JP2006095189A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display a movement trajectory of a game medium in a mode according to a game state, enhance a display effect to further enhance a visual impact, and further enhance the interest of the game.
Infrared light receiving arrays 24 and 26 for detecting the position of pachinko sphere A moving on trajectory display sections 30 and 32, and a history of the position of pachinko sphere A detected by infrared light receiving arrays 24 and 26. Thus, the movement locus of the pachinko sphere A passing over the locus display units 30 and 32 is calculated. The calculated movement trajectory of the pachinko ball A is displayed on the trajectory display units 30 and 32. The display mode of the movement trajectory displayed on the trajectory display units 30 and 32 is switched according to the gaming state (normal state, reach state, etc.).
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine represented by a pachinko machine, for example. Specifically, the present invention relates to a gaming machine that displays a movement trajectory of gaming media.

First, a general configuration of a pachinko machine that is one form of a gaming machine will be briefly described.
(1) A game board is provided. The pachinko ball (game medium) falls while colliding with a plurality of nails (direction changing bodies) provided on the game board.
(2) The game board is provided with a liquid crystal display device (video display unit) constituting a part thereof. In the liquid crystal display device, various display effects are performed.
(3) A game performed in a gaming machine changes to various gaming states triggered by, for example, a pachinko ball entering the starting port. For example, at the time when the first launch of the pachinko ball is started, the game is played in the “normal state”. When the pachinko ball passes through the start port provided in the game board, three numerical symbols arranged side by side are variably displayed on the video display unit. The numerically displayed symbols are stopped in order, and if the numbers of the first and second stopped numerical symbols are aligned (for example, “7 · 7”, “2 · 2”), the “reach state” is set. Thereafter, the third number symbol stops, and when all the numbers of the three number symbols are aligned (for example, “7 · 7 · 7”, “2 · 2 · 2”), the state shifts to the “special prize state”.
Whether or not to enter the special prize state is determined by random lottery at the timing when the pachinko ball passes through the start port. The probability of entering the special prize state varies depending on the number of the previous stop numeral pattern. For example, if the number of the last stop number symbol is an odd number (such as “5, 5, 5”, etc.), the prize will be awarded in the next lottery than when it is an even number (such as “6, 6, 6”, etc.) The probability of becoming higher. A state in which the probability of becoming a special prize state in the next lottery is high is referred to as a “high probability state”, and a state that is not so is referred to as a “low probability state”.

For example, pachinko machines, air hockey, pinball and other gaming machines are intended to entertain players, and it is important to provide display effects that can give a visual impact. As one of the display effects, a technique for displaying a movement trajectory of a game medium moving on a game board of a gaming machine has been developed. For example, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, a position detector that detects the position of a game medium that moves on the game board and a display device that displays an image through the game board are provided, and the game medium detected by the position detector is provided. The movement trajectory of the game medium is displayed on the display device according to the position.
JP 2001-321554 A

There are cases where a game played on a gaming machine changes to various gaming states. For example, in a pachinko machine, a game is played in a plurality of game states such as a normal state, a reach state, a special prize state, a high probability state, and a low probability state. In this way, when there are a plurality of game states, the display effect is enhanced and the visual impact can be further enhanced by changing the display mode of the movement track according to the game state.
However, in the gaming machine described in Patent Document 1, the display of the movement trajectory does not change corresponding to the change in the gaming state. Since the display mode of the movement trajectory is constant, the display effect is poor.

  The present invention displays the movement trajectory of the game medium in a manner corresponding to the game state when the game played on the gaming machine changes to various game states. Thereby, it is possible to enhance the visual effect by enhancing the display effect and further enhance the interest of the game.

(One way to solve the problem)
A gaming machine embodied in the present invention includes an image display unit that forms at least a part of a game board, a position detector that detects the position of a game medium moving on the image display unit, and a position detector. Based on the detected history of the position of the game medium, a movement trajectory calculation unit that calculates a movement trajectory of the game medium passing on the video display unit, and a movement trajectory of the game medium calculated by the movement trajectory calculation unit on the video display unit And a video display unit control device.
The video display unit control device of the gaming machine switches the display mode of the movement trajectory of the game medium according to the gaming state.

(The action and effect)
Part or all of the gaming board of the gaming machine is configured as a video display unit (liquid crystal display or the like). The video display unit of the gaming machine can display the movement trajectory of game media (pachinko balls, pinballs, etc.). The video display unit may be configured to display not only the movement locus but also various effects, or may be configured to display only the movement locus.
As a position detector for detecting the position of the game medium moving on the video display unit, for example, a position detector using infrared rays can be employed. A matrix detection network is formed by intersecting a plurality of infrared beams in the x-axis direction and a plurality of infrared beams in the y-axis direction emitted from the infrared light emitting unit. The position is detected on the assumption that a game medium is present at a portion where the infrared beam in the x-axis direction and the infrared beam in the y-axis direction that cannot be received by the infrared light receiver. Further, a position detector that forms a matrix-like detection network by ultrasonic waves may be employed. Or you may employ | adopt the position detector described in Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2-279186. In this position detector, the game medium is detected by the impedance change of the portion where the transmission unit and the reception unit of the detection matrix (the transmission coil row group and the reception coil column group are arranged in the cross direction) are superimposed.
The movement trajectory of the game medium moving on the video display unit is calculated by the movement trajectory calculation unit based on the history of positions detected by the position detector. For example, when the position on the video display unit is specified by the xy coordinate, the position coordinate from when the game medium starts to fall on the video display unit to the exit is (x1, y1) → (x2, y2). ) → (x 3, y 3) → (x 4, y 4) → (x 5, y 5), a movement trajectory can be calculated by connecting these coordinates with a straight line. In this case, for example, when a history of (x1, y1) → (x2, y2) is obtained, a movement trajectory between (x1, y1) → (x2, y2) is displayed, and (x2, y2) → ( When the history of x3, y3) is obtained, the movement trajectory between (x2, y2) → (x3, y3) is displayed, and the history of adjacent positions is obtained each time. If the movement trajectory is displayed, it can be felt that the trajectory is displayed almost in synchronization with the movement of the game medium. Alternatively, the entire trajectory may be displayed after the history of (x1, y1) → (x2, y2) → (x3, y3) → (x4, y4) → (x5, y5) is obtained.
The feature of this gaming machine is that the video display unit control device switches the display mode of the movement locus according to the gaming state. For example, in the case of a pachinko machine, the movement trajectory T1 in FIG. 5 is displayed in the normal state, but if there is a possibility of shifting to the special prize state, the movement trajectory T2 in FIG. 6 is displayed. The movement trajectory changes according to the gaming state when passing through.
In this gaming machine, the display mode of the movement trajectory is switched according to the gaming state, so that the visual impact is further enhanced and the interest of the game is further enhanced.

