JP2002263245A - Slot machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a slot machine capable of reducing a control load of a game controlling means while preventing a presentation carried out according to presentation control by a presentation controlling means for helping a stop switch pressing operation. SOLUTION: In this slot machine, a presentation controlling base board controlling a game effect lamp and an image displaying device in compliance with a command from a game controlling base board for performing presentation control according to progress of a game is arranged separately from the game controlling base board controlling the progress of the game. If a command transmission condition is established, the game controlling base board varies command transmission timing (a delay time Td) at random. In receipt of the command, the presentation controlling base board varies execution timing (a delay time td) of a presentation matching the command at random.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a slot machine, and more particularly, to a game that can be started by setting a bet amount on one game, and a display result of a variable display device is derived and displayed. Accordingly, the present invention relates to a slot machine in which a condition for ending one game is satisfied and a prize can be generated according to the display result of the variable display device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It is possible to start a game by setting a bet amount for one game on a conventionally known slot machine of this type, and the display result of the variable display device is changed. There is a slot machine in which the end condition of one game is satisfied by being derived and displayed, and a prize can be generated according to the display result of the variable display device.

In this type of slot machine, various effects are produced by effect means such as a speaker, a lamp, or an image display device, depending on the progress of the game. For example, a slot machine of this type is provided with a plurality of types of BET buttons for selecting and operating a bet amount. One bet amount can be set by operating a single BET button once, and a MAXBET button is set. Is operated once to set the maximum number of bets.

When one bet is set by operating the single BET button, a single sound is output as a sound effect from the speaker, and one bet number display is turned on. On the other hand, M
When the bet amount is set to the maximum number by operating the AXBET button, a single tone is output from the speaker for the bet amount, and all the bet amount display portions are turned on.

[0005]

However, conventionally,
Game control means (for example, a microcomputer) for controlling the progress of the game directly controls various effect means. For this reason, the control burden of the game control means tends to increase.

Therefore, in order to reduce the control load on the game control means, it is conceivable to make the effect control means bear the effect control separately from the game control means. For example, while the game control means transmits control information to the effect control means according to the progress of the game, the effect control means
An effect control corresponding to the control information is executed.

[0007] However, if such a configuration is used and the effect control means controls the sound effect and various displays, there is a possibility that the output timing of the sound effect and the display timing of the image may be used as so-called assisting of eye pressing. is there.

The present invention has been conceived in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the control load on the game control means while preventing an effect that assists the eyesight. To provide a slot machine.

[0009]

Specific Examples of Means for Solving the Problems and Their Effects
(1) The game can be started by setting the number of bets to bet on one game, and the display result of the variable display device (for example, reel 4) is derived and displayed, so that the end condition of one game is satisfied. A slot machine (1) in which a prize can be generated according to the display result of the variable display device, wherein the game control means (for example, a game control board 100) for controlling the progress of the game; Is provided separately, and receives control information (for example, a command) from the game control means, and performs effect control means (for example, an effect control board 101) for performing control for producing an effect corresponding to the progress of the game; The time from when the game control means transmits the control information to when the control for performing the effect corresponding to the control information is executed by the effect control means (for example, Delay processing means (for example, SUB2 to SUB6) capable of executing a delay process for randomly changing the extension time (td) within a predetermined time range (for example, Tmin ≦ td ≦ Tmax).

[0010] According to the above arrangement, separately from the game control means for controlling the progress of the game, there is provided effect control means for performing an effect corresponding to the progress of the game. The time from when the control means transmits the control information until the control for performing the effect corresponding to the control information is executed by the effect control means is to change randomly within a predetermined time range, It is possible to reduce the control load on the game control means while preventing the effect that assists the eyesight from being performed.

[0011] (2) The delay processing means performs the delay processing on all control information (for example, all commands including the command shown in FIG. 5) transmitted from the game control means to the effect control means. Execute the process.

According to the above configuration, the delay processing is executed for all control information transmitted from the game control means to the effect control means. Thus, it is possible to more reliably prevent an effect that assists the user.

(3) It further includes sound effect output means (for example, a speaker 581) capable of outputting a sound effect. The effect control means receives the control information and outputs the sound effect corresponding to the progress of the game. Control for outputting from the sound effect output means is performed (for example, see FIG. 6).

According to the above arrangement, a sound effect corresponding to the progress of the game is output from the sound effect output means, so that the effect can be enhanced.

(4) It further includes a luminous body (for example, a game effect lamp 301) that emits light in accordance with the progress of the game, and the effect control means receives the control information and responds to the progress of the game. The light-emitting body is controlled to emit light in a light-emitting pattern (for example, see FIG. 6).

According to the above arrangement, the luminous body emits light in accordance with the progress of the game, so that the effect can be enhanced.

(5) An image display device capable of displaying an image corresponding to the progress of the game (for example, a liquid crystal display 50)
The effect control means receives the control information and performs control to display an image corresponding to the progress of the game on the image display device (for example, see FIG. 6).

According to the above arrangement, an image corresponding to the progress of the game is displayed on the image display device, so that the effect can be enhanced.

(6) On the variable display device, a plurality of types of identification information are continuously displayed in a variable manner (for example, see FIG. 1), and a prize is won in accordance with a combination of identification information aligned with a predetermined effective line. Occurs, and the range of the predetermined time is:
The minimum time is equal to zero time, and the maximum time is equal to or longer than the time (for example, 36.08 ms) in which the identification information continuously displayed on the variable display device varies by the length of the identification information in the variation direction. Is set.

According to the above arrangement, the time from when the game control means transmits the control information to when the control for performing an effect corresponding to the control information is executed by the effect control means is randomly set. If the change range is set to be equal to or longer than the time from zero time to the time when the identification information continuously and variably displayed on the variable display device moves by the length of the identification information in the fluctuation direction, Even if the user performs the eye-pressing operation using the timing at which the effect corresponding to the information is performed, a shift occurs in the eye-pressing timing for at least one frame of the identification information, and the effect corresponding to the control information. It is possible to prevent the eye-pressing operation using the timing from being performed.

(7) The game control means sets the transmission timing of the control information to a predetermined time (for example, Tmin ≦ Td ≦
Tmax) within the range (for example, SH1 to SH4).

According to the above configuration, since the transmission timing of the control information changes randomly within a predetermined time range,
This makes it even more difficult for the player to estimate the timing of the control operation on the game control means side using the reception timing of the control information. For this reason, for example, it is difficult for the notification control unit to estimate the fluctuation state of the variable display device using the reception timing of the control information, and to perform a control operation of notifying the player of the so-called eye pressing timing. be able to.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall front view of the slot machine 1. The front door 2 of the slot machine 1 can be opened by rotating a predetermined key inserted into the keyhole of the locking device 53 clockwise. When the key inserted into the keyhole is turned counterclockwise, the operation is detected by the first reset switch 531 (see FIG. 2), and the slot machine 1 is reset. Therefore, for example, when a big bonus, which will be described later, ends and the game is stopped, the game can be provided again by a counterclockwise rotation operation of the key inserted into the keyhole. It is also possible to set so that the slot machine 1 is automatically reset after a predetermined stopping time has elapsed after the big bonus has ended and the hit state has been reached.

On the left and right of the lower part of the front door 2, a substantially lower right game effect lamp portion 37 and a lower left game effect lamp portion 3 in a substantially triangular shape are provided.
8 are provided. A speaker cover 58 is provided on the left and right of the upper part of the front door 2, and a lower speaker part 59 is provided below the slot machine 1. A speaker 581 (see FIG. 2) is provided inside the speaker cover 58 and the lower speaker section 59, and a sound for enhancing the effect and sound effects such as a melody are output from the speaker hole in stereo. Note that the slot machine 1 also has a built-in speaker that outputs a sound effect from the back side.

An upper front decorative frame 8 is provided in a region surrounded by the speaker cover 58, the lower right game effect lamp portion 37, and the lower left game effect lamp portion 38. Is the lower front decorative frame 9
Is provided.

The upper front decorative frame 8 includes a game effect lamp section 3.
0a to 30e and an upper portion provided with a winning symbol explanation display panel 5, a substantially elliptical middle portion provided with a game panel 6 and various display portions, and a front portion protruding from a lower portion of the game panel 6 to be formed. And a lower part provided with a medal insertion part 51, various operation buttons 43 to 46, 41L, 41C, 41R, a start lever 42 and the like. The lower front decorative frame 9 is provided with a title panel 7 on which the model name of the slot machine is drawn.

At approximately the center of the winning symbol explanation display panel 5, an effect liquid crystal display 50 is provided. Various liquid crystal images are displayed on the liquid crystal display 50. For example, the liquid crystal display 50 displays an effect drawing screen for AT lottery, which is an example of a specific game state, and indicates to a player whether or not to enter an AT state described later. In the effect screen for the AT lottery, after a plurality of types of symbols start to change, a winning symbol or a missing symbol is derived and displayed. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the symbol “7” hits the liquid crystal display 50 and is derived and displayed. When the winning symbol is derived and displayed, thereafter, the various game effect lamp units blink in a specific manner to notify that the vehicle enters the AT state. The number of games in the AT state is displayed on the liquid crystal display 50.

Below the lower front decorative frame 9, a medal payout hole 54 for paying out a medal as an example of a game medium and the above-described lower speaker portion 59 are formed. Below the medal payout hole 54, a medal tray 55 in which an ashtray 56 is formed is attached.

