JP2006101972A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine which can generate the random numbers for the game performances used for the game performance lottery without altering the structure of the hardware. <P>SOLUTION: The main control board 50 for controlling the progress of the games has a winning lottery means 56a which carries out the winning lottery based on random numbers supplied from a freely running counter 53a based on the operation clock of one oscillator 54a, a game performance lottery means 56b which determines the game performance contents according to the result of the winning lottery, a random housing means 56d for housing the random numbers for the lottery used for the winning lottery into a blank area of a buffer 55a and a random number pickup means 56e for picking up any of the random numbers for the lottery housed in the buffer 55a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine that performs a winning lottery to determine whether or not a prize is won using a random number, and performs a predetermined effect based on the winning lottery result.

  A gaming machine such as a slot machine, after inserting a game medium such as a medal, rotates a plurality of reels by operating a start lever or a start button, and stops each reel by operating a stop button or elapse of a predetermined time. A predetermined number of medals and the like are paid out according to a combination of symbols on the effective line when the reels are stopped.

  In such a gaming machine, in recent years, using a microcomputer, the winning lottery is performed in advance at the timing when the start lever or the like is operated, and the reels are stopped so that the symbol of the lottery result stops on the active line as much as possible. Thus, the number of payout medals with respect to the number of inserted medals is controlled so as to be within a predetermined range.

  In winning lottery performed using a microcomputer, a clock of several MHz output from an oscillator is generally repeatedly counted at high speed using a counter with a predetermined number of bits, and the count value when a start lever or the like is operated is latched. By storing in a circuit or the like, a count value that is not arbitrary for the player is obtained as a random number value.

  In the gaming machine microcomputer, the acquired random number value is compared with a predetermined numerical range of the winning table. For example, when the acquired random number value is within a predetermined numerical range, a bonus with a relatively large number of payouts such as a big bonus is obtained. Random value obtained by winning a small role with a relatively small number of medals such as cherries when it is in another predetermined numerical range, and losing when it is in another numerical range Depending on the game, each winning or losing is controlled to be drawn.

  At that time, the gaming machine is configured to perform a predetermined effect that suggests the contents of the lottery result based on the result of the winning lottery, so-called game effect (hereinafter referred to as a first game effect). For example, when winning the above-mentioned cherry by winning lottery, the microcomputer of the gaming machine uses a random number different from the random number used in the winning lottery (usually from a counter having an operation clock different from the counter used in the winning lottery). The content of the effect of the first game effect is determined based on the comparison with the numerical value range of the cherry effect table set in advance, and the first game effect is controlled in a predetermined effect form. The That is, as in the case of winning lottery, for the first game effect, the content of the effect is determined by lottery based on random numbers (hereinafter, this lottery is referred to as the first game effect lottery).

  In addition, the effect table is set for each winning combination including the loser, and more than one type of effect contents are set in each effect table for the first game effect corresponding to the winning combination and the lost game. Has been. Thereby, for example, since various first game effects for the above-mentioned cherry winning are selected and performed from the effect table, interest in the game can be increased.

  As described above, the gaming machine has a configuration in which a plurality of types of first game effects are provided in the effect table for each winning combination including a loser. However, while the game is repeatedly performed, the first game effect effect form Sometimes recognized the lottery result or the contents of the winning lottery. This is because, although a plurality of types of first game effects are set in the effect table, each first game effect itself is simply executed as set when it is selected. Therefore, the patterning of the first game effect performed according to the result of the winning lottery is invited, and there is a case where interest in the game is impaired.

  On the other hand, when performing the first game effect, in addition to the selected first game effect, for example, according to the operation order of the stop button after the start lever operation, Diversifying the first game effect by performing a game effect with different contents (hereinafter, this game effect is referred to as a second game effect) during or after the execution of the first game effect. The development of a gaming machine that can be provided with this is desired.

  As for the second game effect, a plurality of types of effect contents are set corresponding to the selected first game effect, and the second game effect is produced in the same manner as the winning lottery and the first game effect lottery. The content also needs to be selected by lottery based on the random numbers for game effects (hereinafter, this lottery is referred to as a second game effect lottery).

  However, although the random numbers that can be used for the winning lottery and the first game effect lottery are secured by the respective counters, the random numbers that can be used for the second game effect lottery are insufficient. The issue is how to generate random numbers for production lottery. In other words, when a new random number cannot be generated, the second game effect cannot be set.

  Therefore, gaming machines that can perform various game effects based on winning lotteries have been proposed.

  In this type of gaming machine, for example, when a start condition is established by winning a prize during a game, the main control unit that controls the basic operation of the gaming machine acquires a random number for winning lottery and performs a winning lottery. In addition, one of the symbol variation commands selected from a plurality of types based on the result of the winning lottery and the stop symbol data are output to the symbol control unit of the symbol variation display device. Based on the symbol variation command and the past stop symbol data stored in the symbol control unit, a gaming machine has been proposed that controls a symbol variation of the symbol variation display device by selecting a preset game effect program ( For example, see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-346098, FIG.

  However, the gaming machine disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a configuration in which the symbol variation command is selected from a plurality of preset types corresponding to the winning lottery, and therefore, until the symbol stop based on the symbol stop data. There remains a problem that the production of the film is patterned. Therefore, it is not possible to give diversity to the game effect (first game effect) based on the winning lottery.

