JP7795211B2 - gaming machines - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a pachinko machine.

Some gaming machines, such as pachinko machines, trigger a jackpot when a gaming ball passes through a specific area provided within a large prize opening that opens during a small jackpot (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-130388

Patent Document 1 discloses a gaming machine equipped with a large prize opening unit having a movable member that operates to cause gaming balls to flow into the specific area.
Incidentally, since the passage of a game ball into a specific area can be the trigger for a jackpot game, one of the players' concerns is whether a game ball shot aiming at a specific area will pass through the specific area as intended, and by devising the flow path of the game ball near the specific area, it is possible to increase interest in the game or prevent a decrease in interest in the game.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a gaming machine that can increase gaming interest and prevent a decline in gaming interest.

According to the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine in which gaming balls are shot into a gaming area, and a bonus is awarded based on whether a gaming ball that has flowed down the gaming area enters a predetermined area, the gaming machine comprising: a distribution member that distributes gaming balls shot toward the predetermined area into a first flow path and a second flow path; and a first piece that is controlled to either a protruding position or a retracted position and allows gaming balls to flow down toward the predetermined area, and both gaming balls that have passed through the first flow path and gaming balls that have passed through the second flow path flow down toward the predetermined area, and the first flow path has a higher probability of landing in the predetermined area than the second flow path. The gaming machine has a long flow path length until the game ball reaches the specified area, and further has a second piece that moves to either a protruding position or a retracted position by operation and obstructs the game ball from flowing down when in the protruding position, the second piece is provided downstream of either the first flow path or the second flow path as viewed from the distribution member, and the second piece is not provided downstream of the other, and further has a specific starting port provided in the flow path of the game ball that is fired toward the specified area, and the second piece is an electric device attached to the specific starting port.

This invention provides a gaming machine that can increase gaming interest and prevent a decline in gaming interest.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the gaming machine. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a pattern display device disposed in the area II shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a bird's-eye view showing the operation buttons and their surroundings arranged in the area III shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a gaming board installed in the gaming machine. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the internal structure of the right area unit. FIG. 6 is a rear view of the gaming machine. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the control configuration of the gaming machine. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the gaming machine. Figure 9(a) is a diagram schematically showing a lottery table for determining whether a special symbol is a hit or not, Figure 9(b) is a diagram schematically showing a lottery table for drawing stopping symbols to be used when a big hit is derived in the determination of whether a special symbol is a hit or not for special symbol 1, Figure 9(c) is a diagram schematically showing a lottery table for drawing stopping symbols to be used when a small hit is derived in the determination of whether a special symbol is a hit or not for special symbol 2, and Figure 9(d) is a diagram schematically showing a lottery table for drawing stopping symbols to be used when a big hit is derived in the determination of whether a special symbol is a hit or not for special symbol 2. Figure 10(a) is a diagram schematically showing a special chart variation pattern lottery table used in the pattern variation related to special chart 1 when in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, and Figure 10(b) is a diagram schematically showing a special chart variation pattern lottery table used when the special chart variation pattern HNP is determined in the pattern variation related to special chart 1 when in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA. Figure 11(a) is a diagram that schematically shows a lottery table for determining whether a normal symbol is a hit or not, Figure 11(b) is a diagram that schematically shows a lottery table for drawing the stopping pattern used when a normal symbol is a hit in the special symbol variation pattern derivation state PB, and Figure 11(c) is a diagram that schematically shows a lottery table for drawing the stopping pattern used when a normal symbol is a hit in the special symbol variation pattern derivation state PC. Figure 12(a) is a state transition diagram showing the transition of the special chart variation pattern derivation state, and Figure 12(b) is a diagram showing the relationship between the average variation time for each special chart variation pattern derivation state. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the vicinity of the second starting hole in the internal configuration of the right area unit. 14(a) and 14(b) are diagrams showing the vicinity of the second starting hole in the internal configuration of the right area unit. 15(a) and 15(b) are diagrams showing the area around the second starting hole in the internal configuration of the right area unit.

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

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

The gaming machine 10 according to the present invention is a pachinko machine, and a bonus is awarded based on a gaming ball flowing down the gaming area (gaming area 50a) entering a predetermined area (detection area of the V winning sensor 76).
Here, "privilege" is not limited to being in an advantageous state in terms of obtaining prize balls (for example, the occurrence of a jackpot game), but also includes obtaining prize balls (in other words, something equivalent to a prize slot may also correspond to a specified area).

The gaming machine 10 is equipped with a distribution member (upper open piece 61a) that distributes gaming balls fired toward a predetermined area into a first flow path and a second flow path, and a first piece (upper attacker 65a, upper tongue 64a, lower tongue 64b) that allows the gaming balls to flow down toward the predetermined area by moving from a protruding position to a retracted position.
The gaming balls that have passed through the first flow path and the gaming balls that have passed through the second flow path both flow downward toward the predetermined area. Furthermore, the first flow path has a longer flow path length to reach the predetermined area than the second flow path.
Furthermore, it is characterized in that it is provided with a second piece (lower opening piece 61b) that moves to either a protruding position or a retracted position when operated, and that obstructs game balls flowing down when in the protruding position, the second piece is provided downstream of either the first flow path or the second flow path when viewed from the distribution member, and the second piece is not provided downstream of the other, and further that it is provided with a specific starting port (second starting port 59) provided in the flow path of game balls fired toward a specified area, and the second piece is an electric device attached to the specific starting port.

As described above, the gaming machine 10 is provided with a second piece that inhibits the flow of a gaming ball launched toward a predetermined area in one of the flow paths (first flow path and second flow path) through which the gaming ball flows down, thereby increasing the randomness of the time from when the gaming ball is launched until it reaches the predetermined area, thereby increasing the enjoyment of the game.
Furthermore, as described above, the present invention is realized by a configuration (an electric device attached to a specific starting port) that has a significant impact on the playability of the gaming machine 10, thereby enhancing the significance of the present invention.
The gaming machine 10 having the above-mentioned features will be specifically described based on the following embodiment.

<Structure of the gaming machine 10>
First, the structure of the gaming machine 10 will be described with reference to FIGS.
Figure 1 is a front view of the gaming machine 10, Figure 2 is a diagram showing a pattern display device 90 arranged in area II shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a bird's-eye view showing a group of operation buttons arranged in area III shown in Figure 1 and their surroundings, Figure 4 is a diagram showing a game board 50 installed in the gaming machine 10, Figure 5 is a diagram showing the internal structure of the right area unit, and Figure 6 is a rear view of the gaming machine 10.
1 to 6 are merely examples of components necessary for explaining the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment, and components and functions not shown here may be added to the gaming machine 10. Furthermore, the gaming machine 10 does not necessarily have to include all of the components shown here, and some components or functions may be omitted as long as the effects of the present invention are not impaired.

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

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

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

The front frame 20 is supported by a hinge mechanism 21 so as to be rotatable about its left end, and can be opened and closed relative to the middle frame 17. The front frame 20 can be locked and unlocked by a cylinder lock 23 (by inserting a door key into the cylinder lock 23 and turning the door key in the direction opposite to the unlocking direction of the middle frame 17 (left in this embodiment)).
In addition, the front frame 20 is provided with a transparent member 25 arranged to cover the playing area 50a, and the transparent member 25 protects the playing area 50a and the playing board 50 from view.
The front frame 20 also includes an upper ball tray 27 and a lower ball tray 29 for storing game balls, and the upper ball tray 27 and the lower ball tray 29 are spaced apart vertically and are integral with the front frame 20. In this embodiment, a full-tank detection sensor (not shown) for detecting when the lower ball tray 29 is full with discharged game balls is provided upstream of the lower discharge port 30 that discharges game balls into the lower ball tray 29.
In addition, the front frame 20 is provided with an operating handle 31 on the right side of the lower ball tray 29, and by rotating the operating handle 31, the game balls stored in the upper ball tray 27 are launched toward the game area 50a.

Although not shown, the middle frame 17 has a middle frame door open sensor (not shown) that detects whether the middle frame 17 is in an open state or a closed state relative to the outer frame 15, and a front frame door open sensor (not shown) that detects whether the front frame 20 is in an open state or a closed state relative to the middle frame 17. In this embodiment, both of these door open sensors are ON in the open state and OFF in the closed state. However, these door open sensors may also be configured to be OFF in the open state and ON in the closed state.
This allows the gaming machine 10 to detect both the open/closed state of the middle frame 17 relative to the outer frame 15 and the open/closed state of the front frame 20 relative to the middle frame 17.

As shown in FIG. 3 , a group of operation buttons operated by the player is disposed on the upper surface of the upper ball tray 27. This group of operation buttons includes a main operation unit 39 electrically connected to the main control board 100 (described later), which includes a ball loan button 39a and a return button 39b for accepting a prepaid card return operation. The operation unit electrically connected to the first sub-control board 200 (described later), which includes an effect button 37 for switching effects occurring during play or accepting player operations to obtain various information related to the gaming machine 10, and cursor buttons 38 (up cursor button 38a, down cursor button 38b, left cursor button 38c, right cursor button 38d, and center cursor button 38e) for instructing operations up, down, left, and right. Each operation unit is provided with a sensor for detecting operation, and the connected control board detects the operation of each operation unit by changes in the detection state of the sensor.
Furthermore, a movable decorative body 22 that is operated by an actuator such as a motor (not shown) is provided on the side of the upper ball tray 27.

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

As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of speakers 33 (33a, 33b) are disposed on the left and right sides of the upper frame portion 32 of the front frame 20. The upper frame portion 32 and the left and right side frame portions 34a, 34b of the front frame 20 are formed with light-transmitting covers, inside which are disposed frame lamps 35 (35a, 35b, 35c). The speakers 33 and frame lamps 35 can emit sounds or turn on or off in conjunction with effects and error notifications that occur during gameplay.

The liquid crystal display device 80 is a liquid crystal display device and is disposed approximately in the center of the game board 50 .
The liquid crystal display device 80 can display a changing display of a pattern row that is performed in conjunction with the changing display on the first special pattern display device 91 or the second special pattern display device 92 described below, and can also display various other effects.
In the variable display of the symbol rows (decorative symbols) displayed on the liquid crystal display device 80, the displayed decorative symbols form three symbol rows. In this embodiment, the variable display direction of each symbol row is downward, but the direction is not particularly limited. For example, it may be upward, left/right, depthwise, or a combination of these (diagonal direction).
Here, the depth direction refers to the virtual direction perceived by the player in a display mode that uses a method (for example, perspective) that makes the player perceive the pattern row as if it is changing from the back of the liquid crystal display device 80 to the front or vice versa, even though it is actually a planar changing display on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device 80.
In addition, the decorative symbols in this embodiment include a "1 symbol" imitating the number "1," a "2 symbol" imitating the number "2," a "3 symbol" imitating the number "3," a "4 symbol" imitating the number "4," a "5 symbol" imitating the number "5," a "6 symbol" imitating the number "6," a "7 symbol" imitating the number "7," an "8 symbol" imitating the number "8," and a "9 symbol" imitating the number "9," and these symbols are provided in each symbol row. In the following description, the "1 symbol,""3symbol,""5symbol,""7symbol," and "9 symbol" may be collectively referred to as "odd number symbols," and the "2 symbol,""4symbol,""6symbol," and "8 symbol" may be collectively referred to as "even number symbols."

