JPH062180B2 - Slot machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial field of application> The present invention relates to a slot machine having three reels on which a plurality of symbols are arranged on a peripheral surface and five stop lines.

<Prior Art> In a conventional slot machine, after all reels are simultaneously started by operating a handle, for example, a player sequentially operates a stop button of each reel at an appropriate timing,
The corresponding reel is configured to stop. Usually, each reel has multiple kinds of symbols arranged randomly, and after stopping all reels, when a combination of effective symbols is formed on a predetermined stop line of the symbol display part, this is regarded as a prize. , A medal with a predetermined payout rate is released.

In recent slot machines, the microcomputer is usually the controlling body, and whether or not the effective symbol combination is established depends not only on the skill of the player but also on the control of the microcomputer. .
That is, when the microcomputer receives the stop signal from the stop button operation, the microcomputer performs a control to shift the reel position by an appropriate number of frames within a predetermined delay allowable time, if necessary. As a result, when a command for establishing a combination of effective symbols and a command for preventing the combination are generated, the stop position of each reel is controlled, and thereby the combination of effective symbols is forcibly established. Or, the establishment is blocked.

<Problems to be solved by the invention> However, in the conventional slot machine, when there is a command to establish a combination of effective symbols or a command to prevent it, the above stop position control is performed for all reels, and a predetermined effective symbol is given. It is necessary to establish or prevent the combination, and the control thereof becomes significantly complicated, which causes a high cost.

This invention, by only controlling the reels involved in the final stop, to establish a combination of predetermined effective symbols,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a slot machine that can prevent its establishment.

<Means for Solving Problems> The present invention is provided with three reels on the peripheral surface of which a plurality of symbols are arranged, and is provided on three upper and lower middle stop lines and two diagonal stop lines. In a slot machine configured to establish a prize when a predetermined effective symbol is lined up in any of the two, when any two reels are stopped, one of five stop lines By stopping the effective symbols of the remaining reels on the stop line, the symbol arrangement of each reel is set so that the effective symbols that establish the winning are lined up on the stop line.

<Operation> When each reel is sequentially stopped after starting all reels, the reels involved in the first and second stops are stopped without performing special stop position control. As a result, the possibility that a combination of effective symbols is established on any of the five stop lines is formed. If there is a command to establish a combination of effective symbols at this time, the stop position control is performed for the reel that is to be stopped last, and a predetermined effective symbol is stopped on the stop line, and the effective symbol on this stop line. Establish a combination. This is the same when the combination of effective symbols is not established.

Therefore, according to the present invention, a predetermined effective symbol combination can be established by controlling only the reel that is stopped at the last stop without performing stop position control for the reels that are stopped at the first and second stops. However, since the establishment can be prevented, the control is greatly simplified, which contributes to cost reduction.

<Embodiment> FIG. 1 shows a slot machine having three reels 1a, 1b, 1c, and a symbol display portion 3, a medal insertion slot 4, three stop buttons 5, a start handle on the front surface of a body 2. 6 and a medal discharge tray 7 are provided, and various display lamps and numeral indicators are provided. Each reel 1a, 1
Symbols b and 1c are formed by arranging a plurality of symbols on the peripheral surface, and each reel is connected to a pulse motor (not shown) to control the driving and stopping thereof.

The symbol display portion 3 is a portion for displaying the symbols of the reels 1a, 1b, 1c in line along the _five stop lines L _{1 to} L ₅ , and displays three symbols arranged in parallel in the body 2. Reel 1
The state in which a, 1b, and 1c rotate can be seen through, and when the reels are stopped, the symbols for three frames on each reel peripheral surface can be confirmed from outside the device.