(Preferred means for solving the problem)
A direction changer position storage unit for storing the positions on the video display unit of a plurality of direction changers for changing the moving direction of the game medium is added, and is stored in the direction changer position storage unit by the position detector. When it is detected that a game medium is present at a position close to the direction changer position, the video display unit control device may display that the direction change has been performed at the position changer position. preferable.

(The action and effect)
For example, a game board of a pachinko machine is provided with a plurality of nails (direction changing bodies) that change the moving direction of a pachinko ball (game medium). The moving direction of the pachinko sphere can be changed even on the liquid crystal display by covering the liquid crystal display (video display unit) with an acrylic plate and fixing the nail to the acrylic plate. In this case, it is preferable to fix the nail to a position that is not detected by the position detector (for example, a position that does not contact the infrared beam).
The position of each direction change body provided on the video display unit is stored in advance, and when it is detected that the game medium has come close to each direction change body position on the video display unit, the direction change is performed. It can be regarded as having collided with the body. In this case, in this gaming machine, a display indicating that the direction change has been performed is performed, for example, as in the explosion displays E1 and E2 in FIG. Thereby, it is effectively produced that the traveling direction of the movement locus is switched, and the interest in the game is further enhanced.

(One way to solve the problem)
Another gaming machine embodied in the present invention includes a video display unit that forms at least a part of a game board, a position detector that detects a position of a game medium moving on the video display unit, and a position detector Based on the history of the position of the game medium detected by the game medium, a movement trajectory calculation unit that calculates the movement trajectory of the game medium passing over the video display unit, and the movement of the game medium calculated by the movement trajectory calculation unit on the video display unit And a video display unit control device for displaying a trajectory.
The gaming machine has a passage through which the game medium can pass on the back side of the video display unit, and the passage inlet and passage outlet are provided on the game board, and the game medium is inserted into the passage at the passage entrance. An entrance detector for detecting entry is provided, and further includes a passage position storage unit that stores a change in position over time when the game medium passes through the passage.
In this gaming machine, when it is detected by the entrance detector that the game medium has entered the passage, the video display unit control device, based on the temporal position transition stored in the passing position storage unit, A display indicating that the game medium is passing is performed at a position on the video display unit corresponding to the position of the game medium passing through the passage.

(The action and effect)
The transition of the position when the game medium passes through the passage provided behind the video display unit can be determined from the result of an experiment performed in advance, the standard movement distance per unit time of the game medium, or the like. . The position when the game medium passes through the passage can be specified by xy coordinates on the video display unit arranged on the front side of the passage. For example, assume that the passage entrance is specified by (x0, y0) and the passage exit is specified by (x10, y10). In this case, between the time T0 seconds when the game medium passes through the passage entrance (x0, y0) and the time T10 seconds through which the passage passes through the passage exit (x10, y10), at the time T0 seconds, the entrance (x0, y0) The position is continuous at the position (x1, y1) at time T1 seconds, at the position (x2, y2) at time T2 seconds, and at the position of the exit (x10, y10) at time T10 seconds. The position transition can be determined as follows. The storage unit of this gaming machine stores such temporal position transitions.
Starting from the time when the entrance detector detects that the game medium has entered the passage (for example, time T0 seconds), the game medium is currently passing through which position on the basis of the positional transition over time. Can know. In this gaming machine, the video display control unit displays a message indicating that the game medium is passing through a position on the video display unit corresponding to the position of the game medium passing through the passage (for example, FIG. 13 (1). Display H1). Thereby, the player can easily predict when the game medium comes out from the exit of the passage, and the fun of the game is doubled.

The best mode for carrying out the invention is listed below.
(Embodiment 1) In the history of the position of the game medium detected by the position detector, the image display unit constituting a part of the game board, the position detector for detecting the position of the game medium moving on the image display unit Based on the movement trajectory calculation unit for calculating the movement trajectory of the game medium passing on the video display unit, the video display unit control device for displaying the movement trajectory of the game medium calculated by the movement trajectory calculation unit on the video display unit, ,
A direction changer position storage unit that stores positions on the video display unit of a plurality of direction changers that change the moving direction of the game medium;
When the position detector detects that the game medium is present at a position close to the direction changer position stored in the direction changer position storage unit, the video display unit control device A gaming machine that displays a display indicating that the direction has been changed.