  On the other hand, in addition to the counter used for the winning lottery and the first game effect lottery, it is conceivable to change the hardware configuration such as newly adding a counter used for the second game effect lottery. This is effective in that the random number for the second game effect lottery can be generated independently of the random numbers used for the winning lottery and the first game effect lottery. The addition of a new counter to be used not only increases the manufacturing cost of the gaming machine, but also causes a problem that the control board is increased in size and the degree of freedom in design is reduced.

  Further, instead of changing the hardware configuration as described above, it is also conceivable to generate a random number for the second game effect lottery by software. This can avoid the inconvenience of changing the hardware configuration. However, since the counting operation is extremely slow, it can be considered that the lottery results are biased, which is not desirable.

  In view of these various problems, the present invention has been made in order to solve the problems of the prior art, and its purpose is to use game effect random numbers for game effect lottery without changing the hardware configuration. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine that can generate a game machine.

The invention of the gaming machine according to claim 1, which achieves the above object,
In a gaming machine that performs a winning lottery that determines whether or not a prize is won based on a predetermined range of random numbers for lottery, the game machine has random number generating means for generating random numbers for lottery, and two or more storage areas, and each lottery area is selected by lottery. Random number storage means for sequentially fetching and storing random numbers for play, and a game effect lottery for performing a game effect lottery for determining the content of the game effect based on a predetermined range of game effect random numbers according to the result of the winning lottery And an obtained random number processing means having a random number extracting means for extracting any random number for lottery already stored in each storage area of the random number storage means when the game effect lottery is performed, The game effect random number is based on any lottery random number extracted by the random number extracting means.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, any lottery random number sequentially fetched and stored in each storage area of the random number storage means is used as a game effect random number used for the game effect lottery by the random number extracting means. Therefore, it is possible to generate game effect random numbers without providing new random number generation means.

  This is because the conventional gaming machine is provided with random number generating means for generating a random number for game effect in addition to the random number for lottery. As described above, even if only the random number generation means for generating the random numbers for lottery is provided, the random numbers for lottery supplied by the random number generation means are stored in the respective storage areas of the random number storage means, and a plurality of random numbers are stored. Since one of those random numbers can be secured and supplied as a game effect random number for use in a game effect lottery, a game machine can be provided at low cost by not providing a random number generation means for generating game effect random numbers. can do.

  In addition, when multiple types of game effects are performed according to the result of the winning lottery, for any one of these game effects, as in the conventional game machines, the contents of the effect of the game effect It is also possible to provide a random number generating means for generating a random number used in the game effect lottery for determining the game. As a result, for other game effects, the content of the effects can be determined by the game effect lottery based on the random numbers for lottery extracted from the random number storage means by the random number extracting means, while reducing the burden on the gaming machine. There is no need to change the configuration of

  Therefore, since the contents of the effect of the game effect performed according to the winning lottery result can be determined based on the random number for lottery extracted by the random number extracting means, various games can be made without changing the configuration of the gaming machine. Production can be performed.

The invention according to claim 2 is the gaming machine according to claim 1,
The acquired random number processing means has a random number storage means for fetching a lottery random number into each storage area of the random number storage means, and the random number storage means has a lottery random number when there is an empty area in each storage area of the random number storage means. Is not taken in when there is no empty area in each storage area.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the random number for lottery used in the winning lottery is not necessarily taken in by the random number storage means when there is no free area in the storage area of the random number storage means. Irregularity can be given to the extraction of random numbers for game presentation by the random number extraction means when it is performed.

  Therefore, the game effect lottery is performed using the random number for lottery used in any past winning lottery irrelevant to the game as the random number for game effect, so that the game effect lottery can be given randomness. The effect of claim 1 can be achieved.

The invention according to claim 3 is the gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2,
The acquired random number processing means has random number synthesis means for synthesizing random numbers by extracting at least two random numbers for lottery stored in the respective storage areas of the random number storage means, and the game effect lottery is extracted by the random number extraction means. Instead of the random number for lottery, the random number is synthesized based on the random number synthesized by the random number synthesizing means.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, since the random number synthesizing unit synthesizes two or more lottery random numbers already stored in the respective storage areas of the random number storage unit, the number of bits is increased. Since random numbers can be generated, the types of game effects that can be set in the game effect lottery can be further increased, so that the game effects can be performed with diversity.

The invention according to claim 4
Performing a winning lottery for determining whether or not a prize is won based on a predetermined range of random numbers for lottery, and determining the effect contents of the first game effect based on the predetermined range of game effect random numbers according to the result of the winning lottery In the gaming machine for performing the first game effect lottery, the game machine has a random number generator for generating a random number for lottery and a game effect random number for the first game effect lottery, and two or more storage areas, and each lottery area is selected by lottery. In addition to the random number storage means in which random numbers are sequentially fetched and stored, and the first game effect lottery, the content of the effect different from the effect content of the first game effect during or before the first game effect The game effect lottery means for performing the second game effect lottery for determining the content of the second game effect performed in the above, and when the second game effect lottery is performed, each storage area of the random number storage means already has Any lottery stored Random number extraction means having random number extraction means for extracting random numbers, and the second game effect lottery is selected as one of the lottery random numbers extracted by the random number extraction means as the game effect random number of the second game effect lottery. It is characterized by being performed based on this.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, any one of the random numbers for lottery sequentially fetched and stored in each storage area of the random number storage means is used as the random number for game effects used for the second game effect lottery by the random number extracting means. Since it can be used, it is possible to generate game effect random numbers without providing new random number generation means.