A plurality of light emitting diodes (hereinafter referred to as "LEDs") are arranged on the lower right side of the liquid crystal display device 80, and these LEDs form the display area of the pattern display device 90, which displays special patterns and normal patterns.
Furthermore, the symbol display device 90 is disposed at a position where it is more difficult for the player to see than the liquid crystal display device 80, and the display area of the symbol display device 90 is smaller than the display area of the liquid crystal display device 80.
In this embodiment, the arrangement and number of LEDs for the pattern display device 90 are as shown in Figure 2, but this is just one example, and the arrangement and number of LEDs for the pattern display device 90 are not limited to this example.

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

The normal symbol is a symbol that is stopped and displayed as a result of a symbol change that determines whether or not to activate the normal electric device 61. The normal symbol in this embodiment is displayed on the normal symbol display device 93.
In addition, ordinary designs are sometimes abbreviated as "Fuzu."

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

In the following explanation, the pattern change in which the first special pattern display device 91 or the second special pattern display device 92 displays a changing special pattern and then stops displaying the special pattern will be referred to as the ``pattern change of the special pattern,'' and in the following explanation, the pattern change in which the normal pattern display device 93 displays a changing special pattern and then stops displaying the normal pattern will be referred to as the ``pattern change of the normal pattern.''
In addition, in the following explanation, the display of the change in the pattern sequence (decorative pattern) displayed on the above-mentioned liquid crystal display device 80 may be referred to as "pattern change of decorative pattern" to distinguish it from "pattern change of special pattern" and "pattern change of normal pattern."
In the following explanation, when simply referring to "pattern change," it means the pattern change of the special design unless otherwise specified.

On the front of the game board 50, game nails (not shown) and various components (decorative components, movable components, etc.) shown in Figure 4 etc. are arranged in the flow path of the game ball, thereby defining a game area 50a so that the game ball that is shot out can roll.
On the left and upper sides of the play area 50a, there are arranged a curved outer rail 51 and an inner rail 53 for guiding the game balls launched by rotating the operating handle 31 to the upper part of the play area 50a. The outer rail 51 is located outside the inner rail 53 with respect to the center of the play area 50a.
A right area unit 60 is disposed on the right side of the game area 50a. The right area unit 60 is covered with a transparent cover, allowing a player to see the game balls rolling inside. Note that the internal structure of the right area unit 60 shown in FIG. 5 has been deformed to an extent that the features of the present invention can be explained, and may include elements other than those shown.

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

Figures 4 and 5 show the main prize winning openings: first start opening 57, second start opening 59, gate 63, and general prize winning opening 67 (left general prize winning opening 67a, right general prize winning opening 67b), but the prize winning openings shown are examples, and their number and placement may be changed as appropriate.

Although not shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the big prize openings provided in the gaming machine 10 will be collectively referred to as big prize openings 55 in the following description.
As components equivalent to the large prize opening 55, the gaming machine 10 is provided with an upper large prize opening 55a and a lower large prize opening 55b.

The upper large prize opening 55a is contained within the right area unit 60 and is located to the upper right of the lower large prize opening 55b. An upper attacker 65a is attached to the upper large prize opening 55a. The upper attacker 65a is a special electric device that allows game balls to flow down into the upper large prize opening 55a when it is open.
The lower large prize opening 55b is contained within the right-area unit 60 and is located to the lower left of the upper large prize opening 55a. A lower attacker 65b is attached to the lower large prize opening 55b. The lower attacker 65b is a special electric device that allows game balls to flow down into the lower large prize opening 55b when it is open.
In this embodiment, the upper attacker 65a and the lower attacker 65b are collectively referred to as the special electric device 65, and the solenoids that control the open and closed states of each are collectively referred to as the special electric device solenoids 66.
In this embodiment, the upper large winning opening 55a is, in a narrow sense, the name that refers to the opening that is created when the upper attacker 65a is in the open state, and in a broad sense, it includes the area in which game balls are allowed to flow down when the upper attacker 65a is in the open state (the area including flow paths R8, R9, R10, and R11 shown in Figure 5), and each of the components arranged in that area.
In this embodiment, the lower large winning opening 55b is, in a narrow sense, the name that refers to the opening that is created when the lower attacker 65b is in an open state, and in a broad sense, it includes the area (the area including the flow path R14 shown in Figure 5) through which game balls are allowed to flow down when the lower attacker 65b is in an open state, and each of the components provided in that area.

The upper attacker 65a and the lower attacker 65b are configured to be able to move (slide) in the forward and backward directions using a special electric role solenoid 66 as a power source, and are controlled to be in either a forward operating position (hereinafter referred to as the protruding position) or a rearward operating position (hereinafter referred to as the retracted position).
In this embodiment, the upper attacker 65a (or the lower attacker 65b) being in the open state corresponds to the upper attacker 65a (or the lower attacker 65b) being in the retracted position. Also, the upper attacker 65a (or the lower attacker 65b) being in the closed state corresponds to the upper attacker 65a (or the lower attacker 65b) being in the protruding position.

The special electric device 65 is opened during a part of the big win game that starts when a big win is determined by the special symbol hit determination described later, or during a part of the small win game that starts when a small win is determined by the special symbol hit determination. The conditions under which the upper attacker 65a and the lower attacker 65b are opened will be described later.
An upper large prize opening sensor 72a is provided at the upper large prize opening 55a, and a lower large prize opening sensor 72b is provided at the lower large prize opening 55b. Detection of a game ball by either sensor is treated as a prize ball entering the large prize opening 55, and the number of prize balls associated with the large prize opening 55 (15 in this embodiment) is awarded.
Any game balls that flow down into the upper large prize opening 55a are configured to pass through the upper large prize opening sensor 72a by gravity. Any game balls that flow down into the lower large prize opening 55b are configured to pass through the lower large prize opening sensor 72b by gravity. Therefore, when the special electric device 65 is in the open state, it becomes easier for a ball to enter the large prize opening 55, so it can be said that a big win game or a small win game, in which the chances of winning a prize ball are greatly increased, is an advantageous game state.

In this embodiment, the small win game can result in a big win game.
If the result of the special symbol hit/miss determination is a small hit, the upper attacker 65a opens during a portion of the small hit game, allowing the game ball to enter the upper large winning opening 55a. After the game ball enters the upper large winning opening 55a and passes through the upper large winning opening sensor 72a, the upper and lower tongues 64a and 64b operate to distribute the game ball to one of the flow paths R9, R10, or R11. The game ball that flows down flow path R11 is detected by the V winning sensor 76, and after the small hit game ends, the big hit game corresponding to the small hit can be started. Therefore, in this embodiment, the small hit game functions as a trigger for the big hit game.
Furthermore, even if a small win game is played, if the game ball that entered the upper large winning port 55a during the small win game is not detected by the V winning sensor, the large win game will not start after the small win game ends.
In addition, in the following explanation, when a game ball is detected by the V entry sensor 76 during a small win game (when the game ball passes through the detection area of the sensor), this may be referred to as a "V entry."

As described above, a jackpot game occurs when a gaming ball that flows down the flow path R11 is detected by the V entry sensor 76, so the flow area of the flow path R11 (the detection area of the V entry sensor 76) corresponds to a predetermined area where a bonus is awarded when a gaming ball that flows down the play area enters the area.

The upper and lower flaps 64a and 64b are configured to be movable (slidable) in the front-rear direction using a solenoid (not shown) as a power source, and are controlled to either a protruding position or a retracted position.
When the upper tongue 64a is in the protruding position, the game ball that passes through the upper large winning opening sensor 72a flows down toward the flow path R9.
When the upper tongue 64a is in the retracted position and the lower tongue 64b is in the protruding position, the game ball that has passed the upper large winning opening sensor 72a flows down toward the flow path R10.
When the upper tongue 64a is in the retracted position and the lower tongue 64b is in the retracted position, the game ball that passes through the upper large winning opening sensor 72a flows down toward the flow path R11, passes through the V winning sensor 76, and becomes a V winning ball.
In addition, any game ball that flows down any of the flow paths R9, R10, and R11 is discharged to the back side of the game area 50a.

Therefore, it can be said that the first piece (upper attacker 65a, upper tongue 64a, lower tongue 64b) allows the game ball to flow down toward a predetermined area (detection area of the V winning sensor 76) by moving from the protruding position to the retracted position.
Furthermore, the first piece can be said to include the electric devices (upper attacker 65a, upper tongue 64a, lower tongue 64b) attached to a predetermined area (detection area of the V winning sensor 76).

During a jackpot game (both a jackpot game initiated when a jackpot is determined by a special winning/losing determination and a jackpot game initiated when a small winning game occurs), the lower attacker 65b alternates between an open state and a closed state. One open state (sometimes referred to as a "round game," and the total number of rounds generated by one jackpot is sometimes referred to as the "number of rounds") ends when a predetermined number (10 in this embodiment) of game balls enter the large prize opening 55b (detected by the lower large prize opening sensor 72b), and the lower attacker 65b enters a closed state. Furthermore, one open state during a jackpot game also ends when a sufficient time (30 seconds in this embodiment) has elapsed for the predetermined number of game balls to enter the large prize opening 55b.
On the other hand, in a small win game, the upper attacker 65a is in an open state, and the game ends when the cumulative time related to the open state of the upper attacker 65a in one small win game reaches 1.8 seconds, or when 10 game balls enter the upper large winning hole 55a (detected by the upper large winning hole sensor 72a), and the upper attacker 65a is in a closed state. Therefore, in a small win game, it is less likely that a game ball will enter the large winning hole 55 compared to a big win game.

In this embodiment, when a jackpot game or small jackpot game starts, a start demo is set that will end over time, and when the start demo ends, a round game (small jackpot game in the case of a small jackpot) begins, and when all round games have ended, an end demo is set that will end over time. In other words, in this embodiment, a jackpot game (including those that occur during small jackpot games) consists of a start demo, a round game, and an end demo, and the jackpot game progresses in this order.

The first starting hole 57 is located at the bottom center of the game area 50a. A first starting hole sensor 70 is attached to the first starting hole 57, and based on the detection of a game ball by the first starting hole sensor 70, a prize ball is determined to have entered the first starting hole 57, and the number of prize balls associated with the first starting hole 57 (4 in this embodiment) is awarded. In at least some cases where a prize ball has entered the first starting hole 57, a pattern change related to special design 1 is performed.
In addition, in the game area 50a of this embodiment, obstacles such as game nails are arranged so that more game balls roll toward the first starting hole 57 when rolling from the first flow path X than when rolling from the second flow path Y.

The second starting hole 59 is contained within the right area unit 60 and is located higher than both the upper large winning hole 55a and the lower large winning hole 55b. The second starting hole 59 contains a second starting hole sensor 71, and based on the detection of a game ball by the second starting hole sensor 71, a prize ball is determined to have entered the second starting hole 59, and the number of prize balls associated with the second starting hole 59 (1 in this embodiment) is awarded.
In at least some cases where a winning entry into the second starting port 59 is determined, a pattern change related to special chart 2 will be performed.