(Mode 2) The video display unit can separately provide a display that displays the movement trajectory of the game medium and a display that displays an effect in accordance with the game state. Alternatively, the moving trajectory of the game medium can be displayed on one video display unit, and an effect display corresponding to the game state can be displayed.
(Mode 3) The displayed movement trajectory gradually becomes thinner as time passes immediately after being displayed, and disappears after a predetermined time (for example, a time required for the game medium to pass) elapses. When a plurality of movement trajectories are displayed, the movement trajectories of the pachinko balls that have passed first disappear in order.
(Mode 4) The gaming machine is provided with a speaker that outputs a sound effect corresponding to the video in synchronization with the video displayed on the video display unit.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view showing the pachinko machine 10 in a simplified manner. The pachinko machine 10 is a gaming machine that uses a pachinko ball as a game medium. FIG. 1 mainly shows those related to the present invention. That is, the gaming machine 10 is provided with various gaming devices (for example, an accessory), a lamp, a speaker, a handle, a saucer, and the like provided in the gaming board in addition to the illustrated ones. It is the same as the machine, and illustration is omitted.
In front of the gaming machine 10, a glass plate 12 and a flat gaming board 14 disposed behind the glass plate 12 are provided. On the game board 14, a plurality of nails (direction changing bodies referred to in the claims) 16 are provided. The pachinko balls launched on the game board 14 fall on the game board 14 while colliding with the nail 16 and changing the traveling direction. The game board 14 is provided with trajectory display units 30 and 32 and an effect display unit 34 that constitute a part thereof. In the trajectory display units 30 and 32, the movement trajectory of the pachinko ball falling on it is displayed. In the effect display unit 34, various effect displays according to the state of the game are performed. For example, when a game is not being played, a so-called demo screen is displayed, or when there is a start prize (described later), the three numbers arranged side by side are changed, or during a special prize state (described later) A symbol that congratulates the player is displayed (FIG. 1 shows an example in which three numeric symbols are arranged).

FIG. 2 shows a II-II cross-sectional view of the trajectory display unit 30 of FIG. Here, the illustration of the configuration not related to the present invention is omitted. In addition, since the locus | trajectory display part 32 and the production | presentation display part 34 are also set as the same structure, duplication description is abbreviate | omitted.
The locus display unit 30 is arranged behind the glass plate 12. The trajectory display unit 30 includes an acrylic plate 30a incorporated in the game board 14, and a liquid crystal display 30b disposed behind the acrylic plate 30a. The pachinko balls can fall on the acrylic plate 30a. A nail 16 is fixed on the acrylic plate 30a. The screen of the liquid crystal display 30b can be seen through the acrylic plate 30a.
The entrance position detector 19 (described later) is also arranged behind the acrylic plate 30a. The right light receiving array 26 (described later) is disposed behind the glass plate 12 and on the game board 14.

As shown in FIG. 1, a start opening 40 and a special winning opening 42 are provided below the effect display section 34. The start port 40 is configured to allow a pachinko ball to pass through (this is called a start winning prize). Inside the start opening 40, a start opening sensor 50 for detecting a start winning of a pachinko ball is provided. When there is a start prize, the effect display unit 34 starts to change three numerical symbols. When the change stops in a state where three numerical symbols are aligned, the state shifts to a special prize state. When shifting to the special prize state, the special prize opening 42 is opened. The large winning opening 42 allows a pachinko ball to pass through when the open / close door opens to the front side of the game board 14 with the lower side as an axis. The special winning opening 42 is opened and closed by being driven by a solenoid 52 mounted on the back side of the game board 14. If the pachinko ball passes while the big prize opening 42 is open, the special prize is confirmed.
A rotating body 44 and a continuous winning opening 46 are provided below the locus display unit 32. The upper part of the outer frame of the rotator 44 is opened so that one pachinko ball is on it. The rotating body 44 is provided with a hole for receiving one pachinko ball. The rotating body 44 is driven by a motor 54 mounted on the back side of the game board 24 and is always rotating. If a pachinko ball is on the upper opening of the outer frame, the pachinko ball enters the hole when the hole of the rotating body 44 comes directly below the upper opening (FIG. 1 shows the positional relationship in this state. ). Thereafter, when the rotating body 44 rotates 180 degrees, the pachinko balls fall from the lower opening of the outer frame. At this time, the movable wing provided in the continuous winning opening 46 opens. The movable wings of the continuous winning opening 46 are driven to open and close by a solenoid 56 mounted on the back side of the game board 14. When the pachinko ball enters the continuous winning opening 46 after the special prize is confirmed, the special prize state can be continued. Therefore, when the special prize is confirmed, the player hits a pachinko ball toward the rotating body 44.

As shown in FIG. 1, the entrance position detector 19 is provided above the trajectory display unit 30. The entrance position detector 19 includes a plurality of sensors 19a arranged in the horizontal axis direction (x-axis direction). The entrance position detector 19 detects the position in the x-axis direction through which the pachinko ball entering the trajectory display unit 30 or the trajectory display unit 32 has passed.
Further, an upper light emitting array 20, a lower light receiving array 24, a left light emitting array 22, and a right light receiving array 26 are provided at the upper end, the lower end, the left end, and the right end of the game board 14, respectively. The horizontal lengths of the upper light emitting array 20 and the lower light receiving array 24 are equal to the length from the left end of the trajectory display unit 30 to the right end of the trajectory display unit 32, and the vertical direction of the left light emitting array 22 and the right light receiving array 26 is the same. The length is equal to the length from the upper end to the lower end of the trajectory display units 30 and 32. These arrays 20, 22, 24, 26 detect the position of the pachinko sphere that passes on the trajectory display units 30, 32.
That is, the pachinko ball whose entrance position in the x-axis direction has been detected by the entrance position detector 19 is subsequently detected on the trajectory display unit 30 or the trajectory display unit 32 by the arrays 20, 22, 24, and 26. Is done. By combining detection by the entrance position detector 19 and detection by the arrays 20, 22, 24, and 26, position detection (described later) can be reliably performed particularly when a plurality of pachinko balls are falling simultaneously. Can do.

