JPH0527438B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a slot machine, and more particularly to a slot machine for business use in which a game is started after a coin is inserted.

[Conventional technology]

Recently, many slot machines have been installed in pachinko parlors and the like, and the number of players is also increasing. Commercial slot machines used in such places are, like pachinko gaming machines, gaming machines for the so-called entertainment business, and it is desirable to avoid constructing them in a way that excessively encourages gambling. In this regard, due to the demands of the entertainment industry, pachinko gaming machines are limited in the number of pachinko balls that can be fired per certain period of time, such as within 100 balls per minute.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, in conventional slot machines for business use, no effective measures have been taken to limit the number of coins (including medals and tokens) that can be inserted per unit time. For example, if you want to limit the number of coins that can be used in one minute to 24, after the number of coins reaches 24 within one minute, the number of coins that can be used in one minute will be limited to 24 coins. The easiest way is to create a structure that prohibits the slot machine from operating at all during this period. However, in this case, the player has to wait in vain for the remaining time after the slot machine is prohibited from operating, which may greatly reduce the interest of the game.

In addition, the above-mentioned disadvantages can be avoided by setting the time required for each game to be longer, but when such measures are taken, the interval between each game becomes unnecessarily long, which also reduces the player's interest. This will be a negative factor in sustaining this.

Based on this background, when the game has been repeated a certain number of times N, the time required up to that point is compared with the reference time T, and if this is less than the reference time T, the next game, that is, the N+1th game is forced. It has been proposed that the player win a prize and earn time by paying out dividend coins in conjunction with the winning. However, the performance of recent coin dispensers for paying out dividend coins has improved considerably, and for example, even when paying out 15 dividend coins,
Payout is completed in about 300msec.

Therefore, by performing the above-mentioned control, N+1
Even if the player wins the first game, especially if the number of dividend coins is small, the payout of the dividend coins will be completed immediately and the player will be able to insert coins for the next game. As a result, there is a possibility that the number of coins inserted per unit time may exceed the planned number.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned difficulties with conventional slot machines, and moreover, limits the number of coins that can be inserted per unit time to an appropriate number without diminishing the player's interest. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a slot machine that enables the following.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention focuses on the fact that when a prize is won as a result of a game, time can be earned to pay out dividend coins. If the required time is less than a certain time T, the progress of the game is controlled so that a prize can be won in the next game. In addition to the coin dispenser that is operated to pay out dividend coins, a delay means is also provided to control the payout of dividend coins so that it takes time. As a result, N+1
When the first game ends, the time required for the game up to that point will surely exceed the predetermined unit time, and the number of games that can be played within this unit time will be limited to N+1 times. It is what it is. Further, according to such a configuration, a game without winnings is not repeated endlessly, which is very convenient for the player to maintain the interest of the game.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

〔Example〕

In FIG. 5, which shows the appearance of a slot machine using the present invention, three vertically elongated windows 3 are provided on the front panel 2 of the main body 1. Through this window 3, symbols on the first reel 5, second reel 6, and third reel 7 that are rotated within the main body 1 can be observed.

Before starting the game, insert coin slot 8.
Insert 1 to 3 coins from and press Star Lever 1.
By operating 0, the first to third reels 5 to
7 is rotated. After the reels 5 to 7 reach steady rotation, the rotation of each reel is stopped by pressing the stop buttons 11 to 13 provided for each reel. When each reel is stopped in this manner, winning is determined based on the combination of symbols stopped on the winning line displayed in the window 3. As a result of this winning determination, if a winning is obtained, the number of dividend coins corresponding to the type of winning will be paid out from the coin payout port 14.

As shown in the diagram, this slot machine has a total of 5 winning lines, 3 horizontal and 2 diagonal, and the number of winning lines that will be activated for the game will depend on the number of coins inserted. can be determined. In other words, when the number of coins inserted is one, there is one winning line horizontally in the center, when there are two coins, there are three horizontal winning lines, and when there are three coins, there are two more diagonal winning lines, for a total of five winning lines. is enabled.

In FIG. 1 showing the configuration for controlling the operation of the slot machine, the first to third reels 5 to
7 is a microprocessor unit 15 (hereinafter referred to as
It is rotated by stepping motors 17, 18, and 19 whose driving is controlled by an MPU 15). That is, the drivers 22, 23, and 24 are operated by the clock pulses supplied from the clock pulse generator 20 to the MPU 15, and each stepping motor 17-19 is rotated in accordance with the number of clock pulses.

