JP2001252406A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively inhibit a player to execute 'control shooting' in a 'REACH (ready-to-win) state' and a 'reserved ball full state'. SOLUTION: A game machine providing a benefit to a player when patterns are variably displayed on a display part and plural stopped patterns have a specific combination, comprises a start winning port (starting port) 7, and a movable distributing member (movable member) 26 capable of being changed from a specific first state to a second state for guiding the game balls to the start winning port 7 to be won easier than the first state, and continuing the second state at least during the REACH condition.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine having a structure in which a symbol is variably displayed on a display unit and a privilege is given to a player when a plurality of stopped symbols are in a specific combination. It is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a pachinko machine, the greatest concern of a player is a matter directly related to a "big hit" such as a prize in a specific area or a result of a change in a symbol displayed on a display device. For example, when the symbols on the display device are variably displayed and a plurality of stopped symbols are in a specific combination, in a pachinko machine that gives a “big hit game” as a privilege to the player, the timing of changing the symbols ( The cause) is that the ball wins the starting port arranged immediately below the display device (center display device) arranged at the center of the game area. For this reason, in the normal game state, the player first concentrates on making the starting port receive a ball.

[0003] Here, as a flow path where the ball wins the starting opening, a flow path where the ball bounces on the board surface and directly wins the starting opening,
After the ball bouncing on the board climbs on the stage provided at the lower part of the display device in a state inclined toward the front side, it falls and lands at the starting port immediately below, the warp passage from the top of the display device Many game machines have a flow path in which a ball that has passed through and exited from a warp exit rides on the stage and then falls and wins a winning opening immediately below.

[0004] After the winning opening prize, if the lucky state is reached after the symbol fluctuates, the player stops firing the ball until the result is determined. There are many. Although the psychological state of the player who performs "stop" is various, it is often caused by the following mental state or recognition. If the reach result is a hit, the ball hit from the start of the reach state to the determination of the hit is wasted. I want to concentrate on enjoying displaying lottery effects such as symbol fluctuations and animations displayed during the reach state. It is thought that if the ball is continuously fired during the reach state and any change such as a ball entering the gate or a start opening prize is given, the result of the reach becomes difficult to hit.

When the number of reserved balls reaches a predetermined number (hereinafter referred to as "retained ball full state"), the ball is often "stopped". The reason is that even if the starting mouth is made to win more, the reserved balls are not counted, and since the loss of the shooting ball is greater than the gain of the number of winning balls due to the starting mouth winning, it is judged to be disadvantageous in the game. Because.

[0006] When "stopping" is performed in this way, the operation of the pachinko machine is stopped for a short time. However, the reach state and the full state of the reserved ball often occur during the game, and many players perform “stopping”, so that depending on the hall side, it is an act that cannot be ignored, which lowers the operating rate.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to effectively prevent a player from "stopping" in a "reach state" and a "holding ball full state".

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems, a symbol is variably displayed on a display unit.
In a gaming machine configured to grant a bonus to a player when a plurality of stopped symbols become a specific combination,
When the winning opening and the display unit are in the reach state, the state is changed from a predetermined first state to a second state in which game balls are more easily guided to the winning opening than the first state, and at least during the reach state. And a movable member for maintaining the second state. Here, the “reach state” is a state in which the symbols in the other symbol display columns have the possibility of forming a big hit symbol array, except for the remaining symbols that are still fluctuating (for example, the symbol display column Is three rows, if each of the symbols in the two rows is stopped at “7” and the remaining one row is changing, and the changing symbol becomes “7”, The state of the big hit pattern arrangement)
Say.

According to the configuration of the first aspect of the present invention, during the reach state, the movable member keeps the second state in which the ball is easily guided to the winning opening, so that the game ball is moved to the winning opening. Has a higher probability of winning, and is advantageous to the player, so that the player can suppress the "hitting" in order to continuously hit the ball.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, since at least one of the winning openings is a starting opening whose symbol fluctuates when a winning is made, it is easy to win the starting opening. Since the number of symbol fluctuations on the display unit increases, the value increases more than the winning in the general winning opening, and the player keeps hitting the ball with a higher willingness to play than before.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine having a structure in which a symbol is variably displayed on a display unit and a privilege is given to a player when a plurality of stopped symbols are in a specific combination. A winning opening in which the symbol fluctuates when a prize is won, a reserved ball display section for displaying the number of retained balls in which the symbol variation is suspended when a game ball has won the starting port, and the reserved ball number is a predetermined number. When the upper limit value is reached and the upper limit state is reached, the predetermined first state is changed to the second state in which game balls are more easily guided to the starting port or another winning opening than the first state from the first state, and the predetermined state is maintained for a predetermined time. And a movable member that continues the second state. For this reason,
In the "holding ball full state", the number of symbol changes does not increase even if the start port is further won. However, compared to the first state, the game ball wins in the start port or another winning port. If the number of winning balls in the winning opening increases and the number exceeds the number of shooting balls, it is beneficial for the player. Can be suppressed.