Around the gaming panel 6 of the upper front decorative frame 8, a diagonally upper right gaming effect lamp portion 33, a diagonally upper left gaming effect lamp portion 34, and a right middle gaming effect lamp portion 31 are provided.
a, 31b, and a left middle game effect ramp 32a, 32b
Are provided. Further, a game effect ramp portion 36 at the lower left of the start lever 42 is provided at the lower left of the start lever 42.
A game effect ramp 35 at the lower right is provided diagonally below the medal clog release button 46.

The gaming panel 6 has a see-through window 40 through which the left reel 4L, the middle reel 4C, and the right reel 4R provided on the main body of the slot machine 1 can be seen, and a small role notice located above the see-through window 40. Display units 24, 25, 26 and see-through window 4
One bet display unit 21, two bet display units 22a and 22b, and three bet display units 23a and 23 located to the left of 0
b, the game over display section 14, the replay display section 15, the weight display section 16, the start display section 17, and the insertion instruction display section (also referred to as an insert medal display section) 18 located on the right side of the fluoroscopic window 40, and fluoroscopy. Credit display unit 11, game number display unit 1 located below window 40
2 and a payout display unit 13 are provided.

The credit display unit 11, the number-of-games display unit 12, and the payout display unit 13 are LEDs (Light).
It consists of a 7-segment display with a built-in Emitting Diode.

One bet display unit 21, two bet display unit 22
a, 22b and the three bet display units 23a, 23b
Displays the number of bets placed by the player on the game. Each bet display unit corresponds to one of the five pay lines drawn in the see-through window 40 as shown, and also serves as an active line display unit that informs an effective pay line according to the number of bets so as to be identifiable. Have been.

Each of the small portion notification display portions 24, 25 and 26 has one winning symbol of a different type. Specifically, a “white 7” symbol is drawn on the small role notification display portion 24, a “patterned 7” symbol is drawn on the small role notification display portion 25, and a “BAR” symbol is drawn on the small role notification display portion 26. Have been. These small portion notification display portions 24 to 26 indicate that generation of a predetermined small portion prize is permitted by the control portion of the slot machine, that is, that the predetermined small portion prize is internally won. This is a display unit for notifying by lighting a winning symbol corresponding to the small winning combination. These small portion notification display sections 24 to 26 function only when a predetermined condition is satisfied. The gaming state in which the small portion notification display sections 24-26 function is called an "AT (Assist Time) state". The AT state is generated when a predetermined generation condition is satisfied, and ends when a predetermined end condition is satisfied. In the game in the AT state, when a predetermined small-prize winning of a notification target is internally won, one of the lamps is turned on.

The game over display section 14 is turned on when the game is stopped due to the end of the big bonus and when the game cannot proceed due to some error. Replay display section 1
Reference numeral 5 indicates that a replay winning has occurred. The start display unit 17 is turned on when the start operation can be performed by setting the bet amount, and turned off when a valid start operation is detected. The insertion instruction display section 18 flashes when a medal is ready to be received, turns off when a maximum bet amount is set, the number of credits reaches an upper limit number, a game is started, and the like. .

The weight display section 16 turns on when a start operation is detected during the wait time, and turns off after the wait time has elapsed. The wait time is a game progress restriction period set in the slot machine to restrict the game from progressing too quickly. If a start operation is detected during this wait time, the reel is designed to start after the wait time has elapsed. Therefore, when a plurality of games are sequentially played at a sufficient time interval, the progress of the game is not restricted when the start lever 42 is operated, but the player can finish the plurality of games in a short time. In such a case, the progress of the game is regulated by the weight time, and until the weight time elapses,
The reel is in a waiting state.

In the slot machine 1, for example, a game progress regulation period of 4.1 seconds is set based on a point in time when the reel change starts in the previous game.
4.1 from the start of reel movement in the previous game
If the start operation is detected before the elapse of the second, the reels start after the game progress restriction period elapses.

The credit display section 11 displays the number of credits. The credit is the number of medals stored in the slot machine 1 as a value owned by the player. This credit is added and updated by inserting medals into the slot machine 1 and generating a prize with payout, and is subtracted and updated by setting a bet amount or paying out medals based on a settlement operation. The slot machine 1 can store a maximum value of 50 medals as a credit. The maximum number of credits (= 5
When the number reaches 0), the insertion instruction display unit 18 is turned off. When a request for adding and updating credits exceeding the upper limit of storage occurs, medals exceeding the upper limit are paid out from the medal payout hole 54.

The number-of-games display section 12 displays the status of winning a bonus during the big bonus, the number of winnings during the regular bonus, and the like. When the big bonus is over and the game is stopped, the number-of-games display section 12 displays “E”.
The character "ND" is displayed to notify the player of the hit state. Further, the game number display section 12 functions as an error display for displaying various abnormalities occurring in the slot machine 1. For example, the abnormal types detected by the control unit of the slot machine 1 include "insufficient medals to be paid out", "clogged medals", and "medals paid out even though the payout conditions are not satisfied". "
"Abnormal reel rotation speed", "The combination of winning symbols has been derived and displayed in spite of not winning inside"
and so on. When these abnormalities are detected by the control unit, an error code that can specify the type of the abnormalities is displayed on the number-of-games display unit 12 in a form such as "E-1" or "E-2".

The payout display section 13 displays, for each game, the number of credits to be given to the player based on a prize generated during one game.

On the upper surface of a portion formed so as to protrude from the lower part of the game panel 6 to the front side, a medal insertion part 51 having a medal insertion opening 52 formed therein, a settlement button 45, and a single BE.
A T button 43 and a MAXBET button 44 are provided.

The single bet button 43 is a button to be pressed when betting one credit. The MAXBET button 44 is a button that is pressed when the maximum number of bets allowed in one game (for example, three medals) is bet on a game within a range stored in the credit. The single BET button 43 has a built-in BET button lamp 430b (see FIG. 2), and the MAXBET button 44 has a built-in BET button lamp 440b (see FIG. 2).
These BET button lamps 430b and 440b are turned on when the corresponding BET button is pressed and the bet amount can be set, and turned off when the bet amount cannot be set. The settlement button 45 is used for the medal payout hole 54 based on the credit stored in the slot machine 1.
This button is pressed when receiving a payout of medals. By pressing the settlement button 45, the number of credits displayed on the credit display unit 11 is reduced and updated until the number of credits reaches 0, and medals corresponding to the number of credits are paid out.

A start lever 42, a left stop button 41L, a middle stop button 41C, a right stop button 41R, a medal jam release button 46, Is provided.

The start lever 42 is operated when starting a game. After setting the number of bets, by operating the start lever 42, each reel 4L,
4C and 4R start rotating simultaneously. Each reel 4
A reel closing member 57 for closing the gap between the reels is provided on the front side of the reel between L, 4C, and 4R.

Each stop button 41L, 41C, 41R
Is a button operated when the spinning reel is stopped after the game has started. Stop button 41L
Is an operation enable lamp 410L (see FIG. 2), and the stop button 41C is an operation enable lamp 410C (see FIG. 2).
However, the operation enable lamp 410R is provided on the stop button 41R.
(See FIG. 2). These operation valid lamps 410L, 410C, 410R are turned on when the operation of the corresponding stop button 41L, 41C, 41R is valid, and turned off when the operation is invalid. The stop button unit 19 in which the stop buttons 41L, 41C, 41R are arranged has a bonus notification lamp 190 (see FIG. 2) which is lit when a regular bonus winning flag or a big bonus winning flag is set. ) Is built-in. For this reason, the stop button unit 19 is
Function as The medal clog release button 46 is a button operated when the medal inserted into the medal insertion slot 52 is clogged inside the slot machine 1 to eliminate the medal clogging.

Next, an outline of a game provided by the slot machine 1 will be described. To start the game, first set the bet amount. The bet amount can be set to one of 1 to 3 by pressing the single BET button 43 or the MAX BET button 44. However, when the number of credits displayed on the credit display unit 11 is less than 3, the range of the bet amount that can be set is limited to the range of the number of credits. In the case of playing a regular bonus game, the number of bets is limited to one. Whether the operation of the single BET button 43 and the MAXBET button 44 is valid is indicated by the lighting status of the BET lamps 430b and 440b built in the single BET button 43 and the MAXBET button 44. When the previous game result is a replay prize (re-game prize), since the previous bet amount is automatically set, the bet amount setting operation is unnecessary. At this time, the BET lamps 430b, 440b
Are both turned off.

When the single bet button 43 is pressed once,
The bet amount is set to one, and the one bet display unit 21 lights up to indicate that. Subsequently, when the one-bet button 43 is pressed once, the number of bets is set to two, and in addition to the one-bet display section 21, two two-bet display sections provided at positions sandwiching the one-bet display section 21. 22a and 22b light up to indicate that. Subsequently, when the single bet button 43 is pressed once, the bet amount is set to 3, and the single bet display units 21 and 2 are displayed.
In addition to the bet display units 22a and 22b, two three bet display units 23a and 23b provided at positions sandwiching the two bet display units 22a and 22b are lit to indicate that. When the MAXBET button 44 is pressed once, the bet number is set to the maximum number of 3, and the single bet display unit 21, the two bet display units 22a and 22b, and the three bet display units 23a and 23a,
23b lights up. When the bet number is set to the maximum number of 3, the BET lamps 430b and 440b are turned off because a bet number exceeding the maximum number cannot be set.

It is also possible to set the number of bets by inserting medals directly into the medal slot 52. Each time one medal is inserted, the bet number is set within a predetermined upper limit. Is incremented by one. Note that if medals are inserted in excess of the maximum number of bets, credits are added and updated until the number of credits reaches the upper limit, and medals are returned from the medal payout hole 54 when the number of credits reaches the upper limit. Is done.

When the number of bets has been set, the start display section 17 lights up. As a result, the player is notified that the operation of the start lever 42 has been effectively accepted. If the start lever 42 is operated while the start display section 17 is turned on, each of the reels 4L, 4C, 4R
Begin to fluctuate (scroll) all at once. However, if the time when the start lever 42 is operated is within the wait time period, the weight display section 16 is turned on without scrolling the reels. Thereafter, the reel starts to scroll at the same time when the wait time period elapses and the weight display section 16 is turned off. A plurality of types of symbols are drawn on each of the reels 4L, 4C, 4R, and the types of symbols appearing in the see-through window 40 change one after another as the reels rotate. In addition, when the big bonus prize is internally won at the timing when the start lever 42 is operated, the bonus notification display section 19 is turned on, and the player is notified of that.

From the see-through window 40, a reel blocking member 57
A part of the three reels 4L, 4C, 4R partitioned by, is visually recognized. The inter-reel closing member 57 is provided on the reel side. However, in the transparent window 40, three regions divided by dividing the field of view by the inter-reel closing member 57, that is, each of the reels 4L, 4C, and 4R. Reel 3L, 4C, 4R
Are referred to as a left variable display unit, a middle variable display unit, and a right variable display unit.

From each of the variable display portions of the see-through window 40, of a plurality of symbols drawn on each reel, three consecutive symbols are displayed at upper, middle and lower positions, and at the upper part of the upper column. A part of the symbol that will soon appear in the upper position is displayed in the lower part, and a part of the symbol that will soon be hidden under the variable display unit is displayed in the lower part.

When a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of reel movement, each stop button 41L, 41C, 41R
The operation effective lamp provided in the LED lights up. This allows
The player is notified that the pressing operation of each of the stop buttons 41L, 41C, 41R is in an operation valid state. Each stop button 41L, 41C, 41R is provided corresponding to each reel 4L, 4C, 4R. The player can determine the order in which the reels 4L, 4C, 4R are stopped by his / her own operation. Player has stop button 4
When any one of 1L, 41C, and 41R is pressed, the operation enable lamp provided on the corresponding stop button is turned off. Thereafter, the rotation of the reel corresponding to the operated stop button is stopped.

On the other hand, the player presses the stop button 41L, 4
When the 1C and 41R are not operated, the reels 4L, 4C, and 4R, for example,
The stop buttons 41L, 41C, and 41R are automatically turned off sequentially in the priority order of L, 4C, and 4R, and the operation valid lamps provided on the respective stop buttons 41L, 41C, and 41R are turned off in the order of 410L, 410C, and 410R.

When all the reels 4L, 4C, 4R have stopped, the reels 4L, 4
The presence or absence of a prize is determined by a combination of symbols located on an effective prize line determined according to the bet amount among the three tiers of the upper tier, the middle tier, and the lower tier of C and 4R. 1 bet
In the case of, only the pay line in the middle row on the variable display section is a valid line. When the bet number is 2, three horizontal winning lines in the upper, middle, and lower rows on the variable display section are the active lines. When the bet number is 3, a total of five pay lines, that is, three horizontal rows and two diagonally opposite rows in the variable display section, are activated lines.

When a combination of symbols on the activated line has a predetermined specific display mode and a winning has occurred, various game effect lamps flash in a predetermined mode and a sound effect is output from the speaker 581. It is output and an effective effect is made. In addition, bet display sections 21, 22a, 2
The display unit corresponding to the pay line and the backlight (reel lamp 401 (see FIG. 2) provided in each of the reels 4L, 4C, 4R) among 2b, 23a, 23b blink. Then, the medals corresponding to the winning are paid out as credits, and the credit number of the credit display unit 11 is added and updated. Further, the payout display section 13 displays the number of payouts. In addition, the number of credits is upper limit (=
When the number reaches 50), medals are directly paid out from the medal payout hole 54.

In particular, when the display mode is set to a predetermined special display mode, a big bonus prize is won, credits are awarded, and a game state in which a big bonus game can be played is established. Hereinafter, the “big bonus” is abbreviated as “BB” as necessary. A game state in which a big bonus game is provided is also called a big bonus state (or simply a big bonus). In the big bonus state, a special winning combination called a regular bonus can be generated as described later.

For example, when a big bonus prize is generated, the number of times the big bonus game can be played (for example, up to 30 times) is displayed on the number-of-games display section 12, and every time the big bonus game is consumed, the game is played. The number of games displayed on the number-of-times display section 12 is counted down by one and displayed. Similarly, when a regular bonus prize is generated, the number-of-games display section 12 displays the number of times the regular bonus game can be played (for example, up to 12 times). Then, every time the regular bonus game is consumed, the game number display section 1
The number of games displayed in 2 is counted down by one and displayed. Hereinafter, “regular bonus” is abbreviated to “RB” as necessary. The gaming state in which the regular bonus game is provided is also referred to as a regular bonus state (or simply, a regular bonus).

In the regular bonus state, usually, before reaching the maximum number of games in which the regular bonus game can be played (for example, 12), the number of winning games is reduced to a predetermined number (for example, the ending condition of the regular bonus state). , 8 times) in most cases. For this reason, when a regular bonus prize is generated, the maximum number of games (for example, 12
Instead of the number of times), a predetermined number of games (for example, eight times) in which a prize can be generated may be displayed, and every time a prize is generated in a regular bonus game, a countdown display may be performed from the specified number of games.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a connection state between various boards provided in the slot machine 1 and electric components. FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the control unit 111 provided on the game control board 100.

Of the various boards provided in the slot machine 1, the progress of the game is controlled by the game control board 100, and the production control board 101 controls the production according to the progress of the game. Power is supplied to the power supply board 102 from outside the slot machine 1. This power supply board 1
02 is connected to a power cord 625 for receiving a power supply of 100 V AC and a main switch 624.

The game control board 100 includes the effect control board 10
1 and the power supply board 102. Further, the game control board 100 is connected to the external output board 104 via the reel relay board 103a.

The control unit 111 of the game control board 100 sets RB indicating that the game state is the regular bonus state.
A medium signal, a BB medium signal indicating that the gaming state is the big bonus state, a reel control signal (motor phase signal) for controlling the reel motor 402 corresponding to each of the reels 4L, 4C, 4R, A medal OUT signal indicating the number of medals (credits) paid out to the player;
Control is performed to output a medal IN signal indicating the number of medals used for setting the bet number from the external output board 104 to the outside of the slot machine 1 via the reel relay board 103a. Note that the stop switches 411L, 41
A stop switch signal indicating that the operation of 1C or 411R has been performed is transmitted to the stop switch 411 as described later.
L, 411C, and 411R.

The game control board 100 is connected to various switches, sensors, lamps, and wires from a display.

For example, the setting switch 621, the setting key switch 622, and the second
The reset switch 623, the payout sensor 601, and the hopper motor 602 are connected to the game control board 100 by wiring via the power supply board 102, and the detection signals of the respective switches and sensors are transmitted to the control unit 111 of the game control board 100. Is input to The control unit 11
1 is a medal payout condition (the occurrence of a prize which requires payout of a medal, the input of a detection signal from the settlement switch 450).
Is established, a control signal is output to the hopper motor 602 to execute payout control for paying out a predetermined number of medals. Among switches connected to the game control board 100 via the power supply board 102, a setting switch 621 is a switch for setting a winning rate, and a setting key switch 62
Reference numeral 2 denotes a switch for validating the operation of the setting switch 621. By operating the setting switch 621, the winning rate can be set to any one of “set value 1” to “set value 6”. The second reset switch 623 is a switch for resetting the slot machine 1, and the payout sensor 601 is a switch for detecting paid medals.

The reel motor 402 and the reel sensor 403, which are connected to the reel relay board 103a, are connected to the game control board 100 by being relayed by the reel relay board 103a. It is input to the control unit 111 of the control board 100. However, the reel lamp 401 is relayed by the reel lamp relay board 103b and the effect control board 101
Are connected by wire. The reel sensor 403 is a sensor for detecting a reference position of each of the reels 4L, 4C, 4R, and the full tank sensor 611 is a sensor for detecting a medal storage amount in an overflow tank (not shown) for storing medals overflowing from the hopper 60. This is a sensor for detecting that the amount is equal to or more than a predetermined amount. Game control board 1
The control unit 111 of the start switch (start switch 4)
20), the reel motor 4
After a control signal is output to 02 to start reel fluctuation, variable display control for deriving and displaying a display result is executed.

Among the switches connected to the game control board 100 by wiring, one BET switch 430a is one BE
The operation of the T button 43 is detected, and the MAXBET switch 4
A switch 40a detects an operation of the MAXBET button 44.

The start switch 420 is a switch for detecting the operation of the start lever 42. The left, middle, and right stop switches 411L, 411C, and 411R are the left and middle stop switches.
This switch detects the operation of the middle and right stop buttons 41L, 41C, 41R. Flow path switching solenoid 511
Is a solenoid for switching the flow path of medals inserted into the medal insertion slot 52 between the hopper 60 side and the medal payout hole 54 side.

The settlement switch 450 is a switch for detecting the operation of the settlement button 45, and the first reset switch 531 is a switch for detecting the reset operation of the slot machine by the key inserted into the keyhole of the locking device 53. The inserted medal sensor 510 is a sensor that detects a medal inserted into the medal insertion unit 51.

The credit display unit 110 is a display unit constituting the credit display unit 11, and the game number display unit 12
Numeral 0 is a display constituting the number-of-games display section 12, and a payout display 130 is a display constituting the payout display section 13. The insertion instruction lamp 180 is a lamp built in the insertion instruction display unit 18 and is a single bet lamp 2
The 10 and 2 bet ramps 220a and 220b and the 3 bet ramps 230a and 230b are respectively a single bet display section 21, a 2 bet display sections 22a and 22b, and a 3 bet display sections 23a and 2b.
3b. The single bet lamp 210 is displayed on the single bet display section 21 and the double bet lamp 220 is displayed.
"a" is displayed on the two-betting display unit 22a and the two-betting lamp 220b is displayed.
Is displayed on the two bet display section 22b, the three bet lamp 230a is displayed on the three bet display section 23a, and the three bet lamp 230b is displayed on the three bet display section 23a.
Each bet is displayed in the bet display section 23b.

The game over lamp 140 is a lamp built in the game over display section 14, the start lamp 170 is a lamp built in the start display section 17, and the replay lamp 150 is built in the replay display section 15. The bonus notification lamp 190 is a lamp built in the bonus notification display unit 19.

The BET button lamp 430b is a single BET
The BET button lamp 440b is a lamp built in the MAXBET button 44. The left operation valid lamp 410L is a lamp built in the left stop button 41L, the middle operation valid lamp 410C is a lamp built in the middle stop button 41C, and the right operation valid lamp 410R is built in the right stop button 41R. It is a built-in lamp.

Power supply board 102 or reel relay board 1
Various lamps and indicators connected to the game control board 100 via the board 03a or without these boards are controlled by the control unit 111 mounted on the game control board 100. The control unit 111 is connected to the game control board 100 or the power supply board 102
Alternatively, the game state is controlled by receiving detection signals of various switches and sensors connected to the game control board 100 via the reel relay board 103a.

Referring to FIG. 3, a control unit 111 provided on game control board 100 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) capable of executing a control operation in a predetermined procedure.
112 and an R for storing a control program for the CPU 112.
An OM (Read Only Memory) 114 and a RAM (Random Access Memory) that can write and read necessary data
ry) 113, and an I / O port 115 for ensuring signal consistency between the CPU 112 and the external circuit.

The game control board 100 includes an initial reset circuit 118 for applying a reset pulse to the CPU 112 when the power is turned on, a clock generation circuit 119 for applying a clock signal to the CPU 112, and a frequency division of the clock signal from the clock generation circuit 119. And periodically output the interrupt pulse to CP
A pulse dividing circuit (interrupt pulse generating circuit) 121 to be provided to U112; a random number generating circuit 123 for continuously generating a random number in a certain range at high speed; and a sampling circuit 124 for sampling random numbers from the random number generating circuit 123. , A buffer circuit 122.

Further, the game control board 100 includes a switch circuit 116 to which signals from various switches are inputted,
A motor circuit 117 and other solenoid circuits (not shown) are provided. In addition, in the game control board 100,
A backup power supply 125 for retaining the storage of the RAM 113 at the time of a power failure is provided. The RAM 113 stores information to be displayed on various displays (the credit display unit 11, the number-of-games display unit 12, and the payout display unit 13), information necessary for the game, such as the number of bets, a winning flag, and a set value of a winning rate. Since such information is backed up in the event of a power outage, it is possible to return to the gaming state before the occurrence of the power outage after recovery from the power outage.

From the control unit 111 of the game control board 100 to the effect control board 101 via the buffer circuit 122,
Various commands described later are output in detail. The buffer circuit 122 functions as an irreversible output unit that allows a signal to be output from the inside of the game control board 100 to the outside, but prevents a signal from being input from the outside to the inside of the game control board 100. For this reason, between the game control board 100 and the effect control board 101, the game control board 100
One-way communication from the game control board 101 to the effect control board 101 is ensured, and it is possible to prevent a fraudulent act of inputting a signal to the game control board 100 via a command transmission path and performing an illegal control operation.

The effect control board 101 includes game effect lamp units 30a to 30e, 31a, 31b, 32a, 32b,
Each of the game effect lamps 301, the liquid crystal display 50, the speaker cover 58 and the lower speaker unit 59 which are provided in each of the slot machines 1 to 33.
A speaker 581 provided to the rear side of the camera, each fluorescent lamp 302, a weight lamp 160, and small role notification lamps 240, 250, and 260 are connected, and further, a reel lamp 401 is connected via a reel lamp relay board 103b. Is connected.

Here, the fluorescent lamp 302 illuminates the winning symbol explanation display panel 5, the title panel 7, and the game panel 6 from inside, and illuminates the reels 4L, 4C, 4R. The weight lamp 160 is a lamp built in the weight display unit 16. The small notification lamp 240 is a lamp built in the small notification display unit 24, the small notification lamp 250 is a lamp built in the small notification display unit 25, and the small notification lamp 260 is a small notification display. The lamp is built in the unit 26.

The effect control board 101 includes a control section 131 composed of a microcomputer, a speaker drive circuit 136 for outputting sound from each speaker 581, and a display drive circuit 137 for controlling the display of the liquid crystal display 50.
And a lamp drive circuit 138 for lighting or blinking various lamps, and a backup power supply 139.

The control section 131 includes a CPU 132, a ROM 134 for storing a control program, a RAM 133 for writing and reading necessary data, and an I / O port 135. The data stored in the RAM 133 is backed up by the backup power supply 139. For this reason, after the recovery from the power failure, the control unit 131
The effect control based on the data stored before the power failure occurred can be restarted.

The ROM 134 of the control unit 131 stores a data table that defines an effect pattern corresponding to the command transmitted from the game control board 100. This data table includes each game effect lamp 301, liquid crystal display 50, each speaker 581, each fluorescent lamp 302, weight lamp 160, and small notification lamps 240, 250,
260.

For example, when a command indicating a predetermined game state is received, the control unit 131 reads an effect pattern corresponding to the game state from each data table, and according to the read effect pattern, the game effect lamp 30.
1, liquid crystal display 50, speaker 581, fluorescent lamp 302,
It controls the reel lamp 401 and the like.

As shown in FIG. 3, the detection signal of the start switch 420 is input to the control unit 111 via the switch circuit 116 and the sampling circuit 12
4 is input. The control unit 111 includes a start switch 4
Upon receiving the detection signal of No. 20, a reel control signal is output via the motor circuit 117. This reel control signal is input to the reel motor 402 provided for each of the reels 4L, 4C, 4R via the reel relay board 103a. Also,
The reel control signal is output to the outside of the slot machine 1 via the reel relay board 103a and the external output board 104.

On the other hand, the sampling circuit 124 samples one random number from the random number generation circuit 123 at the timing when the detection signal of the start switch 420 is input, and transfers the random number to the CPU 112. CPU112
Refers to the sampled random numbers and the winning determination table for each winning combination stored in the ROM 114 to determine whether or not to allow occurrence of a winning for each winning combination,
The result of the determination is stored in the RAM 114. Thereby, at the timing when the start operation is performed, it is determined whether or not the winning combination is won. The fact that a winning is allowed is called "internal winning". When any of the winning combinations is internally won, a winning flag corresponding to the winning combination is set inside the slot machine 1.

The control section 111 thereafter controls the reels in accordance with the winning result for each winning combination. For example, in a game in which a winning flag is set, reels are controlled so as to draw in a winning combination corresponding to the winning flag.
By the pressing operation of the reel, it is possible to generate a winning of the combination corresponding to the winning flag. However, in the game in which the winning flag is not set, the reels are controlled so as to pull in the missed symbols, and therefore, it is not possible to generate a prize even if the reel is pressed.
The control for pulling in a winning symbol or a lost symbol in accordance with the setting status of the winning flag is referred to as “pull-in control”.

No winning flag is set, and
When it is determined that the result of the game is out of the range, the retraction control is adjusted so that no prize is won by any of the winning combinations.

On the other hand, the pull-in control does not allow the reel stop position to be freely controlled without limitation to draw in any winning symbol, but is not limited to a predetermined range (for example, a range corresponding to four symbols arranged on the reel). ) Is designed so that winning symbols can be drawn. Therefore, even if the winning flag is set, if the player's eye-catching position is poor, the winning symbol will be drawn without being drawn in. As described above, even if the winning flag is set, if a winning corresponding to the winning flag cannot be generated, the winning flag is cleared. However,
The winning flag of the big bonus prize is different from the winning flag of other winning combinations, and even if no prize is generated in a game in which the winning flag is set, a prize corresponding to the winning flag is generated. Until the winning flag is carried over to the next and subsequent games.

Further, in response to the input of the detection signal of the start switch 420, the control unit 111 outputs a command capable of specifying the start of the game to the effect control board 101 via the buffer circuit 122. Production control board 1
01 grasps the game situation based on the command,
The game effect lamp 301 and the liquid crystal display 50 are controlled in accordance with an effect pattern determined at the time of starting the game.