An upper open piece 61a and a lower open piece 61b are arranged near the second starting port 59. In this embodiment, the upper open piece 61a and the lower open piece 61b are collectively referred to as a normal electric accessory 61.
The normal electric device 61 is a component that alternately controls whether the game ball enters the second starting hole 59 in an easy state or in a difficult state, and is operated by a normal electric device solenoid 62.
More specifically, when the result of the normal symbol hit/miss judgment described later is a normal symbol hit (hereinafter, sometimes simply referred to as a "normal symbol hit"), the normal electric device 61 allows a game ball to enter the second start hole 59, making it possible for the game ball to win the second start hole 59. Therefore, in a state where it is easy for a game ball to enter the second start hole 59, the loss of game balls can be suppressed by the prize balls, and the opportunity for the pattern variation related to the special symbol 2 to be executed can be greatly increased.
The state in which it is easy for the game ball to enter the second starting hole 59 will be described later.

Gate 63 is located above the right-hand unit 60. Gate 63 contains a gate sensor 74, and a win at gate 63 is determined based on the detection of a gaming ball by gate sensor 74. In at least some cases where a win at gate 63 is determined, the normal symbol pattern will change.

The left general winning opening 67a and the right general winning opening 67b are each located at the lower left of the gaming area 50a. In this embodiment, the left general winning opening 67a and the right general winning opening 67b are collectively referred to as the general winning opening 67.
A general prize opening sensor 73 is attached to the general prize opening 67, and the detection result of the general prize opening sensor 73 determines whether a prize has been won at the general prize opening 67, and the number of prize balls associated with the general prize opening 67 (4 in this embodiment) is awarded.
In this embodiment, the obstacles are arranged so that more game balls roll toward the general winning opening 67 when rolling from the first flow path X compared to when rolling from the second flow path Y, but the obstacles may also be arranged so that more game balls roll toward the general winning opening 67 when rolling from the second flow path Y. Furthermore, the number of general winning openings 67 may be one, or may be three or more.

The game balls that flow down the game area 50a configured as described above are discharged from the outlet 69 provided on the downstream side.
In this embodiment, there are provided an outlet 69a through which game balls flowing down from the first flow path X are discharged, and an outlet 69b through which game balls flowing down from the second flow path Y are discharged, and the game balls discharged from each are detected by an out ball sensor 75 and processed as out balls.

In addition to the sensors mentioned above, the gaming board 50 is also equipped with a magnetic detection sensor for detecting magnetism and a radio wave detection sensor for detecting radio waves, although these are not shown in the figure, in order to prevent fraudulent acts such as receiving prize balls illegally.

As shown in Figure 6, the back of the game board 50 is equipped with a main control board case 109 housing the main control board 100, a first sub-control board case 209 housing the first sub-control board 200, a second sub-control board case 309 housing the second sub-control board 300, a power supply control board case 509 housing the power supply control board 500, and a payout control board case 409 housing the payout control board 400, and in addition to the back of the first sub-control board case 209 and the second sub-control board case 309, an open/close cover 45 covering part of the back of the main control board case 109 is attached in a removable manner.
The main control board 100 is provided with a RAM clear switch 43 .
Furthermore, the substrate cases and covers that cover the respective substrates are made of transparent materials, and the corresponding substrates can be seen through the respective cases and covers.

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

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

<Regarding the control configuration of the gaming machine 10>
Next, a control configuration of the gaming machine 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing the control configuration of the gaming machine 10. Note that the control configuration shown in Fig. 7 is necessary for explaining the gaming machine 10 according to this embodiment, and the gaming machine 10 may also have a control configuration not shown in Fig. 7.

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

The CPU 101 reads out various control programs stored in the ROM 102 and performs arithmetic processing to execute various processes related to the main control of the game.
The RAM 103 is backed up by a backup power source generated by a backup power circuit (described later). Specifically, the RAM 103 is configured to back up various information that allows the gaming machine 10 to return to the state it was in immediately before the power outage when power is restored (when the power is turned on). For example, in addition to data such as the stack pointer and various registers held at the time of the power outage, game-related information such as the state of the gaming machine 10 at the time (whether gameplay is stopped or playable) and the current normal symbol lottery status are backed up. This information is cleared (initialized) by a RAM clearing process (described later). Therefore, after the RAM is cleared, a new special symbol variation pattern derivation state PA (low normal symbol probability, described later) is set. Furthermore, when a RAM clearing process is executed, the symbol string associated with the decorative symbol is displayed with the initial symbol combination frozen. This state is also maintained if the RAM clearing process was not executed when the power was turned on and the symbol variation was not in progress at the time of the previous power outage. Furthermore, this initial symbol combination is displayed in a static state only when the power is turned on, and is not displayed in a static state when the symbol variation is performed.

In this embodiment, at least an area in which such game-related information is stored (sometimes referred to as the game-related area of RAM 103) is backed up, as well as an area in which the complement of a checksum and a backup flag related to the game-related area of RAM 103 are stored (sometimes referred to as the game-related backup information area of RAM 103). Then, when power is restored, the gaming machine 10 recovers using the various pieces of information stored in the backed-up game-related area of RAM 103 and the game-related backup information area of RAM 103.
Note that the specific method of backup in this embodiment is not limited in any way. For example, the area of RAM 103 to be backed up may be configured to be able to retain data in a non-volatile manner even in a power outage. As another example, within RAM 103, different hardware may be provided for a first memory configured to retain data in a non-volatile manner even in a power outage and a second memory referenced during operation of the gaming machine 10. In this case, the gaming machine 10 may save the information to be backed up from the second memory to the first memory when power is lost, and recover the saved information from the first memory to the second memory when power is restored.

The main control board 100 is also electrically connected to the first start gate sensor 70, second start gate sensor 71, special prize gate sensor 72, general prize gate sensor 73, gate sensor 74, out ball sensor 75, V prize sensor 76, etc., and is configured to be able to input detection signals from these sensors to the CPU 101 via the I/O port 104. Although not shown, in addition to these sensors, the main control board 100 is also electrically connected to a full tank detection sensor, magnetic detection sensor, and radio wave detection sensor, and is configured to be able to input detection signals from these sensors to the CPU 101 via the I/O port 104.

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

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

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

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

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

The second sub-control board 300, although not shown in the figure, is equipped with a CPU that performs various arithmetic processing related to image presentation based on image control commands from the first sub-control board 200, a ROM that stores image control programs and various data, a RAM that functions as a work area or buffer memory that serves as a temporary storage area, and an I/O port that inputs and outputs signals between peripheral boards and each device, and is configured so that the CPU executes the main control related to image presentation in accordance with the control program stored in the ROM.
Furthermore, the second sub-control board 300 is equipped with a VDP that generates image data according to the content of the effect determined by the effect content determination means 225 (described later) based on a control signal received from the CPU, and a sound source IC that generates sound data according to the content of the effect based on a control signal received from the CPU. The VDP is a so-called image processor that reads image data stored in an image ROM in response to instructions from the CPU, processes this image data, and transmits the generated image data to the liquid crystal display device 80. Also connected to this VDP is a high-speed VRAM that is used to expand and process the image data read from the image ROM.

The audio control board 310 is equipped with a CPU 311 that performs various calculations related to audio effects based on audio control commands from the first sub-control board 200, a ROM 312 that stores audio control programs, audio data, etc., a RAM 313 that functions as a work area or buffer memory that serves as a temporary storage area, and an I/O port 314 that inputs and outputs signals to and from peripheral boards and each device. The CPU 311 is configured to execute main control related to audio effects in accordance with the control program stored in ROM 312. Therefore, the audio control board 310 reads audio data stored in ROM 312 in response to audio control commands received from the first sub-control board 200, synthesizes the read audio data, and transmits the final synthesized audio data to the speaker 33 via an amplifier, allowing the speaker 33 to output audio.

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

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

<Functional Configuration of Gaming Machine 10>
Next, the functional configuration of the gaming machine 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 8. Figure 8 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the gaming machine 10. Note that the functional configuration shown in Figure 8 is necessary for explaining the gaming machine 10 according to this embodiment, and the gaming machine 10 may also have functional configurations that are not shown in Figure 8. Furthermore, when explaining the functional configuration, reference will be made to Figures 9 and 10 as necessary.

As shown in Figure 8, the main control board 100 is equipped with a ball entry determination means 110, a main random number generation means 115, a main hold control means 120, a preliminary determination means 125, a special symbol lottery means 130, a regular symbol lottery means 135, a jackpot game control means 140, a symbol display control means 145, an electric device control means 150, a game status control means 155, a main information storage means 160, a main error control means 165, a main command management means 170, a power restoration processing execution means 175, and a power interruption processing execution means 180. These means are functional representations of what is realized by the control configurations on the main control board 100 described using Figure 7.

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

The ball entry determination means 110 determines whether a ball has been entered into each winning hole based on the detection results of the sensors provided at each winning hole.
In addition, when the ball entry determination means 110 determines that a game ball has entered a prize hole using a sensor installed in a prize hole such as the large prize hole sensor 72, it generates a presentation control command (prize entry command) that includes information that can identify the type of sensor related to the prize, and stores the command in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.

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

The main reserve control means 120 controls the reservation of the pattern change of the special symbol and the reservation of the pattern change of the normal symbol. Regarding the special symbol 1, the random number for determining whether the special symbol is a winner, the random number for drawing the special symbol stop symbol, and the random number for drawing the special symbol change pattern, which are acquired upon winning the first starting port 57, are reserved (stored) as operation reservation information for the special symbol 1.
More specifically, the main hold control means 120 is provided with a hold counter (hereinafter referred to as the "special chart 1 hold counter") which is incremented by 1 each time the activation hold information of special chart 1 is held and decremented by 1 each time the activation hold information of special chart 1 is used (used in the lottery by the special chart lottery means 130), and stores the activation hold information in a storage area corresponding to the current special chart 1 hold counter of the main information storage means 160 until the value of the special chart 1 hold counter reaches an upper limit value (4 in this embodiment), and clears the used activation hold information each time the activation hold information is used, and controls the remaining activation hold information to be moved (shifted) from the current storage area to a storage area corresponding to a special chart 1 hold counter which is 1 less than the current special chart 1 hold counter, in order from the smallest special chart 1 hold counter.
In addition, the main hold control means 120 performs the same control as described above for special drawing 2 and regular drawing separately from special drawing 1, and the hold counter for special drawing 2 is called the special drawing 2 hold counter, and the upper limit value of the special drawing 2 hold counter in this embodiment is 4.
In addition, in the following explanation, "holding of operation hold information" may be expressed as "holding of pattern change" or simply as "holding."
In addition, when the main hold control means 120 updates (adds or subtracts) the operation hold information (hold counter) of special chart 1 or special chart 2, it generates a performance control command (hold command) including the special chart 1 hold counter and the special chart 2 hold counter, and stores the command in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.
In this embodiment, when both the activation pending information corresponding to special chart 1 and the activation pending information corresponding to special chart 2 are reserved, a priority variation is performed in which the activation pending information corresponding to special chart 2 is used preferentially. However, instead of this priority variation, a winning order variation in which the activation pending information is used in the order in which it is reserved, regardless of whether it corresponds to special chart 1 or special chart 2, or a simultaneous variation in which the activation pending information corresponding to special chart 1 and the activation pending information corresponding to special chart 2 are simultaneously used when both the activation pending information corresponding to special chart 1 and the activation pending information corresponding to special chart 2 are reserved may be adopted.

