JP2005058436A - Slot machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a slot machine displaying various performances and information by displaying images in a wide area. <P>SOLUTION: This slot machine is provided with reels 32, an image display means 35 positioned in front of the reels 32 and displaying predetermined images, and an image display control means 75 controlling the pictures to be displayed by the image display means 35; and displays the images by the image display means 35 according to the modes of the progress of the game. The image display means 35 is provided with a first display area to become an area allowing a player to view patterns displayed on the reels 32 and a second display area to become the display area except for the first display area. The image display control means 75, irrelevant to the state of the modes of the game progress, controls the image display on the second display area and, when a predetermined display requirement such as stopping the rotation of the reels is satisfied, controls the image display on the first display area. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a slot machine, and more particularly to a slot machine in which an image display device such as a liquid crystal is mounted on the front surface of a reel.

  A conventional slot machine is known in which a liquid crystal is provided in a display window portion on the front surface of a reel, and a typical one is taken as Patent Document 1. In the slot machine described in Patent Document 1, it is described that transparency and opacity can be controlled for each display portion of each picture on the reel.

Specifically, the technique described in Patent Document 1 provides a display device for a slot machine that can easily display a picture corresponding to a winning combination to a player in order to provide an easy-to-understand display device. And a control unit for controlling whether the shutter is transparent or opaque, and the display window is positioned in front of the rotating reel, and the display window includes three images of each rotating reel, that is, It is formed so that nine pictures can be seen, and the control unit is formed so as to be able to control for each picture of the rotating reel whether the display window as a liquid crystal shutter is transparent or opaque, and in the winning combination picture Only the corresponding part is controlled to be transparent. That is, nine locations of the display window are individually controlled.
JP-A-4-220276

  However, in the display device of the slot machine of Patent Document 1 above, the portion that can be displayed on the liquid crystal is only the display window portion of the reel, and only the portion corresponding to the winning combination picture is made transparent, The design corresponding to the combination was simply displayed to the player in an easy-to-understand manner. For this reason, it is not enough as a display form to attract the player.

  In the present invention, not only the display window portion of the reel is the part that can be displayed by the image display device but also an image can be displayed over a wide range around it, and a slot machine that displays various effects and information is provided. The purpose is to do.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the invention according to claim 1, a plurality of reels displaying a plurality of types of symbols, an image display means provided on the front surface of the reel, and displaying a predetermined image, An image display control means for controlling an image displayed on the image display means, and the slot machine is characterized by performing image display by the image display means according to the mode of game progress, The image display means includes a first display area that is an area in which a player can visually recognize the symbols displayed on the reel, and a second display area that is a display area other than the first display area. The image display control means controls image display in the second display area of the image display means regardless of the game progress mode, and satisfies a predetermined display requirement. The If, and performs control of the display image in the first display area of the image display means.

  In the invention according to claim 2, in the slot machine according to claim 1, the stop position of the reel is determined and the reel is stopped at the stop position on condition that a player's game operation is accepted. Reel stop control means for performing control is further provided, and the display requirement is that each reel is controlled to be stopped by the reel stop control means, and each reel is in a stopped state.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the slot machine according to the second aspect of the present invention, the slot machine is provided independently for each reel, and further includes a stop switch for allowing the player to stop each reel. The game operation by the player is a stop operation of each reel using the stop switch, and the reel stop control means determines the stop position of the reel on the condition that the stop operation is received, and the stop A stop control for stopping the reel at a position is performed, and the display requirement is that the stop switch cannot be received by the reel stop control means.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the slot machine according to the second or third aspect, the operation unacceptable period setting means for setting an operation unacceptable period representing a period in which the player is not allowed to accept the game operation. The reel stop control unit does not perform stop control by the gaming operation during the operation unacceptable period set by the operation unacceptable period setting unit, and the display requirement is The operation unacceptable period setting means sets the operation unacceptable period.

  If the slot machine has the above configuration, the image display means can display not only the display window portion of the reel but also a wide range of surroundings, and various effects. Information can be displayed.

  In particular, in the present invention, there is a certain limitation on the effect display so as not to prevent the progress of the game, but conversely, it is possible to perform a variety of effects based on this limitation, increasing the player's expectation, The notice of winning to the player becomes prominent.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the configuration of the slot machine according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

  1 is a plan view showing an external structure of the slot machine 100, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an internal structure of the slot machine 100, and FIG. 3 is a configuration of a control system provided in the slot machine 100. It is a block diagram showing.

<Device configuration>
First, the external structure of the slot machine 100 will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 1. The slot machine 100 includes a front door 101 facing a player, and a case 102 described later in which the front door 101 is attached to be openable and closable. And is configured.

  The front door 101 includes an upper panel portion 103, a middle panel portion 104, and a lower panel portion 105 that are formed of mechanically strong hard plastic.

  The upper panel unit 103 includes an effect lamp 103a called an upper lamp, sound emitting units 103b and 103c to which speakers are attached, a print panel or a liquid crystal display on which product names, illustrations, introduction of game contents, and the like are described. The effect display means 103d formed in the above is provided.

  The middle panel portion 104 is provided with a substantially rectangular image display means WD formed of a liquid crystal display and effect lamps 104a and 104b. The reel R1 of the spinning reel device 200 provided in the housing 102, R2 and R3 can be viewed by the player via the image display means WD. A configuration in which a hard plastic for protection is further provided on the front surface of the image display means WD may be adopted.

  In this embodiment, the display area of the image display means WD is divided into two display areas A and B, and an image displayed as a liquid crystal display in each of the display areas A and B is controlled. The display area B corresponds to an area within a dotted frame of the image display means WD in FIG. The display area A corresponds to an area outside the dotted frame in the image display means WD. The description relating to the provision of the two types of display areas will be described later with reference to the drawing of FIG. 6, but the display areas A and B shown in FIG. 1 are the same as the display areas A and B shown in FIG. It is.

  Further, an operation unit 104c for a player to operate is provided at the lower end of the middle panel 104, and a medal slot MD for inserting game medals necessary for playing a slot machine game is provided in the operation unit 104c. And bet switches B1, B2, and B3 for presenting the number of medals per game, a start lever ST for instructing the start of one game, and the rotating reels R1, R2, and R3 are individually stopped. Stop switches SP1, SP2 and SP3 are provided.

  Further, a keyhole KY for unlocking the front door 101 is provided in the vicinity of the medal slot MD. Then, if a business operator or administrator on the amusement hall inserts a regular key into the keyhole KY and performs an unlocking operation, the locking mechanism (not shown) is released, and the front door 101 can be opened from the housing 102. It has become.

  An image (not shown) for introducing the game contents of the slot machine 100 is drawn on the lower panel 105, and a discharge port 105a and a tray for paying out the number of game medals acquired by the player. 105b and a sound emitting unit 105c to which a speaker is attached are provided.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the rear surface structure of the front door 101 and the internal structure of the housing 102 will be outlined. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the front door 101 is unlocked and opened from the housing 102.

  In the figure, speakers SR and SL constituting the above-described sound emitting units 103b and 103c are provided on the upper rear surface of the front door 101, and effect display means 103d is provided between the speakers SR and SL.

  Further, a sub-control board 300 formed of an electric circuit board is attached to the back side of the effect display means 103d.

  That is, the sub-control board 300 is a so-called electric circuit board in which electronic components such as an integrated circuit device (IC), a transistor, a resistor, and a capacitor are mounted and connected on an insulating resin substrate on which a conductive wiring pattern is formed. And is attached so as to overlap the back side of the effect display means 103d.

  Below the effect display means 103d and the sub-control board 300, a substantially rectangular frame 104d on which the above-mentioned image display means WD and the panel surface of the middle panel section 104 are formed is attached.

  Below the frame body 104d, a selection mechanism G0 that distributes the input inserted from the medal insertion slot MD according to whether it is a regular game medal or a foreign object, and the game medals distributed by the selection mechanism G0 are placed on the housing 102 side. A guide member G1 that guides the provided hopper device HP, a guide member G2 that guides the foreign matter distributed by the selection mechanism G0 to the discharge port 105a, and a payout game medal output from the hopper device HP. A guide member G3 for guiding to 105a is provided, and a speaker SW constituting the sound emitting unit 105c is attached in the vicinity of the discharge port 105a.

