JP7825871B2 - gaming machines - Google Patents

Description

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

Some of the above gaming machines are configured to determine whether a win or loss occurs each time a start condition is met, and to notify the player of the result of the win or loss determination by displaying an image of the symbol game each time a win or loss determination is made. Some of these gaming machines are configured to indicate to the player that a win will be notified by displaying an image of a reach effect during symbol game play.

JP 2010-17425 A

An object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that can enhance entertainment value.

A gaming machine of a first invention for solving the above-mentioned problems comprises: a determination means for determining whether or not to execute a special game advantageous to a player in response to the establishment of a starting condition; a pattern display control means for, when the determination is made, variably displaying a special pattern on a predetermined pattern display means and then statically displaying a special pattern indicating the result of the determination; a special game execution means (main control circuit 40) for executing the special game when a special pattern indicating that the determination means has determined that the special game will be executed is statically displayed on the pattern display means ; and a performance control means for controlling performance, wherein the performance control means variably displays performance patterns in accordance with the variably displaying of the special patterns, and statically displays the performance patterns in a manner to notify the result of the determination in accordance with the static displaying of the special patterns, and in a reach performance executed during the variably displaying of the performance patterns , there are two cases where a first performance pattern performance is executed in which an image of a leading performance is displayed first and then an image of a trailing performance is displayed; and a second performance pattern in which an image of a leading performance is displayed first and then an image of a trailing performance is displayed. and a third performance pattern in which an image of a subsequent performance is displayed without displaying an image of the first performance. Based on the result of the judgment, during the variable display of the special symbol and the performance symbol performed in accordance with the judgment, a first character display performance is executed in which a character suggesting that the image of the first performance will be displayed is displayed, and a second character display performance is executed in which a character suggesting that the image of the subsequent performance will be displayed is displayed. When the second character display performance is executed, the performance of the third performance pattern is executed with a higher probability than the performance of the first performance pattern, and the image of the subsequent performance can be displayed in both cases when the first character display performance is executed and when the second character display performance is executed .

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention (a perspective view showing the appearance of a pachinko gaming machine); A diagram showing a game board Figure showing the front frame Block diagram showing the electrical configuration (a) is a diagram showing a list of random number counters, (b) is a diagram showing a normal chart hit determination table, (c) is a diagram showing a normal chart fluctuation display time table, (d) is a diagram showing a normal chart game pattern table, (e) is a diagram showing a jackpot determination table, (f) is a diagram showing a fall determination table, (g) is a diagram showing a special chart 1 jackpot type table, (h) is a diagram showing a special chart 2 jackpot type table, (i) is a diagram showing a special chart 1 area, and (j) is a diagram showing a special chart 2 area. (a) is a diagram showing the special chart 1 variation pattern table, (b) is a diagram showing the special chart 2 variation pattern table 1, and (c) is a diagram showing the special chart 2 variation pattern table 2. (a) is a diagram showing a game pattern table, and (b) is a flowchart showing the main processing of the main control circuit. Flowchart showing timer interrupt processing of the main control circuit (a) is a flowchart showing the special diagram 2 processing of the main control circuit, and (b) is a flowchart showing the special diagram 1 processing Flowchart showing the fluctuation pattern table processing of the main control circuit Flowchart showing the time-saving count update process of the main control circuit Flowchart showing the fall determination process of the main control circuit (a) is a diagram for explaining the transition of game modes, and (b) and (c) are diagrams for explaining the transition of presentation modes. (a) to (d) are diagrams showing background images of the effect symbol game, and (e) is a diagram showing a list of the effect contents of the effect symbol game. A diagram to explain normal effects and simultaneous stop effects for all figures A diagram to explain the normal reach effect A diagram to explain the special reach effect (battle effect) (a-b) is a diagram for explaining the super time-saving effect, (c) is a diagram for explaining the big win game effect, (d-e) is a diagram showing the special chart pre-reading reception area Diagram to explain the presentation mode Diagram to explain Lucky Mode Diagram to explain Super Lucky Mode Diagram to explain Ultra Lucky Mode A diagram to explain the hold-ahead preview performance (normal mode) A diagram to explain the hold-ahead preview performance (SP normal mode) Flowchart showing reserved read-ahead notice processing A diagram to explain the flow of the production mode A diagram for explaining the mode lottery effect Flowchart showing mode determination processing Flowchart showing mode determination processing (a)-(b) are diagrams showing a mode table, and (c) is a flowchart showing a mode stop process. A diagram to explain the flow of the production mode A diagram to explain the flow of Super Lucky Mode with images A diagram to explain the flow of the production mode (a) is a flowchart showing the main processing, and (b) is a flowchart showing the timer interrupt processing. (a) is a flowchart showing the received command analysis process, and (b) is a flowchart showing the symbol game performance start process. Figure 2 shows Example 2 (Figures a to c are for explaining the jackpot notice presentation, and d is a flowchart showing the jackpot notice processing) (a) to (c) are diagrams for explaining the rush mode, and (d) is a flowchart showing the rush mode processing. (a-b) are diagrams for explaining the RTC mode, and (c) is a flowchart showing the RTC mode processing. Flowchart showing mode transition processing 3A to 3C are diagrams illustrating the hold notice presentation, and FIG. 3D is a flowchart illustrating the hold notice processing. FIG. 10 shows Example 4 (a diagram for explaining pre-battle effects); (a-h) are diagrams for explaining the flow of images in the effect symbol game, and (i) is a diagram showing the effect timing. A diagram for explaining the battle preview effect and the pre-battle preview effect Flowchart showing pre-battle production processing A diagram showing a special chart variation pattern classification table A diagram showing the preview performance table FIG. 42 shows the fifth embodiment. FIG. 6 shows Example 6 (flowchart showing jackpot symbol setting process) A diagram to explain the count-up reach effect A diagram to explain the battle performance after the count-up reach performance (a) to (e) are diagrams for explaining the battle performance after the count-up reach performance, and (f) is a diagram showing the special chart variation pattern change table. Flowchart showing count-up reach effect processing FIG. 49 shows Example 7. Figure equivalent to Figure 50 Figure equivalent to Figure 51 FIG. 50 showing Example 8 FIG. 53 showing Example 9 Figures showing Example 10 (a-c are figures showing background images of performance symbol games, d-e are figures showing symbol groups) 1A is a flowchart showing a presentation mode determination process, and FIG. 1B is a flowchart showing a presentation mode process 1. 1A is a flowchart showing the second rendering mode process, and FIG. 1B is a flowchart showing the third rendering mode process. Flowchart showing the rendering mode change process FIG. 11 shows an eleventh embodiment (a corresponds to FIG. 61, and b shows the mode change timing). FIG. 12 shows a twelfth embodiment (a diagram for explaining a reserved pre-reading effect) (a) is a flowchart showing the effect mode change process 0, (b) to (d) are figures showing the change of the background image during the hold pre-read effect.

[Example 1]
1. Mechanical Configuration of the Gaming Machine The outer frame 1 in Figure 1 is installed on the machine tray of a pachinko parlor. The outer frame 1 is a vertically long rectangular frame with openings at the front and back, and an inner frame 3 is attached to the left end of the outer frame 1 via a hinge fitting 2. The inner frame 3 is a rectangular container with an opening at the front, and is rotatable relative to the outer frame 1 around the vertical axis of the hinge fitting 2 between a stored position where it is stored within the outer frame 1 and a pulled-out position where it is pulled out forward from within the outer frame 1. A vertical, flat game board 4 is attached to the inner frame 3, as shown in Figure 2. The game board 4 is made of a colorless, transparent synthetic resin and covers the front opening of the inner frame 3 from the front.

As shown in Figure 1, a front frame 5 is attached to the hinge fitting 2. This front frame 5 is a rectangular frame with an opening 6, and a colorless, transparent window plate 7 that covers the opening 6 is fixed to the front frame 5. This front frame 5 is rotatable around the vertical axis of the hinge fitting 2 between a closed state that covers the game board 4 from the front and an open state that exposes the game board 4. When the front frame 5 is in the closed state, the window plate 7 faces the game board 4 from the front via a gap. As shown in Figure 3, an upper tray 8 and a lower tray 9 are fixed to the front frame 5 in two rows, one above the other. The upper tray 8 stores game balls, and the lower tray 9 stores game balls that the upper tray 8 cannot store. The upper tray 8 is equipped with an operation button 10 that can be operated by the player.

A launching device (not shown) is attached to the front frame 5. This launching device has a striking hammer that strikes the game balls and a launching motor that operates the hammer, and game balls are supplied to the hammer one by one from the upper tray 8. This launching device supplies a new game ball to the striking hammer each time the hammer strikes a game ball, and as shown in Figure 3, a launching handle 11 is connected to the launching device. This launching handle 11 is attached to the lower right corner of the front frame 5 so that it can be rotated around an axis oriented in the front-to-rear direction, and the force with which the striking hammer strikes the game ball is adjusted according to the amount of clockwise operation (rotation angle) of the launching handle 11.

As shown in Figure 2, an outer rail 12 and an inner rail 13 are fixed to the front of the game board 4. An arc-shaped launch passage 14 is formed between the outer rail 12 and the inner rail 13, and game balls struck by the battering hammer rise from bottom to top within the launch passage 14. The outer rail 12 and the inner rail 13 define a game area 15 on the front of the game board 4. The game area 15 is a circular area connected to the exit at the top of the launch passage 14, and game balls rising within the launch passage 14 are released into the game area 15 from the exit of the launch passage 14. Multiple game pegs (not shown) have been driven into the game area 15, and game balls released into the game area 15 fall within the game area 15 while colliding with the multiple game pegs.

As shown in Figure 2, a left-hitting area 16 and a right-hitting area 17 are defined within the play area 15. The left-hitting area 16 is the area to the left of the center line of the play area 15, and when the launch handle 11 is operated clockwise to a small extent, the game ball is released from the exit of the launch passage 14 into the left-hitting area 16. This type of hitting in which the game ball is released into the left-hitting area 16 is referred to as a left-hitting. The right-hitting area 17 is the area to the right of the center line of the play area 15, and when the launch handle 11 is operated clockwise to a large extent, the game ball is released from the exit of the launch passage 14 through the left-hitting area 16 into the right-hitting area 17. This type of hitting in which the game ball is released into the right-hitting area 17 is referred to as a right-hitting.

As shown in Figure 2, a first starting opening 18, which corresponds to the starting area, is fixed within the game area 15. This first starting opening 18 is pocket-shaped with an open top, allowing game balls to enter from the top. This first starting opening 18 is located between the left-hand hitting area 16 and the right-hand hitting area 17, allowing game balls to easily enter the first starting opening 18 from the top entrance when hitting from the left, but making it difficult to enter when hitting from the right.

As shown in Figure 2, a large prize opening 19, which corresponds to the ball entry area, is fixed within the right-hand play area 17. This large prize opening 19 is shaped like a horizontally long box with an open front and is equipped with a door panel 20. This door panel 20 is rotatable around a horizontal axis (not shown) at its bottom end between a vertically closed state and a horizontally open state. When the door panel 20 is closed, it closes the front entrance of the large prize opening 19 to prevent balls from entering. When a ball is played from the right side with the door panel 20 open, the ball falls onto the door panel 20 and rolls from front to back along the door panel 20, entering the entrance of the large prize opening 19. In other words, the large prize opening 19 allows balls to enter when the ball is played from the right side. A V-shaped entry port (not shown) is provided within the large prize opening 19. This V-shaped entry port is an opening through which a ball that enters the large prize opening 19 can fall, and is equipped with a V-shaped entry panel (not shown). This V-door plate is movable between a closed position that closes the V-winning opening so that game balls cannot fall, and an open position that opens it so that game balls can fall; game balls that enter the large winning opening 19 can fall into the V-winning opening when the V-door plate is in the open position, and cannot fall into the V-winning opening when the V-door plate is in the closed position.

As shown in Figure 2, within the right-hand hitting area 17, a guide plate 21 is fixed below the large prize opening 19. This guide plate 21 slopes downward from right to left, and when the game ball is hit from the right, the game ball falls onto the guide plate 21 and then rolls from right to left along the guide plate 21. Within the right-hand hitting area 17, a regular starting opening 22 is fixed above the large prize opening 19. This regular starting opening 22 is U-shaped with openings on the top and bottom, and when the game ball is hit from the right, the game ball can pass through from the top to the bottom.

As shown in FIG. 2, within the game area 15, a second starting hole 23 is fixed, located below the first starting hole 18 and corresponding to the starting area. This second starting hole 23 has an open top and is equipped with an opening/closing member 24. This opening/closing member 24 is movable between a protruding state in which it protrudes and retracts from the front of the game board 4 and a recessed state in which it retracts. The entrance on the top of the second starting hole 23 is closed when the opening/closing member 24 is in the protruding and retracted state, preventing game balls from entering. The entrance of this second starting hole 23 is open when the opening/closing member 24 is recessed. When the game ball is hit from the right while the second starting hole 23 is open, it rolls from right to left along the guide plate 21 and enters the entrance of the second starting hole 23.

As shown in Figure 2, an LED display 25 is fixed to the gaming board 4. This LED display 25 is located outside the gaming area 15, and displays the result of the win/loss judgment. A decorative frame 26 is fixed to the gaming board 4. This decorative frame 26 is colored and opaque, and has an opening 27. When viewed from the front, this decorative frame 26 is frame-shaped and surrounds the display area E of the effect symbol display 28. As shown in Figure 1, this effect symbol display 28 consists of a color LCD display fixed within the inner frame 3, and the display area E is set to be a horizontally long rectangle. This effect symbol display 28 corresponds to a display, and the display area E of the effect symbol display 28 is visible to the player through the window panel 7, the opening 27 in the decorative frame 26, and the gaming board 4.

As shown in Figure 3, an electric light 29 is fixed to the front frame 5. This electric light 29 is located at the upper end of the front frame 5 and has multiple hemispherical LED covers 30. Each LED cover 30 is set to a translucent white color and houses an LED 31 inside. Each LED 31 is a full-color LED whose color and brightness can be controlled, and each LED cover 30 is illuminated in a manner corresponding to the emitted color and brightness of the LED 31 as the internal LED 31 emits light. Two speakers 32 are fixed to the front frame 5. These speakers 32 face each other left and right with the electric light 29 in between, and each speaker 32 outputs sound forward.

As shown in Figure 2, the inner frame 3 contains a preview effect device 33. This preview effect device 33 has a colored, transparent, hemispherical decorative member 34 and is movable vertically between an upper limit position (see dashed double-dashed line) and a lower limit position (see solid line). The upper limit position of this preview effect device 33 is set above the display area E of the effect symbol display 28, and the preview effect device 33 is not visible to the player when in the upper limit position. The lower limit position of this preview effect device 33 is set to a position that overlaps the display area E of the effect symbol display 28 from the front, and the preview effect device 33 is visible to the player when in the lower limit position. The decorative member 34 of this preview effect device 33 contains a full-color LED 35 (see Figure 4) whose color and brightness can be controlled. This LED 35 serves as a light source, and the decorative member 34 emits light in a color that corresponds to the illumination color of the LED 35 when the LED 35 is lit. This decorative member 34 is connected to a pulse motor 36 (see Figure 4) via an elevation mechanism (not shown), and is moved between an upper limit position and a lower limit position as the pulse motor 36 is driven forward and reverse.

2. Electrical Configuration of the Gaming Machine The main control circuit 40 in Figure 4 is primarily a microcomputer, equipped with ROM, RAM, a CPU, and I/O. This main control circuit 40 controls game content such as the special symbol 1 lottery, special symbol 2 lottery, special symbol variable display, jackpot game, small jackpot game, game status setting, normal symbol lottery, normal symbol variable display, and normal symbol game, and corresponds to game control means. The ROM of this main control circuit 40 stores a main processing program, a timer interrupt processing program, a normal symbol hit determination table, a normal symbol variable display time table, a normal symbol game pattern table, a jackpot determination table, a fall determination table, a special symbol 1 jackpot type table, a special symbol 2 jackpot type table, a special symbol 1 variation pattern table, a special symbol 2 variation pattern table 1, a special symbol 2 variation pattern table 2, and a game pattern table. The RAM of the main control circuit 40 is configured with a special symbol 1 area and a special symbol 2 area.

As shown in Figure 4, the main control circuit 40 is connected to a first start gate sensor 41, a second start gate sensor 42, a normal gate sensor 43, a large prize gate sensor 44, and a V prize gate sensor 48. The first start gate sensor 41 detects game balls that enter the first start gate 18, the second start gate sensor 42 detects game balls that enter the second start gate 23, the normal gate sensor 43 detects game balls that pass through the normal start gate 22, the large prize gate sensor 44 detects game balls that enter the large prize gate 19, and the V prize gate sensor 48 detects game balls that fall into the V prize gate. The main control circuit 40 is connected to a start gate solenoid 45, a large prize gate solenoid 46, and a V prize gate solenoid 47. The start port solenoid 45 opens and closes the opening/closing member 24 of the second start port 23, the large prize port solenoid 46 opens and closes the door panel 20 of the large prize port 19, and the V prize port solenoid 47 opens and closes the V door panel of the V prize port. An LED display 25 is connected to this main control circuit 40, and the main control circuit 40 controls the display content of the LED display 25 to display a variable special pattern.

The payout control circuit 50 in Figure 4 is primarily a microcomputer. This payout control circuit 50 has ROM, RAM, and a CPU, and when the main control circuit 40 detects signals from the first start hole sensor 41, the second start hole sensor 42, and the large prize hole sensor 44, it sends a payout command to the payout control circuit 50. A prize ball payout device 51 is connected to this payout control circuit 50, and when the payout control circuit 40 detects a payout command from the main control circuit 40, it drives and controls the prize ball payout device 51 to pay out a unit number of game balls as prize balls into the upper tray 8.

The sub-control circuit 60 in Figure 4 is primarily a microcomputer. The main control circuit 40 sends commands to the sub-control circuit 60 according to the progress of the game, and the sub-control circuit 60 sets the display content of the effect symbol display 28, the illumination content of the illumination device 29, the sound content of the speaker 32, and the operation content of the advance notice effect device 33 in response to commands from the main control circuit 40. This sub-control circuit 60 has ROM, RAM, a CPU, I/O, an RTC, a drive circuit, a PWM circuit, a speaker circuit, and a motor circuit, and the ROM stores programs for main processing, reception interrupt processing, and timer interrupt processing. The RAM functions as work memory, and the CPU executes the ROM programs for main processing to timer interrupt processing in response to commands from the main control circuit 40. The operation button 10 is connected to this sub-control circuit 60, and the sub-control circuit 60 detects the operation of the operation button 10 in response to an electrical signal from the operation button 10.

The drive circuit in Figure 4 is primarily a microcomputer. This drive circuit controls the effect symbol display 28 in accordance with the display content settings of the sub-control circuit 60, and has ROM, RAM, CPU, CGROM, CGRAM, and VDP. The ROM stores an image control program for specifying image data, the RAM functions as work memory, and the CPU executes the program in the ROM. The CGROM stores image data for displaying images on the effect symbol display 28, and the VDP reads image data from the CGROM in response to commands from the CPU. The VDP expands the results of the image data read into CGRAM, synthesizes the expanded image data, and draws it in the CGRAM frame buffer, outputting the image drawing results to the effect symbol display 28 as an RGB signal, and the effect symbol display 28 displays the image in color in accordance with the RGB signal from the VDP.

The PWM circuit in Figure 4 is based on a microcomputer, and PWM controls the color and brightness of the multiple LEDs 31 in the illumination device 29 to cause the multiple LED covers 30 in the illumination device 29 to light up according to the lighting settings, and PWM controls the color and brightness of the LEDs 35 in the notice display device 33 to cause the decorative members 34 of the notice display device 33 to light up according to the lighting settings. The speaker circuit in Figure 4 is based on a microcomputer, and controls both speakers 32 to output sound from both speakers 32 at a scale, volume, and tone according to the sound settings. The motor circuit in Figure 4 is based on a microcomputer, and controls the pulse motor 36 to drive forward and backward to move the notice display device 33 between its upper and lower limit positions.

3. Game Functions 3-1. Regular Game 3-1-1. Regular Lottery When the game ball passes through the regular game starting hole 22, the value of the regular game random number in Figure 5 (a) is obtained, and the result of the regular game hit judgment according to the result of the acquisition of the value of the regular game random number is obtained from the regular game hit judgment table in Figure 5 (b). This regular game hit judgment table is set to a non-electric support state and an electric support state, and in the electric support state, the judgment result of a regular game hit is obtained with a higher probability than in the non-electric support state.

3-1-2. Ordinary Map Variation Display When the result of the normal map hit/miss judgment is obtained, the normal map fluctuation display begins. This normal map fluctuation display starts by flashing a predetermined number of LEDs on the LED display 25 in a predetermined pattern, and then stops flashing in either a "normal map hit" or "normal map miss" mode. If the predetermined number of LEDs are judged to be a "normal map hit," they stop flashing in a "normal map hit mode," and if they are judged to be a "normal map miss," they stop flashing in a "normal map miss mode." The required time for this normal map fluctuation display is obtained from the normal map fluctuation display time table in Figure 5 (c). This normal map fluctuation display time table assigns normal map fluctuation times to each of the "electric support state" and "non-electric support state," and a shorter normal map fluctuation display time is obtained in the "electric support state" compared to the "non-electric support state."

3-1-3. Normal gameplay When the normal game display is stopped in the "normal hit" mode, a normal game pattern corresponding to the current game state is selected from the normal game pattern table in Figure 5 (d), and normal gameplay begins with the selection result of the normal game pattern. This normal game opens the second start port 23, and in the "electric support state", the second start port 23 is opened once for a long time (6 seconds) as a normal game, and in the "non-electric support state", the second start port 23 is opened once for a short time (1 second) as a normal game.

3-2. Special Chart 1 Game 3-2-1. Acquisition of Special Chart 1 Game Data When a game ball enters the first starting hole 18, the values of the special chart random number, jackpot type random number, fall random number, and variation pattern random number shown in FIG. 5(a) are acquired, and the acquired values of the special chart random number and the variation pattern random number are stored in RAM as a set of special chart 1 game data. As shown in FIG. 5(i), special chart 1 reserve areas 1 to 4 are set in this RAM, and the special chart 1 game data is stored in the order of acquisition: "Special Chart 1 Reserve Area 4,""Special Chart 1 Reserve Area 3,""Special Chart 1 Reserve Area 2," and "Special Chart 1 Reserve Area 1." In other words, if special chart 1 game data is stored in all special chart 1 reserve areas 1 to 4, the special chart 1 game data in "Special Chart 1 Reserve Area 4" is the oldest, and the special chart 1 game data in "Special Chart 1 Reserve Area 1" is the newest. A state in which special chart 1 game data is stored in all of special chart 1 holding areas 1 to 4 is referred to as the special chart 1 holding number being "4", a state in which special chart 1 game data is stored in three of special chart 1 holding areas 2 to 4 is referred to as the special chart 1 holding number being "3", a state in which special chart 1 game data is stored in two of special chart 1 holding areas 3 to 4 is referred to as the special chart 1 holding number being "2", a state in which special chart 1 game data is stored in one of special chart 1 holding areas 4 is referred to as the special chart 1 holding number being "1", and a state in which special chart 1 game data is not stored in any of special chart 1 holding areas 1 to 4 is referred to as the special chart 1 holding number being "0".

3-2-2. Special Chart 1 Lottery When special chart 1 game data is stored in the "special chart 1 reserve area 4," the special chart 1 lottery is held on the condition that the current game is stopped. This game-stopped state refers to a state in which special chart 1 game, special chart 2 game, jackpot game, and small jackpot game are all stopped, and the special chart 1 lottery is permitted during normal game play. This game-stopped state corresponds to a playable state, and a state in which any one of special chart 1 game, special chart 2 game, jackpot game, and small jackpot game is being played corresponds to a non-playable state.

When special chart 1 game data is stored in "Special Chart 1 Reserve Area 4" while game play is stopped, the storage result of the special chart random number value is detected from "Special Chart 1 Reserve Area 4," and in the "high probability state," a judgment result of "jackpot," "small hit," or "miss" is obtained from the jackpot judgment table for the high probability state in Figure 5 (e) depending on the detection result of the special chart random number value. In the "normal probability state," a judgment result of "jackpot," "small hit," or "miss" is obtained from the jackpot judgment table for the normal probability state depending on the detection result of the special chart random number value. The jackpot judgment probability in this "normal probability state" is set lower than the jackpot judgment probability in the "high probability state," and the judgment probability of a small hit is set the same between the normal probability state and the high probability state. The jackpot probability in this high probability state is "40/1201," and the jackpot probability in the normal probability state is "3/1201."

When a "jackpot" determination result is obtained from the jackpot determination table, the stored value of the jackpot type random number is detected from the "Special Chart 1 Reserve Area 4," and a jackpot type corresponding to the detection result of the jackpot type random number value is obtained from the Special Chart 1 Jackpot Type Table in Figure 5 (g). This Special Chart 1 Jackpot Type Table has three jackpot types set: "Jackpot Pattern 1," "Jackpot Pattern 2," and "Jackpot Pattern 3." When "Jackpot Pattern 1" is obtained and when "Jackpot Pattern 3" is selected, "Electric Support State 1" and "High Probability State" are set, respectively, and when "Jackpot Pattern 2" is obtained, "Electric Support State 2" and "Normal Probability State" are set.

When a jackpot type is determined in response to the obtained "jackpot" determination result, the storage result of the fluctuation pattern random number value is detected from the "Special Chart 1 Reserve Area 4," and the special chart fluctuation pattern and special chart fluctuation display time are selected from the special chart 1 fluctuation pattern table in Figure 6 (a) according to the detection result of the fluctuation pattern random number value. When a "miss" determination result is obtained, the storage result of the fluctuation pattern random number value is detected from the "Special Chart 1 Reserve Area 4," and the special chart fluctuation pattern and special chart fluctuation display time are selected from the special chart 1 fluctuation pattern table in Figure 6 (a) according to the detection result of the fluctuation pattern random number value.

3-2-3. Fall Lottery When a special chart variation pattern and special chart variation display time are selected, the storage result of the value of the fall random number is detected from the "special chart 1 reserve area 4", and either "fall occurred" or "fall did not occur" is selected from the fall determination table in Figure 5 (f) according to the detection result of the value of the fall random number. If "fall occurred" is selected as this determination result, if the current game state is a "high probability state", the "high probability state" is canceled and the "normal probability state" is set instead of the "high probability state".

3-2-4. Special Chart 1 Variation Display When the special chart variation pattern and special chart variation display time are selected, the special chart 1 variation display begins. This special chart 1 variation display causes a predetermined number of LEDs on the LED display 25 to start flashing in a predetermined pattern and then stop flashing. If the predetermined number of LEDs are determined to be a miss, they stop flashing in the "Special Chart 1 Miss"mode; if they are determined to be a jackpot, they stop flashing in the "Big Hit" mode according to the jackpot type judgment result; and if they are determined to be a small hit, they stop flashing in the "Small Hit" mode. The time required from the start of flashing to the end of flashing depends on the selection result of the special chart variation display time.

3-2-5. Small Win Game When a predetermined number of LEDs on the LED display 25 stop flashing in a small win mode, a small win game pattern is selected from the game pattern table shown in Figure 7(a), and small win gameplay begins according to the selected small win game pattern. This small win game pattern consists of an opening period, one round, and an ending period. The round involves keeping the large prize opening 19 open, and the round's open time limit is set to a short value of 0.8 seconds, making it difficult for a game ball to enter the large prize opening 19. This round is played while the V prize opening is closed, and game balls are prohibited from falling into the V prize opening during small win gameplay. The opening period is the period during which the large prize opening 19 is closed, and is a waiting period for the round to begin. The ending period is the period during which the large prize opening 19 is closed, and the period from the start of the opening period to the end of the ending period is called small win game.

3-2-6. Jackpot Game When the predetermined plurality of LEDs of the LED display 25 stop flashing in a manner corresponding to the jackpot type determination result of "jackpot symbol 1" or "jackpot symbol 2," jackpot game pattern 1 is selected from the game pattern table of FIG. 7( a), and jackpot game begins with jackpot game pattern 1. This jackpot game allows game balls to enter the jackpot entry port 19 by opening and closing the jackpot entry port 19. For jackpot game pattern 1, an opening period is set before the start of the first round and an ending period is set after the end of the final round. The opening period is a period during which the jackpot entry port 19 is closed, and is a waiting period during which the jackpot entry port 19 is changed from a state in which game balls cannot enter to a state in which game balls can enter. The ending period is a period during which the jackpot entry port 19 is closed, and is a period during which the player is made aware that the jackpot game has ended. The period from the start of the opening period to the end of the ending period is called the jackpot game.

Jackpot game pattern 1 is set to 16 rounds. In each of these rounds, the jackpot entry port 19 remains open until the time limit has elapsed, after which it is closed for a set period of time; if the maximum number of game balls enters the jackpot before the time limit has elapsed, the jackpot game ends after being closed for a set period of time without waiting for the time limit to elapse. In other words, jackpot game pattern 1 is made up of 16 unit games, with the first round commencing when the opening period ends, and the ending period commencing after the closing time has elapsed following the end of the final round. This jackpot game pattern 1 is capable of paying out a large number of prize balls to the player, and in jackpot game pattern 1 when jackpot symbol 1 is selected as the jackpot type, the V prize opening is left open for a number of specific rounds (for example, the 13th to 15th rounds), allowing game balls to fall into the V prize opening; in jackpot game pattern 1 when jackpot symbol 2 is selected as the jackpot type, the V prize opening is always left closed, prohibiting game balls from falling into the V prize opening.

