Gaming machine and display device therefor

Abstract

A gaming machine capable of maintaining the interest of a player even when the gaming machine does not work normally. For, example, a slot machine (10) comprises a display device (30) for displaying an image, and an image state control unit for controlling the display device (30) to display an image relating to a game. The slot machine (10) may be characterized in that the image state control unit controls the display device into a predetermined state upon determination that an image signal relating to the image provided to the display device fails to satisfy a predetermined condition.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-337131 filed on Nov. 20, 2002, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a gaming machine and a display device for the gaming machine. RELATED ART [0003] In recent years, a gaming machine such as a pinball gaming machine (e.g., pachinko machine) or a pinball slot machine (e.g., pachi-slot machine) has spread widely, and various types of gaming machines are developed and sold by gaming machine makers. [0004] This gaming machine is provided in a cabinet thereof with a display unit, in which there are displayed various images such as an image indicating the game contents or an image for making a scene. This display unit is indispensable for such gaming machines. [0005] For this display unit, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) using a cathode-ray tu...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] The present invention has an object to provide a gaming machine, which can maintain interest of a player even when a part of the gaming machine does not function well.

[0012] Here, the case that a predetermined condition is not satisfied may refer to that the image may cause an uncomfortable feeling to a player when the image is displayed on the display device according to the image signal. For example, the case may be that an image is made hardly visible with noise, that the original image to be shown does not exist, or that the image contains something obstructing the game progress if the player sees it. Further, to control the display device into the predetermined state may include to control the image to be displayed on the display device, and to display a predetermined image. The predetermined image may be based on the image signal or may have no relation to the image signal. Further, the predetermined image may be a moving picture, a still picture, or a combination thereof. Thus, the display image is controlled so that no uncomfortable image would be displayed. Therefore, the uncomfortable image, as caused by various troubles, can be prevented from being displayed in the display device.

[0015] According to the construction described above, the image signal is enlarged and converted. Then, a larger image than usual according to the converted image signal is displayed on the display device. Therefore, it is possible to provide a game having dynamic effects. As the image becomes larger, however, it exerts more influences on the player. If an uncomfortable image is displayed in an enlarged manner, therefore, its influences may be serious. Especially if such enlarged and converted image is displayed, it may give a rather seriously uncomfortable feeling to the player. It is, therefore, more preferable to eliminate the cause for the uncomfortable feeling during the play. On the other hand, the uncomfortable feeling can be alleviated by controlling the display device into the predetermined state even if the enlarged and converted image is displayed.

[0017] With the above construction, the gaming machine having the display device disposed in front of the reel to which the player pays the most attention can provide a game having dynamic effects. As the display device is positioned on a place with more attention, the influence of the image on the player becomes higher. If the display device is thus disposed in front of the reel, more serious influence can be given to the player. Therefore, it is preferable to eliminate the causes, which could cause the uncomfortable feeling during the play.

[0021] With the above-described construction, the possibility that the player contacts with the image state control unit player is lowered so that the image state control unit is less influenced by static electricity caused by the contact with the player.

Problems solved by technology

In this gaming machine, however, an uncomfortable image may be displayed due to a trouble in the liquid crystal display thereby to obstruct the interest of the player.

This uncomfortable image may be caused, for example, by noise, static electricity, or the like.

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