  A central display board 400 formed of a long electric circuit board is attached between the frame 104d and the selection mechanism G0. A light emitting diode is formed on one end of the central display board 400. A setting display element CT for performing segment display and a setting button CS are provided.

  That is, like the sub-control board 300, the central display board 400 is also mounted with an electronic component such as an integrated circuit device (IC), a transistor, a resistor, and a capacitor on an insulating resin board on which a conductive wiring pattern is formed. It is formed as a connected so-called electric circuit board, and further, a setting display element CT and a setting button CS are mounted and connected by wiring.

  Next, in the housing 102, a main power supply device PWU and an auxiliary storage portion SHP for storing game medals overflowing from the hopper device HP are provided, and a reel R1 facing the image display means WD described above, A spinning reel device 200 including R2 and R3 and a motor (not shown) for driving the reels R1, R2 and R3 to rotate is provided.

  Further, on the side of the main power supply device PWU, a power supply substrate 500 on which a system power switch BQ for supplying control system power supply and a setting switch BO for changing the output rate setting are mounted, and an upper end of the spinning reel device 200 are provided. A main control board 700 is attached above the rotating apparatus substrate 600 and the rotating reel apparatus 200.

  That is, the power supply device substrate 500, the rotor device substrate 600, and the main control substrate 700 are also integrated on the insulating resin substrate on which the conductive wiring pattern is formed, like the sub control substrate 300 and the central display substrate 400 described above. It is formed as a so-called electric circuit board on which electronic components such as a circuit device (IC), a transistor, a resistor, and a capacitor are mounted and connected by wiring.

  However, the sub control board 300 and the main control board 700 have a unit structure that is individually housed in a hard plastic housing case.

Next, the configuration of the control system will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.
The above-described main control board 700 is provided for comprehensively managing the operation of the slot machine 100. The sub-control board 300, the central display board 400, the power supply board 500, and the revolving apparatus board 600 with the main control board 700 as the center. Are connected to each other via a predetermined wiring cable (not shown).

  Here, a semiconductor memory ROM and a microprocessor MPU are mounted on the main control board 700, and the microprocessor MPU executes a system program and a slot machine game program stored in advance in the semiconductor memory ROM. By controlling each of the substrates 300, 400, 500, and 600, the operation state of the slot machine 100 and the progress of the game are integrated and managed.

  That is, when a player plays a game by operating the start lever ST and stop buttons SP1, SP2, SP3, etc., and acquires any of a plurality of types of roles determined in advance by a program for a slot machine game, the microprocessor The MPU controls the progress of the game in a control mode corresponding to the combination acquired by the player. In other words, the microprocessor MPU sets a game type and controls a game state to be progressed by executing a slot machine game program in accordance with the game operation of the player.

  Further, the sub-control board 300 is equipped with a semiconductor memory ROM and a microprocessor MPU, and production speakers SR, SL, SW, production lamps 103a, 104a, 104b, production display means 103d, and image display means WD, respectively. Wiring is connected via a predetermined wiring cable (not shown), and an electric circuit provided on the sub-control board 300 is connected to these effect speakers SR, SL, and SW in accordance with instructions from the main control board 700. By driving the lamps 103a, 104a, 104b and the effect display means 103d, an effect appealing to the player's vision and hearing is performed.

  The spinning device substrate 600 is connected to the spinning reel device 200, and controls the driving power to the motor and the driving timing according to a command from the main control substrate 700, thereby rotating and braking the reels R1, R2, and R3. And stop control.

  The central display board 400 is connected to the setting display element CT and the setting button CS described above. Further, the selection mechanism G0, the bet buttons B1, B2, and B3, the start lever ST, and the stop buttons SP1, SP2, and SP3 are provided with predetermined wiring. Wiring is connected via a cable (not shown).

  The central display board 400 receives operation signals (not shown) in the main control board 700 indicating that the bet buttons B1, B2, B3, the start lever ST, and the stop buttons SP1, SP2, SP3 are turned on or off. To the microprocessor MPU to control the progress of the game.

  Further, the select mechanism G0 is provided with an optical sensor, a mechanical sensor, or a magnetic sensor for detecting whether an input inserted from the medal insertion slot MD is a game medal or a foreign object, and an input output from these sensors. The central display board 400 transfers the detection signal (not shown) to the microprocessor MPU in the main control board 700.

  When the microprocessor MPU inputs an input detection signal indicating that a game medal has been inserted, the number of inserted medals is totaled. On the other hand, when an input detection signal indicating that a foreign object has been input is input, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred, and the sub-control board 300 is instructed to generate an alarm sound in the production speakers SR, SL, and SW. Or the alarm lamps 103a, 104a, 104b display an alarm.

  In addition, the setting button CS is provided for the business operator or the administrator to change the appearance rate, and the setting display element CT is set by displaying any number from 1 to 6 as a segment. The output rate changed by the button CS is displayed in stages.

  That is, when the setting button CS is turned on, the central display board 400 transfers a setting signal (not shown) to the microprocessor MPU in the main control board 700 every time the setting button CS is turned on. Each time a signal is input, the ball payout rate determined in advance in six stages is changed in order, and a setting display signal (not shown) indicating a number corresponding to the changed ball payout rate is sent to the central display substrate 400. Return it. Then, the central display substrate 400 causes the setting display element CT to display a segment on the basis of the setting display signal, thereby notifying the operator and the manager of the changed payout rate information.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 2, a system power switch BQ, a setting switch BO, and the like are mounted on the power supply substrate 500. Further, the power supply substrate 500 is formed with a distribution circuit that distributes various power supply voltages generated by the power supply device PWU to the hopper device HP and other parts, and a system necessary for the operation of the slot machine 100 from the distribution circuit. Power is being supplied.

  The system power switch BQ is provided for power-on reset of the control system, and the setting switch BO is provided for the operator or administrator to change the setting of the payout rate manually.

  In other words, the operator or the administrator turns off the system power switch BQ with the proper key inserted into the key hole provided in the setting switch BO, and then rotates the key in the clockwise direction. When the system power switch BQ is turned on, the microprocessor MPU in the main control board 700 shifts to a mode for changing the payout rate at the power-on reset timing described above, and is provided on the central display board 400. Control of the set button CS and the setting display element CT being started is started.

  Then, as described above, when the operator or the manager appropriately turns on the setting button CS and confirms the number displayed on the setting display element CT and then turns on the start lever ST, the microprocessor MPU sets the setting button CS. When the payout rate corresponding to the number displayed on the display element CT is confirmed, and the above-mentioned key inserted into the setting button CS is further extracted in the counterclockwise direction, the change of the payout rate setting is changed. The game operation is resumed based on the determined payout rate.

<Control configuration>
Next, an outline of control of the slot machine 100 will be described using the block diagram of FIG. The control unit 50 of the slot machine 100 is a unit that performs overall control of the entire slot machine 100 including the progress and performance of the game of the slot machine 100. The control means 50 includes a CPU that performs calculations, a ROM that stores programs necessary for the progress of the game, data for presentation, and the like, and temporarily stores the captured data when the CPU performs various controls. RAM etc. which memorize automatically.

  Peripheral devices such as the motor 32 shown below are electrically connected to the output side (right side in the figure) of the control means 50. The motor 32 is for rotating the reel 31, is connected to the center of rotation of the reel 31, and is controlled by the game control means 60.

  (Reel) The reel 31 has a ring shape, and a reel tape on which a plurality of types of symbols (such as symbols constituting a winning combination) are printed is attached to the outer peripheral surface thereof. In addition, although it is an example, the reel tape in this embodiment is shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, three reels 31 are provided in parallel. Further, each reel 31 is arranged so that three consecutive symbols can be seen from the image display means 35 provided on the front panel of the slot machine 100. When the reel 31 is rotated by the motor 32, the symbols on the reel 31 are moved and displayed in the vertical direction in the image display means 35 at a predetermined speed.