As schematically shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of sensors 19 a are arranged in the horizontal axis direction (x-axis direction) in the entrance position detector 19. These sensors 19a are arranged at equal intervals with a plurality of y-axis infrared beams described below, and indicate the entrance position in the x-axis direction of the pachinko sphere entering the trajectory display unit 30 or the trajectory display unit 32. To detect. For example, the x coordinate (xa0) is detected as the entrance position of the pachinko ball A.
The upper light emitting array 20 has a plurality of infrared light emitting elements 20a arranged at equal intervals in the long side direction, and the left light emitting array 22 has a plurality of infrared light emitting elements 22a arranged at equal intervals in the long side direction. Yes. The lower light receiving array 24 has a plurality of infrared light receiving elements 24b arranged at intervals equal to the arrangement interval of the infrared light emitting elements 20a of the upper light emitting array 20, and the right light receiving array 26 has the infrared light emitting elements of the left light emitting array 22. A plurality of infrared light receiving elements 26b are arranged at intervals equal to the arrangement intervals of 22a. An infrared beam emitted from the infrared light emitting element 20a of the upper light emitting array 20 (referred to as a y-axis infrared beam) is received by the infrared light receiving element 24b of the lower light emitting array 24 and emitted from the infrared light emitting element 22a of the left light emitting array 22. The infrared beam (this is called an x-axis infrared beam) is received by the infrared light receiving element 26b of the right light emitting array 26. These y-axis infrared beam and x-axis infrared beam intersect to form a matrix-like detection network. In the following, one grid of a matrix-like detection network is defined as one detection unit.
The infrared light receiving element 22b and the infrared light receiving element 26b are position detection sensors. The position of the pachinko sphere that passes over the trajectory display units 30 and 32 is calculated based on the arrangement of the infrared light receiving elements 24b and 26b that could not receive the infrared beam emitted from the infrared light emitting elements 20a and 24a. That is, the position (ya) in the y-axis direction is detected when the pachinko sphere A contacts the y-axis infrared beam, and the position (xa) in the x-axis direction is detected by contacting the x-axis infrared beam. . The position of the pachinko sphere A is specified by the xy coordinates (xa, ya) at which the detected position in the y-axis direction and the position in the x-axis direction intersect. The position of the pachinko sphere is tracked while passing on the trajectory display units 30 and 32, and the movement trajectory is calculated based on the history of the xy coordinates. For example, if the history is (xa1, ya1) → (xa2, ya2) → (xa3, ya3) → (xa4, ya4) → (xa5, ya5), a straight line connecting these coordinates is assumed and the movement trajectory is assumed. calculate.
In this matrix-shaped detection network, the first detection network is set as one detection unit. If one detection unit is too large for one pachinko sphere, the detection performance deteriorates and the position becomes difficult to grasp. In addition, since the interval between the coordinates of the detected positions is too large, it is difficult to calculate a smooth movement locus. Therefore, the detection unit needs to be an optimal size in consideration of the size of the pachinko sphere.
Further, the nail 16 on the trajectory display units 30 and 32 needs to be fixed at a position where it does not contact the infrared beam as shown in FIG.

Next, the configuration of the control system of the pachinko machine 10 will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the pachinko machine 10. In this block diagram, elements not related to the present invention are not shown. The pachinko machine 10 includes various control units such as a main control unit 100, a trajectory display control unit 120, and an effect display control unit 130. The main control unit 100, the trajectory display control unit 120, and the effect control unit 130 have a configuration in which electronic components (CPU, ROM, RAM, etc.) are mounted on a board provided with printed wiring.
The main control unit 100 includes a CPU 102, a ROM 104, and a RAM 106. The CPU 102 processes a control program stored in the ROM 104 based on detection signals input from the start port sensor 50, the entrance position detector 19, the lower light receiving array 24, the right light receiving array 26, and the like. Then, the main control unit 100 outputs a command signal corresponding to the processing result of the CPU 102 to the solenoid 52, the motor 54, the solenoid 56, the trajectory display control unit 120, the effect display control unit 130, and the like. The RAM 106 temporarily stores information such as various data and input / output signals generated in various processes executed by the main control unit 100.
In addition, since 70 is a sensor provided only in the second embodiment, description thereof is omitted here.

  The locus display control unit 120 includes a CPU 122, a VDP 124, a ROM 126, and a RAM 128. The trajectory display control unit 120 is connected to the main control unit 100, the liquid crystal display 30b, and the liquid crystal display 32b. The trajectory display control unit 120 receives the command signal output from the main control unit 100 and executes display control of the liquid crystal displays 30b and 32b. The CPU 122 processes the display control program stored in the ROM 126 based on the command signal output from the main control unit 100 and outputs the command signal to the VDP 124. The VDP 124 outputs a command signal for display based on display data stored in the ROM 126 based on the command signal output from the CPU 122. The liquid crystal displays 30b and 32b display the movement trajectory of the pachinko sphere and other various information in accordance with the display command signal output from the VDP 124. The RAM 128 temporarily stores data, input / output signals, and the like generated in accordance with various processes executed by the trajectory display control unit 120.

