JPH0773623B2 - Slot machine - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a slot machine capable of freely controlling reel stop operation,
In particular, the present invention relates to a slot machine that allows a player to determine whether or not the table is a table on which a prize is easily awarded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent pachinko halls, a large number of pachinko game machines and a large number of slot machines are installed side by side. In the case of a pachinko game machine, the player can determine the degree of ball thrown out of the table to some extent by observing the state of the nails on the board surface.

[0003]

On the other hand, in the slot machine, a rank setting section for setting the winning probability stepwise is provided inside the machine, and the rank setting section is operated on the pachinko hall side. When the rank is set, the reel stop operation is controlled so that the winning occurs at a frequency according to the set rank. For this reason, the player cannot judge from the appearance whether or not the table is likely to win the prize, and there is a problem that the customer service is lacking.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a slot machine with improved customer service by making it possible to judge from the outside whether or not a table is a place where winning is likely to occur. The purpose is to do.

[0005]

According to the present invention, a setting means for stepwise setting a winning probability and a reel stop operation are controlled so that a winning occurs at a frequency according to a value set by the setting means. In the slot machine provided with the control means, an informing means for informing a player of the set value by the setting means is provided on the front side of the table.

[0006]

Since the set value set by the setting means is notified to the player by the notifying means, the player can easily determine whether or not the table is a table on which a prize is easily awarded.

[0007]

1 shows the appearance of a slot machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. This slot machine has a structure in which a door 10 is arranged to be openable and closable in a front opening of a box-shaped case, and inside the case, three reels 1A having a plurality of symbols on the peripheral surface are provided. 1B and 1C are incorporated. A symbol display window 2 is provided at the installation position of each reel 1A, 1B, 1C of the door 10, and the rotation state of each reel 1A, 1B, 1C can be observed from this symbol display window 2.

A plurality of stop lines 3 are shown in the symbol display window 2, and when reels are stopped, symbols for three reels of each reel are aligned on the stop lines 3. Each stop line 3 is valid according to the number of medals inserted, and when all reels are stopped, a predetermined combination of symbols is aligned on any of the activated stop lines,
The game wins and a predetermined number of medals are paid out.

In the vicinity of the reel display window 2, components necessary for playing a game, such as a medal insertion slot 4, a starting lever 5, and a stop button switch 6 for each reel are arranged. A medal tray 7 for accommodating the ejected medals is provided at the lower position. In the drawings, for simplification of description, a system in which medals are inserted into the medal insertion slot 4 each time a game is shown, but for example, prior to the game, a large number of medals are previously inserted into the machine. It is also possible to use a system in which a game is played while the deposited medals are consumed and the medals deposited by the push button operation are consumed.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, the rank setting section 11 and the control circuit section 12 (see FIG. 3) are provided inside the case.
Have been deployed). The rank setting unit 11 is for setting the winning probabilities in stages, and the control circuit unit 12 stops the reels so that winning is generated at a frequency according to the rank set by the rank setting unit 11. Control movements. If the front door 10 is opened by the unlocking operation, the setting operation by the rank setting unit 11 is possible.

An information display section 8 for displaying various information is provided above the reel display window 2, and the information display section 8 displays the rank set by the rank setting section 11. Rank indicator 9 is provided. In the illustrated example, as the rank display unit 9, a numerical display unit that displays the setting ranks in six stages with the numbers "1" to "6" is used.
As shown in FIG. 2, the rank indicator 9 may be configured such that the numbers "1" to "6" are printed on the panel and the lamps are arranged behind each number. The other configuration of the slot machine shown in FIG. 2 is the same as that of FIG.
Here, the corresponding components are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 3 shows the electrical construction of the slot machine centering on the control circuit section 12 described above. The control circuit unit 12 is composed of a microprocessor or the like,
It is provided with a CPU 13 which is a main body of control / calculation, a ROM 14 which stores programs and fixed data, a RAM 15 which is used as a work area, a random number generator 16 which generates random numbers, and the like.

The CPU 13 decodes and executes the program stored in the ROM 14 and reads / writes data from / to the RAM 15, while displaying the rank indicator 9, the medal insertion sensor 17, the start lever switch 18, the stop button switch 6, and the rank setting section. The operation of each input / output device such as 11 is controlled in series. The medal insertion sensor 17 is used when a medal is inserted through the medal insertion slot 4, and the start lever switch 18 is operated when the start lever 5 is operated.
The respective detection signals are output to the CPU 13.

The rank setting section 11 comprises a reset button switch 19 and a key switch 20. The key switch 20 is used by a staff member of a pachinko hall to set a machine to a rank setting mode by inserting a dedicated key into the key hole and rotating the machine. Reset button switch 19
Is provided for setting the machine to the initial state, but here it is also used as a means for variably setting the winning probability in six ranks.

4 to 6 show the procedure of control by the control circuit section 12 from step 1 (indicated by "ST1" in the figure) to step 28. Hereinafter, in accordance with the procedure shown in FIG. The operation will be described.

First, when the power is turned on in step 1 of FIG. 4, the CPU 13 causes the rank display 9 to display the data stored in the rank fixed area N of the RAM 15 in step 2. Next, the CPU 13 determines in step 3 and 4 whether it is a rank setting operation or a game operation. If the clerk operates the key switch 20, step 3 becomes "YES" and step 5 and subsequent steps in FIG. Move to rank setting operation. First, the CPU 13 determines the rank fixed area N in step 5
Move the stored data of to the rank setting area n of the RAM 15,
In the next step 6, the data in the rank setting area n is displayed on the rank display unit 9.

Next, a staff member resets the switch button 19
When is pressed, the judgment in step 7 becomes “YES”,
The CPU 13 increments the storage data in the rank setting area n. Next, the CPU 13 determines in step 9 whether or not the storage data in the rank setting area n exceeds “6”. If the determination is “NO”, the process returns to step 6 and the storage data in the rank setting area n. Is displayed on the rank display unit 9. If the determination in step 9 is "YES", the data in the rank setting area n is returned to "1" and displayed on the rank display 9 (step 6). In these steps 6 to 10, each time the reset button switch 19 is pressed, the stored data in the rank setting area n is "1" to
It is sequentially updated within the range of "6", and the content is displayed on the rank display unit 9.

When the staff changes the desired rank while looking at the display of the rank display 9, the starting lever 5 is then operated to fix the rank. That is, in this example, the starting lever 5 is also used as the rank fixing means, and when the starting lever 5 is operated in step 11, the CPU 13 changes the stored data in the rank fixing area N to the data in the rank setting area n in step 12. After rewriting, rank fixed area N
The stored data of is displayed on the rank display 9 (step 13).

When the rank setting is completed and the key switch 20 is turned off in this way, the determination in step 14 is "Y".
Then, the CPU 13 clears the contents of the rank setting area n (step 15). Even if the rank is changed by operating the reset button switch 19, if the key switch 20 is turned off without operating the starting lever 5, the stored contents of the rank fixing area N remain in the state before the setting operation.

Next, when a medal is inserted in step 4, the process proceeds from step 4 to step 16 in FIG.
U13 waits for the game start operation by the start lever 5. When the start lever 5 is operated, step 16 returns "Y
Then, the CPU 13 samples the random number value generated by the random number generator 16 (step 17). The random number generator 16 constantly generates random numbers in a constant cycle.

Next, in step 18, the CPU 13 reads the stored data in the rank fixed area N and determines whether the set rank is "1" to "6".
Step 19 determines whether the setting rank is "6", and step 20 determines whether the setting rank is "2".
Each is judged. It should be noted that in the figure, the illustration of the step of determining whether or not the setting ranks are “5” to “3” is omitted.

If the set rank is "6", the judgment at step 19 is "YES" and the routine proceeds to step 21, where the CPU 13 refers to the rank 6 area of the hit judging table TB shown in FIG. Make a decision. If the set rank is “2”, the determination in step 20 is “YE
S ”, the process proceeds to step 22, and the CPU 13 refers to the area of rank 2 of the hit determination table TB to make the hit determination. If the set rank is "1", the determination in step 20 is "NO" and the process proceeds to step 23,
The CPU 13 refers to the rank 1 area of the hit determination table TB to make a hit determination. It should be noted that although illustration is omitted in the same figure for the processing when the setting ranks are "5" to "3", if the setting rank is "5", the area of rank 5 is set to "4". If there is an area of rank "4",
If it is "3", the areas of rank 3 will be referred to respectively.

The hit determination table TB is the RO
It is stored in advance in M15, and the range of random number values is set so that the probability of winning increases from rank 1 to rank 6, for example. For example, in the area of rank 1, the range of random number values to be hit is 1 to 20, in the area of rank 2 to be the range of random number values to be 1 to 25, and to rank 3
The range of the random number value to be hit in the area is set to 1 to 30, and the range of the random value is set, respectively.

In the next step 24, the CPU 13 determines whether or not the stop button switch 6 of any of the reels has been pressed. If the determination in step 24 is "YES", then the CPU 13 determines in steps 21 to 21. In 23, it is determined whether or not the hit determination is performed. If the hit determination is made, the process proceeds from step 25 to step 26, and C
The PU 13 controls the reel stop operation so that the winning symbol is stopped on the activated stop line. This control is generally called pull-in control. If the hit determination has not been made, the determination in step 25 is "NO", and the CPU 13 stops the reel in accordance with the operation timing of the stop button switch 6. When it is not hit, the reel stop operation may be controlled so that the winning symbol does not stop on the activated stop line.

The same procedure is executed every time the stop button switch 6 is pressed, and when all reels are stopped,
If step 28 becomes "YES", it is determined whether or not a predetermined combination of symbols is established on the stop line, and the winning determination is made. If the winning is made, the medals are paid out. In the above embodiment, the setting rank is notified to the player via the display means, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is also possible to notify the player via the sound generating means.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, the setting means for setting the winning probability in a stepwise manner and the control for controlling the reel stop operation so that the winning is generated at the frequency according to the set value by the setting means. In the slot machine provided with means, since the notifying means for notifying the player of the set value by the setting means is provided on the front side of the machine, the player grasps from the outside whether or not the table is easy to win the prize. It is possible to improve customer service.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an appearance of a slot machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing an appearance of a slot machine according to another embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a slot machine.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of a control circuit unit.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of a control circuit unit.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of a control circuit unit.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a hit determination table.

[Explanation of symbols]

 9 rank indicator 11 rank setting section 12 control circuit section 19 reset button switch 20 key switch

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A slot machine comprising setting means for setting the winning probability stepwise, and control means for controlling a reel stop operation so that a winning occurs at a frequency according to a value set by the setting means. In the slot machine, the front side of the table is provided with informing means for informing a player of the set value by the setting means.