JP2005152027A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine capable of notifying an error, when the error occurs during a progress of a game, by reflecting the game state when occurring the error. <P>SOLUTION: The slot machine 100 is so formed that, when, for example, a hopper error occurs in the progress of the game, a main control part 300 transmits an error command to a sub control part 400 for notifying the error (S301). The sub control part 400, when receiving the command, analyzes the command (S302) and determines whether or not being a hopper error command (S303). When determined to be the hopper error command, the machine obtains the value of a number of games counter when occurring the error and monitors the number of games played from the occurrence of the previous hopper error. When the number of games is less than a predetermined value (S304), the machine performs a special error notification notifying the error in a different form from a regularly performed form (S305). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine typified by a slot machine or the like, and more particularly to error notification for errors that occur during the progress of a game.

  A gaming machine such as a slot machine monitors errors occurring during the game by various sensors attached to the gaming machine. For example, a game medium payout device (hereinafter referred to as a hopper) that accumulates medals as game media and pays out medals corresponding to game results is detected by detecting the capacity of the currently accumulated medals. Two upper and lower sensors are provided. When the upper sensor is turned on, an error notification that the medals accumulated in the hopper overflow is performed, and when the lower sensor is turned on, an error notification that the medals are empty in the hopper is performed.

  If an error occurs while the game is in progress, the game in progress is temporarily interrupted, and the player calls the attendant by pressing the call switch on the call lamp installed at the top of the game table. Yes. By operating the call switch, the display lamp of the game machine lights up / flashes, and the indicator light installed on the game machine island to which the game machine belongs starts to light up / flash, so that an error is notified to the staff of the game hall I have to.

  In addition to such error notification by means of a display lamp, there is also a game machine that notifies an error by displaying an error message corresponding to the error content that has occurred. For example, there is a game stand in which a plurality of types of messages such as “the plate is full” and “insufficient balls” are displayed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2001-29634 A

  However, when an error occurs in the game machine, the error notification that has been performed conventionally is performed by simply turning on / flashing the display lamp by operating the call switch of the game machine, as described above. This is merely performed by displaying an error message corresponding to the error, and no contrivance has been made for error notification.

  The error notification itself must be performed for the purpose of appropriately removing the error that has occurred (error recovery) and for the subsequent game to proceed smoothly, but as described above, simply performing the error notification, As a player, not only does the game rhythm up until then break down, but the feeling of loss increases, and the emotions that have risen in the game quickly cool down due to the occurrence of an error, thereby damaging interest in the game after error recovery. There are many cases. In other words, since an ongoing game is temporarily interrupted when an error occurs, error notification is one of the operations of the game table that is most hated by the player.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention made in view of the above circumstances is to provide a game table capable of directing interest to error notification when an error occurs while a game is in progress.

  The invention of the gaming machine according to claim 1, which achieves the above object, comprises error content detection means for detecting an error occurring during the game and judging its content, and error content detected by the error content detection means. Error data storage means for storing a plurality of error data for notification to the outside, error data output means for outputting error data from the error data storage means for notification of error data to the outside, and output from the error data output means Error content notifying means for notifying the content of the error corresponding to the error data, and game status determining means for determining the game status of the game in progress, the error data storage means is a game status at the time of error occurrence A plurality of error data are stored corresponding to the error data output means, and the error data output means determines the game situation when the error occurs. Judged by means, and outputting the error data corresponding to the determined contents from the error data storage means.

  According to this, if an error occurs during the progress of a game, error data is output from the error data output means after the game situation determination means judges the gaming situation at the time of the error occurrence. It is possible to perform error notification of errors that occur according to the situation in various notification forms.

  In other words, if the error occurrence is simply notified to the player and the attendant at the game hall, the motivation of the player will be greatly reduced due to the interruption of the game at the time of the error occurrence. By changing the notification form, the player is made to pay attention to a different notification form from the normal notification form, and attempts to prevent a decrease in the player's motivation that has been a problem in the past.

  The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that the game situation judged by the game situation judgment means is a game progress of the game table.

  According to this, by judging the game progress of the game table as the game situation at the time of the error occurrence, the game progress until then is comprehensively considered at the time of the error occurrence, and the error is reported in various notification forms corresponding to the contents. Can be notified.

  The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the game progress is whether or not the number of games played between the occurrence of the previous error and the occurrence of the error satisfies a predetermined condition.

  According to this, when the number of games played between the error that occurred and the previous type of error of the same type is used as a reference, if that criterion is satisfied, the error notification is performed in a different notification form from the normal notification form. Therefore, in addition to the interest in the error notification itself, it is possible to suggest to the player the game situation of the game table corresponding to the error occurrence.

  The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that, among the lottery means for determining the suitability of the internal winning for a predetermined winning combination by lottery and the winning combination won by the lottery means, a relatively large profit is obtained by the player. A special winning combination provided to the player, and a winning combination storing means for classifying and storing a special winning combination that is different from the special winning combination and providing a relatively small profit to the player; In the gaming machine provided with the winning combination permitting means for permitting the winning combination, the game progress is characterized by whether or not the special winning combination is permitted to win by the winning combination permitting means.

  According to this, as a result of the internal lottery, a request for winning a special winning combination that provides a relatively large profit is permitted based on a gaming situation that is advantageous to the player that is permitted by the admission role permission means. The same action as that in Item 3 is to be obtained.