  The effect display control unit 130 includes a CPU 132, a VDP 134, a ROM 136, and a RAM 138. The main control unit 100 and the liquid crystal display 34b are connected to the effect display control unit 130. The effect display control unit 130 receives the command signal output from the main control unit 100 and executes display control of the liquid crystal display 34b. The CPU 132 processes the display control program stored in the ROM 136 based on the command signal output from the main control unit 100 and outputs the command signal to the VDP 134. The VDP 134 outputs a display command signal based on display data stored in the ROM 136 based on the command signal output from the CPU 132. The liquid crystal display 34b displays the numerical symbols in a variable manner or displays various other information according to the display command signal output from the VDP 134. The RAM 138 temporarily stores data, input / output signals, and the like generated in accordance with various processes executed by the effect display control unit 130.

Next, various processes executed by the pachinko machine 10 in accordance with the progress of the game will be described. Here, description of processing that is not very related to the present invention is omitted.
When the pachinko ball launched by the player falls in the direction of the trajectory display unit 30 or the direction of the trajectory display unit 32, the entrance position detector 19 enters the trajectory display unit 30 or the trajectory display unit 32 in the x-axis direction. Detect position. Subsequently, when the pachinko sphere falls on the trajectory display unit 30 or the trajectory display unit 32, the light emitting arrays 22 and 26 detect the position of the pachinko sphere. These detection signals are input to the main control unit 100, and a movement locus is calculated. The trajectory display control unit 120 displays the movement trajectory on the trajectory display unit 30 or the trajectory display unit 32 in accordance with the trajectory display command output from the main control unit 100. During the normal gaming state, a movement trajectory T1 illustrated in FIG. 5 is displayed.
In addition, whenever each coordinate on the locus | trajectory display parts 30 and 32 of a pachinko sphere is detected, the movement locus | trajectory T1 between each coordinate is displayed. For example, when the pachinko ball moves on the trajectory display unit 30 as (xa1, ya1) → (xa2, ya2) → (xa3, ya3) → (xa4, ya4) → (xa5, ya5) → (xa1, ya1) → When the history of (xa2, ya2) is obtained, the movement trajectory between (xa1, ya1) → (xa2, ya2) is displayed, and the history of (xa2, ya2) → (xa3, ya3) is obtained. The movement trajectory T1 is displayed every time a history of adjacent coordinates is obtained, such as displaying a movement trajectory between (xa2, ya2) → (xa3, ya3) at the time. Thereby, it is felt that the movement locus T1 is displayed almost in synchronization with the movement of the pachinko ball. Similarly, the movement trajectories of the following other modes are displayed whenever a history of adjacent coordinates is obtained.
The movement trajectory T1 gradually becomes thinner as time passes from immediately after the entire display, and for a predetermined time (for example, a time required for the pachinko ball to pass through the trajectory display unit 30 or the trajectory display unit 32). It disappears after elapses. Similarly, the movement trajectories of the following other modes disappear after a predetermined time.

When the pachinko ball wins the starting port 40 (when a detection signal is output from the starting port sensor 50), the main control unit 100 acquires various random numbers. Specifically, a special prize determination random number, a special prize design random number, a lost design random number, a variation pattern random number, a special display effect random number, and the like are acquired. These random numbers are acquired from a counter provided in the CPU 102 of the main control unit 100 at the timing when the pachinko ball wins the start opening 40. The counter repeatedly counts integer values within a predetermined range.
The special prize determination random number is a random number for determining whether or not to shift to the special prize state. The special prize design random number is a random number for determining a number (0 to 9) when three number designs are arranged. The lost symbol random number is a random number for determining a combination of numeric symbols other than the special prize symbol. The variation pattern random number is a random number for determining a variation pattern of a symbol (for example, stop order of three numeric symbols, reach action, etc.) (the three numeric symbols of the liquid crystal display 34a vary one by one). Because it stops in order, it is necessary to decide the stop order).

When the acquired special prize decision random number is a preset hit value, the special prize design is determined based on the special prize design random number, and the variation pattern of the design is determined based on the variation pattern random number. Then, a command based on the determined special prize symbol and the variation pattern (hereinafter referred to as a symbol variation command) is created, and the created symbol variation command is output to the effect display control unit 130.
In this case, the effect display control unit 130 variably displays the numerical symbols on the liquid crystal display 34b based on the symbol variation command output from the main controller 100 (that is, a command that can identify the special prize symbol and the variation pattern). Stop display with a special prize design.
When the special symbol is stopped and displayed on the liquid crystal display 34b, the main control unit 100 executes a process of driving the solenoid 52 to open the special winning opening 42. Thereby, it shifts to the special prize state.

On the other hand, when the acquired special prize determining random number is not a preset hit value, the lost symbol is determined based on the lost symbol random number, and the variation pattern is determined based on the variation pattern random number. Then, a symbol variation command based on the determined lost symbol and variation pattern is created, and the created symbol variation command is output to the effect display control unit 130.
In this case, in accordance with the symbol variation command output from the main controller 100, the effect display control unit 130 causes the number symbol to be variably displayed on the liquid crystal display 34b, and then stops and displays the loss symbol.

