JP4623563B2 - Bullet ball machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball game machine such as a pachinko game machine, and more particularly to a technique for controlling winning of a game ball in a ball game machine.

Conventionally, among the various ball game machines, a so-called first type pachinko game machine displays a plurality of symbols in a display area such as a liquid crystal display provided substantially at the center of the game board while changing the design ( Hereinafter, such display is referred to as “symbol change” or “change display”). This gaming machine shifts to a special game called so-called jackpot where more prize balls can be obtained than a normal game when a combination of symbols when a plurality of rows of symbol variations are stopped becomes a specific mode. It is known as a thing (for example, refer patent document 1). The variable display of symbols in the display area is not only a variable display of multiple symbols, but the time of variable display is usually reduced in a state where it is a big hit if one more symbols are aligned, as in the so-called reach screen. For example, an effect is made to increase the player's expectation, such as making it longer. In addition, the player's expectation is enhanced by giving a story to the variation display by using a character in an image such as a pattern or by controlling a probability variation for varying the probability of transition to a special game.
JP 2003-230714 A

  Here, in the conventional type 1 pachinko gaming machine, in order to increase the number of game balls acquired by the player, the number of balls due to the launch of the game ball can only be caught up with the prize balls in the general prize opening and the start prize opening. Therefore, it was difficult to substantially increase the number of game balls unless special games were generated. Such a feature is common to many gaming machines, and it has become a cause of similarity in game play.

  The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for improving game playability by realizing a new method for awarding a prize ball in a ball game machine.

  In order to solve the above problems, a ball game machine according to an aspect of the present invention includes a game board in which a game area is formed, a winning opening provided at a predetermined position in the game area, and into which a game ball can enter, Provided above the winning hole in the game area, and can temporarily stop a plurality of game balls until they are released, and if the stopped state is released, the game balls that have been stopped are moved toward the winning hole A holding device to be released, a lottery means for executing a lottery to determine whether or not to win with a predetermined probability of winning, a symbol display device for displaying a symbol variation indicating a result of the lottery, and a symbol variation display on the symbol display device A display control means for controlling, a symbol determining means for determining a stop symbol to be displayed when stopping the variation of the symbol each time a lottery is made, and a stop symbol determined by the symbol determining means. Predetermined If the symbol is a special symbol, the special game execution means for executing a special game that is more advantageous to the player than the normal game, and if the winning symbol is a predetermined probability variation symbol, the probability of success or failure is determined by the player. Specific game control means for executing a specific game to be changed to an advantageous rate for the game after the end of the special game, and controlling the stopping of the game ball by the holding device, and the holding device when the game state becomes the specific game state And a hold control means for canceling the stationary state.

  Here, the “winning entrance” refers to a entrance where the entry is a trigger for the winning ball, such as a so-called general winning opening or starting winning opening. The “holding device” may be a cylindrical mechanism into which a plurality of game balls can enter, and a plurality of such holding devices may be provided. The “specific game” may indicate a so-called probability variation state, and in that case, a lottery in the probability variation state is performed mainly during the normal game. The “lottery” referred to here may be a process of acquiring a random value as a lottery value, or may be a process including a determination as to whether or not it is a win according to the lottery value.

  According to this aspect, the holding device is provided above the winning opening, and the stopping state of the game ball by the holding device is released at a predetermined timing. Therefore, a plurality of game balls stopped on the holding device are specified. You can win a prize at the same time. Therefore, for example, if a plurality of holding devices that can hold a plurality of game balls are provided, and if the number of winning balls set in the winning opening provided below is relatively large, the stopping by the holding device is released. As a whole, a player can be awarded a relatively large number of prize balls. In this way, the player can be given an opportunity to obtain a prize ball by a new technique in a game other than the special game, and the game performance can be further enhanced. In addition, since a relatively large number of balls can be expected before a big jackpot is generated in a specific game such as a probability variation state, the next jackpot can be obtained without reducing the number of possessions. Also, even if it takes a relatively long time for the next jackpot to occur in a specific game such as a probability fluctuation state, there is a possibility that a relatively large number of balls can be obtained by winning game balls released from the holding device. The player can suppress the loss until the jackpot occurs.

  The winning opening may include a general winning opening where the winning of the game ball is an opportunity for paying out the winning ball and a starting winning opening where the entering of the game ball is an opportunity to execute the lottery. The holding device may be provided above the general winning opening, and may release the game ball that has been stopped toward the general winning opening when the stopped state is released. In this case, the player is given an opportunity to increase the number of possessions through means other than special games, such as winning a general prize opening, which has been relatively small in the contribution to the increase in possession. Can be further enhanced.

  The holding control means may release the holding state by the holding device a plurality of times at a predetermined time interval when the gaming state becomes a specific gaming state. In this case, the longer the state of a specific game continues, the more the number of suspension cancellations by the holding device may increase, and even if it takes a long time to generate a jackpot, the number of possessions is difficult to decrease, and the player Loss can be suppressed. Also, if you set a relatively large number of prize balls for cancellation, the number of prize balls that can be earned will increase as the state of a specific game continues for a long time. Can be given to the player.

  An operation input means for accepting a player's operation for instructing the release of the stop state may be further provided, and the holding control means is configured to issue a release instruction by the operation input means when the game state becomes the specific game state. The acquisition may be validated a plurality of times at predetermined time intervals, and when the release instruction is obtained by the operation input means in the validated state, the stationary state by the holding device may be released. In this case as well, the longer the state of the specific game continues, the more the number of suspension cancellations by the holding device may increase, and even if it takes a long time until the jackpot occurrence, Loss of the player can be suppressed. Also, if you set a relatively large number of prize balls for cancellation, the number of prize balls that can be earned will increase as the state of a specific game continues for a long time. Can be given to the player. In addition, the player can intervene with respect to winning the prize ball, and the game performance can be further enhanced.