  The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the object to be detected by the detecting means is a game medium payout device for accumulating game media used in a game and paying out the accumulated game media if necessary.

  According to this, since the detection target by the detection means is the game medium payout device, it is easy to link the error notification of the error generated in the game medium payout device with the game situation at the time of occurrence of the error. If it can be set as a different error notification mode, in addition to notification of error occurrence in the game medium generation device, it is possible to suggest a game situation at the time of error occurrence.

  According to the present invention, when an error occurs during the progress of the game, the error notification is made in various forms according to the gaming situation at the time of the error occurrence. It becomes possible to attract the player's interest regarding the notification.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a game machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, a slot machine will be described as an example of a game machine.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a slot machine 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, inside the center of the main body 101 of the slot machine 100, three reels (left reel 110, middle reel 111, right reel 112) having a plurality of types of patterns arranged on the outer peripheral surface are stored. It is comprised so that it can rotate in the inside of 100. In the present embodiment, each picture is printed on the belt-like member at an appropriate interval (for example, 21 pictures), and this belt-like member is attached to a predetermined circular frame material to constitute each reel 110-112.

  When viewed from the player side, the three patterns on the reels 110 to 112 are displayed approximately three in the vertical direction from the pattern display window 113 provided on the front door 102, so that a total of nine patterns can be seen. Then, by rotating each of the reels 110 to 112, the combination of the patterns that can be seen by the player varies. In the present embodiment, three reels are provided in the center of the slot machine 100, but the number of reels and the installation position of the reels are not limited to this.

  Further, a backlight (not shown) for illuminating each picture displayed on the picture display window 113 is disposed on the back surface of each reel 110 to 112. It is desirable that the backlight is shielded for each pattern so that each pattern can be illuminated evenly.

  In the slot machine 100, an optical sensor (not shown) including a light emitting part for reel irradiation and a light receiving part for reel irradiation is provided in the vicinity of each of the reels 110 to 112. This optical sensor A light-shielding piece of a certain length provided on the reel passes between the light projecting unit and the light-receiving unit. Based on the detection result of the sensor, the position of the pattern on the reel in the rotation direction is determined, and the reels 110 to 112 are stopped so that the target pattern is displayed on the winning line 114.

  The winning line display lamp 120 is a lamp that indicates an effective winning line. A valid pay line is determined in advance by the number of game media (in the present embodiment, medals are assumed) inserted into the slot machine 100. Of the five winning lines 114, for example, when one medal is inserted, the middle horizontal winning line is valid, and when two medals are inserted, the upper horizontal winning line and the lower horizontal winning line are added. When three medals are valid and three medals are inserted, five with a right-down winning line and an upper-right winning line added are valid as winning lines. Note that the number of winning lines 114 is not limited to five.

  The start lamp 121 is a lamp that informs the player that the reels 110 to 112 are in a state of being able to rotate. The re-game lamp 122 is a lamp for notifying the player that the current game can be re-played (no medal insertion is required) when a re-game, which is one of the winning combinations in the previous game, is won. .

  The notification lamp 123 is a lamp for notifying the player that a specific winning combination (specifically, a bonus such as a big bonus or a regular bonus) is won internally in the internal lottery. The medal insertion lamp 124 is a lamp that notifies that a medal can be inserted. The reel panel lamp 128 is an effect lamp. The medal insertion buttons 130 and 131 are buttons for inserting a predetermined number of medals stored electronically in the slot machine 100.

  In the present embodiment, every time the medal insertion button 130 is pressed, up to three are inserted one by one, and when the medal insertion button 131 is pressed, three are inserted. The medal slot 134 is an slot for a player to insert a medal when starting a game. That is, the medal can be inserted electronically by the medal insertion button 130 or 131, or an actual medal can be inserted from the medal insertion slot 134.

  The payout number display unit 125 is a display for displaying the number of medals to be paid out to the player as a result of winning a winning combination. The game number display 126 is a display for displaying the number of games during the big bonus game (in the BB game), the number of winnings of a predetermined winning combination, and the like. The stored number display 127 is a display for displaying the number of medals electronically stored in the slot machine 100.

  Further, the game number display unit 126 also has a function of displaying an error code indicating the type of error that has occurred during the game. That is, in the slot machine 100, the progress of the game is monitored by various sensors to be described later or for control, and when an abnormality is detected, an error code is displayed on the game number display 126 and the abnormality is removed. It promotes so-called error recovery. The types of error codes displayed on the game number display 126 are as follows:

に示すように、９種類のエラーコードが設定されている。これらのエラーコードは、遊技回数表示器１２６において、表中に示したＥ００１のように７セグモードで４桁にて表示される。エラーコードの種類は、これらに限定されるものではなく、スロットマシン１００に設けられたセンサ又は遊技の制御によって、エラーコードを追加的に設定することができる。

As shown in FIG. 9, nine types of error codes are set. These error codes are displayed on the game number display 126 in four digits in the 7-segment mode, such as E001 shown in the table. The types of error codes are not limited to these, and an error code can be additionally set by controlling a sensor provided in the slot machine 100 or a game.