In the variation pattern in the case where the acquired special prize determining random number is a winning value, it is determined that the first stop numerical symbol, the second stop numerical symbol, and the third stop numerical symbol are aligned. Further, even when the acquired special prize determining random number is not a winning value, it may be determined that the first stop numeric symbol and the second stop numeric symbol are aligned. As described above, the reach action is performed in the variation pattern in which the number symbol that stops first and the number symbol that stops second are aligned (this is referred to as a reach state).
The reach action includes a normal reach action and a super reach action. In the normal reach action, the lost symbol is displayed after the first and second numeric symbols are aligned, and the normal state is restored. In the super reach action, in the state where the first and second numeric symbols are aligned, the effect display is started in the background of the numeric symbols. When a super reach action is performed, the player can be expected to have a high probability of shifting to a special prize state.
There are several types of super-reach actions depending on the probability of transition to the special prize state (hereinafter referred to as the expected rate). In the pachinko machine 10 of the present embodiment, a super reach action 30 with an expected rate of 30%, a super reach action 50 with an expected rate of 50%, and a super reach action 100 with an expected rate of 100% are distinguished. In the super reach action 30 or the super reach action 50, depending on the expectation rate, either the lost symbol is displayed thereafter to return to the normal state, or the special prize symbol is displayed to shift to the special prize state. In the super reach action 100, a special prize symbol is displayed after that, and a transition is made to a special prize state.

When the pachinko ball passes over the trajectory display unit 30 or the trajectory display unit 32 after it is determined to perform the super reach action and is actually started, the movement trajectory T2 (lightning bolt) illustrated in FIG. Is displayed). When the movement trajectory T2 is displayed, the player can know that the super reach action is started, and the game is played with an increased sense of expectation.
When the pachinko ball passes on the trajectory display unit 30 or the trajectory display unit 32 after the start of the super reach action, a movement trajectory (flame movement trajectory) illustrated in FIG. 7 is displayed. When the super reach action 30 is started, the movement trajectory T3 illustrated in FIG. 7A is displayed. When the super reach action 50 is started, the movement trajectory T4 illustrated in FIG. 7B is displayed, and the super reach action is displayed. When 100 is started, a movement trajectory T5 illustrated in FIG. 7 (3) is displayed.

  When the special reach state is entered after the super reach action 100 is performed, the special prize is determined by passing the pachinko ball through the special winning opening 42. After the special prize is confirmed, the special prize state can be continued by inserting a pachinko ball into the continuous winning opening 46 (see FIG. 1). Therefore, it is a good idea for the player to hit a pachinko ball toward the rotating body 44 after the special prize is confirmed. Therefore, the trajectory display unit 30 and the trajectory display unit 32 display the movement trajectory as shown in FIG. 8 after the special prize is confirmed. In other words, the trajectory display unit 30 displays the movement trajectory T1 (the movement trajectory in the normal state), and the trajectory display unit 32 displays the movement trajectory T6 (the movement trajectory of electric shock). As a result, the player can know that it is appropriate to hit the pachinko ball in the direction of the trajectory display unit 32 (that is, the direction of the rotating body 44), and the special prize state is less likely to be continued.

The display form of the trajectory can be changed depending on various game states. For example, the display mode of the trajectory is changed between the high probability state and the super reach action, the movement trajectory T3 (flame movement trajectory) in FIG. 7 (1) is displayed in the high probability state, and the movement trajectory T6 (electric shock in FIG. 8 is displayed in the super reach action. Move trajectory).
In addition, the effect display unit 34 may be provided in front of the game board 14, and the effect display 34 and the locus display units 30 and 32 may be overlapped with each other when viewed from the front, thereby overlapping the effect display and the locus display. it can. For example, the glass plate 12 shown in FIG. 2 is replaced with an effect display unit 34 formed of a transparent liquid crystal screen, and an effect display is performed in front of the pachinko ball, and a track display is performed on the track display unit 30b behind the pachinko ball. Thus, the effect display and the trajectory display can be overlapped. Or, conversely, the trajectory display units 30 and 32 are provided in front of the game board 14, and the trajectory display 30 and 32 and the effect display unit 34 are arranged to overlap each other when viewed from the front, thereby displaying the trajectory display and the effect display. Can be stacked. In this case, the glass plate 12 of FIG. 2 is replaced with the trajectory display units 30 and 32 formed of a transparent liquid crystal screen, the trajectory display is performed in front of the pachinko sphere, and the display unit 30b behind the pachinko sphere is displayed. By performing the effect display, the locus display and the effect display can be overlapped.

(Explosion display when a pachinko ball hits a nail)
A plurality of nails 16 are fixed to the trajectory display portions 30 and 32 on the acrylic plates 30a and 32a (see FIG. 2). For this reason, the pachinko ball may collide with the nail 16 when the pachinko ball passes over the acrylic plates 30a and 32a. A configuration and processing for realizing the display of the trajectory display units 30 and 32 in this case will be described.
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the configuration and processing for realizing the display of the trajectory display unit 30. Since the trajectory display unit 32 has the same configuration and processing, duplicate description is omitted.
On the trajectory display unit 30, 14 x-axis infrared beams x1 to x14 and 8 y-axis infrared beams y1 to y8 are irradiated. The positions of the plurality of nails 16 on the trajectory display unit 30 are all stored in the ROM 104 of the main control unit 100. A plurality of xy coordinates are stored in association with each nail 16 position. These coordinates are coordinates of a position that can be regarded as having collided with the nail if the pachinko ball is located at the coordinates. Thus, it is possible to calculate which nail has collided from the detection signals of each x-axis infrared ray and each y-axis infrared ray that the pachinko ball contacts.
In the example of FIG. 9, (x8, y1), (x8, y2), (x9, y1), (x9, y2) are associated with the position of the nail N1 between x8-x9 and y1-y2. It is remembered. As shown in FIG. 9, when it is detected that the pachinko sphere is at (x8, y1), it is calculated that the nail N1 is touched. When it is calculated that the nail N1 is touched, an explosion display E1 is performed. Further, (x6, y5), (x6, y6), (x7, y5), (x7, y6) are stored in association with the position of the nail N2 between x6-x7 and y5-y6. . As shown in FIG. 9, when it is detected that the pachinko ball is at (x7, y5), it is calculated that the nail N2 is touched. When it is calculated that the nail N2 is touched, an explosion display E2 is performed.
Thus, by displaying the explosion when the pachinko ball collides with the nail, the display of the movement trajectory can be produced more effectively.