When a predetermined number of LEDs on the LED display 25 stop flashing in a manner corresponding to the jackpot type determination result "jackpot pattern 3," jackpot game pattern 2 is selected from the game pattern table in Figure 7(a), and jackpot game begins with jackpot game pattern 2. This jackpot game pattern 2 is identical to jackpot game pattern 1 except that it is set to four rounds, and game balls are allowed to fall into the V prize opening in response to the V prize opening being opened in a specific number of rounds (e.g., the second through fourth rounds). This jackpot game pattern 2 pays out fewer prize balls to the player than jackpot game pattern 1.

3-2-7. Updating the Game State 3-2-7-1. High Probability State and Normal Probability State When "Jackpot Symbol 2" is selected, the "normal probability state" is set when the jackpot game ends, as shown in FIG. 5(g). When "Jackpot Symbol 1" or "Jackpot Symbol 3" is selected, the "high probability state" is set when the jackpot game ends. This "high probability state" is set on the condition that the game ball falls into the V prize opening during the jackpot game. If the game ball does not fall into the V prize opening during the jackpot game, the "normal probability state" is set. This "high probability state" continues until "Fall" is determined.

3-2-7-2. Electric Support State and Non-Electric Support State When "Jackpot Symbol 1" or "Jackpot Symbol 3" is selected, "Electric Support State 1" is set when the jackpot game ends. This "Electric Support State 1" is set to a minimum of "100 times." If the "High Probability State" falls to the "Normal Probability State" in response to a "Fall" being drawn before the total number of times for Special Chart 1 play and Special Chart 2 play reaches the minimum number of times, "Electric Support State 1" continues until the total number of times for Special Chart 1 play and Special Chart 2 play reaches the minimum number of times "100." If the total number of times for Special Chart 1 play and Special Chart 2 play reaches the minimum number of times "100," the "High Probability State" falls to the "Normal Probability State" in response to a "Fall" being drawn, and the "Non-Electric Support State" is set. If "Jackpot Symbol 2" is selected, "Electric Support State 2" is set when the jackpot game ends. This "electric support state 2" has a limit of "100 times," and "electric support state 2" is switched to "non-electric support state" when the total number of times that special chart 1 play and special chart 2 play reaches the limit.

3-2-7-3. Special Chart 1 Prediction When the acquisition result of the special chart 1 game data is stored in one of the special chart 1 reserve areas 1-4 in response to the game ball entering the first starting hole 18, a pre-determination of whether or not the game will be won, a pre-determination of the fluctuation pattern, a pre-determination of the fluctuation display time, and a pre-determination of whether or not the game will fall are made based on the acquisition result of the special chart 1 game data. If the pre-determination result of whether or not the game will be won is a jackpot, a pre-determination of the jackpot type and a pre-determination of the game state are made. These pre-determinations of whether or not the game will be won and the pre-determination of the jackpot type are made in the manner described above, and if the pre-determination result of whether or not the game will be won is a jackpot, a pre-determination of the game state is made based on the pre-determination result of the jackpot type. In other words, if the pre-determination result of the jackpot type is "jackpot symbol 1" or "jackpot symbol 3," a pre-determination of "electric support state 1" or "high probability state" is made, and if it is "jackpot symbol 2," a pre-determination of "electric support state 2" or "normal probability state" is made.

When a pre-determination of whether or not a win/loss has been made and a pre-determination of the game state has been made, the pre-determination results of whether or not a win/loss has been made and the pre-determination results of the game state are stored in RAM as a set of special chart 1 pre-read data. As shown in Figure 5(i), special chart 1 pre-read areas 1-4 are set in this RAM, and special chart 1 pre-read data corresponding to the special chart 1 game data in "special chart 1 reserve area 4" is stored in "special chart 1 pre-read area 4," special chart 1 pre-read data corresponding to the special chart 1 game data in "special chart 1 reserve area 3" is stored in "special chart 1 pre-read area 3," special chart 1 pre-read data corresponding to the special chart 1 game data in "special chart 1 reserve area 2" is stored in "special chart 1 pre-read area 2," and special chart 1 pre-read data corresponding to the special chart 1 game data in "special chart 1 reserve area 1" is stored in "special chart 1 pre-read area 1."

3-3. Special Chart 2 Game 3-3-1. Acquisition of Special Chart 2 Game Data When the game ball enters the second starting hole 23 validly, the special chart random number value, jackpot type random number value, fall random number value, and fluctuation pattern random number value in Figure 5(a) are acquired, and the acquisition results of the special chart random number value to the acquisition results of the fluctuation pattern random number value are stored in RAM as a set of special chart 2 game data. As shown in Figure 5(j), special chart 2 reserve areas 1 to 4 are set in this RAM, and the special chart 2 game data is stored in the order of acquisition in the following order: "Special Chart 2 Reserve Area 4", "Special Chart 2 Reserve Area 3", "Special Chart 2 Reserve Area 2", "Special Chart 2 Reserve Area 1". A state in which special chart 2 game data is stored in all of these special chart 2 reserve areas 1 to 4 is referred to as the special chart 2 reserve number being "4", a state in which special chart 2 game data is stored in three of the special chart 2 reserve areas 2 to 4 is referred to as the special chart 2 reserve number being "3", a state in which special chart 2 game data is stored in two of the special chart 2 reserve areas 3 to 4 is referred to as the special chart 2 reserve number being "2", a state in which special chart 2 game data is stored in one of the special chart 2 reserve areas 4 is referred to as the special chart 2 reserve number being "1", and a state in which special chart 2 game data is not stored in any of the special chart 2 reserve areas 1 to 4 is referred to as the special chart 2 reserve number being "0".

3-3-2. Special Chart 2 Lottery When special chart 2 game data is stored in the "special chart 2 reserve area 4" in a game-stopped state, the storage result of the special chart random number value is detected from the "special chart 2 reserve area 4," and in the "high probability state," a judgment result of "jackpot,""smallhit," or "miss" is obtained from the jackpot judgment table for the high probability state in Figure 5 (e) depending on the detection result of the special chart random number value, and in the "normal probability state," a judgment result of "jackpot,""smallhit," or "miss" is obtained from the jackpot judgment table for the normal probability state depending on the detection result of the special chart random number value. This special chart 2 lottery is performed with priority over the special chart 1 lottery, and when special chart 2 game data is stored in the "special chart 2 reserve area 4," the special chart 2 lottery is performed on the condition that the game is currently stopped. In other words, when both special chart 1 game data and special chart 2 game data exist, the special chart 2 lottery is started according to the special chart 2 game data, and the special chart 1 lottery is started after all of the special chart 2 game data has been drawn.

The Special Chart 2 Jackpot Type Table in Figure 5(h) is used to determine the jackpot type for Special Chart 2. This Special Chart 2 Jackpot Type Table has "Jackpot Pattern 1," "Jackpot Pattern 2," and "Jackpot Pattern 3" set, and when "Jackpot Pattern 1" or "Jackpot Pattern 3" is obtained from the Special Chart 2 Jackpot Type Table, "Electric Support State 1" or "High Probability State" is set, respectively, and when "Jackpot Pattern 2" is obtained from the Special Chart 2 Jackpot Type Table, "Electric Support State 2" or "Normal Probability State" is set. The allocation probability of "jackpot symbol 1" in this special chart 2 jackpot type table is set higher than the allocation probability of "jackpot symbol 1" in the special chart 1 jackpot type table, and when a jackpot is determined to have occurred when the game ball enters the second starting hole 23, the "electric support state 1" and "high probability state" are set with a higher probability than when a jackpot is determined to have occurred when the ball enters the first starting hole 18.

Special Chart 2 Variation Pattern Table 1 in Figure 6(b) or Special Chart 2 Variation Pattern Table 2 in Figure 6(c) is used to determine the special chart variation pattern and special chart variation display time for Special Chart 2. Special Chart 2 Variation Pattern Table 1 is used when the current game state is "Electric Support State 2" or "Electric Support State 1" with 200 or fewer continuations, and differs from Special Chart 1 Variation Pattern Table in that it is assigned the time-saving special chart variation pattern "PH07" and the time-saving special chart variation display time "1000 msec" when a miss is determined. Special Chart 2 Variation Pattern Table 2 is used when the current game state is "Electric Support State 1" with 201 or more continuations, and differs from Special Chart 1 Variation Pattern Table and Special Chart 2 Variation Pattern Table 1 in that it is assigned the super-time-saving special chart variation pattern "PH08" and the super-time-saving special chart variation display time "500 msec" when a miss is determined. The state in which the special chart variation pattern is obtained from this special chart 2 variation pattern table 2 is called the "super electric support state."

3-3-3. Fall Lottery When a special chart variation pattern and special chart variation display time are selected, the storage result of the fall random number value is detected from the "special chart 2 reserve area 4", and either "fall occurred" or "fall did not occur" is selected from the fall determination table in Figure 5 (f) according to the detection result of the fall random number value. If "fall occurred" is selected as this determination result, if the current game state is a "high probability state", the "high probability state" is canceled and the "normal probability state" is set instead of the "high probability state".

3-3-4. Special chart 2 variation display When a special chart variation pattern and special chart variation display time for special chart 2 are selected, the special chart 2 variation display is performed for the required time according to the selection result of the special chart variation display time. This special chart 2 variation display starts flashing the multiple LEDs for special chart 2 of the LED display 25 in a predetermined pattern and then stops flashing, and the LEDs for special chart 2 stop flashing in the "special chart 2 miss" mode if it is determined to be a miss, stops flashing in the "small hit" mode if it is determined to be a "small hit", and stops flashing in the mode according to the judgment result of the big hit type if it is determined to be a big hit.
When a predetermined number of LEDs of the LED indicator 25 stop flashing in the mode of a small win, a small win game pattern is selected from the game pattern table of FIG. 7(a), and the small win game starts according to the selection result of the small win game pattern.

3-3-6. Jackpot Game When the LED for special chart 2 of the LED display 25 stops flashing in a manner corresponding to the result of the jackpot type determination, a jackpot game pattern corresponding to the result of the jackpot type determination is selected from the game pattern table of FIG. 7(a), and the jackpot game starts with the selected result of the jackpot game pattern.
3-3-7. Updating the Game State If "Jackpot Symbol 2" is selected, "Electric Support State 2" and "Normal Probability State" are set when the jackpot game ends, and if "Jackpot Symbol 1" or "Jackpot Symbol 3" is selected, "Electric Support State 1" and "High Probability State" are set when the jackpot game ends. This "High Probability State" is set on the condition that the game ball falls into the V winning hole during the jackpot game, and if the game ball does not fall into the V winning hole during the jackpot game, the "Normal Probability State" is set.

3-3-8. Special Chart 2 Pre-reading When the result of acquiring the special chart 2 game data is stored in one of the special chart 2 reserve areas 1-4 in response to the game ball entering the second starting hole 23, a pre-determination of whether or not the ball will win, a pre-determination of the fluctuation pattern, a pre-determination of the fluctuation display time, and a pre-determination of whether or not the ball will fall are made according to the result of acquiring the special chart 2 game data, and if the pre-determination result of whether or not the ball will win is a jackpot, a pre-determination of the type of jackpot and a pre-determination of the game status are made. These pre-determinations of whether or not the ball will win and the pre-determination of the game status are made in the procedure described above, and the pre-determination results of whether or not the ball will win and the pre-determination results of the game status are stored in RAM as a set of special chart 2 pre-reading data. As shown in Figure 5 (j), special chart 2 pre-reading areas 1 to 4 are set in this RAM, and special chart 2 pre-reading data corresponding to the special chart 2 game data in the "special chart 2 reserve area 4" is stored in the "special chart 2 pre-reading area 4", special chart 2 pre-reading data corresponding to the special chart 2 game data in the "special chart 2 reserve area 3" is stored in the "special chart 2 pre-reading area 3", special chart 2 pre-reading data corresponding to the special chart 2 game data in the "special chart 2 reserve area 2" is stored in the "special chart 2 pre-reading area 2", and special chart 2 pre-reading data corresponding to the special chart 2 game data in the "special chart 2 reserve area 1" is stored in the "special chart 2 pre-reading area 1".

4. Processing Functions of the Main Control Circuit 40 4-1. Main Processing When the main control circuit 40 is powered on, it detects the main processing program shown in Figure 7(b) from the ROM and disables interrupts in S1. Then, it updates the values of the random numbers shown in Figure 5(a) in S2 and enables interrupts in S3. The value of each of these random numbers is incremented by "1" to the current value, and when it is incremented to the upper limit, it is reset to "0" and added again.

4-2. Timer Interrupt Processing When the main control circuit 40 sets interrupt permission in S3, it allows the timer interrupt processing to start in S4. This timer interrupt processing is executed at regular intervals, and the random number update processing in S3 is repeated during the waiting time from the end of the current timer interrupt processing until the start of the next timer interrupt processing.

Figure 8 shows the timer interrupt processing of the main control circuit 40. The main control circuit 40 sends the commands and other information set in the RAM output buffer during the previous timer interrupt processing to the sub-control circuit 60 during the output processing of S11 of this timer interrupt processing. Then, the random number update processing of S12 updates the values of the random numbers in Figure 5(a), and the sensor detection processing of S13 detects the presence or absence of signals from each of the first start gate sensor 41, second start gate sensor 42, regular prize sensor 43, large prize gate sensor 44, and V prize gate sensor 48.

After the main control circuit 40 completes the sensor detection process in S13, it determines in S14 whether or not a signal has been detected from the map sensor 44. If it determines that a signal has not been detected from the map sensor 44, it proceeds to S16. If it determines that a signal has been detected from the map sensor 44, it acquires the value of the map random number in the map game data acquisition process in S15 and then proceeds to S16.

When the main control circuit 40 proceeds to S16, it determines whether a signal from the second start port sensor 42 has been detected. If it determines that a signal from the second start port sensor 42 has not been detected, it proceeds to S19. If it determines that a signal from the second start port sensor 42 has been detected, it compares the special chart 2 reserved number with "4." If it determines that the special chart 2 reserved number is "4," it proceeds to S19. If it determines that the special chart 2 reserved number is less than "4," it acquires special chart 2 game data in S17. Here, the acquired special chart 2 game data is stored in one of special chart 2 reserve areas 1 to 4 according to the storage order, a special chart 2 reserve command is set in the output buffer, and the process proceeds to S18. This special chart 2 reserve command notifies the sub-control circuit 60 of the special chart 2 reserved number, and is sent to the sub-control circuit 60 during the next timer interrupt process.

When the main control circuit 40 proceeds to S18, it performs a preliminary determination of whether or not the game has been won, the fluctuation pattern, the fluctuation display time, the type of jackpot, the presence or absence of a fall, and the game status on the results of the special chart 2 game data acquisition, and stores the preliminary determination results of whether or not the game has been won and the game status as special chart 2 pre-read data in one of special chart 2 pre-read areas 1 to 4 according to the storage order. Next, the stored results of the special chart 2 pre-read data are set in the output buffer of RAM to be sent to the sub-control circuit 81 in the next timer interrupt process, and proceeds to S19.

When the main control circuit 40 proceeds to S19, it determines whether a signal from the first start gate sensor 41 has been detected. If it determines that a signal from the first start gate sensor 41 has not been detected, it proceeds to normal game processing at S22, special game 2 processing at S23, and special game 1 processing at S24, in that order. If it determines that a signal from the first start gate sensor 41 has been detected, it compares the special game 1 reserved number with "4." If it determines that the special game 1 reserved number is "4," it proceeds to S22 through S24, in that order. If it determines that the special game 1 reserved number is less than "4," it acquires the special game 1 game data at S20. Here, the acquired special game data is stored in one of special game 1 reserved areas 1 through 4 according to the storage order, and a special game 1 reserve command is set in the output buffer. This special game 1 reserve command notifies the sub-control circuit 60 of the special game 1 reserved number, and is sent to the sub-control circuit 60 during the next timer interrupt process.

When the main control circuit 40 stores the acquisition results of the special chart 1 game data in S20, in S21 it performs a preliminary judgment of whether it is a win or not, a preliminary judgment of the fluctuation pattern, a preliminary judgment of the fluctuation display time, a preliminary judgment of the type of jackpot, a preliminary judgment of whether it will fall or not, and a preliminary judgment of the game status on the acquisition results of the special chart 1 game data, and stores the preliminary judgment results of whether it is a win or not and the game status as special chart 1 pre-read data in one of the special chart 1 pre-read areas 1 to 4 according to the storage order. Next, the stored result of the special chart 1 pre-read data is set in the output buffer of the RAM to be sent to the sub-control circuit 60 in the next timer interrupt processing, and proceeds in order to S22 to S24.
4-3. General map processing

The main control circuit 40 determines whether the normal win is successful based on the result of the normal win random number value obtained during the normal win process in S22, and selects a normal win display time that corresponds to the current game state from the normal win display time table in Figure 5 (c). Then, the normal win/loss determination result is announced in response to the normal win display being executed based on the normal win display time selection result. If the "normal win" determination result is announced here, a normal win game pattern that corresponds to the current game state is selected from the normal win game pattern table in Figure 5 (d), and the game ball is allowed to enter the second starting hole 23 in response to the normal win game being executed based on the normal win game pattern selection result.

4-4. Special Chart 2 Processing Figure 9 (a) shows the special chart 2 processing of S23, in which the main control circuit 40 selectively executes the special chart 2 lottery processing of S31, the time reduction count update processing of S32, the fall determination processing of S33, the special chart 2 fluctuation stop processing of S34, the small win game processing of S35, and the big win game processing of S36 depending on the setting result of the value of the second pointer P2 in the RAM. The value of this second pointer P2 is initially set to "1" when the power is turned on.

4-4-1. Special Chart 2 Lottery Processing When the value of the second pointer P2 is set to "1", the main control circuit 40 proceeds to the special chart 2 lottery processing of S31. The value of this second pointer P2 is set to "1" when the game is stopped, and the main control circuit 40 determines whether special chart 2 game data is stored in the "special chart 2 reserve area 4" in the special chart 2 lottery processing of S31. If it is determined that special chart 2 game data is not stored in the "special chart 2 reserve area 4", the special chart 2 lottery processing is terminated, and if it is determined that special chart 2 game data is stored in the "special chart 2 reserve area 4", a win/loss determination, a fluctuation pattern determination, and a fluctuation display time determination are made based on the special chart 2 game data in the "special chart 2 reserve area 4", and if the win/loss determination result is a jackpot, a jackpot type determination is made. Then, the results of the hit/miss judgment, the results of the fluctuation pattern judgment, and the results of the jackpot type judgment are set in the output buffer of the RAM to be sent to the sub-control circuit 60 as special chart 2 game data, and a fluctuation start command 2 is set in the output buffer of the RAM to be sent to the sub-control circuit 60.

Figure 10 shows the variation pattern table processing executed by the main control circuit 40 in S31. In the variation pattern table processing, the main control circuit 40 selects special chart 2 variation pattern table 1 or special chart 2 variation pattern table 2, and from the selection result of the special chart variation pattern table, selects a special chart variation pattern and special chart variation display time corresponding to the value of the variation pattern random number in the special chart 2 holding area 4, and sets the selection result of the special chart variation pattern and the selection judgment result of the special chart variation display time to the output buffer of RAM. This main control circuit 40 determines in S91 whether the current game state is a "super electric support state." If it determines here that the current game state is a "super electric support state," it selects special chart 2 variation pattern table 2 in Figure 6 (c) in S92 and selects the special chart variation pattern and special chart variation display time from special chart 2 variation pattern table 2. If this main control circuit 40 determines in S91 that the current game state is not a "super electric support state," it determines in S93 whether the current game state is an "electric support state." Here, if it is determined that the current game state is "Electric Support State 1" or "Electric Support State 2", S98 selects Special Chart 2 Variation Pattern Table 1 in Figure 6 (b), and selects the special chart variation pattern and special chart variation display time from Special Chart 2 Variation Pattern Table 1.

When the main control circuit 40 sets special chart 2 game data in the output buffer at S31 in Figure 9(a), it starts the special chart variable display and organizes "Special Chart 2 Reserve Area 1" to "Special Chart 2 Reserve Area 4." This process erases special chart 2 game data from "Special Chart 2 Reserve Area 4." If special chart 2 game data is stored in "Special Chart 2 Reserve Area 3," the special chart 2 game data is shifted to "Special Chart 2 Reserve Area 4." If special chart 2 game data is stored in "Special Chart 2 Reserve Area 2," the special chart 2 game data is shifted to "Special Chart 2 Reserve Area 3." If special chart 2 game data is stored in "Special Chart 2 Reserve Area 1," the special chart 2 game data is shifted to "Special Chart 2 Reserve Area 2." After organizing "Special Chart 2 Reserve Areas 1 to 4," the main control circuit 40 organizes "Special Chart 2 Preview Area 1" to "Special Chart 2 Preview Area 4" using the same procedure and sets the value of the second pointer P2 to "2."

4-4-2. Time-Saving Count Update Process When the value of the second pointer P2 is set to "2," the main control circuit 40 proceeds to the time-saving count update process in S32. Figure 11 shows the time-saving count update process. In S41 of Figure 11, the main control circuit 40 determines whether the current game state is "Electric Support State 1,""Electric Support State 2,""Super Electric Support State," or "Non-Electric Support State." If the current game state is determined to be "Non-Electric Support State," the value of the second pointer P2 is set to "3" in S48. If the current game state is determined to be "Electric Support State 1,""Electric Support State 2," or "Super Electric Support State," the value of the time-saving count counter is incremented by "1" in S42. The value of this time-saving count counter measures the number of times the electric support state continues, and the main control circuit 40 sets a time-saving count command when the time-saving count counter is incremented. This time-saving count command notifies the sub-control circuit 60 of the result of adding the value of the time-saving count counter as the number of times the electric support state continues, and when the main control circuit 40 sets the time-saving count command, it sets the setting result of the time-saving count command in the output buffer of RAM in S43 to send it to the sub-control circuit 60, and then proceeds to S44.

When the main control circuit 40 proceeds to S44 in Figure 11, it determines whether the current game state is "Electric Support State 1." If it determines that the current game state is "Electric Support State 1," it proceeds to S45 and compares the added result of the time-saving count counter value with "201." If it determines that the time-saving count counter value is "201," it changes the current game state from "Electric Support State 1" to "Super Electric Support State" in S46, and sets a super electric support command in the output buffer of RAM in S47. This super electric support command notifies the sub-control circuit 60 that the "super electric support state" has been set, and if the main control circuit 40 sets a super electric support command in S47, it sets the value of the second ponter P2 to "3" in S48.

If the main control circuit 40 determines in S44 of Figure 11 that the current game state is not "Electric Support State 1," it determines in S49 whether the current game state is "Electric Support State 2." If it determines that the current game state is not "Electric Support State 2," it sets the value of the second ponter P2 to "3" in S48, and if it determines that the current game state is "Electric Support State 2," it compares the value of the time-saving count counter with the upper limit of "100" in S50. If it determines that the value of the time-saving count counter is not the upper limit of "100," it sets the value of the second ponter P2 to "3" in S48.

If the main control circuit 40 determines in S50 of Figure 11 that the value of the time-saving counter is the upper limit of "100", it changes the current game state from "Electric Support State 2" to "Non-Electric Support State" in S51, and sets an electric support cancel command in the RAM output buffer in S52. This electric support cancel command notifies the sub-control circuit 60 that the state has switched from "Electric Support State 2" to "Non-Electric Support State", and if the main control circuit 40 sets the electric support cancel command in S52, it sets the value of the second ponter P2 to "3" in S48.

4-4-3. Fall Determination Processing If the value of the second pointer P2 is set to "3," the main control circuit 40 proceeds to the fall determination processing of S33 in Figure 9(a). Figure 12 shows the fall determination processing of S33, in which the main control circuit 40 determines whether the current game state is a "high probability state" in S61. If it determines that the current game state is a "normal probability state," it sets the value of the second pointer P2 to "4" in S72, and if it determines that the current game state is a "high probability state," it proceeds to S62. Here, the value of the fall random number is detected from the "Special Chart 2 Reserve Area 4," and a determination result corresponding to the detection result of the fall random number value is detected from the fall determination table in Figure 5(f).

When the main control circuit 40 detects the result of the determination of whether or not a fall has occurred in S62, it determines in S63 whether or not the detection result is "fall has occurred." If it determines that the detection result is "no fall," it sets the value of the second pointer P2 to "4" in S72. If it determines that the detection result is "fall has occurred," it sets the "normal probability state" in place of the "high probability state" in S64, and sets it in the output buffer of RAM in S65 to send a fall command to the sub-control circuit 60. This fall command notifies the sub-control circuit 60 that the "high probability state" has fallen to the "normal probability state," and is sent to the sub-control circuit 60 in the next timer interrupt process.

The main control circuit 40 sets a fall command in the output buffer in S65, and then determines in S66 whether the current game state is "Electric Support State 1." If it determines that the current game state is "Electric Support State 1," then it compares the value of the time-saving count counter with "100" in S67. If it determines that the value of the time-saving count counter is less than "100," then it changes "Electric Support State 1" to "Electric Support State 2" in S68, sets an electric support change command in the RAM output buffer to be sent to the sub-control circuit 60 in S69, and sets the value of the second pointer P2 to "4" in S72. This electric support change command notifies the sub-control circuit 60 that "Electric Support State 1" has switched to "Electric Support State 2," and is sent to the sub-control circuit 60 during the next timer interrupt process.

When the main control circuit 40 determines in S67 that the value of the time-saving count counter is "101" or greater, it changes the current game state from "Electric Support State 1" to "Non-Electric Support State" in S70. Then, in S71, it sets an electric support change command in the RAM output buffer to be sent to the sub-control circuit 60, and in S72 sets the value of the second pointer P2 to "4." This electric support cancel command notifies the sub-control circuit 60 that "Electric Support State 1" has switched to "Non-Electric Support State," and is sent to the sub-control circuit 60 in the next timer interrupt process.

If the current game state is "Super Electric Support State," the main control circuit 40 determines in S66 that the current game state is not "Electric Support State 1," and changes the current game state from "Electric Support State 1" to "Non-Electric Support State" in S70. Then, in S71, an electric support change command is set to the RAM output buffer, and in S72, the value of the second pointer P2 is set to "4." In other words, if the value of the time-saving count counter is "100" or less and a fall is determined to have occurred in "High Probability State" or "Electric Support State 1," a low probability state is set, but the electric support state continues. If the value of the time-saving count counter is "101" or more and a fall is determined to have occurred in "High Probability State" or "Electric Support State 1," a "Low Probability State" or "Non-Electric Support State" is set.

4-4-4. Special Chart 2 Variation Stop Processing If the value of the second pointer P2 is set to "4," the main control circuit 40 proceeds to the special chart 2 variation stop processing of S34 in Figure 9(a). Here, the timer value is incremented and the resulting value is compared with the result of the special chart variation display time determination. If the timer value increment has not reached the result of the special chart variation display time determination, the special chart 2 variation stop processing is terminated. If the timer value increment has reached the result of the special chart variation display time determination, the special chart variation display is stopped in a manner corresponding to the result of the win/loss determination, and a variation stop command 2 is set in the output buffer to be sent to the sub-control circuit 60. If the result of the win/loss determination is "miss," the value of the second pointer P2 is initialized to "1." If the result of the win/loss determination is "small win," the value of the second pointer P2 is set to "5." If the result of the win/loss determination is "big win," the value of the second pointer P2 is set to "6."

4-4-5. Small Win Game Processing When the value of the second pointer P2 is set to "5," the main control circuit 40 proceeds to the small win game processing of S35 in FIG. 9(a), starts a small win game using the small win game pattern, and then sets a small win game start command to the output buffer to be sent to the sub-control circuit 60. When the main control circuit 40 allows the small win game to proceed to the end of the small win game pattern, it ends the small win game, sets a small win game end command to be sent to the output buffer to be sent to the sub-control circuit 60, and sets the value of the second pointer P2 to "1." This small win game involves keeping the V prize opening closed and the large prize opening 19 open, and during small win game, the game ball is prohibited from falling into the V prize opening. In other words, if a small win is determined to have occurred in a high probability state, the high probability state is maintained.

4-4-6. Jackpot Game Processing When the value of the second pointer P2 is set to "6," the main control circuit 40 proceeds to the jackpot game processing of S36 in FIG. 9(a). Here, the jackpot game begins and a jackpot game start command is set in the output buffer to be sent to the sub-control circuit 60. The main control circuit 40 sets a round start command in the output buffer and sends it to the sub-control circuit 60 each time a round begins during a jackpot game. This round start command indicates the number of rounds in the current round, and the main control circuit 40 sets a round stop command in the output buffer and sends it to the sub-control circuit 60 each time a round ends during a jackpot game. When the jackpot game has progressed to the end of the jackpot game pattern, the main control circuit 40 ends the jackpot game and sets a jackpot game end command in the output buffer to be sent to the sub-control circuit 60.

If the main control circuit 40 determines that the jackpot type is "jackpot symbol 2," it closes the V entry port in each of the first through sixteenth rounds, thereby prohibiting the game ball from falling into the V entry port. If the main control circuit 40 determines that the jackpot type is "jackpot symbol 1," it opens the V entry port in each of the thirteenth through fifteenth rounds, thereby allowing the game ball to fall into the V entry port. If the main control circuit 40 determines that the jackpot type is "jackpot symbol 3," it opens the V entry port in each of the second through fourth rounds, thereby allowing the game ball to fall into the V entry port. This main control circuit 40 monitors whether the game ball has fallen into the V entry port during jackpot play in response to the output signal from the V entry port sensor 48, and records a V entry if it determines that the game ball has fallen into the V entry port.