  The start lever 135 is a lever type switch for starting the rotation of the reels 110 to 112. For example, when a desired number of medals is inserted into the medal insertion slot 134 or when the start lever 135 is operated after the medal insertion button 130 or 131 is pressed, the reels 110 to 112 start rotating.

  The stop button unit 136 is provided with stop buttons 137 to 139. The stop buttons 137 to 139 are button type switches for individually stopping the reels 110 to 112 that have started rotating by operating the start lever 135. Note that a light emitter may be provided inside each stop button 137 to 139, and when the stop button 137 to 139 can be operated, the light emitter may be turned on to notify the player.

  The storage / settlement button 132 settles a medal electronically stored in the slot machine 100 and discharges it to the tray 210 from the medal payout outlet 155, and the four or more sheets inserted into the medal slot 134. It is a button for switching between a medal and a storage function for electronically storing up to 50 medals obtained by winning. The medal return button 133 is a button that is pressed to remove a medal when the inserted medal is jammed.

  The door key 140 is a hole into which a key for unlocking the front door 102 of the slot machine 100 is inserted. The medal payout exit 155 is a payout exit for paying out medals. The medal tray 210 is a container for collecting medals paid out from the medal payout opening 155. In the present embodiment, the medal tray 210 employs a tray that can emit light, and may be referred to as a tray lamp.

  The sound hole 160 is a hole for outputting the sound of a speaker provided inside the slot machine 100 to the outside. The upper lamp 150, the side lamp 151, the center lamp 152, the waist lamp 153, the lower lamp 154, and the saucer lamp are decorative lamps for exciting the game. The ashtray unit 200 is a container for containing cigarette butts, and is screwed inside the tray 210.

  The reel panel 161 is a panel having a pattern display window 113, and the title panel 162 is a panel on which the model name of the slot machine and various designs are drawn. The effect device 600 is a door-equipped liquid crystal display device that opens and closes in response to the effect, although the structure thereof is not described in detail.

  Next, the circuit configuration of the control unit of the slot machine 100 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. The slot machine 100 includes a main control unit 300 that controls the central part of the game, and a sub-control unit 400 that controls various devices in accordance with signals transmitted from the main control unit 300.

<Configuration of main control unit 300>
The main controller 300 of the slot machine 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The main control unit 300 includes a CPU 310, which is an arithmetic processing unit for controlling the entire main control unit 300, a data bus and an address bus for the CPU 310 to transmit and receive signals to and from each IC and each circuit, and the following. It has the structure described in the following.

  The clock correction circuit 314 is a circuit that divides the clock oscillated from the crystal oscillator 311 and supplies it to the CPU 310. For example, when the frequency of the crystal oscillator 311 is 12 MHz, the divided clock is 6 MHz. The CPU 310 operates by receiving the clock divided by the clock circuit 314 as a system clock.

  The CPU 310 is connected to a timer circuit 315 for setting a monitoring cycle for constantly monitoring the states of sensors and switches, which will be described later, and a transmission cycle of motor drive pulses, via a bus. When the power is turned on, the CPU 310 transmits the frequency dividing data stored in the predetermined area of the ROM 312 to the timer circuit 315 via the data bus.

  The timer circuit 315 determines an interrupt time based on the received frequency division data, and transmits an interrupt request to the CPU 310 at each interrupt time. In response to this interrupt request, the CPU 310 executes monitoring of each sensor and transmission of drive pulses. For example, when the system clock of the CPU 310 is set to 6 MHz, the frequency division value of the timer circuit 315 is set to 1/256, and the data for frequency division of the ROM 312 is set to 44, the reference time for this interrupt is 256 × 44 ÷ 6 MHz = 1. 877 ms.

  Connected to the CPU 310 are a ROM 312 for storing programs for controlling each IC, lottery data used for internal winning lottery, reel stop positions, and a RAM 313 for storing temporary data. Has been. Other storage means may be used for these ROM 312 and RAM 313, and this point is the same in each control unit described later.

  The CPU 310 is connected to an input interface 360 for receiving an external signal. The medal acceptance sensor 320, the start lever sensor 321, the stop button sensor 322, and the medal insertion button are connected via the input interface 360 every interrupt time. The state of the sensor 323, the settlement / storage switch 324, and the medal payout sensor 326 is detected, and each sensor is monitored.

  Two medal acceptance sensors 320 are installed in the passage inside the medal insertion slot 134 and detect whether or not a medal has passed. The start lever sensor 321 is installed on the start lever 135 and detects a start operation by the player. The stop button sensor 322 is installed in each of the stop buttons 137 to 139 and detects the operation of the stop button by the player.

  The medal insertion button sensor 323 is installed in each of the medal insertion buttons 130 and 131, and detects an insertion operation when a medal electronically stored in the RAM 313 is inserted as a game medal. For example, when the medal insertion sensor 323 corresponding to the medal insertion button 130 becomes H level, the CPU 310 electronically inserts one stored medal and the medal insertion sensor 323 corresponding to the medal insertion button 131 is H level. When it becomes, three stored medals are electronically inserted. When the medal insertion button 131 is pressed, two are inserted when the number of stored medals is two, and one is inserted when the number is one.