The advance judgment means 125 performs advance judgment for a pre-reading performance targeting the pending activation information in at least some cases where the pending activation information of a special chart is pending at a predetermined advance judgment timing.
More specifically, the preliminary judgment means 125 reads each random number of the currently reserved operation pending information and performs preliminary judgment for each of the following: special symbol win/loss judgment, special symbol stop symbol lottery, and special symbol change pattern lottery, which will be described later. Each preliminary judgment uses a lottery table (not shown) that is the same as or equivalent to the lottery table used for the lottery corresponding to each preliminary judgment. Therefore, the results of these preliminary judgments will be the same as the results of the lottery that will be executed later.
In addition, the pre-determination means 125 generates a performance control command (pre-determination command) including the derived result of the pre-determination, and stores the command in a transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.
Since the pre-determination command is sent (generated and stored in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160) at least part of the predetermined pre-determination timing, it will be sent following the above-mentioned hold command.

The special chart lottery means 130 includes a special chart success/failure determination means 131, a special chart stop pattern lottery means 132, and a special chart variation pattern derivation means 133, and executes processing by each means in the order of the special chart success/failure determination means 131, the special chart stop pattern lottery means 132, and the special chart variation pattern derivation means 133. When the special chart variation start condition is satisfied, the special chart lottery means 130 reads out the earliest activation pending information from the activation pending information reserved in the main information storage means 160.
In addition, "the conditions for starting the change of the special chart are satisfied" means, for example, that all of the following conditions are satisfied: the game is not in progress of a jackpot, neither special chart 1 nor special chart 2 is currently changing the pattern (including when the pattern change related to special chart 1 or special chart 2 is stopped and displayed), and there is pending activation information on at least one of special chart 1 and special chart 2.

9 and 10 are diagrams that schematically show the lottery table used in the main control board 100, and will be referred to as necessary in the following description.
In addition, in lotteries using lottery tables, including those other than these, the lottery values stored in the lottery table are sequentially added to the read random number in a predetermined order (if there is only one target lottery value, the addition is performed once), and the result corresponding to the lottery value that has generated a carry (overflow) is derived as the result of the lottery. Similarly, in the explanation of the lottery tables, names are given to the lottery tables for convenience of explanation, but it is sufficient that the data, such as the lottery values, contained in the lottery tables corresponding to the names are identifiable and stored in each ROM, and these names do not specify the area in which the data is stored. In the illustrated lottery tables, items listed for convenience of explanation or lottery values such as "-" and "0" may be listed, but these do not necessarily indicate the data stored in each ROM. Furthermore, results with lottery values of "-" and "0" will not result in a win. Furthermore, if the lottery table contains a lottery value that is identical to the random number range used in the lottery (the number of random numbers that can be obtained within that range), the result will be derived 100%, so there is no need to perform a lottery. Also, if the total value of the lottery values used in one lottery matches the random number range used in the lottery, a carry will always occur when adding the last lottery value, so there is no need to perform the addition, and in that case, the lottery value used for the addition itself becomes unnecessary.

The special symbol hit/miss judgment means 131 reads out a random number for the special symbol hit/miss judgment for each pattern change, and executes the special symbol hit/miss judgment by lottery using the read out random number and a lottery table for the special symbol hit/miss judgment to judge whether the winning is a big hit, a small hit, or a miss.
9A is a diagram showing a schematic drawing of a lottery table for determining whether a special drawing is a hit or a miss. The lottery table differs between special drawing 1 and special drawing 2, and the range of random numbers used in these determinations is 0 to 65535. Therefore, in determining whether a special drawing is a hit or a miss in special drawing 1, a big hit is derived with a probability of 274/65536 (approximately 1/239), and any other result is a miss, and no small hit is derived. On the other hand, in determining whether a special drawing is a hit or a miss in special drawing 2, a big hit is derived with a probability of 274/65536 (approximately 1/239), and a small hit is derived with a probability of 64880/65536 (approximately 1/1.01), and any other result is a miss.
The special chart hit/miss determination method according to this embodiment is characterized in that the probability of a jackpot on special chart 1 is approximately 1/239, while the probability of a jackpot on special chart 2 (the combined probability of a jackpot resulting from small hit games) is approximately 1/1.005, which is extremely high.
In this embodiment, since a big win game can occur via a small win, the probability of a big win being derived in the special chart hit/miss determination is set to the single probability described above.

When the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment is a big hit or a small hit, the special chart stop pattern lottery means 132 determines the special chart stop pattern by lottery using a random number (in this embodiment, in the range of 0 to 999) for special chart stop pattern lottery and a lottery table for special chart stop pattern lottery.
Specifically, as shown in Figure 9(b), which is a diagram that schematically shows a lottery table for lottery of stopping symbols used when a jackpot is derived in the judgment of whether the special symbol is a hit or miss related to special symbol 1, when a jackpot is derived in the judgment of whether the special symbol is a hit or miss related to special symbol 1, symbol A is determined as the stopping symbol with a probability of 100/1000 (1/10), and symbol B is determined with a probability of 900/1000 (approximately 1/1.11).
Here, whether symbol A or symbol B is selected, the game will transition to a normal high probability game after the jackpot game corresponding to these stopped symbols ends, as described below. However, the number of symbol changes during which the normal high probability game continues (hereinafter referred to as the "prescribed number of times related to the normal high probability game") will be 80 times after the jackpot game ends when symbol A is selected, and 80 times after the jackpot game ends when symbol B is selected. Also, the number of rounds of the jackpot game corresponding to symbol A is 10, while the number of rounds of the jackpot game corresponding to symbol B is 4. Therefore, it can be said that symbol A is more advantageous than symbol B in terms of the number of rounds.

As shown in Figure 9(c), which is a diagram that schematically shows a lottery table for drawing the stopping pattern used when a small win is derived in the judgment of whether the special pattern is a hit or miss for special pattern 2, when a small win is derived in the judgment of whether the special pattern is a hit or miss for special pattern 2, pattern a is determined as the stopping pattern with a probability of 700/1000 (approximately 1/1.43), and pattern b is determined with a probability of 300/1000 (approximately 1/3.33).
Here, symbol a is a stopping symbol that results in 10 rounds of jackpot play during a small jackpot game related to that symbol, and results in a normal high probability after the jackpot game ends, with the specified number of times for that normal high probability being 80. Symbol b is a stopping symbol that results in 4 rounds of jackpot play during a small jackpot game related to that symbol, and results in a normal high probability after the jackpot game ends, with the specified number of times for that normal high probability being 80. Therefore, it can be said that symbol a is more advantageous than symbol b in terms of the number of rounds.
In addition, when a jackpot game occurs in a small win game, the number of rounds in the jackpot game is the number calculated by counting the small win game as one round. Furthermore, in the following explanation, a jackpot game that occurs in a small win game related to symbol a may be referred to as a "jackpot game related to symbol a," and a jackpot game that occurs in a small win game related to symbol b may be referred to as a "jackpot game related to symbol b."

As shown in Figure 9(d), which is a schematic diagram of the lottery table for selecting the stopping symbols used when a jackpot is determined in the special symbol hit/miss determination for special symbol 2, when a jackpot is determined in the special symbol hit/miss determination for special symbol 2, symbol c is determined as the stopping symbol with a probability of 1000/1000 (1/1). In particular, symbol c is a stopping symbol for which the number of rounds of the jackpot game corresponding to that stopping symbol is 10, and which results in a normal symbol with high probability after the jackpot game ends; the specified number of times for that normal symbol with high probability is 80, which is the same as for the jackpot game for symbol a.

In addition, the special chart stop pattern lottery means 132 determines pattern C as the stop pattern if the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment for special chart 1 is a miss, and determines pattern d as the stop pattern if the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment for special chart 2 is a miss.

As such, in the above-described embodiment, a jackpot game that occurs during a pattern change related to special pattern 2 tends to be more advantageous than a jackpot game that occurs during a pattern change related to special pattern 1. Therefore, interest in the game can be further increased by transitioning from the special pattern change pattern derivation state PA, which will be described later, to another special pattern change pattern derivation state (special pattern change pattern derivation state PB or special pattern change pattern derivation state PC, which will be described later).

The special pattern variation pattern derivation means 133 has a plurality of types of special pattern variation pattern lottery tables to be referenced when determining the special pattern variation pattern, and selects one special pattern variation pattern lottery table for determining the current special pattern variation pattern based on the current special pattern variation pattern derivation state and the result of the current special pattern hit/miss judgment, determines one special pattern variation pattern using the selected special pattern variation pattern lottery table and a random number for special pattern variation pattern lottery, and determines a variation time based on the determined special pattern variation pattern. Here, the variation time refers to the time from when the pattern variation related to the special pattern (special pattern 1 or special pattern 2) starts to when the pattern variation ends.
Although details of the transition conditions etc. will be described later, in this embodiment, there are three special pattern variation pattern derivation states: a special pattern variation pattern derivation state PA, a special pattern variation pattern derivation state PB, and a special pattern variation pattern derivation state PC. The above-mentioned method of determining the special pattern variation pattern is adopted for the pattern variation related to special pattern 1 in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PA, and for the pattern variation related to special pattern 2 in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PB and the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PC.
On the other hand, in the pattern change related to the other special chart (the special chart for which the above-mentioned method of determining the special chart change pattern is adopted) in each special chart change pattern derivation state, a predetermined special chart change pattern is determined depending on the result of the special chart success/failure judgment. In particular, in this embodiment, in the pattern change related to special pattern 2 in the special pattern change pattern derivation state PA, if the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment related to the pattern change is a miss, and if the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment related to the pattern change is a jackpot, a fluctuation pattern with a fluctuation time of 1000 ms is determined, and in the pattern change related to special pattern 1 in the special pattern change pattern derivation state PB or special pattern change pattern derivation state PC, if the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment related to the pattern change is a miss, and if the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment related to the pattern change is a jackpot, a fluctuation pattern with a fluctuation time of 2000 ms is determined, and if the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment for the pattern change is a miss, a fluctuation pattern with a fluctuation time of 2000 ms is determined (the same applies to small hits).