When the main control circuit 40 allows a jackpot game to proceed to the end of the jackpot game pattern, it detects the jackpot type determination result when the jackpot game ends. If the jackpot type determination result is "jackpot symbol 1" or "jackpot symbol 3," it determines whether a V prize has occurred. If it determines that a V prize has occurred, it sets the game state to "high probability state" and "electric support state 1," resets the time-saving count counter to "0," and initializes the second pointer P2 to "1." It then sets a "high probability command," "electric support command 1," and time-saving count command 0 in the RAM output buffer to be sent to the sub-control circuit 60. This time-saving count command 0 notifies the sub-control circuit 60 that the electric support state has continued for "0 times," the "high probability command" notifies the sub-control circuit 60 that the "high probability state" has been set, and the "electric support command 1" notifies the sub-control circuit 60 that the electric support state has been set for more than "100 times."

If the main control circuit 40 determines that the jackpot type is "jackpot symbol 2," it sets the game state to "normal probability state" and "electric support state 2," resets the value of the time-saving count counter to "0," and initializes the value of the second pointer P2 to "1." It then sets a "normal probability command," "electric support command 2," and time-saving count command 0 in the RAM output buffer to be sent to the sub-control circuit 60. This "normal probability command" notifies the sub-control circuit 60 of the setting of the "normal probability state," and the "electric support command 2" notifies the setting of electric support state 2, with a limit of "100 times."

4-5. Special Chart 1 Processing Figure 9 (b) shows the special chart 1 processing of S24, in which the main control circuit 40 selectively executes the special chart 1 lottery processing of S81, the time reduction count update processing of S82, the fall determination processing of S83, the special chart 1 fluctuation stop processing of S84, the small win game processing of S85, and the big win game processing of S86 depending on the setting result of the value of the first pointer P1 in the RAM. The value of this first pointer P1 is initially set to "1" when the power is turned on.

4-5-1. Special Chart 1 Lottery Processing When the value of the first pointer P1 is set to "1", the main control circuit 40 proceeds to the special chart 1 lottery processing of S81. The value of this first pointer P1 is set to "1" when the game is stopped, and the main control circuit 40 determines whether special chart 1 game data is stored in the "special chart 1 reserve area 4" in the special chart 1 lottery processing of S81. If it is determined that special chart 1 game data is not stored in the "special chart 1 reserve area 4", the special chart 1 lottery processing is terminated, and if it is determined that special chart 1 game data is stored in the "special chart 1 reserve area 4", it determines whether special chart 2 game data is stored in the "special chart 2 reserve area 4".

If the main control circuit 40 determines that special chart 2 game data is stored in the "special chart 2 reserve area 4," it terminates the special chart 1 lottery process. If it determines that special chart 2 game data is not stored in the "special chart 2 reserve area 4," it performs a win/loss determination, a fluctuation pattern determination, and a fluctuation display time determination based on the special chart 1 game data in the "special chart 1 reserve area 4" at S81. If the win/loss determination result is a jackpot, it determines the type of jackpot. These fluctuation pattern determinations and fluctuation display time determinations are made according to the special chart 1 fluctuation pattern table of Figure 6(a). The main control circuit 40 sets the win/loss determination results, fluctuation pattern determination results, and jackpot type determination results in the RAM output buffer to be sent to the sub-control circuit 60 as special chart 1 game data, sets fluctuation start command 1 in the RAM output buffer to be sent to the sub-control circuit 60, and sets the special chart 1 reserve command in the RAM output buffer to be sent to the sub-control circuit 60. This special chart 1 reserve command notifies the sub-control circuit 60 of the number of special chart 1 reserved.

When the main control circuit 40 sets a change start command 1, etc., it starts the special chart change display and then organizes "Special Chart 1 Reserve Area 1" to "Special Chart 1 Reserve Area 4." This process is performed using the same procedure as "Special Chart 2 Reserve Areas 1-4." The main control circuit 40 also organizes "Special Chart 1 Preview Areas 1-4" using the same procedure, and then sets the value of the first pointer P1 to "2." In other words, the special chart 1 lottery process is given a lower priority than the special chart lottery 2 process. If the special chart 2 reserved number is not "0," the special chart 2 lottery process takes priority over the special chart 1 lottery process, and the special chart 1 lottery process begins when the special chart 2 reserved number reaches "0."

4-5-2. Time-saving count update process When the value of the first pointer P1 is set to "2", the main control circuit 40 executes the time-saving count update process of FIG. 11 in S82 and sets the value of the first pointer P1 to "3".
4-5-3. Fall Determination Processing If the value of the first pointer P1 is set to "3", the main control circuit 40 executes the fall determination processing of FIG. 12 in S83 and sets the value of the first pointer P1 to "4".
4-5-4. Special Chart 1 Variation Stop Processing When the value of the first pointer P1 is set to "4", the main control circuit 40 proceeds to the special chart 1 variation stop processing of S84 in FIG. 9(b), and when the addition result of the timer value reaches the judgment result of the special chart variation display time, the special chart 1 variation display is stopped in a manner according to the judgment result of whether it is a hit or a miss, and the output buffer is set to send a variation stop command 1 to the sub-control circuit 60. Then, if the judgment result of whether it is a hit or a miss is "miss", the value of the first pointer P1 is initially set to "1", if the judgment result of whether it is a hit or a miss is "small hit", the value of the first pointer P1 is set to "5", and if the judgment result of whether it is a hit or a miss is "big hit", the value of the first pointer P1 is set to "6".

4-5-5. Small Win Game Processing When the value of the first pointer P1 is set to "5," the main control circuit 40 transitions to the small win game processing of S85 in Figure 9(b), and after starting a small win game in a small win game pattern, sets a small win game start command in the output buffer to be sent to the sub-control circuit 60. When the main control circuit 40 has progressed the small win game to the end of the small win game pattern, it ends the small win game, sets a small win game end command in the output buffer to be sent to the sub-control circuit 60, and sets the value of the first pointer P1 to "1." This small win game keeps the V prize opening closed and the large prize opening 19 open, and during small win game, the game ball is prohibited from falling into the V prize opening.

4-5-6. Jackpot Game Processing When the value of the first pointer P1 is set to "6," the main control circuit 40 proceeds to the jackpot game processing of S86 in Figure 9(b), and after starting the jackpot game, sets a jackpot game start command in the output buffer to be sent to the sub-control circuit 60. This main control circuit 40 executes the jackpot game in jackpot game pattern 1 when the jackpot type determination result is "jackpot symbol 1" or "jackpot symbol 2," and executes the jackpot game in jackpot game pattern 2 when the jackpot type determination result is "jackpot symbol 3." Each time a round starts, the main control circuit 40 sets a round start command in the output buffer and sends it to the sub-control circuit 60. Each time a round stops during jackpot game, the main control circuit 40 sets a round stop command in the output buffer and sends it to the sub-control circuit 60. When the main control circuit 40 has allowed the jackpot game to proceed to the end of the jackpot game pattern, it ends the jackpot game and sets a jackpot game end command in the output buffer to be sent to the sub-control circuit 60.

When the main control circuit 40 determines that the jackpot type is "jackpot symbol 2," it closes the V entry port for each of the first through sixteenth rounds. When the main control circuit 40 determines that the jackpot type is "jackpot symbol 1" or "jackpot symbol 3," it opens the V entry port for each of a specific number of rounds. During jackpot play, the main control circuit 40 monitors whether a game ball has fallen into the V entry port in response to the output signal from the V entry port sensor 48. If the jackpot play progresses to the end of the jackpot play pattern, it detects the jackpot type determination result when the jackpot play ends. If the jackpot type determination result is "jackpot symbol 1" or "jackpot symbol 3," it determines whether a V entry occurred. If a V entry is determined to have occurred, it sets the play state to "high probability state" or "electric support state 1," resets the time-saving count counter to "0," and initializes the second pointer P2 to "1." Then, the "high probability command", "electric support command 1", and time-saving count command 0 are set in the RAM output buffer to be sent to the sub-control circuit 60. If the result of the jackpot type determination is "jackpot symbol 2", the main control circuit 40 sets the game state to "normal probability state" and "electric support state 2", resets the value of the time-saving count counter to "0", and initially sets the value of the second pointer P2 to "1". Then, the "normal probability command", "electric support command 2", and time-saving count command 0 are set in the RAM output buffer to be sent to the sub-control circuit 60.

5. Explanation of Game Modes The game flow in Figure 13(a) shows the transition of game states, and Figures 13(b) and (c) show the relationship between game modes and presentation modes. When the power is turned on, the normal game mode is set. This normal game mode is the "normal probability state" or "non-electric support state." In normal game mode, a left-hit image prompting the player to hit the game ball left is displayed on the presentation symbol display 28. If the player hits the game ball left-handed in accordance with this left-hit image, the game ball will enter the first starting hole 18. If a jackpot is determined in response to the game ball entering the first starting hole 18, the low-probability time-saving mode or the high-probability time-saving mode will be set.

The low-probability time-saving mode is a state in which "normal probability state" and "electric support state 2" are set, and is set when "jackpot symbol 2" is selected in response to a jackpot determination in normal play mode. The high-probability time-saving mode is a state in which "high probability state" and "electric support state 1" are set, and is set when "jackpot symbol 1" or "jackpot symbol 3" is selected in response to a jackpot determination in normal play mode. In each of these low-probability time-saving mode and high-probability time-saving mode, a right-hit image prompting the player to hit the game ball to the right is displayed on the effect symbol display 28. If the player hits the game ball to the right in accordance with this right-hit image, the game ball will pass through the normal symbol start port 22, and in response to a high-probability determination of a hit, the second start port 23 will frequently be opened for a long period of time. Therefore, the special symbol variation display time for time-saving "1000 msec" is frequently obtained from the special symbol 2 variation pattern table 1 in Figure 6(b). Therefore, in both the low-probability time-saving mode and the high-probability time-saving mode, the process of determining whether a jackpot or miss is achieved is repeated at shorter intervals than in the normal play mode, increasing the probability of winning the next jackpot with fewer game balls consumed. In other words, both the low-probability time-saving mode and the high-probability time-saving mode are more advantageous to the player than the normal play mode.

In low-probability time-saving mode, the game ball is hit to the right, and if the total number of Special Chart 1 draws and Special Chart 2 draws (in reality, only Special Chart 2 draws) reaches the limit of 100 times without a jackpot being determined in low-probability time-saving mode, the "Non-electric support state" is set instead of "Electric support state 2," and the game transitions to normal game mode. If a jackpot is determined to have occurred before the total number of Special Chart 1 draws and Special Chart 2 draws reaches the limit of 100 times in this low-probability time-saving mode and "Jackpot symbol 2" is selected, the low-probability time-saving mode is repeated, and if "Jackpot symbol 1" or "Jackpot symbol 3" is selected, the game transitions to high-probability time-saving mode. In this high-probability time-saving mode, the game ball is hit to the right, and if "jackpot symbol 2" is selected in response to a determination of a jackpot, the low-probability time-saving mode is set; if "jackpot symbol 1" or "jackpot symbol 3" is selected, the high-probability time-saving mode is set again. This high-probability time-saving mode is a state in which a jackpot is determined with a higher probability than the low-probability time-saving mode, and is a state that is more advantageous to the player than the low-probability time-saving mode, with the degree of advantage to the player being greater in the "high-probability state" than in the "electric support state."

In high-probability time-saving mode, whether or not a drop has occurred is determined each time a special chart 1 or special chart 2 draw is made, and if the total number of special chart 1 and special chart 2 draws does not exceed the limit of 100 times and it is determined that a drop has occurred, the "normal probability state" and "electric support state 2" are set, and the game transitions from high-probability time-saving mode to low-probability time-saving mode. In this high-probability time-saving mode, if the total number of special chart 1 and special chart 2 draws exceeds the limit of 100 times and it is determined that a drop has occurred, the "normal probability state" and "non-electric support state" are set, and the game falls from high-probability time-saving mode to normal play mode all at once.

If the total number of Special Chart 1 and Special Chart 2 draws reaches the limit of 201 times without a "fall" being determined in the high-probability time-saving mode, the "high probability state" and "super electric support state" are set. In this high-probability time-saving mode, the shortest special chart change display time for the super time-saving mode, "500 msec," is frequently obtained from Special Chart 2 Change Pattern Table 2 in Figure 6 (c). Therefore, in the high-probability time-saving mode, the process of determining whether a jackpot or miss is hit is repeated at even shorter intervals than in the high-probability time-saving mode, increasing the probability of winning the next jackpot with even fewer game balls consumed. In other words, the high-probability time-saving mode is even more advantageous to the player than the high-probability time-saving mode, and if a "fall" is determined in the high-probability time-saving mode, the player will immediately fall from the high-probability time-saving mode to the regular game mode.

6. Description of Presentation Modes Presentation modes specify a background image as the presentation content when displaying an image for a presentation symbol game. Presentation modes include normal mode, chance mode, speed mode, and super speed mode. Normal mode is the presentation mode when the normal game mode is set. In normal mode, a normal background image resembling a cityscape is displayed in the display area E of the presentation symbol display 28, as shown in FIG. 14(a). Chance mode is the presentation mode common to both the low-probability time-saving mode and the high-probability time-saving mode. In chance mode, a chance background image resembling four women is displayed in the display area E of the presentation symbol display 28, as shown in FIG. 14(b). Speed mode is entered from chance mode when the total number of times the special symbol 1 and special symbol 2 are drawn exceeds the limit of 100 times while the high-probability time-saving mode is set. In speed mode, a speed background image resembling an ancient landmass is displayed in the display area E of the presentation symbol display 28, as shown in FIG. 14(c). The super speed mode is entered from the speed mode when the high probability time-saving mode is set and the total number of times that the special chart 1 and special chart 2 are drawn exceeds the limit of 200 times. In the super speed mode, as shown in Figure 14 (d), an image in which a "Rush" caption image is superimposed on a speed background image is displayed in the display area E of the performance pattern display 28 as a super speed background image.

6-1. Behavior of the Presentation Mode Figure 13 (b) shows the behavior of the presentation mode when jackpot symbol 2 is selected in response to a determination of a jackpot. In this case, the chance mode is set in response to the low-probability time-saving mode being set at the end of the jackpot game, and the chance background image is displayed from the first presentation symbol game. In this state, if a total of 100 special symbol 1 and special symbol 2 lotteries are performed without a determination of a jackpot, the normal game mode is set, and the normal mode is set in response to the setting of the normal game mode, and the normal background image is displayed from the 101st presentation symbol game.

Figure 13(c) shows the behavior of the presentation mode when jackpot pattern 1 or jackpot pattern 3 is selected in response to a determination that a jackpot has occurred. In this case, chance mode is set in response to the high-probability time-saving mode being set at the end of the jackpot play, and the chance background image is displayed from the first presentation pattern play. In this state, if it is determined that a fall has occurred before a total of 100 special pattern 1 and special pattern 2 draws have been performed, low-probability time-saving mode is set as the play mode, but as shown in the upper part of Figure 13(c), chance mode continues as the presentation mode, and the chance background image continues to be displayed. Then, normal mode is set from the 101st presentation pattern play, and the normal background image is displayed.

The bottom row of Figure 13 (c) shows the behavior of the presentation mode when a total of 100 or more Special Chart 1 and Special Chart 2 draws are performed without a fall being determined when Chance Mode is set in accordance with High-Probability Time-Shortening Mode. In this case, Speed Mode is set from the 101st presentation symbol play, and a speed background image is displayed, giving the player the impression that they have been promoted to High-Probability Time-Shortening Mode. If this no-fall determination continues for more than 200 plays, Super Speed Mode is set in accordance with the setting of High-Probability Super Time-Shortening Mode, and a Super Speed Background Image is displayed from the next 201st play. If a fall is determined to have occurred when Super Speed Mode or Speed Mode is set, Normal Mode is set in accordance with the setting of Regular Play Mode, and the Normal Background Image is displayed from the next play.

6-2. Performance Symbol Game The performance symbol game image starts in time synchronization with the start of the special symbol 1 variable display or special symbol 2 variable display by the sub-control circuit 60, and ends in time synchronization with the end of the special symbol 1 variable display or special symbol 2 variable display. This performance symbol game image is displayed superimposed on top of the background image corresponding to the performance mode, and in normal mode it is displayed superimposed on top of the normal background image. This performance symbol game image is displayed superimposed on top of the chance background image in chance mode, superimposed on top of the speed background image in speed mode, and super speed background image in super speed mode.

The image for effect symbol games displays effect symbols consisting of the numbers "1" through "9" in three horizontal columns on the left, middle, and right in a scrolling and stopped state, with each column scrolling in ascending order from "1" to "2" ... "9" before returning from "9" to "1" and repeating. The scrolling display in each column stops at one of the numbers "1" through "9," with the odd numbers "1, 3, 5, 7, 9" in each column set to red and the even numbers "2, 4, 6, 8" in each column set to blue. The effect symbols in the left, middle, and right columns each correspond to symbol elements, the effect symbols in the three columns correspond to identification symbols, the scrolling state corresponds to a changing state, the stopped scrolling state corresponds to a stopped changing state, and effect symbol games correspond to symbol games.

When the three-column scrolling display is stopped, there are three types of combinations set: "jackpot combinations," "miss reach combinations," and "complete miss combinations." Jackpot combinations are combinations in which the three columns are identical to each other, and are set by the sub-control circuit 60 when the main control circuit 40 transmits a special chart variation pattern for a jackpot (PO00-PO05). Miss reach combinations are combinations in which the left and right columns are identical to each other but the middle column is different, and are set by the sub-control circuit 60 when the main control circuit 40 transmits a special chart variation pattern for a miss (PH01-PH05). Complete miss combinations are combinations in which the left and right columns are different, and are set by the sub-control circuit 60 when the main control circuit 40 transmits a special chart variation pattern for a miss (PH06-PH08).

Figure 14 (e) is a list of the effects for effect symbol games, and there are five types of effects for effect symbol games: "normal effect," "all symbols stop simultaneously effect," "normal reach effect," "special reach effect," and "ultra-time-saving effect." Normal effects begin with the "start of the three-column scrolling display," and the "stop of the scrolling display" is set to the order of "left column," "right column," and "middle column." This normal effect is set by the sub-control circuit 60 when the main control circuit 40 transmits the special symbol variation pattern PH06 for a loss, and as shown in Figures 15 (a), (b), (c), and (d), in normal effects, a "complete loss combination" is completed when the three-column scrolling display stops in the order of "left column," "right column," and "middle column."

As shown in Figure 14 (e), the simultaneous stop of all symbols effect is initiated by the "start of three-column scrolling display," and the "stop of scrolling display" is set to three columns simultaneously. This "simultaneous stop of all symbols effect" is set by the sub-control circuit 60 when the main control circuit 40 transmits the special symbol variation pattern PH07 for a miss. In the "simultaneous stop of all symbols effect," a "complete miss combination" is completed when the three columns of scrolling display stop simultaneously, as shown in Figures 15 (a) and (d). This simultaneous stop of all symbols effect ends in the shortest time (1000 msec) of the special symbol variation display times for the low-probability time-saving mode and high-probability time-saving mode, and in the low-probability time-saving mode and high-probability time-saving mode, the variation display time is shortened in response to the high probability of "special symbol variation pattern PH07" being selected.

As shown in Figure 14 (e), the normal reach effect begins with the "start of three-column scrolling display," and is set to "slow scrolling speed" for the "middle column" before "stopping scrolling display." This normal reach effect is set by the sub-control circuit 60 when the main control circuit 40 transmits the special chart variation pattern PH05 for a miss and the special chart variation pattern PO05 for a jackpot. As shown in Figures 16 (a), (b), and (c), in the "normal reach effect," when the "stopping of scrolling display" is performed in the order of the "left column" and "right column," the "left column" and "right column" enter the same reach state, and the scrolling display of the "middle column" switches from normal speed to slow speed in the reach state.

In the "normal reach presentation" for a miss, the scrolling display of the "middle column" stops at a different presentation pattern than the "left column" and "right column," and in the "normal reach presentation" for a miss, the miss reach combination is completed when the scrolling display of the final "middle column" stops, as shown in Figure 16 (e). In the "normal reach presentation" for a jackpot, the scrolling display of this "middle column" stops at the same presentation pattern as the "left column" and "right column," and in the "normal reach presentation" for a jackpot, the jackpot combination is completed when the scrolling display of the final "middle column" stops, as shown in Figure 16 (d).

As shown in Figure 14 (e), the special reach effect begins with the "start of three-column scrolling display," and is set to "slow scrolling speed" for the "middle column" before "stopping scrolling display." This special reach effect is set by the sub-control circuit 60 when the main control circuit 40 transmits special chart change patterns PH01-PH04 for misses and special chart change patterns PO01-PO04 for jackpots. In the "special reach effect," a reach state occurs when the "stopping of scrolling display" is performed in the order of the "left column" and "right column," and the scrolling display of the "middle column" switches from normal speed to slow speed in the reach state.

As shown in Figure 14 (e), the special reach effect is set by "reducing the scrolling speed" for the "middle row" followed by "removing three rows," and in this special reach effect, three rows of effect symbols are removed in the reach state. This special reach effect is set by "removing three rows" and "battle effect" after the normal reach effect. Figure 17 shows battle images BL1 to BL4 that are displayed as battle effects. Each of these battle images BL1 to BL4 begins displaying with the three rows of effect symbols removed, and is set to show the silhouette of a woman in a karate uniform fighting an enemy dinosaur with her bare hands.

As shown in Figure 17(a), battle image BL1 is set to show the enemy as "dinosaur D1." This battle image BL1 depicts dinosaur D1 fighting a female silhouette W, and is displayed when the main control circuit 40 transmits the "special chart variation pattern PO01" for a jackpot and the "special chart variation pattern PH01" for a miss. As shown in Figure 17(b), battle image BL2 is set to show the enemy as "dinosaur D2," and is displayed when the main control circuit 40 transmits the "special chart variation pattern PO02" for a jackpot and the "special chart variation pattern PH02" for a miss. As shown in Figure 17(c), battle image BL3 is set to show the enemy as "dinosaur D3," and is displayed when the main control circuit 40 transmits the "special chart variation pattern PO03" for a jackpot and the "special chart variation pattern PH03" for a miss. As shown in Figure 17(d), battle image BL4 is set to have the enemy "dinosaur D4," and is displayed when the main control circuit 40 transmits the "special chart variation pattern PO04" for a jackpot, and when it transmits the "special chart variation pattern PH04" for a miss. The reliability of jackpots for these battle images BL1 to BL4 is set in the order of "battle image BL4," "battle image BL3," "battle image BL2," and "battle image BL1" (see Figure 6).

Each of the battle images BL1 to BL4 has two possible endings: a winning ending and a losing ending. As shown in Figure 17(e), a winning ending suggests that the female protagonist's silhouette W has won, and is displayed when a "special chart variation pattern PO01 to PO04" for a jackpot is transmitted. As shown in Figure 17(f), a losing ending suggests that the female protagonist's silhouette W has lost, and is displayed when a "special chart variation pattern PH01 to PH04" for a miss is transmitted. This losing ending corresponds to a losing ending, and a winning ending corresponds to a winning ending.

As shown in Figure 14(e), the special reach effect is a "battle effect" followed by a "three-row static display." As shown in Figure 17(e), in the special reach effect for a jackpot, after the protagonist wins a fight in each of the battle images BL1 to BL4, a victory ending image is displayed, followed by three rows of effect symbols in a jackpot combination. In the special reach effect for a loss, as shown in Figure 17(f), after the protagonist loses a fight in each of the battle images BL1 to BL4, a defeat ending image is displayed, followed by three rows of effect symbols in a loss reach combination.

The ultra-time-saving effect is a special effect that is only displayed in high-probability ultra-time-saving mode, and is set by the sub-control circuit 60 when the main control circuit 40 transmits the special chart change pattern PH08 for misses in high-probability ultra-time-saving mode. This ultra-time-saving effect ends in the shortest time (500 msec) even shorter than the all-chart simultaneous stop effect, and in high-probability ultra-time-saving mode, the change display time is further shortened in response to the high probability of "special chart change pattern PH08" being selected. As shown in Figure 14 (e), this ultra-time-saving effect begins with the "start of three-column scrolling display," and the scrolling display stops in a different order from all other effects: "left column," "middle column," and "right column."

Figures 18(a) and (b) are images of the super time-saving effect. As shown in Figure 18(a), the super time-saving effect begins with an image in which the left, middle, and right column effect symbols simultaneously move straight down from their initial positions at the top of the LCD screen of the effect symbol display device 28 at the same speed. These three columns of effect symbols are displayed in the order of left column → middle column → right column, and when stopped, they form a completely undesirable combination with an upward slope from right to left. This super time-saving effect displays the three columns of effect symbols in a diagonal arrangement that is different from all the remaining effects and when stopped scrolling. The image of this super time-saving effect is superimposed on top of the super speed background image and includes an announcement image A1 for "hit right" and an announcement image A2 for time-saving information. Announcement image A1 encourages the player to hit right, and announcement image A2 numerically notifies the player of the number of times Electric Support State 1 has continued.

6-3. Jackpot Game Presentation The jackpot game presentation displays a background image for the jackpot game presentation within the display area E of the presentation symbol display 28, and begins when the jackpot game begins and ends when the jackpot game ends. Figure 18(c) shows the background image for the jackpot game presentation. This background image consists of an image of two dancing female silhouettes, and a "Hit Right" announcement image A1 is displayed superimposed on top of the background image for the jackpot game presentation, encouraging the player to hit right.

6-4. Prize Ball Acquisition Presentation During a jackpot game presentation, a prize ball acquisition presentation is performed. This prize ball acquisition presentation displays prize ball acquisition information superimposed on the background image for the jackpot game presentation. The prize ball acquisition information counts up the number of prize balls the player can acquire in the currently ongoing jackpot game from an initial value toward an end value. The initial value of this prize ball acquisition information is set to "0," and the end value of the prize ball acquisition information is set to "1280." This count-up display of the prize ball acquisition information is performed as the round progresses. The update unit for this prize ball acquisition information is set to "80/round," and the prize ball acquisition information is displayed by counting up by "80" per round from the initial value of "0" toward the end value of "1280." During this jackpot game, a display area E1 is set on the presentation symbol display 28, and the prize ball acquisition information is displayed as a count-up within the display area E1, as shown in FIG. 18(c).

As shown in Figure 18 (d), special chart 1 pre-read receiving areas 1 to 4 are set in the RAM of the sub-control circuit 60, and each time the sub-control circuit 60 receives special chart 1 pre-read data from the main control circuit 40, it stores the reception results of the special chart 1 pre-read data in one of the special chart 1 pre-read receiving areas 1 to 4. These special chart 1 pre-read receiving areas 1 to 4 are set with increasing storage priority in the order of "Special chart 1 pre-read receiving area 1," "Special chart 1 pre-read receiving area 2," "Special chart 1 pre-read receiving area 3," and "Special chart 1 pre-read receiving area 4," and the storage process for special chart 1 pre-read data is performed in the blank special chart 1 pre-read receiving area 1 to 4 with the highest number and highest priority.

When the sub-control circuit 60 starts displaying the effect symbol game image in response to receiving special symbol 1 game data, it organizes the "special symbol 1 pre-read receiving areas 1-4." This process erases the special symbol 1 pre-read data from the "special symbol 1 pre-read receiving area 4." If special symbol 1 pre-read data is stored in the "special symbol 1 pre-read receiving area 3," the special symbol 1 pre-read data is shifted to the "special symbol 1 pre-read receiving area 4." If special symbol 1 pre-read data is stored in the "special symbol 1 pre-read receiving area 2," the special symbol 1 pre-read data is shifted to the "special symbol 1 pre-read receiving area 3." If special symbol 1 pre-read data is stored in the "special symbol 1 pre-read receiving area 1," the special symbol 1 pre-read data is shifted to the "special symbol 1 pre-read receiving area 2." In other words, the special symbol 1 pre-read receiving areas 1-4 of the sub-control circuit 60 always store the same special symbol 1 pre-read data in the same order as the special symbol 1 pre-read areas 1-4 of the main control circuit 40.

6-5. SP Normal Mode The SP normal background image in Figure 19(c) is displayed on the effect symbol display 28 as a background image for effect symbol play during SP normal mode. This SP normal mode is an effect mode that heightens the player's anticipation of a three-column effect symbol combination resulting in a jackpot, and can only be switched to when the effect symbol mode is set to normal mode. This SP normal mode sets the jackpot probability to the same normal probability of 3/1201 as in normal mode, and the start timing Ts of SP normal mode is set to the period from when the scrolling display of the three columns of effect symbols begins to before the scrolling display of the left column of effect symbols stops (see b → c). This SP normal mode can continue until the end of a maximum of "10" effect symbol play, with the effect symbol play that initiated the SP normal mode being considered "0th play." During SP normal mode, the effect symbol play image is displayed superimposed on the SP normal background image. This SP normal mode is a presentation mode in which the cumulative set time when the game mode is set to the normal game mode is the second longest after the normal mode.

6-6. Lucky Mode Figure 20 explains the Lucky Mode. This Lucky Mode is a presentation mode that suggests to the player that the probability of the three rows of presentation symbols forming a jackpot combination is temporarily higher than the usual probability in both the Normal Mode and the SP Normal Mode. It is initiated by starting to display a lucky background image as the background image for the presentation symbol game (see a → b). This lucky background image is set to an image of a woman in a uniform, and during the Lucky Mode, the presentation symbol game image is displayed overlaid on top of the lucky background image.

Lucky Mode starts at the same start timing Ts as SP Lucky Mode (see a → b). If Lucky Mode starts during the current "0th" symbol play, there is a 100% chance that the three symbols in a row will reach a winning state during this symbol play (see b → c). During this symbol play, the three symbols in a row will result in a winning combination (see c → d) or a losing reaching combination (see c → e). If the three symbols in a row result in a winning combination during this symbol play, Lucky Mode ends upon the end of this symbol play. If the three symbols in a row result in a losing reaching combination during this symbol play, Lucky Mode will continue until the end of the seventh symbol play, with the next symbol play being considered the "1st play." Lucky Mode is the symbol mode with the second longest cumulative set time when the play mode is set to normal play mode, after SP Normal Mode.