  In addition, examples of the winning combination include a special combination, a plurality of types of small combinations, and a replay (re-playing combination). The special role is a role for shifting from a normal game to a special game (a game advantageous to the player). Examples of the special role include a big bonus and a regular bonus.

  The big bonus is a role for shifting to a big bonus game which is one of special games. The big bonus game is a game in which a general game is performed a predetermined number of times and a bonus game can be performed a predetermined number of times under a certain condition during the general game. Furthermore, this bonus game is a game in which a predetermined winning combination is played a predetermined number of times under a certain condition. On the other hand, the regular bonus is a role for shifting to a regular bonus game which is one of special games. In the regular bonus game, a bonus game in the big bonus game is performed once.

  The small combination is a combination for paying out a predetermined number of medals. Furthermore, the replay is a role that allows a re-game to be performed while maintaining the number of inserted medals (the number of bets) in the game.

  A combination of symbols of the reel 31 corresponding to the above various combinations is determined in advance. When all the reels 31 are stopped, when the combination of symbols stopped on the active line matches a predetermined combination of symbols of the winning combination, the winning combination of the winning combination is made, and medals are paid out according to the winning combination. Profit is given to the player.

  Here, in the part including the image display means 35 on the front panel, for example, five effective lines are set. This effective line is composed of three horizontal upper, middle and lower lines, and two diagonally downward and leftward directions. The three symbols that are continuous from top to bottom of each reel 31 that can be seen from the image display means 35 are positioned on three effective lines in the horizontal upper, middle, and lower stages. Also, this valid line is validated according to the number of inserted medals. If one medal is inserted, one effective line in the middle in the horizontal direction is activated. If it is two, three effective lines in the horizontal direction are activated. If three, all five effective lines are activated. The

  (Back lamp) The back lamp 33 is fixedly arranged on the inner peripheral surface side (the inner side of the ring-shaped body) of each reel 31, and the lamp (or LED etc.) is turned on so that the design of the reel 31 can be seen from behind. Illuminated. In addition to making the symbols easier to see, the back lamp 33 illuminates the symbols in a predetermined pattern when a specific condition is satisfied during the game, thereby performing a notification effect of the possibility of winning the winning combination. Is. The speaker 34 outputs a predetermined sound so as to perform various effects during the game.

  (Image Display Means) Furthermore, in this embodiment, the image display means 35 is composed of a liquid crystal display for displaying a color image, a dot image display device or the like, and the reel 31 is provided in the front panel of the slot machine 100. It is located on the front and is provided so as to be visible to the player. The image display means 35 displays various images when performing an effect during a game. The image display means 35 is the same as the image display means WD shown in FIG.

  Further, the following peripheral devices are electrically connected to the input side (left side in the figure) of the control means 50. The medal sensor 45 is a sensor that detects a medal inserted from the medal slot 44 by the player. The bet switch 43 is a switch operated when the player inserts medals within the credit range. The start lever 41 is a switch operated when the player starts rotation of the reel 31. Three stop switches 42 are provided independently for each reel 31 and are operated when a player stops the rotation of each reel 31.

  In a normal game, the player inserts a medal from the medal insertion slot 44 or operates the bet switch 43 to activate the effective line and turns on the start lever 41. Thereby, each reel 31 is started. Then, the player presses the stop switch 42 to stop the rotation of the reel 31. As described above, when the symbol combination of the reel 31 stopped on the active line matches a predetermined symbol combination, a winning combination is made, and a medal is paid out according to the winning combination. .

  During each game, various effects such as lighting of the back lamp 33, output of sound from the speaker 34, and image display by the image display means 35 are performed. These effects include effects that notify that there is a possibility of winning a role.

  The control means 50 includes a game control means 60 and an effect control means 70. The control board game control means 60 performs control related to the progress of the game. In this embodiment, the control board game control means 60 is provided on the main control board 700 in FIG. 3 and includes the following means. The game control means 60 is not limited to the following means.

  (Role lottery means) The role lottery means 61 performs lottery of a role (special role such as a big bonus, small role or replay). The role lottery means 61 is based on, for example, a random number generator for hard lottery (hard random number, etc.), a random number extractor for extracting a random number generated by the random number generator, and a random value extracted by the random number extractor. Determination means for determining whether or not a winning combination has been won and a winning combination.

  The random number generation means of the role lottery means 61 generates random numbers in a predetermined area (for example, 0 to 65535 in decimal notation). The random number extraction means extracts the random number generated by the random number generation means at a predetermined time, in this embodiment, when the start lever 41 is turned on by the player. The determination unit determines the combination corresponding to the area to which the random number value belongs by comparing the random number value extracted by the random number extraction unit with a lottery table corresponding to the number of inserted medals. For example, when the extracted random number value belongs to the big bonus winning area, it is determined that the big bonus is won, and when it belongs to the non-winning area, it is determined not to win.

  (Specific Role Winning Determination Unit) The specific combination winning determination unit 62 determines whether or not a specific combination, for example, a predetermined small combination or special combination is won as a result of the lottery by the combination lottery unit 61. Here, the reason for determining the winning of such a specific combination is to display an image for making it easier for the player to win the selected specific combination when the specific combination is won.

  (Stop operation order detection means) The stop operation order detection means 63 detects the operation order of the stop switch 42. As described above, the stop switch 42 is provided for each reel 31, but the stop switches 42 that are turned on first, second, and third are respectively left, middle, and right reels 31. , Which reel 31 corresponds to the stop switch 42 is detected. Each stop switch 42 is configured to transmit an identification signal to the stop operation order detection means 63 when turned on.

  Note that the stop operation order of the stop switch 42 is detected as described above, for example, even if the stopped symbol combination is the same, the meaning of the symbol combination differs depending on the operation order of the stop switch 42. Because there are cases. For example, when the stop switch 42 is operated in the order of left, middle and right (forward push), the combination of the symbols is “reach eyes”, but the stop switch in the order of right, middle and left (reverse push) This is because when 42 is operated, even if the same symbol combination is used, it may not be a reach.

  Here, the reach is the winning of the special role by causing the combination of specific symbols that do not appear in the non-winning game of the special role to appear in the image display means 35 when one or more reels 31 are stopped. It is a dice to inform the player that there is a possibility. Reach eyes generally appear on the condition that a special role is won in the lottery of the slot machine 100, but the probability of winning a special role is not necessarily 100%. What appears when it has (so-called chance eyes) may be included.

  Further, in the reach, the “first reel fixed reach” determined by the output of only the first reel 31 among the three reels 31 (the output of the second reel 31 and the third reel 31 is arbitrary), “Second reel fixed reach” determined by the combination of the first and second reels 31 (the third reel 31 can be arbitrarily selected), and further determined by the combination of all three reels 31 There are reach eyes to do.

  (Inserted medal number detection means) The inserted medal number detection means 64 detects the number of medals inserted by the player. In this embodiment, first, the medal sensor 45 detects the passage of medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 44, and the inserted medal number detection means 64 detects the number of inserted medals based on the detection of the medal sensor 45. To do. Secondly, when the bet switch 43 is operated by the player, the inserted medal number detection means 64 detects the inserted medal number by receiving a signal generated by this operation. The reason why the inserted medal number detecting means 64 detects the inserted medal number is that it is used for determining the number of effective lines and for selecting the lottery table corresponding to the inserted number of medals when the winning lottery means 61 is selected. is there.

  (Reel design detection means) The reel design detection means 65 detects a design of each reel 31 at a predetermined position. In this embodiment, the “predetermined position” is an intermediate effective line among the three effective lines in the horizontal direction. One symbol located in the middle effective line is detected. In order to detect the symbol present at the predetermined position, for example, the following may be performed. First, a home position is provided on the reel 31 so that the home position passes the sensor every time the reel 31 rotates once. The motor 32 is provided with a sensor for detecting the rotation angle at the time of driving. Thereby, the position of the reel 31 can be detected.