Figure 10(a) is a diagram schematically showing a special chart variation pattern lottery table used for pattern variation related to special chart 1 during the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, and the range of random numbers used in the lottery is 0 to 999.
As shown in Figure 10 (a), in the pattern change related to special chart 1 during the special chart change pattern derivation state PA, special chart change pattern HNP to special chart change pattern ASP-C can be determined.
Specifically, if the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the pattern change related to the special chart 1 during the special chart change pattern derivation state PA is a miss, the special chart change pattern HNP occurs with a probability of 900/1000 (approximately 1/1.11), the special chart change pattern HRP occurs with a probability of 52/1000 (approximately 1/19.2), the special chart change pattern HSP1-A occurs with a probability of 13/1000 (approximately 1/76.9), and the special chart change pattern HS occurs with a probability of 11/1000 (approximately 1/90.9). P1-B, 9/1000 (approximately 1/111) probability of special chart fluctuation pattern HSP2-A, 7/1000 (approximately 1/143) probability of special chart fluctuation pattern HSP2-B, 5/1000 (1/200) probability of special chart fluctuation pattern HSP3-A, 3/1000 (approximately 1/333) probability of special chart fluctuation pattern HSP3-B is determined, and in this case, special chart fluctuation pattern ASP1-A to special chart fluctuation pattern ASP-C are not determined. Details will be described later using Figure 10 (b), but when the special chart fluctuation pattern HNP is determined, the special chart fluctuation pattern is further specified using the value of the special chart 1 pending counter at the start of this pattern fluctuation.
On the other hand, when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the pattern fluctuation related to the special chart 1 during the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PA is a jackpot, the probability of the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP1-A is 90/1000 (approximately 1/11.1), the probability of the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP1-B is 110/1000 (approximately 1/9.09), the probability of the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP2-A is 135/1000 (approximately 1/7.41), and the probability of the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP3-B is 165/1000 (approximately 1/6.09). Special chart variation pattern ASP2-B is determined with a probability of 1/1000 (approximately 1/5.56), special chart variation pattern ASP3-A with a probability of 180/1000 (approximately 1/5.56), special chart variation pattern ASP3-B with a probability of 220/1000 (approximately 1/4.56), and special chart variation pattern ASP-C with a probability of 100/1000 (1/10), and in such cases, special chart variation pattern HNP to special chart variation pattern HSP3-B will not be determined.
In this way, in this embodiment, when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the pattern fluctuation related to the special chart 1 in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PA is a miss, any one of the special chart fluctuation patterns HRP to HSP3-B is determined at a rate of 100/1000 (1/10), and the special chart fluctuation pattern HNP is determined at a rate of 900/1000 (approximately 1/1.11). Furthermore, when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the pattern fluctuation related to the special chart 1 in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PA is a jackpot, any one of the special chart fluctuation patterns ASP1-A to ASP-C is determined at a rate of 1000/1000 (1/1).
Here, in the explanation of the special chart fluctuation pattern of this embodiment, when two special chart fluctuation patterns are described with "~" in between, the description of the special chart fluctuation pattern that exists between the special chart fluctuation pattern described earlier and the special chart fluctuation pattern described later is omitted in accordance with the order described in the drawing related to the special chart fluctuation pattern lottery table for each special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state. Also, in the explanation of the special chart fluctuation pattern of this embodiment, regardless of whether the corresponding fluctuation time is described or not, if the names of the special chart fluctuation patterns are different, it means that the different special chart fluctuation patterns are different.

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

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

The regular map lottery means 135, like the special map lottery means 130, reads out the earliest pending activation information from the pending activation information stored in the main information storage means 160 when the regular map pattern is not changing, and uses the read random number to perform a regular map validity judgment to determine whether the regular map is valid or invalid, and determines various parameters related to the regular map (regular map change time, regular map stop display time, etc.) based on the result of the regular map validity judgment and information such as the current special map change pattern derivation state.
When determining whether a regular drawing is a hit or miss, there are two states in which the regular drawing lottery state is a high probability state (sometimes called "regular drawing high probability") and one in which the regular drawing lottery state is a low probability state (sometimes called "regular drawing low probability").

FIG. 11(a) is a diagram showing a schematic drawing of a lottery table for determining whether a regular drawing is a winning or losing draw.
In this embodiment, in the case of a low probability of winning, there is a 1/65536 probability of winning, and the remaining 65535/65536 probability of not winning. In addition, in the case of a low probability of winning, there may be a case where the winning is not a normal win (65536/65536 probability of not winning).
On the other hand, in the case of a normal high probability draw, the probability of winning is 2185/65536 (approximately 1/30), and the remaining probability of not winning is 63351/65536 (approximately 1/1.03).
In other words, in this embodiment, the probability of not winning is higher in both low probability and high probability cases of normal draws.

FIG. 11(b) is a diagram showing a schematic drawing of a lottery table for drawing a stop symbol to be used when a normal symbol is hit in the special symbol variation pattern derivation state PB.
When a normal symbol is hit during the special symbol variation pattern derivation state PB, the normal symbol lottery means 135 determines the symbol S as the stopping symbol with a probability of 800/1000 (1/1.25) and the symbol L with a probability of 200/1000 (1/5).
Here, the pattern S is a stop pattern corresponding to an opening pattern in which the opening time of the upper opening piece 61a is 50 ms (hereinafter referred to as a short opening pattern), and corresponds to the lighting of the right lamp of the normal pattern display device 93. Also, the pattern L is a stop pattern corresponding to an opening pattern in which the opening time of the upper opening piece 61a is 1000 ms (hereinafter referred to as a long opening pattern), and corresponds to the lighting of both the left lamp and the right lamp of the normal pattern display device 93.

FIG. 11(c) is a diagram showing a schematic drawing of a lottery table for drawing a stop symbol to be used when a normal symbol is hit in the special symbol variation pattern derivation state PC.
When a normal symbol is hit during the special symbol variation pattern derivation state PC, the normal symbol lottery means 135 determines the symbol S as the stopping symbol with a probability of 600/1000 (approximately 1/1.67) and the symbol L with a probability of 400/1000 (1/2.5).
In other words, when a normal pattern is hit in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PC, the probability that the upper opening piece 61a will become a long opening pattern is twice as high as when a normal pattern is hit in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PB.

In addition, if the result of the normal symbol win/loss judgment is a non-win, the normal symbol lottery means 135 uniformly determines symbol N as the stopping symbol. Symbol N corresponds to the lighting of the left lamp of the normal symbol display device 93.

At the start of a jackpot game, the jackpot game control means 140 generates a presentation control command (start demo command) including information related to the jackpot game (the required time for the start demo, the number of rounds, and the subsequent special chart variation pattern derivation state) and stores it in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160, and at the end of the start demo, generates a presentation control command (round start command) and stores it in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160. Furthermore, at the end of the round game, a presentation control command (end demo command) including the required time for the end demo of the jackpot game is generated and stored in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.
Furthermore, these commands are also the same in a big win game caused by a small win game. Specifically, the big win game control means 140 generates a start demo command at the start of a small win game and stores it in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160, generates a round start command at the end of the start demo and stores it in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160, and generates an end demo command at the end of the small win game and stores it in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.

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

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

During the above-mentioned big win game and small win game, the electric device control means 150 outputs a control signal to the special electric device solenoid 66, causing the special electric device 65 to open according to an opening pattern corresponding to the special symbol.

The game state control means 155 controls the normal symbol lottery state. Specifically, the game state control means 155 sets the normal symbol to low probability at the start of a jackpot game regardless of the stopped symbol of the special symbol related to the jackpot game, and when a specified condition such as the end of the jackpot game is met, sets the normal symbol to high probability until the specified number of symbol changes related to the high normal symbol probability are performed, and sets the normal symbol to low probability when the specified number of symbol changes related to the high normal symbol probability are completed. Here, as will be described later, in this embodiment, the number of symbol changes used to determine whether the specified number of symbol changes related to the high normal symbol probability has been reached is the number of symbol changes related to special symbol 2, but the number of symbol changes used to determine this may be the number of symbol changes related to special symbol 2 plus the number of symbol changes related to special symbol 1.
In addition, in this embodiment, during a small win game, the normal lottery state is maintained in the pattern change that caused the small win game. That is, in a pattern change during a normal high probability, if a small win is won by the special pattern hit judgment, the normal high probability is maintained during the small win game after the pattern change, and when a big win game occurs due to a V winning during the small win game, the normal low probability is set at the start of the big win game, and the normal high probability is set again at the end of the big win game.

Such a normal drawing state changes in conjunction with the above-mentioned special drawing variation pattern derivation state, and the transition of the special drawing variation pattern derivation state is managed by the game state control means 155. The transition of the special drawing variation pattern derivation state will be explained below with reference to Figures 12(a) and 12(b). Note that Figure 12(a) is a state transition diagram showing the transition of the special drawing variation pattern derivation state, and Figure 12(b) is a diagram showing the relationship between the average variation time for each special drawing variation pattern derivation state.
As shown in Figure 12 (a), in the special chart variation pattern derivation state, there is a special chart variation pattern derivation state PA as a special chart variation pattern derivation state corresponding to a normal chart low probability, and there are a special chart variation pattern derivation state PB and a special chart variation pattern derivation state PC as special chart variation pattern derivation states corresponding to a normal chart high probability, and one of these special chart variation pattern derivation states is set except during a jackpot game. And, there are transition conditions (i) to (v) for the transition conditions between the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA and the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC.

Specifically, transition condition (i) is the end of a jackpot game related to pattern B, transition condition (ii) is the end of a jackpot game related to pattern A, transition condition (iii) is the end of a jackpot game related to pattern a, pattern b, or pattern c, and transition condition (iv) is the end of pattern changes related to special pattern 2 executed without a jackpot game in between in a normal pattern high probability state, when the number of pattern changes related to special pattern 2 is 80 (the specified number of times related to a normal pattern high probability state in the special pattern change pattern derivation state PB and the special pattern change pattern derivation state PC).
In addition, if a jackpot game involving pattern a, pattern b, or pattern c occurs in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PC, the state will transition back to the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PC after the jackpot game ends, and the number of pattern variations involving special pattern 2 that can be performed up to the specified number of times relating to the high probability of normal patterns in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PC will be reset.
In addition, the transition condition (v) shown by the dashed line in Figure 12 (a) is when a small win game that has occurred ends without a V winning occurring, which is an event that cannot occur for a player playing in the normal way.

In this way, in this embodiment, when transition condition (iv) or transition condition (v) is satisfied in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB, where the normal chart has a high probability, a transition occurs from the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, where the normal chart has a low probability. Furthermore, when transition condition (iv) or transition condition (v) is satisfied in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC, a transition occurs from the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA.

As shown in Figure 12 (b), the average fluctuation time for each of the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PA, special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB, and special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PC becomes shorter in the order of special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PA, special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB, and special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PC. This is due to the length of the fluctuation time for the basic special chart fluctuation pattern that is most likely to be determined in each special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state. Here, the average fluctuation time refers to the sum of the fluctuation times derived by multiplying the occurrence rate (the probability that can occur in any pattern fluctuation, derived by multiplying the probability that the result of the special chart success/failure judgment is derived by the probability of that special chart success/failure judgment being derived by the probability of that special chart fluctuation pattern being selected) for each of the fluctuation times for the special chart fluctuation pattern that can be selected in a certain special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state. However, in this embodiment, when there is only one special chart fluctuation pattern that can be selected in that certain special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state, the fluctuation time for that special chart fluctuation pattern is treated as the average fluctuation time.