The stop lines L _{1 to} L ₅ are the stop line L _{1 at the} center when the number of inserted medals is one, and the stop lines L ₂ , L ₁ , and L at the top, middle, and bottom when the number of inserted medals is two. _{When 3} is the number of inserted medals, the upper, middle, lower, and diagonal stop lines L ₂ , L ₁ , L ₃ , L ₄ , and L ₅ are valid,
When a combination of valid symbols is formed on the activated stop line, a prize is won and a medal of a predetermined payout rate is released.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the symbol arrays on the peripheral surfaces of the reels 1a, 1b, 1c are developed. In the figure, each number indicated by 1, 2, ..., 20 is a symbol number, and in the case of this embodiment, 20 symbols are provided for each reel 1a, 1b, 1c. Further, in the figure, A, B, C, D, and E represent the types of symbols, and the symbols are A, B, and
In the order of C, D, E, and on the second reel 1b, E, D,
In the order of C, B, A, and further on the third reel 1c, A, D,
They are repeatedly arranged in the order of B, E, and C.
These symbols A to E are, as shown in FIG. 4, each reel 1 on the activated stop line (stop line L _{1 in} the figure).
When three identical symbols a, 1b, 1c (A in the figure) are lined up, a combination of effective symbols is established, and a medal of a predetermined payout rate is awarded.

The arrangement of the symbols on the reels 1a, 1b, 1c is
In this embodiment, when any two reels have stopped, among the enabled five stop line L ₁ ~L _5, the combination of active symbol of always ways one on either stop line is established It is appropriately set so that the possibility of doing so is formed. According to such an array method, by controlling the stop position of only the reels for the final stop, it is possible to respond to the establishment command and the establishment prevention command of the combination of the effective symbols, and therefore the control can be simplified, and If there is one target symbol for stop position control as in this embodiment, further simplification of control can be realized.

FIG. 5 is the first and second in the symbol arrangement of this embodiment.
5 shows the display state of the symbol display unit 3 when each of the reels 1a and 1b is stopped and the third reel 1C is in a stage before stop (during rotation).

In the figures (1) to (5), the symbols appearing in the symbol display section 3 are E, D, and C on the second reel 1b, while A, B, and C on the first reel 1a.
In the case of C (the same figure (1)), in the case of D, C, B (the same figure (2)),
Cases C, B and A ((3) in the figure), B, A and E ((4) in the figure), and A, E, D ((5) in the figure) are assumed. , combination of symbols C on stop line L ₃ below in FIG. (1) (C-C-C) is formed is likely to be satisfied, and so on, Fig. (2) in the oblique stop line L The combination of symbols C on ₄ is the same as the combination of symbols B on the central stop line L _{1 in} the same figure (3), and the combination of symbols A on the oblique stop line L _{5 in} the same figure (4). In FIG. (5), there is a possibility that a combination of symbols A will be established on the upper stop line L ₂ .

As a result, for example, in the case of FIG. 3C, the symbol B of the third reel 1c is _{1 in} the stop line L ₁ as shown in FIG.
Assuming that a stop signal is generated at the front position of the piece, the combination of the symbols B can be established by performing control to shift the third reel 1c by one frame position and stop.

FIG. 6 shows a display state of the symbol display unit 3 when the second and third reels 1b and 1c are stopped and the first reel 1a is at a stage before stop (during rotation).

In the figures (1) to (5), the symbols appearing in the symbol display portion 3 are E, D and C of the second reel 1b, whereas the symbols of the third reel 1c are A, D and C.
In the case of B (Fig. 1), in the case of D, B, E (Fig. 2),
The cases of B, E, and C ((3) in the figure), E, C, A ((4) in the figure), and C, A, D ((5) in the figure) are assumed. , In the figure (1), the pattern D is placed on the central stop line L _1.
(D-D-D) is formed, and in the same manner, the combination of the symbols D on the diagonal stop line L ₄ in the same figure (2), the lower in the same figure (3). Stop line L ₃
A combination of symbols C is formed on the upper side, a combination of symbols E is formed on the upper stop line L ₂ in the same figure (4), and a combination of symbols D is formed on an oblique stop line L _{5 in the} same figure (5). The possibilities are formed.

FIG. 7 shows a display state of the symbol display unit 3 when the first and third reels 1a and 1c are stopped and the first reel 1b is before stop (during rotation).