  The holding control means may release the holding state by the holding device when a predetermined number of game balls are stopped in the holding device when the gaming state becomes a specific gaming state. The holding device may have means for detecting the number of game balls to be stopped, or may have means for detecting whether or not the maximum number of game balls that can be stopped is stopped. . In this case, every time a predetermined number of game balls are parked on the holding device, the parked state is released, so that the game can be efficiently released and the game is won through the formation of a state advantageous to the player. Can be improved.

  You may further provide the operation input means which receives operation of the player for instruct | indicating cancellation | release of a stop state. The hold control means validates the acquisition of the release instruction by the operation input means when the gaming state becomes the state of the specific game, and whenever the release instruction is acquired by the operation input means while being validated. In addition, the stop state by the holding device may be released up to a predetermined number of release times. The validation of the release instruction acquisition by the hold control means may be continued until the specific game is ended, or may be continued until a predetermined period elapses. Also in this aspect, since a relatively large number of balls can be expected before a big hit is generated in a specific game such as a probability variation state, the next jackpot can be acquired without reducing the number of possessions. Also, even if it takes a relatively long time for the next jackpot to occur in a specific game such as a probability fluctuation state, there is a possibility that a relatively large number of balls can be obtained by winning game balls released from the holding device. The player can suppress the loss until the jackpot occurs. In addition, the player can intervene with respect to winning the prize ball, and the game performance can be further enhanced.

  It should be noted that any combination of the above-described constituent elements, or the constituent elements and expressions of the present invention may be mutually replaced between methods, apparatuses, systems, computer programs, recording media storing computer programs, data structures, etc. This is effective as an embodiment of the present invention.

  According to the ball game machine of the present invention, it is possible to improve the game performance by realizing a new method for giving a prize ball in the ball game machine.

Example 1
FIG. 1 shows a basic structure on the front side of a pachinko gaming machine. Hereinafter, a so-called first type pachinko gaming machine will be described as an example of a bullet ball gaming machine. The pachinko gaming machine 10 is mainly composed of a gaming machine frame and a gaming board. The gaming machine frame of the pachinko gaming machine 10 includes an outer frame 11, a front frame 12, a transparent plate 13, a door 14, an upper ball dish 15, a lower ball dish 16, a launch handle 17, and an input button 88. The outer frame 11 has an opening and is a frame for fixing the pachinko gaming machine 10 to a position where it should be installed. The front frame 12 is a frame body that aligns with the opening portion of the outer frame 11, and is attached to the outer frame 11 so as to be opened and closed by a hinge mechanism (not shown). The front frame 12 includes a mechanism for launching a game ball, a mechanism for detachably storing a game board, a mechanism for guiding or collecting the game ball, and the like.

  The transparent plate 13 is made of glass or the like and is supported by the door 14. The door 14 is attached to the front frame 12 so that it can be opened and closed by a hinge mechanism (not shown). The upper ball tray 15 has a mechanism for storing game balls, sending the game balls to the launch rail, and extracting the game balls to the lower ball tray 16. The lower ball tray 16 has a mechanism for storing and extracting game balls. An input button 88 is provided on the outer periphery of the upper ball tray 15, and the player can input a predetermined instruction to be described later through an operation of pressing the input button 88. A speaker 18 is provided between the upper ball tray 15 and the lower ball tray 16, and a sound effect corresponding to the gaming state is output.

  The game board 50 has an out port 58, a special symbol display device 61, a decorative symbol display device 60, and a start winning port (hereinafter referred to as "start port") on a game area 52 defined by the outer rail 54 and the inner rail 56. 62, the center decoration 64, the big prize opening 66, the operation opening 68, the general winning opening 72, the first holding device 82 and the second holding device 84 (hereinafter, the first holding device 82 and the second holding device 84 are collectively referred to as “ Holding device 86 "). Furthermore, in the game area 52, a plurality of mechanisms such as a game nail and a windmill (not shown) are installed. The start port 62 includes a start winning detection device 74 for detecting the entrance of a game ball and a normal electric accessory solenoid 76 for expanding the start port. The general winning opening 72 includes a general winning detecting device 73 for detecting the entering of a game ball. The special winning opening 66 includes a winning detection device 78 for detecting the entry of a game ball and a special winning opening solenoid 80 for expanding the special winning opening 66.

  The big winning opening 66 is a horizontal rectangular winning opening that is opened as a “big hit” when the special symbol 202 stops in a predetermined manner. The big winning opening 66 is provided above the out opening 58 and the like. The inside of the special winning opening 66 is divided into a specific area (so-called V zone) and a general area. The winning detection device 78 of the big winning opening 66 includes a sensor that detects passage of a game ball through a specific area and a sensor that detects passage of a general area.