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

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

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

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

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

The recovery state setting means 176 executes a recovery state setting process to set a recovery state based on whether or not there is an abnormality in the RAM 103 when power is restored, the state at the time of power outage immediately before the power restoration, the state of the RAM clear switch 43 when power is restored, and the open/closed state of the middle frame 17 when power is restored (whether or not detected by the middle frame open door sensor). The recovery states set by this process include a game-stopped state and a game-enabled state (which may or may not involve the execution of a RAM clear process).
Specifically, if there is an abnormality in the RAM 103 when power is restored, a game-stopped state is set regardless of the state of the RAM clear switch 43 and the state of the middle frame 17 when power is restored. Also, if there is no abnormality in the RAM 103 when power is restored and the RAM clear switch 43 when power is restored is ON (pressed), the RAM clear process is executed and a playable state is set, provided that the middle frame 17 is open when power is restored (if the middle frame 17 is closed when power is restored, the RAM clear process is not executed and a playable state is set), and if there is no abnormality in the RAM 103 when power is restored and the RAM clear switch 43 when power is restored is OFF (not pressed), the RAM clear process is not executed and a playable state is set.
Here, the game stop state is a return state in which the game cannot proceed by not executing the processing according to the detection result of the sensor provided at each winning port (the detection result of the sensor itself does not need to be seen). In this embodiment, in order to change from these game stop states (game stop states set as return states) to a playable state, it is necessary to execute a RAM clear process, and as described above, when the RAM clear process is executed, the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA is set.
On the other hand, the playable state is a restored state in which the game can be continued by executing a process according to the detection result of the sensor provided at each winning port. In particular, if the RAM clear process is not executed when the power is restored, the game will return to the playable state at the time of the previous power outage. For example, if a big win game or a small win game was being executed at the time of the previous power outage, the game will return to the big win game or small win game that was being executed, and if a pattern change was being executed at the time of the previous power outage, the game will return to the pattern change that was being executed.

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

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

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

As shown in Figure 8, the first sub-control board 200 is equipped with a sub-random number generating means 210, a normal performance control means 220, a sub-error control means 230, a lamp control means 240, a movable role control means 245, a sub-information storage means 260, and a sub-command management means 270, and these means are functional representations of what is realized by each control configuration on the first sub-control board 200 described using Figure 7.
Here, the sub-information storage means 260 is a means for temporarily storing data read by the means provided in the first sub-control board 200, data derived by calculations in said means, etc., in the corresponding storage areas. Also, the performance control command transmitted from the main command management means 170 is stored by the sub-command management means 270 in a received command storage area of the sub-information storage means 260. In the following explanation, the storage of the performance control command transmitted from the main command management means 170 in the received command storage area of the sub-information storage means 260 by the sub-command management means 270 may be simply referred to as "receiving a performance control command."

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

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

When the presentation mode control means 221 receives a game state designation command, it controls the transition of the presentation mode in a manner that is consistent with the special chart variation pattern derivation state managed on the main control board 100 side.
In this embodiment, the presentation modes are broadly divided into normal mode, challenge mode, and RUSH mode, with the normal mode corresponding to the special symbol variation pattern derivation state PA, the challenge mode corresponding to the special symbol variation pattern derivation state PB, and the RUSH mode corresponding to the special symbol variation pattern derivation state PC. In this embodiment, a background image corresponding to the presentation mode is displayed in the display area of the liquid crystal display device 80. Therefore, the player can understand the current presentation mode (special symbol variation pattern derivation state) by the type of this background image. In particular, the background image is drawn on the display layer with the lowest priority, and is therefore displayed behind other images.

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

The presentation route in this embodiment is roughly divided into a miss presentation route that notifies that the result of the special symbol hit/miss judgment in the current symbol change is a miss (the result of the special symbol hit/miss judgment in the current symbol change is neither a big hit nor a small hit), and a big hit presentation route that notifies that the result of the special symbol hit/miss judgment in the current symbol change is a big hit or a small hit. Furthermore, the miss presentation route includes a non-development miss presentation route in which the development presentation is not executed, and a development miss presentation route in which the development presentation is executed. Note that, as will be described later, when the big hit presentation route is determined, the development presentation is executed unless otherwise explained.
Here, the development effect is an effect that is executed after the decorative symbols reach a reach state (a state in which all decorative symbols except one symbol row are displayed stationary and the remaining symbol rows are displayed in a variable manner), and at the end of the effect, it is announced whether the result of the special symbol hit/miss judgment in the current symbol change is a big hit or a small hit. Therefore, in the development effect corresponding to the development miss effect route, a series of effects corresponding to the development effect is executed, and at the end of the effect, it is announced that the result of the special symbol hit/miss judgment in the current symbol change is neither a big hit nor a small hit. On the other hand, in the development effect corresponding to the big hit effect route, a series of effects corresponding to the development effect is executed, and at the end of the effect, it is announced that the result of the special symbol hit/miss judgment in the current symbol change is a big hit or a small hit.
Also, as will be described later, in this embodiment, in one presentation mode, each determined special chart variation pattern corresponds to a different presentation route. Therefore, in the following description, the presentation route for the special chart variation pattern may be simply expressed as a special chart variation pattern. However, multiple presentation routes may be associated with one special chart variation pattern, and in this case, one presentation route may be determined from multiple presentation routes corresponding to the determined special chart variation pattern.

When a hold command is received (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as the occurrence of a hold win), the sub-hold control means 223 sets performance data for displaying the number of hold images corresponding to the special symbol 1 hold counter and the number of hold images corresponding to the special symbol 2 hold counter in the hold display area (not shown) of the LCD display device 80 based on the information on the special symbol 1 hold counter and the special symbol 2 hold counter contained in the command. The hold images are images that are the subject of a hold pre-reading performance (an example of a pre-reading performance described below) that changes into various forms to indicate the degree of advantage, such as the likelihood of a jackpot game occurring.

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

When the effect content determining means 225 receives a variation start command, it determines the content of the effect to be executed in the current pattern variation according to the effect route already determined by the effect route determining means 222.
More specifically, the effect content determination means 225 determines an effect pattern lottery table to refer to for the effect content (effect pattern) for each effect execution timing in the pattern variation, based on the effect route determined by the effect route determination means 222, and determines the effect content by lottery using the determined effect pattern lottery table. In particular, by doing so, it is possible to change the effect content related to (executed according to) the determined effect route, and also to provide a connection between the effects in one pattern variation.

When the decorative pattern control means 226 receives a variation start command, it determines the final (determined stopped display) combination of decorative patterns (left pattern, middle pattern, right pattern) based on the stopped pattern of the determined special pattern.
Specifically, in the pattern variation related to special symbol 1, a pattern matching related to decorative symbols including a pattern matching related to symbol 7 is determined for symbol A, and any pattern matching related to decorative symbols excluding symbol 7 is determined for symbol B. Therefore, in this embodiment, the number of rounds of the jackpot game to occur and the subsequent (after the jackpot game ends) presentation mode (special symbol variation pattern derivation state) can be estimated depending on the type of pattern matching related to the decorative symbols corresponding to the jackpot game.
In the pattern variation associated with special symbol 2, one of the decorative symbol combinations including the 7 symbol is determined for symbol a, symbol c, and symbol d, and one of the decorative symbol combinations excluding the 7 symbol is determined for symbol b. Therefore, in this embodiment, when a symbol combination related to the 7 symbol is displayed, it is determined that a jackpot game is being played for the stopped symbol (symbol a, symbol c, or symbol d) excluding symbol b. This makes it easier to estimate the number of rounds related to the jackpot game that occurs depending on the type of symbol combination related to the decorative symbol corresponding to the jackpot game, as with the pattern variation associated with special symbol 1. However, unlike the pattern variation associated with special symbol 1, the pattern variation associated with special symbol 2 makes it difficult to estimate the subsequent performance mode depending on the type of symbol combination related to the decorative symbol corresponding to the jackpot game.

When the jackpot effect control means 227 receives an effect control command (start demo command, round start command, end demo command) related to a jackpot game or a small jackpot game, it determines the content of the effect during the jackpot game or small jackpot game based on the type of the effect control command and the information contained in the effect control command.

The normal performance control means 220 reads out performance data for each device corresponding to each performance at the execution timing of that performance, in accordance with the content of the performance determined by the above-mentioned means provided in the first sub-control board 200. If the read-out performance data includes performance data related to images, it generates image control commands based on that performance data and stores those commands in a transmission command storage area of the sub-information storage means 260. Furthermore, if the read-out performance data includes performance data related to sounds, it generates audio control commands related to sounds based on that performance data and stores those commands in a transmission command storage area of the sub-information storage means 260.
Furthermore, if the restored state upon power restoration is a playable state following the execution of a RAM clear process, the normal presentation control means 220 reads presentation data for announcing that the playable state has been achieved following the execution of a RAM clear process, and if the restored state upon power restoration is a playable state without the execution of a RAM clear process, the normal presentation control means 220 reads presentation data for announcing that the playable state has been achieved without the execution of a RAM clear process. Furthermore, if a game-stop state is achieved, the normal presentation control means 220 reads presentation data for announcing that the game has been stopped and that a RAM clear process needs to be performed. Note that while details of these notifications are omitted, it is preferable that they continue to be executed for a certain period of time (e.g., 30 seconds) after execution has begun, and the presentation device that executes the notification does not matter.

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

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

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

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

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

<Regarding the flow path of the gaming ball inside the right area unit 60>
Next, the flow path of the game ball inside the right area unit 60 will be described.
For this explanation, the above-mentioned FIG. 5 will be used, as well as FIGS. 13 to 15.
13 to 15 are diagrams showing the area around the second starting port 59 within the internal configuration of the right area unit 60.
It should be noted that the movement of the game ball P shown in Figures 13 to 15 is merely a schematic example of the flow path of the game ball P, and the flow paths of all game balls are not limited to the flow paths shown.

As shown in Figure 5, the upper open piece 61a and the lower open piece 61b are configured to be contained within the right area unit 60 and are provided in the flow path of a gaming ball that is hit to the right. As already mentioned, hitting to the right is recommended in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB and the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC.

The upper opening piece 61a and the lower opening piece 61b are configured to be able to move (slide) in the forward and backward directions using a normal electric accessory solenoid 62 as a power source, and when one is controlled to a protruding position, the other is controlled to a retracted position.
13 to 15, the upper opening piece 61a and the lower opening piece 61b that are controlled to the protruding position are indicated by solid lines, and the upper opening piece 61a and the lower opening piece 61b that are controlled to the retracted position are indicated by dashed lines.

As shown in Figures 13 to 15, the upper open piece 61a and the lower open piece 61b are flat, plate-like members that allow the game ball P that contacts their upper surfaces to move smoothly. Because of their role, it is preferable that the surfaces of the upper open piece 61a and the lower open piece 61b be smooth. However, because the surfaces are smooth, they tend to reflect light, which can be a factor in reducing visibility.

Furthermore, as shown in Figures 13 to 15, the upper open piece 61a slopes downward to the left, while the lower open piece 61b slopes downward to the right. Furthermore, because the slope of the lower open piece 61b is steeper than the slope of the upper open piece 61a, it can be said that the speed of the gaming ball moving through flow path R16 is greater than the speed of the gaming ball moving through flow path R2.