In the figures (1) to (5), the symbols appearing in the symbol display section 3 are A, B and C on the first reel 1a, whereas the symbols on the third reel 1c are A, D and C.
In the case of B (Fig. 1), in the case of D, B, E (Fig. 2),
The cases of B, E, and C ((3) in the figure), E, C, A ((4) in the figure), and C, A, D ((5) in the figure) are assumed. , the combination of FIG. (1) pattern a on stop line L ₂ above the (a-a-a) is the formation possibility is established, and so on, Fig. (2) in the center of the stop line L The combination of symbol B on ₁ is the stop line L _{3 on the} lower side in FIG.
The combination of the symbols C above, the combination of the symbols A on the diagonal stop line L ₅ in the same figure (4), the combination of the symbols C on the diagonal stop line L _{4 in the} same figure (5), respectively. The possibilities are formed.

Returning to FIG. 1, the starting handle 6 has three reels 1a,
1b and 1c are simultaneously started, and three stop buttons 5 are for individually stopping the corresponding reels 1a, 1b and 1c. In this embodiment, each reel 1a, 1b, 1 is pressed by pressing three stop buttons 6.
Although a manual stop method of individually stopping c is shown, the present invention is not limited to this, and is also applied to an automatic stop method of automatically stopping each reel 1a, 1b, 1c after a lapse of a predetermined time after simultaneous rotation. it can.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the circuit configuration of the above slot machine. The sensor 18, the start handle 6, the stop button 5, and the numeral display 1 are provided to the CPU 18 of the microcomputer.
1. The motor controller 12, the medal counter 13, the voice generator 14, and the lamp controller 15 are interfaces 16 and 17.
Is electrically connected through. In the figure, a sensor 10 detects whether or not a medal has been inserted, and a number display section 11 digitally displays the number of inserted medals and payout medals. The motor control unit 12 controls the operation of the pulse motor that drives each reel 1a, 1b, 1c, and the medal counting unit 13 counts the number of inserted medals and payout medals. The sound generation unit 14 generates a sound effect of the game, and the lamp control unit 15 controls the lighting operation of various lamps.

The CPU 18 decodes and executes a program stored in the ROM 19, executes various operations while reading and writing data from and in the RAM 20, and controls the operations of the input / output units in series.

Further, the CPU 18 functions as means for detecting the symbol combination of the reels stopped on the activated stop line and determining whether or not the effective symbol combination is established. That is, the CPU 18 fetches the drive pulse of each pulse motor from the motor control unit 12 and counts it to detect what the symbol of each reel located on the activated stop line is, and then to combine these symbols. Is to judge the contents of.

Further, the CPU 18 of this embodiment performs a lottery to determine whether or not to establish a valid symbol combination for each game, particularly when three medals are inserted, and establishes a valid symbol combination in accordance with the result of the lottery. Generate a command to do so. When this command is generated, after the stop signal generated by the stop button operation is generated for the third stop reel, the reels are displaced by an appropriate number of frames and stopped, and the reels are activated on either stop line. Make sure to establish a combination of effective symbols.

FIG. 9 shows an operation procedure of the slot machine. When the player inserts a medal into the medal insertion slot 4 in step 1 (indicated by “ST1” in the figure), the sensor 10 detects this and the determination is made. Becomes "YES". In the following step 2, it is determined whether the number of inserted medals is 3 or less,
If the result of the judgment is "YES", the process proceeds to step 3, where upper, middle,
Lower and diagonal 5 stop lines L ₂ , L ₁ , L ₃ , L ₄ , L ₅
Enable all.

Next, when the start handle 6 is operated, the operation signal is turned on and step 4 becomes "YES". The determination in step 4 and step 1 is performed by the CPU 18 based on the operation signal from the starting handle 6 and the detection signal from the sensor 10. Next, the CPU 18 sends a drive signal to the motor control unit 12 to output each pulse. The motor is driven, all reels 1a, 1b, 1c are simultaneously started, and the lottery process is performed by itself to determine whether or not the combination of effective symbols is forcibly established (steps 5 and 6).