  Therefore, the second game effect can be surely performed, and the first game effect can be varied.

  Furthermore, even if the random numbers for the game effects used for the first game effect lottery are generated by the random number generation means, a gaming machine is provided at a relatively low cost without causing an increase in the size of the control board of the gaming machine. Can do.

  Furthermore, in addition to the second game effect, a new random number is generated for the game effect random number used in the game effect lottery for determining the effect content of the game effect even when a game effect with a different effect content is performed. Since it is not necessary to provide means, the first game effect performed according to the result of the winning lottery can be further varied.

The invention according to claim 5 is the gaming machine according to claim 4,
The acquired random number processing means has a random number storage means for fetching a lottery random number into each storage area of the random number storage means, and the random number storage means has a lottery random number when there is an empty area in each storage area of the random number storage means. Is not taken in when there is no empty area in each storage area.

  According to the invention of claim 5, the random number for lottery used in the winning lottery is not necessarily taken in by the random number storage means when there is no free area in the storage area of the random number storage means. Irregularity can be given to the extraction of random numbers for game presentation by the random number extraction means when the lottery is performed.

  Therefore, since the second game effect lottery is performed using the random number for lottery used in any of the past winning lotteries irrelevant to the game as the random number for game effect, the game effect lottery can be given randomness. Therefore, the effect of claim 4 can be achieved.

The invention according to claim 6 is the gaming machine according to claim 4 or 5,
Instead of lottery random numbers, a predetermined range of game effect random numbers used in the first game effect lottery is stored in each storage area of the random number storage means.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, even if the game effect random numbers used in the first game effect lottery are stored, the same effect as when the lottery random numbers are stored can be obtained.

The invention according to claim 7 is the gaming machine according to claims 4 to 6,
The acquired random number processing means has random number synthesis means for taking out and synthesizing at least two random numbers stored in the respective storage areas of the random number storage means, and the second game effect lottery is selected by any of the random number extraction means. Instead of the random number for lottery or the random number for game effect, it is based on the random number synthesized by the random number synthesizing means.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the random number synthesizing unit synthesizes two or more random numbers already stored in the respective storage areas of the random number storage unit, a random number having a large number of bits can be obtained. Since it can be generated, the types of game effects that can be set in the second game effect lottery can be further increased, so that the first game effect can be performed with diversity.

  According to the gaming machine according to the present invention, the random number for lottery used in the game winning lottery can be temporarily held without being cleared as it is, and can be used for the subsequent game effect lottery. It is possible to generate game effect random numbers used in game effect lottery without changing the hardware configuration.

  In addition, since it is not necessary to newly add hardware for generating random numbers used in the game effect lottery, the control board is not increased in size and the manufacturing cost of the gaming machine can be prevented from increasing.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a gaming machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the slot machine 1 will be described as an example of a gaming machine.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which the front door 3 of the slot machine 1 is closed, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the front door 3 of the slot machine 1 is opened.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the slot machine 1 has a housing 4 having a main body 2 and a front door 3 that is substantially rectangular in a front view.

  The main body 2 is a member that forms the skeleton of the slot machine 1 and has a box shape with the front side opened as shown in FIG. Inside the main body 2, various symbols and the like are displayed, a plurality of rotating drums 11 that are rotated by a stepping motor 15, a substrate storage box 12 that stores a circuit board that controls the slot machine 1, a power switch 13 a, A power supply box 13 having a reset switch 13b and the like, an auxiliary tank 14a for storing medals as game media, and a hopper 14 having a payment device 14b for paying out medals in the auxiliary tank 14a from the payout passage 7 to the medal payout outlet 41, etc. It is stored.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the front door 3 is attached so that the upper and lower two portions of the left side are connected to the main body 2 by hinges 5 so that the front open portion of the main body 2 can be easily closed and opened. Has been.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the front door 3 includes three parts, a display unit 3 </ b> A, an operation unit 3 </ b> B, and a storage unit 3 </ b> C in order from the top to the bottom. The display unit 3A is provided along the upper side of the front door 3 and lights up and blinks as the game progresses. The display unit 3A is disposed on each of the left and right sides of the upper lamp 28 at various positions. And a liquid crystal display 22 (hereinafter abbreviated as “LCD”) disposed between the pair of speakers 21 and displaying various information such as images and videos. Further, a viewing window 23 for visually recognizing the plurality of rotating drums 11 rotating in the housing 4 is provided at a substantially central height position of the display unit 3A. A bet lamp 24 that is turned on according to the number of bets (number of bets) is provided. At the bottom of the display unit 3A, a credit number display unit 25, a game number display unit 26, and a payout number display unit 27 are provided in order from the left side to the right side.

  The operation section 3B is bent at the lower end of the display section 3A and extends toward the front side (front side), and is bent at the end on the front side of the plane section 31 and faces downward. A vertical wall portion 32 that hangs down is provided, and the plane portion 31 is provided with one and two bet buttons 33 and 34 at the left side position, and 3 at the right side position. A so-called max bet button 35 for a sheet is provided. A medal slot 36 is disposed on the right side of the plane portion 31.