  The special symbol display device 61 and the decorative symbol display device 60 provided in the approximate center of the game area 52 display the special symbol 202 and the decorative symbol 200 linked to the special symbol 202 on the respective screens while fluctuating (hereinafter, referred to as “the special symbol 202”). Such a display is called “symbol change” or “change display”). Here, the special symbol 202 is a symbol corresponding to the result of the lottery performed when the game ball is dropped into the start port 62, and has a role of indicating whether or not to generate a big hit. The decorative symbol 200 is a symbol for visually rendering a lottery result display. The special symbol display device 61 is display means composed of, for example, LEDs. The decorative symbol display device 60 displays the decorative symbol 200 while fluctuating in a manner linked with the variable symbol display of the special symbol 202. The decorative symbol 200 is a symbol for visually producing the lottery result display indicated by the special symbol 202. The decorative symbol display device 60 displays, as the decorative symbol 200, for example, a plurality of rows of moving images of symbol fluctuations simulating a slot machine game in the central area of the screen. The decorative symbol display device 60 is constituted by a liquid crystal display in this embodiment, but may be constituted by other display means such as a mechanical drum or LED. Since the special symbol 202 does not need to have an effect role, in this embodiment, the special symbol 202 is displayed in an inconspicuous size on the special symbol display device 61 at the lower left of the decorative symbol display device 60. However, the special symbol itself is displayed. In the case of adopting a technique in which a decorative role is not displayed and a decorative symbol is not displayed, the special symbol may be displayed on a liquid crystal display such as the decorative symbol display device 60.

  The holding device 86 is provided on the right side of the decorative symbol display device 60 in the game area 52. The holding device 86 includes a first holding device 82 and a second holding device 84 each formed in a vertically long cylindrical shape. The first holding device 82 and the second holding device 84 are installed so as to be adjacent to each other. Each upper portion forms an opening through which a game ball can enter, and each lower surface forms a holding valve that can be opened and closed by control. To do. The first holding device 82 includes a first stop detection device 30 that detects the number of game balls that have entered. Similarly, the second holding device 84 also includes a second stop detection device 32 that detects the number of game balls that have entered. A general winning opening 72 is provided below the holding device 86 in the game area 52. When a game ball enters the general winning opening 72, a relatively large number of prize balls, for example, 15 prize balls are paid out. The operation port 68 is provided at the left side position of the game board 50. The passage of the game ball to the operation port 68 is an opportunity to expand the start port 62.

  When the player rotates the launch handle 17 by hand, the game balls stored in the upper ball tray 15 are guided one by one to the inner rail 56 and the outer rail 54 with a strength corresponding to the rotation angle, thereby playing the game area. To 52. When the player fixes the rotation position of the firing handle 17 by hand, the game ball is repeatedly fired at regular time intervals. The game ball launched to the upper part of the game area 52 falls in a direction according to the way of hitting while hitting a plurality of game nails and windmills. The game ball dropped into the holding device 86 is stopped in the holding device 86, and then released when the stopped state is released, and dropped into the general winning opening 72. When a game ball is dropped into each of the general winning opening 72, the start opening 62, and the big winning opening 66, a winning ball corresponding to the type of the winning opening is paid out to the upper ball tray 15 or the lower ball tray 16. A game ball dropped into each winning hole such as the general winning hole 72 is processed as a safe ball, and a game ball dropped into the out hole 58 is processed as an out ball. Each winning opening includes a gate type through which a game ball passes. In the present application, “incoming”, “entering”, and “winning” include “passing”.

  When the game ball falls into the start port 62, the special symbol 202 and the decorative symbol 200 are variably displayed on the special symbol display device 61 and the decorative symbol display device 60. In principle, the variable display of the special symbol 202 and the decorative symbol 200 is stopped after the display time determined prior to the display has elapsed. When the special symbol 202 and the decorative symbol 200 at the time of the stop are symbols indicating a big hit, the opening / closing operation of the big winning opening 66 is started, and the game shifts to a special game that is more advantageous to the player than the normal game. At this time, the decorative symbol 200 simulating a game of a slot machine takes a display mode in which three symbols are matched.

  The big winning opening 66 is temporarily closed after being opened for about 30 seconds or after nine or more game balls are dropped. If at least one game ball falls into a specific area while the big prize opening 66 is open, the big prize opening 66 is opened again. In this way, the opening / closing of the big prize opening 66 is repeated a predetermined number of times, for example, 15 times, on condition that at least one game ball falls into the specific area while the big prize opening 66 is opened once.

  When the special symbol 202 or the decorative symbol 200 at the time of stoppage is a specific symbol indicating a jackpot with probability variation, the probability variation game is started as the specific game after the special game is finished. In the probability variation game, a lottery with a higher win probability than the normal probability state is performed, and a new special game is generated relatively early. In this embodiment, when a total of 10 game balls stop on the holding device 86 in the probability variation state, the pressing of the input button 88 is activated, and the input button 88 is played while the activation is performed. When pressed by the person, the holding state of the game ball by the holding device 86 is released, and the game ball is released from the holding device 86.

  A center ornament 64 is provided around the decorative symbol display device 60. The center ornament 64 has functions such as protection of the game ball flow path, the special symbol display device 61 and the decorative symbol display device 60, and decoration. A holding lamp 20 is provided at a predetermined position of the center decoration 64. The holding lamp 20 is composed of four lamps, and displays the number of holding balls according to the number of lights. The number of reserved balls is the number of lottery results won to the start port 62 during symbol variation, and indicates the number of winning balls for which symbol variation has not yet been executed. In addition, a game effect lamp 90 is provided in the game area 52 and plays a role of production by blinking or the like.

  When the game ball passes through the operating port 68, a symbol called a normal symbol 204 is displayed in a variable manner for a predetermined time. The normal symbol 204 is variably displayed at the lower right corner of the decorative symbol display device 60. When the fluctuation display of the normal symbol 204 is stopped after the lapse of a predetermined time, the start port 62 is normally expanded for a predetermined time with a probability of about 50% to 80%. During the execution of the variation shortening game, the variation display time of the normal symbol 204 is shortened and the time during which the start port 62 is opened is set relatively long.