6-7. Super Lucky Mode Figure 21 explains the Super Lucky Mode. This Super Lucky Mode is a presentation mode for suggesting to the player that the probability of the three rows of presentation symbols forming a jackpot combination is temporarily higher than during the Lucky Mode. It is initiated by starting to display a Super Lucky background image as the background image for the presentation symbol game (see a → b). This Super Lucky background image is set to an image of a woman raising her head in the air, and during the Super Lucky Mode, the presentation symbol game image is displayed overlaid on top of the Super Lucky background image.

Super Lucky Mode starts at the same start timing Ts as SP Normal Mode and Lucky Mode (see a → b). If Super Lucky Mode starts during the current symbol play, there is a 100% chance that the three symbols in the current symbol play will reach a reach state (see b → c). During this symbol play, the three symbols in the current symbol play will result in a jackpot combination (see c → d) or a reach-and-miss combination (see c → e). If the three symbols in the current symbol play result in a jackpot combination, Super Lucky Mode will end upon the end of this symbol play. If the three symbols in the current symbol play result in a reach-and-miss combination, Super Lucky Mode will continue until the end of the fourth symbol play, with the next symbol play being considered the "first play." Super Lucky Mode is the symbol mode with the second-longest cumulative set time when the play mode is set to normal play mode, after Lucky Mode.

6-8. Ultra Lucky Mode Figure 22 explains Ultra Lucky Mode. This Ultra Lucky Mode is a presentation mode for suggesting to the player that the probability of the three rows of presentation symbols forming a jackpot combination is temporarily higher than in Super Lucky Mode, and is initiated by starting to display an Ultra Lucky background image as the background image for the presentation symbol game (see a → b). This Ultra Lucky background image is set to an image of a woman jumping, and during Ultra Lucky Mode, the presentation symbol game image is displayed superimposed on top of the Ultra Lucky background image.

Ultra Lucky Mode starts at the same start time Ts as SP Normal Mode, Lucky Mode, and Super Lucky Mode (see a → b). When Ultra Lucky Mode starts during the current symbol game, the three symbols in the row will enter a reach state with a 100% probability (see b → c). During this symbol game, the three symbols in the row will either be a jackpot combination (see c → d) or a miss reach combination (see c → e). Ultra Lucky Mode ends when the current symbol game ends, regardless of the combination of the three symbols in the row. Ultra Lucky Mode is the mode with the shortest cumulative set time when the game mode is set to normal mode.
6-9. Hold performance 1
19(a), a reserved display area H0 is set within the display area E of the effect symbol display device 28, and the sub-control circuit 60 starts displaying one reserved image within the reserved display area H0 in response to starting to display the image of the current effect symbol game. This sub-control circuit 60 erases the reserved image from the reserved display area H0 in response to stopping the display of the image of the current effect symbol game, and while the image of the effect symbol game is being displayed, one reserved image is continuously displayed within the reserved display area H0.

As shown in Figure 19(a), reserved display areas H1 to H4 are set within display area E of effect symbol display device 28. These reserved display areas H1 to H4 are arranged in a horizontal row, and sub-control circuit 60 displays one reserved image in reserved display area H1 when special symbol 1 preview data is stored in special symbol 1 preview receiving area 4, displays one reserved image in reserved display area H2 when special symbol 1 preview data is stored in special symbol 1 preview receiving area 3, displays one reserved image in reserved display area H3 when special symbol 1 preview data is stored in special symbol 1 preview receiving area 2, and displays one reserved image in reserved display area H4 when special symbol 1 preview data is stored in special symbol 1 preview receiving area 1.

As shown in Figure 19(b), the sub-control circuit 60 displays a cloud image C as a reserved image in each of the reserved display areas H0 to H4 during normal mode, and as shown in Figure 19(c), displays a heart image H as a reserved image in each of the reserved display areas H0 to H4 during SP normal mode. This sub-control circuit 60 is capable of switching the normal mode to SP normal mode, lucky mode, super lucky mode, or ultra lucky mode at the start timing Ts when an image of a performance symbol game is displayed in normal mode. When normal mode is switched to SP normal mode, a heart image H is displayed as a reserved image (see c), and when normal mode is switched to lucky mode, super lucky mode, or ultra lucky mode, a cloud image C is continuously displayed as a reserved image (see Figures 20-22).

The sub-control circuit 60 is capable of switching SP normal mode to each of Lucky mode, Super Lucky mode, and Ultra Lucky mode at the start timing Ts when the image of the effect symbol game is displayed in SP normal mode. This SP normal mode is an effect mode that displays a heart image H as the reserved image, and when the sub-control circuit 60 switches SP normal mode to any of Lucky mode, Lucky mode, and Ultra Lucky mode, it displays a heart image H as the reserved image (see Figures 19 (d) to (f)). In other words, Reserve Effect 1 notifies the player of the number of reserved special symbol 1 symbols as the number of heart images H or cloud images C displayed in the reserve display areas H1 to H4.

6-10. Hold performance 2
18(e), special chart 2 pre-read receiving areas 1 to 4 are set in the RAM of the sub-control circuit 60, and each time the sub-control circuit 60 receives special chart 2 pre-read data from the main control circuit 40, it stores the reception result of the special chart 2 pre-read data in one of the special chart 2 pre-read receiving areas 1 to 4. These special chart 2 pre-read receiving areas 1 to 4 store and erase special chart 2 pre-read data in the same procedure as the special chart 1 pre-read receiving areas 1 to 4, and the same special chart 2 pre-read data as the special chart 2 pre-read areas 1 to 4 of the main control circuit 40 is always stored in the special chart 2 pre-read receiving areas 1 to 4 in the same order.

When the presentation mode is set to Chance mode, Speed mode, or Super Speed mode, the sub-control circuit 60 starts displaying one cloud image C in the reserved display area H0 when it starts displaying the image of the current presentation symbol game in response to receiving special symbol 2 game data, and erases one cloud image C from the reserved display area H0 when it stops displaying the image of the current presentation symbol game. During Chance mode to Super Speed mode, this sub-control circuit 60 displays one cloud image C in the reserved display area H1 when special symbol 2 pre-read data is stored in special symbol 2 pre-read receiving area 4, displays one cloud image C in the reserved display area H2 when special symbol 2 pre-read data is stored in special symbol 2 pre-read receiving area 3, displays one cloud image C in the reserved display area H3 when special symbol 2 pre-read data is stored in special symbol 2 pre-read receiving area 2, and displays one cloud image C in the reserved display area H4 when special symbol 2 pre-read data is stored in special symbol 2 pre-read receiving area 1. In other words, hold effect 2 is an effect in which a number of cloud images C corresponding to the number of reserved special charts 2 are displayed within the hold display areas H1 to H4, and is performed during chance mode, speed mode, and super speed mode.

6-11. Reserved Pre-reading Preview Feature. Figures 23 and 24 illustrate the reserved pre-reading preview feature. This reserved pre-reading preview feature suggests to the player that the three rows of display symbols corresponding to the reserved image in the reserved display area H4 will result in a winning combination with a probability of less than 100% during the "fourth" play of the display symbols corresponding to the reserved image in the reserved display area H4. It is initiated by changing the color of the reserved image in the reserved display area H4 from the standard white to the preview color red to notify the player that the reserved pre-reading preview feature is currently paused (see a → b). This reserved pre-reading preview feature begins at preview timing T1 during the current display of the display symbols. Preview timing T1 is set within the period after the scrolling display of the three rows of display symbols begins and before the start timing Ts of the SP Normal Mode to Ultra Lucky Mode. This reserved pre-reading preview feature begins during both Normal Mode and SP Normal Mode, but does not begin during Lucky Mode, Super Lucky Mode, or Ultra Lucky Mode.

As shown in Figures 23(a) and (b), the hold pre-read preview effect can be started by changing the color of the cloud image C in the hold display area H4 from its normal color to the preview color red when cloud image C is displayed. When the hold pre-read preview effect is started when cloud image C is displayed, as shown in Figure 23(c), when the next "first" performance pattern play begins, cloud image C is displayed in the preview color in the hold display area H3. As shown in Figure 23(d), when the "second" performance pattern play begins, cloud image C is displayed in the preview color in the hold display area H2. As shown in Figure 23(e), when the "third" performance pattern play begins, cloud image C is displayed in the preview color in the hold display area H1. As shown in Figure 23(f), when the "fourth" performance pattern play begins, cloud image C is displayed in the preview color in the hold display area H0. The "fourth" performance symbol game corresponding to this preview color cloud image C ends when the three rows of performance symbols miss and form a reach combination or a jackpot combination, and the preview color cloud image C in the reserved display area H0 is erased when the "fourth" performance symbol game ends.

As shown in Figures 24(a) and (b), the hold pre-read preview effect can be started by changing the color of the heart image H in the hold display area H4 from its normal color to the preview color red when the heart image H is displayed. When the hold pre-read preview effect is started while the heart image H is displayed, as shown in Figure 24(c), when the next "first" performance pattern play begins, the heart image H is displayed in the preview color in the hold display area H3. As shown in Figure 24(d), when the "second" performance pattern play begins, the heart image H is displayed in the preview color in the hold display area H2. As shown in Figure 24(e), when the "third" performance pattern play begins, the heart image H is displayed in the preview color in the hold display area H1. As shown in Figure 24(f), when the "fourth" performance pattern play begins, the heart image H is displayed in the preview color in the hold display area H0. The "fourth" performance symbol game corresponding to this preview colored heart image ends when the three rows of performance symbols miss and form a reach combination or a jackpot combination, and the preview colored heart image H in the reserved display area H0 is erased when the "fourth" performance symbol game ends.

The reserve read-ahead notification process in Figure 25 is activated each time the sub-control circuit 60 receives special symbol 1 game data from the main control circuit 40. The sub-control circuit 60 determines whether or not to start the reserve read-ahead notification performance in the reserve read-ahead notification process, and if it determines that the reserve read-ahead notification performance should start during normal mode, it changes the cloud image C in the reserve display area H4 from the normal color to the notification color at the notification timing T1 of the current performance symbol play, and if it determines that the reserve read-ahead notification performance should start during SP normal mode, it changes the heart image H in the reserve display area H4 from the normal color to the notification color at the notification timing T1 of the current performance symbol play.

When the sub-control circuit 60 activates the hold read-ahead notification process, it proceeds to S201 and determines whether the current presentation mode is normal mode. If it determines that it is normal mode, it proceeds to S202, and if it determines that it is not normal mode, it proceeds to S210. In S210, it determines whether the current presentation mode is SP normal mode, and if it determines that it is SP normal mode, it proceeds to S202. In other words, the hold read-ahead notification presentation starts in both normal mode and SP normal mode, but does not start in lucky mode, super lucky mode, or ultra lucky mode.

When the sub-control circuit 60 proceeds to S202, it determines whether the reserved symbol pre-read preview performance is currently stopped. If a cloud image C or a heart image H is not displayed in the preview color in any of the reserved symbol display areas H0 to H4, it determines that the reserved symbol pre-read preview performance is currently stopped, and in S203 it determines whether there is special symbol pre-read data in all of the special symbol pre-read receiving areas 1 to 4. If it determines that there is special symbol pre-read data in all of the special symbol pre-read receiving areas 1 to 4, it proceeds to S204 and determines whether there is a miss judgment result in the reception result of the special symbol 1 game data for this performance symbol game. If it is determined here that there is a miss, the process moves to S205, where it determines whether there is a miss pre-read result in all three of the special symbol 1 pre-read receiving area 4 for the "first" effect symbol play, the special symbol 1 pre-read receiving area 3 for the "second" effect symbol play, and the special symbol 1 pre-read receiving area 2 for the "third" effect symbol play. If it is determined here that there is a miss pre-read result in all three, the process moves to S206, where it determines whether there is a jackpot pre-read result in the special symbol 1 pre-read receiving area 1 for the "fourth" effect symbol play.

If the sub-control circuit 60 determines in S206 that there is a jackpot pre-read result in the special chart 1 pre-read receiving area 1, it determines in S207 with a high probability of less than 100% that the reserved pre-read preview performance will start, and if it determines in S206 that there is no jackpot pre-read result in the special chart 1 pre-read receiving area 1, it determines in S208 whether there is any of the pre-read results "PH01 to PH05" of the special chart variation pattern for the miss reach performance in the special chart 1 pre-read receiving area 1. If it determines here that there is a pre-read result of the special chart variation pattern for the miss reach performance, it proceeds to S209, where it determines with a low probability of more than 0% that the reserved pre-read preview performance will start. In other words, the reserved pre-read preview effect suggests to the player with a probability of less than 100% that the three rows of effect symbols will form a jackpot combination, and in the "fourth" effect symbol play corresponding to the preview color cloud image C or heart image H, the three rows of effect symbols will form a jackpot combination or a miss reach combination.

Figure 26 explains how the transition between normal mode, SP normal mode, lucky mode, super lucky mode, and ultra lucky mode is determined by lottery. Normal mode is the initial setting when the main power is turned on, and is the mode with the longest cumulative setting time when the game mode is set to standard game mode. Normal mode can be selected by lottery to transition to all four modes (SP normal mode, ultra lucky mode, super lucky mode, and lucky mode) while the hold preview preview is stopped (see a). Normal mode can be selected by lottery to transition to two modes (lucky mode and super lucky mode) while the hold preview preview is running (see b). SP normal mode is a presentation mode that differs only in terms of visual appearance from normal mode. SP normal mode can be selected by lottery to three modes (ultra lucky mode, super lucky mode, and lucky mode) while the hold preview preview is stopped (see c). Normal mode can be selected by lottery to transition to two modes (super lucky mode and lucky mode) while the hold preview preview is running (see d).

6-12. Mode Lottery Effect Figure 27 explains the mode lottery effect. This mode lottery effect is performed during the play of effect symbols in normal mode and during the play of effect symbols in SP normal mode. In normal mode when the reserved pre-read preview effect is stopped, the player is notified in advance of which of the four modes (SP normal mode, lucky mode, super lucky mode, or ultra lucky mode) the normal mode will transition to. In SP normal mode when the reserved pre-read preview effect is stopped, the player is notified in advance of which of the three modes (lucky mode, super lucky mode, or ultra lucky mode) the SP normal mode will transition to. This mode lottery effect notifies the player in advance of which of the two modes (lucky mode or super lucky mode) the normal mode will transition to by lottery in normal mode when the reserved pre-read preview effect is running. In SP normal mode when the reserved pre-read preview effect is running, the player is notified in advance of which of the two modes (lucky mode or super lucky mode) the SP normal mode will transition to by lottery.

The mode lottery performance in Figure 27 starts at performance start timing Tps, which is before the preview timing T1 of the pending advance preview performance and the start timing Ts of the performance mode, and stops at performance end timing Tpe, which is before the start timing Ts of the performance mode. In this mode lottery effect, a winning image Wo (see a), a winning image Wl (see b), a winning image Ws (see c), and a winning image Wu (see d) are displayed cyclically in a lottery display area Ew in the upper left corner of the effect pattern display device 28 in the following order: winning image Wo → winning image Wl → winning image Ws → winning image Wu → winning image Wl..., and then one of the winning images Wo to Wu is displayed in a static state. When the winning image Wo is statically displayed in the lottery display area Ew, an SP normal background image begins to be displayed in response to the start of SP normal mode at start timing Ts. When the winning image Wl is statically displayed, a lucky background image begins to be displayed in response to the start of lucky mode at start timing Ts. When the winning image Ws is statically displayed, a super lucky background image begins to be displayed in response to the start of super lucky mode at start timing Ts. When the winning image Wu is statically displayed, a super lucky background image begins to be displayed in response to the start of super lucky mode at start timing Ts. When the winning image Wu is statically displayed, a super lucky background image begins to be displayed in response to the start of ultra lucky mode at start timing Ts, and

The mode determination process in Figure 28 is initiated after the reserved read-ahead notification process in Figure 26 each time the sub-control circuit 60 receives special symbol 1 game data from the main control circuit 40. In the mode determination process, the sub-control circuit 60 determines whether or not to change the current presentation mode to another presentation mode, and if it determines that the current presentation mode should be changed to another presentation mode, it starts the other presentation mode at the start timing Ts during play of the current presentation symbol.

When the sub-control circuit 60 starts the mode determination process, it determines whether the number of reserved special charts 1 is the maximum of "4" at S221 in Figure 28. If it determines that the number of reserved special charts 1 is the maximum, it proceeds to S222, where it determines whether the current presentation mode is normal mode. If it determines that it is normal mode, it proceeds to S223, where it determines whether the reserved pre-read preview presentation is currently stopped. If a cloud image C in the preview color is displayed in any of the reserved display areas H0 to H4, it determines that the reserved pre-read preview presentation is currently running, and it proceeds to S234 in Figure 29.

If the cloud image C in the preview color is not displayed in any of the hold display areas H0 to H4, the sub-control circuit 60 determines in S223 of FIG. 28 that the hold pre-read preview performance is stopped, and in S224 draws a lottery to determine whether or not to set the start of SP normal mode. This lottery process is performed so that the start of SP normal mode is determined with a probability of 1/100, and after completing S224, the sub-control circuit 60 determines in S225 whether or not the start of SP normal mode has been drawn. If it determines here that the start of SP normal mode has not been drawn, the process proceeds to S231 of FIG. 29.

If the sub-control circuit 60 determines in S225 of Figure 28 that the start of SP normal mode has been selected by lottery, it sets the start of SP normal mode in S226 and sets the execution of the mode selection effect in S227. This mode selection effect is set to end with the static display of the winning image Wo, and after completing S227, the sub-control circuit 60 sets the value of counter N to "10" in S228. When "N>0", the sub-control circuit 60 subtracts "1" from the value of counter N each time the image of the effect symbol game for special chart 1 game is stopped from being displayed. In other words, during normal mode, SP normal mode is selected by lottery provided that the reserved pre-read preview effect is stopped, and SP normal mode is not set while the reserved pre-read preview effect is being executed.

If the sub-control circuit 60 determines in S222 of FIG. 28 that the current presentation mode is not normal mode, it determines in S229 whether the current presentation mode is SP normal mode. If it determines that it is SP normal mode, it proceeds to S230, where it determines whether the hold pre-read preview presentation is currently running. If no heart image H in the preview color is displayed in any of the hold display areas H0 to H4, it determines that the hold pre-read preview presentation is currently stopped and proceeds to S231 of FIG. 29. If a heart image H in the preview color is displayed in any of the hold display areas H0 to H4, it determines that the hold pre-read preview presentation is currently running and proceeds to S234 of FIG. 29.

When the sub-control circuit 60 transitions to S231 in Figure 29, it determines whether the reception results of the special symbol 1 game data for this effect symbol game contain a jackpot judgment result. If it determines that there is a jackpot judgment result here, it transitions to S232, and when Ultra Lucky Mode is initiated, it makes a judgment with an extremely high probability of less than 100%. If the sub-control circuit 60 determines in S231 that there is no jackpot judgment result in the reception results of the special symbol 1 game data, it determines in S241 whether the reception results of the special symbol 1 game data contain any of the judgment results "PH01 to PH05" of the special symbol variation pattern for the miss reach effect. If it determines that there is a judgment result of the special symbol variation pattern for the miss reach effect here, it transitions to S242, and when Ultra Lucky Mode is initiated, it makes a judgment with an extremely low probability of more than 0%. In other words, Ultra Lucky Mode is initiated in both Normal Mode and SP Normal Mode when the reserved pre-read preview performance is stopped, but is not initiated in either Normal Mode or SP Normal Mode when the reserved pre-read preview performance is running. When Ultra Lucky Mode is initiated, the three rows of performance symbols will reach a reach state on the Ultra Lucky background image, and then a jackpot combination or a miss reach combination will result.

After completing S232 or S242, the sub-control circuit 60 determines in S233 whether the start of Ultra Lucky Mode has been determined. If it determines that Ultra Lucky Mode has been started, it proceeds to S249 and determines that a mode lottery presentation will be executed. This mode lottery presentation is set to end with the static display of the winning image Wu, and after completing S249, the sub-control circuit 60 sets the value of counter N to "1" in S250.

If the sub-control circuit 60 determines in S233 that the start of Ultra Lucky Mode has not been determined, it proceeds to S234. This sub-control circuit 60 proceeds from S223 or S230 in FIG. 28 to S234 in FIG. 29 without determining whether or not to start Ultra Lucky Mode in normal mode and SP normal mode while the reserved pre-read preview performance is being executed. When the sub-control circuit 60 proceeds to S234, it determines whether or not there is a jackpot pre-read result in any of Special Chart 1 pre-read reception areas 1 to 4.

If the sub-control circuit 60 determines in S234 that there is a jackpot prediction result, it proceeds to S235 and detects Mode Table 1 from ROM. Figure 30 (a) shows Mode Table 1. This Mode Table 1 assigns a high selection probability to Super Lucky Mode and a low selection probability to Lucky Mode. If the sub-control circuit 60 detects Mode Table 1 in S235 of Figure 29, it proceeds to S236 and selects Super Lucky Mode from Mode Table 1 with a high probability (< extremely high probability) and Lucky Mode with a low probability (> extremely low probability).

If the sub-control circuit 60 determines in S234 that there is no jackpot pre-read result in any of the special symbol 1 pre-read receiving areas 1-4, it determines in S243 whether any of the pre-read results "PH01-PH05" of the special symbol change pattern for the miss reach effect is present in the special symbol 1 pre-read receiving area 1 for the "fourth" effect symbol game. If it determines that there is a pre-read result of the special symbol change pattern for the miss reach effect, it proceeds to S244 and detects mode table 2 from the ROM. Figure 30 (b) shows mode table 2. This mode table 2 assigns a high selection probability to lucky mode and a low selection probability to super lucky mode. If the sub-control circuit 60 detects mode table 2 in S244 of Figure 29, it proceeds to S236 and selects super lucky mode from mode table 2 with a low probability (< high probability) and lucky mode with a high probability (> low probability).

The probability of selecting Ultra Lucky Mode is set so that among the probability Xu of the three rows of effect symbols forming a jackpot combination during Ultra Lucky Mode, the probability Xs of the combination forming a jackpot combination during Super Lucky Mode, and the probability XL of the combination forming a jackpot combination during Lucky Mode, Xu is the highest. The probability of selecting Super Lucky Mode in Mode Table 1 and Mode Table 2 is set so that among the probabilities Xu, Xs, and XL, probability Xs is intermediate and probability XL is the lowest, and from the player's perspective, expectations for the effect modes increase in the following order: [1] Normal Mode → [2] SP Normal Mode → [3] Lucky Mode → [4] Super Lucky Mode → [5] Ultra Lucky Mode.

After completing S236 in Figure 29, the sub-control circuit 60 determines in S237 whether Lucky Mode has been selected. If it determines that Lucky Mode has been selected, it proceeds to S238, where it sets the start of Lucky Mode. Then, in S239, the value of counter N is set to "7," and in S240 it is determined whether to execute the mode lottery effect. This mode lottery effect is set to end with the static display of the winning image Wl, and when Normal Mode or SP Normal Mode transitions to Lucky Mode, the three rows of effect symbols will enter a ready state on the Lucky background image.

If the sub-control circuit 60 determines in S237 of Figure 29 that Lucky Mode has not been selected, it determines in S245 whether Super Lucky Mode has been selected. If it determines that Super Lucky Mode has been selected, it proceeds to S246, setting the start of Super Lucky Mode. Then, in S247, the value of counter N is set to "4," and in S248 it determines whether to execute the mode lottery effect. This mode lottery effect is set to end with the static display of the winning image Ws, and when Normal Mode or SP Normal Mode transitions to Super Lucky Mode, the three rows of effect symbols will enter a reach state on the Super Lucky background image.

The mode stop process in Figure 30 (c) is initiated each time the sub-control circuit 60 receives a special chart 1 variation stop command from the main control circuit 40. When the sub-control circuit 60 initiates the mode stop process, it compares the value of counter N with "0" in S261. If it determines that "N > 0" here, it proceeds to S262, where it subtracts "1" from the value of counter N. Then, in S263, it compares the result of the subtraction of the value of counter N with "0," and if it determines that "N = 0," it proceeds to S264.

If the sub-control circuit 60 determines in S263 that "N>0," it proceeds to S265 and determines whether the received Special Symbol 1 game data for the current effect symbol game includes a jackpot determination result. If it determines that a jackpot determination result exists, it sets the value of counter N to "0" in S266 and proceeds to S264. When the sub-control circuit 60 proceeds to S264, it sets the SP normal mode to end with the current effect symbol game if in SP normal mode, sets the lucky mode to end with the current effect symbol game if in lucky mode, sets the super lucky mode to end with the current effect symbol game if in super lucky mode, and sets the ultra lucky mode to end with the current effect symbol game if in ultra lucky mode.

Figure 31 (a) explains the flow of Ultra Lucky Mode. This Ultra Lucky Mode can be entered from both Normal Mode and SP Normal Mode when the reserved pre-read preview performance is stopped, but cannot be entered from both Normal Mode and SP Normal Mode when the reserved pre-read preview performance is running. This Ultra Lucky Mode is initiated when the background image is switched to the Ultra Lucky background image during the current performance symbol play, and during the current performance symbol play, the three rows of performance symbols on the Ultra Lucky background image will go through a reach state and then become a jackpot combination or a reach-to-miss combination. This Ultra Lucky Mode ends when the current performance symbol play ends.

Figure 31 (b) explains the flow of Super Lucky Mode. Super Lucky Mode can be entered from both Normal Mode and SP Normal Mode when the reserved pre-read preview performance is stopped, and from both Normal Mode and SP Normal Mode when the reserved pre-read preview performance is running. Super Lucky Mode is initiated when the background image is switched to the Super Lucky background image during the current performance symbol play. During the current performance symbol play, the three rows of performance symbols go through a reach state on the Super Lucky background image and then become a jackpot combination or a reach-to-miss combination. If the three rows of performance symbols form a jackpot combination during the current performance symbol play, Super Lucky Mode ends as the current performance symbol play ends. If the three rows of performance symbols form a reach-to-miss combination, Super Lucky Mode continues.

If Super Lucky Mode continues, the next first symbol play will begin with a Super Lucky background image. If the three rows of symbol combination form a jackpot during this first symbol play, Super Lucky Mode will end as the first symbol play ends, and if the three rows of symbol combination form a miss and a reach combination or a complete miss, Super Lucky Mode will continue. If Super Lucky Mode continues, the next second symbol play will begin with a Super Lucky background image. If the three rows of symbol combination form a jackpot during this second symbol play, Super Lucky Mode will end as the second symbol play ends, and if the three rows of symbol combination form a miss and a reach combination or a complete miss, Super Lucky Mode will continue.

If Super Lucky Mode continues, the next third symbol play will begin with a Super Lucky background image. If the three rows of symbol patterns form a jackpot combination during this third symbol play, Super Lucky Mode will end as the third symbol play ends, and if the three rows of symbol patterns form a miss-reach combination or a complete miss combination, Super Lucky Mode will continue. If Super Lucky Mode continues, the next fourth symbol play will begin with a Super Lucky background image. During this fourth symbol play, the three rows of symbol patterns form a jackpot combination or a miss-reach combination, and Super Lucky Mode will end as the fourth symbol play ends.

Figure 32 illustrates an example of when Super Lucky Mode is initiated in normal mode while the reserve preview preview effect is running. In this case, during the "0th" play of the current effect symbol, the color of the cloud image C in the reserve display area H4 changes from the normal color to the preview color (see a-b). As the "first" play of the effect symbol begins, a cloud image C in the preview color is displayed in the reserve display area H3. As the "second" play of the effect symbol begins, a cloud image C in the preview color is displayed in the reserve display area H2. As the "third" play of the effect symbol begins, a cloud image C in the preview color is displayed in the reserve display area H1 (see c). For example, if the number of reserved special symbol 1 symbols reaches "4" during this time, the Super Lucky Mode effect begins with the preview color cloud image C displayed in the reserve display area H1 (see c-d). Then, in the "fourth" play of the effect symbol corresponding to the cloud image C of the preview color, the cloud image C of the preview color is displayed in the reserved display area H0 (see e), and the three rows of effect symbols form a jackpot combination (see e->f) or a miss-reach combination (see e->h).

If the three rows of symbols form a winning combination on the "fourth" symbol play, the Super Lucky Mode ends, the mode is set to Chance Mode, and the chance background image is displayed from the next symbol play (see f → g). If the three rows of symbols form a miss combination on this "fourth" symbol play, the Super Lucky Mode also ends, and the mode is set to Normal Mode, and the normal background image is displayed from the next symbol play (see h → i).

Figure 33 explains the flow of Lucky Mode. Lucky Mode can be entered from both Normal Mode and SP Normal Mode when the reserved pre-read preview performance is stopped, and from both Normal Mode and SP Normal Mode when the reserved pre-read preview performance is running. Lucky Mode is initiated when the background image is switched to the lucky background image during the current performance symbol game. During this performance symbol game, three rows of performance symbols form a jackpot combination or a miss-lead combination, and if three rows of performance symbols form a jackpot combination, Lucky Mode ends as the current performance symbol game ends.

Lucky Mode ends in the same way as Super Lucky Mode, except that the maximum number of times it can continue is "7 times." If a jackpot combination of three rows of symbols is formed on each of the "1st" through "6th" symbol plays, Lucky Mode ends with that symbol play. This Lucky Mode continues in the same way as Super Lucky Mode, and if a miss combination of three rows of symbols is formed on each of the "1st" through "6th" symbol plays, resulting in a reach combination or a complete miss, Lucky Mode continues until the next symbol play, and Lucky Mode ends on the "7th" symbol play regardless of the type of combination of the three rows of symbols.