The stop switch signals output from the stop switches (left, middle, right stop switches 411L, 411C, 411R) are transmitted to the game control board 100,
After being transmitted through a signal path reciprocating between the reel relay board 103a and the external output board 104, the game control board 100
Is input to the switch circuit 116. Furthermore, the stop switch signal output from the stop switch is directly
It is configured to output to the outside via the external output board 104.

Upon receiving the input of the stop switch signal, the control unit 111 transmits the reel motor (reel 4L, 4C, reel) corresponding to the stop switch signal via the motor circuit 117.
4R) to output a reel control signal for stopping any of the reel motors. This reel control signal is input to the reel motor 402 and the external output board 1
04 to the outside of the slot machine.

Further, in response to the input of the stop switch signal, the control unit 111
A command that can specify the stop time of the reel is output to the effect control board 101 via the reels 2L, 4C, and 4R via the reels 2L, 4C, and 4R. The effect control board 101 controls the game effect lamp 301, the liquid crystal display 50, and the like according to the effect pattern determined according to the reel stop time based on the command.

Next, a winning combination generated in the slot machine 1 will be described. The winning combination includes a big bonus (B
B) There are a prize, a small role prize, a replay prize, and a regular bonus (RB) prize.

(1) “Big Bonus” is a winning combination to which a privilege that allows a player to play a big bonus game a plurality of times is given. The big bonus prize occurs when the reel stop result is a combination of “white 7, white 7, white 7” or “patterned 7, patterned 7, patterned 7”.
In the big bonus game, the winning probability of the small role winning with a large number of payouts is dramatically improved, and the regular bonus winning can be generated. As described above, since the winning probability of the small winning combination is improved, the big bonus game is also called the “small winning game”.

When a regular bonus prize is generated in the big bonus game, the regular bonus game is provided a plurality of times, and after the regular bonus game is consumed, the remaining big bonus games are provided again. In the big bonus game, a regular bonus prize is generated a predetermined number of times, or a predetermined maximum number of big bonus games is consumed.
It is provided until the earlier condition is met. In the present embodiment, the “big bonus state (B)” includes the state in which the regular bonus game is provided.
B state). "

(2) “Regular bonus” is a winning combination in which a privilege that allows the player to play the regular bonus game a plurality of times is provided. The regular bonus prize is generated when the reel stop result is a combination of “JAC, JAC, JAC”. In the case of this embodiment, the regular bonus winning can occur only during the big bonus game. In regular bonus games,
During the regular bonus game, only the special winning combination is activated, and with a very high probability, the winning combination is internally won. In addition, only one of the five pay lines is valid, and the game can be easily performed with one bet. Further, for example, if the winning combination is won, the maximum value (for example, equivalent to 15 medals) allowed to be obtained in one game is given. The regular bonus game is continuously provided until a predetermined number of winnings occurs or a predetermined upper limit number of games is exhausted, whichever is earlier. Since the winning symbol of the special winning combination during the regular bonus game is “JAC”, the winning during the regular bonus game is particularly “JAC”.
Winning ".

(3) “Small role” means that a special game such as a big bonus game or a regular bonus game is generated, or only a value (for example, a credit or a medal) is given without generating a replay game. It is an accompanying prize.

(4) “Replay” is a winning combination that gives a privilege that the next game can be started without consuming medals or credits. When a replay winning occurs, the operation of the start lever 42 becomes effective after a predetermined time has elapsed. A game that can be started by winning a replay is called a “replay game”. The bet amount when the replay game is performed is set to be the same as the bet amount in the game when the replay winning occurs. The combination of the replay symbols is “JAC, JAC, JAC”.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining commands transmitted from the game control board 100 to the effect control board 101.

The BET notification command is a command for notifying that the number of bets has been set as a result of detection of a valid betting operation (BET operation). As the BET notification command, a 1 BET notification command, a 2 BET notification command,
And a MAXBET notification command. The 1BET notification command is a command for notifying that one bet has been added, and the 2BET notification command is for notifying that two bets have been added at a time by operating the MAXBET button 44. The MAXBET notification command is a command for notifying that three bets have been added at a time by operating the MAXBET button 44 to reach the maximum bet.
Thus, in the slot machine 1, a BET notification command of a type corresponding to the set bet amount is transmitted. In addition,
The case where the bet amount is not added three at a time even when the MAXBET button 44 is operated, for example, when the bet amount is already 1
In some cases, the number of credits is less than three.

The start operation notification command is a command for notifying that a valid start operation after the bet amount has been set has been detected. The winning status notification command is a command for notifying the presence or absence of a winning and the type of a winning combination that has been won. The change start notification command is provided for each reel 4L, 4C,
This is a command for notifying the start of simultaneous fluctuation of 4R.

The reel stop notification command is a command for notifying that the reel has stopped. This command is output in response to the stop of each of the reels 4L, 4C, 4R. The winning symbol notification command is a command for notifying the type of the winning symbol (winning symbol) in which the winning has occurred. The winning line notification command is a command for notifying an active line with winning symbols.

The payout completion notification command is a command for notifying that the payout of medals has been completed. The BB effect command is a command for instructing information about the BB winning flag, such as the fact that the BB winning flag is set and the possibility that the BB winning flag may be set.

The game state notification command is a command for notifying the next game state. With this command,
It is notified whether the next game is a base game, a BB game, or the like.

The game switching notification command is a command for notifying that one game is completed and the next game can be started. At the time when this command is output, insertion of medals is allowed. The error notification command is a command for notifying occurrence of various errors.

Each of the above commands is a 1-byte “MODE data” indicating which of the command types shown in “command name” in FIG. 4 and a 1-byte “EXT” indicating the content of the command. And "data".

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a transmission flow of a command transmitted from the game control board 100 to the effect control board 101.

Referring to FIG. 5, when a valid betting operation is detected and the number of bets is set, a BET notification command is transmitted. The effect control board 101 receives the BET notification command, generates a medal insertion sound from the speaker 581, and sets the betting lamps 210, 220a, 220b, 230a, 230.
The lamp corresponding to the number of bets out of b is turned on.

Thereafter, the start operation (start lever 4
2) is detected, a start operation notification command is transmitted, and subsequently, a winning status notification command is transmitted.

Thereafter, if the reels 4L, 4C, 4R start to change all at once, a change start notification command is transmitted. The effect control board 101 receives the change start notification command and generates a start sound from the speaker 581. Next, in response to the stop of each of the reels 4L, 4C, 4R, a left reel stop command, a middle reel stop command, and a right reel stop command are transmitted. The effect control board 101 generates a reel stop sound from the speaker 581 every time each stop command is received.

When a prize is generated as a result of stopping all the reels 4L, 4C, 4R, a prize symbol notification command and a prize line notification command are transmitted. The effect control board 101 receives the winning symbol notification command, generates a payout sound corresponding to the winning symbol from the speaker 581, and causes the liquid crystal display 50 to display an image corresponding to the winning symbol. Further, the effect control board 101 receives the winning line notification command, and blinks the reel lamp 401 located on the winning line where the winning has occurred.

Thereafter, when the payout operation of the medal (or the operation of adding and updating the credit) is completed, a payout end notification command is transmitted. The effect control board 101 receives the payout completion notification command and stops the payout sound of medals. If it is determined by the game control board 100 to perform a BB winning effect, a BB effect command is subsequently transmitted. The effect control board 101 performs an effect corresponding to the BB effect command.

Thereafter, a game state notification command is transmitted, and one game ends. The effect control board 101 receives the game state notification command and starts the effect of the next game. Next, a game switching command is transmitted. The effect control board 101 is notified that the second game can be played.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart for explaining the command transmission timing and the effect control timing in accordance with the command.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show the timing at which a certain command transmission condition is satisfied on the game control board 100 side and the timing at which a command is transmitted in response to the satisfaction of the command transmission condition. The relationship is shown.

(3) and (4) show the relationship between the timing at which the effect control board 101 receives a command and the timing at which an effect corresponding to the command is performed. Strictly, a slight time lag occurs between the command transmission timing and the command reception timing. However, in this timing chart, the time lag is ignored for simplification.

As shown in (1) and (2), when a command transmission condition is satisfied, a command corresponding to the command transmission condition is transmitted after a delay time Td has elapsed from the time when the command transmission condition was satisfied. You. For example, in the case of a BET notification command, as a result of detection of a valid betting operation (medal insertion operation or single BET button or MAXBET button operation), a BET notification command corresponding to the number of bets is set. After the command transmission condition is satisfied and the delay time Td has elapsed, the set BET notification command is transmitted. Similarly, for all other commands transmitted from the game control board 100, the command transmission condition is satisfied by being set as the command to be transmitted, and the delay time Td
After the elapse, the set command is transmitted.

Each time the command is transmitted, the length of the delay time Td is set within a predetermined range by the game control board 100 (Tmi).
(n ≦ Td ≦ Tmax). The delay time Td is set to prevent commands from being transmitted at the same timing.

For example, if the time from when a command to be transmitted is selected to when it is transmitted is always the same, the effect control board 101 uses the command reception timing to change the control timing of the game control board 100. May be guessed. If the control timing of the game control board 100 can be estimated, for example, the fluctuation state of the reels 4 is estimated using the reception timing of a specific command, and the timing of so-called pushing for the player, which is currently prohibited, is prohibited. Is also possible. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the delay time Td is set in order to randomly change the command transmission timing.