  FIG. 2 shows a basic structure on the back side of the pachinko gaming machine. The power switch 40 is a switch for turning on / off the power of the pachinko gaming machine 10. The main board 41 controls the overall operation of the pachinko gaming machine 10 and processes all game operations such as a lottery when a winning is made to the start port 62. The sub board 49 includes a liquid crystal unit 42, controls display contents on the decorative symbol display device 60, and changes display contents according to a lottery result by the main board 41 in particular. The main board 41 and the sub board 49 constitute a game control device 100. The set base 39 includes a prize ball tank 44, a flow path for prize balls, a payout unit 43 for delivering prize balls. The payout unit 43 pays out the game balls supplied from the winning ball tank 44 to the upper ball tray 15 in accordance with winning in each winning opening. The payout control board 45 controls the payout operation by the payout unit 43. The launching device 46 launches the stored balls in the upper ball tray 15 to the game area 52 one by one. The launch control board 47 controls the launch operation of the launch device 46. The power supply unit 48 supplies power to each part of the pachinko gaming machine 10.

  FIG. 3 schematically shows the structure and arrangement of the holding device. As shown in the figure, the holding device 86 is provided above the general winning opening 72 in the game area 52 and can temporarily hold a plurality of game balls 96 until released, and when the stopped state is released. The game ball 96 that has been stopped is released in the direction of the general winning opening 72. Above the holding device 86, a plurality of game nails 92 and a windmill 94 are provided in such an arrangement that the game ball 96 is guided to the opening of the first holding device 82 or the second holding device 84. Below the holding device 86, a plurality of game nails 92 are provided between the holding device 86 and the general winning opening 72 so that the game balls released from the holding device 86 are guided to the general winning opening 72. The game ball released from the holding device 86 enters the general winning opening 72 almost certainly. On the other hand, the game balls other than the game balls stopped by the holding device 86 are blocked by the game nails 92 and hardly enter the general winning opening 72.

  In the normal state, the holding valve 98 is closed, and a game ball enters each of the first holding device 82 and the second holding device 84 with an upper limit of 5 balls, and the entered game balls are temporarily stored therein. Stop. In a state where five balls are stopped in each of the first holding device 82 and the second holding device 84, even if more game balls try to enter, they cannot be entered and are repelled outside the holding device 86. The first stop detection device 30 detects whether or not five game balls have entered the first holding device 82. The second stop detection device 32 detects whether or not five game balls have entered the second holding device 84. In this embodiment, during a specific game such as a probability variation state, the first stop detection is performed when five game balls enter and stop at each of the first holding device 82 and the second holding device 84. When the device 30 and the second stop detection device 32 detect, pressing of the input button 88 is validated. If the player presses the input button 88 while the validation is being performed, the holding device 86 is released from the stationary state. When the depression of the input button 88 is validated, the decorative symbol display device 60 displays a character “button PUSH!” As a message indicating that the depression of the input button 88 is validated. When the player presses the input button 88, the holding valve 98 is opened and five balls are released from each of the first holding device 82 and the second holding device 84, and a total of 10 game balls are released toward the general winning opening 72. Is done. After a sufficient period of time has passed for all 10 game balls to be released, the holding valve 98 is closed again.

  Since the number of winning balls in the general winning opening 72 is 15, the player can acquire 150 winning balls for 10 winning balls. In this way, the player can acquire a relatively large number of prize balls by a game other than the special game. Conventionally, such a game that can obtain a relatively large number of prize balls has not been realized other than the game using the big prize opening 66, and an opportunity for winning a prize ball is provided by a novel method as in this embodiment. By doing so, gameability can be improved. Further, even in a specific game such as a probability variation state, even if it takes a long time to generate a jackpot, the player can advance the game without reducing the number of possessions.

  FIG. 4 shows functional blocks of the pachinko gaming machine 10 in the present embodiment. In the pachinko gaming machine 10, the game control device 100 includes a start port 62, a big winning port 66, a special symbol display device 61, a decorative symbol display device 60, a speaker 18, a game effect lamp 90, a general winning port 72, a holding device 86, It is electrically connected to each of the input buttons 88 and enables transmission / reception of various control signals. The game control device 100 controls not only the basic operation of the game, but also staging operations such as symbol variation display and electrical decoration. The game control device 100 may be configured in such a manner that the functions are shared by the main board 41 that controls the overall operation of the pachinko gaming machine 10 including the basic operation of the game, and the sub board 49 that controls the production of symbols and the like. Good. The input button 88 is an operation input unit that receives a player's operation for instructing to release the holding state of the holding device 86.

  The game control device 100 is configured by hardware including elements such as a ROM and a RAM for storing data and programs, and a CPU used for arithmetic processing. The game control device 100 according to the present embodiment includes a ball determination unit 110 that determines whether or not to enter each winning opening, a lottery unit 112 that executes a pass / fail lottery to determine whether or not the game is won or not, and a result of the pass / fail lottery. Pattern storage means 125 for holding a display pattern of symbol variation indicating the symbol, symbol determination means 130 for determining the symbol variation stop pattern and the display pattern of variation display, display control means 160 for controlling the display of symbols, illuminations, etc. Ordinary electric motors such as a holding control means 170 for controlling the stopping of the game ball by the device 86, a special game control means 180 for controlling the special game during the jackpot, a specific game executing means 190 for executing the game in the probability variation state, and the starting port 62 A normal electric accessory opening / closing control means 192 for controlling the opening / closing of the winning combination and a special winning opening opening / closing control means 194 for controlling the opening / closing of the special winning opening 66 are provided.