  In the substantially central portion of the upper portion of the vertical wall portion 32, in order from the left side to the right side, a start lever 37 for instructing rotation start of the rotary drum 11 and a stop button 38 for instructing rotation stop of the rotating rotary drum 11 Is provided. The start lever 37 protrudes from the vertical wall portion 32 toward the front side, and is operated by pushing down or pushing up. The game is started by operating the start lever 37 as described above. The stop button 38 is disposed at a position corresponding to each rotary drum 11 and is operated by a pushing operation. In addition, a display plate 39 on which a model name of the slot machine 1 and characters related to the game are displayed is provided below the operation unit 3B.

  The storage unit 3C is arranged and formed so as to extend in the left-right direction at a position below the operation unit 3B. The storage unit 3C receives and stores medals paid out from the medal payout port 41, and the like. Is provided.

  Next, the circuit board stored in the board storage box 12 will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the electrical configuration of the slot machine 1. Hereinafter, the main control board 50 and the like of the slot machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The main control board 50 is mainly configured as a game control means for controlling the game operation of the slot machine 1. The main control board 50 is connected to the MPU 51 as a one-chip microcomputer as an arithmetic unit and to the MPU 51. An input / output port 52 and the like connected to various input / output means such as sensors and switches are mounted.

  The MPU 51 stores various control programs such as a winning lottery program, a game effect lottery program, and a random number processing program executed by the MPU 51, and a ROM 56 that stores fixed data such as a winning table and an effect table, and is stored in the ROM 56. Various circuits such as a RAM 55, which is a memory for temporarily storing various data such as random numbers acquired upon execution of the control program, are incorporated.

  The input / output port 52 includes a reset switch 13b, a start lever 37, a stop button 38, a 1 to 3 bet lamp 24, a credit number display unit 25, a game number display unit 26, a payout number display unit 27, and a sub control board 60. A stepping motor 15 and the like are connected.

  The sub-control board 60 receives a command transmitted from the main control board 50 and performs a predetermined control process. In the present embodiment, the sub-control board 60 turns on and blinks the sound effect from the speaker 21 and the upper lamp 28. The display control board 80 is controlled so as to display effects on the LCD 22. In addition to the external devices such as the upper lamp 28 and the speaker 21, a display control board 80 and the like are connected to the sub control board 60. The sub-control board 60 and the display control board 80 are configured so that data and the like can be transmitted and received bidirectionally.

  The power supply board 70 is provided in the above-described power supply box 13 (see FIG. 2), and in addition to the main control board 50, a power supply unit that supplies drive power to each electronic device such as the stepping motor 15 of the slot machine 1 71 and various circuits such as a power failure monitoring circuit 72 for monitoring the occurrence of power interruption. After the slot machine 1 is powered off, a backup voltage is supplied from the power supply unit 71 of the power supply board 70 to the RAM 55.

  Next, the main control board 50 having a characteristic configuration of the present invention will be further described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing in detail the schematic configuration of the main control board 50 and the sub control board 60.

  The main control board 50 is equipped with an MPU 51 incorporating a RAM 55, ROM 56, etc. via an I / O port (not shown), and two oscillators 54a, 54b that output clocks having different frequencies. Are provided with two 16-bit free running counters 53a and 53b, each counting a clock from 0 to FFFFH at a predetermined speed.

  One of the oscillators 54a is configured to output a clock of 7.15909 MHz, for example, and the other oscillator 54b is configured to output a clock of 8.00 MHz, for example. In the present embodiment, one oscillator 54a shares an oscillator that generates an operation clock for the MPU 51.

  One free running counter 53a that is counted by the oscillator 54a latches the count value of the free running counter 53a when the start lever 37 that is the start of the game is operated, so that the MPU 51 can be read as a random value at a predetermined timing. It is configured. The random number generated by one free running counter 53a is used as a random number for lottery in a winning lottery for determining whether or not a winning is performed when the start lever 37 is operated.

  Similarly, the other free running counter 53b counted by the oscillator 54b is configured such that the MPU 51 can read the latched count value as a random value at a predetermined timing. The random number by the other free running counter 53b is used as a random number for the game effect of the first game effect lottery that determines the effect content of the first game effect performed according to the result of the winning lottery.

  Both free running counters 53a and 53b are configured to sequentially count at a predetermined speed up to FFFFH with 0 as an initial value, and then count again from 0, and are formed as random number generating means.

  The RAM 55 includes a buffer 55a including a plurality of buffers 1 to 4 (buffer areas) that are storage areas for temporarily storing the random numbers, and random numbers generated from one free running counter 53a are stored in each storage area. It is configured as random number storage means that is sequentially fetched and stored. In the present embodiment, each buffer area of the buffer 55a has a capacity of 2 bytes corresponding to the number of bits of the generated random number being 16 bits. The random numbers supplied by one free-running counter 53a are sequentially taken into each storage area (buffer 1 to buffer 4) of the buffer 55a, and the lottery random numbers taken into the respective buffers 55a are stored as random numbers. Form.

  The ROM 56 includes a winning lottery means 56a that performs a winning lottery based on a random number (lottery random number) generated by one free running counter 53a, and a game effect that determines the content of the game effect depending on the result of the winning lottery. The game effect lottery means 56b for performing the lottery and the acquired random number processing means 56c for processing the random numbers used in the winning lottery are provided, and each is constituted by a prize lottery program, a game effect lottery program, and a random number processing program. Hereinafter, each configuration of the ROM 56 will be further described.