  The settlement / storage switch 324 is provided on the settlement / storage button 132. When the settlement / storage switch 132 is pressed once, the stored medals are settled, and when the settlement / storage switch 132 is pressed again, the storage mode in which the medals to be paid out are stored electronically is set. Each of the above sensors may be a non-contact type sensor or a contact type sensor.

  Further, an input interface 361 and output interfaces 370 and 371 are connected to the CPU 310 via the address decoding circuit 350 to the address bus. The CPU 310 exchanges signals with external devices via these interfaces.

  An index sensor 325 is connected to the input interface 361. Specifically, the index sensor 325 is installed at a predetermined position on the mounting base of each of the reels 110 to 112, and becomes H level each time the light shielding piece provided on the reel passes through the index sensor 325. When detecting this signal, the CPU 310 determines that the reel has made one rotation, and resets the rotational position information of the reel to zero.

  The output interface 370 has a reel motor driving unit 330 for driving the reels, and stores medals as game media in the bucket and pays out medals stored corresponding to the game result from the medal payout port 155. A hopper motor driving unit 331 for driving a motor of a hopper (not shown), a game lamp 340 (for example, a winning line display lamp 120, a start lamp 121, a re-game lamp 122, a notification lamp 123, a medal insertion lamp 124). Etc.) and a 7-segment display 341 (a payout number display 125, a game number display 126, a stored number display 127, etc.) are connected.

  A random number generation circuit 317 is connected to the CPU 310 via a data bus. The random number generation circuit 317 is an increment counter capable of incrementing a value within a certain range based on a clock oscillated from the crystal oscillator 311 and the crystal oscillator 316 and outputting the count value to the CPU 310, which will be described later. Used for various lottery processes, including internal lottery for winning positions. The random number generation circuit 317 in the present embodiment includes two random number counters. For example, a counter that increments a value from 0 to 65535 using the clock frequency of the crystal oscillator 311 and a counter that increments a value from 0 to 16777215 using the clock frequency of the crystal oscillator 316 are provided.

  Further, an output interface 371 for transmitting a command to the sub-control unit 400 is connected to the data bus of the CPU 310.

<Configuration of sub-control unit>
Next, the sub-control unit 400 of the slot machine 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The sub-control unit 400 is an arithmetic processing unit that controls the entire sub-control unit 400 based on a main control command or the like transmitted via the output interface 371 of the main control unit 300. And a data bus and an address bus for transmitting and receiving signals, and the following configuration.

  The clock correction circuit 414 is a circuit that corrects the clock oscillated from the crystal oscillator 411 and supplies the corrected clock to the CPU 410 as a system clock.

  Further, a timer circuit 415 is connected to the CPU 410 via a bus. The CPU 410 transmits the frequency dividing data stored in the predetermined area of the ROM 412 to the timer circuit 415 via the data bus at a predetermined timing. The timer circuit 415 determines an interrupt time based on the received frequency division data, and transmits an interrupt request to the CPU 410 at each interrupt time. The CPU 410 controls each IC and each circuit based on the interrupt request timing.

  In addition, the CPU 410 temporarily stores a ROM 412 in which commands and data for controlling the entire sub-control unit 400, backlight lighting patterns and data for controlling various displays, and the like are stored. The RAM 413 is connected via each bus.

  The CPU 410 is connected to an input / output interface 460 for transmitting and receiving external signals. The input / output interface 460 includes a backlight 420 for illuminating the picture of each reel 110 to 112 from the back, a front surface. A door sensor 421 for detecting opening / closing of the door 102 and a reset switch 422 for clearing data in the RAM 413 are connected.

  As described above, the CPU 410 is connected to the input interface 461 for receiving the main control command from the main control unit 300 via the data bus. Based on the command received via the input interface 461, the entire game The effect process etc. which excite is performed.

  A sound source IC 480 is connected to the data bus and address bus of the CPU 410. The sound source IC 480 controls sound according to a command from the CPU 410. The sound source IC 480 is connected to a ROM 481 that stores sound data. The sound source IC 480 amplifies the sound data acquired from the ROM 481 by the amplifier 482 and outputs the sound data from the speaker 483.

  The CPU 410 is connected to an address decoding circuit 450 for selecting an external IC, similar to the main control unit 300, and the input interface for receiving a command from the main control unit 300 is connected to the address decoding circuit 450. 461, a clock IC 423, and an output interface 472 for outputting signals to the 7-segment display 440 are connected.

  The CPU 410 can acquire the current time by connecting the clock IC 423. The 7-segment display 440 is provided inside the slot machine 100 so that a store clerk or the like can check predetermined information set in the sub-control unit 400, for example.

  Further, a demultiplexer 419 is connected to the output interface 470. The demultiplexer 419 distributes the signal transmitted from the output interface 470 to each display unit and the like. In other words, the demultiplexer 419 determines that the upper lamp 150, the side lamp 151, the center lamp 152, the waist lamp 153, the lower lamp 154, the reel panel lamp 128, the title panel lamp 170, and the payout opening strobe 171 according to the data received from the CPU 410. The tray lamp 210 is controlled.

  The title panel lamp 170 is a lamp for illuminating the title panel 162, and the payout opening strobe 171 is a strobe type lamp installed inside the payout opening.