  The start winning detection device 74 is a sensor provided in the start opening 62, detects the drop of the game ball into the start opening 62, and generates start winning information indicating the drop. The general winning detection device 73 is a sensor provided in the general winning opening 72, detects the falling of a game ball into the general winning opening 72, and generates general winning information indicating the drop. When receiving the start winning information, the winning determination means 110 determines that the game ball has won the start opening 62, and receives the general winning information, determines that the game ball has won the general winning opening 72.

  The first stop detection device 30 is a sensor provided in the holding device 86. When the first holding device 82 detects that five game balls are stopped, the first stop detection device 30 generates stop information indicating the stop. It sends to the control means 170. Similarly, the second stop detection device 32 is also a sensor provided in the holding device 86, and generates stop information indicating the stop when the second holding device 84 detects that five game balls are stopped. To the hold control means 170. The holding valve solenoid 99 is controlled by the holding control means 170 to open and close the holding valve 98 of the holding device 86.

  The lottery unit 112 includes a lottery value acquisition unit 113, a table storage unit 114, and a hit determination unit 120. The lottery value acquisition unit 113 acquires a random number value as a lottery value when starting winning information is acquired from the starting winning detection device 74. The random number here may not be a mathematically generated random number, but may be a pseudo-random number generated by a hardware random number, a software random number, or the like. The table storage unit 114 holds a table referred to in the determination of success / failure. In this table, determination results such as winning or losing are associated with lottery values, and the probability of winning or failing is determined according to the associated winning range setting. During normal times, a table for determining whether or not the game is normal is used, and when the probability changes, a table having a higher probability than the normal probability is used. The winning determination means 120 refers to the table held in the table storage means 114 and determines whether or not the lottery value is a winning value. When the lottery value is a win, the hit determination unit 120 determines whether the lottery value is a hit with probability variation based on the table held in the table storage unit 114.

  The pattern storage unit 125 holds a plurality of types of patterns as display patterns in which a variation mode from a variation start to a stop when a special symbol or a decorative symbol is variably displayed. In the display pattern, a pattern for displaying a normal out symbol, a pattern for displaying a symbol out of reach after reaching a big win if one more symbols are aligned, and a jackpot symbol through a reach state are displayed. When the pattern is included. A pattern having various display times is included as a pattern in the reach state. Each display pattern has a display time for each pattern as an end condition of the symbol variation, and the symbol variation is stopped when the display time elapses.

  The symbol determination means 130 determines the contents of symbols to be displayed on the special symbol display device 61 and the decorative symbol display device 60 and the display pattern each time the lottery means 112 performs a lottery. The symbol determining unit 130 includes a decorative symbol determining unit 132 that determines a decorative symbol, a special symbol determining unit 140 that determines a special symbol, and a normal symbol determining unit 148 that determines a normal symbol.

  The special symbol determination unit 140 includes a pattern selection unit 144 that selects any pattern from the pattern storage unit 125 according to the lottery result of the lottery unit 112, and a special symbol stop symbol that corresponds to the lottery result of the lottery unit 112. And a symbol selecting means 146 for determining. The stop symbol is a symbol to be displayed at the end of symbol variation, and is determined based on a random number for symbol determination. If the lottery value is a win, whether or not it is a win with probability variation is determined according to the lottery value or a random number for determining symbols.

  The decorative symbol determining unit 132 selects a pattern from the pattern storage unit 125 according to the determination by the special symbol determining unit 140, and the decorative symbol stop symbol according to the lottery result by the lottery unit 112. And a symbol selecting means 138 for determining. When the special symbol is a winning symbol, the symbol selecting unit 138 determines a decorative symbol depending on whether the symbol is a winning symbol with probability variation.

  The normal symbol determining means 148 acquires a lottery random number for determining the normal symbol when the entrance determining means 110 determines the passing of the game ball to the operation port 68, and the normal symbol is determined according to the lottery random number. decide. When the normal symbol determination means 148 is a specific symbol, the normal electric accessory opening / closing control means 192 widens the start port 62 for a predetermined time.

  The display control means 160 displays the lottery result by the lottery means 112 on the special symbol display device 61 and the decorative symbol display device 60 in the form of symbol variation according to the display pattern selected by the symbol determination means 130. The display control means 160 in the present embodiment displays the special symbol on the special symbol display device 61 and displays the decorative symbol and the normal symbol on the decorative symbol display device 60. The display control means 160 further controls turning on and off of the game effect lamp 90.

  The hold control means 170 receives an instruction signal from the input button 88 indicating that a release instruction has been input when an operation input of the input button 88 for instructing the release of the stop is received from the player. When the hold control means 170 receives the stop information from both the first stop detection device 30 and the second stop detection device 32 during the probability variation, a message indicating that the pressing of the input button 88 is activated, The decorative symbol display device 60 is displayed for a predetermined time through the control of the display control means 160, and the acquisition of the release instruction is validated while the message is displayed. The time for displaying the message is, for example, 5 seconds. When the probability is not changing, or while the message is not displayed, the hold control unit 170 invalidates the acquisition of the release instruction. It is determined that the input button 88 has been pressed only when an instruction signal is received from the input button 88 while acquisition of the release instruction is enabled. While acquisition of the release instruction is disabled, it is considered that the input button 88 has not been pressed even if a signal is received from the input button 88.

  If the hold control means 170 determines that the input button 88 has been pressed while the acquisition of the release instruction has been activated, the hold control means 170 opens the hold valve 98 of the hold device 86 to play the game ball by the hold device 86. Release the stationary state.