  Further, a symbol number corresponding to each symbol of the reel 31 is assigned, and a symbol number existing at the home position is stored. Furthermore, the positional relationship between the home position and the effective line (predetermined position) in the horizontal middle is stored. Thereby, the symbol number which exists in a predetermined position is detectable. In the present embodiment, the reel symbol detection means 65 is (1) when the reel 31 is rotating, (2) when the player stops the reel 31 (when the stop switch 42 is turned on), and (3) when the reel 31 is stopped. , A symbol at a predetermined position is detected.

  (Reel stop control means) The reel stop control means 66 is based on the game state (normal game state, special game state, etc.), the lottery result of the hand lottery means 61, the timing when the stop switch 42 is turned on, etc. The stop position of the reel 31 is determined, and the reel 31 is controlled to stop at the determined position. The game control means 60 is provided with a stop position determination table. This stop position determination table is provided corresponding to the lottery result of the combination lottery means 61, the gaming state, and the like, and determines the stop position of the reel 31 based on the operation timing of the stop switch 42.

  The reel stop control means 66 selects a predetermined stop position determination table corresponding to the lottery result of the winning lottery means 61, and when the stop switch 42 is turned on, the reel stop control means 66 determines the stop position determination table based on the timing. The stop position of the reel 31 is determined with reference. The stop position of the reel 31 may be determined without using the stop position determination table. For example, when the stop switch 42 is turned on, it is possible to determine a stoppable position and determine an appropriate stop position among the stoppable positions.

  Then, the reel stop control means 66 controls the drive of the motor 32 so that the reel 31 stops at a predetermined position. Further, when any combination is won by the combination lottery means 61, the combination of the symbols of the reels 31 corresponding to the winning combination is controlled so as to stop on the active line as much as possible. In addition, when the winning lottery means 61 does not win the lottery, the reel 31 is controlled to stop so that a combination of symbols of a certain combination does not stop on the active line.

  (Special Role Winning Determination Unit) The special role winning determination unit 67 determines whether or not the combination of symbols constituting the special combination (Big Bonus or Regular Bonus) has stopped on the active line when all the reels 31 are stopped. It is determined whether or not the winning combination has been won. In this case, the reel symbol detection means 65 detects a symbol in the effective line in the horizontal middle stage that is a predetermined position. From this detection result and the detection result (number of inserted medals) of the inserted medal number detection means 64. Then, the activated effective line in the game is determined, and the combination of symbols on the activated line is determined, so that it is determined whether or not the combination of symbols constituting the special combination is stopped on the activated line. In this way, the special role winning is determined as one of the effects at the time of winning the special role as a predetermined number of games that have been traced back from the game, for example, 1 from the time of winning the special role to the time of winning. Alternatively, it is for displaying an image of a combination of symbols in a plurality of games.

  (Operation unacceptable period setting means) The operation unacceptable period setting means 68 is such that the player inserts a medal into the medal insertion slot 44, turns on the start lever 41 to rotate the reel 31, or presses the stop switch 42. An operation unacceptable period indicating a period during which a series of gaming operations cannot be accepted, such as stopping the rotating reel 31, is set. During this operation unacceptable period, the stop operation order detecting means 63 does not detect the operation order of the stop switch 42, and the inserted medal number detecting means 64 is inserted from the medal insertion slot 44 and the bet switch 43. The process relating to the progress of the game is such that the signal generated by this operation is not received and the number of medals is not detected, and the reel stop control means 66 does not perform the stop control by the game operation. Not performed. That is, the player's operation regarding the game progress is not accepted. The reason for providing such a period is to display the effect by the image display means 35 properly by providing the player with the game progress of one game for a predetermined time or more and to grasp the effect image in the specific image display state to the player. This increases the player's curiosity.

  The effect control means 70 performs control related to effects among the controls of the slot machine 100. In the present embodiment, the effect control means 70 is provided in the sub-control board 300 in FIG. 3, and includes the following means. The production control means 70 is not limited to the following means.

  (Specific Stop Symbol Discriminating Unit) The specific stop symbol discriminating unit 71 is based on the detection result of the reel symbol detecting unit 65 and is displayed on the image display unit 35 when the reel 31 is stopped. It is determined whether or not a combination of symbols at a predetermined position or a combination of symbols at a predetermined position outside the display window that is not displayed on the image display means 35 is a specific one. Here, the specific stop symbol discriminating means 71 stores symbol array data for each reel 31. Then, an effective line or display window displayed on the image display means 35 from the symbol at the predetermined position (effective line in the middle in the horizontal direction) detected by the reel symbol detecting means 65 and the data of the symbol arrangement. A symbol present at a predetermined position in the image or a symbol present at a predetermined position outside the display window that is not displayed on the image display means 35 is discriminated.

  In the present embodiment, “specific” symbol combinations include the following. First, there is a combination of symbols having a possibility of winning a specific combination (particularly in this embodiment, a special combination), that is, a reach. Here, as described above, the reach eyes include not only the reach eyes when all the reels 31 are stopped, but also the first reel confirmed reach eyes and the second reel confirmed reach eyes.

  In the present embodiment, when the first reel fixed reach appears, for example, when the first reel 31 is stopped, an image display based on the first reel may be performed. In addition, when the second reel fixed reach appears or when a fixed reach appears when all the reels 31 are stopped, an image display based on the determined reach may be performed.

  Second, when at least one reel 31 is stopped and at least one other reel 31 is rotating, the combination of symbols already stopped is a specific combination (particularly in the present embodiment). It is determined whether or not a part of the combination of symbols having the possibility of winning is configured. For example, when two reels 31 are stopped and the last reel 31 is rotating, if a predetermined symbol stops at a predetermined effective line when the last reel 31 is stopped, a reach is obtained. There are cases.

  In determining whether or not the above reach is reached, the specific stop symbol determining means 71 determines based on the detection result of the stop operation order detecting means 63. This is because, as described above, even if the combination of the stopped symbols is the same, there may be cases where the reach is not reached depending on the operation order of the stop switch 42.

  (Moving control determining means) The moving control determining means 72 determines whether or not the reel 31 has been moved by a predetermined number of symbols and stopped after the player has stopped the reel 31. Thus, the movement control of the reel 31 is determined in order to display an image indicating that the reel 31 has been controlled to move. As described above, in a game in which a winning combination is won, the reel stop control means 66 performs control so that combinations of symbols of the reels 31 corresponding to the winning combination are stopped on the active line as much as possible. For this reason, after the reel 31 is stopped, the reel 31 may move by a predetermined number of symbols and stop. Such movement control (slip) when the reel 31 is stopped is determined. The “predetermined number of symbols” is not particularly limited, but is, for example, three symbols.

  (Effect data storage means) The effect data storage means 73 stores effect data relating to a normal effect output from the back lamp 33, the speaker 34, the image display means 35, etc., or a notification effect of the possibility of winning a special role. Is. However, other production data may be stored. For example, effect data for displaying an image by the image display means 35 according to the game progress mode displayed on the reel 31, particularly for displaying an image on the display window of the reel 31, is stored.

  (Stop Symbol Storage Unit) The stop symbol storage unit 74 stores a combination of symbols when the reel 31 is stopped in one or a plurality of games from the time of winning a special role to the time of winning for a predetermined number of times in the past. It is something to keep. This is used when displaying a combination of stop symbols in a game for a predetermined number of times in the past going back from the game when winning a special combination.

  (Image display control means) The image display control means 75 is stored in the result lottery means 61, the detection result of the reel symbol detection means 65, the detection result of the inserted medal number detection means 64, and the effect data storage means 73. Based on the effect data and the like, the mode of game progress during the game is controlled by the image display means 35 so that an image is displayed on the front surface of the reel 31.