  First, the winning lottery means 56a is based on a random number generated by one of the 16-bit free running counters 53a at the operation timing of the start lever 37 based on a winning lottery program and a numerical range of a preset winning table. A winning lottery is performed by comparison.

  The winning table used includes big bonuses and regular bonuses with a relatively large payout of medals, and in contrast to these winning roles, a winning combination such as cherries with a relatively low medal payout (usually multiple types) ), Losing medals that do not correspond to such a winning combination, and medals are not paid out, but the next game is limited to one time without inserting medals. A plurality of types of winning combinations such as re-playing combinations that can be performed are set. For each winning combination, the ratio of winning the winning combination is set to a random number ranging from 0 to 65535 generated from one free running counter 53a within a predetermined numerical range.

  For example, among the entire range of generated random numbers, winning bonuses such as a big bonus and a regular bonus are set to a very narrow range of 0 to 500. The ratio of each winning combination is set in a numerical range so that the regular bonus is 0 to 175 and the regular bonus is 176 to 500. Similarly, the winning combination such as cherry is set to a relatively wide range of 501-20000, the re-playing combination is 20001 to 28000, and the loss is set to the remaining 28001 to 65635. These ranges are referred to as so-called ball exit rates, and can be changed by inserting predetermined keys (not shown) into the setting holes provided in the main body 2 and operating them.

  Then, at the timing when the start lever 37 is operated, the MPU 51 reads out a predetermined count value latched in one free running counter 53a as a random number value at this timing, and in the case of 575, for example, the winning lottery means 56a The cherry winning is determined based on the read random number value.

  Next, the game effect lottery means 56b is a random number (game effect random number) generated by the other 16-bit free running counter 53b in accordance with the result of the winning lottery by the winning lottery means 56a based on the game effect lottery program. The first game effect lottery for determining the content of the first game effect by comparison with the numerical value range of the first effect table set in advance is performed.

  The first effect table is provided for each winning combination set in the winning table, and a plurality of types of game effects are set in each first effect table. For example, when winning a cherry by winning lottery, a cherry effect table composed of n types of game effects is set as the first effect table corresponding to this cherry prize (for convenience, each cherry effect of the cherry effect table is Cherry production 1, cherry production 2, ... cherry production n). Note that the number of game effects set in each first effect table needs to be set in consideration of the frequency of occurrence of the winning combination, importance, and the like. For example, a big bonus or the like is an important winning combination that is advantageous to the player when winning, although the frequency of occurrence of the big bonus is low, so that the first effect table can be used for various game effects. Many game effects are set so that a variety of game effects can be performed.

  For each game effect set in the first effect table, the winning ratio of the game effect is predetermined to a random number in the range of 0 to 65535 generated by the other free running counter 53b, as in the winning table. It is set in the numerical range. For example, in the case of the cherry effect table described above, the range of 0 to 5000 is set for the cherry effect 1 and the range of 5001 to 10000 is sequentially set for the cherry effect 2 in the entire range of generated random numbers. The same setting is made up to the cherry effect n.

  The cherry effect table may be set so that n types of cherry effects are won with almost the same probability in the first game effect lottery. Thereby, since each cherry production | generation generate | occur | produces at substantially the same frequency, a various cherry production can be provided. In addition, among the n types of cherry effects, a specific cherry effect can be set at a lower rate than other cherry effects. Thereby, for example, when such a specific cherry effect is selected, it can be configured to make an important suggestion in the game flow.

  Then, when the winning lottery by the winning lottery means 56a is performed, the MPU 51 reads out a predetermined count value latched in the other free running counter 53b as a random number value at the timing, for example, 3560. The effect lottery means 56b is configured to determine the cherry effect 1 based on the read random number value.

  The game effect lottery means 56b is configured to perform a second game effect lottery in addition to the first game effect lottery. As described above, in response to the winning lottery by the winning lottery means 56a, the game effect lottery means 56b determines the contents of the first game effect effect from the first effect table based on the first game effect lottery. ing. However, if there is only the first game effect, the contents of the winning lottery may be recognized from the contents of the effect of the first game effect while the game is repeatedly performed, and the interest in the game may be impaired. Therefore, the slot machine 1 according to the present embodiment is configured to perform the second game effect during or after the first game effect. It should be noted that the second game effect is not necessarily a game effect to be performed, and may not be performed depending on the contents of the effect of the first game effect selected by the first game effect lottery.

  The second game effect lottery is a game effect lottery for determining the effect contents of the second game effect, and is performed based on a random number obtained by the acquired random number processing means 56c described later.

  Here, the second game effect is a game effect that is configured to be additionally performed with an effect content different from the effect content of the selected first game effect, and the first game effect is changed. Giving. For example, when the selected contents of the first game effect are the moving image display on the LCD 22 and the output of the sound effect from the speaker 21, the upper lamp is further displayed during the execution of these game effects by the second game effect. It can be configured to additionally perform lighting and blinking of lamps 21 and the like. Further, for example, immediately after the moving image display on the LCD 22 and the output of the sound effect from the speaker 21 are performed by the selected first game effect, different moving image displays are performed on the LCD 22 by the second game effect. Can be configured.

  The content of the second game effect is based on various conditions such as the operating state of the slot machine 1 such as which stop button 38 is operated first among the left, middle and right stop buttons 38, for example. The content is selected from a plurality of types of content set corresponding to the selected first game effect. For example, in executing the cherry effect 1 described above, for example, when the left stop button 38 is operated first, the cherry operation 1 and the first operation corresponds to the left stop button 38 and a plurality of types of second games. Set the production.

  Similarly, the second game effect is set in response to the first stop button 38 of each of the middle stop button and the right stop button being operated. Therefore, in executing the selected first game effect, various game effects are added by the second game effect according to the operation state of the slot machine 1, and therefore the same first game effect is selected. Can also play games with variety.

  And each 2nd game effect set also is comprised by the 2nd effect table similarly to the 1st effect table. For example, as the second effect table of the second game effect set in response to the first operation of the left stop button 38 with the cherry effect 1 described above, a cherry additional effect table made up of m types of game effects is set. (For convenience, each cherry addition effect in the cherry addition effect table is referred to as cherry addition effect 1, cherry addition effect 2,... Cherry addition effect m).

  For each game effect set in the second effect table, the winning ratio of the game effect is predetermined as a random number used for the second game effect lottery as in the winning table and the first effect table. It is set in the numerical range. Similarly to the first effect table, the frequency of occurrence of each game effect may be set to have substantially the same probability, or the frequency of occurrence of a specific game effect may be set to be low.

  Finally, the acquired random number processing means 56c having a characteristic configuration of the present invention includes a random number storage means 56d, a random number extraction means 56e, and a random number synthesis means 56f, and is used for winning lottery based on a random number processing program. The lottery random number is processed.

  The random number storage means 56d is configured to sequentially fetch and store lottery random numbers used in the winning lottery by the winning lottery means 56a in the free areas of the buffers 1 to 4 of the buffer 55a. This is because it is common in the conventional slot machine 1 that the lottery random number used in the winning lottery is cleared as it is. Here, the random numbers for lottery are sequentially fetched into the buffer 55a in addition to fetching the random numbers for lottery used in the winning lottery in the empty area of the buffer 55a and when the buffer 55a has no empty area, Among the stored random numbers, the random number first taken in by the random number storage means 56d is cleared, and the lottery random number used for the winning lottery is fetched and stored in the free space formed thereby. .

  As a result, when there are empty buffer areas in the buffers 1 to 4 of the buffer 55a, lottery random numbers are sequentially fetched and stored in the empty areas. Random numbers can be stored and secured in the buffer 55a, and can function as a random number supply source. That is, the same operation as a counter as a random number generating means for generating a random number can be achieved.

  When the second game effect lottery is performed by the game effect lottery unit 56b, the random number extracting unit 56e is first stored in the buffer 55a among the stored random numbers already stored in the buffers 1 to 4 of the buffer 55a. The stored random number is taken out and output as a random number for game effect in the second game effect lottery. This is because the stored random number stored in the buffer 55a is extracted, and the stored random number is extracted first, so that there is regularity in extracting the stored random number without providing a complicated instruction system. Can be output. On the other hand, if the selection of random numbers is made selective, it is necessary to perform a lottery for selecting random numbers when such random numbers are selected, which increases the burden on the MPU 51.

  Therefore, among the stored random numbers in the buffer 55a, by outputting the first stored random number (lottery random number), the lottery random number used in the past game completely unrelated to the game is used. Therefore, it is possible to stably supply game effect random numbers used for the second game effect lottery.

  Further, since the random number extracting means 56e extracts the stored random number stored in the buffer 55a by the random number storing means 56d, for example, the lottery random number used in the winning lottery is processed to process the second game. Since it is not necessary to use it as a game effect random number for effect lottery, it can be easily generated as a game effect random number while ensuring the original effect of the lottery.

  That is, when the game effect random numbers used for the second game effect lottery are supplied by processing the random numbers for the lottery of the prize winning lottery, there is a risk of synchronizing with the result of the lottery in the winning game lottery. There is a concern that the lottery results may be biased. However, it is extremely difficult to process the lottery random numbers so as not to synchronize with the winning lottery results without changing the hardware configuration, and cannot be adopted as game effect random numbers. Therefore, as in the present embodiment, the random number extracting means 56e extracts the lottery random numbers used in the past winning lottery, thereby adopting the random numbers for the second game effect lottery while avoiding the above-mentioned synchronization. can do.

  The random number synthesizing unit 56f replaces the stored random number first stored in the buffer 55a by the random number extracting unit 56e with the first stored stored random number and the stored random number stored next to the stored random number. The stored random numbers are combined and output as game effect random numbers. This focuses on the fact that the number of random bits can be freely changed. For example, when the number of bits of the free running counter 53 is small, the number of bits can be increased by synthesizing random numbers by the random number synthesizing unit 56f.

  By combining the stored random numbers in this manner, the number of bits of the game effect random number used for the second game effect lottery can be changed. Therefore, the second game effect can be set in various ways and the first game effect can be changed. Diversity can be further increased.

  Next, the configuration of the sub control board 60 will be further described with reference to FIG.

  As described above, the sub control board 60 is configured as a game effect control means for performing actual game effect control based on a command from the main control board 50.

  The basic configuration of the sub-control board 60 is basically the same as that of the main control board 50. The sub-control board 60 is connected to the MPU 61 as a one-chip microcomputer that is an arithmetic unit, the input / output port 52 of the main control board 50, and the LCD 22 and the like. The input / output port 62 connected to the input / output means of the external rendering device is mounted. Then, similarly to the main control board 50, it is configured to operate based on an operation clock supplied by the oscillator 63.

  The MPU 61 is controlled based on a control command from the MPU 51 of the main control board 50, for example, an effect control command related to the effect content of the first game effect by the game effect lottery means 56b and an effect control command related to the effect content of the second game effect. In order to temporarily store various data such as an effect control command transmitted when the ROM 64 storing various control programs such as an effect control program to be executed and the control program stored in the ROM 64 are executed. Various circuits such as a RAM 65, which is the above-mentioned memory, are incorporated.

  Next, operations of the main control board 50 and the sub control board 60 having the above configuration will be described.

  Initially, when reset is performed by operating the power switch 13 a or the reset switch 13 b provided in the power box 13, initialization processing is performed on the main control board 50.

  For example, the stored random number stored in the buffer 55a before resetting is taken into the buffer 55a of the RAM 55 from a backup RAM (not shown). Alternatively, if the stored random number before resetting is not backed up in the backup RAM, immediately after resetting, the 16-bit random number counted by one free-running counter 53a is stored in the buffer 55a. . The supply of random numbers to the buffer 55a is repeated according to the number of free areas.

  Here, the counting by one free running counter 53a is performed based on the oscillator 54a that outputs the operation clock of 7.15909 MHz as described above, and the cycle in which the count value from 0 to FFFFH makes a round is about 10 ms. Therefore, the necessary number of random numbers can be supplied to the buffer 55a before the first start lever 37 is operated after the medal is inserted.

  When the winning lottery program is executed at the operation timing of the start lever 37, the count value of one free running counter 53a is supplied as a random number value, and the winning lottery means 56a performs the winning lottery based on the winning lottery program. Is called.

  When a winning lottery by the winning lottery program results in, for example, a cherry win, the game effect lottery program is executed, and a random number output in the same manner is taken from the other free running counter 53b, and the first game is played by the game effect lottery means 56b. A production lottery is held. Thereby, for example, cherry effect 1 is selected from n types of cherry effects set in the cherry effect table, for example, based on the first game effect lottery.

  At this time, when the operation order of the stop button 38 after the operation of the start lever 37 is detected in the MPU 51, for example, the second game effect lottery is performed in addition to the first game effect lottery by the game effect lottery program. Is called. Specifically, the MPU 51 outputs a command for starting the second game effect lottery based on the game effect lottery program and also outputs a command for starting the random number processing program.

  When the random number processing program is also started, the stored random number that is first captured and stored among the stored random numbers stored in the buffer 55a of the RAM 55 is extracted by the random number extracting means 56e. Then, the game effect lottery program performs the second game effect lottery based on the random number extracted from the random number extracting means 56e, and determines the content of the effect of the second game effect.

  Further, depending on the operation order of the stop button 38 detected by the MPU 51, the lottery can be performed based on the random number synthesized by the random number synthesizing means 55e in executing the second game effect lottery.

  When the winning combination (including losing), the contents of the effects of the first game effect, and the contents of the effects of the second game effect are determined, the random number storage means 56d uses the random number for lottery used in the winning lottery in the buffer of the RAM 55. The data is fetched and stored in one of the empty areas of the buffers 1 to 4 in 55a.

  Thereafter, when an effect control command related to the game effect is output via the input / output port 52 of the main control board 50, the effect control command is taken into the MPU 61 via the input / output port 62 of the sub control board 60. The MPU 61 of the sub-control board 60 executes a game effect program based on the transmitted effect control command, thereby producing a cherry effect 1 related to the first game effect and a second game associated with the cherry effect 1. A game production related to the production is performed.

  According to the slot machine 1 having the above configuration, the random numbers for lottery used in the winning lottery by the winning lottery means 56a are sequentially fetched and stored in the vacant area of the buffer 55a of the RAM 55 by the random number storage means 56d. Therefore, the buffer 55a can function as a random number supply source.

  In addition, the random number extracting unit 56e generates the random number without first providing a new random number generating unit by extracting the lottery random number stored first in the lottery random number stored in the buffer 55a. be able to.

  Since such random number generation does not generate random numbers by software, the burden on the MPU 51 can be reduced and the hardware configuration can be changed, specifically, in the second game effect lottery. Since it is not necessary to provide a free running counter for generating game effect random numbers to be used, it is also effective in terms of cost.

  And depending on the game effect lottery, the random number synthesis means 56f can change the number of bits of the game effect random number used for the game effect lottery by extracting and synthesizing a plurality of random numbers stored in the buffer 55a. It is possible to deal with various game effects.

  Therefore, the game effect random numbers used in the second game effect lottery, which has been a problem in the past, can be generated without changing the hardware configuration of the slot machine 1. The first game effect can be performed with diversity.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of invention. For example, the buffer 55a of the RAM 55 is provided with four buffer areas, buffer 1 to buffer 4, but is not limited to this. The number of buffer areas depends on the number of lotteries performed in one game. Can be set freely.