As a general rule, the upper open piece 61a is controlled to a protruding position, and the lower open piece 61b is controlled to a retracted position. In this state, a gaming ball that has passed through the gate 63 (a gaming ball that has flowed down flow path R1 shown in Figure 5) reaches the upper surface of the upper open piece 61a and moves along that upper surface in the direction of flow path R2 (see Figure 13).

During the period when the game ball P is moving along the upper surface of the upper opening piece 61a, another game ball (not shown) passes through the gate 63, and a normal judgment of whether the ball is a hit or miss is made based on the detection of the gate sensor 74.
Here, when the normal winning/losing judgment is a no-win, the upper open piece 61a is maintained in the protruding position and the lower open piece 61b is maintained in the retracted position, so that the game ball P continues to move along the upper surface of the upper open piece 61a, falls when the upper open piece 61a ends, and moves along the flow path R3 (see Figure 14 (a)).
On the other hand, when the normal play result is a normal play result, the upper opening piece 61a moves (slides) to a retracted position and the lower opening piece 61b moves (slides) to a protruding position, causing the game ball P to fall into the opening created by the retraction of the upper opening piece 61a, and the game ball P moves along the flow path R4 (see Figure 14 (b)).
If the opening pattern of the upper opening piece 61a determined by the normal winning jackpot is a long opening pattern, the game ball P that reaches the upper surface of the lower opening piece 61b via flow path R4 moves along the upper surface in the direction of flow path R16 and enters the second starting hole 59 (see Figure 15 (a)).
If the opening pattern of the upper opening piece 61a determined by the above-mentioned normal winning is a short opening pattern, the lower opening piece 61b is controlled to a retracted position before the game ball P reaches the top surface of the lower opening piece 61b, or even if it does reach it, before it enters the second starting port 59 (immediately after reaching the top surface), so that the game ball P falls into the opening created by the retraction of the lower opening piece 61b, moves along the flow path R17, and flows down toward the upper large winning port 55a or the lower large winning port 55b (see Figure 15 (b)).

In either case where the game ball P moves through flow path R3, or where the game ball P moves through flow path R17 via flow path R4, the game ball P reaches the upper surface of the upper attacker 65a via flow path R6.
When the upper attacker 65a is in a closed state (in a protruding position), the game ball P moves along the upper surface of the upper attacker 65a in the direction of the flow path R7, falls when the upper attacker 65a ends, and moves along the flow path R12.
When the upper attacker 65a is in the open state (retracted position), that is, during a small win game, the game ball P falls into the opening created by the retraction of the upper attacker 65a, and the game ball P moves inside the upper large winning opening 55a. Note that, as already explained, the game ball P moves through the flow paths (flow paths R8, R9, R10, and R11) inside the upper large winning opening 55a, and by detecting the game ball that has moved through some of these flow paths, a V-winning can be achieved, so an explanation of this will be omitted here.

As described above, in this embodiment, during a small win game, the normal lottery state is maintained in the pattern variation that caused the small win game, and when a big win game occurs due to a V win, the normal win probability becomes low at the start of the big win game. Therefore, when a player aims for a V win (by putting a game ball into the upper large win opening 55a), a normal win occurs, and the upper opening piece 61a and the lower opening piece 61b of the normal electric device 61 operate, which can affect the flow path of the game ball that is shot out.
The above-described operation of the upper open piece 61a and the lower open piece 61b can have the effect of increasing the randomness of the path of the gaming ball from the time the player shoots the gaming ball until the V winning occurs (until it is detected by the V winning sensor 76), thereby enhancing the enjoyment of the game. In addition, this also increases the randomness of the time from the time the player shoots the gaming ball until the V winning occurs (the time it takes for the ball to reach the detection area of the V winning sensor 76), making it more difficult to generate a V winning at the timing intended by the player, and can have the effect of suppressing winnings that go beyond the design concept.
From the viewpoint of the above-mentioned effects, the paths leading to the occurrence of a V-winning that can be created by the interlocking of the upper open piece 61a and the lower open piece 61b can be roughly divided into two: (a) a path in which the gaming ball moves in the order of path R2, path R3, path R6, path R7, path R8, and path R11, and (b) a path in which the gaming ball moves in the order of path R2, path R4, path R6, path R7, path R8, and path R11. Comparing these, the former has a longer path length than the latter, and it can be said that it is possible to delay the time from when the gaming ball is shot out until the V-winning occurs.

Therefore, the gaming machine 10 is equipped with a distribution member (upper open piece 61a) that distributes gaming balls fired toward a predetermined area (the detection area of the V winning sensor 76) into a first flow path (flow path (a) above) and a second flow path (flow path (b) above). Both gaming balls that have passed through the first flow path and those that have passed through the second flow path flow downward toward the predetermined area, and it can be said that the first flow path has a longer flow path length to reach the predetermined area than the second flow path.

In the explanation of Figure 15 (b), it was explained that if the opening pattern of the upper opening piece 61a is a short opening pattern, the game ball P reaches the upper surface of the lower opening piece 61b, and before it enters the second starting hole 59, the lower opening piece 61b is controlled to a retracted position, allowing the game ball P to flow down toward the upper large winning hole 55a.However, in this situation, if the upper attacker 65a opens and the game ball P enters the upper large winning hole 55a, a V winning may occur with the game ball P.
Therefore, it is clear that the effect of increasing the randomness of the time between the game ball being shot and the occurrence of a V-winning is not limited to the operation of the upper opening piece 61a, but also contributes to the operation of the lower opening piece 61b.
In particular, when the lower open piece 61b is in the retracted position, it allows the gaming ball P that has flowed down the flow path R4 to flow down to the upper large winning opening 55a (the detection area of the V winning sensor 76), and when the lower open piece 61b is in the protruding position, it prevents the flow down, thereby achieving a balance of the above effects. In other words, the lower open piece 61b can be variably moved between the protruding position and the retracted position, thereby ensuring a gameplay that increases the enjoyment of the game by the randomness of the time from when the gaming ball is shot to when the V winning occurs.
In this embodiment, an example is described in which, when viewed from the upper open piece 61a corresponding to the distribution member, a lower open piece 61b corresponding to the second piece is located downstream of the flow path (b) described above, and no structure corresponding to the second piece is present in the flow path (a) described above; however, the same effect can be achieved even if the relationship of their locations is reversed.

Therefore, the gaming machine 10 is equipped with a second piece (lower open piece 61b) that moves to either the protruding position or the retracted position when operated, and that obstructs gaming balls flowing down when in the protruding position, and it can be said that the second piece is provided downstream of either the first flow path or the second flow path (flow path (b)) when viewed from the distribution member (upper open piece 65a), and that the second piece is not provided downstream of the other (flow path (a)).
Furthermore, it can be said that a game ball whose flow is prevented from flowing down by the second piece (lower open piece 61b) in the protruding position can enter a predetermined area (detection area of the V winning sensor 76).

Furthermore, the gaming machine 10 is equipped with a specific starting port (special 2 starting port 59) provided in the flow path of a gaming ball (a gaming ball hit to the right) fired toward a specified area, and the second piece (lower opening piece 61b) can be said to be an electric device attached to the specific starting port.

11(a), in the gaming machine 10 according to this embodiment, the rate of non-winning normal balls is high both in the normal low probability and normal high probability states, so the period during which the upper opening piece 61a is in the protruding position is longer than the period during which it is in the retracted position. Therefore, when a player shoots a game ball into the second flow path Y (by hitting to the right), the number of game balls flowing down the above-mentioned flow path (A) is greater than the number of game balls flowing down the above-mentioned flow path (B).
Therefore, it can be said that the number of game balls sorted by the sorting member to the first flow path is greater than the number of game balls sorted by the sorting member to the second flow path.

When the game ball P moves through the flow path R12, the game ball P reaches the upper surface of the lower attacker 65b.
When the lower attacker 65b is in a closed state (in a protruding position), the game ball P moves along the upper surface of the lower attacker 65b in the direction of the flow path R13, falls where the lower attacker 65b ends, and moves along the flow path R15 to be discharged from the outlet 69b.
When the lower attacker 65b is in the open state (in the retracted position), that is, during a jackpot game, the game ball P falls into the opening created by the retraction of the lower attacker 65b, passes through the lower large prize opening sensor 72b provided in the lower large prize opening 55b, and is discharged to the back side of the game area 50a.

As shown in Figure 5, the upper attacker 65a and the lower attacker 65b, like the upper opening piece 61a, have a downward slope toward the left. Furthermore, the upper attacker 65a and the lower attacker 65b have a slope opposite to that of the lower opening piece 61b. Therefore, the difference between the slope of the upper attacker 65a (or the lower attacker 65b) and the slope of the upper opening piece 61a is relatively small, while the difference between the slope of the upper attacker 65a (or the lower attacker 65b) and the slope of the lower opening piece 61b is relatively large. Here, for example, when the slope of the attacker 65a (or the lower attacker 65b) is taken as a positive value, the slope of the upper opening piece 61a is positive, so subtraction results in a small value, whereas the slope of the lower opening piece 61b is negative, so subtraction results in a large value (addition).

Therefore, it can be said that the inclination of the first piece (lower attacker 65b) and the inclination of the second piece (lower opening piece 61b) relative to the horizontal direction are different. Furthermore, it can be said that the inclination of the first piece and the inclination of the second piece relative to the horizontal direction are opposite.
This makes it difficult for a player who is focusing on the first piece to see the movement of the second piece, making the rolling of the game ball more unexpected from the player's perspective, contributing to increased interest in the game.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned effect, the inclination of the first and second pieces is not necessarily limited to the configuration shown in Figure 5, but may be, for example, a configuration in which the first and second pieces are inclined in the same direction relative to the horizontal direction, and the inclination of the second piece is smaller than the inclination of the first piece.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the upper surface of the upper attacker 65a is compared with the upper surface of the upper opening piece 61a and the upper surface of the lower opening piece 61b, the former is larger and the latter is smaller.
Therefore, it can be said that the upper surface of the second piece (lower opening piece 61b) is smaller than the upper surface of the first piece (upper attacker 65a).
This makes it possible to realize the effect of increasing the randomness of the time from when the game ball is shot out until a V-winning occurs, without restricting the ease of winning the big winning hole 55a.

With the above configuration, when a player is looking at the upper attacker 65a or the lower attacker 65b, it is easy to bring the upper open piece 61a into view with a line of sight in the same direction, making it easier to see both at the same time. Furthermore, when a player is looking at the upper attacker 65a or the lower attacker 65b, the lower open piece 61b is tilted in the opposite direction, making it difficult for light reflected from the lower open piece 61b to enter the player's eyes. This prevents a decrease in visibility of the upper attacker 65a or the lower attacker 65b and helps prevent a decrease in interest in the game.

In the above embodiment, the upper and lower open pieces 61 a and 61 b are described as being movable in the forward and backward directions, but this is not limiting. For example, they may be movable in the up and down direction, the left and right direction, or they may rotate, and the relationship between the positions where they can operate and the areas where they are guided can also be changed as appropriate.
Even with the above-described modified example, the effect of making it difficult for reflected light from each to enter the player's line of sight (suppressing a decrease in visibility) can be achieved.