  Based on the above-mentioned various results, the image display control means 75 determines whether or not the image display means 35 performs an effect by image display. Based on the effect data selected from the storage means 73, control is performed so that the image display by the image display means 35 is performed on the front surface of the reel 31. The state in which the image display accompanying the effect is performed under the control of the image display control means 75 is referred to as a “specific image display state”. In addition, an image display state other than the specific image display state, that is, a state in which an image display is performed regardless of the effect by the control of the image display control means 75 is referred to as a “normal image display state”. Here, the image display control means 75 determines whether or not to produce an effect. For example, when a specific symbol combination appears when the reel 31 is stopped, the image display control means 75 uniformly applies a predetermined effect to the front surface of the reel 31. The image may be controlled so as to be displayed. Further, it may be determined whether or not to produce effects by lottery, or effect data to be used for image display may be selected by lottery.

Therefore, when the effect data is selected by lottery, different effect data may be selected even if the symbol detected by the reel symbol detection means 65 is the same as the symbol detected last time. Further, even when the symbol detected by the reel symbol detection means 65 is different from the symbol detected last time, the same effect data may be selected.

  Next, the gaming operation of the slot machine performed by the player will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

<Game operation>
When a player inserts a medal into the medal slot 44 shown in FIG. 4 to play a slot machine game, the medal sensor 45 detects the passage of the medal, or the player operates the bet switch 43. If the number of inserted medals is detected by receiving the signal issued by, the inserted medal number detecting means 64 detects the number of inserted medals (S01).

  If no medal is inserted (No in S01), the process stands by until a medal is inserted. If a medal is inserted (Yes in S01), image output processing corresponding to the medal insertion is performed (S02). . Specifically, an image that is lit and displayed as an image of a bet lamp is displayed on the middle panel 104 that is entirely a liquid crystal screen.

  When medals are inserted, the MAXBET state is entered (S03). That is, three medals are inserted and the game can be started. If it is not in the MAXBET state (No in S03), the medal insertion standby state continues, but when the MAXBET state is entered (Yes in S03), the game is ready to start (S04), and the player turns on the start lever 41. The standby state continues (No in S04).

  When the player turns on the start lever 41 (Yes in S04), a role lottery is performed by the role lottery means 61 (S05). Specifically, as described above, the random number generating means generates a random number in a predetermined area, and the random number extracting means extracts the random number when the start lever 41 is turned on by the player, as described above. By comparing the random value extracted by the random number extraction means with a lottery table corresponding to the number of inserted medals, the combination corresponding to the area to which the random number value belongs is determined, and winning / non-winning of the combination is performed.

  Thereafter, an image effect selection is performed such that corresponding effect data is extracted from the effect data storage means 73 in accordance with the result lottery result (S06). However, such selection is not performed for all the lotteries. For example, in the case of non-winning, the effect data is not extracted from the effect data storage unit 73.

  If there is an image effect to be output when there is a winning combination (Yes in S07), the image display control means 75 performs control so that the effect data extracted from the effect data storage means 73 is displayed on the image display means 35. Then, image output processing is performed (S08). In this case, the specific combination winning determination means 62 determines whether or not the specific combination has been won, and when the specific combination is won, an image output process is performed to make it easier for the player to win the selected specific combination. If there is no image effect to be output (No in S07), the image output process is not particularly performed, and the process proceeds to the next process.

  Next, a reel rotation start process is performed in which the reel 31 is rotated by the motor 32, and the symbols on the reel 31 are moved up and down in the image display means 35 at a predetermined speed (S09). The player operates the stop switch 42 to stop the rotation of the reel 31. At this time, the stop operation order detection means 63 detects the operation order of the stop switch 42.

  If the player does not perform any operation (No in S10), the reel 31 continues to rotate and remains in a standby state. However, when any one of the stop switches 42 is turned on as the first stop operation (Yes in S10). The corresponding identification signal is transmitted to the stop operation order detection means 63, and the stop operation order detection means 63 can detect which stop switch is turned on, which suggests reach eyes and chance eyes. In addition, the reel symbol detection means 65 detects a symbol at a predetermined position (such as a middle effective line) of the reel where the reel symbol detection means 65 is stopped, and the detection result of the reel symbol detection means 65 is transmitted to the image display control means 75 in advance. . Further, the detection result of the reel symbol detecting means 65 is also transmitted to the specific stop symbol determining means 71, and the specific stop symbol determining means 71 is in the active line, inside the display window or outside the display window when the reel 31 is stopped. It is determined whether or not the combination of symbols at a predetermined position is a specific one.

  After that, there is a selection as to whether or not to output an effect image based on the determination result of the specific stop symbol determination means 71 (S11). If there is an image effect to be output (Yes in S11), the corresponding effect data is extracted from the effect data storage means 73, and the image display control means 75 displays the effect data on the image display means 35. Control is performed and image output processing is performed (S12). For example, when the first reel fixed reach appears during the first stop operation, an image display based on the first reel determined reach is performed. If there is no image effect to be output (No in S11), the image output process is not particularly performed, and the process proceeds to the next process.

  After the image output process, a reel 31 stop process based on the first stop operation by the reel stop control means 66 is performed (S13). As described above, the reel stop control means 66 determines the reel 31 from the gaming state (normal gaming state, special gaming state, etc.), the lottery result of the combination lottery means 61, the timing when the stop switch 42 is turned on, and the like. Since the stop position is determined, the motor 32 is driven and controlled, and the reel 31 is controlled to stop at the determined position. Therefore, the combination of symbols corresponding to the image output process as a result of winning and non-winning of the combination Is controlled. In this control, the movement control determination means 72 is involved.

  The same processing is performed when the player performs the second and third stop operations. That is, if no operation is performed by the player (No in S14), the reel 31 continues to rotate and remains in a standby state. However, when one of the remaining two stop switches 42 is turned on as a second stop operation (S14). Yes), a corresponding identification signal is transmitted to the stop operation order detection means 63, and the stop operation order detection means 63 can detect which stop switch is turned on, and suggest a reach eye or a chance eye. Become. In addition, the reel symbol detection means 65 detects a symbol at a predetermined position (such as a middle effective line) of the reel where the reel symbol detection means 65 is stopped, and the detection result of the reel symbol detection means 65 is transmitted to the image display control means 75 in advance. . Further, the detection result of the reel symbol detecting means 65 is also transmitted to the specific stop symbol determining means 71, and the specific stop symbol determining means 71 is in the active line, inside the display window or outside the display window when the reel 31 is stopped. It is determined whether or not the combination of symbols at a predetermined position is a specific one.

  After that, there is a selection as to whether or not to output an effect image based on the determination result of the specific stop symbol determination means 71 (S15). If there is an image effect to be output (Yes in S15), the corresponding effect data is extracted from the effect data storage means 73, and the image display control means 75 displays the effect data on the image display means 35. Control is performed and image output processing is performed (S16). For example, when the second reel fixed reach appears during the second stop operation, image display based on the second reel determined reach is performed. If there is no image effect to be output (No in S15), the image output process is not particularly performed, and the process proceeds to the next process.

  After the image output process, a reel 31 stop process based on the second stop operation by the reel stop control means 66 is performed (S17). As described above, the reel stop control means 66 determines the reel 31 from the gaming state (normal gaming state, special gaming state, etc.), the lottery result of the combination lottery means 61, the timing when the stop switch 42 is turned on, and the like. Since the stop position is determined, the motor 32 is driven and controlled, and the reel 31 is controlled to stop at the determined position. Therefore, the combination of symbols corresponding to the image output process as a result of winning and non-winning of the combination Is controlled. In this control, the movement control determination means 72 is involved.

  As for the third stop operation of the player, if the player does not operate anything (No in S18), the reel 31 continues to rotate and remains in a standby state. When one of them is turned on (Yes in S18), the corresponding identification signal is transmitted to the stop operation order detecting means 63, and the stop operation order detecting means 63 can detect which stop switch is turned on. It will suggest your eyes. In addition, the reel symbol detection means 65 detects a symbol at a predetermined position (such as a middle effective line) of the reel where the reel symbol detection means 65 is stopped, and the detection result of the reel symbol detection means 65 is transmitted to the image display control means 75 in advance. . Further, the detection result of the reel symbol detecting means 65 is also transmitted to the specific stop symbol determining means 71, and the specific stop symbol determining means 71 is in the active line, inside the display window or outside the display window when the reel 31 is stopped. It is determined whether or not the combination of symbols at a predetermined position is a specific one.