7-1. Main Processing When the sub-control circuit 60 is powered on, it detects the main processing program shown in Figure 34(a) from the ROM, sets access permission to RAM in S101, and sets interrupt prohibition in S102. Then, it updates the values of multiple random numbers in RAM in the random number update process in S103, and after allowing interrupts in S104, it repeats S102 to S104. While interrupts are allowed, it allows the start of the receive interrupt process in S105 and the timer interrupt process in S106.
The sub-control circuit 60 starts the reception interrupt process of S105 every time an STB signal is input to the INT terminal from the main control circuit 40. This reception interrupt process is executed with priority over the timer interrupt process of S106, and the sub-control circuit 60 stores the commands and the like sent by the main control circuit 40 in the output process of S11 in Fig. 8 in the reception buffer of RAM during the reception interrupt process.

8-3. Timer interrupt processing The sub-control circuit 60 activates the timer interrupt processing of S106 every time a timer interrupt signal is input at a fixed interval. Figure 34 (b) shows the timer interrupt processing of S106, and the sub-control circuit 60 performs the received command analysis processing of S111 and the prize ball acquisition effect processing of S112 in the timer interrupt processing. This sub-control circuit 60 displays an image of the prize ball acquisition effect on the effect pattern display 28 in response to the prize ball acquisition effect processing of S112.

8-3-1. Received Command Analysis Processing Figure 35 (a) shows the received command analysis processing of S111. In S121, the sub-control circuit 60 determines whether special image 1 pre-read data or special image 2 pre-read data from the main control circuit 40 is stored in the receive buffer. If it determines that special image 1 pre-read data or special image 2 pre-read data is stored, the process proceeds to S122, where the special image 1 pre-read data or special image 2 pre-read data from the receive buffer is shifted to the special image pre-read area in RAM. This special image pre-read area is configured with special image 1 pre-read receiving areas 1-4 and special image 2 pre-read receiving areas 1-4. The sub-control circuit 60 shifts the special image 1 pre-read data to one of the special image 1 pre-read receiving areas 1-4 in the same procedure as the main control circuit 40, and shifts the special image 2 pre-read data to one of the special image 2 pre-read receiving areas 1-4 in the same procedure as the main control circuit 40. In other words, the same special image 1 pre-read data and special image 2 pre-read data as the main control circuit 40 are stored in the RAM of the sub-control circuit 60.

At S123 in Figure 35(a), the sub-control circuit 60 determines whether special symbol 1 game data or special symbol 2 game data from the main control circuit 40 is stored in the receive buffer. If it determines that special symbol 1 game data or special symbol 2 game data is stored, it executes the symbol game presentation start process of S124. Figure 35(b) shows the symbol game presentation start process of S124, and at S141 the sub-control circuit 60 detects the reception results of the special symbol 1 game data (the result of the hit/miss determination, the result of the jackpot type determination, the result of the special symbol change pattern determination, and the result of the fall/non-fall determination) or the reception results of the special symbol 2 game data (the result of the hit/miss determination, the result of the jackpot type determination, the result of the special symbol change pattern determination, and the result of the fall/non-fall determination) from the receive buffer. The hold-ahead read-ahead notification process of Figure 25 and the mode determination process of Figures 28-29 are executed in the symbol game presentation start process of S124.

After completing S141 in Figure 35 (b), the sub-control circuit 60 sets a three-column combination of effect symbols in S142. These three columns of effect symbols are set to odd-numbered "jackpot combinations" when the hit/miss detection result is "jackpot" and the hit type detection result is "jackpot symbol 1" or "jackpot symbol 3," and are set to even-numbered "jackpot combinations" when the hit/miss detection result is "jackpot" and the hit type detection result is "jackpot symbol 2." If the hit/miss detection result is "miss," these effect symbols are set to "miss reach combinations" if the variation pattern detection result is "PH01-PH05" for misses, and are set to "complete miss combinations" if the variation pattern detection result is "PH06-PH08" for complete misses. After completing S142, the sub-control circuit 60 detects video data from the CGROM according to the result of the variation pattern detection in S143, and begins displaying the image of the effect symbol game on the effect symbol display 28 in response to starting playback of the video data detection result.

At S125 in Figure 35 (a), the sub-control circuit 60 determines whether fluctuation stop command 1 or fluctuation stop command 2 from the main control circuit 40 has been stored in the receive buffer, and if it determines that fluctuation stop command 1 or fluctuation stop command 2 has been stored, it performs the symbol game effect stop process at S126 to confirm and display the three rows of effect symbols according to the combination set result at S124. The mode stop process in Figure 30 (c) is executed during the symbol game effect stop process at S126.

At S127 in Figure 35 (a), the sub-control circuit 60 determines whether a jackpot game start command from the main control circuit 40 has been stored in the receive buffer, and if it determines that a jackpot game start command has been stored, it starts playing back video data for the jackpot game presentation in the jackpot game presentation start process of S128, and accordingly starts displaying the background image for the jackpot game presentation on the presentation symbol display 28. At S129, the sub-control circuit 60 determines whether a jackpot game stop command from the main control circuit 40 has been stored in the receive buffer, and if it determines that a jackpot game stop command has been stored, it stops playing back video data for the jackpot game presentation in the jackpot game presentation stop process of S130, and accordingly erases the background image for the jackpot game presentation.

According to the first embodiment, the following effects are achieved.
When the preview-colored cloud image C is displayed while the effect symbol game image is superimposed on the normal background image, the player is informed that the predictive win/loss result indicates a jackpot. When the effect symbol game background image is switched from the normal background image to the lucky background image or the super lucky background image in this predictive state, the preview-colored cloud image C continues to be displayed, and the effect symbol game image is superimposed on the lucky background image or the super lucky background image (see FIG. 32 ), resulting in a dramatic visual change in the display content of the effect symbol display 28 from the player's perspective. Furthermore, since the effect symbol game background image cannot be switched from the normal background image to either the SP normal background image or the ultra lucky background image while the preview-colored cloud image C is displayed, the value of the image with such a dramatic change is enhanced. Therefore, when the image of the performance symbol game is displayed superimposed on the lucky background image or the super lucky background image in the state where the cloud image C of the preview color is displayed, the expectation of the player that there will be a big win in the predicted result of winning or losing is increased, and the entertainment value of the game is improved.

The player is informed that the probability of a jackpot being announced by the image of the effect symbol game has increased by switching the background image of the effect symbol game from a normal background image to a lucky background image or a super lucky background image while the cloud image C of the preview color is not displayed. Therefore, when the switching from the normal background image to the super lucky background image is executed while the cloud image C of the preview color is displayed, the player's expectations for a jackpot in the prediction result are greatly increased.
When the background image of the performance symbol game is switched from a normal background image to a lucky background image or a super lucky background image while the cloud image C of the predicted color is displayed, images of the performance symbol game up to four times are displayed superimposed on the lucky background image or the super lucky background image, and the cloud image C of the predicted color is continued with images of the performance symbol game up to "four times", so that the expectation of the player that there will be a big win in the predicted result of winning or losing is also continued for a long time.
The player is informed in advance whether the presentation mode can be switched from the normal mode to the SP normal mode, the lucky mode, the super lucky mode or the ultra lucky mode in response to execution of the mode lottery presentation during the presentation symbol game, thereby improving the entertainment value of the game.

When a cloud image C begins to be displayed in a preview color within the reserve display area H4 while an image of a special symbol game is displayed superimposed on a normal background image, the player is informed that a jackpot will be announced on the "fourth" special symbol game corresponding to the cloud image C within the reserve display area H4, and each time a new image of a special symbol game begins to be displayed, the display area of the preview color cloud image C changes from reserve display area H3 → reserve display area H2 → reserve display area H1 → reserve display area H0. When the background image for the effect symbol game is switched from a normal background image to a lucky background image or a super lucky background image while this cloud image C of the preview color is displayed in the reserved display area H4, the cloud image C of the preview color will be continuously displayed until the image for the effect symbol game for the "fourth time" stops being displayed, and when the background image for the effect symbol game is switched from a normal background image to a lucky background image or a super lucky background image while the cloud image C of the preview color is displayed in the reserved display area H3, the cloud image C of the preview color will be continuously displayed until the image for the effect symbol game for the "third time" stops being displayed, and when the background image for the effect symbol game is switched from a normal background image to a lucky background image or a super lucky background image while the cloud image C of the preview color is displayed in the reserved display area H2 In the case of a "first" effect symbol game, a cloud image C in the preview color is continuously displayed until the image for the "second" effect symbol game is stopped from being displayed; if the background image for the effect symbol game is switched from a normal background image to a lucky background image or a super lucky background image while the cloud image C in the preview color is displayed in the reserved display area H1, the cloud image C in the preview color is continuously displayed until the image for the "first" effect symbol game is stopped from being displayed; and if the background image for the effect symbol game is switched from a normal background image to a lucky background image or a super lucky background image while the cloud image C in the preview color is displayed in the reserved display area H0, the cloud image C in the preview color is continuously displayed until the image for the current effect symbol game is stopped from being displayed, so that the display content of the effect symbol display device 28 has a significant visual change from the player's perspective. This increases the player's anticipation for a jackpot being announced in the effect symbol game corresponding to the cloud image C in the preview color, improving the enjoyment of the game.

The effect symbol game image is displayed in either normal mode, SP normal mode, or super lucky mode. Normal mode displays a cloud image C as the reserved image, and the reserved pre-read preview effect is enabled. SP normal mode displays a heart image H as the reserved image. SP normal mode enables the reserved pre-read preview effect, and transitioning from normal mode to SP normal mode is enabled while the reserved pre-read preview effect is stopped, but disabled while the reserved pre-read preview effect is running. Super lucky mode indicates to the player that the pre-read result indicates a jackpot in response to the display of the super lucky background image, and transition from normal mode to SP normal mode is possible whether the reserved pre-read preview effect is stopped or running. When super lucky mode is entered from normal mode, a cloud image C is displayed as the reserved image, and when it is entered from SP normal mode, a heart image H is displayed as the reserved image. Therefore, the cloud image C and the heart image H are displayed in their preview colors superimposed on the super lucky background image. This Super Lucky Mode greatly increases players' expectations for a big win, making the game more entertaining.

[Example 2]
10-1. Jackpot Prediction Display Figure 36 explains the jackpot prediction display. This jackpot prediction display involves a three-row scroll display of display symbols, followed by a cut-in display of jackpot prediction image 1 (see a → b) or jackpot prediction image 2 (see a → c), suggesting to the player that the three rows of display symbols will form a jackpot combination in the current display symbol game. The jackpot prediction process of Figure 36(d) is initiated each time the sub-control circuit 60 receives special symbol 1 game data from the main control circuit 40. The sub-control circuit 60 determines whether or not to execute the jackpot prediction display and the type of jackpot prediction image in the jackpot prediction process. If it determines to execute the jackpot prediction display, it executes the jackpot prediction display for the current display symbol game based on the result of the determination of the type of jackpot prediction image.

When the sub-control circuit 60 activates the jackpot prediction process, it determines in S271 whether the current presentation mode is normal mode, and if it determines that it is normal mode, it determines in S272 whether the received results of the special chart 1 game data contain a jackpot determination result. If it determines that a jackpot determination result exists, it proceeds to S273, and if it determines that no jackpot determination result exists, it proceeds to S274.

When the sub-control circuit 60 transitions to S273, it determines with a low probability that a jackpot preview effect will be executed, and when it transitions to S274, it determines with an extremely low probability (<low probability) that a jackpot preview effect will be executed. In each of S273 and S274, if it determines that a jackpot preview effect will be executed, it determines with a 50% probability whether jackpot preview image 1 or jackpot preview image 2 will be displayed.

10-2. Rush Mode. Figure 37 illustrates rush mode. This rush mode is initiated when the current presentation mode is normal mode. During rush mode, the player is notified that rush mode is in progress by displaying an announcement image reading "RUSH MODE INITIALIZED" overlaid on the normal background image (see b-c). This rush mode ends when the set time of "10 minutes" has elapsed since the start of rush mode. When rush mode ends, the announcement image reading "RUSH MODE INITIALIZED" disappears, notifying the player that rush mode has ended. This rush mode is a mode that produces a jackpot preview presentation with a higher probability than when rush mode is stopped. During rush mode, jackpot preview image 1 (see a-b) and jackpot preview image 2 (see a-c) are both displayed with high frequency.

The rush mode processing in Figure 37 (d) is activated each time the sub-control circuit 60 receives special symbol 1 game data from the main control circuit 40. The sub-control circuit 60 determines whether or not to execute a jackpot preview effect during the rush mode processing, and if it determines that a jackpot preview effect should be executed, it determines whether to display jackpot preview image 1 or jackpot preview image 2, and executes the jackpot preview effect for this performance symbol game based on the determination result of the type of jackpot preview image.

When the sub-control circuit 60 activates the rush mode processing, it determines in S281 whether or not rush mode is in progress, and if it determines that rush mode is in progress, it determines in S282 whether or not the received Special Chart 1 game data contains a jackpot determination result. If it determines that a jackpot determination result is present, it proceeds to S283, and if it determines that a jackpot determination result is not present, it proceeds to S284. When the sub-control circuit 60 proceeds to S283, it determines with a medium probability (> the low probability of S273) whether to execute a jackpot prediction performance, and if it determines that a jackpot prediction performance is to be executed, it determines with a 50% probability whether or not to display jackpot prediction image 1 and jackpot prediction image 2. When this sub-control circuit 60 transitions to S284, it determines with a low probability (> the extremely low probability of S274) that a jackpot preview effect will be executed, and if it determines that a jackpot preview effect will be executed, it determines with a 50% probability whether jackpot preview image 1 and jackpot preview image 2 will be displayed.

10-3. RTC Mode Figure 38 explains the RTC mode. This RTC mode is initiated when the current time reaches a set time every two hours in normal mode, and during RTC mode, an announcement image saying "RTC mode activated" is displayed over the normal background image, thereby informing the player that RTC mode is in effect (see b). This RTC mode ends when the set time of "10 minutes" has elapsed since the RTC mode was initiated, and when RTC mode ends, the announcement image saying "RTC mode activated" is erased, thereby informing the player that RTC mode has ended.

The "dinosaur" jackpot preview image 3 in Figure 38 (b) is an image that is only displayed in RTC mode and is not displayed outside of RTC mode. This jackpot preview image 3 is displayed as a cut-in with three rows of effect symbols scrolling (see a → b), suggesting to the player that the three rows of effect symbols will form a jackpot combination in this effect symbol play. When this jackpot preview image 3 is displayed, the probability that the three rows of effect symbols will form a jackpot combination is set higher than the probability that the three rows of effect symbols will form a jackpot combination when jackpot preview image 1 is displayed or when jackpot preview image 2 is displayed.

The RTC mode processing in Figure 38 (c) is activated each time the sub-control circuit 60 receives special chart 1 game data from the main control circuit 40. The sub-control circuit 60 determines whether or not to display the jackpot preview image 3 during RTC mode processing, and if it determines that the jackpot preview image 3 should be displayed, it displays the jackpot preview image 3 for the current effect symbol game. When the sub-control circuit 60 activates RTC mode processing, it determines in S291 whether or not it is in RTC mode. If it determines that it is in RTC mode, it proceeds to S292, where it determines whether or not the reception results for the special chart 1 game data contain a jackpot determination result. If it determines that a jackpot determination result exists, it proceeds to S293, where it determines with 100% probability that the jackpot preview image 3 will be displayed. If the sub-control circuit 60 determines in S292 that the reception results for the special chart 1 game data do not contain a jackpot determination result, it proceeds to S294, where it determines with an extremely low probability that the jackpot preview image 3 will be displayed.

The mode transition process in Figure 39 is executed by the sub-control circuit 60 in place of the mode determination process in Figures 28 and 29. The sub-control circuit 60 determines whether to start rush mode or RTC mode during the mode transition process, and if it determines to start rush mode, it starts rush mode at start timing Ts during play of the current effect symbol, and if it determines to start RTC mode, it starts RTC mode at start timing Ts during play of the current effect symbol.

When the sub-control circuit 60 activates the mode transition process, it determines in S301 whether the current presentation mode is normal mode. If it determines that it is normal mode, it proceeds to S302, where it determines whether a cloud image C is displayed in the preview color in any of the hold display areas H0 to H4. If it determines that a cloud image C is not displayed in the preview color in any of the hold display areas H0 to H4, it proceeds to S303, where it determines whether rush mode should be initiated. This determination process is performed by lottery so that there is a 1/100 chance that rush mode will be initiated, and the sub-control circuit 60 proceeds to S304 after completing S303.

When the sub-control circuit 60 proceeds to S304, it detects the results of the rush mode lottery. If it determines that the rush mode lottery result is a win, it starts rush mode at start time Ts during the current effect symbol play in S305. If it determines that the rush mode lottery result is a loss, it compares the current time with each of multiple set times for RTC mode in S306. If it determines that the current time is one of the multiple set times, it starts RTC mode at start time Ts during the current effect symbol play in S307.

If the sub-control circuit 60 determines in S302 that a cloud image C is displayed in the preview color in any of the reserved display areas H0-H4, it proceeds to S306. If it determines that the current time is one of the multiple set times, it starts RTC mode in S307 at the start timing Ts during the current performance symbol play. In other words, RTC mode can be started in normal mode whether the reserved pre-read preview performance is stopped or running. If RTC mode is started while the reserved pre-read preview performance is running, the preview color cloud image C will continue to be displayed until the RTC mode duration reaches the upper limit of "10 minutes" or the performance symbol corresponding to the preview color cloud image C ends. Rush mode can be started while the reserved pre-read preview performance is stopped, but cannot be started while the reserved pre-read preview performance is running. Note that the SP normal mode, lucky mode, super lucky mode, and ultra lucky mode from Example 1 have been abolished.

The second embodiment provides the following effects.
When the background image for the effect symbol game is switched from a normal background image to an RTC mode background image while the cloud image C in the preview color is displayed on the effect symbol display 28, the RTC mode background image is displayed as the background image for the effect symbol game while the cloud image C in the preview color continues to be displayed, so that the display content of the effect symbol display 28 has a significant visual change from the player's perspective. Moreover, since the background image for the effect symbol game cannot be switched from a normal background image to a rush mode background image while the cloud image C in the preview color is displayed, the value of images with significant changes is enhanced. Therefore, when the RTC mode background image is displayed while the cloud image C in the preview color is displayed, the player's anticipation for a win or loss prediction result is heightened, improving the entertainment value of the game.

[Example 3]
The hold notice process of Figure 40 (d) is executed by the sub-control circuit 60 in place of the hold advance notice process of Figure 25. When the sub-control circuit 60 receives special symbol 1 game data, it determines in S311 whether the current presentation mode is normal mode. If it determines that it is normal mode, it determines in S312 whether the special symbol variation pattern "PO01" is present in the reception result of the special symbol 1 game data. This special symbol variation pattern "PO01" is used to display the battle image BL1 of a winning outcome. If the sub-control circuit 60 determines that the special symbol variation pattern "PO01" is present, it proceeds to S313 and determines with a high probability that the hold notice presentation will be executed in this presentation symbol game.

If the sub-control circuit 60 determines that there is no judgment result for special symbol variation pattern "PO01", it proceeds to S314 and determines whether there is a judgment result for special symbol variation pattern "PH01" in the received results of special symbol 1 game data. This special symbol variation pattern "PH01" is used to display the battle image BL1 of a defeat ending, and if the sub-control circuit 60 determines that there is a judgment result for special symbol variation pattern "PH01", it proceeds to S315 and determines with a low probability that a hold notice performance will be executed in this performance symbol game.

The hold preview effect changes the color of the cloud image C in the hold display area H0 for the current effect symbol play from the normal color to the preview color at preview timing T1 (see a → b). When this hold preview effect is executed for the current effect symbol play, a reach state occurs with 100% probability while the preview colored cloud image C is displayed, and after the battle image BL1 begins to be displayed with 100% probability while the preview colored cloud image C is displayed (see b → c), the three rows of effect symbols will form a jackpot combination or a reach-to-miss combination. In other words, the battle image BL1 begins to be displayed both while the hold preview effect is stopped and while it is being executed; if the battle image BL1 begins to be displayed while the hold preview effect is being executed, the preview colored cloud image C will continue to be displayed until the effect symbol play image stops being displayed. Battle images BL2 to BL4 each begin to be displayed while the hold preview effect is stopped, and do not begin to be displayed while the hold preview effect is being executed.

According to the third embodiment, the following effects are achieved.
If the hold notice effect starts while the effect symbol game image is displayed superimposed on the normal background image, the player is informed that a jackpot will be announced for this effect symbol game. If the battle image BL1 starts to be displayed during this hold notice effect, the hold notice effect continues, and the display content of the effect symbol display 28 from the player's perspective undergoes a major visual change. Moreover, since the background image for the effect symbol game cannot be switched from the normal background image to any of the battle images BL2 to BL4 during the hold notice effect, the value of images with major changes is enhanced. Therefore, when the battle image BL1 is displayed during the hold notice effect, the player's anticipation for a jackpot is heightened, improving the entertainment value of the game.
In the above-mentioned Examples 1 to 3, the player may be hinted at a jackpot by displaying a preview image different from the cloud image C outside the reserved display areas H0 to H4 within the display area E of the performance pattern display 28.

In addition to the inventions described in the claims, Examples 1 to 3 above also describe the following [Reference Invention 1-1] to [Reference Invention 1-7]. Some gaming machines are configured to determine whether a game ball has won or lost each time it enters the starting area while it is possible to determine whether it has won or lost, and to notify the player of the result of the win/loss determination by displaying an image of the symbol game each time a win/loss determination is made. In this gaming machine, a win/loss determination is predicted each time the game ball enters the starting area while it is not possible to determine whether it has won or lost, and the win/loss determination process is suspended until it is possible to determine whether it has won or lost (see JP 2010-17425 A). Some gaming machines are configured to notify the player of the number of times the win/loss determination process has been suspended by displaying the suspended image in a normal manner. In this configuration, the player is informed of a win in the symbol game from this point onwards by changing the suspended image from a normal manner to a predictive manner, suggesting to the player that a win will be notified, leaving room for improvement in terms of the game's entertainment value.

[Reference Invention 1-1]
A winning/loose determination means for determining whether a game ball is a winning or loose ball each time the game ball enters the starting area in a state where it is possible to determine whether the game ball is a winning or loose ball, and for predicting whether the game ball is a winning or loose ball each time the game ball enters the starting area in a state where it is not possible to determine whether the game ball is a winning or loose ball, and suspending the winning or loose determination process until it is possible to determine whether the game ball is a winning or loose ball;
A display that displays an image of a symbol game that notifies the player of the result of the winning or losing decision;
A symbol game means for displaying a symbol game image on the display device in one of a plurality of different presentation modes;
A notice image is displayed on the display device to suggest to the player that a win will be announced in the symbol game from this time onwards, and the display of the notice image is started in a state where the symbol game image is displayed in one of the plurality of presentation modes,
The symbol game means is configured to be able to switch the presentation mode of the symbol game image to a predetermined presentation mode different from the one presentation mode among the plurality of presentation modes when the symbol game image is displayed in the one presentation mode and the preview image is displayed,
The gaming machine is characterized in that the preview presentation means continues to display the preview image when the presentation mode of the image of the pattern game is switched from one presentation mode to the specified presentation mode while the preview image is displayed.
According to the above means, when the symbol game image is displayed in one presentation mode and the preview image is also displayed, the player is informed that a win will be announced in the next symbol game. In this state, when the presentation mode of the symbol game image is switched from one presentation mode to a predetermined presentation mode, the preview image continues to be displayed while the symbol game image is displayed in the predetermined presentation mode, so that the display content of the display device undergoes a significant visual change from the player's perspective. This increases the player's sense of anticipation for a win, improving the entertainment value of the game.
In the embodiment, the first start port 18 and the second start port 23 each correspond to a start area, and the state in which the special pattern 1 game, the special pattern 2 game, the small win game, and the big win game are all stopped corresponds to a state in which it is possible to determine whether it is a win or not, and the state in which any of the special pattern 1 game to the big win game is being executed corresponds to a state in which it is impossible to determine whether it is a win or not, the main control circuit 40 corresponds to a win or not determination means, the performance pattern display 28 corresponds to a display, the cloud image C of the notice color corresponds to a notice image, the sub-control circuit 60 corresponds to a pattern game means and a notice performance means, the image of the performance pattern game corresponds to an image of the pattern game, and the no for normal mode Each of the normal background image, chance background image for chance mode, speed background image for speed mode, super speed background image for super speed mode, normal background image for normal mode, SP normal background image for SP normal mode, lucky background image for lucky mode, super lucky background image for super lucky mode, and ultra lucky background image for ultra lucky mode corresponds to a presentation mode, the normal background image corresponds to one presentation mode, and each of the lucky background image and super lucky background image corresponds to a predetermined presentation mode.

[Reference Invention 1-2]
The gaming machine described in [Reference Invention 1-1] is characterized in that the symbol game means is unable to switch the presentation mode of the symbol game image to another one of the plurality of presentation modes different from the specified one when the symbol game image is displayed in the one presentation mode and the preview image is displayed.
According to the above means, the presentation mode of the image of the symbol game cannot be switched from one presentation mode to another presentation mode while the preview image is displayed. Therefore, the value of the image in which the preview image is displayed in a predetermined presentation mode is increased, so that when the presentation mode is switched from one presentation mode to a predetermined presentation mode while the preview image is displayed, the player's expectations for a win are greatly increased. In the embodiment, the SP normal background image and the ultra lucky background image each correspond to a different presentation mode.

[Reference Inventions 1-3]
The symbol game means is configured to be capable of displaying images of a plurality of consecutive symbol games in the predetermined presentation mode when the presentation mode of the symbol game images is switched from the one presentation mode to the predetermined presentation mode while the preview image is displayed,
The gaming machine described in [Reference Invention 1-1] is characterized in that the preview presentation means is capable of continuously displaying the preview image with two or more consecutive pattern game images in the predetermined presentation mode when the presentation mode of the pattern game image is switched to the predetermined presentation mode while the preview image is displayed.
According to the above means, when the presentation mode of the image of the pattern game is switched from one presentation mode to a predetermined presentation mode in the display state of the preview image, the image of two or more pattern games is continuously displayed in the display state of the preview image, so that the player's expectation for a win is also maintained for a long time.

[Reference Inventions 1-4]
The gaming machine described in [Reference Invention 1-1] is characterized by being equipped with a suggestion display means for suggesting to the player in advance which display mode the image of the pattern game will be switched to from the one display mode.
According to the above means, the player is given a hint in advance as to which presentation mode the image in the symbol game will be switched from one presentation mode to another, thereby improving the entertainment value of the game.
The mode lottery effect in the embodiment corresponds to the suggestion effect.

[Reference Inventions 1-5]
A first hold display area and a second hold display area set on the display;
The display device is provided with a hold display means for displaying one reserved image in the first reserved display area in a normal manner each time the winning/losing determination process is put on hold, erasing one reserved image from the first reserved display area and displaying one reserved image in the second reserved display area in a normal manner each time the image of the symbol game starts to be displayed, and erasing one reserved image from the second reserved display area each time the image of the symbol game stops being displayed;
The gaming machine described in [Reference Invention 1-1] is characterized in that the preview performance means displays the reserved image in either the first reserve display area or the second reserve display area in a preview manner different from the normal manner as the preview image.
According to the above means, the player is informed that a winning symbol will be displayed in accordance with the reserved image of the preview mode. This makes it clear to the player which symbol image to look forward to, thereby improving the entertainment value of the game.
In the embodiment, the hold display areas H1 to H4 correspond to the first hold display area, the hold display area H0 corresponds to the second hold display area, the cloud image C corresponds to the hold image, the sub-control circuit 60 corresponds to the hold display means, the cloud image C in normal color corresponds to the hold image in normal form, and the cloud image C in preview color corresponds to the hold image in preview form.

[Reference Inventions 1-6]
A winning/loose determination means for determining whether a game ball is a winning or loose ball each time the game ball enters the starting area in a state where it is possible to determine whether the game ball is a winning or loose ball, and for predicting whether the game ball is a winning or loose ball each time the game ball enters the starting area in a state where it is not possible to determine whether the game ball is a winning or loose ball, and suspending the winning or loose determination process until it is possible to determine whether the game ball is a winning or loose ball;
A display that displays an image of a symbol game that notifies the player of the result of the winning or losing determination and a reserved image that notifies the player that the winning or losing determination process has been reserved;
A symbol game means for displaying a symbol game image on the display device in one of a plurality of different presentation modes, the presentation modes being "one presentation mode", "predetermined presentation mode", and "another presentation mode";
A hold image is displayed on the display device each time the winning/losing judgment process is held in each of the one presentation mode, the predetermined presentation mode, and the other presentation mode, and a hold display means is provided which can start a hold pre-read notice presentation in each of the one presentation mode and the predetermined presentation mode, which suggests to the player that there is a winning/losing prediction result by using a hold image;
the reserved display means displays the reserved image in one mode in the one presentation mode, and in a predetermined mode in the predetermined presentation mode, and displays the reserved image in the one mode in the other presentation mode transitioned from the one presentation mode, and in the predetermined mode in the other presentation mode transitioned from the predetermined presentation mode,
The pattern game means is characterized in that the transition from the one presentation mode to the predetermined presentation mode can be executed while the reserved pre-read preview presentation is stopped, but cannot be executed while the reserved pre-read preview presentation is being executed, and the transition from each of the one presentation mode and the predetermined presentation mode to the other presentation mode can be executed whether the reserved pre-read preview presentation is stopped or being executed.
According to the above-described means, the symbol game image is displayed in one of "one presentation mode,""predetermined presentation mode," and "another presentation mode." The "one presentation mode" displays the reserved image in one mode, and enables a reserved pre-reading notice effect that uses the reserved image to suggest to the player that the pre-reading result of the win/loss prediction is a win. The "predetermined presentation mode" displays the reserved image in a predetermined mode. This "predetermined presentation mode" enables the reserved pre-reading notice effect, and a transition from one presentation mode to the predetermined presentation mode is enabled while the reserved pre-reading notice effect is stopped, but disabled while the reserved pre-reading notice effect is being executed. The "another presentation mode" enables a transition from one presentation mode and the predetermined presentation mode, whether the reserved pre-reading notice effect is stopped or being executed. When this other presentation mode is a transition from one presentation mode, the reserved image is displayed in one mode, and when the transition is from the predetermined presentation mode, the reserved image is displayed in the predetermined mode. Therefore, the reserved pre-reading notice effect is executed while the symbol game image is displayed in the other presentation mode. In this state, the player's expectations for winning are greatly increased, improving the entertainment value of the game.
In the embodiment, the normal mode corresponds to one presentation mode, the SP normal mode corresponds to a predetermined presentation mode, the lucky mode and the super lucky mode each correspond to a different presentation mode, the cloud image C corresponds to a reserved image of one mode, and the heart image H corresponds to a reserved image of a predetermined mode.