The number of clock pulses for rotating the stepping motors 17 to 19 is determined by the counters 25 and 2.
6 and 27, respectively. Further, each reel 5-7 is provided with protrusions 5a, 6a, 7a for generating a reset signal, and their passage is detected by photo sensors 5b, 6b, 7b. A reset signal is obtained from the photosensors 5b, 6b, and 7b each time each reel rotates once, and thereby the counts of the counters 25 to 27 are reset to "0". Therefore, the count value at each counter 25 to 27 is
. . . 7, values corresponding to rotation angles within one rotation are shown. And reel 5~
Since the reference position of 7, the number of symbols arranged, and the arrangement pitch are known in advance, the counters 25 to 27
By referring to the count value, the symbols on each reel 5 to 7 on the winning line can be determined. In addition, the part A surrounded by the broken line in Figure 1
is configured as a microcomputer.

The normal game progress of this slot machine will be explained according to the flowchart of FIG. The player first inserts 1 to 3 coins. The number of coins inserted is counted by the one-game coin counter 30, and then the number of coins for one game is determined by operating the start lever 10, and this is also stored in the cumulative coin counter 31. Ru.

By operating the start lever 10, the coin insertion prohibition device 32 is activated, and subsequent coin insertion is prohibited.
Banned until the game ends. The coin insertion prohibition device 32 is constituted by a pin or the like that is driven in and out near the entrance of the coin insertion slot 8 by a solenoid, as is well known. At the same time as this coin insertion prohibition device 32 is activated, the first to third reels 5 to 7 are rotated all at once. Then, until a certain period of time has elapsed until the rotation of each reel reaches a steady state, the stop button 11 to
13 operations are invalidated.

During this time, the random value sampling circuit 34 is activated by a command from the MP 15, and an arbitrary random value is sampled from a random number sequence within a predetermined numerical value range. The random numbers sampled in this way are compared with the probability table 35, and it is determined whether the random number corresponds to a winning prize or a losing prize. That is, this probability table 35 divides the random number sequence within the predetermined numerical range in consideration of the winning rate or payout rate, and associates the sampled random number with either the winning type or the losing type. . The types of winnings include large, medium, and small wins in descending order of the number of dividend coins.

After the type of winning (including losing) is determined in this manner, the stepping motors 17-19 are controlled to stop by operating the stop buttons 11-13. This stop control is executed while referring to the counted values of the counters 25 to 27, that is, the types of symbols passing on the winning line, and the steps are performed so that the winning types determined as described above are satisfied. The ping motors 17 to 19 are controlled to stop. At this time, the stop button 11
If the operation timing of ~13 and the stop timing of reels 5~7 deviate too much, it will become unnatural. To avoid this, a stop symbol determination circuit 36 is provided. This stop symbol determination circuit 36
is the final reel stop position, taking into consideration the counted values of the counters 25 to 27, the type of winning determined by the probability table 35, and the timing of the stop buttons 11 to 13, so that the timing deviation described above does not become large. In other words, the type of symbol that stops on the winning line is determined. Of course, in this case, each winning line set corresponding to the number of coins inserted is taken into consideration.

When all the reels 5 to 7 have stopped in this manner, the combination of symbols on the activated winning line is confirmed by the symbol determination circuit 38.
After the symbol is confirmed, the prize winning table 39 is referred to, and it is determined whether or not this corresponds to a winning. This confirmation process is performed because if multiple winning lines are activated and the above-mentioned timing deviation is to be minimized, the winning may not be as determined by the probability table 35. It is necessary,
If it is possible to tolerate a large deviation between the operation timing of the stop buttons 11 to 13 and the stop timing of the reels 5 to 7, it may be omitted.

After determining whether there is a prize, the display drive circuit 40
is activated, and in the event of a loss, the buzzer 41 makes an audible display. When this sound display is performed, the first regulation time delay circuit 42 is activated, and the coin insertion prohibition device 32 continues to operate until approximately 2 seconds have elapsed, and coin insertion continues to be prohibited. becomes. This delay in the first regulation time, like the delay in the second regulation time to be described later, is provided so that the time required for one game cannot be reduced too much. After the delay of this first regulation time, the coin insertion prohibition device 32
Since the operation will be canceled, you will be able to insert new coins to start the next game. It should be noted that since the loss display is performed by sound, there is an advantage that the delay of 2 seconds during the first regulation period does not feel long to the player.