  Next, the pattern arrangement and winning combination of the reels 110 to 112 of the slot machine 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

<Pattern arrangement>
Each reel (left reel 110, middle reel 111, right reel 112) is divided into 21 sections called “frames”, and a picture is arranged for each frame. The reel display window 113 displays 3 frames out of 21 frames. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), there are seven types of patterns: “7”, “BAR”, “pyramid” “watermelon”, “bell”, “cherry”, “replay”. Is set.

  Among the designs, particularly important winning designs such as “7” and “BAR” are drawn larger than other designs for the purpose of improving the visibility of the player. In addition, with respect to some of the patterns, by providing translucency, the light of the backlight provided behind the reel can be transmitted to further improve the visibility.

<Winner>
FIGS. 4B to 4D are diagrams showing a winning combination of the slot machine 100. FIG. The winning combination of the slot machine 100 according to the present embodiment is set with a winning combination to be internally drawn according to the gaming state and the number of medals to be paid out corresponding to the winning combination. Three game states, a normal game, a special game, and an accessory game, are set as the game state, and a winning combination and an internal lottery probability for internal lottery are set in each game state (setting 1 to setting 6).

  As shown in FIG. 4 (b), the winning combination during the normal game includes the big bonus (BB) and regular bonus (RB) which are special winning combinations, “watermelon”, “bell”, “cherry” as small roles, “Replay” which is a re-playing role is set. If the BB is won during the normal game, the gaming state is shifted during the BB game.

  During the BB game, “watermelon”, “bell”, and “cherry” are set as small roles as shown in FIG. Further, during the BB game, “SRB” and “Bell” are the same flag, and “Replay-Replay-Replay” wins an SRB, and “Bell-Bell-Bell” wins a Bell. These switching operations are performed due to a difference in the reel stop operation order. During the RB game, as shown in FIG. 4 (d), "Bell-Replay-Replay", "Bell-Replay-Bell", "Bell-Bell-Bell" and "Bell-Bell-Watermelon" Four types are set.

  Next, description will be made regarding control of the slot machine 100 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the basic control of the game in the slot machine 100 of the present embodiment. This process is performed mainly by the main control unit 300 in the slot machine 100 described above, and the execution is repeated unless a power cut or the like is detected.

  When the power is turned on while the reset switch (connected to the CPU 310, not shown) is pressed, step 101 (S101) is first executed. When the power is simply turned on, the processing is started from the previous state (the state at the time when the power is turned off).

  In S101, an initialization command (a command including an initialization command) is transmitted to the sub-control unit, and in S102, processing relating to medal insertion is performed. Here, it is checked whether or not medals have been inserted, and the winning line display lamp 120 is turned on according to the number of medals inserted. It is not necessary to insert a medal when winning the re-game in the previous game.

  In S103, processing related to a game start operation is performed. Here, it is checked whether or not the start lever 135 has been operated. If it is determined that the start operation has been performed, in S104, the valid winning line 114 is determined according to the number of inserted medals. In S105, the random number generated by the random number generator 317 is acquired.

  In S106, a winning combination internal lottery is performed using the random value acquired in S105 and the winning combination lottery data table stored in the ROM 312 of the main control unit. In S107, an effect lottery is executed. In the effect lottery, the contents of the effect when the effect is executed or not are determined by the lottery. Even in the production lottery, there is lottery data for production, and the value obtained by dividing the lottery data for production by predetermined data (values of the entire range of random numbers used in the production lottery) is the winning probability for each production.

  In S108, the reel stop control table to be used is selected. In S109, rotation of all reels 110 to 112 is started. In S110, the stop buttons 137 to 139 can be received. When any one of the stop buttons is pressed, the reel corresponding to the pressed stop button is stopped based on the reel stop control table selected in S108. .

  In S111, a winning determination is performed. Here, when a combination of symbols corresponding to the winning combination is displayed on the activated winning line 114, it is determined that the winning combination is a winning combination. For example, if “bell-bell-bell” is arranged on the validated winning line 114, it is determined that the bell is won. In addition, if “7-7-7” is prepared, it is determined that a BB winning is achieved. The winning result is stored as a winning result code.

  In S112, if any winning combination with payout is won, the number of medals corresponding to the winning combination is paid out. The medal payout performed in S112 will be described in more detail below.

  In S113, a game state control process is executed. In this game state control process, control for shifting the type of game is performed. For example, in the case of winning a BB game, preparation is made so that the BB game can be started from the next time. Prepare to start the game and return to S102.

  One game is completed as described above, and thereafter, the game progresses by repeating this.

  Next, the medal payout performed in S112 of the game routine described in FIG. 5 and error notification when an error occurs during the payout will be described. In the following description, a hopper error (hereinafter abbreviated as HE (error code: E006)) for notifying that a medal in the hopper is empty is taken as an example of an error that occurs during the progress of the game. I will explain.

  FIG. 6A is a flowchart for explaining error notification conventionally performed. When it is necessary to pay out medals in FIG. 6A (S112), in S201, the main control unit 300 generates a medal payout signal to pay out medals accumulated in the hopper, and outputs an output interface 370. To the hopper motor driving unit 331.

  When the hopper motor driving unit 331 starts to pay out medals, it is determined in S202 whether or not the payout has ended. If it is determined in S202 that the medal payout has been completed, the process proceeds to S207, where the output of the medal payout signal is stopped, and this routine ends.