Further, the invention of claim 4 is the invention of claim 2 or 3.
In the invention, the gaming machine includes a composite device having the display unit, which is disposed substantially at the center of the board surface, and the movable member is disposed inside the composite device, and is temporarily stored in the composite device. A moving distribution member for distributing a flow-down path of the game ball flowing into the game device, wherein the starting port is disposed immediately below the movable distribution member and facing the distribution member. For this reason, the movable sorting member is installed immediately above the starting port, and the “movable sorting member” is in the “reach” state or the “hold ball full state”, and the movable sorting member is in the second position.
In the state, the ball is more likely to win the starting port, the player will be motivated to continue the game,
“Stop” is suppressed.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to examples. FIG. 1 is a front view of a portion of a game board 1 of a pachinko machine P according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of a special symbol display device 12 of FIG. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line X ₁ -X _{1 of} FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line X ₂ -X ₂ of FIG. FIG.
4, a game area 3 is formed on the game board 1 of the pachinko machine P by guide rails 2 arranged in a substantially circular shape, and a multifunction device A is provided at a substantially central portion of the game area 3. A rotating windmill 4 is provided diagonally above both upper corners of the multifunction device A, and another rotating windmill 5 is provided on both sides of the lower end of the multifunction device A. ing. Further, on both sides of each rotary windmill 5, a general winning opening 6 is provided, respectively.

A start winning opening 7 is provided immediately below the center of the multifunction device A in the left-right direction.
An attacker device 8 is disposed directly below the opening / closing plate 9. The attacker device 8 is provided with an opening / closing plate 9 which is opened by tilting toward the front side. In a normal playing state, the opening / closing plate 9 is closed. In a state in which a large winning opening (not shown) provided in the attacker device 8 is closed, and in a specific game state described later, the opening / closing plate 9 tilts toward the front side and flows down. The ball is likely to enter the special winning opening. An out ball discharge passage 11 is provided at the lowermost part of the center of the game area 3.

The multifunction device A disposed at the center of the game area 3 has a special symbol display device 12 made of liquid crystal, and the starting winning port 7 is awarded while the special symbol of the special symbol display device 12 is changing. A plurality (usually four) of reserved ball display portions 13 for displaying the number of game balls that have been set, and a space portion on the front side of the display portion on the front of the special symbol display device 12 for decoration by irradiating from both sides. A plurality of decorative lamps 14 (see FIG. 4), the multifunction device A for passing game balls flowing into the ball inlet 15 provided at the upper center portion of the multifunction device A
It has a warp passage (not shown) and the like provided in a state where it cannot be visually recognized from the outside.

When a game ball wins in the starting winning opening 7, the special symbol of the special symbol display device 12 starts to change, and a plurality of stopped special symbols are combined in a specific combination (for example, 7, 7, and 7). In the case of 7), a specific game state is set, and the opening / closing plate 9 of the attacker device 8 is tilted to the front side, and the big winning opening is opened. The open / close plate 9 is kept open until a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) or a predetermined number (for example, 10) of winning balls is generated. After the opening and closing plate 9 is closed, it is opened again and is repeated a predetermined number of times.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4,
A decorative member 16 is provided on an outer peripheral portion of the multifunction device A, and a peripheral portion of the decorative member 16 forms a mounting board 17. That is, the special symbol display device 12 constituting the multifunction device A is arranged at a portion further behind the back of the game board 1 and is integrally attached to the rear end face of the peripheral wall 18 having a rectangular frame shape in a front view. , The special symbol display device 12
A large space portion 19 is formed from the front display portion 12a to the surface of the game board 1. The decorative member 16 is integrally attached to a front end surface of the peripheral wall body 18, and the peripheral wall body 18 is inserted and arranged in a through hole (router hole) 21 formed in the game board 1, and has a peripheral portion thereof. The mounting board 17 of the game board 1 is disposed in close contact with a portion facing the through hole 21 in the game board 1 to cover and cover the through hole 21. As shown in FIG. 4, a step portion is formed inward in the rear half of both side wall portions 22 forming the peripheral wall body 18, and a plurality of the decorative lamps 1 are provided outside the step portion.
4 are arranged horizontally at predetermined intervals along the vertical direction to decorate a portion of the space portion 19 immediately before the display portion 12a of the special symbol display device 12.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, most of the bottom wall constituting the peripheral
4 and, along the left-right direction, is gently inclined so that the central portion thereof is lowest, and along the front-rear direction, the front side is inclined so as to be low. Further, along the left-right direction, in a portion except for the central portion, the upper end edge 16a of the decoration member 16 disposed on the foremost side is higher than the upper surface of the stage 24, and The structure is such that the game ball flowing in the left and right direction does not easily flow to the near side in the middle. Also, on this stage 24, a game ball that has entered the ball inflow port 15 at the upper end of the multifunction device A and flowed out through the warp passage, or a game ball that has climbed by bouncing off a game nail 25 around the multifunction device A As a result, the game balls passing through the stage 24 are easily gathered at the center of the game ball due to the left, right, front and rear inclinations described above.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the stage 2
The rear end portion of the bottom wall portion forming the step 4 is provided with a step portion facing upward, and the four retaining ball lamps are provided along the left and right direction on the back side of the vertical portion constituting the step portion. (Not shown) are arranged, and the same number of reserved ball display sections 13 are formed.