As described above, the gaming machine 10 (right area unit 60) of this embodiment is equipped with a number of distinctive movable parts that affect playability (the ease of the ball entering each area where a bonus is awarded), and this attracts the player's attention to the flow path of the gaming ball moving inside, thereby increasing the player's interest in the game.
Based on the above, as one measure to prevent a decline in interest in the game, the inclination of each movable member (particularly the upper open piece 61a corresponding to the first piece and the lower open piece 61b corresponding to the second piece) is designed to take into consideration the reflected light from the movable members and make it difficult for the reflected light to enter the player's line of sight, thereby preventing a decline in visibility. Therefore, the player can enjoy the game without losing the characteristics of the right area unit 60 described above.

<About the playability of the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB and the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PC>
Next, the playability of the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB and the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC will be explained.

As explained using Figure 11 (a), in the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment, the probability of winning a normal symbol when the normal symbol is in a low probability state (special symbol variation pattern derivation state PA) is very low, and even when the normal symbol is in a high probability state (special symbol variation pattern derivation state PB and special symbol variation pattern derivation state PC), the probability of winning a normal symbol is approximately 1/30, which is lower than that of a typical pachinko machine.
On the other hand, as explained using Figure 9(a), in the judgment of whether or not a special drawing 2 is won, which is carried out in response to a win at the second starting port 59, which may allow a win by a normal drawing win, the probability of winning a big or small win is approximately 1/1.005, which is very high compared to general pachinko machines.

As explained using Figures 11(b) and 11(c), the gaming machine 10 according to this embodiment has two patterns, a long opening pattern and a short opening pattern, in which the upper opening piece 61a is in an open state (retracted position) upon a normal winning, and the ratio of opening patterns determined upon a normal winning differs between the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB and the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC.
As explained using Figures 5 and 13 to 15, the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment is designed so that if the opening pattern of the upper opening piece 61a determined by a normal winning is a long opening pattern, winning at the second starting hole 59 is allowed, but if the opening pattern is a short opening pattern, winning at the second starting hole 59 will not actually occur.

As the specifications are as described above, in the gaming machine 10 according to this embodiment, both the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB and the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC make it easier to win at the second starting hole 59 compared to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, but the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC has more opportunities for winning at the second starting hole 59 compared to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB, and as a result, the rate of winning a big hit or small hit related to special chart 2 is favored.
Specifically, in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB, there is a probability of about 1/151 of winning a big or small prize for one normal chart variation. Also, in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC, there is a probability of about 1/75.4 of winning a big or small prize for one normal chart variation.
In addition, the above content is based on the assumption that the player appropriately shoots (hits to the right) the game ball into the second flow path Y in both the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB and the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC.

Therefore, there is a first gaming state (special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PA or special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB) and a second gaming state (special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB or special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PC) which is more advantageous than the first gaming state, and it can be said that the first area (second starting hole 59) is an area where it is easier to score a ball in the second gaming state than in the first gaming state.

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

First, the gaming machine 10 according to the above embodiment employs a so-called one-type two-type hybrid machine that can derive both a big hit and a small hit that can result in a big hit game in determining whether the special chart is a hit or not, but is not limited to this, and it is also possible to employ one that can derive only a so-called two-type hit.
Furthermore, in the gaming machine 10 according to this embodiment, a small win is not derived in the judgment of whether the special chart 1 is a hit or not, but a small win may be derived in the judgment of whether the special chart is a hit or not.

Furthermore, as long as the relationship between the probability, rate, frequency, and number of times in the above embodiments is ensured, the smaller value may be 0, and the larger value may be the maximum value. In particular, as long as the phenomenon aspect is ensured, the control for realizing the rate can be any.
Furthermore, each lottery value in the lottery table illustrated in this embodiment is an example, and as long as the magnitude relationship between the lottery tables is maintained, each lottery value may adopt any value within the range.

In the above embodiment, the present invention is exemplified as being implemented in the area where the right area unit 60 is located, i.e., the area where a gaming ball hit from the right flows down, but it is also permissible for the present invention to be implemented in the flow path of a gaming ball hit from the left.

In the above embodiment, the operation of the upper opening piece 61a and the lower opening piece 61b is controlled to be linked using the normal electric role solenoid 62 as a power source, but the present invention is not limited to this. They may also be linked by a structural mechanism (for example, the upper opening piece 61a and the lower opening piece 61b being an integrated structure) or by motor control.

In the above embodiment, the shape, arrangement, and inclination of each movable member (upper opening piece 61a, lower opening piece 61b, upper attacker 65a, lower attacker 65b, upper tongue 64a, lower tongue 64b) are as shown in Figure 5, etc., but the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of achieving the objectives of the present invention.

In the above embodiment, the upper open piece 61a is exemplified as the component corresponding to the distributing member of the present invention, the upper attacker 65a, upper flap 64a, and upper flap 64b are exemplified as the component corresponding to the first piece of the present invention, and the lower open piece 61b is exemplified as the component corresponding to the second piece. However, the present invention may be implemented by substituting different components for the components corresponding to at least part of the distributing member, first piece, and second piece.

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

In the above embodiment, the open/closed state of the middle frame 17 was referenced when determining the recovery state upon power restoration, but the recovery state may be set without reference to this state. In this case, the recovery state upon power restoration may be uniformly set according to the case when the middle frame 17 is in the open state.

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

<Additional Notes>
The present embodiment encompasses the following technical idea.
(1) A gaming machine in which gaming balls are launched into a gaming area and a bonus is awarded based on whether a gaming ball that has flowed down the gaming area enters a predetermined area, the gaming machine comprising: a distribution member that distributes the gaming balls launched toward the predetermined area into a first flow path and a second flow path; and a first piece that allows the gaming balls to flow down toward the predetermined area by moving from a protruding position to a retracted position, wherein both the gaming balls that have passed through the first flow path and the gaming balls that have passed through the second flow path flow down toward the predetermined area, and the first flow path has a larger number of balls than the second flow path that flow into the predetermined area. a second piece that moves to either a protruding position or a retracted position by operation and obstructs game balls flowing down when in the protruding position, the second piece being provided downstream of either the first flow path or the second flow path as viewed from the distribution member, and not provided downstream of the other, and further comprising a specific starting port provided in the flow path of game balls fired toward the specified area, and the second piece being an electric device attached to the specific starting port.
(2) A gaming machine as described in (1), in which the inclination of the first piece and the inclination of the second piece relative to the horizontal direction are different.
(3) A gaming machine as described in (1) or (2), in which a gaming ball whose flow is hindered by the second piece in the protruding position can enter the specified area.
(a) The gaming machine described in (2), wherein the inclination of the second piece is smaller than the inclination of the first piece, or the inclination of the first piece relative to the horizontal direction and the inclination of the second piece are opposite.

10 Gaming machine 15 Outer frame 17 Middle frame 20 Front frame 21 Hinge mechanism 22 Movable decorative body 23 Cylinder lock 25 Transparent member 27 Upper ball tray 29 Lower ball tray 31 Operation handle 32 Upper frame portion 33 (33a, 33b) Speaker 34a, 34b Left and right side frame portions 35 (35a, 35b, 35c) Frame lamp 36 Ball ejection mechanism 37 Performance button 38 Cursor button 38a Up cursor button 38b Down cursor button 38c Left cursor button 38d Right cursor button 38e Middle cursor button 39 Main operation unit 39a Ball loan button 39b Return button 40 Power switch 43 RAM clear switch 45 Opening and closing cover 46 Game ball tank 47 Tank rail 48 Payout unit 49 Payout passage 50 Game board 50a Game area 51 Outer rail 53 Inner rail 54, protective member 55a, upper large prize opening 55b, lower large prize opening 57, first start opening 59, second start opening 60, right area unit 61, normal electric role device 61a, upper opening piece 61b, lower opening piece 62, normal electric role device solenoid 63, gate 64a, upper flap 64b, lower flap 65, special electric role device 65a, upper attacker 65b, lower attacker 66, special electric role device solenoid 67, general prize opening 67a, left general prize opening 67b, right general prize opening 69, out opening 70, first start opening sensor 71, second start opening sensor 72, large prize opening sensor 72a, upper large prize opening sensor 72b, lower large prize opening sensor 73, general prize opening sensor 74, gate sensor 75, out ball sensor 76, V prize sensor 80, liquid crystal display device 90, pattern display device 91, first special pattern display device 92 Second special symbol display device 93 Normal symbol display device 94 First special symbol reservation lamp 95 Second special symbol reservation lamp 96 Normal symbol reservation lamp 100 Main control board 101 CPU
102 ROM
103 RAM
104 I/O port 105 Random number circuit 109 Main control board case 110 Ball entry determination means 115 Main random number generation means 120 Main hold control means 125 Advance determination means 130 Special symbol lottery means 131 Special symbol win/loss determination means 132 Special symbol stop symbol lottery means 133 Special symbol variation pattern derivation means 135 Regular symbol lottery means 140 Big win game control means 145 Symbol display control means 150 Electric role control means 155 Game state control means 160 Main information storage means 165 Main error control means 170 Main command management means 175 Power restoration processing execution means 176 Recovery state setting means 179 Playable state transition means 180 Power cut processing execution means 200 First sub-control board 201 CPU
202 ROM
203 RAM
204 I/O port 209 First sub-control board case 210 Sub-random number generation means 220 Normal presentation control means 221 Presentation mode control means 222 Presentation route determination means 223 Sub-hold control means 224 Pre-reading presentation control means 225 Presentation content determination means 226 Decorative pattern control means 227 Big win presentation control means 230 Sub-error control means 240 Lamp control means 245 Movable role control means 260 Sub-information storage means 270 Sub-command management means 300 Second sub-control board 309 Second sub-control board case 310 Sound control board 311 CPU
312 ROM
313 RAM
314 I/O port 400 Dispensing control board 409 Dispensing control board case 500 Power supply control board 501 Normal power supply circuit 502 Backup power supply circuit 503 Power interruption detection circuit 509 Power supply control board case 811 Display area 812 Display area 813 Display area X First flow path Y Second flow paths R1 to R17 Flow path

Claims (1)

A gaming machine in which a gaming ball is launched into a gaming area, and a bonus is awarded based on whether the gaming ball that flows down the gaming area enters a predetermined area,
A distribution member that distributes the game balls shot toward the predetermined area into a first flow path and a second flow path;
A first piece that is controlled to either a protruding position or a retracted position and allows game balls to flow down toward the predetermined area;
Equipped with
Both the gaming balls that have passed through the first flow path and the gaming balls that have passed through the second flow path flow down toward the predetermined area,
The first flow path has a longer flow path length until it reaches the predetermined region than the second flow path,
Furthermore, a second piece is provided which moves to either the protruding position or the retracted position by operation and obstructs the game balls from flowing down when the second piece is in the protruding position,
the second piece is provided downstream of one of the first flow path and the second flow path as viewed from the distributor, and the second piece is not provided downstream of the other flow path,
Further, a specific starting port is provided in the flow path of the game ball launched toward the predetermined area,
The second piece is an electric accessory attached to the specific starting port,
A gaming machine characterized by: