Game machine

Abstract

To provide a game machine capable of suitably controlling progress of a game on the basis of a difference in the number of game media.SOLUTION: A game machine is configured so as to count a difference in the number of game media used for performing a game and the number of acquired game media, restricts execution of a game by a player when the difference in the number becomes equal to or more than a predetermined restriction number, and executes putout of unpaid game media when the unpaid game media that have not been put out to a player yet remain after restriction of execution of a game is started.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 69

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a gaming machine typified by a pinball gaming machine. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional gaming machine is known that can control the progress of a game based on the difference between the number of gaming media used by a player to play the game and the number of gaming media acquired by the player through playing the game (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-310914 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, there may still be room for improvement in the configuration that can control the progress of a game based on the difference in the number of gaming media and can display the difference in the number of gaming media that accompanies the progress.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that can suitably control the progress of a game based on the difference in the number of gaming media. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the gaming machine according to the present invention comprises: special information acquisition means for acquiring special information when a predetermined acquisition condition is met; an acquired information storage means capable of storing a plurality of pieces of special information acquired by the special information acquisition means; a determining means for sequentially determining whether the special information stored in the acquired information storage means corresponds to predetermined determination information; a game time control means for controlling the notification means so that a game time operation is started before the determination is made by the determination means or based on the determination being made by the determination means, and the end of the game time operation as a notification result corresponding to the result of the determination is counted as one game time, and the game time operation for each game time is performed in accordance with the special information stored in the acquired information storage means; a main control means having a game state transition means for transitioning the game state to a special game state that is more advantageous to the player than the normal game state when the determination result by the determination means corresponds to the predetermined determination information and a predetermined transition condition is established; a display control means for controlling a display unit capable of displaying information about a game based on a control command transmitted from the main control means; A gaming machine configured to allow a player to acquire a predetermined number or more of gaming media multiple times in the special gaming state, The main control means a difference counting means for counting the difference between the number of game media used by a player to play in a plurality of game states including at least the normal game state and the special game state and the number of game media acquired by the player through playing the game; a difference number command transmitting means for transmitting a control command relating to the difference number counted by the difference number counting means to the display control means; a game execution limiting means for limiting the execution of a game by a player when the difference counting means indicates that the difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined limit; a backup means for storing information corresponding to the power cut-off during the special game continuation state when the power supply to the gaming machine is cut off in the special game continuation state in which the difference number becomes equal to or exceeds a predetermined limit number during the special game continuation state and the game in the special game continuation state can be continued; an unpaid payout execution means for executing the payout of unpaid game media when unpaid game media remain that have not been paid out to the player after the game execution restriction means has started to restrict the execution of the game; a remaining payout storage means for storing information corresponding to the number of unpaid game media remaining after the difference number has reached or exceeded a predetermined limit and after the difference number has reached or exceeded the limit, if there are unpaid game media remaining that have not been paid out to the player; and an unstarted information erasing means for erasing special information for which the game operation has not yet started among the special information acquired when the predetermined acquisition condition is met when the difference number is equal to or greater than a predetermined limit number, The main control means a power restoration process executed after the power supply to the gaming machine is cut off in the normal gaming state; a power restoration process that is executed after the power supply to the gaming machine is cut off in a situation where the execution of a game is restricted by the game execution restriction means; and a power restoration process that is executed after the power supply to the gaming machine is cut off during the special game continuation state. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a gaming machine that can suitably control the progress of a game based on the difference in the number of gaming media. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a pachinko machine as an example of a gaming machine; [Figure 2] A perspective view showing a pachinko machine in an open state. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the pachinko machine in another open state. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the pachinko machine in yet another open state. [Figure 5] Front view of a pachinko machine [Figure 6] A front view of a pachinko machine with the front block removed [Figure 7] Front view of the game board [Figure 8] Rear perspective view of a pachinko machine [Figure 9]Rear view of a pachinko machine [Figure 10] Block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a pachinko machine [Figure 11] Flowchart showing an example of main control processing [Figure 12] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a main control interrupt process. [Figure 13] FIG. 1 is a front view of a game board showing the operating states of the left and right movable members; [Figure 14] Perspective view of the game board [Figure 15] 8A and 8B are a partial cutaway perspective view and a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of a plurality of decorative portions taken along a cross section including the line XM-XM in FIG. 7; [Figure 16] 8A and 8B are a partial cutaway perspective view and a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of a plurality of decorative portions taken along a cross section including line XD-XD in FIG. 7; [Figure 17] 8A and 8B are a partial cutaway perspective view and a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of a plurality of decorative portions taken along a cross section including the XU-XU line in FIG. 7; [Figure 18] Front view of a game board with reflective decoration [Figure 19] A front view of the game board showing the relative positions of the main parts involved in the effect of the reflective decorative parts [Figure 20] 19 is a perspective cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the reflective decorative body taken along a cross section including Y1-Y1 in FIG. [Figure 21] 19 is a cross-sectional view showing the reflective decorative body and its vicinity along a cross section including Y1-Y1 in FIG. 18 to explain how light from the annularly arranged light source is irradiated onto the reflective decorative part. [Figure 22] 18. A cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the reflective decorative body along a cross section including Y1-Y1 in FIG. 18, in order to explain how light from a light source used to emit light from the central decorative body is irradiated onto the reflective decorative body. [Figure 23] 10 is a timing chart showing the operation control of the upper entry restriction mechanism and the distribution mechanism in a round in which a gaming ball can enter the bonus area. [Figure 24] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along a section including the Y2-Y2 line in FIG. 7, illustrating the operation of the upper entry restriction mechanism and the sorting mechanism. [Figure 25]Timing chart showing the control of effects in a round in which a gaming ball can enter a bonus area [Figure 26] An explanatory diagram schematically illustrating the transition of effects in a round in which a gaming ball can enter a bonus area. [Figure 27] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the layout, structure, and operation of the input operation device along a cross section including X1-X1 in FIG. 5. [Figure 28] A timing chart showing the control of one-handed participation type effects in a special game state where a probability change is scheduled, when a player participates in the effects. [Figure 29] A diagram showing the progression of a one-handed participation performance [Figure 30] A timing chart showing the control of a one-handed participation type effect in a special game state scheduled for time reduction, in which a player participates in the effect. [Figure 31] A timing chart showing the control of one-handed participation type effects in a special game state where a probability change is expected, when the player does not participate in the effects. [Figure 32] 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the layout, structure, and operation of the right input operation device and the left input operation device along a cross section including X1-X1 in FIG. 5. [Figure 33] A timing chart showing the control of a two-handed participation type effect in a special game state where a probability change is expected, in which a player participates in the effect. [Figure 34] An explanatory diagram showing the progress of a two-handed participation type effect in a special game state where a probability change is expected, when a player participates in the effect. [Figure 35] A timing chart showing the control of a two-hand participation type effect in a special game state scheduled for time reduction, in which a player participates in the effect. [Figure 36] A timing chart showing the control of a two-handed participation type effect in a special game state where a probability change is expected, when the player does not participate in the effect. [Figure 37] An explanatory diagram showing the transition of the two-hand participation type effect in cases other than when the player participates in the two-hand participation type effect in the special game state scheduled for probability change. [Figure 38] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a cross section including X1-X1 in FIG. 5, which schematically illustrates the forward and backward movements of the left input lever and the right input lever. [Figure 39] A timing chart showing a control different from that shown in FIG. 33 for a two-hand participation type effect in a special game state scheduled for a probability change, in which a player participates in the effect. [Figure 40] An explanatory diagram showing the operation control when the left input lever and the right input lever rotate. [Figure 41] An explanatory diagram showing a transition when a player participates in a special game state with a probability change scheduled, which is different from the transition shown in FIG. 34, in which both hands participate in the effect. [Figure 42] A timing chart showing a control different from that shown in FIG. 35 for a two-hand participation type effect in a special game state scheduled for time reduction, in which a player participates in the effect. [Figure 43] A timing chart showing a control different from that shown in FIG. 36 for a two-handed participation type effect in a special game state where a probability change is expected, in which the player does not participate in the effect. [Figure 44] V Front view of a game board with multiple moving parts that operate in winning performance [Figure 45] A perspective view showing multiple moving parts that operate in the V winning performance and the configuration related to those operations. [Figure 46] An explanatory diagram showing the operation of the right front movable part that operates in the V winning performance [Figure 47] An explanatory diagram showing the transition in which multiple moving parts move from the normal arrangement to the appearance arrangement in the V winning performance [Figure 48] An explanatory diagram showing the transition of multiple moving parts from the appearance position to the return to the normal position in the V winning performance [Figure 49] An explanatory diagram showing the display location of progress information in an advanced performance with progress information [Figure 50] An explanatory diagram showing a schematic overview of the display format of progress information in an advanced performance with progress information. [Figure 51]An explanatory diagram showing the progression of an advanced presentation with progress information, in which the player can select the direction of the presentation. [Figure 52] An explanatory diagram showing the progression of an evolutionary presentation with progress information, in which the development of the presentation can be changed by the player's operation. [Figure 53] An explanatory diagram showing the progression of a development-type presentation with progress information that progresses depending on the establishment of a predetermined condition. [Figure 54] An explanatory diagram showing the progression of a development-type presentation with progress information, in which the development destination of the presentation is selected without relying on the player's operation. [Figure 55] An explanatory diagram showing the transition of a premonition effect for a development-type effect with progress information that occurs when a hold is read ahead based on the establishment of a start condition. [Figure 56] An explanatory diagram showing the progression of the reserved pre-reading development type performance [Figure 57] An explanatory diagram showing progress information that changes depending on the duration of the hold-ahead-reading development-type performance. [Figure 58] An explanatory diagram showing the change in progress information as the duration of the reserved pre-reading development type performance is extended [Figure 59] An explanatory diagram showing other changes in progress information as the duration of the reserved pre-reading development performance is extended [Figure 60] Table showing how to change the presentation of a pending change display [Figure 61] An explanatory diagram showing the transition of special display effects and their execution suggestion displays during a special game state. [Figure 62] An explanatory diagram showing the transition of special display effects and suggestive displays during a specific game state transitioned from a special game state. [Figure 63] An explanatory diagram illustrating the transition of special display effects and suggestive displays in a game that transitions to a special game state during the execution of a special display effect. [Figure 64] Block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a pachinko machine with a play limit function [Figure 65] A flowchart showing the timer interrupt process of the main control board to explain the game limit function [Figure 66]A front view of a game board capable of displaying ball difference information in a pachinko machine with a game limit function. [Figure 67] An explanatory diagram showing the correspondence between received commands from the main control board and the difference ball information displayed on the difference ball display device and the decorative pattern display device in a table. [Figure 68] A flowchart showing the main processing of the main control board to explain the instruction control of the difference ball information display when the power supply is started. [Figure 69] Timing chart for explaining the transition of game progress before and after the game limit function is activated [Figure 70] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the change control of the difference ball information display. [Figure 71] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the display control of the difference ball information when the power supply is started. [Figure 72] An explanatory diagram showing the configuration of commands used to determine whether the power restoration process corresponds to a game continuation state after the limit number has been reached. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Regarding an embodiment of a gaming machine according to the present invention, a pachinko machine 100 will be described as an example of a pinball gaming machine, which is a type of gaming machine, followed by explanations of modifications and other types of gaming machines. First, regarding the embodiment of the pachinko machine 100, the structural configuration, electrical configuration, and various control processes will be explained in that order.

[0010] <Structural composition> First, the configuration of the structural parts of the pachinko machine 100 will be described with reference mainly to Figures 1 to 9. Figures 1 to 4 are perspective views showing various states of the pachinko machine 100, with Figure 1 showing the closed state of the pachinko machine 100, Figure 2 showing a state in which the front block 102 and the intermediate block 103 are integrally opened relative to the outer frame 101, Figure 3 showing a state in which the front block 102 is opened relative to the intermediate block 103, and Figure 4 showing a state in which the rear block 104 is opened relative to the intermediate block 103. Also, Figure 5 is a front view of the pachinko machine 100, and Figure 6 shows a state in which the front block 102 of the pachinko machine 100 has been removed from the state shown in Figure 5. Note that various wiring is omitted in each figure, and part of the configuration of the game board 400 is omitted in Figures 3 and 6.

[0011] 1 to 4, the pachinko machine 100 includes an outer frame 101, a front block 102, an intermediate block 103, and a rear block 104, and these components are configured to be relatively displaceable by a predetermined operation. The outer frame 101, the front block 102, the intermediate block 103, and the rear block 104 form a frame body for detachably mounting a game board 400 (described later). Hereinafter, the combination of the outer frame 101, the front block 102, the intermediate block 103, and the rear block 104 in the pachinko machine 100 may be collectively referred to as the "frame body."

[0012] The outer frame 101 functions as a main body support means for supporting the main body of the pachinko machine 100. The outer frame 101 is, for example, as shown in Fig. 2, a substantially quadrilateral frame member assembled with a top plate 111, a bottom plate 112, a left side plate 113, and a right side plate 114, and is fitted into gaming machine installation equipment (island equipment) provided in the gaming parlor where the pachinko machine 100 is installed, and is firmly fixed thereto by fasteners (not shown). Note that the outer frame 101 is not an essential component of the pachinko machine 100, and a support mechanism that supports the main body portion corresponding to the configuration of the pachinko machine 100 excluding the outer frame 101 or the outer frame 101 and has the same internal shape as the outer frame 101, or part of a locking mechanism that locks the main body portion, may be provided in the island equipment.

[0013] Intermediate block support mechanisms 121, 122 are provided on one side in the left-right direction (the side of the left side plate portion 113) of the outer frame 101. These intermediate block support mechanisms 121, 122 connect (couple) the outer frame 101 and the intermediate block 103, and the main body of the pachinko machine 100 is configured to be rotatable forward with one end side (left side) in the left-right direction when viewed from the front of the pachinko machine 100 as the rotation base end and the other end side (right side) as the rotation tip end.

[0014] 1, the intermediate block support mechanisms 121, 122 are provided at a distance from each other at the upper and lower ends of the outer frame 101. Each of the intermediate block support mechanisms 121, 122 is configured to be rotatable, for example, by supporting an axle provided in the intermediate block 103 from below by an axle support portion provided in the outer frame 101, and inserting the axle into an axle hole provided in the axle support portion. Note that the configuration for allowing the main body of the pachinko machine 100, including the intermediate block 103, to rotate is not limited to the above configuration, and other configurations may be used, such as providing an axle hole on the intermediate block 103 side and forming the axle on the outer frame 101 side.

[0015] The intermediate block support mechanisms 121, 122 are provided with a function of releasing the connection between the outer frame 101 and the intermediate block 103 by a predetermined removal operation, and the main body of the pachinko machine 100, including the intermediate block 103, is removably attached to the outer frame 101. For example, by performing a predetermined removal operation in which the intermediate block 103 is opened by more than a certain amount relative to the outer frame 101 and moved upward by a certain amount, the connection of the intermediate block 103 to the outer frame 101 is released. This makes the main body of the pachinko machine 100 detachable from the outer frame 101.

[0016] The front block 102 is disposed in front of the intermediate block 103 so as to overlap it, and the intermediate block 103 and the front block 102 are connected by front block support mechanisms 131, 132 provided on the left side when viewed from the front. The front block support mechanisms 131, 132 have the same configuration as the intermediate block support mechanisms 121, 122, support the front block 102 so that it can rotate forward relative to the intermediate block 103, and are configured to be removable by a predetermined removal operation.

[0017] The rear block 104 is disposed behind the intermediate block 103 so as to overlap it, and the intermediate block 103 and the rear block 104 are connected by rear block support mechanisms 136, 137 (see FIG. 8) provided on the left side when viewed from the front. The rear block support mechanisms 136, 137 have the same configuration as the intermediate block support mechanisms 121, 122 and the front block support mechanisms 131, 132, and are configured to support the rear block 104 so that it can rotate rearward relative to the intermediate block 103, and to support it so that it can be removed by a predetermined removal operation.

[0018] The pachinko machine 100 is also provided with an intermediate block locking mechanism that restricts the opening and closing of the intermediate block 103 relative to the outer frame 101, a front block locking mechanism that restricts the opening and closing of the front block 102 relative to the intermediate block 103, and a lock operation mechanism that is operated to lock and unlock the intermediate block locking mechanism and the front block locking mechanism. As shown in Fig. 3, the intermediate block 103 is provided with a key cylinder 141 as a lock operation mechanism that is exposed on the front side of the pachinko machine 100 through an opening in the front block 102.

[0019] When a right rotation operation is performed using an operating key (not shown) as a predetermined operation on the key cylinder 141, a movable part 143 of the intermediate block locking mechanism provided in the intermediate block 103 is actuated. This disengages the movable part 143 from an engaged part 142 provided on the outer frame 101 as part of the intermediate block locking mechanism, and the intermediate block 103 enters a state in which opening and closing is permitted relative to the outer frame 101.

[0020] Meanwhile, in response to a counterclockwise rotation operation of a predetermined operating key on the key cylinder 141, a movable part 144 of the front block locking mechanism provided in the intermediate block 103 is actuated. As a result, the engagement between the movable part 144 and an engaged part 145 provided in the front block 102 as part of the front block locking mechanism is released, and the front block 102 enters a state in which opening and closing is permitted relative to the intermediate block 103.

[0021] The pachinko machine 100 is also provided with a rear block opening / closing restriction mechanism that restricts the opening and closing of the rear block 104 relative to the intermediate block 103. This rear block opening / closing restriction mechanism allows the rear block 104 to be switched between a state in which opening and closing is prohibited (opening / closing prohibited state) and a state in which opening and closing is permitted (opening / closing permitted state) relative to the intermediate block 103 by a predetermined operation.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 4, the rear block opening / closing restricting mechanism includes two opening / closing restricting portions 150A and 150B provided in the intermediate block 103 and one opening / closing restricting portion 150C provided in the rear block 104. These three opening / closing restricting portions 150A-150C are provided with rotatable pivoting pieces 151A-151C. The pivoting pieces 151A-151C change their engagement with the openings that overlap one another in the front and rear when the rear block 104 is closed, allowing the pivoting pieces 151A-151C to switch between an opening / closing inhibiting position corresponding to an opening / closing inhibited state and an opening / closing permitting position corresponding to an opening / closing permitting state. When all the pivoting pieces 151A-151C are in the opening / closing permitting position, the pivoting pieces 151A-151C can pass through the openings, and the rear block 104 is in the opening / closing permitting state relative to the intermediate block 103. It should be noted that the opening / closing prohibited position and the opening / closing permitted position may be switched between the opening / closing prohibited state and the opening / closing permitted state by changing at least one of the positions and orientations of the rotating pieces 151A to 151C, and they may be configured to only rotate at a fixed position, to move in a fixed direction, or to operate by a combination of movement and rotation. The same applies below to changes in position when components in each device transition between multiple positions.

[0023] Of the three rotating pieces 151A to 151C, two rotating pieces 151A and 151B, which correspond to a part of the three rotating pieces, are exposed on the back side of the pachinko machine 100 through an opening formed in the rear block 104 when the rear block 104 is in the opening / closing prohibited state, as shown in Fig. 2, and one rotating piece 151C, which corresponds to the remaining part, is exposed on the front side of the intermediate block 103, as shown in Fig. 6. For this reason, it is not possible to switch all of the rotating pieces 151A to 151C to the opening / closing permitted position by operating only from one side, such as the back side of the pachinko machine 100 or the front side of the intermediate block 103, which improves security.

[0024] The pachinko machine 100 is also provided with a game ball movement restriction mechanism that restricts the movement of game balls from the intermediate block 103 to the front block 102. As shown in Figures 3 and 6, for example, the game ball movement restriction mechanism is configured by a combination of a flow-down restriction piece 161 provided in the intermediate block 103 and a restriction change part 162 provided in the front block 102, and the flow-down restriction piece 161 is configured to be biased by a coil spring (not shown) toward the front side where the front block 102 is located.

[0025] When the front block 102 is closed relative to the intermediate block 103 (closed state of the front block 102), the flow-down restricting piece 161 is in a movement-permitting state that allows game balls to flow down, and specifically, is pressed and pushed toward the rear side of the intermediate block 103 by the restriction change unit 162. In the movement-permitting state, the flow-down restricting piece 161 is positioned shifted rearward with respect to a guide passage (not shown) that guides game balls from the intermediate block 103 to the front block 102. As a result, when the front block 102 is in a closed state, movement of game balls from the intermediate block 103 to the front block 102 is permitted.

[0026] On the other hand, when the front block 102 is open relative to the intermediate block 103 (open state of the front block 102), the pressure on the flow-down restricting piece 161 by the restriction change part 162 is released, and the flow-down restricting piece 161 is placed in a movement-prohibited state in which it protrudes toward the front block 102 compared to when the front block 102 is closed. In the movement-prohibited state, the flow-down restricting piece 161 protrudes into the guide passage and prevents game balls from flowing downstream. This prohibits game balls from moving from the intermediate block 103 to the front block 102.

[0027] In addition, as shown in Figure 2, the pachinko machine 100 is provided with an opening / closing detection switch 108 that detects whether the intermediate block 103 is closed relative to the outer frame 101, for example, at the rear side of the intermediate block 103, at the lower end on the side of the tip of the rotation (left side when viewed from behind), and as shown in Figure 3, is provided with an opening / closing detection switch 109 that detects whether the front block 102 is closed relative to the intermediate block 103, for example, at the front side of the intermediate block 103, at the lower end on the side of the tip of the rotation (right side when viewed from the front).

[0028] Next, the configuration of each of the front block 102, the intermediate block 103, and the rear block 104 will be described in order.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the front block 102 is a generally rectangular component that forms substantially the entire front surface of the pachinko machine 100 and is thick in the front-to-rear direction. It functions as a front decorative element that decorates the front surface of the pachinko machine 100. The front block 102 is primarily composed of a synthetic resin base frame 201, with multiple functional components attached to the front and rear of the base frame 201. A front decorative element 210, which forms the front surface of the pachinko machine 100, is attached to the front side of the base frame 201, along the outer edge of an opening 210A that is formed including the central portion of the front block 102 when viewed from the front, in a state surrounding the opening 210A. When the base frame 201 and the front decorative element 210 that constitute the front block 102 are combined, the opening 210A is formed in the front-to-rear direction and penetrates over a wide area, excluding the outer periphery where the front decorative element 210 is attached. The intermediate block 103, which includes the game board 400 and is located behind the front block 102, is configured to be visible to the player through this opening 210A.

[0030] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the front block 102 is equipped with a central panel 220 provided on the back side of the base frame 201 so as to cover the opening 210A, a main storage mechanism 230 for storing game balls, an auxiliary storage mechanism 240 for storing game balls, and a launch operation device 250 operated by a player to launch the game balls stored in the main storage mechanism 230.

[0031] 1 and 5, the front block 102 is formed with, as part of the front decorative body 210, an opening peripheral portion 211 that surrounds the periphery of the opening 210A, an upper protruding portion 217 that protrudes forward below the opening 210A, a lower protruding portion 218 that is located below the upper protruding portion 217 and protrudes forward, and a flat portion 219 that is composed of a generally flat area located to the right of the lower protruding portion 218 and further back than the upper protruding portion 217 and the lower protruding portion 218, and in which the firing operation device 250 is disposed. A main storage mechanism 230 is disposed in the upper protruding portion 217, and an auxiliary storage mechanism 240 is disposed in the lower protruding portion 218.

[0032] The central panel 220 functions as a cover that allows visibility to the rear side while blocking the opening 210A that is formed through in the front-rear direction when the base frame 201 and the front decorative body 210 are combined. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, for example, the central panel 220 includes a panel frame 221 (see Figure 3) attached to the rear side of the base frame 201, a light-transmitting front plate 222 (see Figure 1) fitted into the front side of the panel frame 221, and a light-transmitting rear plate 223 (see Figure 3) fitted into the rear side of the panel frame 221 approximately parallel to the front plate 222 with a predetermined gap between them.

[0033] The main storage mechanism 230 has the function of storing game balls acquired as the game progresses and game balls loaned from the gaming parlor. As shown in FIG. 1, the main storage mechanism 230 includes a storage section 231, a ball ejection mechanism (not shown), and a ball ejection operation member 232 that activates the ball ejection mechanism. The storage section 231 is provided with an inlet 231A that allows game balls to flow into the storage section 231 from the inside of the pachinko machine 100, an outlet (not shown) that allows game balls to flow out from the storage section 231 into the inside of the pachinko machine 100, and a discharge port (not shown) formed upstream of the outlet port. When this discharge port is opened, game balls are released from the storage section 231 to the player without being taken into the inside of the pachinko machine 100. The ball ejection mechanism has the function of switching the destination of the game balls between the outlet port and the discharge port.

[0034] Game balls acquired as the game progresses and game balls loaned in response to a loan operation on a loan operation device 292 (described later) mainly flow into the storage section 231 through the inlet 231A. The storage section 231 has an opening formed on the upper side, through which game balls owned by players are manually inserted and game balls loaned in the gaming facility are supplied.

[0035] The gaming balls that flow into the storage section 231 are aligned in a row and guided sequentially to the side where the outlet and discharge port are formed (the upper right side of FIG. 1). When no ball removal operation (e.g., pressing operation) is performed on the ball removal operation member 232, the gaming balls are guided through the outlet to the launching device 330 (see FIG. 3), which will be described later. On the other hand, when a ball removal operation is performed on the ball removal operation member 232, the gaming balls are guided through the discharge port to the auxiliary storage mechanism 240 (see FIG. 1).

[0036] 1 and 5, the auxiliary storage mechanism 240 includes a storage section 241 having game ball inlets 241A and 241C (see FIG. 5) and a discharge port 241B (see FIG. 1), a ball removal mechanism 243 that opens and closes the discharge port 241B, and a ball removal operation member 242 that operates the ball removal mechanism 243. Game balls and the like acquired as the game progresses mainly flow into the main storage mechanism 230, but if the storage section 231 is full, they flow into the storage section 241 through the inlet 241A. Also, in response to a ball removal operation on the ball removal operation member 232, game balls flow from the storage section 231 into the storage section 241 through the inlet 241C.

[0037] The bottom surface of the storage section 241 slopes downward toward the discharge port 241B. When the discharge port 241B is opened by performing a ball removal operation (for example, a pressing operation) on the ball removal operation member 242, all of the game balls stored in the storage section 241 can be sequentially released to the outside of the pachinko machine 100. When the discharge port 241B is completely opened by performing a ball removal operation on the ball removal operation member 242, it remains in the open state until a return operation (for example, a pressing operation again) is performed on the ball removal operation member 242. A ball overflow switch 249 (see FIG. 10) is provided at the back of the inlet 241A to detect whether or not an excess of game balls are stored in the storage section 241.

[0038] 1 and 5, the launch operation device 250 includes a base 251 protruding forward from the flat portion 219 of the front decorative body 210, a rotatable launch handle 252 provided around the base 251, a variable resistor 253 (see FIG. 10) that detects the amount of rotation of the launch handle 252, a contact sensor 254 (see FIG. 10) that detects contact of the player with the launch handle 252, and a launch stop switch 255 (see FIG. 5) that disables, by the player's operation, the launch of game balls associated with the rotation of the launch handle 252. When the player rotates the launch handle 252, game balls are launched from the launch device 330 (see FIG. 3) toward the game board 400 (see FIG. 3) with a strength corresponding to the amount of rotation. In addition, if the contact sensor 254 does not detect contact between the launch handle 252 and the player, or if the launch operation is disabled by operating the launch stop switch 255, the game ball will not be released from the launch device 330 even if the launch handle 252 is rotated.

[0039] In addition, frame light emitting devices 271-275 (see FIG. 10) are provided at the rear of the front decorative body 210 in the front block 102. The frame light emitting devices 271-275 are arranged so as to overlap the rear side of the opening peripheral edge 211 of the front decorative body 210, and are attached to the base frame 201. As shown in FIG. 5, the opening peripheral edge 211 has, as light emitting parts, an upper central edge 211A, an upper left edge 211B and an upper right edge 211C located on both the left and right sides of the upper central edge 211A, a left edge 211D located below the upper left edge 211B, and a right edge 211E located below the upper right edge 211C, and the frame light emitting devices 271-275 are installed corresponding to each light emitting part.

[0040] Frame light emitting devices 271-275 are configured with an upper central frame light emitting device 271 corresponding to upper central edge 211A, an upper left frame light emitting device 272 corresponding to upper left edge 211B, an upper right frame light emitting device 273 corresponding to upper right edge 211C, a left side frame light emitting device 274 corresponding to left side edge 211D, and a right side frame light emitting device 275 (see FIG. 10) corresponding to right edge 211E. Each of frame light emitting devices 271-275 has one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) as light emitting means, electronic components such as resistors for controlling the LEDs, and a printed circuit board that integrates and electrically connects these electronic components.

[0041] 5, the front block 102 is provided with an upper left acoustic output port 211F and an upper right acoustic output port 211G, for example, at the top of its opening periphery 211, and is also provided with an upper left acoustic device 281 and an upper right acoustic device 282 (see FIGS. 3 and 10) corresponding to the upper left acoustic output port 211F and the upper right acoustic output port 211G, respectively. The upper left acoustic device 281 and the upper right acoustic device 282 are attached to the base frame 201 so as to be located at the back (rear) of the opening periphery 211 of the front decorative body 210.

[0042] 1, the front block 102 is provided with a game ball dispensing device 290, for example, on the right side of the upper surface of the upper protrusion 217. The game ball dispensing device 290 includes a point display device 291 that displays a numerical value corresponding to the remaining balance of bills, cards, etc. inserted into a card unit (not shown) arranged alongside the pachinko machine 100, a dispensing operation device 292 operated by the player when receiving a dispensed game ball, and a return operation device 293 operated by the player when returning bills, cards, etc. inserted into the card unit. When a dispense operation is performed on the dispense operation device 292 in an active state in which bills, cards, etc. are inserted into the card unit and a numerical value corresponding to the amount is displayed on the point display device 291, a predetermined number of game balls are dispensed from the payout device 540 (see FIG. 8) of the rear block 104 in accordance with the dispense operation, and the display on the point display device 291 is updated as the game balls are dispensed. On the other hand, when a return operation is performed on the return operation device 293 in the valid state, the card unit returns the equivalent of the bills corresponding to the remaining amount or a card recording the remaining amount in accordance with the return operation.

[0043] 1, the front block 102 is provided with an input operation device 260 that allows the player to perform an input operation separate from the firing operation. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the input operation device 260 includes, for example, a pressing operation device 261 that allows a pressing operation, a rotation operation device 262 that allows a rotation operation, and a selection operation device 263 that allows up, down, left, and right directional operation. As shown in FIG. 5, the front block 102 is also provided with a left input operation device 801L and a right input operation device 801R that allow the player to perform an input operation separate from the firing operation and the input operation on the input operation device 260. Note that the left input operation device 801L and the right input operation device 801R are not shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and 8.

[0044] These operation devices 261-263, 801L, 801R can be used to perform a performance selection operation to select a performance to be executed in the pachinko machine 100, a device setting operation to set the volume and light intensity of each device that executes the performance of the pachinko machine 100, or a performance setting operation to input information about the player and execute a performance of the pachinko machine 100 according to the previous game, and these operations can be performed by the player or the manager of the gaming facility as needed. Note that the input operation unit that the player comes into contact with in the input operation device 260 (for example, the annular rotation operation unit in the rotation operation device 262) is preferably configured so that rotation, vertical movement, vibration, or other actions can be executed by control of the pachinko machine 100 (for example, control of the sub-control board 940 (see FIG. 10)) using input operation unit drive means such as a motor or solenoid, and the input unit can be operated at one or more timings before, after, or during the input operation, thereby diversifying the performances associated with the input operation, such as actively encouraging the input operation.

[0045] Next, we will explain the intermediate block 103. The intermediate block 103 is a roughly rectangular member of roughly the same size as the front block 102, and has the function of integrating the main body of the pachinko machine 100 by attaching the front block 102 and the rear block 104. The intermediate block 103 is configured by attaching multiple functional parts, including the game board 400, to the base frame 301.

[0046] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the intermediate block 103 comprises a base frame 301 having an opening, a game board 400 (see Figure 3) attached from the front side while covering the opening of the base frame 301, a game board support mechanism that supports the game board 400 rotatably and detachably relative to the base frame 301, a game board fixing mechanism that fixes the position of the game board 400 relative to the base frame 301, a launcher 330 (see Figure 3) that shoots game balls at the game board 400, a main control device 370 (see Figure 4) that is attached to the back side of the game board 400 and provides overall control of the progress of the game, and a sub-controller 390 (see Figure 4) that controls game presentation and status notifications based on commands from the main control device 370.

[0047] 3, the base frame 301 is provided with a guide passage section 301A in which a guide passage is formed that guides gaming balls released from a payout device 540 (see FIG. 8) described later to the front block 102, and an opening 301B in which a plurality of wires (not shown) and a signal relay device 311 are located. The opening 301B has a shape that penetrates in the front-to-rear direction below the gaming board 400, and the plurality of wires inserted into the opening 301B include wires for electrically connecting various devices (e.g., frame light emitting devices 271-275, upper left acoustic device 281, and upper right acoustic device 282) provided in the front block 102 with devices (e.g., main control device 370 and sub-control device 390) provided on the back side of the intermediate block 103 and in the rear block 104, and the signal relay device 311 functions as a relay board that relays some of the wires.

[0048] 3, the game board 400 includes a flat base 401 having through-holes such as an outlet 401A through which game balls can pass back and forth, an outer rail 402 smoothly curving from the lower left to the upper right of the base 401, an inner rail 403 smoothly curving from the lower right to the upper left of the base 401, a ball return prevention mechanism 404 attached to the tip of the upper left side of the inner rail 403, and a recoil prevention member 405 attached to the tip of the upper right side of the outer rail 402. The outer rail 402 guides game balls launched from a launching device 330 (described later) into a game area 409. The ball return prevention mechanism 404 prevents game balls once released into the game area 409 from returning to the launching path 401B, which is formed between the parallel opposing portions of the outer rail 402 and the inner rail 403. The anti-rebound member 405 has shock absorbing properties that prevent the game ball from rebounding significantly, such as when the game ball passes over the top center of the game board 400 and heads to the right, then returns to the left via the top center again, and is formed from a material such as vibration-damping rubber.

[0049] As shown in Fig. 3, a return ball passage section 163 is formed at the bottom of the rear side of the front block 102. There is a gap between the outer rail 402 and the guide member 335 that guides game balls from the launching device 330 toward the launching passage 401B, and game balls that are launched from the launching device 330 but do not pass the return ball prevention mechanism 404 and return back down the launching passage 401B are returned to the auxiliary storage mechanism 240 (see Fig. 5) through the inlet 241A (see Fig. 5) via the return ball passage section 163 located below this gap.

[0050] A gaming ball that has passed the return ball prevention mechanism 404 reaches the gaming area 409 and moves (flows down) within the gaming area 409 while falling under its own weight. The gaming area 409 has a substantially circular outer periphery and is partitioned into a shape with the majority of the area having a front-to-rear width slightly larger than the diameter of the gaming ball. The outer periphery of the gaming area 409 is generally partitioned by the outer rail 402 and the inner rail 403, the front side is partitioned in a substantially flat shape by the rear plate 223 of the central panel 220, and the rear side is partitioned in a substantially flat shape by the base 401 of the gaming board 400. Various structures provided in the gaming area 409 will be described later.

[0051] 3, the launching device 330 includes a ball feeding mechanism 331 that sequentially sends out the game balls stored in the main storage mechanism 230 to the launch position, a ball feeding solenoid 332 (see FIG. 10) that drives the ball feeding mechanism 331, a launching mechanism 333 that ejects the game balls arranged at the launch position, a launch solenoid 334 (see FIG. 10) that drives the launching mechanism 333, and a guide member 335 that guides the game balls launched from the launching mechanism 333 to the launch passage 401B of the game board 400. The launching device 330 operates in response to the launch operation on the launch operating device 250 as described above, and the drive control of the launch solenoid 334 changes in response to the launch operation on the launch operating device 250 to adjust the launch force.

[0052] As shown in Fig. 4, main control device 370 includes main control board 920 (see Fig. 10) and a two-part board case 371 that houses main control board 920. Main control board 920 is housed inside light-transmitting board case 371 that is sealed so that it cannot be opened without leaving traces.

[0053] Furthermore, the main control device 370 is rotatably attached to the back side of the gaming board 400. Specifically, an attachment portion 372 is rotatably connected and fixed to the back side of the base 401 of the gaming board 400, and the main control device 370 is attached to the attachment portion 372. This makes it possible to easily check not only the back side (front side) of the main control device 370, but also the front side (rear side) of the main control device 370 by rotating the attachment portion 372, while the main control device 370 remains attached to the gaming board 400. The main control device 370 may be connected to the attachment portion 372 so that it cannot be removed without leaving any traces, which may make it easier to manage the removal status of the main control device 370.

[0054] The sub-control device 390 includes a sub-control board 940 (see FIG. 10) and a two-part board case 391 that houses the sub-control board 940. The sub-control board 940 is housed, for example, in a translucent board case 391 that is sealed so that it cannot be opened without leaving traces, similar to the main control board 920. The sub-control device 390 is attached to the back side of the game board 400.

[0055] In the pachinko machine 100 of this embodiment, the intermediate block 103 is equipped with a backup power supply 601 (see FIG. 10) that supplies backup power to the main control board 920. The backup power supply 601 is configured by combining a power supply unit that is configured with a capacitor, a rechargeable battery, etc. and is capable of storing backup power, with an electric circuit for performing control such as supplying a charging voltage to the power supply unit and discharging the power (charge) applied to the power supply unit. The backup power supply 601 charges, for example, a capacitor with the power of the charging voltage supplied from the power supply unit 901 (see FIG. 10), and supplies the power stored in the capacitor by charging to the main control board 920 (see FIG. 10) as backup power. The backup power supply 601 is attached to the back side of the game board 400. The electrical circuit for storing and discharging power from the backup power supply 601 does not necessarily have to be provided integrally with the power supply unit of the backup power supply 601 (for example, on a single printed circuit board), but may be provided elsewhere, or may be provided as part of the power supply / launch control board 900 provided on the frame body side, or as part of the main control board 920.

[0056] Here, various structures arranged in the play area 409 of the game board 400 will be described mainly with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a front view of the game board 400.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 7, the game board 400 includes a base 401, flow change members such as nails 411 and windmills 412 that change the flow direction and flow speed of the game ball, a central structure 420 arranged approximately in the center of the base 401, start devices for the first special symbols arranged below the central structure 420 (specifically, upper middle start winning device 431A and lower middle start winning device 431B), and a start device for the second special symbol arranged on the lower right side of the central structure 420 (specifically, right middle start winning device 431B). 32), large prize winning devices 433, 434 (specifically, lower large prize winning device 433 and upper large prize winning device 434) arranged below the right start winning device 432, a starting device 436 for normal symbols arranged above (upstream) the right start winning device 432, a role link operating device 435 arranged on the upper right side of the game board 400 above (upstream) the upper and lower large prize winning devices 433, 434, and general prize winning devices 439A, 439B arranged on both the left and right sides of the lower middle start winning device 431B.

[0058] Further, the gaming board 400 is provided with a plurality of switches as detection means for detecting the passage of gaming balls corresponding to the above-mentioned upper middle start winning device 431A etc. (see FIG. 10), and it is possible to detect the entry of gaming balls into predetermined areas corresponding to each switch. For example, a middle start winning switch (upper middle start winning switch 441A) that detects gaming balls that have entered the upper middle start winning device 431A, a middle start winning switch (lower middle start winning switch 441B) that detects gaming balls that have entered the lower middle start winning device 431B, a right start winning switch 442 that detects gaming balls that have entered the right start winning device 432, a lower large winning switch 443 that detects gaming balls that have entered the lower large winning device 433, an upper large winning switch 444 that detects gaming balls that have entered the upper large winning device 434, a gaming ball that has entered the role link operation device 435, and a game ball that has entered the role link operation device 436. The game board 400 is provided with a role-linked operation switch 445 which detects a bonus ball, a start switch 446 which detects a game ball that has entered the start device 436, a non-specific passage switch 447 which detects a game ball that has entered a non-specific passage (non-bonus area 409N) formed inside the upper large prize device 434, a specific passage switch 448 which detects a game ball that has entered a specific passage (bonus area 409V) formed inside the lower large prize device 433, and general prize switches 449A and 449B which detect game balls that have entered the general prize devices 439A and 439B, respectively.

[0059] In addition, various sensors are provided on the game board 400 to prevent fraud (see FIG. 10), and are capable of detecting abnormalities that occur in the pachinko machine 100. For example, a magnetic sensor 491, a vibration sensor 492, a radio wave sensor 493, etc. are installed on the game board 400.

[0060] The game ball entrance portions of the central structure 420 and the starting device 436 form ball entrance ports, and game balls that enter each ball entrance port are released into the game area 409. The game ball entrance portions of each winning device, specifically, the upper middle starting winning device 431A, the lower middle starting winning device 431B, the right starting winning device 432, the lower large winning device 433, the upper large winning device 434, and the general winning devices 439A, 439B form winning ports, and game balls that enter each winning port are guided through through holes formed in the base 401 to a recovery and discharge passage (not shown) formed on the back side of the base 401. In addition, game balls that do not enter each winning device are guided to the recovery and discharge passage through discharge port 401A provided at the most downstream portion of the game area 409. The game balls guided to the collection and discharge passage are discharged from the pachinko machine 100 to a game ball circulation device (not shown) installed in the game parlor. When a game ball enters one of the winning devices, a predetermined number of game balls according to the type of winning device are paid out from the payout device 540 (see Figures 8 and 9).

[0061] In addition, each winning device may be configured separately from the other winning devices, or a winning device may be configured by a device that integrates two or more winning devices (for example, upper middle starting winning device 431A and lower middle starting winning device 431B).Furthermore, starting devices such as upper middle starting winning device 431A do not necessarily have to be winning ports from which a predetermined number of game balls are paid out when a game ball enters, but may also be ball entrances from which game balls are released again into the game area 409 without being paid out.

[0062] The upper and lower center start winning devices 431A and 431B associated with the first special symbol, as well as the general winning devices 439A and 439B, guide entering game balls toward the rear side of the base 401 without changing the probability of the game ball entering them. The right start winning device 432 associated with the second special symbol has a mechanism for changing the probability of the game ball entering its interior. The mechanism for changing the probability of the game ball entering need not be provided only in the start device associated with the second special symbol; instead, or in addition, it may be provided in one or more of the start device associated with the first special symbol and the general winning devices 439A and 439B. The mechanism for changing the probability of the game ball entering may be configured using an electrically driven solenoid or other driving means, or may be configured using a mechanically operated mechanism, such as a mechanism operated by the weight of a game ball entering a predetermined area.

[0063] The right start winning device 432 associated with the second special symbol includes a right entry restriction mechanism 452 that changes the probability of a gaming ball entering the device by transitioning between an entry permitting position and an entry prohibiting position, and a right entry restriction solenoid 462 (see FIG. 10) that drives the right entry restriction mechanism 452. The right entry restriction mechanism 452 includes two movable pieces that are driven by the right entry restriction solenoid 462, and when the right entry restriction mechanism 452 is in the entry prohibiting position, the two movable pieces are positioned to narrow (or close) the entry opening (winning opening), preventing the gaming ball from entering the right start winning device 432, but when the right entry restriction mechanism 452 is in the entry permitting position, the two movable pieces are positioned to widen the distance between their tip ends, allowing the gaming ball to enter the right start winning device 432. When a game ball that has entered the starting device 436 for a normal symbol is detected by the starting switch 446 and wins the lottery (hereinafter also referred to as the "normal symbol lottery"), the right entry restriction mechanism 452 transitions to an entry-permitting position for a predetermined number of times and for a predetermined period of time in response to drive by the right entry restriction solenoid 462.

[0064] As shown in Fig. 7, the lower large winning device 433 is provided with a lower entry restriction mechanism 453 that restricts the entry of game balls into the device by transitioning between an entry permitting position and an entry prohibiting position, and a lower entry restriction solenoid 463 (see Fig. 10) that changes the position of the lower entry restriction mechanism 453. When the lower entry restriction mechanism 453 of the lower large winning device 433 is in the entry prohibiting position, the lower entry restriction mechanism 453 closes the entry opening (entry opening), preventing game balls from entering the lower large winning device 433, but when the lower entry restriction mechanism 453 is in the entry permitting position, the lower entry restriction mechanism 453 opens the entry opening, allowing game balls to enter the lower large winning device 433.

[0065] As shown in Figure 7, the upper large winning device 434 is provided with an upper entry restriction mechanism 454 that restricts the entry of game balls into it by transitioning between an entry-permitting position and an entry-prohibiting position, an upper entry restriction motor 464 (see Figure 10) that changes the position of the upper entry restriction mechanism 454, a distribution mechanism 437 that distributes game balls that have entered the upper large winning device 434 to a non-specific passage or a specific passage by transitioning between a non-guiding position and a guiding position, and a distribution solenoid 465 (see Figure 10) that changes the position of the distribution mechanism 437 to switch the destination to which the game balls are guided. When the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 is in the entry prohibition position, the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 closes the entry port (entry port), preventing the gaming ball from entering the upper large winning device 434, but when the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 is in the entry permission position, the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 opens the entry port, allowing the gaming ball to enter the upper large winning device 434. Furthermore, a gaming ball that has entered the upper large winning device 434 is guided to a non-specific path when the distribution mechanism 437 is in a non-guiding position in which it protrudes forward, and is guided to a specific path when the distribution mechanism 437 is in a guiding position in which it retracts rearward. The specific path and non-specific path are provided to diversify the transition of the gaming state, and when a gaming ball enters a specific path, a favorable gaming state is granted to the player as a bonus.

[0066] The entry permitting position and entry prohibiting position as a mechanism for changing the probability of game balls entering the right entry restricting mechanism 452 etc. may correspond to the change in position of the operating member that constitutes each mechanism and switches between a special state in which game balls can enter the winning slot (or ball entrance) of each device and a normal state in which game balls cannot enter, and at least one of the position and orientation of the operating member may differ depending on each position. Also, as a mechanism for changing the probability of game balls entering the right entry restricting mechanism 452 etc., it is not necessarily necessary to make the state in which game balls cannot enter the normal state; it may also be configured so that game balls are allowed to enter even in the normal state, and in the special state, the position of the operating member changes to a state in which game balls can enter more easily than in the normal state.

[0067] When a jackpot lottery is won, a gaming ball can enter the lower large winning device 433 and the upper large winning device 434. Specifically, when a gaming ball that has entered the upper middle start winning device 431A or the lower middle start winning device 431B relating to the first special symbol wins a lottery based on the detection by the upper middle start winning switch 441A or the lower middle start winning switch 441B (hereinafter also referred to as the "first special symbol lottery"), or when a gaming ball that has entered the right start winning device 432 relating to the second special symbol wins a lottery based on the detection by the right start winning switch 442 (hereinafter also referred to as the "second special symbol lottery"), at least one of the lower entry restriction solenoid 463 or the upper entry restriction motor 464 is activated. This operation causes at least one of the lower entry restriction mechanism 453 or the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 to assume the entry permitting position for a predetermined number of times and for a predetermined period of time. If the lottery is won, the sorting solenoid 465 also operates, and the sorting mechanism 437 assumes the guiding position for a predetermined number of times and for a predetermined period of time.

[0068] The combination role operating device 435 is a device for setting the conditions necessary for the lower large winning device 433 and the upper large winning device 434 to start operating. After a jackpot is won in the lottery, either the lower large winning device 433 or the upper large winning device 434 will start operating, provided that the gaming ball passes through the combination role operating device 435. Therefore, if a player wins a jackpot, the player can start the special game state at the timing of their choice. Note that it is not necessary for either the lower large winning device 433 or the upper large winning device 434 to start operating, provided that the gaming ball passes through the combination role operating device 435. Alternatively, or in addition, either the lower large winning device 433 or the upper large winning device 434 may start operating after a predetermined time has elapsed.

[0069] 7, a display device having a plurality of light-emitting sections, in which display devices 471-473 for displaying the changing display of symbols and the lottery results, and display devices 476-478 for displaying the number of reserved games, are integrated, is provided in the lower left portion of the game board 400, which corresponds to a part of the game board 400. The plurality of light-emitting sections are divided into light-emitting areas corresponding to the respective devices in advance, and the status of each device is displayed by the light-emitting state.

[0070] Specifically, the game board 400 is provided with a special symbol display device 471 for a first special symbol that variably displays the first special symbol in accordance with the first special symbol lottery and finally displays the first special symbol as a stopping symbol according to the lottery result, a special symbol display device 472 for a second special symbol that variably displays the second special symbol in accordance with the second special symbol lottery and finally displays the second special symbol as a stopping symbol according to the lottery result, a special symbol reservation display device 476 that displays the number of reserved unit games for the first special symbol, and a special symbol reservation display device 477 that displays the number of reserved unit games for the second special symbol. The right to play a unit game for the first special symbol and the right to play a unit game for the second special symbol can each be reserved up to four times. Here, a unit game is one game that is executed based on one initial winning, and refers to a series of games that includes the success or failure of the lottery that is executed based on one initial winning, and the start to end of the variable display that displays the lottery result based on that success or failure determination.

[0071] When the right to play a unit game related to the first special symbol has been reserved up to the maximum number of times, no additional right to play a unit game related to the first special symbol will be added even if a gaming ball that has entered the middle start winning device 431 is detected by the upper middle start winning switch 441A (see FIG. 10) or the lower middle start winning switch 441B (see FIG. 10). Similarly, when the right to play a unit game related to the second special symbol has been reserved up to the maximum number of times, no additional right to play a unit game related to the second special symbol will be added even if a gaming ball that has entered the right start winning device 432 is detected by the right start winning switch 442 (see FIG. 10).

[0072] Each of the special pattern display device 471 for the first special pattern and the special pattern display device 472 for the second special pattern is composed of a plurality of light-emitting elements and is controlled by a main control board 920 (see Figure 10). The display of the first special pattern and the display of the second special pattern are each expressed by the light-emitting patterns of the plurality of light-emitting elements (combinations of light-emitting states (off, on, blinking) including light-emitting colors). The special pattern reserve display device 476 for the first special pattern and the special pattern reserve display device 477 for the second special pattern display the number of reserved times by combining the light-emitting states (off, on, blinking) of two single-color light-emitting elements.

[0073] The game board 400 is also provided with a normal symbol display device 473 that displays normal symbols in a variable manner in accordance with the normal symbol lottery and displays the normal symbols as fixed symbols according to the lottery results, and a normal symbol reserved display device 478 that displays the number of reserved unit game rights for normal symbols. The unit game rights for normal symbols can be reserved up to four times. When the unit game rights for normal symbols have been reserved up to the maximum number of times, no additional unit game rights for normal symbols will be added even if the game ball that has entered the starter device 436 is detected by the starter switch 446.

[0074] The normal symbol display device 473 is composed of multiple light-emitting elements and is controlled by the main control board 920 (see Figure 10). The normal symbol is expressed by the light-emitting pattern of the multiple light-emitting elements. In addition, the normal symbol reserve display device 478 displays the number of reserved times by combining the light-emitting states (off, on, blinking) of two single-color light-emitting elements.

[0075] Additionally, the gaming board 400 is provided with a decorative symbol display device 479, which is positioned behind the central structure 420 and overlaps the rear of the central structure 420, for displaying decorative symbols in variable or final decorative symbols during unit games involving the first and second special symbols. The variable and final decorative symbol displays are controlled by the sub-control board 940 and are synchronized with the variable and final decorative symbol displays of the first and second special symbols by the main control board 920. The variable and final decorative symbol displays are more complex and diverse than the variable and final decorative symbol displays of the first and second special symbols. The variable and final decorative symbol displays do not necessarily start to fluctuate or stop to be finalized at exactly the same timing; they may start to fluctuate at approximately the same timing with a slight time difference between them, and final decorative symbol displays may be displayed at approximately the same timing.

[0076] The game board 400 also has a board surface light-emitting device 490 (see Figure 10) installed on the back side of various structures, and the board surface light-emitting device 490 performs various light-emitting effects and status notifications through light emission as the game progresses based on control by the sub-control board 940.

[0077] Furthermore, the game board 400 is provided with a remaining amount display unit 602 (see FIG. 10) that displays information corresponding to the remaining amount (amount of electricity, amount of charge) of the backup power supply 601, in a position visible from the front side of the lower right portion corresponding to a part of the game board 400 (for example, part of the central structure 420, next to the decorative pattern display device 479). Note that the remaining amount display unit 602 is not shown in FIG. 7.

[0078] In the pachinko machine 100 of this embodiment, the remaining charge display unit 602 is composed of one light-emitting unit, and the lighting state of the light-emitting unit changes depending on the remaining charge of the backup power supply 601. For example, when the remaining charge of the backup power supply 601 is zero, the light-emitting unit is continuously turned off, and while the remaining charge increases through charging until it reaches the maximum capacity, the light-emitting unit blinks (lights up intermittently), and when the remaining charge reaches the maximum capacity, the light-emitting unit is continuously lit.

[0079] Note that remaining power display unit 602 may be configured to be composed of a plurality of light-emitting elements, with the number of light-emitting elements that light up increasing according to the remaining power of backup power supply 601, or remaining power display unit 602 may be configured to be composed of a display unit such as a 7-segment LED or a liquid crystal display device, with the remaining power of backup power supply 601 displayed numerically as a percentage. Furthermore, remaining power display unit 602, which is composed of one or a plurality of light-emitting elements, may be configured to change the color of the light-emitting elements according to the remaining power of backup power supply 601, instead of or in addition to changing the lighting pattern of the light-emitting elements or the number of light-emitting elements that light up.

[0080] Here, we will explain various game states and transitions between game states. The normal game state (hereinafter abbreviated as "normal game state") corresponds to a state in which the variable display time of the first special symbol, second special symbol, and normal symbol is long (hereinafter also referred to as "non-time-saving state").

[0081] If a jackpot is won in the first special symbol lottery or the second special symbol lottery, the game state to which the game enters after the special game state differs depending on whether the game ball enters a specific passage (an internal passage of the upper large winning device 434) during the special game state to which the game enters based on that win. If the game ball does not enter a specific passage during the special game state, the game enters a game state (hereinafter also referred to as a "time-shortened game state") in which the variable display time of the first special symbol lottery, the second special symbol, and the normal symbol is shorter than in the non-time-shortened state (hereinafter also referred to as a "time-shortened state") and the probability of winning a jackpot in the first special symbol lottery and the second special symbol lottery is the same as in the normal game state (hereinafter also referred to as a "low-probability state"). On the other hand, if the game ball enters a specific passage during the special game state, the game will transition to a game state (hereinafter also referred to as a "special game state") in which the time is reduced and the probability of winning the jackpot in the first special pattern lottery and the second special pattern lottery is higher than in the normal game state (hereinafter also referred to as a "high probability state").

[0082] The time-saving game state is maintained until the total number of unit games related to the first special symbol and the second special symbol reaches a predetermined number (for example, 50 times), after which the game returns to the normal game state. Also, the probability variation game state is maintained until the total number of unit games related to the first special symbol and the second special symbol reaches a predetermined number (for example, 100 times), after which the game returns to the normal game state.

[0083] It should be noted that the game states and the transitions between game states do not necessarily have to be configured as described above; for example, the high probability state may continue until the next jackpot is won, or at least one of the above game states may be configured with other content, or the configuration may include a game state other than each of the above game states, or the transition between game states may be based on conditions different from those described above.

[0084] Furthermore, the trigger for transitioning to the special game state does not have to be limited to winning the special pattern lottery, and in addition to or instead of this configuration, the transition to the special game state may be made when the game ball enters a predetermined specific area (the so-called V area) within the game area during normal game state.

[0085] For example, a configuration may be adopted in which, when a predetermined small win, which is a type of non-winning, is selected in the special symbol lottery, the upper large prize device 434 is opened in the normal game state, and the special game state is generated when the game ball that entered the upper large prize device 434 is guided to a specific path by a distribution mechanism 437 that distributes between a non-specific path (non-bonus area 409N) and a specific path (bonus area 409V) and enters the specific path. Also, in a pachinko machine in which a non-specific path and a specific path are provided inside a role device that has an openable entrance separate from the large prize device that operates in the special game state, the entrance of the role device is opened when a game ball enters a predetermined winning opening, and the special game state is generated when the game ball that entered the role device from the opened entrance is guided to the specific path by a distribution mechanism that distributes between a non-specific path and a specific path and enters the specific path.

[0086] The pachinko machine 100 of this embodiment is configured to have a setting change function that can change the setting of the game ball payout rate (machine odds, payout rate). As will be described in detail later, the pachinko machine 100 of this embodiment is capable of setting one game mode from a plurality of game modes (e.g., nine types) that have different combinations of initial win probability and probability of continuation of special chance, and is configured to be able to change the set game mode as needed, so that the setting of the ball payout rate of the pachinko machine 100 can be changed by changing the setting of the game mode (by changing the setting). Information corresponding to the set game mode (hereinafter also referred to as "setting correspondence information") is stored in a predetermined area of ​​the RAM 922 of the main control board 920.

[0087] Next, the operation of the main devices of the gaming board 400 will be explained roughly in chronological order. The main control board 920 generates winning random numbers, jackpot random numbers, stop pattern random numbers, and various variable pattern random numbers for special symbols (common to the first special symbol and the second special symbol), and when a gaming ball entering either of the start winning devices 431A, 431B for the first special symbol in various game states is detected by either of the middle start winning switches 441A, 441B (see FIG. 10), a start winning for the first special symbol occurs. When the start winning for the first special symbol occurs, if the right to play a unit game for the first special symbol has not been reserved up to the maximum number of times, the winning random numbers, jackpot random numbers, and stop pattern random numbers for the special symbols are obtained and stored in a predetermined area of ​​the RAM 922 (see FIG. 10) of the main control board 920.

[0088] A unit game based on a random number obtained based on the initial winning of the first special symbol will begin immediately after the random number is stored if the game is not in a special game state, is not in a unit game related to the first or second special symbol, and the right to a unit game related to the first special symbol is not reserved. Even if the game is not in a special game state, if a unit game related to the first or second special symbol is in progress or the right to a unit game related to the first or second special symbol is reserved, the unit game based on the current initial winning will begin after the completion of unit games related to all special symbols (first and second special symbols) that were reserved before the current winning. If a random number is obtained based on the initial winning of the first special symbol during the special game state, the unit game based on that random number will begin after the special game state has ended and all unit games related to all special symbols that were reserved before the current winning.

[0089] Furthermore, the unit game based on the random number acquired based on the start winning of the first special symbol begins after all unit games related to the second special symbol have been completed. In other words, if a random number is acquired based on the start winning of the second special symbol after the current start winning, the unit game based on the start winning of the second special symbol will be executed first. It is not necessary for the unit game based on the start winning of the second special symbol to be executed first over the unit game related to the first special symbol. The unit game priority control for the first and second special symbols may be executed in the order of the start winnings, or the two special symbols may be variable simultaneously rather than alternatively. Furthermore, in a configuration in which the two special symbols are variable simultaneously rather than alternatively, it is preferable that the unit game time for either the first or second special symbol be shorter than the unit game time for the other of the first and second special symbols. In particular, it is even better to configure the system so that, during one unit play time of either the first special symbol or the second special symbol, the other of the first special symbol and the second special symbol can be played multiple times. In this way, the game value of the special play state by the first special symbol and the second special symbol can be made different, and the occurrence of disadvantages to the player can be suppressed.

[0090] If a jackpot is won in the first special symbol lottery based on the initial winning of the first special symbol, the type of stop symbol (jackpot symbol) corresponding to the jackpot win in the first special symbol lottery is further determined based on the acquired jackpot symbol random number. The type of stop symbol corresponds to the type of jackpot, and multiple types of jackpots are set corresponding to the type of game state, such as the number of rounds (e.g., 6 rounds and 16 rounds) corresponding to the number of times the lower entry restriction mechanism 453 or the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 takes the entry-permitting position, or the game state to which the special game state is transitioned (whether or not the game state is transitioned to a probability variable game state), and a jackpot symbol is set for each type. If a jackpot is not won in the first special symbol lottery, a losing symbol other than the jackpot symbol is set as the stop symbol.

[0091] After the first special symbol lottery, the variable display time of the first special symbol is determined and the variable pattern of the decorative symbol is selected based on the current game state, the lottery result, the value of the stop pattern random number, the values ​​of various variable pattern random numbers, and the number of reserved unit game rights related to the first special symbol. Then, the variable display of the first special symbol on the special symbol display device 471 related to the first special symbol and the variable display of the decorative symbol on the decorative symbol display device 479 (variable effect) are initiated. The variable display of the first special symbol continues according to a fixed pattern throughout the variable display time, and the variable display of the decorative symbol continues according to the variable pattern throughout the variable display time. Then, as the variable display time passes, the stopped symbol related to the first special symbol is finally displayed, and a symbol corresponding to the stopped symbol of the first special symbol is finally displayed as the decorative symbol. The fixed display of the first special symbol and the decorative symbol continues for at least a predetermined fixed time.

[0092] Here, the display of the decorative pattern variations may be performed using a pattern row in which patterns composed of numbers or characters as identification information are arranged and scrolled along a predetermined path, such as vertically, horizontally, or in an L-shape, on the display screen of the decorative pattern display device 479, or a pattern row in which the patterns rotate at a certain point and are updated to a different pattern. The display of the decorative pattern variations is not limited to the display of patterns, and the display of the identification information variations may be configured by a performance display in which the appearance of the characters is changed. Furthermore, the display screen of the decorative pattern display device 479 may have multiple locations for displaying the identification information variations. For example, the display may be performed using a pattern as identification information displayed large in the center and another pattern displayed small in the corners of the display screen.

[0093] If the stopped symbol associated with the first special symbol is a jackpot symbol, the game state transitions to a special game state after the first special symbol is confirmed and displayed. In the special game state, the lower entry restriction mechanism 453 of the lower special prize device 433 and the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 of the upper special prize device 434 transition to the entry-permitting position a predetermined number of times in a predetermined order according to the type of jackpot. When a predetermined number of game balls (e.g., eight) are detected by the special prize switch 443, 444 during each entry-permitting position of the lower entry restriction mechanism 453 and the upper entry restriction mechanism 454, or when a predetermined maximum entry-permitting time (e.g., 29.5 seconds) has elapsed, the lower entry restriction mechanism 453 or the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 transitions to the entry-prohibiting position. After the predetermined entry-prohibiting time has elapsed, either the lower entry restriction mechanism 453 or the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 returns to the entry-permitting position again. This entry restriction operation is repeated a predetermined number of times in a predetermined order corresponding to the type of big win.

[0094] The lower entry restriction mechanism 453 and the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 are configured so that only one of them takes the entry-permitting position during the special game state, and one of them transitions to the initial entry-permitting position after a predetermined waiting time has elapsed since the start of the special game state (after the opening period). The special game state ends after a predetermined entry-prohibited time has elapsed since the final return to the entry-prohibited position, and after a further predetermined waiting time has elapsed (after the ending period). After the special game state ends, the game transitions to a time-limited game state or a probability variable game state, as described above.

[0095] In various game states, when a gaming ball entering the right start winning device 432 for the second special symbol is detected by the right start winning switch 442, a start winning for the second special symbol occurs. Control of a unit game based on the start winning of the second special symbol is executed in the same manner as the control for the first special symbol described above. That is, if the right to play a unit game for the second special symbol has not been reserved up to the maximum number of times at the time of the start winning of the second special symbol, random numbers for the special symbols are obtained, and a unit game based on this start winning is executed. In addition, the determination of the stop symbol according to the second special symbol lottery, the selection of the decorative symbol variation pattern, the execution of the variation display, and the transition control of the game state are also executed in the same manner as the control for the first special symbol.

[0096] In various game states, when the start switch 446 detects a gaming ball entering the start device 436, if the right to a unit game related to a normal symbol has not been reserved up to the maximum number of times, a winning random number related to the normal symbol is acquired and stored in a predetermined area of ​​the RAM 922 of the main control board 920. At this time, if a unit game related to a normal symbol is not in progress, the unit game related to the acquired normal symbol will start immediately after the storage. On the other hand, if a unit game related to a normal symbol is in progress, the unit game related to the acquired normal symbol will start after the unit game based on the right to a unit game related to the already acquired normal symbol has ended.

[0097] In a unit game related to a normal symbol, whether or not a win has been achieved is determined based on the value of the winning random number, and if a win has been achieved, a predetermined winning symbol is set as the stopping symbol. On the other hand, if a win is not achieved in the normal symbol lottery, a predetermined losing symbol is set as the stopping symbol. After the normal symbol lottery, the normal symbol display device 473 begins to display a variable normal symbol; in the non-time-saving state, the variable display continues in a fixed pattern for a predetermined variable display time; in the time-saving state, the variable display continues in a fixed pattern for a predetermined variable display time that is shorter than in the non-time-saving state. As a predetermined time corresponding to the game state passes, the stopping symbol related to the normal symbol is displayed as a fixed symbol for a fixed time.

[0098] When the stopped pattern related to the normal pattern is a winning pattern, after the confirmation display of the normal pattern, the right entry restriction mechanism 452 of the right start winning device 432 shifts to the entry permitting position at least once. Specifically, when a win occurs in a non-time-shortened state (normal game state and special game state), the right start winning device 432 shifts to the entry permitting position for a predetermined maximum entry permitting time (for example, approximately 0.1 seconds), and when a win occurs in a time-shortened state (time-shortened game state and probability variable game state), the right start winning device 432 shifts to the entry permitting position intermittently (for example, in three separate times) for a predetermined maximum entry permitting time (for example, approximately 4.8 seconds) that is longer than in the non-time-shortened state. However, if a predetermined number (for example, 10) of game balls are detected by the right start winning switch 442, the right entry restriction mechanism 452 will transition to an entry prohibition position without waiting for the maximum entry allowable time to elapse, and even if the number of transitions to the entry allowable position has not reached the predetermined number, the operation of the right start winning device 432 for the unit game related to this normal pattern will end.

[0099] Next, the playability of the pachinko machine 100 of this embodiment will be explained. To receive the second special symbol lottery, a player must first win the normal symbol lottery, and then the game ball must enter the right-start winning device 432 in the entry permission state of the right-start winning device 432 based on that win. The probability of winning a normal symbol in the normal game state is the same as the probability of winning in the time-saving game state. However, because the stay time of the entry permission state of the right-start winning device 432 based on a win in the normal game state (e.g., approximately 0.1 seconds) is set to be much shorter than the stay time in the time-saving state (e.g., approximately 4.8 seconds), the opportunity per unit time to receive the second special symbol lottery in the normal game state is significantly smaller than the opportunity per unit time to receive the first special symbol lottery. Conversely, in a time-saving state such as a time-saving game state or a probability-changing game state, the chances per unit time to receive the second special symbol lottery are significantly greater than the chances per unit time to receive the first special symbol lottery.

[0100] Therefore, the player plays with the aim of winning the jackpot in the first special symbol lottery and then entering the special game state by making the game ball enter a specific passage in the subsequent special game state to transition to the probability variable game state. On the other hand, in the time-limited game state and probability variable game state, the player plays with the aim of winning the jackpot in the second special symbol lottery before the end of each game state.

[0101] Specifically, the gaming board 400 is provided with a central structure 420 in the center of a gaming area 409 into which gaming balls flow, and is configured to allow selective use of a gaming method in which gaming balls flow mainly from the left side of the central structure 420 (left-hand gaming method), and a gaming method in which gaming balls flow mainly from the right side of the central structure 420 (right-hand gaming method). In the normal gaming state, the player plays using the left-hand gaming method, and in the time-saving gaming state and the probability variable gaming state, the player plays using the right-hand gaming method. In addition, because the lower large winning device 433 and the upper large winning device 434 are located to the right of the central structure 420, the player also plays using the right-hand gaming method in the special gaming state.

[0102] Next, the rear block 104 will be described. Figures 8 and 9 are a rear perspective view and a rear view, respectively, of the pachinko machine 100. Note that in Figure 8, the outer frame 101 is omitted for ease of understanding.

[0103] 8 and 9, the rear block 104 is configured by attaching other members and devices to a base body 501. The base body 501 and the intermediate block 103 are connected by rear block support mechanisms 136 and 137, so that the rear block 104 is supported so as to be openable and closable relative to the intermediate block 103.

[0104] The rear block 104 includes a game ball tank 510 as a ball storage section for storing game balls, a tank rail 520 as a ball alignment section for continuously straightening the game balls (for example, in a single line) downstream of the game ball tank 510 and aligning them in a single row, a case rail 530 as a ball guide section for guiding the game balls that flow in from the tank rail 520 downstream of the tank rail 520, a payout device 540 that pays out game balls and lends game balls downstream of the case rail 530, and a guide passage (not shown) formed in the base 501 for guiding the game balls that flow out of the payout device 540 downstream of the payout device 540. the payout control device 560 that controls the payout of game balls by the payout device 540 and the lending of game balls; the power supply / launch control device 570 that functions as a power supply means that converts external power into power of a predetermined voltage required by various devices and outputs it, and as a launch control means that controls the ejection of game balls based on the launch operation to the launch operation device 250 in cooperation with the main control board 920; and a relay device 950 that relays signals between the payout control device 560 and the game ball lending device 290 (see Figure 1) and a card unit (not shown) that is arranged to the side of the pachinko machine 100.

[0105] Base body 501 is integrally molded from resin (for example, ABS resin), and includes a base portion 502 corresponding to the front portion, and a protective cover portion 503 located rearward of base portion 502. The upper portion of base portion 502 is formed in a generally frame shape along the outer shape of rear block 104, and the lower portion is formed in a generally flat shape with a thickness in the front-to-rear direction, and functions as a mounting portion to which other devices can be attached.

[0106] The protective cover part 503 is formed in a generally plate-like shape having a thickness in the front-to-rear direction. Moreover, the protective cover part 503 is not shaped to cover the entire back surface of the intermediate block 103, but is sized to form a window for exposing a part of the back surface of the intermediate block 103 that requires frequent inspection and checking, such as a part of the main control device 370, to the back surface of the pachinko machine 100. The back surface of the protective cover part 503 is formed with a number of ventilation holes 503A that function to improve the heat dissipation of heat generated in the main control device 370 and the sub-control device 390.

[0107] The game ball tank 510 is a horizontally long, box-shaped container with an opening at the top. Game balls are sequentially supplied to one end of the game ball tank 510 from a ball circulation device (not shown) in the island equipment. An opening (not shown) is formed at one end of the game ball tank 510, opposite the end to which the game balls are supplied. The bottom of the game ball tank 510 is gently inclined in the longitudinal direction, so that game balls supplied to the game ball tank 510 move toward the opening under their own weight. The bottom of the game ball tank 510 is also inclined in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (front-to-back direction) compared to the longitudinal direction, preferentially guiding game balls toward the side with the opening (e.g., the front side). A metal antistatic plate (not shown) is attached to the bottom of the game ball tank 510 so as to overlap it. The antistatic plate is connected to ground potential to remove static electricity from game balls inside the game ball tank 510 and downstream thereof.

[0108] The tank rail 520 is attached to the side where the opening of the game ball tank 510 is formed, and game balls flow in through the opening of the game ball tank 510. The tank rail 520 is equipped with a path forming member 521 that forms a roughly gutter-shaped path for game balls wide enough for game balls to pass through in a single file, and a straightening member 522 that has a top surface portion that gradually decreases in height as the upper surface of the path formed by the path forming member 521 and gradually straightens the game balls flowing down the path from a height where they are stacked one above the other to a height of one level. The path formed by the tank rail 520 is gently inclined downstream, and guides the game balls to the opposite side of the game ball tank 510.

[0109] The case rail 530 is formed vertically so as to be continuous with the underside of the tank rail 520, and gaming balls flow in from the tank rail 520. The case rail 530 continues downward while curving left and right to prevent gaming balls from flowing out too forcefully. In addition, a ball exhaustion detection unit 539 for detecting a ball exhaustion is provided midway along the ball passage in the case rail 530. A storage ball switch 591 (see FIG. 10) is built into the ball exhaustion detection unit 539, and the storage ball switch 591 detects a ball exhaustion state in which gaming balls are not being properly replenished in the case rail 530 due to a ball jam or the like occurring in the case rail 530 or upstream thereof.

[0110] The payout device 540 is equipped with a payout mechanism that pays out game balls, a payout motor 542 (see FIG. 10) as a drive means for driving the payout mechanism, and a payout counting switch 592 (see FIG. 10). In response to the operation of the payout motor 542 under the control of the payout control device 560, game balls stored in the ball passage are released downstream. The passage of the released game balls through the ball passage is detected by the payout counting switch 592, which causes the payout control device 560 (payout control board 930) to count the number of game balls paid out.

[0111] 8 and 9, the payout control device 560 and the power supply / launch control device 570 are attached to the lower rear surface of the base part 502 of the base body 501 so as to be positioned at the lower part of the rear side of the rear block 104. The rear block 104 including the payout control device 560 and the power supply / launch control device 570 can be continuously used even when the game board 400 is replaced with another game board due to a model change or the like.

[0112] The dispensing control device 560 comprises a dispensing control board 930 (see Figure 10) and a board case that houses the dispensing control board 930, and like the main control board 920, the dispensing control board 930 is housed inside a board case that is sealed so that it cannot be opened without leaving any traces of opening.

[0113] The power supply and launch control device 570 comprises a power supply and launch control board 900 (see FIG. 10) and a board case that houses the power supply and launch control board 900, and the power supply and launch control board 900 is housed inside a sealed board case, similar to the main control board 920.

[0114] 9, a rear setting switch 905 is provided on the rear side of the pachinko machine 100. The rear setting switch 905 is a setting validation device for validating a setting operation for setting the ball payout rate of the pachinko machine 100 to one of a plurality of predetermined stages (for example, 6 stages, 9 stages, etc.).

[0115] By inserting a predetermined key (not shown) into the rear setting switch 905 and rotating it to a predetermined position (in this embodiment, a position rotated approximately 90 degrees clockwise from the initial position), it is possible to enable (allow) a change in the setting of the ball output rate. With the setting change of the ball output rate enabled in this way, a predetermined setting operation (in this embodiment, pressing the initialization switch 907) is performed, and the setting change of the ball output rate is made effective.

[0116] When the setting change of the ball payout rate is valid, the predetermined game mode is changed according to each set stage. In other words, the setting change of the ball payout rate by operating the rear setting switch 905 and the initialization switch 907 can also be said to be a setting change of the game mode.

[0117] In the pachinko machine 100 of this embodiment, one of nine types of game modes with different combinations of the initial hit probability (in this embodiment, the probability of winning the first special symbol lottery) and the probability of continuing the probability variable (in this embodiment, the probability of transitioning to the special game state after the special game state when transitioning to the special game state via the second special symbol lottery in the probability variable game state) can be selected according to each stage set by changing the setting of the ball payout rate (i.e., changing the setting of the game mode). Therefore, when the setting of the ball payout rate (changing the setting of the game mode) is validly performed, the winning probability of each of the first special symbol lottery and the second special symbol lottery is changed so that the initial hit probability and continuation probability correspond to the set stage (i.e., the probability lottery data corresponding to each winning probability is used), and the ball payout rate is adjusted.

[0118] Specifically, in the pachinko machine 100 of this embodiment, it is possible to select a top type in which the initial hit probability is significantly low but the probability of probability change continuation is significantly high, a middle type in which the initial hit probability is medium and the probability of probability change continuation is also medium, and a bottom type in which the initial hit probability is significantly low but the probability of probability change continuation is significantly high. Furthermore, in each of these types, the initial hit probability of each type is divided into three stages of probability states (hereinafter also referred to as probability setting states) that are smaller than the range of the initial hit probability between each type, that is, it is possible to select a first stage probability with the lowest initial hit probability among the three stages, a second stage probability with the second lowest initial hit probability, and a third stage probability with the highest initial hit probability.

[0119] In the top type, the number of prize balls associated with winning the middle start winning device 431 and the right start winning device 432 is less than the other types, but the number of prize balls associated with winning the upper large winning device 434 and the lower large winning device 433 is greater than the other types. On the other hand, in the bottom type, the number of prize balls associated with winning the middle start winning device 431 and the right start winning device 432 is greater than the other types, but the number of prize balls associated with winning the upper large winning device 434 and the lower large winning device 433 is less than the other types.

[0120] Here, the number of prize balls may be set to the same for all of the top, middle, and bottom types, making it impossible for the player to determine which of the three types is set from the number of prize balls, and adding a long-term game element of guessing which type is set.

[0121] Furthermore, although the profit rate for the player varies depending on the stage of the probability setting state for all of the top, middle, and bottom types, the profit rate for the player is set to be substantially the same for any type as long as the stage of the probability setting state is the same. Therefore, even if the probability setting is changed by changing the type, the profit that the gaming facility will earn per certain period (for example, one day) is easy to predict, making it easier to manage the gaming facility.

[0122] The game mode that is changed by changing the setting of the payout rate does not necessarily have to be a combination of the initial hit probability and the probability of entering a special mode as described above, and may be, for example, either the initial hit probability or the probability of entering a special mode. Also, it may be a lottery probability other than the initial hit probability and the probability of entering a special mode, such as the probability of winning the first special symbol lottery or the second special symbol lottery, the probability of winning the normal symbol lottery, the probability of selecting a small hit in the first special symbol lottery or the second special symbol lottery, the probability of entering a special mode (in this embodiment, the probability of entering a special mode game state via winning the second special symbol lottery), or the probability of the special mode game state that has been entered ending (for example, the probability of selecting the end of the special mode game state in a drop lottery that is performed each time a variable symbol display is executed during the special mode game state), or a combination of two or more of these game modes.

[0123] A setting display device 906 is provided above the rear setting switch 905. When the setting change of the ball payout rate (setting change of the game mode) is validly performed by operating the rear setting switch 905, setting display information corresponding to the currently set game mode is displayed on the setting display device 906. The setting display information is composed of a combination of an alphabetic character representing the type and a number representing the probability setting state. In the pachinko machine 100 of this embodiment, the top type, middle type, and bottom type are represented by the alphabetic characters "T," "M," and "B," respectively. Furthermore, the probability setting state of each type is represented by "1" for the first stage probability, "2" for the second stage probability, and "3" for the third stage probability.

[0124] Therefore, for example, when the game mode is a top type with a first stage probability, the setting display information displayed on the setting display device 906 is "T1", when the game mode is a middle type with a third stage probability, the setting display information displayed on the setting display device 906 is "M3", and when the game mode is a bottom type with a second stage probability, the setting display information displayed on the setting display device 906 is "B2".

[0125] <Electrical configuration> Next, we will explain the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 100. Figure 10 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 100. As shown in Figure 10, the pachinko machine 100 is equipped with control circuit devices such as a power supply / launch control board 900, a power supply monitoring board 910, a main control board 920, a payout control board 930, and a sub-control board 940. Note that relay circuit devices that only relay various signals are omitted from Figure 10.

[0126] 10, for ease of understanding, a closed dashed dotted line X is illustrated to distinguish between the components that make up the gaming board 400 and the components that make up a frame other than the gaming board 400, such as the front block 102, the intermediate block 103 (e.g., base frame 301), and the rear block 104 (e.g., base 501). Specifically, the components of the gaming board 400 (e.g., the main control board 920 and the sub-control board 940) are illustrated inside the dashed dotted line X, and the components that are attached to the base 501 and make up the frame (e.g., the power supply / launch control board 900, the power supply monitoring board 910, the payout control board 930, etc.) are illustrated outside the dashed dotted line X.

[0127] In the pachinko machine 100 of this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 10, a configuration in which the power supply monitoring board 910 is one of the components that make up the frame (i.e., a configuration in which the power supply monitoring board 910 is shown outside the dashed dotted line X) has been exemplified, but the power supply monitoring board 910 may also be one of the components that make up the game board 400. Below, these main control circuit devices will be described individually in detail.

[0128] The power supply / launch control board 900 includes a power supply unit 901 that supplies power of a predetermined voltage to each part of the pachinko machine 100 via a power supply path (dashed line in the figure), a launch control unit 902 that controls the operation of the launch device 330 in accordance with the operation of the launch operation device 250, and a signal relay unit 903 that relays an initialization signal from the initialization switch 907 and a ball overflow signal from the ball overflow switch 249.

[0129] The power supply unit 901 takes in external power (for example, 24 volts AC) supplied from the outside and converts it into internal power (for example, 24 volts DC), and also generates various types of power from the internal power. The power generated by the power supply unit 901 includes power for a drive voltage (for example, 12 volts DC) for driving devices such as various solenoids and various motors, power for a control voltage (for example, 5 volts DC) for driving various switches and executing control processes, power for a backup voltage for maintaining the contents of RAM 922 on the main control board 920, and the like.

[0130] The power supply unit 901 has a function of charging a capacitor (not shown) with internal power converted from external power, and of supplying the power stored in the capacitor as backup voltage power (hereinafter also referred to as a "backup power supply function"). In other words, the power supply unit 901 generates backup voltage power by using the backup power supply function.

[0131] The power supply unit 901 supplies various types of power generated from internal power to the power supply monitoring board 910, main control board 920, dispensing control board 930, sub-control board 940, etc. Specifically, internal power, drive voltage, control voltage, and backup voltage power are supplied to the power supply monitoring board 910. Drive voltage, control voltage, and backup voltage power are supplied to the main control board 920 via the power supply monitoring unit 911 of the power supply monitoring board 910. Drive voltage and control voltage power are supplied to the dispensing control board 930. Drive voltage and control voltage power are supplied to the sub-control board 940. Drive voltage and control voltage power are supplied to the launch control unit 902 and signal relay unit 903.

[0132] In addition, in the pachinko machine 100 of this embodiment, the power supply unit 901 generates a charging voltage (e.g., 12 volts DC) for charging the backup power supply 601 from internal power, and supplies the charging voltage to the backup power supply 601.

[0133] A power switch 909 for switching between an on state and an off state is connected to the power supply unit 901. When the power switch 909 is operated to switch to the on state, the intake of external power begins, and when the power switch 909 is operated to switch to the off state, the intake of external power stops. Note that a state in which the supply of power to the inside of the pachinko machine 100 is stopped by turning the power switch 909 to the off state or by unplugging a power plug (not shown) connected to the power supply unit 901 via the power switch 909 from an external power supply outlet (not shown) or a state in which the supply of external power itself is stopped is collectively referred to as a "power outage state."

[0134] Details will be described later, but in the pachinko machine 100 of this embodiment, when a power outage occurs, the contents of RAM 922 of the main control board 920 are retained if backup voltage power is supplied to the main control board 920 from either the power supply unit 901 or the backup power supply 601.

[0135] The power supply unit 901 is configured to continue to output the control voltage normally for a predetermined period of time even after a power outage occurs, allowing the main control board 920 to save the current control state and terminate the control so that the current control state can be restored.

[0136] The launch control unit 902, in cooperation with the main control board 920, controls the operation of the ball feed solenoid 332 and the launch solenoid 334 of the launch device 330. The ball feed solenoid 332 and the launch solenoid 334 are permitted to operate when certain conditions are met. Specifically, the launch control unit 902 outputs an ON launch permission signal to the main control board 920 on the condition that the player's contact with the launch handle 252 (see FIG. 1) is detected based on a contact sensor signal from the contact sensor 254 and the launch stop switch 255 for stopping the launch has not been operated. Furthermore, based on the launch permission signal and the launch abnormality signal, the main control board 920 outputs a launch solenoid control signal and a ball feed solenoid control signal to the launch control unit 902. The launch control unit 902 activates the ball feed solenoid 332 based on the ON ball feed control signal, and activates the launch solenoid 334 based on the received ON launch solenoid control signal and the resistance value of the variable resistor 253. As a result, game balls are sequentially shot from the shooting device 330 with strength according to the resistance value of the variable resistor 253 (the amount of rotation of the shooting handle 252).

[0137] When initialization switch 907 is pressed, signal relay unit 903 outputs an ON initialization signal to main control board 920. In response to receiving the ON initialization signal, main control board 920 initializes the information stored in RAM 922 of main control board 920. Note that initialization switch 907 does not necessarily have to be configured to output a signal to main control board 920 via signal relay unit 903; for example, initialization switch 907 may be directly mounted on main control board 920 and housed within board case 371, which makes it possible to prevent unauthorized signal input targeting the section through which the signal is transmitted.

[0138] Furthermore, when initialization switch 907 is pressed, signal relay unit 903 outputs an ON signal to backup power supply 601. Backup power supply 601 is provided with a circuit that switches between charging and discharging the backup capacitor depending on whether initialization switch 907 is pressed or not. In response to receiving the ON signal output from signal relay unit 903, backup power supply 601 starts charging with the power of the charging voltage supplied from power supply unit 901.

[0139] Furthermore, when the ball overflow switch 249 detects gaming balls, the signal relay unit 903 outputs an ON-state ball overflow signal to the main control board 920. The main control board 920 outputs a slow payout signal to the payout control board 930 based on the detection of the ON-state ball overflow signal, and the payout control board 930, upon receiving the slow payout signal, slows down the rotation speed of the payout motor 542 (the payout speed of gaming balls from the payout device 540). Furthermore, the main control board 920 outputs a high-speed payout signal to the payout control board 930 based on the detection of an OFF-state ball overflow signal, and the payout control board 930, upon receiving the high-speed payout signal, speeds up the rotation speed of the payout motor 542.

[0140] 10, a rear setting switch 905 and a setting display device 906 are connected to the signal relay unit 903. The signal relay unit 903 relays an ON setting signal that is output to the main control board 920 when the rear setting switch 905 is rotated clockwise by approximately 90° using a predetermined key (not shown). The main control board 920 allows a change in the game mode in response to receiving an ON setting signal from the rear setting switch 905. The signal relay unit 903 also relays a setting display signal output from the main control board 920 to the setting display device 906. The setting display device 906 displays setting display information corresponding to the received setting display signal.

[0141] The power supply monitoring board 910 includes a power supply monitoring unit 911 that monitors the status of the power supply from the power supply / launch control board 900, and a signal relay unit 912 that relays the power supply and transmission of various signals between the power supply / launch control board 900 and the main control board 920. The power supply monitoring unit 911 also outputs a power outage signal to the main control board 920 in response to a transition to a power outage state, monitoring the voltage of 24 volts DC, which is the maximum voltage output from the power supply unit 901, and determining that a power outage has occurred if this voltage remains below 22 volts for a predetermined period of time, and outputting an ON power outage signal to the main control board 920. The main control board 920 recognizes the transition to a power outage state by receiving the ON power outage signal.

[0142] The main control board 920 comprehensively controls the operation of the pachinko machine 100. The main control board 920 is equipped with an MPU (not shown) as a one-chip microcomputer. The MPU includes a CPU (not shown) as an arithmetic processing unit, a ROM (not shown) that stores various control programs executed by the CPU and fixed data, and a RAM 922 that temporarily stores various data when the control programs are executed. The main control board 920 is also equipped with various other circuits such as a timer circuit (not shown), a counter circuit (not shown), a clock generation circuit (not shown), and a signal transmission / reception circuit (not shown).

[0143] RAM 922 of main control board 920 is configured so that even after transition to a power outage, internal data can be maintained (backed up) by power from the backup voltage supplied from power supply unit 901 or backup power supply 601 of power supply / launch control board 900. Specifically, in a power outage state that occurs when power switch 909 is turned off with initialization switch 907 pressed down, backup power is supplied to main control board 920 from power supply unit 901 and backup power supply 601, and in other power outage states, backup power is supplied to main control board 920 only from power supply unit 901.

[0144] When the backup power supply 601 receives an ON signal from the signal relay unit 903 while the power switch 909 is ON (i.e., while external power is being supplied to the power supply unit 901), the backup power supply 601 starts charging with the power of the charging voltage supplied from the power supply unit 901. In other words, by pressing the initialization switch 907 while external power is being supplied to the power supply unit 901, charging of the power (power of the charging voltage) to the backup power supply 601 can be started.

[0145] After the charging of power to the backup power supply 601 has started as described above, when the power switch 909 is switched from the on state to the off state, the backup power supply 601 supplies the power stored in the backup power supply 601 through charging as power for the backup voltage.

[0146] That is, by switching the power switch 909 to the OFF state while pressing the initialization switch 907 (i.e., stopping the supply of external power to the power supply unit 901), the power stored in the backup power supply 601 through charging can be supplied as power for the backup voltage. This allows power for the backup voltage to be supplied from the backup power supply 601 to the main control board 920.

[0147] The electrical capacity of the backup power supply 601 is preferably set to a capacity capable of outputting backup voltage power for a period (e.g., about one hour) sufficient to inspect or check the game board 400 removed from the frame (i.e., the outer frame 101, the front block 102, the intermediate block 103, and the rear block 104) (more specifically, removed from the base frame 301 of the intermediate block 103), or the frame with the game board 400 removed. Also, from the perspective of preventing tampering with the main control board 920, it is preferable that the electrical capacity of the backup power supply 601 is not too large, and it is preferable that the RAM 922 of the main control board 920 cannot be backed up normally in a period shorter than one day, such as six hours.

[0148] Furthermore, the circuit of the backup power supply 601 is configured so that when the power switch 909 is in the on state, the power supply path between the power supply unit 901 and the backup power supply 601 is grounded. Therefore, while the power switch 909 is in the on state, the power remaining in the backup power supply 601 is consumed (discharged) by this grounding. Therefore, when the power outage state of the pachinko machine 100 is resolved (i.e., when the supply of power to the inside of the pachinko machine 100 begins), the remaining power of the backup power supply 601 becomes zero due to discharge.

[0149] The payout control board 930 controls the payout operation of the payout device 540 in response to instructions from the main control board 920 and the lending operation of the payout device 540 in response to the operation of the game ball lending device 290. Like the main control board 920, the payout control board 930 is equipped with various circuits such as an MPU (not shown) as a one-chip microcomputer including a CPU (not shown), a ROM (not shown) and a RAM (not shown), a timer circuit (not shown), a counter circuit (not shown), a clock generating circuit (not shown), and a signal transmitting / receiving circuit (not shown).

[0150] The dispensing control board 930 is equipped with an input / output port as a connection means for connecting to other devices so that information can be communicated with, for example, the main control board 920 and relay device 950 are connected so that bidirectional information input / output communication is possible, the open / close detection switches 108, 109, storage ball switch 591, and dispensing counting switch 592 are connected so that only one-way information input communication is possible, and the dispensing motor 542 is connected so that only one-way information output communication is possible. Note that the RAM of the dispensing control board 930, like the RAM 922 of the main control board 920, may be configured to have a backup function that allows internal data to be maintained for a certain period of time in a power outage, or, unlike the RAM 922 of the main control board 920, may be configured not to maintain internal data in a power outage.

[0151] The sub-control board 940 controls the operation of various performance devices, various light emitting devices, various sound devices, etc. based on instructions from the main control board 920. The sub-control board 940 is equipped with an input / output port as a connection means for connecting to other devices so that information can be communicated with, and for example, is connected to the main control board 920 so that only one-way information input communication is possible, is connected to the input operation device 260, the left input operation device 801L, and the right input operation device 801R so that information can be communicated bidirectionally, and is connected to the decorative pattern display device 479, etc. so that only one-way information output communication is possible.

[0152] Connectors (e.g., connectors C1 to C3) are provided between each component attached to the game board 400 (hereinafter, for convenience, also referred to as "game board side components") and each component attached to a component other than the game board 400, such as the front block 102, the intermediate block 103, or the rear block 104 (hereinafter, for convenience, also referred to as "other component side components"), to electrically connect the game board side components and the other component side components, and to connect them so that information communication can be performed.

[0153] For example, as shown in FIG. 10, a connector C1 is provided between the main control board 920 or the backup power supply 601 and the power supply monitoring board 910 or the power supply / launch control board 900 (more specifically, the power supply unit 901 and the signal relay unit 903).

[0154] In the pachinko machine 100 of this embodiment, the power supply monitoring board 910 is one of the components that make up the frame, but the power supply monitoring board 910 may also be one of the components that make up the game board 400, and in such a configuration, the connector C1 may be arranged between the power supply monitoring board 910 and the power supply / launch control board 900, rather than between the main control board 920 and the power supply monitoring board 910.

[0155] Furthermore, a connector C2 is provided between the sub-control board 940 and the sound devices 281, 282, frame light emitting devices 271-275, input operation device 260, left input operation device 801L, and right input operation device 801R. A connector C3 is provided between the main control board 920 and the dispensing control board 930. Note that each of the connectors C1-C3 does not necessarily have to consist of a single connector, and at least one of the connectors C1-C3 may be composed of a multiple-divided connector.

[0156] The connectors (connectors C1 to C3 in the example shown in FIG. 10) are composed of a female connector (not shown) and a male connector (not shown) that is detachable from the female connector. In the pachinko machine 100 of this embodiment, the female connector is connected to a component on the game board side, and the male connector is connected to a component on the other member side.

[0157] When the male connector is attached to the female connector, the game board component and the other component are electrically connected and connected to each other so that information can be communicated between them. On the other hand, when the male connector is removed from the female connector, the electrical connection and the connection that allows information communication between the game board component and the other component are released.

[0158] When the game board 400 is removed from the base frame 301 (see Figure 3) of the intermediate block 103, the male connector is basically removed from the female connector, thereby releasing the connection (electrical connection and connection that enables information communication) between the game board side component and the other component side component via connectors such as connectors C1 to C3.

[0159] <Various control processes> Next, we will explain various control processes executed by the main control board 920. The control processes in the main control board 920 are roughly divided into main processes that are started when the power is restored from a power outage, and timer interrupt processes that are executed by periodically interrupting the main processes (in this embodiment, at 2 ms (millisecond) intervals).

[0160] First, the main processing executed by the main control board 920 will be described with reference to Fig. 11. Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing the main processing of the main control board 920 (abbreviated as "main control main processing" in Fig. 11).

[0161] In the main processing of the main control board 920, first, a series of control start processes (program start process S1001 to random number initial setting process S1019) for starting up the main control board 920 and initializing various information are executed only once, and then the following processes are repeatedly executed: an interrupt prohibition process S1020 for prohibiting interrupts; a random number initial value update process S1021 for updating the values ​​of the winning random number initial value counter for special patterns (a part of an area of ​​RAM922), the jackpot pattern random number initial value counter (a part of an area of ​​RAM922), and the winning random number initial value counter for normal patterns (a part of an area of ​​RAM922); a fluctuation counter update process S1022 for updating the values ​​of the first fluctuation type counter to the fourth fluctuation type counter (a part of an area of ​​RAM922) for determining fluctuation time, fluctuation pattern, etc.; and an interrupt permission process S1023 for permitting interrupts. If a timer interrupt request occurs before the interrupt permission process S1023, the timer interrupt process is executed immediately after the interrupt permission process S1023.

[0162] In the series of control start processes, a program start process S1001 is executed to set an initial value to a stack pointer (a part of the area of ​​RAM 922) that controls the execution of the program, an interrupt mode setting process S1002 is executed to set an interrupt mode, and a startup waiting process S1003 is executed to wait for a predetermined time until the dispensing control board 930, sub-control board 940, etc. start up.

[0163] After the startup standby process S1003, a process S2001 is performed to determine the output state of the setting signal from the rear setting switch 905 of the power supply / launch control board 900. If the determination process S2001 determines that the setting signal from the rear setting switch 905 is in the OFF state (S2001: N), a process S1004 is performed to determine the output state of the initialization signal from the initialization switch 907 of the power supply / launch control board 900, a process S1005 is performed to determine the value of the power outage information (a part of the RAM 922), and a process S1007 is performed to determine the storage state of the saved information. Based on these determination results, it is determined whether or not to erase the saved information in RAM 922. Here, the saved information is information necessary to restore the game state before the power outage, and corresponds to a part of the RAM 922 area that was updated according to the progress of the game before the power outage. Examples of the saved information include the counter value for the unit game currently being played and the counter value stored upon the start winning.

[0164] The storage state of the saved information is determined as follows: First, a checksum value for a predetermined range of storage area in RAM 922 is calculated (checksum calculation process S1006), and it is determined whether the exclusive OR of the current checksum value and the RAM determination value, which is the two's complement of the checksum value calculated in power outage monitoring process S1202 (see FIG. 12) following the previous transition to the power outage state, is "0" (determination process S1007), thereby determining whether the current checksum value and the checksum value at the time of transition to the power outage state are the same.

[0165] If the initialization signal is in the ON state (S1004: Y), if the power outage information is not a predetermined power outage value indicating that the saved information was saved and terminated when the transition to the power outage state was made (S1005: N), or if the saved information is not properly stored (S1007: N), a RAM clear process S1008 is executed to erase the saved information in RAM 922. After it is determined that the saved information is properly stored (S1007: Y) or after the RAM clear process S1008 is executed, a hardware initialization process S1009 is executed to initialize various devices connected to the main control board 920.

[0166] After the hardware initialization process S1009, a determination process S1010 is executed to determine whether the power outage information is a power outage value. If the power outage information is a power outage value (S1010: N), a RAM restoration setting process S1011 is executed to initialize various information, including the restoration of retained information, and a restoration command indicating the completion of the settings is set (restore command output process S1012). By restoring the retained information in the RAM restoration setting process S1011, the control state of the main control board 920 is restored to the control state immediately before the transition to the previous power outage state.

[0167] On the other hand, if the power outage information is not a power outage value (S1010: Y), various information is initialized without restoring the retained information (RAM initial setting process S1013), and an initialization command indicating the completion of the setting is output (initialization command output process S1014).

[0168] In the RAM recovery setting process S1011 and the RAM initial setting process S1013, the power outage information is set to a predetermined power value different from the power outage value, and even if various error states such as fraud detection errors occurred immediately before the transition to the previous power outage state, all of those error states are canceled. In addition, either a recovery command or an initialization command is output from the main control board 920 to both the dispensing control board 930 and the sub-control board 940, and a predetermined initialization process is also performed on each of the dispensing control board 930 and the sub-control board 940 that received the recovery command or initialization command.

[0169] After initial setting of RAM922 according to the situation at the time of start-up (judgment process S1004 to initialization command output process S1014), if the condition device was operating at the time of transition to the previous power outage state, preparations for returning to the special game state are made (special game state return preparation process S1015). Specifically, in the special game state return preparation process S1015, the operating states of the condition device and the accessory continuous operating device are judged, and processing corresponding to the game situation at the time of the power outage state is executed in the sub-control board 940.

[0170] After the special game state return preparation process S1015, it is determined whether the time-shortening state is in a time-shortening state or a non-time-shortening state by determining whether the time-shortening state flag is set (determination process S1016), and if the time-shortening state is in a time-shortening state (S1016: Y), a time-shortening command is output (time-shortening command output process S1017). On the other hand, if the time-shortening state is not in a time-shortening state (S1016: N), a non-time-shortening command is output (non-time-shortening command output process S1018). After that, the value of the winning random number counter (a part of the area of ​​RAM 922) related to the special symbol is initialized (random number initial setting process S1019).

[0171] On the other hand, in the determination process S2001, if it is determined that the setting signal from the rear setting switch 905 is in the on state indicating that the rear setting switch 905 is operated by a predetermined key (S2001: Y), a RAM clear process S2002 is executed to erase information in substantially all areas of the RAM 922. Specifically, in the RAM clear process S2002, information in substantially all areas except for the setting correspondence information stored in the RAM 922 is erased.

[0172] The setting correspondence information is information corresponding to each of a plurality of predetermined stages (nine types in this embodiment) of game modes, and setting mode information corresponding to the game mode currently being set is stored in the RAM 922. Therefore, the RAM clear process S2002 erases information from substantially all areas in the RAM 922 of the main control board 920 except for the storage area for the setting correspondence information, and the state becomes one in which setting changes are permitted.

[0173] When a state in which setting changes are permitted is reached, a setting display signal identifying the game mode corresponding to the setting correspondence information stored in RAM 922 is output to the setting display device 906. The setting display device 906 displays setting display information corresponding to the setting display signal received from the main control board 920. In other words, the setting display device 906 displays setting display information corresponding to the setting correspondence information stored in RAM 922.

[0174] Next, a setting change process S2003 is executed to change the game mode setting until the setting signal from the rear setting switch 905 is turned off. The setting signal from the rear setting switch 905 is turned off when the rear setting switch 905 is not operated by a predetermined key.

[0175] The game mode setting is changed by pressing the initialization switch 907 while the rear setting switch 905 is operated by a predetermined key. Specifically, in this state, the setting correspondence information is changed sequentially each time the main control board 920 receives an initialization signal based on pressing the initialization switch 907. Specifically, a cyclical selection order of nine predetermined game modes (for example, ···→T1→T2→T3→M1→M2→M3→B1→B2→B3→T1→T2→···) is predetermined, and the selected game mode is changed sequentially according to this order each time the initialization switch 907 is pressed.

[0176] Each time the change is made, a value corresponding to the selected game mode is stored as setting correspondence information in the RAM 922. Each time the setting correspondence information stored in the RAM 922 is changed, a setting display signal corresponding to the setting correspondence information is output to the setting display device 906, and setting display information corresponding to the changed setting correspondence information is displayed on the setting display device 906.

[0177] Therefore, the person who changes the settings, such as the manager of the gaming facility, can complete the selection of the game mode by repeatedly pressing the initialization switch 907 until the game mode he or she wants to set for the pachinko machine 100 is selected while the rear setting switch 905 is operated with a predetermined key, and then having a game ball enter the middle start winning device 431. Therefore, the setting change process S2003 ends when a game ball enters the middle start winning device 431 after the game mode is selected by pressing the initialization switch 907.

[0178] When the setting signal from the rear setting switch 905 is turned off (S2004: Y), a RAM change setting process S2005 is executed to newly initialize various information excluding information related to game mode settings (i.e., setting correspondence information) in the RAM 922. This essentially ends the startup of the main control board 920, and it is determined that the game will proceed in the game mode corresponding to the setting correspondence information stored in the RAM 922.

[0179] After the RAM change setting process S2005, a set command output process S2006 is executed, which outputs a set command indicating completion of setting of the RAM 922 to the payout control board 930. By receiving the set command output by the main control board 920, the payout control board 930 can recognize that the main control board 920 will transition to normal game processing and can also recognize which game mode it will operate in. After the set command output process S2006, the special game state return preparation process S1015 and subsequent processes are executed.

[0180] Next, the timer interrupt processing executed by the main control board 920 will be described with reference to Fig. 12. Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing the timer interrupt processing executed by the main control board 920 (abbreviated as "main control interrupt processing" in the figure).

[0181] In the timer interrupt processing of the main control board 920, first, an interrupt start processing S1201 is executed to start the timer interrupt. Specifically, a predetermined value is set in the interrupt control register. This prohibits interrupts other than this timer interrupt. After that, the power outage monitoring processing S1202 to the external information output processing S1221, which are related to actual control such as controlling the progress of the game in the pachinko machine 100 and monitoring various sensors, are executed in sequence. However, if the game progress has been stopped based on the detection of various types of fraud (S1207: Y), the control signal output processing S1208 to the external information output processing S1221 are not executed. Finally, an interrupt permission processing S1222 is executed to permit the next timer interrupt, and the current timer interrupt processing ends. Below, each of the various main processes will be explained individually.

[0182] In the power outage monitoring process S1202, the value of the power outage information (a part of the area of ​​the RAM 922) is updated based on the output state of the power outage signal output from the power supply monitoring unit 911 of the power supply monitoring board 910. Specifically, the output state of the power outage signal is checked three times, and if the ON state is detected all three times, it is determined that a power outage has occurred. If this determination does not determine that a power outage has occurred, the power outage information is maintained at the energized value.

[0183] On the other hand, if the power outage monitoring process S1202 determines that a power outage has occurred, the following process is executed. First, the value of the power outage information is changed from the energization value set in the RAM recovery setting process S1011 or the RAM initial setting process S1013 (see FIG. 11) to a predetermined power outage value. A checksum value for a predetermined range of storage area in RAM 922 is calculated, and the two's complement of the checksum value is set as the RAM determination value. This causes the pachinko machine 100 to enter an infinite loop in which no substantial control, such as monitoring the progress of the game or various sensors, is performed. The state of RAM 922 after the RAM determination value is set is maintained based on the backup power. Note that, because the output state of the power outage signal is checked three times, each timer interrupt process is executed twice after the first detection of the power outage signal.

[0184] In the random number update process S1203, the winning random number counter for the special symbol, the jackpot symbol random number counter, the stop pattern selection counter, and the winning random number counter for the normal symbol are updated. Specifically, if the value of the winning random number counter for the special symbol is different from the specified maximum value (for example, "576"), it is changed to a value that is "1" larger than the current value, and if the value of the winning random number counter for the special symbol is the specified maximum value, it is changed to the specified minimum value ("0"). However, if the changed value is the same as the circulation initial value for the winning random number counter for the special symbol, the value of the winning random number counter for the special symbol is set to the same value as the winning random number initial value counter for the special symbol, and the circulation initial value is also set to the same value as the winning random number initial value counter.

[0185] The jackpot symbol random number counter, the stop pattern selection counter, and the winning random number counter for normal symbols are also updated in the same manner as the winning random number counter for special symbols. However, the update range determined by the specified maximum and minimum values ​​of each counter is set to a unique value for each counter, and multiple counters are updated asynchronously, and the cyclic initial value of each counter refers to an initial value counter unique to each counter. For example, the winning random number counter for special symbols and the winning random number initial value counter for special symbols have the same value range, the jackpot symbol random number counter and the jackpot symbol random number initial value counter have the same value range, and the winning random number counter for normal symbols and the winning random number initial value counter for normal symbols have the same value range.

[0186] In the random number initial value update process S1204, the winning random number initial value counter for the special symbol, the jackpot symbol random number initial value counter, and the winning random number initial value counter for the normal symbol are updated. Specifically, if the value of the winning random number initial value counter for the special symbol is different from the specified maximum value (for example, "576"), it is changed to a value that is "1" larger than the current value, and if the value of the winning random number initial value counter for the special symbol is the specified maximum value, it is changed to the specified minimum value ("0"). The symbol random number initial value counter for the special symbol and the winning random number initial value counter for the normal symbol are also updated in the same manner as the winning random number initial value counter for the special symbol, except that the specified maximum value and specified minimum value are values ​​unique to those counters.

[0187] In the fluctuation counter update process S1205, the values ​​of the first fluctuation type counter to the fourth fluctuation type counter for determining the fluctuation time, fluctuation pattern, etc. are updated. Specifically, if the value of the first fluctuation type counter is different from the specified maximum value (for example, "187"), it is changed to a value that is "1" larger than the current value, and if the value of the first fluctuation type counter is the specified maximum value, it is changed to the specified minimum value ("0"). The second fluctuation type counter to the fourth fluctuation type counter are also updated in the same manner as the first fluctuation type counter, except that the specified maximum value and specified minimum value are values ​​unique to those counters.

[0188] In addition, the winning random number counters for special and normal patterns, the jackpot pattern random number counter, the stop pattern selection counter, and each variation type counter do not necessarily have to be configured as described above, and at least some of the counters may have other configurations, for example, they may be configured to update from a fixed initial value without using an initial value counter, or they may be configured using a random number generation IC without using a program and reference values ​​as needed.

[0189] In the game stop determination process S1206, if the fraud detection information is a fraud detection value, it is updated to a game stop value and various information for stopping the game progress is set. On the other hand, if the fraud detection information is not a fraud detection value or is already a game stop value, the game stop determination process S1206 ends without executing various processes for stopping the game progress. Note that the fraud detection information is set to a fraud detection value when the occurrence of various types of fraud is detected in the fraud detection process S1211. Furthermore, in the determination process S1207, it is determined whether the game is stopped depending on whether the fraud detection information is a game stop value.

[0190] In the control signal output process S1208, based on the control data stored in the output buffer, signals are output to control various notification devices such as the special symbol display device 471 for the first special symbol, the special symbol display device 472 for the second special symbol, and the normal symbol display device 473 for the normal symbol. Also, based on the control data stored in the output buffer, signals are output to control various actuators such as the ball feed solenoid 332, the launch solenoid 334, the right entry restriction solenoid 462, the lower entry restriction solenoid 463, the upper entry restriction motor 464, and the distribution solenoid 465.

[0191] In the switch reading process S1209, the signal status from each of the middle start winning switches 441A, 441B, right start winning switch 442, lower large winning switch 443, upper large winning switch 444, combination activation switch 445, start switch 446, non-specific passage switch 447, specific passage switch 448, and general winning switches 449A, 449B is read, and changes in the detection status of the game ball by various switches are detected.

[0192] Specifically, in switch reading processing S1209, the signal states from the various switches are read into an input buffer (a partial area of ​​RAM 922) twice with a predetermined time interval between them, and for each signal from each switch, a change in the detection state of each switch is detected based on the signal state read the first time (hereinafter abbreviated as the "first signal state"), the signal state read the second time (hereinafter abbreviated as the "second signal state"), and the detection state detected in the previous timer interrupt (hereinafter abbreviated as the "previous detection state"). Then, for each switch, if the previous detection state is the off state, and the first signal state is the on state and the second signal state is the on state, it is determined that the switch has transitioned to the on state, and a detection flag (a partial area of ​​RAM 922) corresponding to the type of switch is set. As explained in the power outage monitoring process S1202, even if the power supply is stopped, each timer interrupt process is executed twice, so the detection flags of various switches can be set accurately even if the on state of various switches starts immediately after the power supply is stopped.

[0193] In the timer update process S1210, various timers (predetermined areas of the RAM 922) used for the variable display of special symbols and normal symbols, control of each game state, and fraud monitoring are updated.

[0194] In the fraud detection process S1211, fraudulent acts such as forcibly causing game balls to enter various winning devices or forcibly activating various winning devices are detected. Specifically, the occurrence of a situation in which there is a high possibility of fraudulent acts being committed is detected, such as forcibly moving the right start winning device 432, the lower large winning device 433, and the upper large winning device 434 to an entry-permitting position, guiding game balls to a specific path of the lower large winning device 433 by vibration, inducing forced malfunctions of the right start winning device 432, the lower large winning device 433, and the upper large winning device 434 by radio waves, guiding game balls to various winning devices by magnetic attraction, and guiding game balls at abnormal timing to the upper middle start winning device 431A, the lower middle start winning device 431B, the right start winning device 432, the lower large winning device 433, and the upper large winning device 434, etc.

[0195] In the winning detection response process S1212, control is executed based on the detection of a gaming ball by various switches provided on the gaming board 400. Specifically, if a middle start winning switch detection flag is set based on the detection of a gaming ball by the upper middle start winning switch 441A (see FIG. 10) and the lower middle start winning switch 441B (see FIG. 10), a middle start winning counter (a predetermined area of ​​RAM 922) and a first payout counter (a predetermined area of ​​RAM 922) are updated. Also, if a right start winning switch detection flag is set based on the detection of a gaming ball by the right start winning switch 442 (see FIG. 10), the first payout counter is updated. In addition, when the lower large prize switch detection flag is set based on the detection of a game ball by the lower large prize switch 443 (see Figure 10), or when the upper large prize switch detection flag is set based on the detection of a game ball by the upper large prize switch 444 (see Figure 10), the large prize counter (a predetermined area of ​​RAM 922) and the second payout counter (a predetermined area of ​​RAM 922) are updated.

[0196] In the launch control process S1213, launch-related information for controlling the launch of game balls by the launching device 330 is updated. Specifically, the operation flag of the ball feeding solenoid 332 that drives the ball feeding mechanism 331 and the operation flag of the launch solenoid 334 that drives the launching mechanism 333 are updated.

[0197] In the input signal monitoring process S1214, it is detected whether or not intermediate block 103 (see Figures 1 and 2) is closed relative to outer frame 101 (see Figures 1 and 2) based on the output state of a signal from open / close detection switch 108 (see Figure 10) via dispensing control board 930. Also, it is detected whether or not front block 102 (see Figures 2 and 3) is closed relative to intermediate block 103 (see Figures 2 and 3) based on the output state of a signal from open / close detection switch 109 via dispensing control board 930 (see Figure 10).

[0198] In the payout status monitoring process S1215, information indicating the payout control status output from the payout control board 930 is monitored, and various payout status commands are set according to the payout control status as necessary. In addition, the sub-control board 940, which has received the payout status command, causes the decorative pattern display device 479, the upper left sound device 281, the upper right sound device 282, etc. to issue a notification according to the type of payout status command.

[0199] In the payout signal output process S1216, various prize ball commands are set as necessary based on the values ​​of the first payout counter and the second payout counter, and output to the payout control board 930. The first payout counter and the second payout counter are updated according to the setting of the prize ball command. For example, the first payout counter is incremented by one each time a gaming ball corresponding to one winning is detected, and is decremented by one each time a prize ball command based on that winning is set. The payout control board 930 requests a prize ball command from the main control board 920 each time it executes control to pay out the number of gaming balls corresponding to that winning (e.g., three) (more specifically, shortly before the payout is completed), and if the payout of prize balls is continuing, a further prize ball command is output from the main control board 920. The second payout counter is a counter that is updated in response to a winning combination that has a different number of prize balls than the first payout counter (for example, 13 balls), and when the payout control board 930 receives a prize ball command based on the value of the second payout counter, the payout control board 930 executes control to pay out the number of game balls corresponding to the prize ball command.

[0200] In the special symbol related process S1217, reservation control of the right to play a unit game related to the first special symbol and control of the unit game related to the first special symbol are executed. Specifically, in the reservation control of the right to play a unit game related to the first special symbol, operation control of the special symbol reservation display device 476 related to the first special symbol is executed. Also, in the control of the unit game related to the first special symbol, operation control of the special symbol display device 471 related to the first special symbol is executed, and if a jackpot is won in the first special symbol lottery, operation control of the lower large winning device 433 and the upper large winning device 434 is further executed.

[0201] Furthermore, in the special symbol related process S1217, reservation control of the right to a unit game related to the second special symbol and control of the unit game related to the second special symbol are executed. Specifically, in the reservation control of the right to a unit game related to the second special symbol, operation control of the special symbol reservation display device 477 related to the second special symbol is executed. Furthermore, in the control of the unit game related to the second special symbol, operation control of the special symbol display device 472 related to the second special symbol is executed, and if a jackpot is won in the second special symbol lottery, operation control of the lower large winning device 433 and the upper large winning device 434 is further executed.

[0202] In the normal symbol related process S1218, reservation control of the right to a unit game related to a normal symbol and control of the unit game related to a normal symbol are executed. Specifically, in the reservation control of the right to a unit game related to a normal symbol, operation control of the normal symbol reservation display device 478 is executed. Also, in the control of the unit game related to a normal symbol, operation control of the normal symbol display device 473 related to the normal symbol is executed, and if the normal symbol lottery is won, operation control of the right start winning device 432 is further executed.

[0203] In the display control process S1219, output data for specifically operating those devices is synthesized based on various information updated to control the operation of the special symbol display device 471 for the first special symbol, the special symbol display device 472 for the second special symbol, the special symbol reserved display device 476 for the first special symbol, and the special symbol reserved display device 477 for the second special symbol in the special symbol related process S1217. The synthesized output data is output to each device in the control signal output process S1208 based on the next timer interrupt.

[0204] In the motor control process S1220, operation control of various motors is executed. In the external information output process S1221, output data to be output to an external device such as a data display device (not shown) or a management device (not shown) electrically connected to the pachinko machine 100 is set.

[0205] <Performance using multiple moving parts> Next, the effects that are performed by the multiple movable members when it is possible to cause the gaming ball to enter the bonus area 409V (see FIG. 7) will be described with reference to Fig. 13. Fig. 13 is a front view of the gaming board 400 showing the operation of the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20.

[0206] When a gaming ball can enter the bonus area 409V, an effect is executed using two (or more) movable members, the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20. The left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 are configured to change from a position in which they are spaced apart (spaced position: dashed line in FIG. 13) to a position closer to them than the spaced apart position (closed position: solid line in FIG. 13). Furthermore, when the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 are in the close position, they are configured to be arranged in a continuous manner (bonus area indicating position) from the entrance portion 409E through which gaming balls flow down into the gaming area 409 toward the bonus area 409V. This makes it easier for players to notice the occurrence of this effect by changing the positions of the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20, which are arranged in different locations. Furthermore, the entire left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 arranged successively can attract the player's attention in the direction from the entrance portion 409E toward the bonus area 409V.

[0207] On the left side of the game board 400, a left movable member 10 is provided so as to be movable and change its position between a distant position indicated by a dashed line and a close position indicated by a solid line. Further, on the right side of the left movable member 10, a right movable member 20 is provided so as to be movable and change its position between a distant position and a close position. Note that the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 are not limited to being provided on the game board 400, but may also be provided on an intermediate block 103 (see FIGS. 1 and 3) to which the game board 400 is attached, or on a front block 102 (see FIGS. 1 and 3) disposed in front of the intermediate block 103.

[0208] Specifically, the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 are arranged so that the end of the left movable member 10 opposite the entrance portion 409E and the end of the right movable member 20 opposite the bonus area 409V are close to each other, forming a continuous shape from the vicinity of the entrance portion 409E to the vicinity of the bonus area 409V as a whole. This makes it possible to draw the player's attention to the bonus area 409V located in the direction from the entrance portion 409E toward the bonus area 409V, which is indicated by the continuous shape, and to the large prize winning device 434 in which the bonus area 409V is formed. Note that the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 may be configured to be close enough to each other in the close position so that they can be recognized as a single entity by the player, but slightly spaced apart, or may be configured to be in contact with each other. Furthermore, in the performance that is executed when it is possible to allow the game ball to enter the bonus area 409V, the configuration is not limited to using two movable members, the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20, but may also be a configuration in which three or more movable members are used and each movable member is placed in close proximity to at least one other movable member.

[0209] The left movable member 10 is disposed in a range extending from the center of the gaming board 400 to behind an area near an entrance portion 409E in a left flow-down area 409L (a predetermined first area) through which gaming balls flow down through the left side of the central structure 420. The right movable member 20 is disposed in a range extending from the center of the gaming board 400 to behind an area near a bonus area 409V in a right flow-down area 409R (a predetermined second area) through which gaming balls flow down through the right side of the central structure 420. In this arrangement, the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 are positioned as a whole to straddle an area on the center side of the gaming board 400 through which gaming balls cannot flow down, and connect two areas through which gaming balls can flow down. Therefore, even if most of the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 are arranged in an area where game balls cannot flow down, it is possible to make the player easily recall that the entirety of them is related to the flow down of game balls, for example, that a game ball entering the game area 409 from the entrance portion 409E should enter the bonus area 409V, or that a game ball should flow down to the left flow down area 409L where the bonus area 409V is provided. Note that the left movable member 10 is configured to extend to the rear of the left flow down area 409L but not to the rear of the entrance portion 409E, but is not limited to this configuration, and may be configured to reach the rear of the entrance portion 409E, or may not reach the rear of the left flow down area 409L. Similarly, the right movable member 20 is configured to extend to the right flow-down area 409R but not reach the rear of the bonus area 409V, but this configuration is not limited thereto, and it may be configured to reach the rear of the bonus area 409V, or it may not reach the rear of the right flow-down area 409R.

[0210] The left movable member 10 has an external shape of a generally elongated rectangle (e.g., a rectangle with a long side at least twice as long as its short side) (hereinafter simply referred to as a rectangle), and is disposed with its longitudinal direction facing the vicinity of the entrance portion 409E. Specifically, the left movable member 10 is disposed so that the entrance portion 409E is located between an extension line of its upper long side toward the entrance portion 409E and an extension line of its lower long side toward the entrance portion 409E. This makes it possible to make the player more aware of the entrance portion 409E at the end of the longitudinal direction of the left movable member 10. The left movable member 10 is disposed so that at least a portion of the bonus area 409V (e.g., the entrance of the bonus area 409V) is located between an extension line of its upper long side toward the bonus area 409V and an extension line of its lower long side toward the bonus area 409V. Therefore, even when the left movable member 10 is used alone, it is possible to draw the player's attention to the bonus area 409V located at the end of its lengthwise direction and to the upper large prize winning device 434 which has the bonus area 409V inside. The left movable member 10 is not limited to having a rectangular outer shape, and may have a trapezoidal or triangular shape tapering toward the center of the play area 409 or the entrance part 409E.

[0211] Similarly to the rectangular left movable member 10, the right movable member 20 has a generally elongated rectangular shape, and is positioned with its longitudinal direction facing the vicinity of the bonus area 409V. Specifically, the right movable member 20 is positioned so that a portion of the upper large prize device 434 in which the bonus area 409V is formed (e.g., the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 provided at the entrance of the upper large prize device 434) is located between an extension line of its upper long side toward the bonus area 409V and an extension line of its lower long side toward the bonus area 409V. This makes it easier for players to become aware of the upper large prize device 434 located at the end of the length of the right movable member 20 and the bonus area 409V formed therein. The right movable member 20 is not limited to having a rectangular outer shape, and may have a trapezoidal or triangular shape whose width in the shorter direction tapers toward the center of the play area 409 or the bonus area 409V.

[0212] Furthermore, the rectangular left movable member 10 and the rectangular right movable member 20 are arranged so that their longitudinal directions face the same direction as the direction from the vicinity of the entrance portion 409E toward the vicinity of the bonus area 409V. This makes it easier for the player to recognize that the direction in which the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 are connected is the same direction as their longitudinal directions, making it easier to draw the player's attention to the bonus area 409V and the large prize device 434 in which it is formed.

[0213] The rectangular left movable member 10 and the rectangular right movable member 20 are arranged to form a broken line. Specifically, the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 are arranged so that the entrance portion 409E and the upper large prize winning device 434 in which the bonus area 409V is formed are substantially entirely located between an extension of the lower long side of the left movable member 10 and an extension of the upper long side of the right movable member 20. This makes it possible to attract the player's attention over a range wider than the width (short length) of the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 in the direction in which they are connected. This makes it possible to easily draw the player's attention not only to the bonus area 409V, but also to the operation of the upper large prize winning device 434 in which the bonus area 409V is formed (the opening and closing operation of the upper entry restriction mechanism 454) and the behavior of the gaming ball entering or having entered the upper large prize winning device 434. In addition, the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 are not limited to a configuration that forms a broken line shape overall, but may also be a configuration that forms a straight line shape overall, a configuration that tapers overall toward the side where the entrance portion 409E or the bonus area 409V is formed, a configuration that tapers overall from the center of the game board 400 toward the side where the entrance portion 409E and the bonus area 409V are formed, or a configuration that tapers from the side where the entrance portion 409E and the bonus area 409V are formed toward the center of the game board 400.

[0214] The bonus area 409V is formed in a right flow-down area 409R (predetermined second area) that is provided separately from a left flow-down area 409L (predetermined first area) that causes game balls to flow down in a normal game state, among the game areas 409 in which game balls can flow down, and the bonus area 409V is configured so that game balls can enter by flowing down into the right flow-down area 409R. Also, in the game board 400, the entrance portion 409E is formed on the upper left side where the return ball prevention mechanism 404 is provided at the upper tip of the inner rail 403.

[0215] Specifically, the gaming board 400 is provided with a left flow-down area 409L and a right flow-down area 409R as the gaming area 409, and the bonus area 409V is formed in the right flow-down area 409R. The player can switch between the left flow-down area 409L and the right flow-down area 409R by operating the gaming ball, for example, by adjusting the shooting strength of the gaming ball. In the normal gaming state, the player causes the gaming ball to flow down into the left flow-down area 409L, and when a predetermined condition described below is met in the normal gaming state and it is possible for the gaming ball to enter the bonus area 409V, the player causes the gaming ball to flow down into the right flow-down area 409R. In detail, in a bonus ball entry possible state in which gaming balls can enter the upper large winning device 434 and the distribution mechanism 437 is in a guiding position, gaming balls are caused to flow down to the right flow down area 409R. Note that the configuration is not limited to providing the bonus area 409V in the right flow down area 409R, and causing gaming balls to flow down to the left flow down area 409L in the normal gaming state and to the right flow down area 409R in the bonus ball entry possible state, but the configuration may also be such that the bonus area 409V is provided in the left flow down area 409L, and causing gaming balls to flow down to the right flow down area 409R in the normal gaming state and to the left flow down area 409L in the bonus ball entry possible state. Furthermore, the configuration is not limited to dividing the game area 409 into left and right sides and providing two flow-down areas (left flow-down area 409L and right flow-down area 409R) that can be selected by the player's game ball firing operation, but the two flow-down areas that can be selected may be provided, for example, on the upper and lower sides of the game area 409, or on the upper left and lower right sides of the game area 409. Furthermore, the configuration is not limited to dividing the game area 409 into two flow-down areas that can be selected by the player's game ball firing operation, but the configuration may be divided into three or more flow-down areas.

[0216] Furthermore, the bonus area 409V is provided on the lower right side of the game area 409, which is diagonally opposite the center of the game board 400 with respect to the entrance part 409E formed on the upper left side of the game board 400. The bonus area 409V is not limited to being provided on the lower right side of the game board 400, but may be provided in another location, such as on the horizontal right side of the entrance part 409E (upper right side of the game board 400).

[0217] The rectangular left movable member 10 is arranged in the separated position so that its long side faces up and down along the upper portion of the left flow-down region 409L, and the rectangular right movable member 20 is arranged in the separated position so that its long side faces up and down along the upper portion of the right flow-down region 409R. Note that the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 are not limited to being arranged so that their longitudinal directions face up and down in the separated position. For example, they may be arranged so that their longitudinal directions face left and right, or so that one of them faces up and down and the other faces left and right. Furthermore, the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 may be arranged so that their longitudinal directions face diagonally.

[0218] The rectangular left movable member 10 is supported so as to be movable by rotation around a center near the entrance portion 409E on the left side of the gaming board 400. Therefore, when the left movable member 10 is changed from the distant position to the close position, the portion on one end side away from the center of rotation (hereinafter also referred to as the movable end portion) can be moved toward the upper right so as to approach the right movable member 20. Furthermore, the rectangular right movable member 20 is supported so as to be movable by rotation around a center near the bonus area 409V on the right side of the gaming board 400. Therefore, when the right movable member 20 is changed from the distant position to the close position, the movable end portion can be moved toward the lower left so as to approach the left movable member 10. Note that the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 are not limited to being supported so as to be movable between the distant position and the close position by rotation, but may be configured so as to be movable by sliding movement (linear or curved movement without changing the inclination) instead of or in addition to rotational movement.

[0219] The rectangular left movable member 10 is arranged so that its upper portion overlaps behind the vicinity of the entrance portion 409E, and its lower portion is located below a warp passage 421 formed in the central structure 420 that guides game balls to the vicinity of the upper middle start winning device 431A. An upper stage 426 is provided above the upper middle start winning device 431A, which can cause the game balls to roll and allow some of the game balls to enter the upper middle start winning device 431A, and the warp passage 421 is composed of a passage that guides game balls from an entrance provided on the left side of the central structure 420 to the upper stage 426.

[0220] The rectangular left movable member 10 is disposed from behind the vicinity of the entrance portion 409E to behind the guide passage 422 that guides game balls to the vicinity of the lower middle start winning device 431B. This guide passage 422 is part of the left flow-down area 409L and is configured by a passage portion of game balls that pass through the lower left side of the central structure 420 and head toward the lower middle start winning device 431B.

[0221] Here, the upper middle start winning device 431A and the lower middle start winning device 431B are devices that trigger the variable display of identification information when a game ball enters, and in a normal game state, the player causes the game ball to flow down into the left flow-down area 409L, aiming to have the game ball enter the upper middle start winning device 431A or the lower middle start winning device 431B. When the left movable member 10 is set to a length that reaches behind the warp passage 421 or the guide passage 422, it becomes possible to move the movable side end of the left movable member 10 so as to cross the warp passage 421 or the guide passage 422 and pass near the upper middle start winning device 431A or the lower middle start winning device 431B. This makes it easier for the player to notice the movement of the left movable member 10 from the distant position to the close position, even if the player is paying attention to the behavior of the game ball flowing down toward the upper middle start winning device 431A or the lower middle start winning device 431B, rather than the decorative pattern display device 479 which executes the main performance during normal game play.