[Reference Inventions 1-7]
A winning/loose determination means for determining whether a game ball is a winning or loose ball each time the game ball enters the starting area in a state where it is possible to determine whether the game ball is a winning or loose ball, and for predicting whether the game ball is a winning or loose ball each time the game ball enters the starting area in a state where it is not possible to determine whether the game ball is a winning or loose ball, and suspending the winning or loose determination process until it is possible to determine whether the game ball is a winning or loose ball;
A display that displays an image of a symbol game that notifies a player of the result of a winning or losing decision, and in which a first reserved display area and a second reserved display area are set;
a hold effect means for displaying one reserved image in the first reserved display area each time the winning/losing determination process is put on hold, erasing one reserved image from the first reserved display area and displaying one reserved image in the second reserved display area each time the image of the symbol game starts to be displayed, and erasing one reserved image from the second reserved display area each time the image of the symbol game stops being displayed;
A notice presentation means for suggesting to a player that a winning will be announced in a symbol game corresponding to the reserved image by displaying the reserved image in a foreseeable manner in the first reserved display area or the second reserved display area;
A symbol game means is provided for displaying a symbol game image on the display device in one of a plurality of different presentation modes;
The symbol game means is configured to be able to switch the symbol game image from one of the plurality of presentation modes to another one in a state where a reserved image is displayed in a pre-reading manner in the first reserved display area or the second reserved display area,
The gaming machine is characterized in that the preview performance means is capable of displaying the reserved image in a pre-reading manner until the pattern game image corresponding to the reserved image stops being displayed when the reserved image is displayed in a pre-reading manner in the first reserved display area or the second reserved display area and the pattern game image is switched to the other performance manner.
According to the above means, when a reserved image is displayed in a pre-reading mode in the first reserved display area or the second reserved display area while a symbol game image is displayed in one presentation mode, the player is suggested to have been notified of a win in the symbol game corresponding to the reserved image. In this state, when the presentation mode of the symbol game image is switched from one presentation mode to another presentation mode, the reserved image in the pre-reading mode is continuously displayed until the symbol game image corresponding to the reserved image in the pre-reading mode is stopped from being displayed, so that the display content of the display device has a significant visual change from the player's perspective. This increases the player's anticipation for being notified of a win in the symbol game corresponding to the reserved image in the pre-reading mode, improving the entertainment value of the game.

[Example 4]
FIG. 41 illustrates a pre-battle effect. This pre-battle effect is switched from the normal reach effect image displayed on the effect symbol display 28 at timing Tp (see a → b), and is set to an image of a woman climbing a cliff. The pre-battle effect image is set to a successful ending (see c) and a failed ending (see g). The successful ending is set to an image of a woman reaching the top of a cliff. If the pre-battle effect image ends with a successful ending, the pre-battle effect image switches to the battle image BL1 at timing Tbn (see c → d). This battle image BL1 can be either a winning ending (see e) or a losing ending (see f). If the battle image BL1 ends with a winning ending, three rows of effect symbols are displayed in a winning combination (see e). If the battle image BL1 ends with a losing ending, three rows of effect symbols are displayed in a losing reach combination (see f). The failure ending of the pre-battle performance is set to an image of a woman falling off a cliff (see g), and when the image of the pre-battle performance ends with a failure ending, the image of the pre-battle performance is switched to an image of a normal reach performance at timing Tbn (see g → h), and as the performance patterns in the middle row stop scrolling from the slow scrolling state, the three rows of performance patterns are displayed as either a jackpot combination (see i) or a miss reach combination (see j).

42 explains the effect of the image of the effect symbol game displayed on the effect symbol display 28 when the sub-control circuit 60 receives the specific special symbol variation patterns "PO01" and "PH01" from the main control circuit 40 in the specific effect mode "chance mode." This specific special symbol variation pattern is used to display the image of the effect symbol game in the effect pattern of "normal reach effect → battle image BL1" in modes other than "chance mode," and in "chance mode," it is used to display one of the effect patterns [1] to [3] below. The reliability of the jackpot for effect patterns 1 to 3 is set highest for effect pattern 3, lowest for effect pattern 2, and intermediate for effect pattern 1.
[1] The image of the normal reach effect is switched to the image of the pre-battle effect, and after the image of the pre-battle effect ends with a successful outcome, the battle image BL1 begins to be displayed (see a → d → e).
[2] The image of the normal reach effect is switched to the image of the pre-battle effect, and after the image of the pre-battle effect ends with a failure outcome, the image of the normal reach effect begins to be displayed again (see a → f → g).
[3] The image of the normal reach effect is switched to the battle image BL1 without going through the pre-battle effect image (see a → h).

Figure 42 explains the battle preview effect and pre-battle preview effect. The battle preview effect is indicated to the player when the battle image BL1 begins to be displayed, and is set to the text image "Prepare for battle" (see b). This battle preview effect is displayed as a cut-in to the effect symbol game image, and there are two set display timings for the battle preview effect image: "Ta (see Figure 43)" and "Tb (see Figure 42)." Display timing Ta is set during the scrolling display of three columns of effect symbols, as shown in Figure 43(a)(i), and display timing Tb is set during the display of the normal reach effect image, as shown in Figure 42(a)(i). When the battle preview effect image is displayed at display timing Tb, the probability of the battle image BL1 being displayed is set to be higher than when it is displayed at display timing Ta.

The pre-battle preview effect indicates to the player when the pre-battle effect begins to be displayed, and is set to the text image "Opportunity has arrived" (see Figure 42 (c)). This pre-battle preview effect is displayed as a cut-in to the image of the effect symbol game. There are two set display timings for the image of this pre-battle preview effect: "Ta (see Figure 43)" and "Tb (see Figure 42)." When the image of the pre-battle preview effect is displayed at display timing Tb, the probability of the pre-battle preview effect being displayed is set to be higher than when it is displayed at display timing Ta.

The pre-battle presentation process in Figure 44 is initiated at S124 in Figure 35 (a) when the sub-control circuit 60 receives special symbol 2 game data from the main control circuit 40 in chance mode. When the sub-control circuit 60 receives specific special symbol variation patterns "PO01" and "PH01", it determines which of presentation patterns 1 to 3 will be used to present the image for this presentation symbol game in the pre-battle presentation process, and determines whether the battle preview presentation or pre-battle preview presentation will be executed at display timing Ta or Tb.

When the sub-control circuit 60 activates the pre-battle presentation process, it determines in S401 whether the current presentation mode is chance mode. If it determines that it is chance mode, it proceeds to S402, where it determines whether the special chart variation pattern "PO01" for a jackpot is included in the received special chart 2 game data. If it determines that the special chart variation pattern "PO01" is included, it proceeds to S403, where it detects special chart variation pattern classification table 1 from the ROM. Figure 45 (a) shows special chart variation pattern classification table 1. This special chart variation pattern classification table 1 assigns a medium selection probability to special chart variation pattern "PO01-1," a low selection probability to special chart variation pattern "PO01-2," and a high selection probability to special chart variation pattern "PO01-3." If the sub-control circuit 60 detects special chart variation pattern classification table 1 in S403 of Figure 44, it proceeds to S406. Here, one of the special chart variation patterns "PO01-1" to "PO01-3" is selected from the special chart variation pattern classification table 1 according to the selection probability, and the special chart variation pattern reception result "PO01" is changed to the special chart variation pattern selection result.

If the sub-control circuit 60 determines at S402 in Figure 44 that the reception results of the special chart 2 game data do not include a judgment result for the special chart variation pattern "PO01," it proceeds to S404, where it determines whether the reception results of the special chart 2 game data include a judgment result for the special chart variation pattern "PH01" for a miss. If it determines that the special chart variation pattern "PH01" is included, it proceeds to S405, where it detects special chart variation pattern classification table 2 from ROM. Figure 45 (b) shows special chart variation pattern classification table 2. This special chart variation pattern classification table 2 assigns an intermediate selection probability to special chart variation pattern "PH01-1," a high selection probability to special chart variation pattern "PH01-2," and a low selection probability to special chart variation pattern "PH01-3." If the sub-control circuit 60 detects special chart variation pattern classification table 2 at S405 in Figure 44, it proceeds to S406. Here, one of the special chart variation patterns "PH01-1" to "PH01-3" is selected from the special chart variation pattern classification table 2 according to the selection probability, and the special chart variation pattern reception result "PH01" is changed to the special chart variation pattern selection result.

Special chart variation pattern "PO01-1" and special chart variation pattern "PH01-1" are each intended to display the image of the performance symbol game in performance pattern 1, as shown in Figure 45. Each of these special chart variation patterns "PO01-1" and "PH01-1" is set to a successful ending for the pre-battle performance, with special chart variation pattern "PO01-1" setting the battle image BL1 to a winning ending, and special chart variation pattern "PH01-1" setting the battle image BL1 to a losing ending. Special chart variation pattern "PO01-2" and special chart variation pattern "PH01-2" are each intended to display the image of the performance symbol game in performance pattern 2, with the pre-battle performance set to a failure ending. Special chart variation pattern "PO01-3" and special chart variation pattern "PH01-3" are each used to display the image of the performance symbol game in performance pattern 3, with special chart variation pattern "PO01-3" setting the battle image BL1 to a winning ending, and special chart variation pattern "PH01-3" setting the battle image BL1 to a losing ending.

In other words, of presentation patterns 1 to 3, presentation pattern 3 is set to have the highest reliability for a jackpot, presentation pattern 2 is set to have the lowest reliability for a jackpot, and presentation pattern 1 is set to have an intermediate reliability for a jackpot; the reliability is set to the highest when the image in the normal reach presentation progresses to battle image BL1 without passing through the image in the pre-battle presentation, the reliability is set to the lowest when the image in the normal reach presentation progresses to the image in the pre-battle presentation but does not progress to battle image BL1, and the reliability is set to the intermediate when the image in the normal reach presentation progresses to the image in the pre-battle presentation and then to battle image BL1.

When the sub-control circuit 60 changes the reception result of the special symbol 2 game data in S406 of FIG. 44, it selects the display timing from "Ta" or "Tb" in S407. This processing is performed so that display timing Ta and display timing Tb are each selected with the same probability of "1/2." If the sub-control circuit 60 selects either display timing Ta or display timing Tb in S407, it proceeds to S408 and compares the change in the special symbol variation pattern with the special symbol variation patterns "PO01-1" and "PH01-1" for presentation pattern 1. If it determines that the change in the special symbol variation pattern is for presentation pattern 1, it proceeds to S409. If display timing Ta is selected, it detects preview presentation table 1a from the ROM. If display timing Tb is selected, it detects preview presentation table 1b from the ROM. Figure 46(a) shows preview presentation table 1a, and Figure 46(b) shows preview presentation table 1b. Each of these preview effect tables 1a and 1b allows you to select one of "battle preview effect," "no preview effect," or "pre-battle preview effect," and the probability of selecting the battle preview effect and the pre-battle preview effect are both set higher in preview effect table 1b than in preview effect table 1a.

When the sub-control circuit 60 has completed S409 in FIG. 44, it proceeds to S412. If display timing Ta is selected here, it selects one of "battle preview effect," "pre-battle preview effect," or "no preview effect" from preview effect table 1a according to the selection probability, and if "battle preview effect" or "pre-battle preview effect" is selected, the preview effect selection result is executed at display timing Ta for the current effect pattern play. If display timing Tb is selected, the sub-control circuit 60 selects one of "battle preview effect," "pre-battle preview effect," or "no preview effect" from preview effect table 1b according to the selection probability in S412, and if "battle preview effect" or "pre-battle preview effect" is selected, the preview effect selection result is executed at display timing Tb for the current effect pattern play.

If the sub-control circuit 60 determines in S408 of FIG. 44 that the change in the special symbol variation pattern is not for effect pattern 1, it proceeds to S410 and compares the change in the special symbol variation pattern with the special symbol variation patterns "PO01-2" and "PH01-2" for effect pattern 2. If it determines that the change in the special symbol variation pattern is for effect pattern 2, it proceeds to S411 and, if display timing Ta is selected, detects preview effect table 2a from the ROM, or, if display timing Tb is selected, detects preview effect table 2b from the ROM. FIG. 46 (c) shows preview effect table 2a, and FIG. 46 (d) shows preview effect table 2b. Each of these preview effect tables 2a and 2b is used to select one of "battle preview effect," "no preview effect," and "pre-battle preview effect," and the probability of selecting a battle preview effect and a pre-battle preview effect are set higher in preview effect table 2b than in preview effect table 2a.

When the sub-control circuit 60 has completed S411 in FIG. 44, it proceeds to S412. If display timing Ta is selected here, it selects one of "battle preview effect," "pre-battle preview effect," or "no preview effect" from preview effect table 2a according to the selection probability, and if "battle preview effect" or "pre-battle preview effect" is selected, the preview effect selection result is executed at display timing Ta for the current effect pattern play. If display timing Tb is selected, the sub-control circuit 60 selects one of "battle preview effect," "pre-battle preview effect," or "no preview effect" from preview effect table 2b according to the selection probability in S412, and if "battle preview effect" or "pre-battle preview effect" is selected, the preview effect selection result is executed at display timing Tb for the current effect pattern play.

If the result of the change in the special symbol variation pattern is "PO01-3" or "PH01-3" for effect pattern 3, the sub-control circuit 60 determines at S410 in Figure 44 that the result of the change in the special symbol variation pattern is not for effect pattern 2 and proceeds to S413. If display timing Ta is selected, the sub-control circuit 60 detects preview effect table 3a from the ROM, and if display timing Tb is selected, it detects preview effect table 3b. Figure 46 (e) shows preview effect table 3a, and Figure 46 (f) shows preview effect table 3b. Each of these preview effect tables 3a and 3b is used to select one of "battle preview effect," "no preview effect," or "pre-battle preview effect," and the probability of selecting a battle preview effect and the probability of selecting a pre-battle preview effect are set higher in preview effect table 3b than in preview effect table 3a.

When the sub-control circuit 60 has completed S413 in FIG. 44, it proceeds to S412. If display timing Ta is selected here, it selects one of "battle preview effect," "pre-battle preview effect," or "no preview effect" from preview effect table 3a according to the selection probability, and if "battle preview effect" or "pre-battle preview effect" is selected, the preview effect selection result is executed at display timing Ta for the current effect pattern play. If display timing Tb is selected, the sub-control circuit 60 selects one of "battle preview effect," "pre-battle preview effect," or "no preview effect" from preview effect table 3b according to the selection probability in S412, and if "battle preview effect" or "pre-battle preview effect" is selected, the preview effect selection result is executed at display timing Tb for the current effect pattern play.

When a battle preview effect is executed during this performance symbol game, regardless of whether the display timing of the battle preview effect is "Ta" or "Tb," the probability that the normal reach effect will develop into a battle effect without going through a pre-battle effect is highest, the probability that it will develop into a pre-battle effect but not into a battle effect is lowest, and the probability of it developing into a battle effect via a pre-battle effect is intermediate. When this battle preview effect is executed with display timing Tb, the probability that the normal reach effect will develop into a battle effect without going through a pre-battle effect is higher than when it is executed with display timing Ta, and the probability of it developing into a battle effect via a pre-battle effect is also higher. In other words, the battle preview effect is an effect that suggests with a high probability that a battle effect will begin to be displayed, and is an effect that suggests to the player the degree of expectation that a battle effect will begin to be displayed depending on the difference in display timing.

When a pre-battle preview effect is executed during this performance symbol play, regardless of whether the display timing of the pre-battle preview effect is "Ta" or "Tb," the probability that the normal reach effect will develop into a pre-battle effect but not a battle effect is highest, the probability that it will develop into a battle effect without going through the pre-battle effect is lowest, and the probability of it developing into a battle effect via the pre-battle effect is intermediate. When this pre-battle preview effect is executed with display timing Tb, the probability that the normal reach effect will develop into a pre-battle effect but not a battle effect is higher than when it is executed with display timing Ta, and the probability that the normal reach effect will develop into a battle effect via the pre-battle effect is also higher. In other words, the pre-battle preview effect is an effect that suggests with a high probability that the pre-battle effect will begin to be displayed, and is an effect that suggests to the player the degree of expectation for the pre-battle effect to begin to be displayed depending on the difference in display timing.

The fourth embodiment provides the following effects.
In response to the display of an image of the battle preview effect, the player is informed in advance that a battle image BL1 will be displayed in a reach effect. This battle image BL1 suggests to the player that a jackpot will occur with a higher probability than an image of the pre-battle effect, and the player's sense of anticipation is heightened as the image of the battle preview effect is viewed. When this image of the battle preview effect is displayed, a reach effect is produced with a medium probability using effect pattern 1, and with a high probability using effect pattern 3. In effect pattern 1, a pre-battle effect image that is of little interest to the player and a battle image BL1 that is of high interest are displayed in chronological order, while in effect pattern 3, the battle image BL1 is displayed without displaying an image of the pre-battle effect. When an image of the battle preview effect is displayed, the probability that the player will be able to see the battle image BL1 that is of high interest to the player without seeing the pre-battle effect image that is of low interest to the player increases, thereby improving the overall entertainment value of the game.

Since the pre-battle preview effect and the battle preview effect are performed as the preview effect, the player is informed that the battle image BL1 will be displayed in the reach effect without going through the pre-battle preview effect image, depending on the type of preview effect. This allows the player to enjoy anticipating whether the preview effect will be the pre-battle preview effect or the battle preview effect, further improving the entertainment value of the game.
Displaying an image of a battle preview effect suggesting the battle image BL1 suggests with high probability that the battle image BL1 will be displayed without displaying an image of the pre-battle effect, and displaying an image of a pre-battle preview effect not suggesting the battle image BL1 suggests with low probability that the battle image BL1 will be displayed without displaying an image of the pre-battle effect, making it easier for a player to understand that the battle image BL1 will be displayed without displaying an image of the pre-battle effect.
The probability that the battle image BL1 will be displayed without the pre-battle image being displayed is indicated to the player depending on whether the image of the battle preview effect is displayed at the display timing "Ta" or "Tb." This allows the player to keep their eyes on the screen in long-lasting anticipation for the image of the battle preview effect to be displayed, further improving the entertainment value of the game.

[Example 5]
47(b) shows an image of a skip notice effect. This skip notice effect indicates to the player that the pre-battle effect will be skipped, and is performed by displaying a cut-in image of the text "Pre-battle Skip!!" This skip notice effect is executed in place of the battle notice effect of Example 4, and when the skip notice effect is executed in this effect pattern game, the reach effect is produced with a high probability by effect pattern 3, with a low probability by effect pattern 2, and with an intermediate probability by effect pattern 1.
According to the fifth embodiment, the following effects are achieved.
The player is informed in advance that the image of the pre-battle performance will not be displayed in the reach performance in response to the execution of the skip notice performance, and it is suggested with a high probability that the image of the pre-battle performance in which the player is less interested will not be displayed but the battle image BL1 in which the player is more interested will be displayed, thereby improving the entertainment value of the game.
In the above-described fourth embodiment, when the battle preview effect is executed, the reach effect may be produced with 100% probability according to the effect pattern 3.
In the above-mentioned Example 5, when the skip notice effect is executed, the reach effect may be produced with 100% probability according to the effect pattern 3.

In addition to the inventions described in the claims, Examples 4 and 5 above also describe the following [Reference Invention 2-1] to [Reference Invention 2-8]. Some gaming machines are configured to determine whether a win or loss occurs each time a start condition is met, and to notify the player of the result of the determination by displaying an image of a symbol game each time a win or loss is determined. Some gaming machines are configured to suggest to the player that a win will be notified by displaying an image of a reach effect during symbol game play (see JP 2010-17425 A). Some gaming machines are configured to perform a preview effect. This preview effect merely heightens the player's anticipation of a win by suggesting to the player that an image of a reach effect will be displayed, and there is still room for improvement in terms of entertainment value.

[Reference Invention 2-1]
A determination means for determining whether or not a start condition has been met each time the start condition is met, and for setting a state advantageous to the player when the start condition is determined to be met;
A symbol game means for displaying a symbol game image to notify the player of the result of the winning or losing decision;
a reach effect means for displaying an image of reach effect that suggests to a player in advance when a winning is notified by an image of a symbol game in one of "a front-back pattern in which an image of a front effect and an image of a back effect are displayed in a time-ordered order", "a front pattern in which only an image of the front effect is displayed out of both images", and "a back pattern in which only an image of the back effect is displayed out of both images",
a notice performance means for performing a notice performance that suggests to a player that a subsequent image will be displayed in the reach performance;
The reach effect means
This game machine is characterized in that when the advance notice performance is executed, the reach performance can be performed in each of the front-back pattern and the front-back pattern, and the reach performance is performed with a high probability in the back pattern, and with a lower probability in the front-back pattern than in the back pattern.
[Reference Invention 2-2]
The gaming machine described in [Reference Invention 2-1] is characterized in that the reach effect presentation means presents the reach effect with a lower probability depending on the forward pattern than the forward/backward pattern when the advance notice effect is executed.
According to the above means, when a preview effect is executed, the player is given a hint in advance that a subsequent image will be displayed in a reach effect. If this subsequent image indicates to the player a win with a high probability, the player's sense of anticipation increases as the player recognizes the preview effect. When this preview effect is executed, the reach effect is executed with a low probability in the front-back pattern, and with a high probability in the back pattern. The front-back pattern displays a leading image that is of little interest to the player and a back image that is of great interest to the player in a temporally prior to and subsequent manner, while the back pattern displays a back image without displaying a leading image. When a preview effect is executed, the player is more likely to see a back image that is of great interest to the player without seeing a leading image that is of little interest to the player, thereby improving the overall entertainment value of the game.
In the embodiment, "the game ball entering the second starting hole 23 in all stop states of special chart 1 game, special chart 2 game, jackpot game and small jackpot game" corresponds to the fulfillment of the start condition, "jackpot game" corresponds to a state advantageous to the player, "main control circuit 40" corresponds to the judgment means, "image of the performance symbol game" corresponds to the image of the symbol game, "sub control circuit 60" corresponds to the symbol game means, reach performance means and advance notice performance means, "image of the pre-battle performance" corresponds to the leading image, "battle image BL1" corresponds to the trailing image, "performance pattern 1" corresponds to the leading/rearward pattern, "performance pattern 2" corresponds to the leading pattern, "performance pattern 3" corresponds to the trailing pattern and "battle advance notice performance" corresponds to the advance notice performance.

[Reference Invention 2-3]
The gaming machine described in [Reference Invention 2-1] is characterized in that the advance notice performance means performs multiple types of advance notice performances that suggest to the player the probability that a reach performance will be performed in a later pattern with mutually different probabilities.
[Reference Invention 2-4]
The gaming machine described in [Reference Invention 2-3] is characterized in that the preview performance means displays a plurality of different images as the plurality of preview performances.
According to the above means, the player is informed that the next image will be displayed without going through the previous image in the reach effect according to the type of preview effect, which allows the player to enjoy anticipating which type of preview effect will be used, further improving the entertainment value of the game.
The "battle preview effect" and "pre-battle preview effect" in the embodiment correspond to multiple types of preview effects.

[Reference Invention 2-5]
The advance notice presentation means displays a first image that suggests a subsequent image to the player and a second image that does not suggest a subsequent image as the multiple types of images, and is characterized in that it suggests with a high probability that the reach presentation will be presented in a subsequent pattern in response to displaying the first image, and suggests with a low probability in response to displaying the second image. [Reference Invention 2-4] A gaming machine.
According to the above means, when a first image suggesting a subsequent image is displayed in a preview performance, it is highly likely that the subsequent image will be displayed in a reach performance without passing through an earlier image, and when a second image that does not suggest a subsequent image is displayed, it is low likely that the subsequent image will be displayed in a reach performance without passing through an earlier image, making it easier for the player to understand that the subsequent image will be displayed without passing through an earlier image.
In the embodiment, the "image of the battle preview effect" corresponds to the first image, and the "image of the pre-battle preview effect" corresponds to the second image.

[Reference Invention 2-6]
The gaming machine described in [Reference Invention 2-3] is characterized in that the preview performance means performs multiple types of preview performances by displaying a single image at one of multiple mutually different timings.
[Reference Invention 2-7]
The gaming machine described in [Reference Invention 2-6] is characterized in that the preview performance means displays the one image at any of a plurality of different timings between after the image of the pattern game starts to be displayed and before the next image starts to be displayed.
According to the above means, the probability that a subsequent image will be displayed without passing through a previous image is indicated to the player depending on which of a plurality of timings an image is displayed at, which allows the player to gaze at the screen with long-lasting anticipation for the image to be displayed, thereby improving the entertainment value of the game.
In the embodiment, the "image of the battle preview effect" corresponds to one image, and each of the display timings "Ta" and "Tb" corresponds to the timing for displaying one image.

[Reference Invention 2-8]
A determination means for determining whether or not a start condition has been met each time the start condition is met, and for setting a state advantageous to the player when the start condition is determined to be met;
A symbol game means for displaying a symbol game image to notify the player of the result of the winning or losing decision;
a reach effect means for displaying an image of reach effect that suggests to a player in advance when a winning is notified by an image of a symbol game in one of "a front-back pattern in which an image of a front effect and an image of a back effect are displayed in a time-ordered order", "a front pattern in which only an image of the front effect is displayed out of both images", and "a back pattern in which only an image of the back effect is displayed out of both images",
a skip notice effecting means for effecting a skip notice effect that indicates to a player that a next image will not be displayed in the reach effect;
The reach performance means is capable of performing reach performance in a front-back pattern and a front-back pattern when the skip notice performance is executed, and is characterized in that the reach performance is performed with a high probability in the back pattern and with a lower probability than the back pattern in the front-back pattern.
According to the above means, when a skip preview effect is executed, the player is informed in advance that a future image will not be displayed in the reach effect. If this future image indicates to the player a win with a low probability, the player's sense of expectation increases as the player recognizes the skip preview effect. When this skip preview effect is executed, the reach effect is executed with a low probability in a future pattern, and with a high probability in a future pattern. The future pattern displays a future image that is of little interest to the player and a future image that is of high interest to the player in a temporally future order, while the future pattern displays a future image without displaying a future image. When a skip preview effect is executed, the probability that the player will be able to see a future image that is of high interest to the player without seeing a future image that is of low interest to the player increases, thereby improving the overall entertainment value of the game.
The "sub-control circuit 60" in the embodiment corresponds to the skip notice presentation means, and the display of the text image "Pre-Battle Skip" corresponds to the skip notice presentation.

[Example 6]
The jackpot pattern setting process of Figure 48 is executed when the sub-control circuit 60 sets three rows of performance patterns to a jackpot combination at S142 of Figure 35, and when the sub-control circuit 60 receives special chart 1 game data, it determines at S401 of Figure 48 whether or not the reception result of the special chart 1 game data includes a jackpot type determination result, and when it receives special chart 2 game data, it determines at S401 of Figure 48 whether or not the reception result of the special chart 2 game data includes a jackpot type determination result.

If the sub-control circuit 60 determines in S401 that there is a jackpot type determination result, it proceeds to S402 and determines whether the jackpot type determination result is jackpot pattern 1 or jackpot pattern 3 for the variable probability mode. If it determines that the jackpot type determination result is for the variable probability mode, it proceeds to S403 and sets the jackpot pattern to one of five odd number combinations: "111," "333," "555," "777," or "999." Each of these five odd number combinations has the same probability of being set at 16%, and the sub-control circuit 60 sets the jackpot pattern to one of four even number combinations: "222," "444," "666," or "888" in S403. Each of these four even number combinations has the same probability of being set at 5%, and in S403 the jackpot pattern is set to an odd number combination with an 80% probability and an even number combination with a 20% probability.

If the sub-control circuit 60 determines that the jackpot type is jackpot pattern 2 for non-probability variable mode, it transitions from S402 to S404 and sets the jackpot pattern to one of four even number combinations: "222," "444," "666," or "888." Each of these four even number combinations has the same 25% probability, and in S404 the jackpot pattern is set to an even number combination with a 100% probability. In other words, if the three rows of effect patterns in the effect pattern game image form an odd jackpot combination, the high probability electric support mode is set with a 100% probability. If the three rows of effect patterns in this effect pattern game image form an even jackpot combination, the low probability electric support mode is set with a high probability, and the high probability electric support mode is set with a low probability.

Figure 49 explains the count-up reach effect. This count-up reach effect is executed when the effect mode is set to normal mode, and transitions from a normal reach effect of "4" (see a), in which the scrolling display of the effect symbols on the left and right columns both stop at "4" and the speed of the scrolling display of the effect symbols on the middle column is switched from high speed to low speed. This count-up reach effect is initiated by temporarily stopping the slow scrolling display of the effect symbols on the middle column at "9" (see b), and is performed by changing the effect symbol on the middle column from "9" to the effect symbol in the next scrolling order in "1" increments. This change in the effect symbols on the middle column occurs on the spot without scrolling the effect symbols, and the change in the effect symbols on the middle column occurs every fixed time Tc. In other words, the count-up reach effect is set to an effect in which the image changes at a fixed speed.

There are four types of count-up reach effects: unachieved pattern 1, unachieved pattern 2, achieved pattern, and exceeded pattern. Unachieved pattern 1 changes the center row of effect symbols from "9" to "1" to "2" every fixed time Tc, then stops the change of the center row of effect symbols at "2" (see b-d). When the count-up reach effect of unachieved pattern 1 ends, the player is notified that the count-up reach effect has ended by displaying an ending image Ef reading "Sorry, not achieved," as shown in Figure 50 (see a-b). This ending image Ef is displayed superimposed on the three rows of effect symbols of the "424" missed reach combination, thereby hiding the three rows of effect symbols of the "424" missed reach combination from the player's view, and is erased after a fixed time has passed since its display began. When this ending image Ef is erased, the three rows of symbols become visible as a completely miss combination of "124" (see c), and the player is notified of the miss. If this count-up reach effect ends with unachieved pattern 1, the probability that the three rows of symbols will form a jackpot combination is set to be low.

As shown in Figure 49, in non-achievement pattern 2, the middle row of symbols changes from "9" to "1" to "2" to "3" every fixed time Tc, and then stops changing at "3" (see b-e). When the count-up reach effect of non-achievement pattern 2 ends, the player is notified that the count-up reach effect has ended by displaying the "Time for Battle" ending image Es, as shown in Figure 50 (see d-e). This ending image Es is displayed superimposed on the three rows of symbols in the "434" missed reach combination, thereby hiding the three rows of symbols in the "434" missed reach combination from the player's view. It is erased after a fixed time has elapsed since its display began. When this ending image Es is erased, the battle image BL2 begins to be displayed (see f). This battle image BL2 ends with either a winning outcome (see g) or a losing outcome (see h); if battle image BL2 ends with a winning outcome, the player is notified of a jackpot by the three rows of effect symbols statically displaying the even-numbered jackpot combination of "444", and if battle image BL2 ends with a losing outcome, the player is notified of a loss by the three rows of effect symbols statically displaying the miss reach combination of "434". If this count-up reach effect ends with unachieved pattern 2, the probability that the three rows of effect symbols will form a jackpot combination is set to a medium probability, which is higher than that of unachieved pattern 1.

As shown in Figure 49, the arrival pattern involves changing the middle row of symbols from "9" to "1" to "2" to "3" to "4" every fixed time Tc, and then stopping the change in the middle row of symbols (see b-f). When the count-up reach effect of the arrival pattern ends, the player is notified that the count-up reach effect has ended by displaying the "Time for Battle" ending image Es, as shown in Figure 50 (see i-e). This ending image Es is displayed superimposed on the three rows of symbols for the "444" jackpot combination, thereby hiding the three rows of symbols for the "444" jackpot combination from the player's view. It is erased after a fixed time has elapsed since its display began. When this ending image Es is erased, the battle image BL2 begins to be displayed (see f). If this battle image BL2 ends with a winning outcome, the player will be notified of a jackpot as the three rows of effect symbols are still displayed in the even-numbered jackpot combination of "444", and if battle image BL2 ends with a losing outcome, the player will be notified of a loss as the three rows of effect symbols are still displayed in the miss reach combination of "434". When this count-up reach effect ends with an reached pattern, the probability that the three rows of effect symbols will form a jackpot combination is set to be higher than in non-reached pattern 2.

As shown in Figure 49, the excess pattern involves changing the middle row of symbols from "9" to "1" to "2" to "3" to "4" to "5" every fixed time Tc, and then stopping the change in the middle row of symbols (see b-f). When the excess pattern count-up reach effect ends, the player is notified that the count-up reach effect has ended by displaying the "Time for Battle" ending image Es, as shown in Figure 51 (see a-b). This ending image Es is displayed superimposed on the three rows of symbols in the "454" missed reach combination, thereby hiding the three rows of symbols in the "454" missed reach combination from the player's view. It is erased after a fixed time has elapsed since its display began. When this ending image Es is erased, the battle image BL2 begins to be displayed (see c). This battle image BL2 ends with either a winning outcome (see d) or a losing outcome (see e). If battle image BL2 ends with a winning outcome, the player is notified of a jackpot by the display of three rows of statically displayed odd-numbered jackpot combinations of "555." If battle image BL2 ends with a losing outcome, the player is notified of a loss by the display of three rows of statically displayed miss-reach combinations of "545." If this count-up reach effect ends with an excess pattern, the probability that the three rows of effect symbols will form a jackpot combination is set to be extremely high compared to the reach pattern. If the three rows of effect symbols form a jackpot combination after the count-up reach effect of this excess pattern, the probability that the high-probability time-saving mode will be set is set to be higher than when the three rows of effect symbols form a jackpot combination after the count-up reach effect of the non-achievement pattern 2 and when the three rows of effect symbols form a jackpot combination after the count-up reach effect of the reach pattern. In other words, the count-up reach effect indicates to the player in advance that a jackpot will be announced during the effect symbol game, and has three end times: when the effect symbol in the middle row becomes "2," "3," "4," and "5."

The count-up reach effect processing of Figure 52 is executed by the sub-control circuit 60 at S124 of Figure 35 after completing the jackpot symbol setting processing of Figure 48, and the sub-control circuit 60 determines whether or not to execute a count-up reach effect in response to executing the count-up reach effect processing. If the sub-control circuit 60 determines that a count-up reach effect should be executed, it determines the effect pattern of the count-up reach effect, and displays the image of the current effect symbol game in a count-up reach effect with content corresponding to the determined effect pattern.

The sub-control circuit 60 determines whether the current presentation mode is normal mode at S411 in Figure 52. If it determines that it is normal mode, it proceeds to S412, where it determines whether the received special chart 1 game data includes a determination result of "special chart variation pattern PO02" for the jackpot battle image BL2. If it determines that a "special chart variation pattern PO02" is included, it proceeds to S413, where it determines whether the jackpot pattern setting result in the jackpot pattern setting process of Figure 48 is "444." If it determines that the jackpot pattern setting result is "444," it proceeds to S414, where it changes the determination result of "special chart variation pattern PO02" to "special chart variation pattern PO2-2" or "special chart variation pattern PO02-3." "Special chart change pattern PO2-2" is used to change the image of the performance symbol game from "normal reach effect" → "unachieved pattern 2 count-up reach effect" → "victory ending battle image BL2" with a 50% chance of happening. "Special chart change pattern PO2-3" is used to change the image of the performance symbol game from "normal reach effect" → "achieved pattern count-up reach effect" → "victory ending battle image BL2" with a 50% chance of happening.

If the sub-control circuit 60 determines in S413 that the jackpot symbol setting result is not "444", it proceeds to S419 and determines whether the jackpot symbol setting result is "555". If it determines that the jackpot symbol setting result is "555", it proceeds to S420 and changes the determination result of "special symbol variation pattern PO02" to "special symbol variation pattern PO2-4". This "special symbol variation pattern PO2-4" is used to change the image of the effect symbol game from "normal reach effect" to "excess pattern count-up reach effect" to "victory ending battle image BL2", and is changed with a probability of "100%".

If the sub-control circuit 60 determines in S412 that the reception results of the special chart 1 game data do not include a judgment result for "special chart variation pattern PO02" for the jackpot battle image BL2, it proceeds to S415, where it determines whether the reception results of the special chart 1 game data include a judgment result for "special chart variation pattern PH02" for the miss battle image BL2. If it determines that a judgment result for "special chart variation pattern PH02" exists, it proceeds to S416, where it detects the special chart variation pattern change table of Figure 51 (f) from the ROM. This special chart variation pattern change table contains settings for "special chart variation pattern PH02-1," "special chart variation pattern PH02-2," "special chart variation pattern PH02-3," and "special chart variation pattern PH02-4."

"Special chart variation pattern PH02-1" is used to produce the image of the performance symbol game as follows: "Normal reach effect" → "Count-up reach effect of unachieved pattern 1". This "Special chart variation pattern PH02-1" is selected with a probability of 40%, and the complete miss symbol "124" is assigned to "Special chart variation pattern PH02-1". "Special chart variation pattern PH02-2" is used to produce the image of the performance symbol game as follows: "Normal reach effect" → "Count-up reach effect of unachieved pattern 2" → "Battle image BL2 of defeat ending". This "Special chart variation pattern PH02-2" is selected with a probability of 30%, and the miss reach symbol "434" is assigned to "Special chart variation pattern PH02-2". "Special chart variation pattern PH02-3" is used to display the image of the performance symbol game in the following order: "Normal reach effect" → "Reach pattern count-up reach effect" → "Defeat ending battle image BL2". This "Special chart variation pattern PH02-3" is selected with a 20% probability, and the miss reach symbol "434" is assigned to "Special chart variation pattern PH02-3". "Special chart variation pattern PH02-4" is used to display the image of the performance symbol game in the following order: "Normal reach effect" → "Exceed pattern count-up reach effect" → "Defeat ending battle image BL2". This "Special chart variation pattern PH02-4" is selected with a 10% probability, and the miss reach symbol "545" is assigned to "Special chart variation pattern PH02-4".

When the sub-control circuit 60 has completed S416 in Figure 52, it proceeds to S417. Here, one of "Special Chart Variation Pattern PH02-1" to "Special Chart Variation Pattern PH02-4" is selected from the special chart variation pattern change table, and in S418 "Special Chart Variation Pattern PO02" is changed to the selected special chart variation pattern, and the combination of the three columns of effect symbols is set to a complete miss symbol or a miss reach symbol according to the change in the special chart variation pattern. The following [1] to [4] summarize the effect content when the normal reach effect develops into a count-up reach effect in the image of this effect symbol game.

[1] When the image of the effect symbol game is displayed in the content of “Normal reach effect” → “Step-up reach effect of unachieved pattern 1”, the battle image BL2 is not displayed and there is a “100%” probability that the three rows of effect symbols will be a completely miss combination of “124”.
[2] If the current effect pattern game is performed with the contents of "Normal Reach Effect" → "Step-up Reach Effect of Unachieved Pattern 2", the three-row effect pattern will go through "Battle Image BL2" and become a miss-reach combination of "434" or a jackpot combination of "444". If this three-row effect pattern becomes a jackpot combination of "444", there is a low probability that a high probability electric support mode will be set, and there is a high probability that a low probability electric support mode will be set.
[3] If the current effect pattern game is performed with the contents of "Normal Reach Effect" → "Reach Pattern Step-Up Reach Effect", after "Battle Image BL2", the three-row effect pattern will be a miss-reach combination of "434" or a jackpot combination of "444". If this three-row effect pattern becomes a jackpot combination of "444", there is a low probability that a high probability electric support mode will be set, and there is a high probability that a low probability electric support mode will be set.
[4] If the current effect pattern game is performed in the "Normal Reach Effect" → "Excess Pattern Step-Up Reach Effect" content, after "Battle Image BL2", the three-row effect pattern will be a "545" miss-reach combination or a "555" jackpot combination. If this three-row effect pattern becomes a "555" jackpot combination, the high probability electric support mode will be set with a "100%" probability.

According to the sixth embodiment, the following effects are achieved.
During the game of the effect symbols, an image of the count-up reach effect and a battle image BL2 are displayed. The count-up reach effect is an effect that indicates to the player in advance that a jackpot will be announced in the game of the effect symbols, and is an effect in which the image changes as time passes. The battle image BL2 heightens the player's sense of anticipation for the announcement of a jackpot in the game of the effect symbols, and is initiated when the count-up reach effect ends with the jackpot combination "444." This count-up reach effect continues beyond the jackpot combination "444," and if the count-up reach effect ends with the miss reach combination "454" that exceeds the jackpot combination "444," there is a higher probability of announcing a jackpot compared to when it ends with the jackpot combination "444." Therefore, as the count-up reach effect exceeds the jackpot combination "444," the player's expectation for a jackpot decreases, and a jackpot is announced with a high probability while the player's expectation for a jackpot is reduced. Therefore, the player recognizes a jackpot while his or her expectation is reduced, improving the entertainment value of the game.

When the count-up reach effect ends with the previous miss reach combination "424" in which three rows of performance symbols form the jackpot combination "444," the miss is notified with a high probability of "100%" without executing the battle effect. Therefore, it does not take a long time to notify the miss in the performance symbol game, and it is possible to prevent the player from feeling annoyed.
When the count-up reach effect ends with the jackpot combination "444" or the miss-reach combination "434" that precede the three-column effect symbol combination "454," the three-column effect symbol is displayed as the even-numbered jackpot combination "444." When the count-up reach effect ends with the miss-reach combination "454" of the three-column effect symbol, the three-column effect symbol is displayed as the odd-numbered jackpot combination "555." Therefore, when the count-up reach effect ends with the miss-reach combination "454" of the three-column effect symbol, the setting of the high probability electric support mode is notified with a higher probability than when it ends with the jackpot combination "444" or the miss-reach combination "434." This allows the player to recognize the setting of the high probability electric support mode with a reduced sense of expectation for a jackpot, further improving the entertainment value of the game.

As time passes, the combination of three rows of effect symbols progresses from the miss reach combination "424" to the miss reach combination "434," then to the jackpot combination "444," before returning to the miss reach combination "454," displaying a count-up reach effect image. A jackpot is signaled with a low probability when the battle effect image begins to be displayed with the three rows of effect symbols reaching the jackpot combination "444," and a jackpot is signaled with a high probability when the battle effect image begins to be displayed with the miss reach combination "454." As a result, the player's expectations for a jackpot become extremely low when the three rows of effect symbols exceed the jackpot combination, and a jackpot is signaled with a high probability after the battle effect image begins to be displayed with the player's expectations for a jackpot extremely low. Therefore, the player becomes aware of a jackpot with extremely low expectations for a jackpot, further enhancing the enjoyment of the game.

In the above-mentioned Example 6, if the count-up reach effect ends with the jackpot combination "444" of three rows of effect symbols, the jackpot may be always announced by the effect symbol game without executing the battle effect BL2. In this case, the count-up reach effect of the unachieved pattern 2 corresponds to the early effect of the short pattern that ends in the trigger mode, and the missed reach combination "434" of three rows of effect symbols corresponds to the trigger mode of the early effect.
In the above-mentioned Example 6, if the count-up reach effect ends in an excess pattern, the three columns of effect symbols may be displayed in either a combination of "555" or "545" without executing the battle effect BL2.

[Example 7]
FIG. 53 illustrates a dialogue-freeze effect. This dialogue-freeze effect is executed by the sub-control circuit 60 in place of the count-up reach effect of Example 6. When the three-column display symbol is in the "4↓4" reach state, the normal reach effect continues, in which the middle row of display symbols scrolls at a slow speed. This dialogue-freeze effect indicates to the player both the high probability that the three-column display symbol combination will result in a jackpot and the high probability that the high-probability electric support mode will be activated. This dialogue-freeze effect displays one of six different dialogue images L1-L6 within the dialogue area EL. The dialogue images L1-L6 are displayed in the following order: "Dialogue Image L1" → "Dialogue Image L2" → "Dialogue Image L3" → "Dialogue Image L4" → "Dialogue Image L5" → "Dialogue Image L6." The dialogue images L1-L6 are displayed one after another at regular intervals. The display of "dialogue image L1" in this dialogue reach performance corresponds to the display of "494" in the count-up reach performance of Example 6, the display of "dialogue image L2" corresponds to the display of "414", the display of "dialogue image L3" corresponds to the display of "424", the display of "dialogue image L4" corresponds to the display of "434", the display of "dialogue image L5" corresponds to the display of "444", and the display of "dialogue image L6" corresponds to the display of "454".

As shown in Figure 53, there are four types of dialogue release effects: a pre-deployment pattern, a deployment pattern, a confidence pattern, and a disappointment pattern. The pre-deployment pattern changes the dialogue image from "Dialogue Image L1" to "Dialogue Image L2" to "Dialogue Image L3" every fixed time Tc, and then stops the dialogue image change at "Dialogue Image L3" (see b-d), which corresponds to the count-up reach effect of unachieved pattern 1. When this dialogue release effect of the pre-deployment pattern ends, the player is notified that the dialogue release effect has ended by displaying the ending image Ef, as shown in Figure 54 (see a-b), and when the ending image Ef is erased, the three rows of effect symbols are displayed as a completely miss combination of "124" (see c). When this dialogue release effect ends in the pre-deployment pattern, the probability that the three rows of effect symbols will form a jackpot combination is set to be low.

As shown in Figure 53, sortie pattern 2 changes the dialogue image from "Dialogue image L1" to "Dialogue image L2" to "Dialogue image L3" to "Dialogue image L4" every fixed time Tc, and then stops the dialogue image change at "Dialogue image L4" (see b-e), which corresponds to the count-up reach effect of unachieved pattern 2. When the dialogue reach effect of this sortie pattern ends, ending image Es is displayed as shown in Figure 54 (see d-e), and when ending image Es is erased, battle image BL2 begins to be displayed (see f). This battle image BL2 ends with either a winning outcome (see g) or a losing outcome (see h); if battle image BL2 ends with a winning outcome, the three rows of effect symbols are displayed as a still image of the even-numbered jackpot combination of "444", and if battle image BL2 ends with a losing outcome, the three rows of effect symbols are displayed as a still image of the missing reach combination of "434". When this line-reach effect ends in a sortie pattern, the probability that the three rows of effect symbols will form a jackpot combination is set to a medium probability, which is higher than the pre-sortie pattern.

As shown in Figure 53, the confident pattern involves changing the dialogue image from "Dialogue Image L1" to "Dialogue Image L2" to "Dialogue Image L3" to "Dialogue Image L4" to "Dialogue Image L5" every fixed time Tc, and then stopping the dialogue image change at "Dialogue Image L5" (see b-f). This corresponds to the count-up reach effect of the reach pattern. When the dialogue reach effect of this confident pattern ends, the ending image Es is displayed as shown in Figure 54 (see i-e). When the ending image Es is erased, the battle image BL2 begins to be displayed (see f). If this battle image BL2 ends with a winning outcome, the three rows of effect symbols are statically displayed in the even-numbered jackpot combination of "444." If the battle image BL2 ends with a losing outcome, the three rows of effect symbols are statically displayed in the losing reach combination of "434." If this dialogue release effect ends in a guaranteed pattern, the probability that the three rows of effect symbols will form a winning combination is set to be higher than the sortie pattern.

As shown in Figure 53, the disappointment pattern involves changing the dialogue image every fixed time Tc from "Dialogue Image L1" to "Dialogue Image L2" to "Dialogue Image L3" to "Dialogue Image L4" to "Dialogue Image L5" to "Dialogue Image L6," and then stopping the dialogue image change at "Dialogue Image L6" (see b-g). This corresponds to the count-up reach effect of the excess pattern. When the dialogue reach effect of this disappointment pattern ends, the ending image Es is displayed as shown in Figure 55 (see a-b), and when the ending image Es is erased, the battle image BL2 begins to be displayed (see c). This battle image BL2 ends with either a winning ending (see d) or a losing ending (see e); if battle image BL2 ends with a winning ending, the three rows of effect symbols are displayed as a still image of the odd jackpot combination of "555", and if battle image BL2 ends with a losing ending, the three rows of effect symbols are displayed as a still image of the missing reach combination of "545". If this line-reach effect ends in a disappointment pattern, the probability that the three rows of effect symbols will form a jackpot combination is set to be extremely high compared to the certainty pattern.

As shown in Figure 53, a mini symbol area Em is set within the display area E of the effect symbol display 28. This mini symbol area Em is an area where an image of a mini symbol game, which has the same content as the effect symbol game but is smaller in size, is displayed, and before the dialogue reach effect begins, an image of a normal reach effect is displayed within the mini symbol area Em. The image of this normal reach effect is a three-row effect pattern with a reach combination of "4↓4", and the middle row of effect symbols is displayed scrolling at a slow speed (see a), and the middle row of effect symbols within the mini symbol area Em is temporarily stopped at "9" in time with the display of the dialogue image L1 in the dialogue reach effect (see b). The performance pattern in the middle row within this mini pattern area Em changes to the next number at regular intervals, changing from "9" to "1" in sync with the display of dialogue image L2 (see c), from "1" to "2" in sync with the display of dialogue image L3 (see d), from "2" to "3" in sync with the display of dialogue image L4 (see e), from "3" to "4" in sync with the display of dialogue image L5 (see f), and from "4" to "5" in sync with the display of dialogue image L6 (see g).

According to the seventh embodiment, the following effects are achieved.
An image of a dialogue-reach effect, in which the appearance of the dialogue image changes over time, is displayed in a reach state with three rows of effect symbols. This allows the player to enjoy the changes in the dialogue image in the dialogue-reach effect in a reach state, improving the entertainment value of the game. Furthermore, an image of a mini-symbol game, in which the combination changes in synchronization with the changes in the dialogue image in the dialogue-reach effect, is displayed. This allows the player to recognize the dialogue image in the dialogue-reach effect as a combination of three rows of effect symbols, further improving the entertainment value of the game.
In the above-mentioned Example 7, if the dialogue release effect ends with a disappointment pattern, the three columns of effect symbols may be displayed in either combination of "555" or "545" without executing the battle effect BL2.

[Example 8]
When the count-up reach effect ends with a reach ending, the ending image Es of "won without fighting" is displayed, as shown in FIG. 56 (see a → b). This ending image Es notifies the player that the count-up reach effect has ended and that the battle image BL2 will no longer be displayed. After a certain amount of time has passed since the beginning of the display of the ending image Es, the ending image Es is replaced with the victory ending of the battle image BL2. In other words, when the count-up reach effect ends with a reach ending, the three-column effect symbols form the jackpot combination "444" with a 100% probability, and the low-probability electric support state is set with a higher probability than the high-probability electric support state. In other words, the reach ending of the count-up reach effect has a higher probability of jackpot compared to the overshoot ending, and the probability of the high-probability electric support mode is set lower compared to the overshoot ending.
In the above-mentioned Example 8, when the count-up reach effect ends with a reach outcome, the three rows of effect symbols may be displayed as either a jackpot combination of "444" or a miss reach combination such as "434" without displaying the battle image BL2. In this case, when the count-up reach effect ends with a reach outcome, it is preferable to set both the probability of a jackpot and the probability of the high probability electric support mode lower than when it ends with an over outcome.

[Example 9]
When the three columns of effect symbols reach a "4" reach state, as shown in FIG. 57, a button operation effect is initiated with the middle column of effect symbols in a slow scrolling state (see a). This button operation effect prompts the player to repeatedly press the operation button 10 in response to the display of a message image M saying "Press the button repeatedly!!" and is displayed for a fixed period of time T. The operation button 10 is enabled only during the period T during which the message image M is displayed, and the sub-control circuit 60 initiates a flash reach effect when it detects that the operation button 10 has been pressed repeatedly within the valid period T. This flash reach effect is executed during the mini-symbol game of Example 7. Before the start of this flash reach effect, the background of the mini-symbol area Em is displayed in "white (W)" (see a), and the flash reach effect is initiated by changing the background color of the mini-symbol area Em from "white (W)" to "yellow (Y)" (see b). The timing at which this background color changes from "white (W)" to "yellow (Y)" is set to the moment when the combination of the three rows of performance symbols in the mini-pattern area Em becomes "494," and the player can recognize that the flash reach performance has begun when the background color of the mini-pattern area Em changes from "white (W)" to "yellow (Y)."

When the flash reach effect starts, the background color of the mini pattern area Em changes in the following order: yellow (Y) → green (G) → blue (B) → gold (Go) → rainbow (Ra) → red (R). The timing at which this background color changes from "yellow (Y)" to "green (G)" is set to the timing at which the combination of the three rows of performance patterns in the mini pattern area Em changes from "494" to "414" (see c), the timing at which it changes from "green (G)" to "blue (B)" is set to the timing at which the combination of the three rows of performance patterns changes from "414" to "424" (see d), the timing at which it changes from "blue (B)" to "gold (Go)" is set to the timing at which the combination of the three rows of performance patterns changes from "424" to "434" (see e), the timing at which it changes from "gold (Go)" to "rainbow (Ra)" is set to the timing at which the combination of the three rows of performance patterns changes from "434" to "444" (see f), and the timing at which it changes from "rainbow (Ra)" to "red (R)" is set to the timing at which the combination of the three rows of performance patterns changes from "444" to "454" (see g). In other words, the flash reach effect is an effect that changes its appearance over time, and indicates to the player the probability of a jackpot and the probability of a high probability electric support mode.
In the above-mentioned Example 9, the three rows of effect symbols may not be displayed in the mini symbol area Em. In other words, the probability of a jackpot and the probability of the high probability electric support mode may be indicated to the player only by the flash reach effect.

In addition to the inventions described in the claims, Examples 6 to 9 above also describe the following [Reference Invention 3-1] to [Reference Invention 3-7]. Some gaming machines are configured to determine whether a win or loss occurs each time a start condition is met, and to notify the player of the result of the determination by displaying an image of a symbol game each time a win or loss determination is made. In the case of these gaming machines, some are configured to suggest to the player that a win will be notified by displaying an image of a reach effect during symbol game play (see JP 2010-17425 A). Some gaming machines are configured to provide a preview effect. This preview effect merely heightens the player's anticipation of a win by suggesting to the player that an image of a reach effect will be displayed, and there is still room for improvement in terms of creativity.

[Reference Invention 3-1]
A determination means for determining whether or not a start condition has been met each time the start condition is met, and for setting a state advantageous to the player when the start condition is determined to be met;
A symbol game means for displaying a symbol game image to notify the player of the result of the winning or losing decision;
A pre-show means for performing a pre-show that suggests in advance that a setting advantageous to a player in a symbol game is notified in a manner that changes its content as time progresses, and the pre-show can be performed in either a "short pattern that ends with the trigger state" or a "long pattern that continues beyond the trigger state";
A post-effect is performed to enhance the player's sense of expectation for the notification of a setting of a state advantageous to the player in a symbol game, and the post-effect is provided with a post-effect means capable of starting the post-effect when the pre-effect is ended in a triggered manner;
The symbol game means is characterized in that, when the preceding performance continues beyond the trigger mode, it notifies the player of a setting of a state advantageous to the player with a high probability compared to when the preceding performance ends at the trigger mode.
According to the above means, advance and back effects are performed during symbol play. The advance effect indicates in advance that a setting favorable to the player will be announced in symbol play, and its content changes as time passes. This advance effect has a short pattern that ends with a trigger pattern and a long pattern that continues beyond the trigger pattern. The back effect heightens the player's anticipation for an announcement of a setting favorable to the player in symbol play, and begins when the advance effect ends with the trigger pattern. If this advance effect continues beyond the trigger pattern, an announcement of a setting favorable to the player is more likely than if it ends with the trigger pattern. Therefore, the player's anticipation decreases as the advance effect exceeds the characteristic trigger pattern, and an announcement of a setting favorable to the player is more likely with the player's anticipation lowered. Therefore, the player recognizes the setting of a setting favorable to the player with a lowered sense of anticipation, thereby improving the enjoyment of the game.
In the embodiment, "the stopping of all of the special chart 1 game, special chart 2 game, small hit game, and big hit game" corresponds to the start condition being met, "big hit" corresponds to a win, "big hit game" corresponds to a state advantageous to the player, the main control circuit 40 corresponds to the judgment means, "performance pattern game" corresponds to the pattern game, the sub-control circuit 60 corresponds to the pattern game means, the advance performance means, and the end performance means, "count up reach performance" corresponds to the advance performance, "444" corresponds to the "trigger mode", "reach pattern" corresponds to the short pattern, "exceed pattern" corresponds to the long pattern, and "battle image BL2" corresponds to the end performance.

[Reference Invention 3-2]
The preceding performance means can be performed in an extremely short pattern that ends before the preceding performance becomes a trigger mode,
The post-performance means is unable to execute the post-performance when the pre-performance is executed in an extremely short pattern,
The gaming machine described in [Reference Invention 3-1] is characterized in that the pattern game means notifies the player with a high probability that an advantageous state will not be set when the advance performance is executed in an extremely short pattern compared to when it is executed in a short pattern or when it is executed in a long pattern.
According to the above means, when the first effect is executed in an extremely short pattern, the second effect is not executed and the player is notified with a high probability that an advantageous state will not be set. Therefore, it does not take a long time to notify the player that an advantageous state will not be set, and it is possible to prevent the player from feeling annoyed.
The "count-up reach effect of unachieved pattern 1" in the embodiment corresponds to the advance effect of the extremely short pattern.

[Reference Invention 3-3]
The determination means can set a high probability state in which a win is determined with a high probability when a win is determined,
The gaming machine described in [Reference Invention 3-1] is characterized in that the symbol game means notifies the player of the setting of a high probability state as a state advantageous to the player through symbol game.
According to the above means, when the advance performance continues beyond the trigger mode, the high probability state is announced with a higher probability than when it ends at the trigger mode. Therefore, the player will recognize that the high probability state will be set in a state where his/her expectations have decreased, further improving the entertainment value of the game.

[Reference Invention 3-4]
The symbol game means sets the identification symbol to either a winning mode or a losing mode according to the result of the winning or losing determination,
The advance performance means performs advance performance by displaying an image in which the state of the identification pattern approaches a winning state from a losing state as time passes, passes through a winning state, and then moves away from the winning state,
The gaming machine described in [Reference Invention 3-1] is characterized in that the post-performance means starts a post-performance when the identification pattern is a winning pattern.
According to the above means, an image is displayed as a pre-show effect in which the identification symbol changes from a miss state to a win state over time, then passes through a win state and moves away from the win state. If the post-show effect starts when the identification symbol changes to a win state in this pre-show effect, a win is announced with a low probability, and if the identification symbol changes from a win state to a miss state, a win is announced with a high probability. Therefore, as the identification symbol changes from a win state to a miss state, the player's expectation of a win becomes extremely low, and a win is announced with a high probability even when the player's expectation of a win is extremely low. Therefore, the player recognizes a win with an extremely low expectation, further improving the entertainment value of the game.
The three rows of performance symbols in the embodiment correspond to the identification symbols.