  Further, the random number storage means 56d is configured to fetch the lottery random number into the buffer 55a of the RAM 55, but instead of the lottery random number, the game effect random number used by the game effect lottery means 56b for the first game effect lottery. You may make it take in. Also in this case, after the winning combination, the contents of the effects of the first game effect and the contents of the effects of the second game effect are determined, they are taken into the buffer 55a of the RAM 55. Alternatively, the random number for lottery and the random number for game effect may not be selectively captured in the buffer 55a of the RAM 55, but both of these random numbers may be captured.

  The free running counter 53 is provided with two free running counters 53a and 53b for generating a lottery random number and a game effect random number. However, at least a free running counter 53a for generating a lottery random number is provided. You can also In other words, even if only one free running counter 53 is provided in the slot machine 1 of the present embodiment, it is used for the game effect used for the second game effect lottery by the acquired random number processing means 56c which is a characteristic configuration of the present invention. Since the random number can be generated, the operation of the present invention can be achieved. As a result, the main control board 50 can be downsized to increase the degree of design freedom, and the manufacturing cost of the slot machine 1 can be reduced.

  Further, the game effect lottery means 56b of the ROM 56 described in the above embodiment can be set in the ROM 64 of the sub-control board 60. Thereby, the game control related to the winning lottery can be performed on the main control board 50, while the effect control related to the game effect can be performed on the sub control board 60, so that the burden on the MPU 51 of the main control board 50 can be reduced. it can.

  In addition, although the above embodiment has been described using the slot machine 1 as an example of a gaming machine, it can be naturally used in other gaming machines that latch random numbers triggered by a predetermined starting condition, for example, pachinko machines. it can.

4 is a perspective view showing a state in which a front door 3 of the slot machine 1 is closed. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a front door 3 of the slot machine 1 is opened. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the slot machine 1. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a main control board 50 and a sub control board 60. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 slot machine 2 main body 3 front door 37 start lever 38 stop button 50 main control board 51 MPU
52 I / O port 53 Free running counter 54 Oscillator 55 RAM
55a Buffer 56 ROM
56a Winning lottery means 56b Game effect lottery means 56c Acquired random number processing means 56d Random number storage means 56e Random number extracting means 56f Random number synthesizing means 60 Sub control board

Claims (7)

In a gaming machine that performs a winning lottery that determines whether a winning is won or not based on a predetermined range of random numbers for lottery,
Random number generating means for generating the lottery random number;
Random number storage means having two or more storage areas, wherein the random numbers for lottery are sequentially fetched and stored in the respective storage areas;
Game effect lottery means for performing a game effect lottery for determining the content of the game effect based on a predetermined range of game effect random numbers according to the winning lottery result;
An acquisition random number processing means having a random number extraction means for extracting any random number for lottery already stored in each storage area of the random number storage means when the game effect lottery is performed,
The game production lottery
The gaming machine is characterized in that it is performed based on any of the lottery random numbers extracted by the random number extracting means as the game effect random numbers. The acquired random number processing means includes:
Random number storage means for fetching the random numbers for lottery into each storage area of the random number storage means;
The random number storage means
2. The game according to claim 1, wherein the random number for lottery is fetched when there is an empty area in each storage area of the random number storage means, and is not taken when there is no empty area in each storage area. Machine. The acquired random number processing means includes:
Random number synthesis means for synthesizing random numbers by taking out at least two random numbers for lottery stored in each storage area of the random number storage means;
The game production lottery
In place of the random number for lottery extracted by the random number extracting means,
The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the game machine is configured to be performed based on a random number synthesized by the random number synthesis means. Performing a winning lottery for determining whether or not a prize is won based on a predetermined range of random numbers for lottery, and determining the effect contents of the first game effect based on the predetermined range of game effect random numbers according to the result of the winning lottery In the gaming machine that performs the first game production lottery of
Random number generating means for generating the lottery random number and the game effect random number of the first game effect lottery;
Random number storage means having two or more storage areas, wherein the random numbers for lottery are sequentially fetched and stored in the respective storage areas;
In addition to the first game effect lottery, the content of the second game effect to be performed with an effect content different from the effect content of the first game effect is determined during or around the execution of the first game effect. Game production lottery means for performing a second game production lottery for
An obtained random number processing means having a random number extraction means for extracting any random number for lottery already stored in each storage area of the random number storage means when the second game effect lottery is performed,
The second game production lottery
A gaming machine characterized in that it is performed based on any one of the lottery random numbers extracted by the random number extracting means as the game effect random number of the second game effect lottery. The acquired random number processing means includes:
Random number storage means for fetching the random numbers for lottery into each storage area of the random number storage means;
The random number storage means
5. The game according to claim 4, wherein the random number for lottery is fetched when there is an empty area in each storage area of the random number storage means, and is not taken in when there is no empty area in each of the storage areas. Machine.   5. The random number for game effect in the predetermined range used for the first game effect lottery is stored in each storage area of the random number storage means instead of the random number for lottery. 5. The gaming machine according to 5. The acquired random number processing means includes:
Random number synthesis means for extracting and synthesizing at least two random numbers stored in the respective storage areas of the random number storage means;
The second game production lottery
In place of the random number for lottery or the random number for game effect extracted by the random number extracting means,
The gaming machine according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the game is performed based on a random number synthesized by the random number synthesis means.

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