[0222] The left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 are configured to operate when a combination of decorative symbols (predetermined display result) corresponding to a jackpot is confirmed and displayed by the decorative symbol display device 479 (display means). In this case, the game ball can be made to flow down into the right flow down region 409R (second region) provided separately from the left flow down region 409L (first region) to enter the bonus region 409V (predetermined bonus region). That is, the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 are configured to operate when a bonus ball entry state is reached. The left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 may be configured to start operating simultaneously, or may start operating at different times.

[0223] Specifically, the gaming board 400 is provided with operating means for operating the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20. Although not shown, the gaming board 400 is provided with, as operating means, a drive mechanism that can move the left movable member 10 and a power source that supplies power to this drive mechanism. Also, although not shown, the gaming board 400 is provided with, as operating means, a drive mechanism that can move the right movable member 20 and a power source that supplies power to this drive mechanism. Note that, as these drive sources, for example, a motor that generates a rotational force or a solenoid that generates power in a linear direction can be used.

[0224] Furthermore, the drive source is electrically connected to and controlled by the sub-control board 940. Therefore, the operation of the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 is controlled via the drive mechanism by controlling the drive source by the sub-control board 940. Note that the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 are not limited to being configured so that their operation is controlled by the sub-control board 940, and may instead be configured so that they are controlled by the main control board 920, for example.

[0225] The decorative symbol display device 479 is disposed in the center of the game board 400, and is configured to perform a variable display of decorative symbols (identification information), and after the variable display, to display a final combination of decorative symbols. The display contents displayed by this decorative symbol display device 479 (display means) are controlled by the sub-control board 940.

[0226] Specifically, the decorative symbols change when a gaming ball that has flowed down the left flow-down area 409L in the normal gaming state enters the upper middle start winning device 431A or the lower middle start winning device 431B. The combination of decorative symbols that is confirmed and displayed is determined according to the results of a lottery (first special symbol lottery) triggered by the entry. In detail, the detection of the entry of the gaming ball into the upper middle start winning device 431A or the lower middle start winning device 431B and the lottery triggered by the entry are executed by the main control board 920, but the sub-control board 940 is connected to be able to receive commands related to the detection and commands related to the result of the lottery from the main control board 920, and controls the change display and confirmation display of the decorative symbols based on these commands. The trigger for the bonus ball entry possible state, which triggers the operation of the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20, is not limited to the final display of a combination corresponding to a big win of decorative symbols, but may be, for example, the final display of a combination corresponding to a small win of decorative symbols. Furthermore, the trigger is not limited to a configuration in which it is a display result by the decorative symbol display device 479, but may be a configuration in which it is a display result by a display device other than the decorative symbol display device 479, for example, a special symbol display device 471 related to the first special symbol that variably displays or finalizes the first special symbol, or a special symbol display device 472 related to the second special symbol that variably displays or finalizes the second special symbol, instead of or in addition to the display result.

[0227] Moreover, the bonus area 409V is formed inside the upper large winning device 434, which operates when a combination of decorative symbols corresponding to a big win is confirmed and displayed by the decorative symbol display device 479. For this reason, when the upper large winning device 434 operates and the upper large winning device 434 is in an entry permitting state, more specifically, when the upper entry restricting mechanism 454 provided at the entrance of the upper large winning device 434 takes an entry permitting position, it becomes possible for a gaming ball to enter the bonus area 409V.

[0228] The bonus area 409V is not limited to being formed inside the upper large prize device 434, but may be formed in another device such as the lower large prize device 433. The bonus area 409V is not limited to being formed in a configuration in which balls entering the bonus area 409V are restricted by a distribution mechanism 437 formed in a position that does not always allow game balls to flow down, such as inside the upper large prize device 434, but may be restricted by a distribution mechanism 437 formed in a position that always allows game balls to flow down. For example, an upper large prize device may be provided in which the distribution mechanism 437 is the upper entry restriction mechanism 454, or the bonus area 409V and the distribution mechanism 437 may be provided in the right flow-down area 409R as separate entities from the large prize device 434.

[0229] Furthermore, the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 begin to move from the separated position to the close position after the combination of decorative symbols corresponding to a jackpot has been confirmed and displayed, but before the upper large winning device 434 starts to operate (before the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 starts to change from the entry prohibition position to the entry permission position). This allows the player to change the destination of the game ball flow from the left flow-down region 409L to the right flow-down region 409R after seeing that the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 have become the close position, but before the upper large winning device 434 starts to operate. Note that the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 are not limited to being configured to operate after the combination of decorative symbols corresponding to a jackpot has been confirmed and displayed, but may also be configured to operate simultaneously with the confirmation display. Furthermore, the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 may be configured to operate not only before the upper large prize winning device 434 starts operating, but also after the upper large prize winning device 434 starts operating, for example, when no game ball enters the bonus area 409V for a predetermined period of time after the upper large prize winning device 434 enters an entry-permitting state.

[0230] Furthermore, when a gaming ball enters the bonus area 409V, the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 start to move from the close position to the separated position. Therefore, even if the actual behavior of the gaming ball entering the bonus area 409V is overlooked, it is possible to know that a gaming ball has entered the bonus area 409V by the movement of the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20. Note that the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 are not limited to a configuration in which their movement from the close position to the separated position is executed when a gaming ball enters the bonus area 409V, but may also be a configuration in which their movement is executed when the period in which the upper large winning device 434 is in the initial entry-permitting state ends, or when a predetermined time (shorter or longer than the period in which the upper large winning device 434 is in the initial entry-permitting state) has elapsed since the upper large winning device 434 started to operate.

[0231] When a gaming ball enters the bonus area 409V, the game state transitions to one that is more advantageous to the player than when the gaming ball does not enter the bonus area 409V.

[0232] Specifically, the gaming board 400 is provided with a specific path switch 448 that detects a gaming ball that has entered the bonus area 409V. The specific path switch 448 is electrically connected to the main control board 920, and the detection by the specific path switch 448 is detected by the main control board 920. Based on the detection by the specific path switch 448, the main control board 920 switches between control of the gaming state when no gaming ball enters the bonus area 409V and control of the gaming state when a gaming ball enters the bonus area 409V.

[0233] Furthermore, when one gaming ball enters the bonus area 409V, the main control board 920 transitions to a gaming state that is more advantageous than when no gaming ball enters the bonus area 409V. Note that the main control board 920 is not limited to a configuration that controls transition to a gaming state that is advantageous when one gaming ball enters the bonus area 409V, but may also be configured to control transition to a gaming state that is advantageous when a specified number of gaming balls (one or more) enter the bonus area 409V. In this configuration, the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 may be configured to maintain a close position until a specified number of gaming balls enter the bonus area 409V, or may be configured to release the close position by, for example, returning from the close position to a separated position, or by separating them by a specified distance without returning them to the separated position, and then return to the close position again.

[0234] Furthermore, if a game ball does not enter the bonus area 409V, the main control board 920 transitions to a time-saving game state after the special game state ends, and if a game ball enters the bonus area 409V, the main control board 920 transitions to a probability variable game state after the special game state ends, where an earlier jackpot can be expected than in the time-saving game state and where it is advantageous for winning prize balls. Therefore, in order to transition to the probability variable game state, the player needs to enter the bonus area 409V in the bonus ball entry possible state, and the operation of the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 executed when the bonus ball entry possible state is reached makes it easier to ensure a transition to the probability variable game state. The main control board 920 is not limited to a configuration that transitions from a special game state to a probability variable game state or a time-limited game state depending on whether or not a ball has entered the bonus area 409V. For example, the main control board 920 may be configured to transition to a special game state that is more advantageous in terms of winning prize balls than when no game ball has entered the bonus area 409V, for example, by varying the number of continuations (number of rounds) in the special game state. Furthermore, the main control board 920 is not limited to a configuration that transitions to a game state that is advantageous in terms of winning prize balls when a game ball has entered the bonus area 409V. For example, the main control board 920 may transition to a game state that provides benefits other than those related to winning prize balls, for example, by varying the frequency of generating premium images or videos. Furthermore, this game state transition may be performed by control of the sub-control board 940, rather than by the main control board 920.

[0235] In the pachinko machine 100, the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 are configured to operate when the decorative pattern display device 479 confirms and displays a combination of decorative patterns corresponding to a jackpot during normal play in which game balls are caused to flow down into the left flow-down region 409L, and when game balls can be caused to flow down into the right flow-down region 409R to enter the bonus region 409V, changing from a spaced-apart position to a close-proximity position, which is closer than the spaced-apart position and continues in the direction from the entrance portion 409E where game balls flow down into the game region 409 toward the bonus region 409V. With this configuration, the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 in the bonus region-indicating position not only make it easier to draw the player's attention in the direction in which they are continuous, but also make it easier for the player to notice the operation of at least one of them by moving them from different spaced-apart positions. This notifies the player that the gaming ball should enter the bonus area 409V provided on the side where the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 are continuous, and that the destination of the gaming ball will be switched from the left flow-down area 409L to the right flow-down area 409R for that purpose, thereby preventing the loss of the profit that can be obtained by entering the gaming ball into the bonus area 409V. Therefore, when it is possible to enter the gaming ball into the bonus area 409V, a suitable presentation can be executed by the operation of the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20.

[0236] Furthermore, when the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 are in a close position, their continuous shape (for example, the broken line shape described above) or their individual shape (for example, the elongated rectangle described above) can point to the vicinity of the bonus area 409V (the bonus area 409V itself or the upper large prize device 434 involved in the entry of the gaming ball into the bonus area 409V) and direct the player's attention. As a result, the direction in which the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 are continuous can make the player aware that the gaming ball should flow down to the right flow-down area 409R, or can direct the player's attention to the bonus area 409V itself, which is pointed to by the longitudinal direction of the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20, or to the upper large prize device 434 in which the bonus area 409V is formed.

[0237] Here, other characteristic configurations relating to suitable effects using the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 will be described.

[0238] The left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 are provided with light emitting means that are aligned in the direction from the entrance portion 409E to the bonus area 409V when in their close positions and that emit light sequentially along that direction.

[0239] Specifically, the left movable member 10 is provided with a plurality of light-emitting elements 19 arranged in a row along its longitudinal direction as light-emitting means, and the right movable member 20 is similarly provided with a plurality of light-emitting elements 29. When the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 are arranged in a close position, the plurality of light-emitting elements 19 of the left movable member 10 are caused to emit light sequentially from the upper left side to the lower right side, and following the emission of the plurality of light-emitting elements 19, the plurality of light-emitting elements 29 of the right movable member 20 are caused to emit light sequentially from the upper left side to the lower right side. This enhances the sense of unity between the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20, and more effectively directs the player's attention in the direction from the entrance portion 409E toward the bonus area 409V, compared to when the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 are simply arranged in a close position. In particular, it becomes possible to draw the player's attention to the bonus area 409V and the upper large prize device 434, which are located to the lower right of the right movable member 20 and in the direction indicated by the sequential illumination of the multiple light-emitting elements 29.

[0240] The plurality of light-emitting elements 19 and the plurality of light-emitting elements 29 are not limited to being arranged in a row along the longitudinal direction of the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20, but may be arranged in a row along a direction different from the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, the arrangement direction of the plurality of light-emitting elements 19 and the arrangement direction of the plurality of light-emitting elements 29 are not limited to being the same when the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 are arranged in a close position, but may be configured to be different directions. Furthermore, the left movable member 10 and the right movable member 20 are not limited to being provided with a plurality of light-emitting elements 19 and a plurality of light-emitting elements 29 arranged in a row, but may be configured with light-emitting elements arranged in multiple rows. Furthermore, the plurality of light-emitting elements 19 and a plurality of light-emitting elements 29 are not limited to being arranged in a linear manner so as to sequentially illuminate a specific direction, but may be arranged so as to sequentially illuminate a specific direction along a broken line or a curve.

[0241] The left movable member 10 is provided with a number of light-emitting elements (not shown) that illuminate the entire left movable member 10, in addition to the plurality of light-emitting elements 19. When the gaming ball is to flow down in the left flow-down region 409L, as in the normal game state, the left movable member 10 in the separated position is illuminated by the number of light-emitting elements. Therefore, the overall illumination of the left movable member 10, which is arranged in the separated position so as to follow the flow-down direction of the gaming ball in the left flow-down region 409L, can alert the player to play the game by causing the gaming ball to flow down to the left flow-down region 409L.

[0242] Similarly, the right movable member 20 is provided with a number of light-emitting elements (not shown) that illuminate the entire right movable member 20, separate from the plurality of light-emitting elements 29, and when the gaming ball should flow down in the right flow-down region 409R, as in a special game state, the right movable member 20 in the separated position is illuminated by the number of light-emitting elements. Therefore, the overall illumination of the right movable member 20, which is arranged in the separated position so as to follow the flow-down direction of the gaming ball in the right flow-down region 409R, can alert the player to play by causing the gaming ball to flow down into the right flow-down region 409R.

[0243] <Light irradiation on multiple decorative parts using the same light source> Next, with reference to FIGS. 14 to 16, a configuration for achieving a desirable effect using multiple decorative elements will be described. This configuration involves redirecting a portion of light emitted from a light source 30 toward one decorative element toward another decorative element, thereby irradiating the other decorative elements with light based on the light from the same light source 30. Furthermore, a portion of the light redirected toward the other decorative element is further redirected toward the first decorative element, and irradiating at least one decorative element with the light before being redirected toward the other decorative element and the light traveling thereafter. FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a gaming board 400. FIG. 15 is a perspective view and a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of multiple decorative elements taken along a cross-section including line XM-XM in FIG. 7. FIG. 16 is a perspective view and a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of multiple decorative elements taken along a cross-section including line XD-XD in FIG. 7. The perspective views of FIGS. 15(A) and 16(A) show a state in which a portion of the decorative element (front decorative element 50) located on the front side of the multiple decorative elements has been removed. In addition, the cross-sectional views of Figures 15(B), 15(C), 16(B) and 16(C) show only the essential parts in a simplified manner, illustrating the paths of light irradiated onto the first decorative part and the second decorative part, as well as Figures 17(A) to (C) to be referred to later.

[0244] As shown in Figure 14, the multiple decorative parts include a front decorative part 50 (first decorative part) on the left side of the gaming board 400 in the vertical center, and a rear decorative part 11 (second decorative part) made up of part of the left movable member 10 and located rearward of the front decorative part 50 (rearward in the front-to-rear direction of the gaming board 400). The front decorative part 50 is provided so that a part of it overlaps the back side of the base 401 of the gaming board 400, but because the base 401 is made of a transparent resin, the part of the front decorative part 50 that overlaps the back side of the base 401 can also be seen by the player.

[0245] The effect of the front decorative part 50 and the rear decorative part 11 is achieved by using light output from a light source 30 (see also FIG. 15) located behind the front decorative part 50 but in front of the rear decorative part 11, causing the front decorative part 50 and the rear decorative part 11 to emit light. At this time, the front decorative part 50 emits light when the light output from the light source 30 is irradiated from the rear side, while the rear decorative part 11 emits light when light reflected from the back surface 50B (rear side output means) of the front decorative part 50 is irradiated from the front side. The front decorative part 50 is also formed as part of the rear member 42 attached behind the front member 41, and emits light when light is irradiated that is redirected by reflection from a rear window 61 (different direction reflection means) located between the front decorative part 50 and the rear decorative part 11. This allows the number of light sources 30 to be reduced to reduce manufacturing costs when creating a presentation using the front decorative part 50 and the rear decorative part 11, while still allowing both the front decorative part 50 and the rear decorative part 11 to emit light using the limited number of light sources 30.

[0246] The front decorative part 50 is configured to allow the light output from the LED elements 32L, 32R of the light source 30 to pass to the front side where the player is positioned, and to be in an illuminated state when viewed from the surface side where the player is positioned.

[0247] Specifically, the front decorative portion 50 is located forward of the light source 30 and is composed of a flat front window 51 that is part of the front member 41, and a decorative plate 52 that is abutted against the back surface of the front window 51 and has a picture (such as a character that serves as a game motif) drawn on it. The front member 41 that constitutes the front window 51 is formed of a colorless and transparent material, and the decorative plate 52 is formed of a light-transmitting material. Therefore, by irradiating the light output from the light source 30 from the back surface 50B side with light before being reflected by the front decorative portion 50 (hereinafter also referred to as primary light), the decorative plate 52 can be made to emit light, and the emitted light can be viewed through the front window 51 from the front surface side where the player is positioned. Furthermore, by forming the front window 51 from a colorless and transparent material, light absorption by the front window 51 is suppressed, enabling efficient illumination. Note that the front window 51 is not limited to being colorless and transparent, but may also be colored and transparent. When the front decorative portion 50 is formed as a colored transparent portion, the color may be a uniform single color, a single color with a gradation, or a color scheme that varies depending on the portion. In addition, the front window 51 and the decorative plate 52 are not limited to a plate-like configuration with a substantially uniform thickness, and may be configured with a non-uniform thickness.

[0248] The light source 30 is configured to include a light-emitting substrate 31 on which electronic components are mounted, and a plurality of LED elements 32L, 32R (light-emitting means) provided on one side of the light-emitting substrate 31 and oriented to output light diagonally forward (toward a predetermined direction).

[0249] Specifically, the light source 30 includes seven LED elements 32L (only six are shown in FIG. 14) arranged at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction on one surface (hereinafter referred to as the element surface) of the light-emitting substrate 31, and seven LED elements 32R arranged at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction closer to the center of the game board 400 than the seven LED elements 32L. Each of the LED elements 32L, 32R outputs light that spreads over a predetermined angular range (e.g., 15 degrees) with the direction perpendicular to the element surface of the light-emitting substrate 31 as the direction of highest brightness (hereinafter also referred to as the main direction: dashed line in FIG. 15(B) etc.). The number and arrangement of the LED elements 32L, 32R provided on the light-emitting substrate 31 are not limited to the above configuration and can be designed as appropriate.

[0250] As shown in Figures 15(A) and 15(B), the light-emitting substrate 31 is arranged so that its element surface faces a predetermined angle relative to the front-to-rear direction of the gaming board 400 when viewed from above in the vertical direction of the gaming board 400 (hereinafter referred to as "top view"). The primary light from each LED element 32L, 32R is irradiated onto the front-side decorative portion 50 at a predetermined angle other than 90 degrees relative to the front window 51 and the rear surface of the decorative plate 52. This allows the amount of light output to the rear side to be greater than when the LED elements are arranged in a 90-degree direction. This predetermined angle is set in consideration of the position of the rear-side decorative portion 11 and the distribution of the amount of light to be output to the front side of the front-side decorative portion 50 and the amount of light to be output to the rear side.

[0251] Between the light source 30 and the front decorative portion 50, a colorless, transparent, flat light entry window 62 that constitutes part of the rear member 42 is provided, and the light entry window 62 is positioned so that it intersects at 90 degrees with the main direction of the primary light from each of the LED elements 32L, 32R when viewed from above, minimizing the reduction in the amount of light due to reflection at the light entry window 62. The light entry window 62 has a substantially uniform thickness, and is configured so that the direction of light does not change before and after passing through the light entry window 62. However, the light entry window 62 may have a plate-like shape in which the surface facing the front decorative portion 50 is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the surface facing the light source 30, and the direction of light changes uniformly due to refraction before and after passing through the light entry window 62. Furthermore, the light entry window 62 is configured so that the primary light from each of the LED elements 32L, 32R passes through the interior of the rear member 42 that forms the light entry window 62, but this configuration is not limiting, and the light entry window 62 may be configured to have an opening or cutout so that the primary light passes through the opening or cutout instead of through the interior of the rear member 42. Furthermore, the light entry window 62 may not be provided, and the primary light from each of the LED elements 32L, 32R may be configured to directly irradiate the front decorative portion 50.

[0252] The front decorative part 50 is configured to have a back surface 50B (rear light output means) on its back surface 50B side that outputs light to the rear side, opposite to the front side, output from the multiple LED elements 32L, 32R of the light source 30.

[0253] Specifically, the rear surface 50B of the front decorative portion 50 is a flat, smooth surface. Therefore, a portion of the primary light from each LED element 32L, 32R passes through the front decorative portion 50, and a portion of that light is reflected by the front decorative portion 50 to output light (hereinafter also referred to as secondary light) toward the rear. This secondary light is output to the rear surface 50B of the front decorative portion 50 by reflecting off the rear surface of the decorative plate 52 constituting the front decorative portion 50 or the boundary surface between the decorative plate 52 and the front window 51. The rear surfaces of the decorative plate 52 and the front window 51 are not limited to being flat, smooth planes, but may also be curved, such as smoothly arc-shaped or curved. In this configuration, the curved surface shape allows the secondary light to be spread wider or narrower than when reflected by a flat surface. Furthermore, the front decorative portion 50 is not limited to being configured such that the decorative plate 52 abuts the front window 51, but may also be configured to be spaced apart. Furthermore, the front-side decorative portion 50 is not limited to a configuration in which the decorative plate 52 is disposed on the rear side of the front window 51, but may also be configured so that the decorative plate 52 is disposed on the front side of the front window 51. When the decorative plate 52 is disposed on the front side of the front window 51, the secondary light can be output before it is absorbed by the decorative plate 52, and the intensity of the secondary light can be relatively increased compared to when the decorative plate 52 is disposed on the rear side of the front window 51. Furthermore, the front-side decorative portion 50 is not limited to a configuration in which light is output rearward from the front-side decorative portion 50, but may instead be configured so that a reflector (not shown) separate from the front window 51 and the decorative plate 52 is provided on the rear side of the decorative plate 52. In this configuration, the reflector can output the secondary light in a predetermined direction regardless of the arrangement or shape of the front window 51 or the decorative plate 52, or the rear surface of the separate reflector can be made concave to converge the secondary light in a predetermined direction or convex to spread the secondary light.