[Reference Invention 3-5]
The symbol game means sets the identification symbol to either a winning mode or a losing mode according to the result of the winning or losing determination,
The gaming machine described in [Reference Invention 3-1] is characterized in that the advance performance means displays an advance performance in which the appearance of an effect image different from the identification pattern changes over time when the identification pattern is in a reach state.
According to the above means, the player can enjoy the image of the preceding effect in which the appearance of the effect image changes with the progress of time in the reach state of the identification symbol, thereby improving the entertainment value of the game.
The dialogue reach effect and flash reach effect in the embodiment correspond to the advance effect, and the dialogue images L1 to L6 and the background of the mini pattern area Em correspond to the effect image.

[Reference Invention 3-6]
A determination means for determining whether or not a start condition has been met each time the start condition is met, and for setting a state advantageous to the player when the start condition is determined to be met;
a symbol game means for displaying a symbol game image informing a player that a favorable state is set;
A pre-show means for performing a pre-show that suggests in advance that a setting of a state advantageous to a player in a symbol game is notified, in a manner in which the content changes with the progress of time, and the pre-show means is capable of ending the pre-show at one of a plurality of ending timings that are different from each other in both duration and manner;
a post-effect means for performing a post-effect that enhances the player's expectation for being notified of a setting of a state advantageous to the player in a symbol game;
The advance performance means is a mode in which the advance performance is triggered at one of a plurality of end timings prior to the final timing,
The post-performance means is capable of starting a post-performance when the pre-performance is ended in a trigger mode,
The symbol game means is characterized in that, when the preceding performance continues beyond the trigger mode, it notifies the player of a setting of a state advantageous to the player with a high probability compared to when the preceding performance ends at the trigger mode.
[Reference Invention 3-7]
The gaming machine described in [Reference Invention 3-6] is characterized in that the pattern game means notifies the player of a setting that is advantageous to the player with a high probability depending on the timing of the end of the advance performance being later.
According to the above means, a first effect and a second effect are performed during symbol play. The first effect indicates in advance that a setting advantageous to the player will be announced in symbol play, and its content changes as time passes. This first effect ends at one of multiple end timings that differ from each other in both duration and mode, and becomes a trigger mode at one of the multiple end timings before the final one. The second effect heightens the player's anticipation for an announcement of a setting advantageous to the player in symbol play, and begins when the first effect ends in the trigger mode. This first effect continues beyond the trigger mode, and when the first effect continues beyond the trigger mode, an announcement of a setting advantageous to the player is more likely than when it ends in the trigger mode. Therefore, the player's expectations decrease as the first effect exceeds the characteristic trigger mode, and an announcement of a setting advantageous to the player is more likely when the player's expectations are lowered. Therefore, the player will recognize the settings that are advantageous to the player in a state where his/her expectations have decreased, which improves the enjoyment of the game.

[Example 10]
Normal background image 1, normal background image 2, and normal background image 3 in Figure 58 are each displayed as background images for effect symbol play on effect symbol display device 28 when the game mode is set to normal game mode. Normal background image 1 (see a) is set to an image of a swarm of bats flying, and is displayed when the effect mode is set to normal mode 1. Normal background image 2 (see b) is set to an image of a flock of birds flying in the sky, and is displayed when the effect mode is set to normal mode 2. Normal background image 3 (see c) is set to an image of a witch flying in the sky, and is displayed when the effect mode is set to normal mode 3.

Pattern group 13 in Figure 58(d) consists of nine number symbols from "1" to "9," with the odd-numbered symbols "1," "3," "5," "7," and "9" colored red, and the even-numbered symbols "2," "4," "6," and "8" colored blue. The nine number symbols in pattern group 13 are displayed as the effect symbols in the left, center, and right columns when the effect mode is set to normal mode 1, normal mode 3, chance mode, speed mode, and super speed mode, but are not displayed when the effect mode is set to normal mode 2. Pattern group 2 in Figure 58(e) consists of nine number symbols from "1" to "9," with the odd-numbered symbols "1" to "9" colored red, and the even-numbered symbols "2" to "8" colored blue. Each number symbol in this symbol group 2 differs from the number symbols in symbol group 13 in that it has a bird image attached to it, and is displayed as a symbol in each of the left, center, and right columns only when playing symbol games with the presentation mode set to normal mode 2.

The presentation mode determination process in Figure 59 (a) is executed in S124 in Figure 35 when the sub-control circuit 60 starts the current presentation symbol game in response to receiving special symbol 1 game data from the main control circuit 40. This presentation mode determination process is used to change between normal mode 1 and normal mode 2, and between normal mode 1 and normal mode 3 when the game mode is set to normal game mode, but does not change between normal mode 2 and normal mode 3. When the presentation mode is changed by this presentation mode change process, the current presentation symbol game will start with a background image of the type corresponding to the result of the presentation mode change and the same three rows of presentation symbols.

The sub-control circuit 60 determines whether the current game mode is normal game mode in S501 of the presentation mode determination process. If it determines that it is normal game mode, it proceeds to S502, where it determines whether the reception result of the special game data for Special Chart 1 indicates a miss. If it determines that there is a miss, it proceeds to S503, where it determines whether the current presentation mode is normal mode 1. Normal mode 1 is the presentation mode that is initially set when the main power is turned on. If the sub-control circuit 60 determines that it is normal mode 1, it proceeds to presentation mode processing 1 in S504. If it determines that it is not normal mode 1, it determines whether the current presentation mode is normal mode 2 in S505. If it determines that it is normal mode 2, it proceeds to presentation mode processing 2 in S506. If it determines that it is normal mode 3, it proceeds to presentation mode processing 3 in S508. Each of these rendering mode processes 1 to 3 determines whether or not to change the current rendering mode, and once the sub-control circuit 60 has completed each of rendering mode processes 1 to 3, it transitions to rendering mode change processing in S507.

Figure 59 (b) shows presentation mode processing 1 of S504, and the sub-control circuit 60 determines in S511 whether the special chart 1 game data reception results include any of the special chart change pattern judgment results "PH01," "PH02," "PH03," or "PH04." Special chart change pattern "PH01" is for displaying battle image BL1 with a defeat ending, special chart change pattern "PH02" is for displaying battle image BL2 with a defeat ending, special chart change pattern "PH03" is for displaying battle image BL3 with a defeat ending, and special chart change pattern "PH04" is for displaying battle image BL4 with a defeat ending. If the sub-control circuit 60 determines in S511 that any of the special chart change pattern judgment results "PH01" to "PH04" is present, then in S512 it sets flag F3 to "1."

If the sub-control circuit 60 determines in S511 that there is no judgment result for a special symbol variation pattern for a battle presentation with a defeat ending, it proceeds to S513 and increments the value of counter N by "1". The value of counter N measures the number of consecutive executions of a losing presentation symbol game, and is reset to "0" when the main power is turned on. After completing S513, the sub-control circuit 60 proceeds to S514 and determines whether the addition result of counter N is "100". If it determines that the addition result of counter N is "100", it sets the value of flag F2 to "1" in S515 and resets the value of counter N to "0" in S516.

60(a) shows the presentation mode process 2 of S506, in which the sub-control circuit 60 adds "1" to the value of counter N in S521, and determines whether the result of the addition of the value of counter N is "100" in S522. If it is determined that the result of the addition of the value of counter N is "100", the value of flag F1 is set to "1" in S523, and the value of counter N is reset to "0" in S524.
60(b) shows the rendering mode process 3 of S508, in which the sub-control circuit 60 adds "1" to the value of counter N in S531, and determines whether the result of the addition of the value of counter N is "30" in S532. If it is determined that the result of the addition of the value of counter N is "30", the value of flag F1 is set to "1" in S533, and the value of counter N is reset to "0" in S534.

Figure 61 shows the presentation mode change process of S507, in which the sub-control circuit 60 determines whether the value of flag F1 is "1" in S541. If it is determined that flag F1 is on, the current presentation mode is changed to normal mode 1 in S542, and the value of flag F1 is set to "0" in S543. This presentation mode is initially set to normal mode 1 when the main power is turned on, and if the number of consecutive plays of losing presentation symbols reaches "100" in normal mode 2, the presentation mode is changed from normal mode 2 to normal mode 1, and if the number of consecutive plays of losing presentation symbols reaches "30" in normal mode 3, the presentation mode is changed from normal mode 3 to normal mode 1.

After completing S543, the sub-control circuit 60 switches the background image for the effect symbol game from Normal Background Image 2 or Normal Background Image 3 to Normal Background Image 1 in S544, and determines whether the effect mode was switched from Normal Mode 2 to Normal Mode 1 in S545. If it determines that the effect mode was switched from Normal Mode 2 to Normal Mode 1, it proceeds to S546 and changes each of the three columns of effect symbols from the number symbols in Symbol Group 2 to the number symbols in Symbol Group 13. That is, when the effect mode is changed from Normal Mode 2 to Normal Mode 1 and from Normal Mode 3 to Normal Mode 1, Normal Background Image 1 begins to be displayed when the effect symbol game image begins to be displayed; when the effect mode is changed from Normal Mode 2 to Normal Mode 1, the three columns of effect symbols are changed from the number symbols in Symbol Group 2 to the number symbols in Symbol Group 13 in synchronization with the start of display of Normal Background Image 1.

If the sub-control circuit 60 determines in S541 that flag F1 is off, it proceeds to S547 and determines whether flag F2 is on. If it determines that flag F2 is on, it changes the current presentation mode to normal mode 2 in S548 and turns flag F2 off in S549. In other words, if the number of consecutive plays of missing presentation symbols reaches "100" in normal mode 1 without displaying an image of a battle presentation with a defeat ending, the presentation mode is changed from normal mode 1 to normal mode 2.

When the sub-control circuit 60 has completed S549, it switches the background image for the effect symbol game from normal background image 1 to normal background image 2 in S550, and changes each of the three columns of effect symbols from the number symbols in symbol group 13 to the number symbols in symbol group 2 in S551. In other words, when the effect mode is changed from normal mode 1 to normal mode 2, normal background image 2 begins to be displayed when the effect symbol game image begins to be displayed, and in synchronization with the start of display of normal background image 2, the three columns of effect symbols are changed from the number symbols in symbol group 13 to the number symbols in symbol group 2.

If the sub-control circuit 60 determines in S547 that flag F2 is off, it proceeds to S552 and determines whether flag F3 is on. If it determines that flag F3 is on, it changes the current presentation mode to normal mode 3 in S553, turns flag F3 off in S554, and switches the background image for the presentation symbol game from normal background image 1 to normal background image 3 in S555. In other words, if an image of a battle presentation with a losing outcome is displayed in the current presentation symbol game, the presentation mode is changed from normal mode 1 to normal mode 3 when the current presentation symbol game begins, and an image of a battle presentation with a losing outcome in the current presentation symbol game is displayed superimposed on normal background image 3. If the presentation mode is switched from normal mode 1 to normal mode 3, the symbol group is not changed, and the number symbols from symbol group 13 are displayed as three columns of presentation symbols.

In other words, in normal game mode, in addition to switching presentation modes between normal mode 1 and normal mode 3, switching presentation modes between normal mode 1 and normal mode 2 is permitted, but switching presentation modes between normal mode 2 and normal mode 3 is not permitted. When the presentation mode is switched between normal mode 1 and normal mode 3, the background image for the presentation pattern game is switched when the current presentation pattern game begins, but the images of the three columns of presentation patterns are not switched. When the presentation mode is switched between normal mode 1 and normal mode 2, the background image for the presentation pattern game and the images of the three columns of presentation patterns are each switched synchronously on the image when the current presentation pattern game begins.

According to the above-mentioned embodiment 10, the following effects are achieved.
When the presentation mode is switched from normal mode 1 to normal mode 3, the background image for the presentation symbol game is switched from normal background image 1 to normal background image 3, and the three rows of presentation symbols are fixed to the number symbols in symbol group 13, so that the change in the presentation symbol game image from the player's perspective is relatively small. In contrast, when the presentation mode is switched from normal mode 1 to normal mode 2, the background image for the presentation symbol game is switched from normal background image 1 to normal background image 2, and the three rows of presentation symbols are switched from the number symbols in symbol group 13 to the number symbols in symbol group 2. In this case, the timing for switching the number symbols is synchronized with the timing for switching the background image, so that the change in the presentation symbol game image from the player's perspective is significant. Therefore, the behavior of the change in the presentation symbol game image is exceptional, improving the entertainment value of the game.

Normal mode 1, normal mode 2, and normal mode 3 are set as normal game modes. Therefore, the image of the performance symbol game changes with special behavior in the normal game mode, improving the entertainment value of the game, especially in the normal game mode.
The duration of normal mode 3 (30 times of performance symbol games) is set shorter than the durations of normal mode 1 and normal mode 2 (100 times of performance symbol games), so that the value of the image in which the number symbols of symbol group 13 are superimposed on the normal background image 3 is increased.
If an image of a battle effect ending in defeat is displayed in the current effect symbol game, the change from normal mode 1 to normal mode 3 was made at the timing when the current effect symbol game started, so the player can recognize in advance from the change in background image that the battle effect will end in defeat. In other words, the change from normal background image 1 to normal background image 3 functions as a preview effect that suggests to the player that a battle effect ending in defeat will occur.
In the above-mentioned Example 10, after the image of the battle effect ending in defeat in the current effect symbol game is displayed, a change from normal mode 1 to normal mode 3 may be made when the next effect symbol game is started.

[Example 11]
The presentation mode change processing of Fig. 62(a) is executed by the sub-control circuit 60 in place of the presentation mode change processing of Fig. 61. This presentation mode change processing of Fig. 62 is executed by the sub-control circuit 60 in the timer interrupt processing of Fig. 34(b), and the sub-control circuit 60 determines whether it is the mode change timing Tm in S561 of the presentation mode change processing of Fig. 62. This mode change timing Tm is set within the period after the scrolling display of the three columns of presentation patterns in a presentation pattern game has started and before the scrolling display of the left column of presentation patterns has stopped (see b), and if the sub-control circuit 60 determines in S561 that it is the mode change timing Tm, it proceeds to S541 to S555. These steps S541 to S555 have the same content as the presentation mode change processing in Fig. 61, and in the normal game mode, in addition to switching the presentation mode between normal mode 1 and normal mode 3, switching the presentation mode between normal mode 1 and normal mode 2 is permitted, but switching the presentation mode between normal mode 2 and normal mode 3 is not permitted. These presentation mode switches are performed with three columns of presentation symbols displayed in a scrolling manner, and when the presentation mode is switched between normal mode 1 and normal mode 3, the background image for the presentation symbol game is switched with three columns of presentation symbols displayed in a scrolling manner, but the three columns of presentation symbols are not switched. In contrast, when the presentation mode is switched between normal mode 1 and normal mode 2, the background image for the presentation symbol game and the three columns of presentation symbols are switched in synchronization with each other with three columns of presentation symbols displayed in a scrolling manner.

According to the above-mentioned embodiment 11, the following effects are achieved.
The switching from the normal background image 1 to the normal background image 2 is executed during the scrolling display of the three rows of effect symbols, and the types of the three rows of effect symbols are switched during the scrolling display in synchronization with the timing of the switching from the normal background image 1 to the normal background image 2. Therefore, the change in the image of the effect symbol game becomes extremely large, and the entertainment value of the game can be further enhanced.

[Example 12]
The RAM of the sub-control circuit 60 is set with the special chart 1 pre-read receiving areas 1 to 4 of Figure 18 (d), and the special chart 1 pre-read receiving areas 1 to 4 of the sub-control circuit 60 always store the same special chart 1 pre-read data in the same order as the special chart 1 pre-read areas 1 to 4 of the main control circuit 40. This sub-control circuit 60 executes the hold performance. This hold effect displays a cloud image C in normal colors in the hold display area H0 while the image of the current effect pattern game is being displayed, and when special chart 1 advance reading data is stored in the special chart 1 advance reading receiving area 4, displays a cloud image C in normal colors in the hold display area H1, when special chart 1 advance reading data is stored in the special chart 1 advance reading receiving area 3, displays a cloud image C in normal colors in the hold display area H2, when special chart 1 advance reading data is stored in the special chart 1 advance reading receiving area 2, displays a cloud image C in normal colors in the hold display area H3, and when special chart 1 advance reading data is stored in the special chart 1 advance reading receiving area 1, displays a cloud image C in normal colors in the hold display area H4 (see Example 1), and is executed in common regardless of which game mode and which effect mode is set.

Figure 63 explains the hold pre-read effect. This hold pre-read effect suggests to the player that a three-row display pattern will form a jackpot combination when playing with a display pattern corresponding to the special colored cloud image C by changing the color of one of the cloud images C in hold display area H0 to C in hold display area H4 from a normal color to a special color. It does not start when the display mode is set to normal mode 2 or normal mode 3, but starts when the display mode is set to normal mode 1.

Figure 63 shows the case where cloud image C in reserve display area H4 changes from a normal color to a special color during the current effect symbol play (see a → b), suggesting to the player that the three rows of effect symbols will form a jackpot combination on the fourth effect symbol play. In this case, when the first effect symbol play begins, a special colored cloud image C is displayed in reserve display area H3 (see c), when the second effect symbol play begins, a special colored cloud image C is displayed in reserve display area H2 (see d), when the third effect symbol play begins, a special colored cloud image C is displayed in reserve display area H1 (see e), and when the fourth effect symbol play begins, a special colored cloud image C is displayed in reserve display area H0 (see f).

The reserved pre-reading effect is initiated with a probability of less than 100% when the results of a pre-read of the special symbol variation pattern for the battle effect (PO01-PO04 and PH01-PH04) are stored in one of the special symbol 1 pre-reading receiving areas 1-4 of the sub-control circuit 60 in normal mode 1, and provides a non-deterministic warning of a jackpot. In other words, when the reserved pre-reading effect is initiated in normal mode 1, normal mode 1 is changed to normal mode 3 in response to the execution of the presentation mode determination process in Figures 59-60 and the presentation mode change process in Figure 61 when a presentation symbol game corresponding to the special color cloud image C begins, and normal background image 1 is switched to normal background image 3 when the fourth presentation symbol game begins. In synchronization with this background image switch, the special color cloud image C is displayed in the reserved display area H0, and the fourth presentation symbol game is played with the special color cloud image C displayed and superimposed on normal background image 3. When the fourth presentation symbol game ends, the special color cloud image C is erased.

The presentation mode change process 0 in Figure 64 (a) is executed by the sub-control circuit 60 in place of the presentation mode change process in Figure 61, and the sub-control circuit 60 determines at S561 of presentation mode change process 0 whether the hold pre-reading presentation is being executed. If the special colored cloud image C is not displayed in any of the hold display areas H0 to H4, it determines that the hold pre-reading presentation is stopped and moves on to the presentation mode change process in S563. This presentation mode change process is the same as the presentation mode change process in Figure 61, and while the hold pre-reading presentation is stopped, the presentation mode is changed to the same as in Example 10, and the type of background image for the presentation pattern game and the types of presentation patterns in the three columns are each changed to the same as in Example 10.

If a specially colored cloud image C is displayed in any of the hold display areas H0-H4, the sub-control circuit 60 determines in S561 that the hold pre-reading effect is in progress and proceeds to S562, where it determines whether the current effect mode is normal mode 1. If it determines that the current effect mode is normal mode 1, it proceeds to S552, where it determines whether flag F3 is on. If it determines that flag F3 is on, it sets normal mode 3 in S553, turns flag F3 off in S554, and switches normal background image 1 to normal background image 3 in S555 (see b-d). In this case, the hold pre-reading effect continues in normal mode 3, and the specially colored cloud image C is displayed superimposed on normal background image 3.

If it is determined that normal mode 1 is to be changed to normal mode 2 during execution of the reserved pre-reading effect, flag F2 is turned on. In this case, the sub-control circuit 60 transitions from S561 to S563 in response to the end of the reserved pre-reading effect. Here, normal mode 1 is changed to normal mode 2, and in synchronization with the change from normal background image 1 to normal background image 2, the three columns of effect symbols are changed from the number symbols of symbol group 13 to the number symbols of symbol group 2.
In the above-mentioned Examples 10 to 12, normal modes 1 to 3 may be set in place of the chance mode during the period from when the game mode is set to the high probability electric support mode to when it is demoted to the low probability non-electric support mode via the low probability electric support mode, and during the period from when the game mode is set to the low probability electric support mode to when it is demoted to the low probability non-electric support mode. In other words, normal modes 1 to 3 may be set across multiple game modes.

In addition to the inventions described in the claims, Examples 10 to 12 above also describe the following [Reference Invention 4-1] to [Reference Invention 4-6]. Some gaming machines are configured to determine whether a player has won each time a start condition is met, and to notify the player of the result of the determination by displaying an image of the symbol game each time a win/loss determination is made. Some gaming machines are configured to change the background image of the symbol game (see JP 2010-17425 A). This change in background image merely serves to alleviate the frustration of players who do not win, and there is still room for improvement in terms of creativity.

[Reference Invention 4-1]
a special game means for determining whether a win has been made each time a start condition is met, and for executing a special game in which a special area is opened when a win has been made;
A display device that displays an image of a pattern game in which an identification pattern is displayed in a changing state by being superimposed on a background image and then the changing state is stopped in a manner according to the result of the judgment of winning or losing;
background mode setting means for setting "a first type of background mode for specifying a first type of background image,""a second type of background mode for specifying a second type of background image," and "a third type of background mode for specifying a third type of background image" as background modes for specifying the type of background image displayed in the image of the symbol game;
a symbol game means for displaying a symbol game image on the display device with a background image of a type designated in a background mode;
The background mode setting means
A background mode can be switched from the first type to the second type and from the first type to the third type, respectively;
The symbol game means includes:
In a state where the first type of background mode is set and in a state where the third type of background mode is set, the same type of identification pattern is displayed in the image of the pattern game, and in a state where the second type of background mode is set, a different type of identification pattern different from the same type of identification pattern is displayed in the image of the pattern game,
When the background mode is switched from the first type to the second type, the identification pattern is switched from the same type to the different type in synchronization with the timing of switching the background image from the first type to the second type.
According to the above means, when the display mode is switched from the first type to the third type, the background image is switched from the first type to the third type, but the type of identification symbol is not switched, so the change in the image of the symbol game from the player's perspective is relatively small. In contrast, when the display mode is switched from the first type to the second type, the background image is switched from the first type to the second type, and the identification symbol is switched from the first type to the second type. In this case, the type of identification symbol is switched in synchronization with the timing of the change in the type of background image, so the change in the image of the symbol game from the player's perspective is significant. Therefore, the behavior of the changing image of the symbol game is exceptional, improving the entertainment value of the game.
In the embodiment, "the special symbol 1 game, the special symbol 2 game, the big win game, and the small win game all come to a stop" corresponds to the start condition being met, the "big prize opening 19" corresponds to the special area, the "big win game" corresponds to the special game, the "main control circuit 40" corresponds to the special game means, the "three rows of effect symbols" correspond to the identification symbol, the "scroll state" corresponds to the "variable state", the "scroll stop state" corresponds to the "variable stop state", the "effect symbol game" corresponds to the symbol game, the "effect symbol display 28" corresponds to the display, and the "normal background image 1" corresponds to the "first type of background image". "Normal background image 2" corresponds to "second type of background image", "normal background image 3" corresponds to "third type of background image", "three rows of performance patterns consisting of number patterns of pattern group 13" corresponds to the same type of identification pattern, "three rows of performance patterns consisting of number patterns of pattern group 2" corresponds to a different type of identification pattern, "normal mode 1" corresponds to the first type of background mode, "normal mode 2" corresponds to the second type of background mode, "normal mode 3" corresponds to the third type of background mode, and the sub-control circuit 60 corresponds to the background mode setting means and the pattern playing means.

[Reference Invention 4-2]
The gaming machine described in [Reference Invention 4-1] is characterized in that the background mode setting means sets a first type of background mode, a second type of background mode, and a third type of background mode within a predetermined specific period.
According to the above means, the image of the symbol game changes with special behavior within a specific period, improving the entertainment value of the game within the specific period.
The period in which the normal gaming mode is set in the embodiment corresponds to a specific period.

[Reference Invention 4-3]
The gaming machine described in [Reference Invention 4-2] is characterized in that the background mode setting means controls so that the duration of the third type of background mode within the specific period is shorter than the duration of the first type of background mode and the duration of the second type of background mode.
According to the above means, the period during which a rare image in which the same type of identification pattern is superimposed on the third type of background image is displayed is the shortest within a specific period, thereby increasing the value of the image.

[Reference Invention 4-4]
A determination means for determining whether a game ball has won or lost when the game ball has entered the starting area in a state where it is possible to determine whether the game ball has won or lost, and for suspending the determination process for whether the game ball has won or lost until it is possible to determine whether the game ball has won or lost when the game ball has entered the starting area in a state where it is not possible to determine whether the game ball has won or lost;
a special game means for executing a special game in which the special area is opened when it is determined that a win has occurred;
A display device that displays an image of a symbol game in which an identification symbol is displayed in a changing state by being superimposed on a background image and then the changing state is stopped in a manner according to the result of the judgment of winning or losing;
background mode setting means for setting "a first type of background mode for specifying a first type of background image,""a second type of background mode for specifying a second type of background image," and "a third type of background mode for specifying a third type of background image" as background modes for specifying the type of background image displayed in the image of the symbol game;
a symbol game means for displaying a symbol game image on the display device with a background image of a type designated in a background mode;
A reading means for reading whether a game ball has entered the starting area before the game ball has been determined to be a winning or losing game when the game ball has entered the starting area in a state where the game ball cannot be determined to be a winning or losing game;
a pre-reading game means for starting to display on the display a pre-reading image suggesting to the player that the pre-reading result of whether the game will be a win or a loss when a first type of background mode is set;
The background mode setting means
The game machine allows switching of the background mode from the first type to the third type and from the first type to the second type when the preview image is not displayed, and allows switching of the background mode from the first type to the third type but does not allow switching of the background mode from the first type to the second type when the preview image is displayed.
[Reference invention 4-5]
The gaming machine described in [Reference Invention 4-4] is characterized in that when the background mode is switched from the first type to the third type while the preview image is displayed, the preview image continues to be displayed superimposed on the third type of background image.
According to the above means, switching from a common first type background image to a rare third type background image is permitted in the display state of the preview image, thereby increasing the player's sense of expectation for a win.
In the embodiment, the first start port 18 and the second start port 23 correspond to the start area, the main control circuit 40 corresponds to the judgment means, the special game means and the look-ahead means, the big prize port 19 corresponds to the special area, the big win game corresponds to the special game, the performance pattern game corresponds to the pattern game, the three rows of performance patterns correspond to the identification pattern, the performance pattern display 28 corresponds to the display, the normal background image 1 corresponds to the first type of background image, the normal mode 1 corresponds to the first type of background mode, the normal background image 2 corresponds to the second type of background image, the normal mode 2 corresponds to the second type of background mode, the normal background image 3 corresponds to the third type of background image, and the normal mode 3 corresponds to the third type of background mode, the sub-control circuit 60 corresponds to the background mode setting means and the pattern game means, and the special colored cloud image C corresponds to the look-ahead image.

[Reference Inventions 4-6]
A game mode setting means is provided for setting a plurality of game modes each having a different degree of advantage to a player,
The background mode setting means
A gaming machine described in [Reference Invention 4-1] or [Reference Invention 4-4], characterized in that a first type of background mode, a second type of background mode, and a third type of background mode are set within a specific period spanning a state in which one of the plurality of gaming modes is set and a state in which another of the plurality of gaming modes is set.

18 is the first start port, 19 is the big prize port, 23 is the second start port, 28 is the performance symbol display, 40 is the main control circuit, and 60 is the sub-control circuit.

Claims (1)

a determination means for determining whether or not to execute a special game advantageous to a player in response to the establishment of a starting condition;
a symbol display control means for, when the determination is made, causing a predetermined symbol display means to variably display a special symbol and then statically display a special symbol indicating the result of the determination;
a special game execution means for executing the special game when a special symbol indicating that the determination means has determined that the special game will be executed is stopped and displayed on the symbol display means ;
a performance control means for controlling the performance,
The performance control means
A display of a performance pattern is changed in accordance with the change of the special pattern , and a display of the performance pattern is stopped in accordance with the stop of the special pattern in a manner that notifies the result of the judgment .
In the reach effect that is executed during the variable display of the effect symbols , there are a case where a first effect pattern effect is executed in which an image of the first effect is displayed and then an image of the second effect is displayed, a case where a second effect pattern effect is executed in which an image of the first effect is displayed and then an image of the second effect is not displayed, and a case where a third effect pattern effect is executed in which an image of the second effect is displayed without displaying an image of the first effect .
Based on the result of the judgment, during the variable display of the special symbol and the performance symbol performed in accordance with the judgment, there are a case where a first character display performance is executed to display characters suggesting that the image of the first performance will be displayed, and a case where a second character display performance is executed to display characters suggesting that the image of the second performance will be displayed,
When the second character display effect is executed , the effect of the third effect pattern is executed with a higher probability than the effect of the first effect pattern;
The image of the latter effect can be displayed in either case when the first character display effect is executed or when the second character display effect is executed,
The gaming machine is characterized in that the probability of displaying an image of the subsequent effect differs when the first character display effect is executed and when the second character display effect is executed .