At the lowest part of the center of the stage 24 in the left-right direction, there is provided a movable distribution member 26 for guiding the game balls B passing over the stage 24 to the winning prize opening 7 immediately below so as to easily win. It is arranged. That is, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the movable distribution member 26 is a member having a length in the front-rear direction longer than the length in the left-right direction in the arrangement state. The ball guiding groove 27 has a V-shape with a large open angle over the entire length, and has a shape in which only the front end is narrower than the remaining portion in plan view. On the other hand, a slightly similar large opening 28 into which the movable distribution member 26 can be inserted is formed in the lowest portion of the center portion of the stage 24 in the left-right direction. In a state where the fulcrum shaft 31 is inserted into the front end portion thereof, the fulcrum shaft 31 is inserted into a fulcrum shaft insertion hole 29 provided in the width direction, and the fulcrum shaft 31 can be slightly rotated around the fulcrum shaft 31 in a side view. Supported.

That is, the movable distribution member 26 slightly rotates around the fulcrum shaft 31 in the side view by the action of the solenoid 32 disposed below the multifunction device A on the back side of the game board 1. As a result, the amount of protrusion of the movable distribution member 26 with respect to the upper surface of the stage 24 greatly changes. A lower portion of the rear end of the movable distribution member 26 is a contact portion 33 formed in a semicircular shape in a vertical cross section. The contact portion 33 is attached to the front end of the rod 34 of the solenoid 32, and its inclined surface is advanced. 35a comes into contact with the contact portion 33 of the movable distribution member 26 to rotate the movable distribution member 26 slightly upward, and when the rod 34 is retracted, the movable distribution member 26 is pivoted upward and moved upward. 26 is configured to rotate downward by its own weight when its contact portion 33 is guided by the inclined surface 35a of the operation piece 35.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3,
The starting winning opening 7 is disposed directly below the movable distribution member 26, and the space between the two on the game board 1 is symmetrical with respect to the left-right symmetry line L of the composite device A and the starting winning opening 7. And two game nails 25 are provided. This 2
The interval W between the game nails 25 is slightly larger than the diameter of the game balls B, so that the game balls B can pass through. In addition, the length between the tip of the movable sorting member 26 and the upper end of the opening of the starting winning opening 7 is approximately three times the diameter of the game ball B.
Doubled. Also, as shown in FIG. 1, below the multifunction device A or on both sides of the starting winning opening 7, a large number of game nails 25 in addition to the two game nails 25 described above with respect to the symmetry line L are provided. The game balls that bounce off the game nails 25 are partially symmetrical with each other.
Or wins the starting winning opening 7.

In the normal play state, the movable distribution member 26 has a substantially upper half protruding from the upper surface 24a of the stage 24, as shown in FIGS. Most of the game balls B flowing toward the uppermost central portion hit the both side surfaces 26a of the movable distribution member 26 and flow down from the stage 24 onto the game board 1 as they are. Only in a specific game state, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the movable distribution member 26 rotates downward when the substantially upper half thereof protrudes from the upper surface 24 a of the stage 24. Thus, the game balls B flowing laterally toward the lowest central portion on the stage 24 can easily get on the ball guiding grooves 27 on the upper surface of the movable distribution member 26.