  After that, there is a selection as to whether or not to output an effect image based on the determination result of the specific stop symbol determination means 71 (S19). If there is an image effect to be output (Yes in S19), the corresponding effect data is extracted from the effect data storage means 73, and the image display control means 75 displays the effect data on the image display means 35. Control is performed and image output processing is performed (S20). For example, when a confirmed reach appears during the third stop operation, an image display based on that is performed. If there is no image effect to be output (No in S19), the image output process is not particularly performed, and the process proceeds to the next process.

  After the image output process, a reel 31 stop process based on the third stop operation by the reel stop control means 66 is performed (S21). As described above, the reel stop control means 66 determines the reel 31 from the gaming state (normal gaming state, special gaming state, etc.), the lottery result of the combination lottery means 61, the timing when the stop switch 42 is turned on, and the like. Since the stop position is determined, the motor 32 is driven and controlled, and the reel 31 is controlled to stop at the determined position. Therefore, the combination of symbols corresponding to the image output process as a result of winning and non-winning of the combination Is controlled. In this control, the movement control determination means 72 is involved.

  When all the first to third stop operations have been performed and all the reels 31 have been stopped by the stop control of the reel stop control means 66, whether to produce an effect image based on the determination result of the specific stop symbol determination means 71 There is a selection of whether or not (S22). If there is an image effect to be output (Yes in S22), the corresponding effect data is extracted from the effect data storage means 73, and the image display control means 75 displays the effect data on the image display means 35. Control is performed and image output processing is performed (S23). If there is no image effect to be output (No in S22), the image output process is not particularly performed, and the process proceeds to the next process.

  Next, a winning determination is made (S24). That is, when the special combination winning determination means 67 stops all the reels 31, whether or not the combination of symbols constituting the special combination (Big Bonus or Regular Bonus) has stopped on the active line, that is, whether or not the special combination has won. Is determined. If a prize has been won (Yes in S24), a payout process for the number of acquired medals is performed (S25). Specifically, the WIN display number and the credit display number increase, and if the credit number exceeds 50, the excess medals are paid out from the discharge port 105a in FIG. In the present embodiment, during the payout process, effect data corresponding to the payout process is extracted from the effect data storage means 73, and the image display control means 75 performs control so that the effect data is displayed on the image display means 35. Is output (S26), and one game is completed. If no winning is made (No in S24), one game ends without performing the payout process and the image output process corresponding to the payout process.

<Direction display>
Next, an aspect of the effect display according to the present embodiment will be described. In the conventional slot machine, an image related to the effect is displayed at the position of the effect display means 103d in FIG. 1, or a liquid crystal is applied to the display window (corresponding to the display area B in FIG. 1) in front of the reels R1, R2, and R3. Although the image display related to the effect is provided on the liquid crystal part, as described above, it is not enough as a display form that attracts the player's attention, so in this embodiment the effect is more extensive. In order to perform display, the entire area of the middle panel portion 104 in FIG. 1 is provided as liquid crystal, and effect display is performed in the area.

  However, if the effect display is performed on the entire area of the middle panel 104, the effect is also displayed at the location of the reel display window (corresponding to the display area B in FIG. 1) when the reels R1, R2, and R3 are rotating during the game. The display will be performed, but for example, the player will perform a so-called “eye-push” to identify the symbols of the reels R1, R2, and R3, and turn on the stop switches SP1, SP2, and SP3 to stop the rotation of the reels. However, the effect display image on the display window of the reel (corresponding to the display area B in FIG. 1) should not cover the reel design and prevent the progress of such a game.

  Therefore, when performing the effect display on the entire area of the middle panel unit 104, a display area B that allows the player to visually recognize the symbols displayed on the reel, and a display area other than the display area B, The display areas A and B are divided into two areas, and the various display areas corresponding to the lottery, winning notification, specific role, etc. are separately displayed in the display areas A and B, or both. The effect is to control the effect display so as to display over the display area.

  The area related to the middle panel section 104 is divided into two areas, a display area A and a display area B, and what is shown in FIG. The display area B is an area in which the player can visually recognize the symbols displayed on the reel, and is displayed with diagonal lines. When the stop switches SP1, SP2, and SP3 are in an effective state while the reels R1, R2, and R3 are rotating so as not to hinder the progress of the game, no effect display is performed in the display area B. However, when the stop switches SP1, SP2, and SP3 are in an invalid state, the progress of the game is not hindered. Therefore, an effect display is performed on the display area B even when the reels R1, R2, and R3 are rotating. . The stop switches SP1, SP2, and SP3 are in an invalid state, for example, in a state during an operation unacceptable period set by the operation unacceptable period setting unit 68 in FIG.

  Further, the display area A is an area other than the display area B in the area related to the middle panel unit 104, and is displayed as a solid color in FIG. Since it is not necessary to consider the above-described hindrance to the progress of the game, any image may be displayed in the display area A at any timing regardless of whether the reels R1, R2, and R3 are rotating. Rather, it is possible to display effects that are devised according to various game progress modes. In the display area A, in the normal gaming state, a game explanation image relating to a game explanation for a game progress such as a configuration of a winning combination such as a big bonus (BB) and a regular bonus (RB) and an effective line display is displayed. An effect display is also performed at an appropriate timing.

  Hereinafter, the effect display according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 17. (1) Effect display performed in the display area A, (2) Effect display performed in the display area B, (3) Display area A and The description will be divided into three types of effect display performed in both areas of the display area B. 7 to 15, the reel and the area in which the symbols displayed in the reel are illustrated as a display area B, and the background symbols, the composition of roles, etc. are illustrated around the display area B. The area is a display area A.

  First, the game description for the progress of the game displayed as the game description image will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the middle panel unit 104 in FIG. 1 in the normal image display state, but the background symbols and the composition of the combination displayed in the display area A of FIG. 7 are all displayed as images. The entire area including the display area B on the middle panel section 104 is composed of liquid crystal, and the image display means 35 in FIG. 4 corresponds to this (however, it may be composed of display elements other than liquid crystal). . As described above, the image display on the image display means 35 is controlled by the image display control means 75, but the image display control means 75 also controls the display of the game explanation image at a predetermined timing. In addition, although the composition of the winning combination is displayed as an image in the display area A as a game description for the progress of the game, a list of the composition of the winning combination in this embodiment is shown in FIG. The combination described in FIG. 17 indicates a winning combination handled by the combination lottery means 61.

  Reference numeral 1 denotes an image for displaying a background symbol as a game explanation image, which is displayed in the entire display area A. In the present embodiment, the display is fixed, but the image display means 35 appropriately moves the pattern of the background pattern as an effect display when the specific image display state is entered, or, for example, periodically in the normal image display state. The display processing such as swinging is performed by the display control of the image display control means 75.

  Reference numeral 2 denotes a game explanation image. The special combination “Big Bonus (BB)” handled by the combination lottery means 61 is the same as the symbol illustrated in the reel tape of FIG. Red 7) is displayed as an image. As will be described later, the image display means 35 performs a display control of the image display control means 75 such that when the specific image display state is entered, the second design is erased as the effect display, and another image for effect display is displayed instead. So do it.

  3 is a game explanation image, and the special combination “Big Bonus (BB)” handled by the combination lottery means 61 is the same as the symbol illustrated in the reel tape of FIG. 16 and is a combination of symbols corresponding to BB ( Blue 7) is displayed as an image. As will be described later, the image display means 35 performs a display control of the image display control means 75 such that when the specific image display state is reached, the three symbols are erased as the effect display, and another effect display image is displayed instead. So do it.

  Reference numeral 4 is a game explanation image. A special combination called “regular bonus (RB)” handled by the role lottery means 61 is the same as the symbol shown on the reel tape of FIG. 16, and the symbol combination (corresponding to RB) ( BAR) is displayed as an image. As will be described later, the image display means 35 performs display control of the image display control means 75 in such a manner that when the specific image display state is entered, the four symbols are erased as the effect display, and another effect display image is displayed instead. So do it.

  5 is a game explanation image in which the small combination “small combination 2” handled by the combination lottery means 61 is the same as the symbol illustrated in the reel tape of FIG. 16 and is a combination of symbols corresponding to “small combination 2”. The figure (watermelon) is displayed as an image. As will be described later, the image display means 35 deletes the 5 symbols as the effect display when the specific image display state is entered, and displays another effect display image instead, or displays the 5 symbols in a reduced manner. The display control of the image display control means 75 performs the process of moving to another area and displaying another effect display image in the original area.

  6 is a game explanation image in which the small role “small role 1” handled by the role lottery means 61 is the same as the symbol shown in the reel tape of FIG. 16 and is a combination of symbols corresponding to “small role 1”. A symbol (bell) is displayed as an image. As will be described later, the image display means 35 deletes the six symbols as the effect display when the specific image display state is entered, and displays another effect display image instead, or displays the six symbols in a reduced manner. The display control of the image display control means 75 performs the process of moving to another area and displaying another effect display image in the original area.

  7 is a game explanation image in which the small role “small role 3” handled by the role lottery means 61 is the same as the symbol shown in the reel tape of FIG. 16, and a combination of symbols corresponding to “small role 3”. The image (cherry and any symbol) is displayed as an image. As will be described later, the image display means 35 deletes the seven symbols as the effect display when the specific image display state is entered, and displays another effect display image instead, or displays the seven symbols in a reduced manner. The display control of the image display control means 75 performs the process of moving to another area and displaying another effect display image in the original area.

  Reference numeral 8 denotes a game explanation image. The replay combination “replay” handled by the combination lottery means 61 is the same as the symbol illustrated in the reel tape of FIG. 16, and a symbol combination (REP) corresponding to “replay”. Is displayed as an image. As will be described later, the image display means 35 deletes the 8 symbols as the effect display when the specific image display state is entered, and displays another effect display image instead, or displays the 8 symbols in a reduced manner. The display control of the image display control means 75 performs the process of moving to another area and displaying another effect display image in the original area.

  Reference numeral 9 denotes an image for displaying replay as a game explanation image. When the player plays the replay role, the image display means 35 performs display processing such as lighting of the 9 images by the display control of the image display control means 75.

  Reference numeral 10 denotes an image for displaying medal insertion as a game explanation image. When the player inserts a medal into the medal slot 44 and the medal sensor 45 detects the insertion of the medal, the image display means 35 performs display processing such that the ten images are turned on by the display control of the image display control means 75. Do.

  Reference numeral 11 denotes an image for displaying a WIN number, which is a payout number of medals associated with winning combination, as a game explanation image. When the player plays one game and wins one of the roles shown in FIG. 17, the image display means 35 displays a numerical value of 11 images, and performs a display process of notifying the number of medals acquired by the player. This is performed by the display control of the image display control means 75.

  Reference numeral 12 denotes an image for displaying a game count in the bonus game state as a game explanation image. When a player plays a game and wins the big bonus shown in FIG. 17 to play the BB game or wins the regular bonus and plays the RB game, an image is displayed. The means 35 displays 12 images numerically, and performs a display process in which the player notifies the number of bonus games by the display control of the image display control means 75.

  Reference numeral 13 denotes an image for displaying the number of credits as a game explanation image. During the player's game progress, after all the BET display images 14 are lit, the player inserts medals from the medal insertion slot 45, or the winning combination shown in FIG. 17 is won and the number of WIN display images 11 increases. Along with this, the image display means 35 displays the 13 images numerically and performs display processing such as notifying the number of credits for the player to play the next game by the display control of the image display control means 75.

  Reference numeral 14 denotes an image for displaying the number of BETs as a game explanation image. When the player inserts a medal into the medal insertion slot 44 and the medal sensor 45 detects the insertion of the medal, the image display means 35 displays 14 images according to the number of inserted coins or the operation of the bet switch 43. Of these, display processing such as lighting the images of “1 BET”, “2 BET”, and “3 BET” is performed by the display control of the image display control means 75.

  Reference numeral 15 denotes an image for displaying a game start possible state as a game explanation image. When the player enters the medal or operates the bet switch 43, when the start lever 41 is turned on and the game is started, the image display means 35 performs display processing such as turning on the 11 images. Controlled.

  (1) An example of effect display performed in the display area A will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which effect display is performed in the display area A, particularly in the upper part of the reel display window which is the display area B. When the player turns on the start lever 41 in FIG. 4 and rotates the reel 31 (in FIG. 8, the state of rotation of the reel 31 is represented by a downward arrow, and the same applies to other drawings). The lottery means 61 performs the lottery, and the specific winning combination determination means 62 determines whether or not the specific winning combination is won from the lottery result of the winning lottery means 61. If the winning combination is won, the image display control means 75 relates to the image display means 35 for 2 to 4 game description images, that is, the “Big Bonus (BB)” symbol (Red 7, Blue 7) and the “Regular Bonus (RB)” symbol (BAR). An image is erased, an effect area is provided in the upper part of the reel display window, and display control is performed so that a predetermined effect image a is displayed in the effect area, thereby enhancing the player's expectation.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state in which an effect display is performed in the display area A, particularly on the right side of the reel display window which is the display area B. The player turns on the stop switch 42 in FIG. 4 to stop one of the reels 31 (the left reel) as the first stop operation. The reel stop control means 66 controls the stop of the reel 31. As described above, the reel stop control means 66 has a game state (normal game state, special game state, etc.), a lottery result of the combination lottery means 61, a timing when the stop switch 42 is turned on, etc. Then, the stop position of the reel 31 is determined, and the reel 31 is controlled to stop at the determined position. Further, the stop operation order detecting means 63 detects the operation order of the stop switch 42 (in this case, detecting that the stop switch corresponding to the left reel is turned on), so that the presence or absence of the first reel fixed reach is confirmed. To be judged. As a result, when a winning combination or a reach eye is confirmed, a predetermined effect display is performed. The image display control means 75 gives 5 to 8 game explanation images, that is, “small role 1” to the image display means 35. -3 ”(watermelon, bell, cherry) and“ Replay ”images (REP) are erased, an effect area is provided on the right side of the reel display window, and a predetermined effect image b is displayed in the effect area. Display control can be performed in such a way as to increase the player's expectation.

  FIG. 10 is also a diagram showing a state in which effect display is performed in the display area A, particularly on the right side of the reel display window which is the display area B. The stop control of the reel 32 and the determination of the presence or absence of reach are the same as in FIG. 9, but the aspect of the effect display is different. That is, when there is a winning combination or reach reach determination, the image display control means 75 gives the image display means 35 5-5 game explanation images, that is, symbols of “small roles 1-3” (watermelon, Bell, cherry) and the image “c” related to the “replay” symbol (REP) are reduced and moved to an appropriate area on the image display means 35 (upper right of the screen of the image display means 35 in FIG. 10). An effect area is provided on the right side of the player, display control is performed so that a predetermined effect image d is displayed in the effect area, and the player can be notified of the winning combination. In FIG. 10, the winning notification of the small role 1 (bell) is performed.

  (2) An example of the effect display performed in the display area B will be described with reference to FIGS. As described above, the effect display performed in the display area B includes the rotation and stop timing of the reel 32, the state during the operation non-acceptable period set by the operation non-acceptable period setting means 68 so as not to prevent the progress of the game. Has been taken into account.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state in which the effect display is performed in the display area B so as to overlap with the left reel of the reel display window which is the display area B in particular. The stop control of the reel 32 and the determination of the presence or absence of reach are the same as in FIG. 9, but the aspect of the effect display is different. That is, when there is a winning combination or reach reach determination, the image display control means 75 displays on the image display means 35 the effect image e relating to the role tempe or winning so as to overlap the left reel. In this way, the player can be notified of the winning combination. In FIG. 11, the winning notification of the small role 1 (bell) is performed.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a state in which effect display is performed in the display area B so as to overlap with the left reel and the middle reel of the reel display window which is the display area B in particular. The stop control of the reel 32 and the determination of the presence or absence of the reach (in this case, the presence or absence of the reach for the second reel fixed reach) are the same as in FIG. 9, but the effect display mode is different. That is, when there is a winning combination or reach eye determination, the image display control unit 75 causes the image display unit 35 to produce an effect image f related to a combination tempe or winning so as to overlap the left reel and the middle reel. Display control can be performed so that the player is notified of the winning combination. In FIG. 12, the winning notification of the small role 1 (bell) is performed. However, paying attention to the symbols when the left reel and the middle reel are stopped, the bell symbols are not aligned on the active line, which is contrary to the winning notification of the small role 1 (bell). ing. Therefore, a “?” Mark is also displayed on the bell image display f as an effect display, indicating a state contrary to the winning notification.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state where the effect display is performed on the entire display area B, that is, on the entire reel display window which is the display area B. The player has turned on all the stop switches 42 in FIG. 4 to stop all the reels 31 as the first to third stop operations. The reel stop control means 66 controls the stop of the reels 31. As described above, the reel stop control means 66 is based on the game state (normal game state, special game state, etc.), the lottery result of the hand lottery means 61, the timing when the stop switch 42 is turned on, and the like. The stop position of the reel 31 is determined, and the reel 31 is controlled to stop at the determined position. Further, when the stop operation order detecting means 63 detects the operation order of the stop switch 42, a big bonus may be confirmed (referred to as “BIG confirmation”), and the player proceeds with game progress during the subsequent game progress. As long as you don't stop, you will win the big bonus. The image display control means 75 controls the image display means 35 to display the effect image g related to BIG determination on the entire display area B, and can notify the player of the winning combination.

  An example of the effect display performed in both the display area A and the display area B will be described with reference to FIGS. As described above, the effect display performed in the display area B includes the rotation and stop timing of the reel 32, the state during the operation non-acceptable period set by the operation non-acceptable period setting means 68 so as not to prevent the progress of the game. Has been taken into account.

  FIG. 14 shows a state where the effect display is performed in both the display area A and the display area B so as to overlap with the left reel and the middle reel of the reel display window which is a part of the display area A and the display area B. FIG. The stop control of the reel 32 and the determination of the presence or absence of the reach (in this case, the presence or absence of the reach for the second reel fixed reach) are the same as in FIG. 9, but the effect display mode is different. That is, when there is a winning combination or reach reach confirmation, the image display control means 75 gives the image display means 35 a game explanation image (1 on the display area A in which an effect area where an effect display is performed later is provided. Display control and display of the effect image h related to the tempei or winning a prize so as to overlap the left reel and the middle reel, and the player's expectation Can be enhanced.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a state in which effect display is performed in both the display area A and the display area B, particularly in the entire display area A and the entire display area B (that is, the entire display area 35). . The player has turned on all the stop switches 42 in FIG. 4 to stop all the reels 31 as the first to third stop operations. The reel stop control means 66 controls the stop of the reels 31. As described above, the reel stop control means 66 is based on the game state (normal game state, special game state, etc.), the lottery result of the hand lottery means 61, the timing when the stop switch 42 is turned on, and the like. The stop position of the reel 31 is determined, and the reel 31 is controlled to stop at the determined position. When the winning combination is arranged on the active line by the stop control of the reel stop control means 66, the image display control means 75 deletes all the game explanation images on the display area A from the image display means 35 and displays the images. The display control is performed so that the effect image i corresponding to the winning combination is displayed over the entire means 35, and the player can be attracted.

  The conditions, timings, and contents of the effect display are not limited to the above patterns, and various effects may be performed within a range that does not hinder the progress of the game. For example, in the present embodiment, the game explanation images 2 to 4 are deleted by the display control of the image display control means 75 when another effect image is displayed. However, as described in the game explanation images 5 to 8, the game explanation images 2 to 4 are reduced and displayed. May be performed.

  For example, the present invention may be used for a box-shaped game machine or a ball game machine other than the slot machine.

4 is a plan view showing an external structure of the slot machine 100. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the slot machine 100. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system provided in the slot machine 100. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of control of the slot machine 100. FIG. It is a flowchart of the gaming operation of the slot machine performed by the player. The area related to the middle panel section 104 is divided into two areas, a display area A and a display area B, and is shown in the figure. It is an example of the liquid crystal display of the image display means 35 in a normal image display state. It is an example of the effect display performed in the display area A (Example 1). It is an example of the effect display performed in the display area A (Example 1). It is an example of the effect display performed in the display area A (Example 1). It is an example of the effect display effect display performed in the display area B (Example 2). It is an example of the effect display effect display performed in the display area B (Example 2). It is an example of the effect display effect display performed in the display area B (Example 2). It is an example of the effect display performed in both the display area A and the display area B (Example 3). It is an example of the effect display performed in both the display area A and the display area B (Example 3). The reel tape in this embodiment is illustrated. It is a list of the structure of the role picked up in this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Slot machine 101 Front door 102 Case 103 Upper panel part 103a Production lamp 103b, c Sound emission part 103d Production display means 104 Middle panel part 104a, b Production lamp 104c Operation part 104d Frame body 105 Lower panel part 105a Discharge port 105b Receptacle 105c Sound emitting part 200 Spinning reel device 300 Sub control board 400 Central display board 500 Power supply board 600 Spinning machine board 700 Main control board R1, R2, R3 Reel ST Start lever SP1, SP2, SP3 Stop switch B1, B2, B3 Bet switch MD Medal slot WD Image display means KY Keyhole SR, SL, SW Production speaker CT Setting display element CS setting button PWU Main power supply device HP Hopper device SHP Auxiliary storage unit BQ Sys Power switch BO setting switch 31 reel 32 motor 33 back lamp 34 speaker 35 image display means 41 start lever 42 stop switch 43 bet switch 44 medal slot 45 medal sensor 50 control means 60 game control means 61 role lottery means 62 specific role Winning determination means 63 Stop operation order detection means 64 Inserted medal number detection means 65 Reel symbol detection means 66 Reel stop control means 67 Special role winning determination means 68 Operation unacceptable period setting means 70 Production control means 71 Specific stop symbol determination means 72 Movement control determination means 73 Effect data storage means 74 Stop symbol storage means 75 Image display control means 1-15 Game explanation image ai Effect image

Claims (4)

Multiple reels displaying multiple types of designs,
An image display means provided on the front surface of the reel and displaying a predetermined image;
Image display control means for controlling an image displayed on the image display means,
A slot machine characterized by performing image display by the image display means according to a game progress mode,
The image display means includes a first display area that is an area in which a player can visually recognize the symbols displayed on the reel, and a second display area that is a display area other than the first display area. Have
The image display control means controls the image display in the second display area of the image display means regardless of the mode of progress of the game,
A slot machine that controls image display in a first display area of the image display means when a predetermined display requirement is satisfied. Further comprising a reel stop control means for determining a stop position of the reel on condition that a player's game operation is accepted, and performing stop control to stop the reel at the stop position;
2. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the display requirement is that each reel is subjected to stop control by the reel stop control means, and each reel is in a stopped state. It is provided independently for each reel, and further has a stop switch for the player to stop each reel,
The game operation by the player is a stop operation of each reel using the stop switch, and the reel stop control means determines the stop position of the reel on condition that the stop operation is received, It is characterized by performing stop control to stop the reel at a stop position,
3. The slot machine according to claim 2, wherein the display requirement is that the stop switch cannot be received by the reel stop control means. An operation unacceptable period setting means for setting an operation unacceptable period representing a period during which the player's acceptance of the gaming operation is disabled;
During the operation unacceptable period set by the operation unacceptable period setting means, the reel stop control means does not perform stop control by the gaming operation,
4. The slot machine according to claim 2, wherein the display requirement is a period of the operation unacceptable period set by the operation unacceptable period setting means.

Images