  The special game control unit 180 controls the execution process of the special game when the determination result by the hit determination unit 120 is a win. The special game transition determining means 182 determines the timing of starting the special game according to whether or not the symbol variation corresponding to the winning lottery result has been stopped. The special game is a game in which the opening / closing operation of the special winning opening 66 is continuously performed a plurality of times, and is configured by a plurality of unit games with one opening / closing as a unit. The unit game is repeated up to 15 times, for example, and the grand prize opening 66 is opened for about 30 seconds in one unit game. The unit game execution means 184 controls the special prize opening / closing control means 194 to open / close the special prize opening 66 to execute the unit game. The special prize opening / closing control means 194 sends an opening instruction to the special prize opening solenoid 80 to open the special prize opening 66 during the unit game. The special game ending means 186 determines whether or not to continue the unit game, that is, whether or not to start the next unit game, based on the number of continuations of the unit game and the presence / absence of the passage of the special winning prize opening 66 to the specific area. Determine. When the continuation condition for starting the next unit game is not satisfied, or when the upper limit number of unit games is exhausted, the special game ending means 186 ends the special game.

  When the normal symbol is stopped at a specific symbol, the ordinary electric accessory opening / closing control means 192 sends an opening instruction to the ordinary electric accessory solenoid 76 to open the start port 62. Thereby, the start port 62 changes to a state advantageous to the player.

  When the determination result by the hit determination means 120 is a hit with probability variation, and the winning stop symbol determined by the symbol determination means 130 is a specific symbol indicating a jackpot with probability variation, a specific game The execution means 190 shifts the gaming state to the probability variation state. In principle, the probability variation state is continued until the next jackpot occurs, and during that time, the probability of hit determination by the hit determination means 120 is maintained at a high value.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of a message display indicating that the pressing of the input button has been validated. When the probability change is in progress and five game balls are stopped at the first holding device 82 and the second holding device 84, the holding control unit 170 controls the display of the decorative symbol display device 60 through the control by the display control unit 160. A message 210 is displayed on the screen. The message 210 includes a character string “button PUSH!” And includes an intention to prompt the player to input an operation of the input button 88 or an intention to give an opportunity to input the operation of the input button 88. . When the player presses the input button 88 while the message 210 is displayed, the holding valve 98 of the holding device 86 that has been closed is opened, and the game ball that has been stopped wins the general winning opening 72. Then, a winning ball corresponding to the number of winnings can be obtained.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a basic operation process of a normal game and a special game. First, if it is a normal game state, a normal game control process such as determination of success or failure is executed (S10), and if it is a special game state, a special game control process is executed (S12), and according to the winning in S10 or S12 The prize ball payout is processed (S14).

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing in detail S10 in FIG. In the normal game control process of S10, first, the winning / nothing determination process is executed according to the winning at the start port 62 (S20). Next, a symbol variation corresponding to the result of the determination of success / failure is displayed (S22), and if the result of the determination of success / failure is a win, the transition timing to the special game is determined based on whether or not the symbol variation display is finished. At the same time (S24), the hold control in the hold device 86 is processed (S26).

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing in detail S26 in FIG. First, in the case where the game state is a probability variation state as a specific game in the normal game (Y in S50), there are five game balls in each of the first holding device 82 and the second holding device 84, for a total of 10 game balls. Is stopped (Y in S52), the display control means 160 causes the decorative symbol display device 60 to display the message 210 (S54). If the probability is not changing in S50 (N in S50), the flow from S52 is skipped and the flow in S26 is terminated. In S52, when the number of game balls stopped at the holding device 86 has not reached 10 (N in S52), the flow of S26 is terminated by skipping S54 and subsequent steps.

  When 5 seconds have elapsed from the start of displaying the message 210 in S54 (N in S56), if the player inputs an operation on the input button 88 (Y in S58), the hold control means 170 opens the hold valve 98. Then, the suspension of the game ball by the holding device 86 is released, and the game ball that has been stopped is released and awarded to the general winning opening 72 (S60). If 5 seconds have elapsed from the start of displaying the message 210 in S56 (Y in S56), S58 and S60 are skipped, the operation input validation of the input button 88 is canceled (S62), and the flow of S26 is performed. finish. When there is no operation input of the input button 88 in S58 (N of S58), S60 is skipped and the flow of S26 is ended.

  As described above, the pachinko gaming machine 10 according to the first embodiment is provided with the holding device 86 in the game area 52 that can stop a total of 10 game balls. When the number of game balls stopped at the holding device 86 in the probability variation state reaches ten, the operation input of the input button 88 is validated, and when the player presses the input button 88 during that time, the game ball is released from the holding device 86. It is released and wins the general winning opening 72. The probability variation state is a gaming state during a normal game, and the activation of the input button 88, the release of the game ball by the holding device 86, and the entry into the general winning opening 72 are also mainly performed during the normal game. In this way, an opportunity to acquire a relatively large number of prize balls during a game other than the special game can be given to the player through a game technique that has not been conventionally available. In addition, it is possible to give a new effect of displaying a message related to such opportunity grant, and increase the opportunities for the player to be involved in the progress of the game, so that the game performance can be further improved.

(Example 2)
In this embodiment, in the probability variation state, the input operation of the input button by the player is validated at a predetermined time interval, and the holding device is operated when the input operation of the input button by the player is made valid The stop state due to is released. This is different from the first embodiment in which the operation input of the input button is validated when the number of game balls stopped on the holding device reaches a predetermined number in the probability variation state. Hereinafter, the description will focus on the differences, and the description of the common points will be omitted.

  In FIG. 4, processing mainly by the hold control unit 170 is different from that in the first embodiment. The hold control means 170 in the present embodiment validates the operation input of the input button 88 for 5 seconds when 20 seconds have elapsed since the gaming state has changed to the probability fluctuation state, The message 210 is displayed on the decorative symbol display device 60. After the elapse of 5 seconds, the operation input of the input button 88 is deactivated, and when 20 seconds elapses, the operation input of the input button 88 is activated for 5 seconds. In this way, the standby for 20 seconds and the validation for 5 seconds are repeated until the probability variation state ends. If there is an operation input of the input button 88 while the operation input of the input button 88 is being validated, the stopping state of the game ball by the holding device 86 is released. As a result, the holding valve 98 of the holding device 86 is opened, and the stopped game ball is released in the direction of the general winning opening 72.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing in detail S26 of FIG. 7 in the second embodiment. First, when the game state is a probability variation state as a specific game in the normal game (Y in S70), and the operation input of the input button 88 is not activated (N in S72), the measurement is started. 20 seconds have elapsed (Y in S74), the validation of the operation input of the input button 88 is started and the message 210 is displayed on the decorative symbol display device 60 (S76). If the probability is not changing in S70 (N in S70), the flow from S72 is skipped and the flow in S26 is terminated. If the operation input of the input button 88 has already been validated in S72 (Y in S72), S74 and S76 are skipped and the process jumps to S78. If it is determined in S74 that 20 seconds have not elapsed since the start of measurement, S76 and the subsequent steps are skipped, and the flow of S26 is terminated.

  If 5 seconds have elapsed since the start of the activation in S76 (N in S78), if the player inputs an operation on the input button 88 (Y in S80), the hold control means 170 opens the hold valve 98. Then, the suspension of the game ball by the holding device 86 is released, and the game ball that has been stopped is released and awarded to the general winning opening 72 (S82). When 5 seconds have elapsed from the start of activation in S78 (Y in S78), S80 and S82 are skipped to deactivate the operation input of the input button 88 (S84), and the flow of S26 is ended. When there is no operation input of the input button 88 in S80 (N of S80), S82 is skipped and the flow of S26 is complete | finished.

  As described above, also in the second embodiment, like the pachinko gaming machine 10 in the first embodiment, the holding device 86 capable of stopping a total of 10 game balls is provided in the game area 52. In the probability variation state, the operation input of the input button 88 is validated at predetermined time intervals, and when there is an operation input during the validation, the game ball is released from the holding device 86 and wins the general winning opening 72. . The probability variation state is a game state during a normal game, and the release of the game ball by the holding device 86 and the ball entering the general winning opening 72 are also mainly performed during the normal game. In this way, an opportunity to acquire a relatively large number of prize balls during a game other than a special game can be given to a player through a game technique that has not been conventionally available.

(Example 3)
In this embodiment, the input operation of the input button by the player is validated in the probability variation state, and every time there is an operation input of the input button by the player up to a predetermined number of releases while being activated, The stationary state is released. This is different from the first embodiment in which the operation input of the input button is validated when the number of game balls stopped on the holding device reaches a predetermined number in the probability variation state. Hereinafter, the description will focus on the differences, and the description of the common points will be omitted.

  In FIG. 4, processing mainly by the hold control unit 170 is different from that in the first embodiment. The hold control means 170 in the present embodiment validates the operation input of the input button 88 when the gaming state becomes a probability variation state. If there is an operation input of the input button 88 by the player while it is activated, the game ball is stopped by the holding device 86. As a result, the holding valve 98 of the holding device 86 is opened, and the stopped game ball is released in the direction of the general winning opening 72. However, the activation is canceled when the operation input of the input button 88 by the player reaches a predetermined number of times, for example, five times. The remaining number of cancellations may be displayed on the decorative symbol display device 60 as the remaining number of times that the suspension device 86 can instruct the cancellation of the stationary state. In the case of the present embodiment, when the operation input is validated, “5 times” is displayed on the decorative symbol display device 60, and the number of possible cancellations displayed is decremented by 1 each time there is an operation input.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing in detail S26 of FIG. 7 in the third embodiment. First, when the gaming state is in a probability variation state as a specific game in a normal game (Y in S90), and the number of times the suspension state can be released by the holding device 86 in the probability variation state remains one or more times ( If the player inputs an operation on the input button 88 (Y in S92), the holding control means 170 opens the holding valve 98 to release the holding of the game ball by the holding device 86, and has stopped. The released game ball is released and awarded to the general winning opening 72 (S96), and the number of releasable times is decremented by 1 (S98). If the probability is not changing in S90 (N in S90), the flow from S92 is skipped and the flow in S26 is terminated. In S92, if the number of possible cancellations has already become 0 (N in S92), the flow from S94 is skipped and the flow in S26 is terminated. When there is no operation input of the input button 88 in S94 (N of S94), S96 and subsequent steps are skipped and the flow of S26 is ended.

  As described above, also in the third embodiment, as with the pachinko gaming machine 10 in the first embodiment, the holding device 86 capable of stopping a total of 10 game balls is provided in the game area 52. In the probability variation state, the player can input an operation with the input button 88 up to a predetermined number of times, and when there is an operation input, the game ball is released from the holding device 86 and wins the general winning opening 72. The probability variation state is a game state during a normal game, and the release of the game ball by the holding device 86 and the ball entering the general winning opening 72 are also mainly performed during the normal game. In this way, an opportunity to acquire a relatively large number of prize balls during a game other than during a special game can be given to the player through a game technique that has not been conventionally available. In addition, since the number of times that the holding device 86 can be released is limited, the number of prize balls associated with entering the general prize opening 72 is suppressed to a certain number, and the profit balance between the player and the amusement store can be appropriately maintained. it can.

  In the above, this invention was demonstrated based on the Example. This embodiment is merely an example, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the combination of each component and each processing process, and such modifications are within the scope of the present invention. is there. Hereinafter, modifications will be described.

  In each embodiment, the configuration in which each of the first holding device 82 and the second holding device 84 can stop the game balls by five balls has been described. In a modification, you may employ | adopt the holding | maintenance apparatus which can hold | maintain the game ball | bowl of arbitrary balls not only for every five balls. Moreover, in each Example, although the structure which provided the two reservation apparatuses was demonstrated, you may employ | adopt the structure which provided the three or more reservation apparatuses in the modification.

  In the first embodiment, the configuration in which the operation input by the input button 88 is validated when five game balls stop in each of the first holding device 82 and the second holding device 84 has been described. In a modification, the structure which validates the operation input by the input button 88 when at least any one of the 1st holding | maintenance apparatus 82 and the 2nd holding | maintenance apparatus 84 reaches 5 balls may be sufficient. Each of the first stop detection device 30 and the second stop detection device 32 may be a sensor that counts the number of game balls from 1 to 5 balls.

  In each embodiment, the configuration has been described in which the hold control unit 170 executes control to validate the operation input of the input button 88 when the gaming state becomes a predetermined state during the probability variation. In the modified example, when the gaming state becomes a predetermined state during the probability variation, the hold control unit 170 executes control for releasing the stop state by the hold device 86 regardless of whether or not the input button 88 is operated. May be. The pachinko gaming machine 10 in that case may be realized by a configuration in which the input button 88 is not provided.

It is a figure which shows the basic structure in the front side of a pachinko game machine. It is a figure which shows the basic structure in the back side of a pachinko game machine. It is a figure which shows typically the structure and arrangement | positioning of a holding | maintenance apparatus. It is a figure which shows the functional block of the pachinko game machine in a present Example. It is a figure which shows the example of the message display which shows that pressing-down of the input button was validated. It is a flowchart which shows the basic operation | movement process of a normal game and a special game. It is a flowchart which shows S10 in FIG. 6 in detail. It is a flowchart which shows S26 in FIG. 7 in detail. It is a flowchart which shows S26 of FIG. 7 in Example 2 in detail. It is a flowchart which shows S26 of FIG. 7 in Example 3 in detail.

Explanation of symbols

  10 Pachinko gaming machines, 50 gaming boards, 52 gaming areas, 60 decorative symbol display devices, 61 special symbol display devices, 62 starting openings, 72 general prize winning openings, 82 first holding devices, 84 second holding devices, 86 holding devices, 88 input buttons, 160 display control means, 170 hold control means.

Claims (5)

A game board in which a game area is formed;
A prize opening provided at a predetermined position in the game area and allowing a game ball to enter;
The game area is provided above the winning opening in the gaming area, and can temporarily stop a plurality of gaming balls until released, and if the stopped state is released, the gaming balls that have been stopped are removed from the winning opening. A holding device to be released in the direction of
Lottery means for executing a lottery for determining whether or not a winning / non-winning probability is achieved;
A symbol display device for displaying a variation of the symbol indicating the result of the lottery;
Display control means for controlling variation display of the symbol in the symbol display device;
A symbol determination means for determining a stop symbol to be displayed when stopping the variation of the symbol each time the lottery is performed according to a result of the lottery;
Special game execution means for executing a special game that is more advantageous to the player than a normal game when the stop symbol determined by the symbol determination means is a predetermined winning symbol;
When the winning symbol is a predetermined probability variation symbol, specific game control means for executing a specific game for changing the success / failure probability to a probability more advantageous to the player than the normal state after the end of the special game;
Controlling the stopping of the game ball by the holding device, and when the gaming state becomes the state of the specific game, the upper limit number of game balls that can be stopped in the holding device is stopped in the holding device. A holding control means for canceling the stationary state by the holding device on the condition of
A ball game machine characterized by comprising: The winning opening includes a general winning opening where a game ball is entered as a trigger for paying out a winning ball, and a starting winning opening where a game ball is entered as a chance to execute a lottery,
The said holding | maintenance apparatus is provided above the said general winning opening, and when the said stop state is cancelled | released, the game ball | bowl which was stopped is released to the direction of the said general winning opening. Ball game machine. When the gaming state becomes the state of the specific game, the holding control means is configured to stop by the holding device whenever the upper limit number of game balls that can be stopped in the holding device are stopped in the holding device. ball-shooting game machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that release the. Further comprising an operation input means for accepting a player's operation for instructing the release of the stationary state;
When the gaming state becomes the state of the specific game, the holding control means is limited to a predetermined period after the upper limit number of gaming balls that can be stopped in the holding device are stopped in the holding device. , while Enabling the acquisition of cancellation instruction by the operation input means, to release the standstill state by the holding device when the cancellation instruction is acquired by the operation input means in a state in which the activation is made The bullet ball game machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein Further comprising an operation input means for accepting a player's operation for instructing the release of the stationary state;
The hold control means validates the acquisition of the release instruction by the operation input means when the gaming state becomes the state of the specific game, and the release by the operation input means while the validation is being made. Each time an instruction is acquired, the upper limit number of game balls that can be stopped in the holding device are stopped in the holding device, and the number of releases until that time is less than a predetermined number of release possible times. 3. The ball game machine according to claim 1 , wherein the stop state by the holding device is canceled on condition that

Images