The "specific game state" of the present invention includes both a "reach state" and a "retained ball full state". First, the unique game state of the present invention in the "reach state" will be described. I do. First, in order to reach the “reach state”, it is necessary that a game ball wins the starting winning opening 7 in a normal gaming state, and the following three types of winning paths are given. The game ball rebounds (entangles) with the game nail 25 near the starting winning port 7, and the game ball directly enters the starting winning port 7 (first winning path).
The game ball that has rebounded from the game nail 25 near the starting winning opening 7 rides on the stage 24 of the multifunction device A, or the game ball that has flowed into the ball inlet 15 passes through the warp passage and is on the upper surface of the stage 24. And fortunately climbs into the ball guiding groove 27 on the upper surface of the narrow movable distributing member 26,
The ball is guided into the ball guiding groove 27 which has become a downwardly inclined surface as it is, falls from the tip thereof, and enters the starting winning opening 7 (second
Winning route). The game ball that has rebounded from the game nail 25 near the starting winning opening 7 rides on the stage 24 of the multifunction device A, or the game ball that has flowed into the ball inlet 15 passes through the warp passage and is on the upper surface of the stage 24. Although it has been reached, it does not climb on the upper surface of the narrow movable distributing member 26, but falls directly from the left and right sides of the movable distributing member 26 and enters the starting winning opening 7 (third winning path).

In the normal game state, there are the above three types of winning paths in which the game balls enter the start winning opening 7, and the "path passing frequency" of the game balls is the first, third, and second. It is the order of each winning route, and the “winning probability” of the game ball is the order of the second, first, and third winning routes. Then, the "winning frequency" to the starting winning opening 7 in the normal gaming state.
Is almost proportional to the product of the "passage frequency" and the "prize winning probability" described above, and therefore, most often enters the starting winning opening 7 through the first winning route.

In the normal game state according to the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the movable distribution member 26 projects from the upper surface 24a of the stage 24 of the multifunction device A. Most of the game balls that have climbed onto the stage 24a or reached the stage 24 through the warp passage hit the both side surfaces 26a of the movable distribution member 26, and did not ride on the ball guiding grooves 27 on the upper surface thereof, and The left and right sides of the movable distribution member 26 roll due to the gradient in the front-rear direction, and fall as it is. In addition, a part of the game ball climbing on the stage 24 or reaching the stage 24 through the warp passage rides on the movable sorting member 26 protruding from the upper surface 24a of the stage 24, and the ball guiding groove 27 To the movable sorting member 2
6 falls toward the starting winning opening 7 immediately below, but the probability is low.

Then, when a game ball wins in the starting winning opening 7 through any of the first, second and third winning paths described above, the special symbol display device 12 constituting the multifunction device A starts to change. Then, when the plurality of symbol display rows reach the symbol arrangement in the “reach state”, the solenoid 32
Is turned “ON”, and the movable piece 35 retreats, whereby the movable distribution member 26 rotates downward about the fulcrum shaft 31 at the front end. As a result, the rear end of the movable distribution member 26 is lowered, and most of the movable distribution member 26 is housed in the opening 28, and the portion projecting above the upper surface 24 a of the stage 24 is almost completely removed. Disappears.

For this reason, as described above, the game ball that has climbed on the upper surface 24a of the stage 24 or reached the stage 24 through the warp passage is moved along the horizontal inclination of the stage 24. It flows to the lowest part of the central part, easily climbs on the movable sorting member 26 as it is, and easily enters the starting winning opening 7 (second
Status). That is, in the present invention, when the "reach state" is reached, the "prize winning probability" is the highest, but the "passage frequency"
The frequency of the game balls passing through the lowest second prize path increases, and the probability that the game balls win the start winning opening 7 increases, resulting in a gaming state advantageous to the player. As a result, when the player reaches the "reach state", the player often determines that it is better to continue the game and hit the ball, rather than performing "stopping" as in the past. As a result, "stopping" can be suppressed.

After the symbol arrangement of the special symbol display device 12 is changed to the "reach state", when the remaining symbols are changed to "big hit", the opening and closing plate of the attacker device 8 is opened. When 9 is opened and the "big hit game state" is not achieved, and the "big hit" state is not reached, the normal game state is maintained. As described above, when the state is changed from the “reach state” to the normal game state, the solenoid 32 is turned “OF”.
F ", and the operating piece 35 advances,
The upper half of the movable distribution member 26 is located on the upper surface 2 of the stage 24.
The frequency at which the game ball passes through the second winning path with the highest “prize winning probability” protruding beyond 4a is the lowest (first state).