As for the delay time Td, for example, the minimum time Tmin is zero. The maximum time Tmax is, for example, the time required for the symbol to move one frame (the time required for the symbol 4 to move from a certain winning line to a winning line below it by rotating the reel 4). , For example, 36.08 ms (milliseconds). For this reason, even if an attempt is made to notify the eye-pressing by using the command reception timing, the timing to be notified is shifted by at least one frame of the symbol on the reel, and in effect, the eye-shifting is performed. Push notification cannot be performed.

Next, as shown in (3) and (4), the effect control board 101 having received the command performs the effect control corresponding to the command after a delay time td has elapsed since the command was received. Do. For example, 1 BET
When the notification command is received, control is performed to generate one single sound from the speaker after the elapse of the delay time td. Similarly, for all other commands, after the delay time td has elapsed from the reception of the command, a predetermined effect control corresponding to the command is performed. As a result, a predetermined sound effect is generated from the speaker in response to the command, the game effect lamp blinks in a predetermined blinking pattern, or a predetermined image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 50.

Each time the command is transmitted, the delay time td is set within a predetermined range (tmi) by the effect control board 101.
(n ≦ td ≦ tmax). The delay time td is to prevent the time from transmission of the command to the effect corresponding to the command from being constant, and to prevent the player from using the effect timing for so-called eye-catching. Is set.

The delay time td is, like the delay time Td,
For example, the minimum time tmin is zero and the maximum time t
max is set to the time required for the symbol to move by one frame (for example, 36.08 ms).

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the delay buffer formed in the storage area of the RAM 133 provided on the effect control board 101. The delay buffer is a storage area for storing the command received from the game control board 100 without processing at least until the delay time td elapses.

As shown, the delay buffer includes:
A plurality of storage areas are provided for storing data of the received command and data of the delay time td set corresponding to the command as a set. Production control board 1
The processing procedure when the CPU 132 of No. 01 reads the command to be processed from the delay buffer is as follows.

For example, as shown in FIG.
, The command data AB and the delay times tdA-td corresponding to the respective command data in the order of reception.
It is assumed that D is stored. Note that "(NO DAT
A) "indicates an empty area.

First, when the delay time tdA corresponding to the head storage area 1 has elapsed, the command data A stored in the storage area 1 is read as a command to be processed, and the effect corresponding to the read command is read. While the control is started, the data stored in the storage areas 2 to 5 are sequentially shifted in the storage area 1 direction. as a result,
The storage area 1 is updated with the command data B and the data tdB of the delay time corresponding to the command data, and the free area is increased by one. Hereinafter, similarly, every time the delay time stored in the storage area 1 elapses, the command data stored in the storage area 1 is read and the data is shifted.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure performed by the game control board 100. Referring to FIG. 8, first, an initial process is executed (S1). In this initial processing, for example, various built-in devices are initialized, and RA
The M error is checked.

Next, a BET process is performed (S2).
In the BET process, a process of setting the number of bets is performed in accordance with a medal insertion operation or a betting operation of the player by operating the single BET button 43 or the MAXBET button 44. Details of the BET processing will be described later with reference to FIG.

Next, a lottery process is executed (S3). In the lottery process, in response to the operation of the start lever 42 by the player, it is determined whether or not a winning is allowed and which winning combination is allowed.

Next, a reel fluctuation start process is executed (S4). The reel change start process is a process for starting the simultaneous change of the reels 4L, 4C, and 4R after the player operates the start lever 42.

Next, reel fluctuation stop processing is executed (S5). The reel fluctuation stop process is a process of stopping a corresponding reel in response to an operation of each stop button 41L, 41C, 41R by a player. In this process, the player operates the stop buttons 41L, 41C, 41R.
Is operated, if there is a symbol according to the lottery result previously performed in S3 within the four drawable ranges from the symbol displayed at that timing, a pull-in process of stopping the reel at that symbol is performed. If there is no symbol according to the lottery result in the retrievable range, a process of stopping at a missing symbol is performed. It should be noted that if the lottery result is a loss, a process of stopping the reels with the loss symbol is always performed.

When all the reels have stopped, a winning determination process is executed (S6). The prize determination process is a process of determining whether or not a prize has occurred based on a stop symbol. In this process, when the reels stop, it is actually determined whether or not the display result obtained on the winning line is a combination of winning symbols.

Next, a payout process (S7) is executed, and the process related to this game ends. The payout process is a process of paying out a valuable value (medal) according to the winning when it is determined in S6 that a winning has occurred.

Next, referring to FIG. 9, B shown in FIG.
The details of the ET processing will be described. In the BET process, first, it is determined whether or not the current game is a replay game (SB1).

If it is determined that the current game is a replay game, the previous bet amount is automatically set, and a BET notification command corresponding to the bet amount is set (SB2).
0). Next, a command transmission process is executed, and SB20 is executed.
BET notification command set in the
(SB21). The command transmission processing will be described later with reference to FIG. After the BET notification command is transmitted by the command transmission process, the process of confirming the detection of the start operation is repeated until the start operation is detected (SB22). When the start operation is detected, the BET process ends, and the process proceeds to the lottery process shown in FIG.

When it is determined in SB1 that the game is not a replay game, it is determined whether a start operation (operation of the start lever 42) is detected (SB2). If the start operation has not been detected, it is determined whether or not a medal has been inserted (SB3). When a medal is inserted, it is determined whether or not the bet number is already the maximum number (SB15). If the bet number is not the maximum number, the bet number is incremented by 1 (SB16). On the other hand, for example, if the bet amount has already been set to 3 or if the bet amount has already been set to 1 during the RB game, SB15
Is determined to be the maximum number.

In this case, the bet amount cannot be set according to the insertion of medals any more, so that the current credit amount is less than the maximum value (= 50), so that A process of adding and updating (+1) the number of credits in accordance with the received medals is executed (SB17, SB1).
8). On the other hand, when it is determined that the number of credits has already reached the maximum value (NO in SB17), the process of turning off the flow path switching solenoid 511 (see FIG. 2) and returning the inserted medals is executed. (SB19).

If the insertion of a medal is not detected in SB3, the BET button (single BET button or MAXB
It is determined whether or not the operation of the ET button has been detected (SB4). If the BET button operation is not detected, it is determined whether or not a settlement operation (operation of the settlement button 45) is detected (SB11).

If the settlement operation has not been detected, the process returns to SB1. On the other hand, when the settlement operation is detected, the condition is that the credit amount is not 0 (N in SB12).
In O), the current number of credits is set as the expected payout number (SB13), and a medal payout process for paying out the medals of the expected payout number under the control of the payout control board 105 is executed (SB14). After the medal payout process is performed, the process returns to SB1. The details of the medal payout process will not be described. In this medal payout process, every time one medal is paid out, the scheduled payout number set in SB13, that is, the credit number is decremented and updated by one. In addition, a command for notifying the payout is transmitted to the effect control board 101 for each payout, and at this time, a command transmission process described later with reference to FIG. 11 is executed.

When the BET button operation is detected in SB4, it is determined whether or not the bet amount has already been set to the maximum number (SB5). If set to the maximum number,
The process returns to SB1, but if the maximum number is not set, the bet amount is added and updated on condition that the credit amount is not 0 (NO in SB6), and the credit amount is subtracted in exchange for it. It is updated (SB7). Next, a BET notification command corresponding to the bet amount is set (S
B8). Next, a command transmission process described later with reference to FIG. 11 is executed, the BET notification command set in SB8 is transmitted to the effect control board 101 (SB9), and the process returns to SB1. After the bet amount is set in this way, for example, when a start operation is detected in SB2, it is determined that the bet amount is set (SB10), and the BET process ends.

Next, details of the lottery process shown in FIG. 8 will be described with reference to FIG. In the lottery process, first, the sampling circuit 12
4 (see FIG. 3), a process of storing the sampled random value is performed (SC1). Subsequently, a start operation notification command is set (SC2). Next, FIG.
, A command transmission process described later is executed (SC
3), the start operation notification command set in SC2 is transmitted to effect control board 101.

Next, the winning determination table corresponding to the bet number and the game state input by the player is compared with the random number value stored in SC2 (SC4). As a result of this comparison, a determination is made as to whether or not a winning has been achieved (SC5). If no winning has been achieved, a winning status notification command indicating that the winning flag has not been set is set (SC7). On the other hand, if there is a winning, a winning flag corresponding to the winning combination (big bonus, regular bonus, small combination, replay) in which the winning has occurred is set (SC6). Then, a winning status notification command that can specify the set winning flag is set (SC).
7). Next, a command transmission process described later with reference to FIG. 11 is executed (SC8), and the winning status notification command set in SC7 is transmitted to the effect control board 101.

Next, referring to FIG. 11, game control board 1
The command transmission processing executed on the 00 side will be described. The command transmission process is a process that is always executed when a command is transmitted. In this command transmission process, first, a random number Rm for delay time for determining the delay time Td is extracted (SH1). Next, a delay time Td for transmitting the set command is set based on the delay time random number Rm extracted in SH1 (SH2). In the ROM 114 of the game control board 100, table data in which a random number Rm for delay time and a plurality of types of delay times Td having different time lengths are stored. The CPU 112 of the game control board 100 sets the delay time Td using the extracted random number Rm for delay time and the table data. For this reason, the length of the delay time Td set in SH2 changes randomly for each setting. Note that the delay time random number Rm may be a soft random number generated by a control program (control program executed by the game control means) executed by the control unit 111 of the game control board 100. It may be a hard random number supplied from an externally provided random number generation circuit (a random number generation means provided outside the game control means).