  If it is determined in S202 that the medal payout has not ended, it is determined that the medal is currently being paid out, and the process proceeds to S203. In S203, it is determined whether HE has occurred. If it is not determined that HE has not occurred, the process returns to S202, and the payout of medals is continued or the payout of medals is terminated. If it is determined in S203 that an error has occurred, the process proceeds to S204, where a HE command is transmitted from the main control unit 300 to notify that HE has occurred.

  When the command is transmitted, for example, an error code is displayed on the 7SEG display 341 (game number display 126) via the output interface 370, and also transmitted to the sub-control unit 400 via the output interface 371. When the control unit 400 acquires such a signal via the input interface 461, an effect corresponding to the error to be notified is performed.

  Here, the generation of HE in S203 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

  As described above, when the medal payout signal is transmitted in S201, the medal payout drive signal is turned on as shown in the upper part of FIG. 6B in order to drive the hopper motor driving unit 331. As a result, the hopper motor driving unit 331 is driven, and the payout of medals accumulated in the hopper is started. When the medal payout starts from the hopper, the medal to be paid out passes through a medal payout sensor 326 as a lower sensor attached to the hopper.

  Since medals paid out from the hopper pass through the medal payout sensor 326 at a predetermined cycle, the medal payout signal is output at a predetermined cycle interval by the number of medals to be paid out as shown in the lower part of FIG. Detected by. The CPU 310 monitors both the medal payout driving signal and the medal payout sensor signal. When the medal payout corresponding to the winning is finished in S202, the medal payout drive signal is turned off. The medal payout sensor 326 is not detected.

  However, in S202, if an error is detected in S203 before the payout of the planned number of medals is completed, an HE command is transmitted in S204 and an error notification is performed.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 6B, the medal payout sensor signal 326 indicates that no medal payout sensor signal is detected by the medal payout sensor 326 even though the medal payout drive signal is in the ON state. This is because the medals passing through are not accumulated in the hopper, so that it is recognized as a hopper error. For example, when it is necessary to pay out 15 medals, the medal payout sensor signal 326 must detect the medal payout sensor signal for 15 times at a predetermined cycle interval, but the last medal payout sensor when the medal payout drive signal is ON. If the medal payout sensor signal is not detected for 2 seconds after the signal (the third signal in the figure) is detected, the main control unit 300 determines that a hopper error has occurred and performs a predetermined error notification.

  As described above, when a hopper error is detected and an error command is transmitted in S204 and an error notification is made, an appropriate error canceling operation is performed in S205 to recover the error state. In the case of a hopper error, since the medals in the hopper are empty, the game staff who received the error notification replenishes the hopper with stock medals to replenish the hopper.

  In S205, when appropriate error cancellation is performed, a cancellation command is transmitted from the main control unit 300 to cancel the hopper error and resume the suspended game, and the state returns to the state before the error occurred. That is, in the case of this routine, the process returns to S202 and the routine relating to the payout of medals is started again.

  Next, the characteristic error notification of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 by taking a hopper error as an example of an error occurring in the slot machine 100. FIG. In the present invention, when an error occurs while a game is in progress, the error notification mode is made different from the conventional error notification in accordance with the game situation at the time of the error occurrence. is there. This is not a substitute for the normal error notification that has been conventionally performed, but by enabling error notification in a form different from the normal error notification according to the gaming situation, Interests in error notification. In the following description, it is assumed that a hopper error has already occurred and an error command has been transmitted from the main control unit 300 to the sub control unit 400.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7A shows an error notification based on whether or not the number of games played between the hopper error and the previous hopper error is a predetermined number of games as a game situation at the time of occurrence of the hopper error. It is a flowchart in the case.

  In S301, it is determined whether or not an error command has been transmitted from the main control unit 300. The error command is transmitted via the output interface 371 of the main control unit 300, and is fetched via the input interface 461 by the sub control unit 400. If the command is not received in S301, the routine enters a standby state in the slot machine 100.

  When a command is received in S301, the process proceeds to S302, and the received command is analyzed. In the present embodiment, HE is described as an example, and therefore HE (E006) is recognized from the set of nine error codes E001 to E009.

  As a result of the analysis, if the command is an HE command (S303), the process proceeds to S304, and the number of games played between the game in which the hopper error has occurred and the previous hopper error is acquired from the game number counter.

  When the acquired number of games is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of games, for example, 50 games or more, the process proceeds to S306 and a conventional error notification (ordinary HE) is performed, for example, as shown on the left side of FIG. As described above, the error notification is performed simply by the message “please replenish medals”.

  On the other hand, when the number of games acquired in S304 is less than a predetermined number of games, for example, less than 50 games, the process proceeds to S305 and error notification is performed in a form different from the normal error notification as shown on the right side of FIG. (Special error notification) is performed. That is, as shown on the left side of FIG. 7B, not only an error is notified by a message, but also a notification form is changed by adding animation, sound, or the like.

  In this way, by giving a change to the notification form for the same type of error, the player pays attention to the change in the notification form, and until the situation occurring in the slot machine 100 cannot be completely grasped. However, it is possible to increase interest in games after error recovery.