As a result of the winning determination, if this corresponds to winning, the LED 43 is turned on via the display drive circuit 40. This winning display is preferably performed by lighting or blinking a predetermined LED string from among a plurality of LED arrays arranged along each winning line so that the winning line on which a winning prize has been obtained can be recognized. The winning display performed in this manner is also performed together with the operation of the first regulation time delay circuit 42, similar to the sound display when the player loses. This first regulation time delay circuit 42
After the operation is completed in 2 seconds, the second regulation time delay circuit 46 is activated and the winning display continues for about 4 seconds.

The coin dispenser 45 is activated after the second regulation time delay circuit 46 is activated. As a result, the coin payout device 45 has a high-speed payout function, and even if the number of payout coins is about 2 to 3, the payout of payout coins is completed and the coin insertion prohibition device 32 is activated for the next game. The activation will be canceled after at least 6 seconds have elapsed since the winning determination was made. Therefore, the time required for one game when a prize is won is set to be at least 11 seconds. Note that in order to gain time when paying out dividend coins, instead of delaying the activation timing of the coin dispenser 45 as described above, the operation of the coin dispenser 45 may be slowed down or operated intermittently. You can do it like this. Further, the game progress program described above and the execution program of the hit game mode described later are stored in the program ROM 47.

By the way, the above-mentioned first and second regulation time delay circuits 42 and 46 are provided so that the number of coins inserted does not increase indefinitely within a unit time of, for example, one minute. In other words, by intentionally extending the time required for one game,
The number of coins that can be used per minute is limited to a maximum of 24 coins (if three coins are inserted for each game, the number of games is a maximum of eight). For example, from the time when the start lever 10 is operated, the first to third stop buttons 11 to 13
If the delay time before the operation is allowed is 5 seconds, if you repeat the game at the fastest timing,
This means that 10 to 12 games (all losing games) can be played per minute, but by activating the first regulation time delay circuit 42 as described above, the minimum time required for one game can be reduced to 7. It will be seconds.

By the way, if the minimum time required for one game is set to 7 seconds as mentioned above, and all games are losers, only 56 seconds have passed by the time 8 games have been played. It becomes possible to insert coins, and the number of coins that can be inserted in one minute becomes 25 or more. Therefore, in the slot machine of the present invention, in addition to the one-game time counter 48 that measures the time _T0 required for each game, there is also an integrated time counter 50 that adds up the time T of the one-game time counter 48. , a game number counter 52 for counting the number N of consecutively played games, and a hit symbol determining circuit 53.
Then, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, the cumulative required time T at the time when the seventh game is played is checked, and if this is less than 53 seconds, the human game stored in advance in the program ROM 47 is The program is executed and the normal game mode is changed to the human game mode.

When the hit game program is executed, a signal is input from the hit symbol determining circuit 53 to the stop symbol determining circuit 36 regardless of the random number sampled by the random value sampling circuit 34. That is, the hit symbol determination circuit 53 stores data corresponding to a combination of predetermined symbols constituting a winning prize, and the stepping motor 17 is activated to obtain the winning prize.
-19 stop control is executed. In addition, winnings caused by human game mode are
Since the payout rate is not taken into consideration, it is best to choose a small or medium hit as the type of winning.

According to the above process, after the minimum required time of 49 seconds for seven games in which no prize was won, the player will inevitably win a prize. Therefore, in the eighth game, there is a time of 5 seconds until the winning determination, a winning display time of 2 seconds which is performed together with the operation of the first regulation time delay circuit 42, and a further activation after the operation of the second regulation time delay circuit 46. A total of 11 seconds passes, including the 4 seconds required to complete the payout of dividend coins, so the total time required for the 8 games is more than 1 minute. And 8
Even if three coins are inserted in each game, the maximum number of coins that can be used in one minute is limited to 24. Of course, if a prize is won during the 7th game, the second regulation time delay circuit 46 is activated as described above, and it takes 4 seconds to pay out the dividend coins at that time. By the time the game is played, the cumulative time counter 50 has reached 53 seconds or more, so the eighth game is started in the normal game mode. Furthermore, each time one game ends, the count values of the one-game coin counter 30 and the one-game clock counter 48 are reset to "0", and when the eighth game ends, the cumulative coin counter 31 and the cumulative clock are reset to "0". Counter 50 will be reset to "0".