  The explosion display when the pachinko ball collides with the nail 16 can be displayed in any gaming state. For example, FIG. 10 shows an explosion display superimposed on the movement trajectory T2 (lightning bolt movement trajectory) from when it is determined to perform the super reach action until it is actually started. Further, FIG. 11 shows an explosion display superimposed on the movement locus T6 (movement trajectory of electric shock) displayed on the locus display unit 32 after the special prize is confirmed (here, two pachinko balls are almost simultaneously displayed on the locus display unit). 32 shows an example when it falls on 32).

(Position detection method when multiple pachinko balls are falling simultaneously)
A method for detecting the position of each pachinko ball when a plurality of pachinko balls are simultaneously falling in each of the trajectory display units 30 and 32 will be described. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, when the pachinko ball A is actually falling on the position A1 on the trajectory display unit 30, if there is no entrance position detector 19, the pachinko ball A is at the position A1. It cannot be determined whether the user is at the position A2. Further, when the pachinko ball B is falling at the position B1, if the entrance position detector 19 is not provided, it cannot be determined whether the pachinko ball B is at the position B1 or B2. This is because the arrays 24 and 26 detect the position where the pachinko sphere is present with the arrangement of the light receiving elements that could not receive infrared rays. When the pachinko sphere A is at the position A1, it contacts the infrared beam xA and the infrared beam yA, and when the pachinko sphere B is at the position B1, it contacts the infrared beam xB and the infrared beam yB. For this reason, the position A2 where the infrared beam xA and the infrared beam yB intersect and the position B2 where the infrared beam xB and the infrared beam yA intersect are also detected, and the exact positions of the pachinko balls A and B cannot be specified.
In order to solve this problem, it is effective to detect the exact position of the actual pachinko sphere by combining the detection by the entrance position detector 19 and the detection by the arrays 24 and 26. The entrance position detector 19 knows the entrance position in the x-axis direction on the trajectory display unit 30 and its detection time point. Referring to the standard falling speed of the pachinko ball, it can be seen that when a predetermined time elapses from when the ball entry position is detected, the ball enters the trajectory display units 30 and 32 almost directly below the ball entry position. . The exact position of the pachinko sphere can be determined by combining with the movement trajectories in the subsequent trajectory display units 30 and 32.
For example, when a predetermined time elapses from when the entrance position of the pachinko ball A in the x-axis direction is detected by the sensor 19aA of the entrance position detector 19, the position is displayed on the trajectory display units 30 and 32 from directly below the entrance position. Enter the ball. If the subsequent movement trajectory is also determined, it is confirmed that the pachinko sphere A exists at the position A1, and it can be seen that the pachinko sphere A does not exist at the position A2. In addition, when a predetermined time has elapsed from the time when the entrance position of the pachinko sphere B in the x-axis direction is detected by the sensor 19aB of the entrance position detector 19, the trajectory display units 30 and 32 appear on the trajectory display units 30 and 32 from directly below the entrance position. Enter the ball. If the subsequent movement trajectory is also determined, it is confirmed that the pachinko sphere B exists at the position B1, and it can be seen that no pachinko sphere exists at the position B2.
Thus, even when a plurality of pachinko balls are falling simultaneously, an accurate movement trajectory of the pachinko balls is calculated by combining detection by the entrance position detector 19 and detection by the arrays 24 and 26. be able to.

  When the movement trajectory is calculated as described above and the movement trajectories of a plurality of pachinko balls are displayed at the same time, the movement trajectory of the pachinko sphere that first started to pass gradually fades away. Thereby, a plurality of movement trajectories do not intersect at the same density, and each movement trajectory can be clearly distinguished visually.