After the delay time Td is set in SH2, the process of confirming the elapse of the delay time Td is repeated until the delay time Td elapses (SH3). If it is determined that the delay time Td has elapsed, the set command (for example, SB9, SB21, SC3, S3
The command set in C8) is transmitted to effect control board 101 (SH4), and the process ends.

Next, the command receiving process will be described with reference to FIG. The command receiving process is performed in the effect control board 1
01 is the process executed. First, in the command receiving process, it is determined whether a command from the game control board 100 has been newly received (SUB1). If a new command has not been received, the process proceeds to SUB5 described later.

When a new command is received, a random number Rs for delay time for determining the delay time td is extracted (SUB2). Next, the extracted random number for delay time R
The delay time td is set based on s (SUB3).

The ROM 134 of the effect control board 101 stores table data in which a random number Rs for delay time and a plurality of types of delay times td having different time lengths are associated with each other. The CPU 132 of the effect control board 101 sets the delay time td using the extracted random number for delay time Rs and table data. For this reason, the time length of the delay time Td set in SUB3 changes randomly for each setting. Note that the random number Rs for delay time is determined by the effect control board 10
1 may be a soft random number generated by a control program executed by the first control unit 131 (a control program executed by the effect control unit), and may be a random number generation circuit (for the effect control unit) provided outside the control unit 131. Hard random numbers supplied from an externally provided random number generating means) may be used.

Next, the newly received command and the delay time td set for the command are stored in the head area of the free area of the delay buffer (SUB4). For example, storage area 1 and storage area 2
When a command is stored in the storage area 3 and the storage area 3 and subsequent areas are free areas, the newly received command and the delay time td are stored in the storage area 3.

Next, the storage area 1 in the delay buffer
It is determined whether or not the delay time td corresponding to the command stored in the command has already elapsed (SUB5). If the delay time td has already passed, the command is read out as a command to be processed (SU
B6). The effect control based on the command read out in SUB6 is executed in a process for effect control different from the command receiving process, and a sound effect is generated from a speaker in response to the command, or a game effect lamp flashes. Or an image is displayed on the liquid crystal display.

Next, the storage area n + 1 of the delay buffer
The data stored in (n ≧ 1) is sequentially shifted to the storage area n (SUB7). As a result, the data read in SUB6 is erased, and one empty area is created in the delay buffer.

In SUB5, if it is determined that the delay time td corresponding to the command stored in the storage area 1 in the delay buffer has not elapsed, it is stored in the storage area 2 and thereafter. Even if the delay time corresponding to any one of the commands has elapsed, the process of reading the command in the storage area 2 and thereafter is not performed. This prevents the processing order of the commands from being different from the reception order while randomly setting the time for reading and processing the received command.

However, even if the delay time td corresponding to the command stored in the storage area 1 in the delay buffer has not yet elapsed, the command is stored in all the storage areas of the delay buffer. (S
At UB8 (YES), the command stored in storage area 1 is read as a command to be processed. This is to prevent a command from being received when there is no free space in the storage area of the delay buffer.
As a result, it is possible to prevent the newly received command from being discarded without being able to keep up with the processing of the command in the buffer.

Next, modifications and features of the embodiment of the invention described above will be enumerated below.

(1) In the above embodiment, the control for performing the effect corresponding to the command after the command is transmitted from the game control board 100 is performed on the effect control board 101.
The delay processing means capable of executing a delay process of randomly changing the time until the process is executed by the control unit 131 within a predetermined time range is mounted on the effect control board 100. However, instead of this, such a delay processing means may be provided separately from the effect control board 101.
For example, it is conceivable to provide a delay processing unit in the middle of the command transmission path between the game control board 100 and the effect control board 101.

More specifically, a relay board on which a microcomputer is mounted is provided in the middle of a command transmission path between the game control board 100 and the effect control board 101, and a storage area in the microcomputer as described above is provided. A delay buffer is provided. The microcomputer performs the same processing as the command reception processing shown in FIG. 12 and, when the delay time td corresponding to the command stored in the storage area 1 in the delay buffer elapses, performs the effect control. Transmit to the substrate 101.

In this case, after the control information is transmitted from the game control means, control for performing an effect corresponding to the control information is performed by the effect control means by the relay board or a microcomputer mounted on the relay board. A delay processing means capable of executing a delay process for randomly changing the time until the execution is performed within a predetermined time range is configured. In this case, the delay processing means is provided in the slot machine separately from the game control means and the effect control means. More specifically, the delay processing means is provided in the middle of an information communication path between the game control means and the effect control means. In this case, it is preferable that an information communication path between the game control means and the effect control means is configured to regulate a communication direction in one direction from the game control means to the effect control means.

(2) In the above embodiment, the maximum time Tmax for the delay time Td set on the game control board 100 side and the delay time td set on the effect control board 101 side is such that the symbol moves by one frame. (For example, 36.08 milliseconds).

However, as long as the time is longer than the time required for the symbol to move by one frame, Tmax may be set to any time except for the time required for the reel to make just one revolution.

However, if Tmax is set too long, it is not preferable because, for example, the time from when the player performs a start operation to when the effect corresponding thereto is started becomes unnaturally long. In consideration of this point, for example, it is conceivable to set Tmax based on the time required for the symbol to move by two frames at the maximum.

Hereinafter, a more specific specification of the slot machine 1 will be described, and a specific method for setting Tmax will be described. In the following description, for example, the time required for the symbol to move by two frames is used as a guide,
The case where ax is set will be described as an example.

The specifications of the slot machine 1 are as follows. -Number of symbols provided on one reel N: 21 symbols-Time required for the reel to make one rotation Tr: 757.7
6 ms ・ Timer interrupt time Ti of CPU 112: 1.8944
ms Note that the CPU 112 generates a timer interrupt for each timer interrupt time, saves the register, performs processing for determining the presence or absence of an input signal from various switches, processing for counting the delay time, and the like. During the rotation of the reel, a step process for driving the reel motor is performed.

In the slot machine 1 having the above specification,
The time required for the symbol to shift by one frame on the rotating reel is 36.08 ms (757.76 / 21 = 757.76 / 21 =
36.08).

Therefore, the time required for the symbols to be shifted by two frames on the rotating reel is 72.16 ms (36.08 × 2 = 72.16).

For this reason, when the time required for the symbols to be shifted by two frames is used as a guide, Tmax is 72.16 ms. However, the CPU determines whether Tmax has elapsed.
Considering that the timing of checking by the timer 112 is for each timer interrupt time Ti, Tmax is limited to at least an integral multiple of the timer interrupt time Ti.

Considering that the CPU 112 checks the progress of Tmax using n bits of the register, Tmax is a time that satisfies “Ti × (2 ⁿ −1)” (ms). Therefore, a value n that satisfies the following condition:
By determining the maximum value of Tmax, Tmax is determined.

Ti × (2 ⁿ −1) ≦ 72.16 In this case, since n = 5, in the slot machine 1 of the above specification, the time required for the symbols to be shifted by two frames is used as a guide to set Tmax. when setting, the setting time will 58.74ms (1.8944 × (2 ⁵ -
1) = 58.74).

For example, in the case of the above slot machine 1,
Tmax is counted using 5 bits of an unused 8-bit register among the registers of the CPU 112.

(3) The control information storage means for storing the control information transmitted from the game control means is constituted by the delay buffer or the RAM 133 including the area for the delay buffer. The delay buffer constitutes a control information storage unit (control information temporary storage unit) that temporarily stores the control information transmitted from the game control unit until the effect control corresponding to the control information is executed. In the above embodiment, the delay buffer has a plurality of areas for storing commands (storage areas 1 to 5).
(5 of storage areas 5) are set. However,
A predetermined number of storage areas exceeding five may be provided in the delay buffer, or may be less than five. Further, the number of storage areas does not necessarily need to be plural, but may be one. In this case, if the next command is received before the set delay time td has elapsed, at that time,
The command stored in the storage area is read.

By SUB3, a predetermined time (control wait time) from when the game control means transmits the control information to when the control for producing an effect corresponding to the control information is executed by the effect control means is set. A control waiting time setting means for setting randomly within a time range is configured.

The SUB 5 constitutes a judging means for judging whether or not the control waiting time has elapsed. SU
B6: reading out the control information stored (temporarily stored) in the control information storage means (control information temporary storage means) when the determination means determines that the control waiting time has elapsed. Means are configured.
The effect control means executes effect control corresponding to the control information read by the control information reading means. Thus, an effect is produced by the effect means (for example, a speaker) corresponding to the control information.

(4) In the slot machine, a plurality of types of control information are prepared. A plurality of types of control information (for example, see FIG. 4) are transmitted from the game control means to the effect control means.

(5) In the above embodiment, information is transmitted from the game control board 100 to the effect control board 101 only in one direction, and is not transmitted in the opposite direction. However, the information may also be transmitted from the effect control board 101 to the game control board 100, and the information may be bidirectionally transmitted and received between the game control board 100 and the effect control board 101. .