  That is, when a hopper error occurs again at a relatively short interval of less than 50 games since the occurrence of the previous hopper error, it is possible to obtain a relatively large amount of medals by continuously winning BB or the like as a gaming situation. Since it is in the situation, let's distinguish it from mere error notification by adding a staging element that suggests that the current gaming situation is advantageous to the player by error notification in such an unusual form It is what. The standard of 50 games is not limited to this, and various values can be set.

  If it is not analyzed in step S303 that the command is a HE command, the process advances to step S307 to determine whether the transmitted command is a HE release command. As described above, when the error that has occurred is removed, an error cancellation command is finally transmitted from the main control unit 300, and therefore it is determined whether HE has been removed in this routine as well.

  In S307, if the transmitted command is an HE cancellation command, the process proceeds to S308, where the HE cancellation state is recognized, and then the game number counter is reset in S309. Note that resetting in this way is to set the game in which the error has occurred as a reference for counting the number of games in this routine, and does not mean resetting the number of games in the entire slot machine 100.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S307 that the command is not an HE release command, the process proceeds to S310 to determine whether or not the current game situation is releasing bonus. Since it is determined in S303 and S307 that the command is not an HE command or an HE release command, the occurrence of an error in the game in progress is not recognized under the control of the slot machine 100. A determination is made as to whether the bonus is being released.

  If it is determined in S310 that the bonus is not in progress, the process proceeds to S311 where a game number counter process, that is, a process for counting the number of games in the game number counter is performed once, and the process proceeds to the next routine. On the other hand, if it is determined in S310 that the bonus is being performed, the process proceeds to the next routine without any particular processing. As a result, the number of games in the bonus game is not counted.

  When the error notification in S305 or S306, the game number counter reset in S309, or the game number counter process in S311, the process proceeds to S312 and other processes are performed.

(Second Embodiment)
A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This embodiment will also be described using HE as an example of an error that has occurred in the slot machine 100. Note that although S401 to S403 and S405 to S409 in FIG. 8 have the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, the same processing as that in the first embodiment is performed. Omitted and the different S404 will be described in detail.

  Also in the present embodiment, a command received by the sub-control unit 400 is analyzed as in the first embodiment, and the same processing is performed (S401 to S403). If it is determined in S403 that the command is an HE command, a determination is made in S404 as to whether or not a so-called special winning combination flag such as BB is ON (bonus flag ON state) when the HE occurs. The In the determination of the game situation in S404, description will be made assuming that information related to winning from the main control unit 300 to the special winning combination is transmitted to the sub-control unit 400.

  In the slot machine 100, as described above, when a predetermined number of medals are inserted from the medal insertion slot 134 or when the medal insertion button 130 or 131 is operated to electronically insert medals and then the start lever 135 is operated. The reels 110 to 112 start to rotate. When the start lever 135 is operated, an internal lottery of a winning combination is performed in the main control unit 300. As a result, when a winning combination such as a special winning combination such as BB is won, the stop buttons 137 to 139 by the player are selected. By the operation, the reels 110 to 112 are controlled to stop so as to display the BB winning combination as shown in FIG.

  If it is determined in S404 that the bonus flag is ON, the process proceeds to S405, and error notification is performed as a special HE in a form different from normal error notification. That is, if a hopper error occurs and the bonus flag is ON, an error notification is given as a special HE because the game situation is advantageous to the player that the special winning combination is continuously winning. ing. Specifically, as described in the first embodiment, as shown on the right side of FIG. 7B, in addition to an error message, an animation is added to add a change to the normal notification form. Error notification.

  Here, by using the bonus flag ON state as a criterion for judgment, in addition to the effect of suggesting the bonus winning that is generally performed by the lighting of the notification lamp 123 and the sub-control unit 400, an error notification is also different from the normal case. By notifying the error in the form, it is intended to give a bonus winning suggestion to the player who has overlooked these effects by the error notification. Also, when HE occurs, the player may have some expectation due to the difference in the error notification form, even if the error notification is not given in the form different from the normal, and the bonus winning indication cannot be given. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, the interest in the game after error recovery can be maintained as compared with the case where error notification is simply performed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S404 that the bonus flag is not ON, the process proceeds to S406, where a normal error notification is performed. Specifically, as shown on the left side of FIG. Done.

  If the command received by the sub-control unit 400 in S403 is not a HE command, the process proceeds to S407 for the same purpose as in the first embodiment, and it is determined whether or not it is a HE release command, and is a HE release command. In this case, the process proceeds to S408, where HE is released, and when it is not a HE release command, no particular processing is performed. When the process in S405, S406, or S408 ends, the process proceeds to S409 and other processes are performed.

(Third embodiment)
In the third embodiment, whether or not it is the start of a so-called stock release period will be described as a criterion for determining the game situation when an error occurs. Also in the present embodiment, HE will be described as an example of an error that has occurred in the slot machine 100, as in the first and second embodiments described above. Since the flow in the present embodiment is the same as that in the second embodiment, only different points (corresponding to S404) will be described without particular illustration.

  Also in the present embodiment, the command received by the sub-control unit 400 is analyzed and the same processing is performed as in the first and second embodiments. Accordingly, when it is determined that the command is an HE command, it is determined whether or not the gaming situation at the time of HE occurrence is a stock release period.