The next steps 7 to 9 determine which stop button 5 has been pressed, and the next step 10 is whether or not the above-mentioned lottery is successful, that is, whether a combination of valid symbols is forcibly established. It is determined whether or not any two reels are stopped in the next step 11.

Here, assuming a case where a lottery hits and a command for establishing a combination of effective symbols is generated, if the stop button 5 of the first reel 1a is pressed, then step 7 is "YES", Since step 10 is "YES" and step 11 is "NO", the process proceeds to step 12 and the first
The reel 1a stops at an appropriate timing. In this reel stop operation, the stop signal by the stop button operation is C
When it is fetched by the PU 18, the CPU 18 sends the drive stop signal for stopping the pulse motor to the motor control unit 12 to execute the process. In this case, if the driving stop signal is sent at almost the same time as the stop signal is received, the reel will stop at the same time as the stop signal is generated. In the next step 13, the CPU 18 detects the symbol of the reel 1a located on the activated stop line based on the count value of the driving pulse of the pulse motor,
The operation waits for the next push operation of the stop button 5.

Next, assuming that the stop button 5 of the second reel 1b is pressed, step 8 is "YES" and step 10 is "YE".
S ", step 11 becomes" NO ", the reel 1b stops at an appropriate timing in step 12, and the following step 1
The symbol of the reel 1b located on the stop line activated in 3 is detected. And at this stage, 5 activated
Of the stop lines L _{1 to} L ₅ of the book, the possibility that one combination of valid symbols is established on any stop line is automatically formed.

Then, when the stop button 5 of the third reel 1c is pressed, step 9 becomes "YES", step 10 becomes "YES", step 11 becomes "YES", and the process proceeds to step 14 where any stop signal The reel 1c is displaced and stopped by the required number of pieces so that the effective symbol stops on the stop line with respect to the generation timing, whereby the combination of the effective symbols is established on the stop line.

In this way, when all reels 1a, 1b, 1c are stopped,
The CPU 18 detects a combination of symbols arranged on the stop line activated in step 15. And in this case, the combination of effective symbols is established, so the determination of "winning?" In the next step 16 is "YES", and in step 17, the CPU 18 activates the medal releasing mechanism to determine a predetermined payout rate. After releasing the medals, the game is shifted to the next one.

When the number of inserted medals is 1 or 2, the determination in step 2 is "NO". In this case, after activating the corresponding 1 or 3 stop lines in step 18, In step 19, the game under another control is executed. The lottery by the CPU 18 (step 6)
If it is not, the determination in step 10 is "NO", and in this case also, the game is executed under another control (step 20).

<Effects of the Invention> As described above according to the present invention, when any two reels are stopped, the effective symbols of the remaining reels are stopped on any one of the five stop lines. Since the arrangement of the symbols on each reel is set so that the effective symbols for establishing the winning are lined up on the stop line, the first, second, and The stop position control is not performed for the reel that is stopped for the second stop, and the stop position control may be performed only for the reel that is stopped for the last stop. This simplifies the control and achieves cost reduction. Has a remarkable effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a slot machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing its circuit configuration, and FIG.
The figure is an explanatory view showing the state where the symbol array of each reel is developed,
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a combination of effective symbols, FIG.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a state in which two reels are stopped, and FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a formation process of a combination of effective symbols,
FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the operating procedure of the slot machine. 1a, 1b, 1c ‥‥ reel 5 ‥‥ stop button 18 ‥‥ CPU L ₁ ~L ₅ ‥‥ stop line

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A reel comprising three reels on which a plurality of symbols are arranged on a peripheral surface, and a predetermined effective symbol is provided on either of three upper, lower, middle stop lines or two oblique stop lines. In a slot machine in which winning is established when the reels are stopped in a line, when two arbitrary reels are stopped, the remaining reels are placed on any one of the five stop lines. A slot machine in which the arrangement of the symbols on each reel is set such that the effective symbols that stop the effective symbols are lined up on the stop line.