By the way, in the above process, it is assumed that the number of coins inserted at the start of each game is the maximum number of three coins.
A game is often started by inserting one or two coins. In such a case, it is not very desirable on the sales side to generate a prize in the 8th game based only on the number of games and the time required for the 7th game, or to extend the playing time of the 8th game. In other words, if the total number of coins inserted within one minute is small, it is possible to insert as many coins as possible without exceeding the limit of 24 coins per minute to improve operating efficiency. It is advantageous for

For this reason, as shown in FIG. 1, in addition to the cumulative coin counter 31, a one-minute timer 55 is provided to count one minute, so that the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 is also performed. It's summery. By executing this process, the 1 minute timer 55 starts counting from the first operation of the start lever 10, and when the timer 55 clocks up, if the count value of the cumulative coin counter 31 is less than 24 coins, the 1 minute timer 55 starts counting. , the operation of the first regulation time delay circuit 42 and the second regulation time delay circuit 46 described above is released. As a result, a delay of 2 seconds by the first regulation time delay circuit 42 and a delay of 2 seconds by the first regulation time delay circuit 42,
The 4 second delay caused by the regulation time delay circuit 46 is eliminated, and the time required for one game can be shortened by approximately 2 seconds in the case of a loss and approximately 5 seconds in the case of a win.

This state continues until the number of coins inserted after the first operation of the start lever 10 reaches 24 coins. When the count value of the cumulative coin counter 31 reaches 24 coins or more, the cumulative coin counter 31 is reset to "0". Furthermore, when the next time the start lever 10 is operated, the one-minute timer 55 starts counting again, and at the same time, the first and second regulation time delay circuits 42 and 46 are activated, and the same process is repeated thereafter. . According to this, the game time will be unnecessarily extended for players who play games by inserting 1 to 2 coins per game, and for players who take a long time to play each game. This makes it possible to avoid such situations and prevent unnecessary declines in operating efficiency.

The present invention has been described above in accordance with the illustrated embodiment.
Instead of setting this to the operation point, it is also possible to set this to the coin insertion point. In addition, the "delay" process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2, that is, after the first to third reels 5 to 7 start, the first to
The time required until the third stop buttons 11 to 13 are allowed to be operated can be delayed by the third regulation time delay circuit, thereby adjusting the time required for one game. Furthermore, Figure 3 or 4
In the flowchart shown in the figure, the values such as the number of games N at which the processing branches, the total time required T, and even the number of coins inserted can be changed in accordance with the needs of the entertainment industry. Of course it is.

Note that the present invention is not intended only for slot machines that stop the reels by operating a stop button as described above, but also for autoslot machines that stop the reels with a random stop signal generated by a random timer. The present invention can be applied to top-type slot machines and even video-type slot machines, that is, those in which symbols are displayed on a CRT screen using graphic data.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described in detail above, according to the slot machine of the present invention, the cumulative time required for the games played up to that point is compared for each predetermined number of games, and if the cumulative time required is less than the reference time, the slot machine next time is The system is configured so that winnings occur in the game, and a delay means is provided so that it takes time until the payout of dividend coins is completed. As a result, one win and the payout of dividend coins are always executed until the predetermined unit time elapses, and the time required for the game is naturally extended by paying out the dividend coins. You will be able to do this. Therefore,
It is now possible to reliably limit the number of games played per unit time, that is, the maximum number of coins that can be inserted during that time, without diminishing the player's interest, making it possible to provide an extremely excellent slot machine for commercial use. can.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a circuit configuration used in the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the processing of one game performed by the slot machine of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the process of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the process for canceling the regulation time. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a slot machine using the present invention. 5-7...First to third reels, 10...Start lever, 11-13...First to third stop buttons, 15...MPU, 17-19...Stepping motor.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a slot machine in which a game starts after a coin is inserted and one game ends when coins are allowed to be inserted for the next game, a reference time storage means that stores a fixed time T. a counting means for counting the number of consecutively repeated games; a timing means for counting the time required for each game until the count value of the counting means reaches a certain number of times N; and a winning means. A control means for controlling the rotation of the slot machine reel so as to obtain a prize, a coin dispenser that pays out dividend coins when a prize is won in a game, and a delay for extending the time for which the coin dispenser pays out dividend coins. means, and when the number of games has reached N, if the time required for the game, which is accumulated by the timer, is equal to or less than the certain time T, the control means is operated to control the game time to N+1. Win the game for the second time, and pay out the dividend coins by operating the delay means and the coin payout device, and
A slot machine characterized in that the time required for the first game exceeds a predetermined unit time.