(Second embodiment)
In this embodiment, a passage through which the pachinko ball can pass is provided behind the trajectory display unit. The entrance of the passage and the exit of the passage are provided on the game board. The pachinko ball that passes through the passage cannot be seen from the front, but the trajectory display unit performs a display following the movement. Since other configurations and processes are the same as those in the first embodiment, a duplicate description is omitted. Hereinafter, the configuration and processing of the second embodiment will be described.
FIG. 13A shows the trajectory display unit 30 of the second embodiment. Since the trajectory display unit 32 has the same configuration, duplicate description is omitted. As shown in FIG. 13 (1), a passage inlet 60 is provided on the upper side of the trajectory display unit 30, and a passage outlet 62 is provided on the lower side. The passage inlet 60 and the passage outlet 62 are configured to have a size capable of passing one pachinko ball at a time. The pachinko balls are received by the ball receiver 60 a protruding from the passage entrance 60 to the front surface and introduced into the passage 18. An entrance sensor 70 is mounted inside the passage entrance 60. Pachinko balls that have passed through the passage 18 are led out from the passage outlet 62.
An XIII-XIII cross-sectional view of the trajectory display unit 30 is shown in (2). In this cross-sectional view, illustrations of components not related to the present invention are omitted. The passage 18 has an upper passage 18a. The upper passage 18a is horizontally installed at a height lower than the entrance 60 by one pachinko ball. The upper passage 18a extends to the back side of the liquid crystal display unit 30b. The rear end portion of the upper passage 18a is connected to the inclined passage 18b. The inclined passage 18b is inclined downward toward the back of the page. The lower end portion of the inclined passage 18b is connected to the rear end portion of the lower passage 18c. The lower passage 18 c is installed horizontally at the same height as the passage outlet 62. The pachinko ball that has entered the passage inlet 60 passes through the inclined passage 18b and the lower passage 18c from the upper passage 18a and is led out from the passage outlet 62.
The position of the pachinko sphere that passes through the passage 18 can be specified by the xy coordinates on the trajectory display unit 30. The time-dependent transition of the coordinates for each unit time from when the pachinko ball enters the passage entrance 60 to the exit of the passage exit 62 is known from the results of experiments performed in advance. The unit time here is determined to be an appropriate unit that smoothly represents that the pachinko ball is passing by the continuation of the coordinates. The time-dependent transition of coordinates for each unit time is stored in the ROM 104 of the main control unit 100. For example, if the coordinates of the passage inlet 60 are (x0, y0) and the passage outlet 62 is (x10, y10), the time T10 when the pachinko ball passes through the passage outlet 62 from the time T0 seconds when the pachinko ball passes through the passage inlet 60. Up to 2 seconds, at time T0 seconds, at the position of the passage entrance 60 (x0, y0), at time T1 seconds, at the position (x1, y1), at time T2 seconds, at the position (x2, y2), And, at time T10 seconds, the transition of coordinates over time is stored as being at the position of the passage outlet 62 (x10, y10).
When the entrance sensor 70 detects that the pachinko ball has entered the passage entrance 60, the position in the passage 18 through which the pachinko ball is currently passing can be known from that point. For example, assuming that the time when the pachinko ball enters the passage entrance 60 is time T0 seconds, the coordinates on the trajectory display unit 30 for each unit time of time T1 seconds, time T2 seconds, time T3 seconds,. The follow-up display H1 (cloud display) exemplified in 1) is displayed. Thereby, the player can easily predict when the pachinko ball comes out from the passage exit 62, and the fun of the game is doubled.

  In the follow-up display, the display mode can be changed depending on the game state. For example, in the normal state, the display H1 (cloud display) illustrated in FIG. 13 (1) is used. However, after the reach action is started, the display is changed to FIG. 7 (1), (2), or (3) depending on the expected rate. It can be a flame display as an example.

Specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail above, but these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples illustrated above.
In the gaming machine of this embodiment, the trajectory display unit 30 and the trajectory display unit 32 are arranged on the left and right, but this is not a limitation. It is also possible to arrange them vertically. Further, the number of trajectory display units is not limited to two. One may be sufficient and three or more may be sufficient.
In addition, the technical elements described in the present specification or the drawings exhibit technical usefulness alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. In addition, the technology illustrated in the present specification or the drawings achieves a plurality of objects at the same time, and has technical utility by achieving one of the objects.

The schematic front view of a pachinko machine. Sectional drawing of a locus | trajectory display part. The figure explaining the position detection of a pachinko ball. The block diagram which shows the control system structure of a pachinko machine. The figure which shows the movement locus | trajectory in a normal state. The figure which shows the movement locus | trajectory until a super reach action is started. The figure which shows the movement locus | trajectory after a super reach action is started. The figure which shows the movement locus | trajectory after a special prize is decided. The figure explaining the explosion display when a pachinko ball collides with a nail. The figure which piled up the explosive display on the movement locus until the super reach action is started. The figure which overlaid the explosive display on the movement locus after the special prize is decided. The figure explaining the position detection method when several pachinko balls are falling simultaneously. The front view and sectional drawing of the locus | trajectory display part of 2nd Example.

Explanation of symbols

10: Pachinko machine,
12: Glass plate,
14: Game board,
16: Nails,
18: Aisle,
19: Entry position detector,
20: Upper light emitting array,
22: Left light emitting array,
24: Lower light receiving array,
26: Right light receiving array,
30, 32: locus display section,
34: Production display section,
40: Start port,
44: Rotating body,
46: Continuous winning prize

Claims (3)

A video display unit constituting at least a part of the game board;
A position detector for detecting the position of the game medium moving on the video display unit;
A movement trajectory calculation unit that calculates a movement trajectory of the game medium passing on the video display unit based on the history of the position of the game medium detected by the position detector;
The video display unit includes a video display unit control device that displays the movement trajectory of the game medium calculated by the movement trajectory calculation unit,
The video display unit control device switches a display mode of a movement trajectory of a game medium according to a game state. A direction changer position storage unit that stores positions on the video display unit of a plurality of direction changers that change the moving direction of the game medium is added,
When the position detector detects that the game medium is present at a position close to the direction changer position stored in the direction changer position storage unit, the video display unit control device The game machine according to claim 1, wherein a display indicating that the direction has been changed is performed. A video display unit constituting at least a part of the game board;
A position detector for detecting the position of the game medium moving on the video display unit;
A movement trajectory calculation unit that calculates a movement trajectory of the game medium passing on the video display unit based on the history of the position of the game medium detected by the position detector;
The video display unit includes a video display unit control device that displays the movement trajectory of the game medium calculated by the movement trajectory calculation unit,
A passage through which game media can pass is provided behind the video display section, and the passage entrance and passage exit are provided on the game board, and the passage entrance detects that the game media has entered the passage. An inlet detector is provided,
A passage position storage unit that stores transitions of position over time when the game medium passes through the passage;
When it is detected by the entrance detector that the game medium has entered the passage, the video display unit control device passes through the passage based on the temporal position transition stored in the passage position storage unit. A game machine, wherein a display indicating that a game medium is passing is displayed at a position on the video display unit corresponding to the position of the game medium.

Images