On the other hand, in the above-mentioned "reach state" or "big hit game state", when a game ball wins in the starting winning opening 7, the number of the winning balls is displayed on the reserved ball display section 13.
Is displayed on the special symbol display device 12, and after the change of the special symbol of the special symbol display device 12 is stopped, the same number of times as the number of reserved balls displayed on the reserved ball display section 13 is repeated.
Special symbols are changing. Then, when the number of reserved balls reaches the specified number and becomes the “reserved ball full state”, the number of winning balls entering the starting winning opening 7 is not counted thereafter, so that the player “stops”. Is often performed as described above, but in the present invention, even when the `` retained ball full state '' is reached, in exactly the same way as when the `` reach state '' is reached, When the solenoid 32 is turned “ON”, the stage 24
The movable distributing member 26, most of which protrudes from the upper surface 24a, slightly rotates downward, and the "second state"
It is changed to. As a result, the probability of winning in the starting winning opening 7 is remarkably increased, and the number of winning balls in the winning opening 7 increases. By being in the "full tank state", conventionally, the player who performs "stopping" can continue the game, and as a result, "stopping" can be suppressed.

In the above embodiment, in both the "reach state" and the "retained ball full state", the lowermost portion of the center of the stage 24 provided at the lower end of the multifunction device A in the lateral direction is used. In addition, a movable sorting member 26 is disposed immediately above the starting winning opening 7, and in the “reach state” and the “holding ball full state”, the movable sorting member 26 is disposed from the upper surface of the stage 24. By retreating downward, a game ball can easily enter the starting winning opening 7. However, in the present invention, a game ball is guided to the general winning opening only in the "reach state" and "reserved ball full state" near the general winning opening as well as the starting winning opening 7. By arranging a movable member corresponding to the movable sorting member 26 for facilitating the game, it is possible to provide a benefit to the player. Can be suppressed. That is, in the present invention, it is possible to arrange a movable member for guiding a game ball so as to easily win a prize in the vicinity of the starting winning prize port 7 having the highest prize value. It is most effective in suppressing "stopping" in the "tan state", but the winning prize opening targeted for guiding game balls easily is not limited to the starting winning opening, and all winning openings are targeted. It becomes.

In the present invention, the "reach state"
And, in the "holding ball full state", since the movable member moves so that the game ball can easily win the starting winning opening or another winning opening, the player can visually recognize the movement of the movable member. There is also an advantage that the player can intuitively recognize that the player has entered a game state that is advantageous to him.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, the starting port,
Alternatively, by merely providing a movable member at another winning opening to guide the game ball so that it can be easily won, the "stopping" of the player in the "reach state" and the "reserved ball full state" is effectively suppressed. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a portion of a game board 1 of a pachinko machine P according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a special symbol display device 12 of FIG. 1 and a portion of a start winning opening 7 immediately below the special symbol display device 12;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line X ₁ -X ₁ of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line X ₂ -X _{2 in} FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a movable distribution member 26 and a solenoid 32 that operates the movable distribution member 26.

6 is an enlarged plan view of a central portion of the stage 24 showing a flow of a game ball B in a normal game state in which a movable distribution member 26 protrudes from an upper surface of the stage 24. FIG.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line YY of FIG. 6;

8 is an enlarged plan view of a central portion of the stage 24 showing a flow of the game ball B in a special game state in which the movable distribution member 26 has retreated downward from the upper surface of the stage 24. FIG.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line ZZ of FIG. 8;

[Explanation of symbols]

 A: Composite device B: Gaming ball 7: Starting winning opening (starting opening) 12: Special symbol display device (display unit) 26: Movable distribution member (movable member)

Claims (4)

[Claims] When a symbol is variably displayed on a display unit and a plurality of stopped symbols form a specific combination,
In a gaming machine having a configuration for giving a privilege to a player, when a winning opening and the display unit are in a reach state, a guiding ball is guided from a first state to a winning opening in the winning opening more easily than the first state. A movable member that changes to the second state and continues the second state at least during the reach state. 2. A gaming machine, wherein at least one of the winning ports is a starting port whose symbol fluctuates upon winning. 3. When a symbol is variably displayed on a display unit and a plurality of stopped symbols are in a specific combination,
In a gaming machine having a configuration for giving a privilege to a player, a starting port in which the symbol fluctuates when a prize is won, and a hold for displaying the number of held balls in which the symbol change is held when a game ball wins the starting port. A ball display unit, when the number of reserved balls reaches a reserved upper limit state in which the number of reserved balls has reached a predetermined upper limit value, it is easier to win a game ball from the first state to the starting port or another winning port from a predetermined first state. A movable member that changes to a second state to be guided and continues the second state for a predetermined time. 4. The gaming machine includes a multifunction device disposed substantially at the center of the board surface and having the display unit, and the movable member is disposed inside the multifunction device and temporarily stored in the multifunction device. 3. A movable distribution member for distributing a flowing path of a game ball which has flowed in, wherein the starting port is disposed immediately below the movable distribution member and facing the distribution member.
Or the gaming machine according to 3.