the last of the continuous notice performances is a first variation pattern, and the variation pattern of the symbol variation game that is the last of the continuous notice performances is a second variation pattern having a variation time longer than the variation time of the first variation pattern, it is determined to execute the continuous notice performances, and the continuous notice performances are executed in the reserved symbol variation games,
The content of the presentation during the execution of the pattern change game based on the first variation pattern can be different between a first situation in which one of the first variation patterns is included in the variation patterns of the multiple pattern change games that execute the continuous preview presentation, and a second situation in which a number of the first variation patterns that is different from that in the first situation is included in the variation patterns of the multiple pattern change games that execute the continuous preview presentation,
In the case of the first situation and the case of the second situation, a first type of effect and a second type of effect can be executed,
In either the first situation or the second situation, the content of the second type of performance is taken over in the symbol variation game based on the second variation pattern,
In this gaming machine , the execution start timing of the first type performance can be the same in the first situation and the second situation, and the execution start timing of the second type performance can be different. A gaming machine as described in claim 1, wherein the power supply to the gaming machine is cut off during the execution of a pattern change game based on the first change pattern that executes the continuous preview effect, and after the power supply is restored, some elements of the effect are different from before and after the power supply to the gaming machine was cut off.