  In the slot machine 100, as described above, when a predetermined number of medals are inserted from the medal insertion slot 134 or when the medal insertion button 130 or 131 is operated to electronically insert medals and then the start lever 135 is operated. The reels 110 to 112 start to rotate. When the start lever 135 is operated, an internal lottery of a winning combination is performed in the main control unit 300. As a result, when a winning combination such as a special winning combination such as BB is won, the stop buttons 137 to 139 by the player are selected. By the operation, the reels 110 to 112 are controlled to stop so as to display the BB winning combination as shown in FIG.

  However, as a result of internal lottery for the purpose of enhancing gameability, some of the slot machines 100 have an internal win for a winning combination that provides a player with a relatively large profit such as BB. There is also a slot machine that shifts to a so-called stock mode in which the RAM 413 is temporarily stored without winning. In the case of such a stock mode type slot machine, as a result of the internal lottery, when the BB or the like is won internally, the winning combination is forcibly stored for a predetermined number of times, and then stored for a predetermined release condition. All internal winning roles are released.

  When the “stock release period” is described in the present embodiment, it means the start of winning the internal winning combination stored in the slot machine 100 as described above. When it is determined that it is the stock release period, the error notification is performed in a form different from the normal error notification as the special HE as in the first embodiment and the second embodiment. Specifically, as shown on the right side of FIG. 7B, in addition to the error message, an animation or the like is added to give a change to the normal notification form and perform error notification.

  Here, by using the start of the stock discharge period as a criterion for judgment, in addition to the effect of suggesting stock discharge generally performed by the sub-control unit 400, error notification is also performed in a form different from normal in error notification. Thus, the player who has overlooked the effect of stock discharge tries to give an indication of stock discharge by such error notification. In addition, when HE occurs, the player may have some expectation due to the difference in the error notification form, even if the error notification is not given by giving the error notification in a form different from the normal one. Therefore, as in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, it is possible to maintain the interest in the game after returning from the error as compared with the case where the error notification is simply performed.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that it is not the stock release period, normal error notification is performed, specifically, as shown on the left side of FIG.

  If the command received by the sub-control unit 400 is not a HE command, it is determined whether or not it is a HE release command. If it is a HE release command, the HE is released, and particularly if it is not a HE release command. Processing is not performed. When these processes are completed, other processes are performed in the same manner as in the first and second embodiments.

  The present invention is not limited to the first to third embodiments described above, and can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, although the error notification related to the hopper error has been described, the same error notification can be performed for the error notification regarding other set errors.

  For example, if a medal clogging (E001) occurs, the game status at the time of the error occurrence is an error based on the number of games digested from the previous error occurrence (medal clogging), for example, 100 games, as in the first embodiment. Notification can be performed. By this, when there are less than 100 games, that is, when errors frequently occur, an error notification including the meaning of an apology to the player, for example, displaying an image that a person is bowing The same action as described above can be obtained.

  In addition, it is possible to use the time elapsed since the previous error as a reference as a criterion for determining the game situation when an error occurs. For example, when the same type of error occurs within one hour from the error that occurred last time, an error notification different from normal can be notified.

1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a slot machine 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an overview of a main control unit 300. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an overview of a sub-control unit 400. FIG. (A) It is explanatory drawing regarding arrangement | positioning of the pattern arrange | positioned on the reels 110-112, (b)-(d) is explanatory drawing of the winning combination set to the slot machine 100. FIG. 21 is a flowchart for explaining a game flow in the slot machine 100. It is a flowchart explaining the conventional error alerting | reporting. (A) Error notification flowchart for explaining the first embodiment, (b) is an explanatory diagram for explaining a specific error notification mode. It is a flowchart of the error alert | report explaining 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

100 Slot Machine 101 Main Body 102 Front Door 300 Main Control Unit 400 Sub Control Unit

Claims (5)

Error content detection means for detecting an error occurring during the game and judging its content;
Error data storage means for storing a plurality of error data for informing outside of the error contents detected by the error content detection means;
Error data output means for outputting the error data from the error data storage means for informing the error data to the outside;
Error content notification means for notifying the content of the error corresponding to the error data output from the error data output means;
A game situation judging means for judging the game situation of the ongoing game;
With
The error data storage means is
A plurality of error data is stored corresponding to the gaming situation at the time of the error occurrence,
The error data output means includes
A gaming machine characterized in that a gaming situation at the time of occurrence of the error is judged by the gaming situation judgment means, and error data corresponding to the judgment content is outputted from the error data storage means.   2. The game table according to claim 1, wherein the game status determined by the game status determination means is a game progress of the game table. The game progress is
The number of games played between a game at the time of occurrence of the error and a game at the time of the previous occurrence of the error is whether or not a predetermined condition is satisfied or not. Amusement stand. A lottery means for determining the suitability of internal winning for a predetermined winning combination by lottery;
Among the winning combinations won internally by the lottery means, a special winning combination that provides the player with a relatively large profit, and other than the special winning combination that provides the player with a relatively small profit A winning combination storage means for classifying and storing winning combinations;
A winning combination permitting means for permitting winning of the winning combination won internally;
In a game machine equipped with
The game progress is
3. The game table according to claim 1, wherein the winning combination permission means allows the special winning combination to be won or not. 5. The game medium payout device for storing a game medium used in a game and paying out the stored game medium if necessary, as a detection target by the error content detection means. The game table described in Crab.

Images