(6) Both the RAM 113 and the RAM 133 of the game control board 100 and the effect control board 101 are configured to be able to hold the stored contents for a predetermined period by a backup power supply. However, RA of one of the substrates
Only M may be backed up by the backup power supply, or the RAMs of both boards may not be backed up.

In the above embodiment, a backup power supply is provided for both the game control board 100 and the effect control board 101. However, a backup power supply may not be provided for both substrates, or a backup power supply may be provided for only one of the substrates. In addition, a backup power supply provided at a location separate from both substrates allows R
The AM 113 or 133 may be backed up, and a backup power supply provided on either one of the substrates may be used.
The RAMs 113 and 133 may be backed up.

(7) In the present embodiment, the effect control board 101, which is an example of the effect control means, includes the liquid crystal display 5
0, various lamps, and each speaker 581 are controlled. However, the effect control board 101 does not control all of the liquid crystal display 50, the various lamps, and the speakers 581, but controls at least one of them. Control board 10
0 may be configured to directly control. Liquid crystal display 5
0, various lamps, and each speaker 581 constitute an effect means controlled by the effect control means for effecting a game state.

(8) A liquid crystal display has been described as an example of the image display device. However, instead of the liquid crystal display, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display device, F
ED (Field Emission Display), PDP (Plasma Dis
A display device using a play panel), an EL (Electro Luminescence), a fluorescent display tube, or an LED may be employed. In addition, it is not limited to such a display device,
It may be a dot matrix display or a 7-segment display. Further, a structure such as a doll driven by a solenoid, a motor, or the like may be arranged at a predetermined position of the slot machine 1, and the doll may perform a predetermined operation in response to occurrence of a prize. In these cases, a doll, an image display device, or the like constitutes an additional device (an additional device) controlled by the effect control device.

(9) As described with reference to FIG. 3, between the game control means and the effect control means, information is transmitted from the game control means to the effect control means by one-way communication. It is. CP on the game control board 100 side
U112 can execute control for giving a credit when a prize is generated, and can execute control for directly paying out medals. That is, the game control means further performs a value giving control for giving a value object (medal) or value information (credit) that can be exchanged for the value object to the player according to the display result of the variable display device. The medal constitutes the value object. The credit constitutes value information that can be exchanged for the value object. The value object is not limited to a game medium such as a medal that can be reused in a game, but may be a prize itself or a value object that can be used exclusively for prize exchange.

[0178] An effect means controlled by the effect control means is constituted by a speaker, a lamp or an image display device. The effect control means receives the control information from the game control means, controls the effect means, and causes the effect means to perform a predetermined effect.

(10) Various information means (the credit display unit 11, the number-of-games display unit 12, the payout display unit 13,
Insertion instruction lamp 180, one bet lamp 210, two bet lamps 220a and 220b, three bet lamp 230
a, 230b, the start lamp 170, the replay lamp 150, the bonus notification lamp 190, and the game over lamp 140) may be displayed as images. For example, the number of games may be displayed during a big bonus game or a regular bonus game, and the number of medals to be paid out may be displayed if a winning occurs. However, in that case, for example, the display of the liquid crystal display 50 is controlled by the game control board 100.

(11) After the variable display device (reel unit 4) is started to fluctuate by the game control board 100,
Variable display control means for deriving and displaying the display result is configured. The reel unit 4 constitutes a variable display device having a plurality of variable display units whose display states can be changed. Further, the game control board 100 constitutes a value giving control means for performing a control for giving a predetermined value. Further, the game control board 100 constitutes a game control means for controlling a game state.

The effect control board 101 constitutes image display control means for controlling the display of the image display device (for example, the liquid crystal display 50). The external output board 104 constitutes a game information output board (game information output means) for outputting game information of the slot machine. Game state information on the game state is configured by the RB-in-signal and the BB-in signal.

The start lever 42 constitutes start operation means for performing an operation for starting a game. Then, the variable display device starts to fluctuate by operating the start operation means. In the slot machine, a plurality of types of winning combinations (for example, small roles, replays, big bonuses, regular bonuses) are predetermined, and it is determined for each of the plurality of types of winning combinations whether or not to allow occurrence of a winning. Winning permission / non-permission determining means (for example, the control unit 111)
In the case where a prize is not generated in the game in which the prize is allowed to occur in the plurality of types of prize, the prize is not generated in the next game. Is permitted (for example, a big bonus). Value storage means (for example, RAM1
13) and bet amount setting operation means (for example, a single BET button 43, MAXBE) capable of performing an operation for setting the bet amount using the value stored in the value storage means.
T button 44). When a predetermined special bonus combination (big bonus combination) occurs according to the display result of the variable display device, a special bonus game in which the winning probability of the predetermined bonus combination (regular bonus) is improved is continuously performed. When the bonus prize is generated according to the display result of the variable display device, a predetermined prize different from any of the special bonus prize and the bonus prize within a certain number of prizes. It is possible to continuously play a bonus game with an improved winning probability.

A plurality of types of identification information are variably displayed on the variable display device, and a prize is generated in accordance with a combination of identification information aligned with a predetermined effective line. Is set to zero time, and the maximum time is set to be equal to or longer than the time during which the identification information variably displayed on the variable display device passes through the effective line.

(12) As described above, the delay time Td and the maximum time Tmax of the tD are, for example,
The time required for the symbol to move by one frame (the time required for the position of the symbol to move from a certain winning line to a winning line below it by rotating the reel 4) is set. This means that the delay time Td and the maximum time Tmax of the tD are, for example, one symbol.
This can be said to be a time corresponding to the number of steps of the reel motor necessary for moving the frame.

(13) In the present embodiment, for all commands transmitted from the game control board 100 to the effect control board 101, the command control is performed on the game control board 100 side and the effect control board 101 side. Delay processing is performed. As a result, it is possible to prevent the player from using the timing at which the effect corresponding to the command is performed for eye-catching.
It can be said that the effect of preventing eye-catching is large by performing the above-described delay processing on the command for notifying the start of the simultaneous fluctuation. Therefore, instead of performing delay processing for all commands, a change start notification command (control information for notifying start of change of the variable display device,
In the variable display device, the delay processing may be performed only on the control information that notifies the start of the change of the plurality of types of identification information. Alternatively, at least a change start notification command (control information notifying start of change of the variable display device, control information notifying start of change of the plurality of types of identification information in the variable display device)
The delay processing may be performed on a command (control information) including the following. In this case, the control information to be subjected to the delay processing by the delay processing means includes control information for notifying the start of the change of the variable display device (notifying the start of the change of the plurality of types of identification information in the variable display device). Is disclosed. Further, the delay processing means may include only control information for notifying the start of change of the variable display device (control information for notifying start of change of the plurality of types of identification information in the variable display device) among the plurality of types of control information. Targeting
Performing the delay processing is disclosed.

(14) The embodiments disclosed this time must be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall front view of a slot machine.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a connection state between various substrates provided in the slot machine and electric components.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a game control board and an effect control board.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a command transmitted from the game control board to the effect control board.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an outline of a command transmission flow.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart for explaining command transmission / reception timing and timing of effect control according to the command.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a delay buffer.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a schematic procedure of a process performed by the game control board.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a BET process.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a lottery process.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a command transmission process.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a command receiving process.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 slot machine, 4 reel unit, 4L, 4
C, 4R reel, 41L, 41C, 41R Stop button, 42 Start lever, 43 1 BET button, 44 MAX BET button, 50 Liquid crystal display, 1
00 game control board, 101 effect control board, 111
Control part on the game control board side, 131 Control part on the effect control board side, RAM on the effect control board side, 301 Game effect lamp, 581 speaker.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. The game can be started by setting the number of bets to bet on one game, and the display result of the variable display device is derived and displayed, so that the end condition of one game is satisfied. A slot machine capable of generating a prize in accordance with a display result of a display device, comprising: a game control means for controlling a progress of a game; provided separately from the game control means; and receiving control information from the game control means. And effect control means for performing an effect corresponding to the progress of the game, and control for effecting an effect corresponding to the control information after the game control means transmits the control information. A delay processing means capable of executing a delay processing for randomly changing a time until the processing is executed by the control means within a predetermined time range. 2. The delay processing unit according to claim 1, wherein the delay processing unit performs the delay process on all control information transmitted from the game control unit to the effect control unit. Slot machine. 3. A sound effect output unit capable of outputting a sound effect, wherein the effect control unit receives the control information, and causes the sound effect output unit to output a sound effect corresponding to a progress state of the game. 3. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein control is performed. 4. A luminous body that emits light in accordance with the progress of the game, wherein the effect control means receives the control information and causes the luminous body to emit light in a luminous pattern corresponding to the progress of the game. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control is performed.
The slot machine according to any of the above. 5. An image display device capable of displaying an image corresponding to the progress of the game, wherein the effect control means receives the control information and displays an image corresponding to the progress of the game on the image display device. The slot machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the display is controlled to be displayed on the slot machine. 6. A variable display device in which a plurality of types of identification information are continuously displayed in a variable manner, a prize is generated in accordance with a combination of identification information aligned with a predetermined effective line, and the predetermined time range Is that the minimum time is set to zero time and the maximum time is set to be equal to or longer than the time for which the identification information continuously displayed in a variable manner on the variable display device moves by the length of the identification information in the variation direction. The slot machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: 7. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein said game control means randomly changes a transmission time of said control information within a predetermined time range.