[0254] The rear decorative part 11 is provided separately from the front decorative part 50 (first decorative part) at a location where light output from the back surface (rear light output means) of the front decorative part 50 is irradiated, and is configured to be provided rearward of the light-emitting substrate 31 that constitutes the light source 30.

[0255] Specifically, the rear-side decorative portion 11 is provided as part of the left movable member 10. When the left movable member 10 is in the separated position, it is separated from the front-side decorative portion 50, and is positioned so that primary light is not emitted but secondary light is emitted. Specifically, the rear-side decorative portion 11 is positioned so that its upper portion does not overlap the front-side decorative portion 50, its central portion partially overlaps the front-side decorative portion 50, and its lower portion overlaps the front-side decorative portion 50. From the viewpoint of a seated player, the central portion is entirely visible in the left-right direction, and the lower portion is at least partially visible in the left-right direction. Therefore, the player can view the rear-side decorative portion 11 illuminated with secondary light through the gap between the rear-side decorative portion 11 and the front-side decorative portion 50. Furthermore, secondary light can be irradiated onto the rear-side decorative portion 11 without interfering with the illumination of primary light onto the front-side decorative portion 50. In the following description, the rear decorative part 11 is assumed to be positioned at a position where the left movable member 10 is in the separated position. The rear decorative part 11 is not limited to being configured to be movably provided as part of the left movable member 10, but may also be configured to be immovably provided. Furthermore, the front decorative part 50 may also be configured to be immovably provided or movably provided, as long as the front decorative part 50 is illuminated by primary light from the light source 30 and the rear decorative part 11 is illuminated by the secondary light when the front decorative part 50 and the rear decorative part 11 are positioned at specific positions.

[0256] Furthermore, the rear-side decorative part 11 is provided at a position where a portion thereof overlaps with the front-side decorative part 50 in the front-to-rear direction (when viewed from the front), and at least this overlapping portion is illuminated by secondary light. Therefore, the overlapping portion that is not or is difficult to illuminate by external light (for example, light from lighting equipment provided in the space where the pachinko machine 100 is installed) can be illuminated by light from the light source 30, and the uniformity of illumination over the entire rear-side decorative part 11 can be improved compared to when there is no illumination by this light. Note that the rear-side decorative part 11 is not limited to a configuration where a portion thereof overlaps with the front-to-rear direction, but may be a configuration where the entire rear-side decorative part 11 overlaps with the front-to-rear direction, or a configuration where the rear-side decorative part 11 does not overlap with the front-to-rear direction.

[0257] Furthermore, the light source 30 is provided near the left end of the gaming board 400, the front decorative part 50 is provided to the right of the light source, and the rear decorative part 11 is provided closer to the center of the gaming board 400 than the light source 30 and the front decorative part 50. Therefore, when viewed from the front side of the center of the gaming board 400 (the player's line of sight), the rear decorative part 11 illuminated with secondary light can be easily seen through the gap between the rear decorative part 11 and the front decorative part 50. Note that the light source 30, the front decorative part 50, and the rear decorative part 11 are not limited to being arranged in this order, shifted from near the left end toward the center, but may also be arranged from near the right end, near the top end, or near the bottom end, shifted toward the center.

[0258] The configuration is provided with a rear window 61 (different direction reflection means) that can reflect light output to the rear side by the front decorative part 50 (rear light output means) in a direction different from that of the rear decorative part 11 (second decorative part).

[0259] Specifically, as shown in Figures 15(B) and 16(B), a rear window 61 is provided between the front decorative section 50 and the rear decorative section 11, positioned rearward of the front window 51. A front surface 61F (the surface facing the front decorative section) of the rear window 61 allows a portion of the secondary light traveling from the front decorative section 50 toward the rear decorative section 11 to pass through and a portion of that secondary light is reflected by the front surface 61F. The rear member 42 that constitutes the rear window 61 is formed of a colorless, light-transmitting material (e.g., transparent resin). This allows a portion of the light output rearward by the front decorative section 50 to pass through and a portion of that light to be reflected. While the rear window 61 is formed of a colorless, light-transmitting material, it may be formed of a colored, light-transmitting material.

[0260] The rear window 61 is formed in a generally flat plate shape and is tilted relative to the front decorative part 50 so that the distance between the rear window 61 and the front decorative part 50 narrows as the rear window 61 moves away from the light source 30 when viewed from above. The rear window 61 is tilted at a predetermined angle (for example, within an angle range of 30 degrees) such that the direction perpendicular to the front surface 61F of the rear window 61 is different from the perpendicular to the main direction of the secondary light generated by the LED elements 32L, 32R. This allows some of the secondary light to pass through the rear window 61 while traveling back along the path from the front decorative part 50 to the rear window 61, preventing the area of ​​the front decorative part 50 illuminated by the primary light from being the same as the area of ​​the front decorative part 50 illuminated by the light reflected by the rear window 61 (hereinafter also referred to as tertiary light).

[0261] Here, a specific example will be described. As shown in Fig. 15(B), light output from the LED element 32L traveling along path ML1 (solid line) passes through the front decorative part 50 at reflection point P1 on the back surface 50B of the front decorative part 50, and part of the light travels toward the rear decorative part 11. Of the light that reaches the front surface 61F of the rear window 61, part of the light passes through the rear window 61 and is irradiated onto the rear decorative part 11, and part of the light is reflected by the front surface 61F of the rear window 61 and travels toward the rear decorative part 11. Similarly, light output from the LED element 32L along path ML2 (dashed dotted line) travels toward reflection point P2, which is to the left of reflection point P1, and further reflects and passes, repeatedly, while light along path ML2 travels toward reflection point P3, which is to the right of reflection point P1, and further reflects and passes, repeatedly. This allows the light output from the LED element 32L to illuminate different areas with primary light and tertiary light, and it also allows the light to illuminate both the left and right sides of the area illuminated with primary light. The same applies to the light output from the LED element 32R shown in FIG. 15(C). A portion of the light reflected at reflection point P4 on the front decorative portion 50 is illuminated at reflection point P5, which is to the left of reflection point P4, and a portion of the light reflected at reflection point P6 is illuminated to the right of reflection point P6. This allows the primary and tertiary light to illuminate the entire front decorative portion 50, even if the primary light cannot illuminate the entire front decorative portion 50 in the left-right direction. Furthermore, the tertiary light travels a longer path than the primary light before it is illuminated on the front decorative portion 50, increasing the illumination range and making it easier to illuminate the entire front decorative portion 50.

[0262] When viewed from above, the rear window 61 is curved so that its front surface 61F is slightly concave, and is shaped to make it easy to output tertiary light to the left of the irradiation position of the primary light based on LED element 32R in the front decorative part 50, and to output tertiary light based on LED element 32R to the right of the irradiation position of the primary light based on LED element 32L in the front decorative part 50.

[0263] 16(A)-(C), when the area over which the front decorative part 50 covers the rear decorative part 11 in the front-to-rear direction is larger than that shown in FIGS. 16(A)-(C), the inclination of the rear window is reduced depending on the amount of protrusion of the front decorative part 50 to the right. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 16(B) and 16(C), repeated reflections between the back surface of the front decorative part 50 and the front surface 61F of the rear window 61 facilitate the light (path DL1) to travel to the left end of the front decorative part 50, and the light (path DL2, path DR) to travel to the right end. Therefore, even if the length of the front decorative part 50 in the left-to-right direction is increased, it is possible to irradiate the entire front decorative part 50 with light from each LED element 32L, 32R.

[0264] Furthermore, the rear window 61 is formed from a rear member 42 separate from the front member 41 that forms the front window 51 of the front decorative portion 50. Therefore, after fixing the decorative plate 52 of the front decorative portion 50 to the back surface of the front window 51, the front member 41 that forms the front window 51 and the rear member 42 that forms the rear window 61 are assembled, thereby making it possible to easily position the decorative plate 52 between the rear window 61 and the front window 51. Note that the rear window 61 may be configured to be formed from the same member as the member that forms the front decorative portion 50.

[0265] As described above, the pachinko machine 100 is configured to include a front decorative part 50 that allows light from the LED elements 32L and 32R, which output light toward a predetermined direction, to pass toward the front side where the player is located, a back surface 50B of the front decorative part 50 that outputs light emitted from the LED elements 32L and 32R toward the rear side opposite the front side where the player is located, and a rear decorative part 11 that is provided separately from the front decorative part 50 at a location where some of the light output from the back surface 50B is irradiated. This allows the front decorative part 50 to be illuminated by light output from the LED elements 32L and 32R, and the rear decorative part 11 to be illuminated by light based on the same LED elements 32L and 32R and output from the back surface 50B of the front decorative part 50, thereby reducing the number of parts and manufacturing costs compared to when a dedicated light source is provided for each decorative part.

[0266] Furthermore, in the pachinko machine 100, the rear decorative part 11 is configured to be provided rearward of the light-emitting substrate 31 of the light source 30. As a result, unlike the front decorative part 50, which is made to emit light by light irradiated on its back surface 50B, the rear decorative part 11 is made to emit light by light irradiated from the front surface side, while the rear decorative part 11 is placed in a location where it is not directly irradiated with light from the LED elements 32L, 32R, so that the front decorative part 50 and the rear decorative part 11 can emit light in different ways, even if they are made to emit light by light based on the same LED elements 32L, 32R.

[0267] Furthermore, the light output rearward by the rear surface of the front decorative part 50 can be reflected in a direction different from that of the rear decorative part 11. This allows the light output from each LED element 32L, 32R in a predetermined direction to be irradiated onto the front decorative part 50 and the rear decorative part 11 in a variety of forms, such as by irradiating the light reflected by the rear surface of the front decorative part 50 at a different irradiation position or irradiation angle from the light irradiated onto the front decorative part 50 and the rear decorative part 11 without being reflected off the rear surface of the front decorative part 50, thereby improving the appearance of the light emitted by the front decorative part 50 and the rear decorative part 11.

[0268] Therefore, even if a limited number of LED elements 32L, 32R are used in the performance using the front decorative part 50 and the rear decorative part 11, it can be made to appear to the player as if light from a greater number of LED elements than the number of LED elements 32L, 32R actually used (14) is being irradiated onto the front decorative part 50 and the rear decorative part 11, allowing for an ideal performance using the front decorative part 50 and the rear decorative part 11.

[0269] Hereinafter, further characteristic configurations regarding the irradiation of light to the front-side decorative part 50 and the rear-side decorative part 11 will be described with reference to Fig. 17. Fig. 17 is a perspective view and a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of multiple decorative parts along a cross section including line XU-XU in Fig. 7.

[0270] 17(A) to 17(C), the light entrance window 62 has a front surface 62F (the surface on the side where the front decorative part 50 is located) that is irradiated with tertiary light output from the front surface 61F of the rear window 61 and is located between the front decorative part 50 and the LED elements 32L, 32R of the light source 30, and is configured to be able to reflect at least a portion of the tertiary light toward the side where the front decorative part 50 is located. In addition, by assembling the front member 41 and the rear member 42, a space is formed whose peripheral parts are surrounded by the back surface 50B of the front decorative part 50, the front surface 61F of the rear window 61, and the front surface 62F of the light entrance window 62, and in which light output from the light source 30 in a predetermined direction can be repeatedly reflected by these three surfaces (hereinafter also referred to as the light-emitting space 40). 17(B) and 17(C), the light-emitting space 40 is configured so that the primary light output from the light source 30 is reflected by the rear surface of the front decorative portion 50 and the front surface 61F of the rear window 61, and then further reflected by the rear surface 62B of the light entrance window 62 (the surface on which the light source 30 is located) to follow the travel paths UL1 and UR1 to be re-irradiated to the front decorative portion 50. As a result, even light that is not reflected toward the front decorative portion 50 by the rear surface 50B of the rear window 61 can be re-directed toward the front decorative portion 50 by reflection by the front surface 62F of the light entrance window 62. This makes it possible to more efficiently irradiate the light that has entered the light-emitting space 40 through the light entrance window 62 to the front decorative portion 50 and the rear decorative portion 11, compared to a configuration in which the light entrance window 62 is not provided or the front surface 62F of the light entrance window 62 is not reflective.

[0271] Specifically, the light-emitting space 40 is formed as a closed space that is entirely surrounded in cross section, with the left end of the rear window 61 and the right end of the light-entry window 62 continuing together, the left end of the light-entry window 62 continuing together with the left end of the front decorative part 50 via a left connecting part 63, and the right end of the front decorative part 50 continuing together with the right end of the rear window 61 via a right connecting part 64. By providing the left connecting part 63 that connects the front decorative part 50 and the rear window 61 and the right connecting part 64 that connects the front decorative part 50 and the light-entry window 62, it is possible to suppress light that is emitted outside the light-emitting space 40 from between the front decorative part 50 and the rear window 61 or the light-entry window 62 and does not contribute to the light emission of the front decorative part 50 or the rear decorative part 11, compared to when these connecting parts are not provided. The front decorative portion 50 and the rear window 61 are not limited to being connected via the right connecting portion 64, but may be connected without the right connecting portion 64. Similarly, the front decorative portion 50 and the light entrance window 62 are not limited to being connected via the left connecting portion 63, but may be connected without the left connecting portion 63.

[0272] From the viewpoint of efficiently illuminating the front decorative portion 50 and the rear decorative portion, the light-emitting space 40 is preferably configured to be a closed space in cross section, but is not limited thereto. However, the light-emitting space 40 may be configured to form a space that is not completely closed in cross section, for example, by forming a gap between the front decorative portion 50 and the rear window 61 without providing the right connecting portion 64, or by forming a gap between the front decorative portion 50 and the light entrance window 62 without providing the left connecting portion 63. Furthermore, since the light emitted to the outside of the light-emitting space 40 through the light entrance window 62 does not contribute to the light emission of the front decorative portion 50 or the rear decorative portion 11, the light entrance window 62 may be configured to have a reflective sheet on its front surface 62F or back surface 62B except for the area through which light from the light source 30 passes, thereby increasing the reflectivity of the light entrance window 62 toward the light-emitting space 40.

[0273] Furthermore, the light-emitting space 40 is configured so that, inside it, the primary light output from the light source 30 is reflected by the back surface 50B of the front decorative part 50 and the front surface 61F of the rear window 61, and then further reflected by the right surface 63L of the left connecting part 63, allowing it to follow the travel paths UL2 and UR2 to be irradiated again onto the front decorative part 50. This makes it possible to efficiently irradiate the light that has entered the light-emitting space 40 through the light entrance window 62 onto the front decorative part 50 and the rear decorative part 11, for the same reason as when the front surface 62F of the light entrance window 62 is configured to be reflective. The right connecting part 64 is also configured in the same way as the left connecting part 63.

[0274] The light-emitting space 40 includes a rear window 61 surrounding its periphery, through which light passes to illuminate a decorative section (rear decorative section 11) different from the front decorative section 50. The rear window 61 is positioned in a direction that is not visible to the player, and the light passing through the rear window 61 can be irradiated from the front side of the rear decorative section 11. However, this configuration is not limited to this. Instead of or in addition to the rear window 61 or the rear decorative section 11, a window through which light passes to illuminate a decorative section different from the front decorative section 50 can be positioned in a direction that is visible to the player. A decorative component such as another decorative plate similar to the decorative plate 52 may be provided so as to overlap the visible window positioned in a direction that is visible to the player, and the decorative plate may be illuminated by light irradiated from the back side. In this configuration, the other decorative plate may be positioned in contact with or spaced from the front side of the visible window, or in contact with or spaced from the back side of the visible window.

[0275] <Light-reflecting decorative elements> Next, the effects produced by the light-reflecting decorative parts will be described with reference mainly to Figures 18 to 22. Figure 18 is a front view of a gaming board 700 provided with a reflective decorative part 711 as a decorative part. Figure 19 is a front view of the gaming board 700, which schematically shows the relative positions of the main parts involved in the effects produced by the reflective decorative part 711.

[0276] The pachinko machine 100 can be used as a different model by replacing the game board 400 shown in Fig. 7 with another game board 700 shown in Fig. 18, and the decorative parts of the pachinko machine 100 equipped with this game board 700 will be described below. The game board 700 has the same configuration as the game board 400 shown in Fig. 7 above, except for the configuration related to various components and devices for presentation. For this reason, components in the game board 700 that perform the same functions as those in the game board 400 will be assigned the same reference numerals and explanations will be omitted, and only the differences will be described.

[0277] As shown in FIG. 18, the gaming board 700 of the pachinko machine 100 is equipped with a reflective decoration 710 (reflection means) having a reflective decoration portion 711 decorated to reflect light. The gaming board 700 also includes an annular-shaped annular decoration 740 (see also FIG. 19: separate decoration means) provided separately from the reflective decoration 710, and a central decoration 750 (see also FIG. 19: separate decoration means) provided at the center of the gaming board 700. Specifically, the reflective decoration 710 is provided on the back side of the base 401 of the gaming board 700 so as to be located on the left side of the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction at the lower end of the gaming board 700. The annular decoration 740 is also provided on the back side of the base 401 so as to surround the periphery of the display portion 479a of the decorative pattern display device 479 (display means) when viewed from the front. Furthermore, the central decorative body 750 is provided on the back side of the base body 401 below the display portion 479a.

[0278] Although the pachinko machine 100 is configured to include all of the reflective decorative body 710, the annular decorative body 740, and the central decorative body 750, it is not necessary to include all of these, and it is also possible to include only some of them, and at least some of the reflective decorative body 710, the annular decorative body 740, and the central decorative body 750 may be provided on the game board 400 shown in Figure 7.

[0279] As shown in Fig. 19, the pachinko machine 100 is equipped with a plurality of annularly arranged light sources 720 (light emitting means) arranged in a ring shape so as to overlap behind the annular decorative body 740, and a central light source 730 (light emitting means) arranged so as to overlap behind the central decorative body 750. In the performance using the reflective decorative part 711, the pachinko machine 100 improves the effect of the performance by irradiating the reflective decorative part 711 with light output from at least one of the plurality of annularly arranged light sources 720 and light output from the central light source 730.

[0280] Here, the positional relationship between the reflective decorative part 711 and various other components involved in the performance by the reflective decorative part 711 will be explained with reference to Fig. 20. Fig. 20 is a perspective cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the reflective decorative body 710 along a cut surface including the Y1-Y1 line in Fig. 18. Note that in Fig. 20, only the outline (dashed line in the figure) of the central structure 420 is shown in order to clearly show the positional relationship of the main parts involved in the performance by the reflective decorative body 710.

[0281] As shown in FIG. 20 , the reflective decorative body 710 is provided on the back side of the base 401 of the gaming board 700. The base 401 is formed of a colorless and transparent resin. Therefore, when a player views the gaming board 700 while seated in a seat (hereinafter also referred to as the normal position), the player can see the reflective decorative part 711 through the base 401. Furthermore, many of the components constituting the central structure 420 provided near the center of the gaming board 700, such as the components constituting the lower stage 427, are formed of a colorless and transparent resin. Therefore, when a player views the gaming board 700 while seated in a position that is more forward-leaning than the normal position (hereinafter also referred to as the forward-leaning position) or while standing, for example, to select a pachinko machine 100 to play, the player can see the reflective decorative part 711 through the colorless and transparent components constituting the central structure 420.

[0282] While the members for viewing the reflective decorative portion 711 of the base 401, etc., are formed from a colorless and transparent resin, the present invention is not limited to this configuration and may be formed from a colored and transparent resin, or from a material other than resin as long as it has colorless or colored transparency (transparency). Hereinafter, colorless or colored transparent resin and other materials are also referred to as light-transmitting materials. Furthermore, while the reflective decorative portion 711 is formed in a position where it can be indirectly seen through other members, the present invention is not limited to this configuration and may be formed in a position where it can be directly seen through openings in the base 401 or the central structure 420, such as by being positioned near the openings in the base 401 or the central structure 420 and protruding rearward from the base 401 or the central structure 420. Furthermore, the reflective decorative portion 711 is configured to be indirectly visible regardless of the player's posture, but this is not limited to this configuration, and it may be configured to be provided in a position where it is indirectly visible or directly visible depending on the player's posture, or where it is provided in a position where it is only directly visible regardless of the player's posture. Furthermore, the reflective decorative portion 711 is configured to be fixed to the base 401 and provided in a position where it can always be irradiated with light output from the annularly arranged light source 720 and the central light source 730, but this is not limited to this configuration, and it may be configured to be movably provided so that when the reflective decorative portion 711 moves to a predetermined position, it is irradiated with light output from the annularly arranged light source 720 and the central light source 730. Furthermore, the reflective decorative body 710 is not limited to being provided on the back side of the base 401, but may also be provided on the front side thereof, or on a component other than the component that constitutes the game board 700, for example, a component other than the game board 700 that constitutes the intermediate block 103, or a component that constitutes the front block 102, or a component that constitutes the rear block 104.

[0283] The reflective decorative portion 711 is configured to be able to reflect light output from a lower-left light source 720a (light-emitting means) and a central light source 730 (light-emitting means), which are part of the multiple annularly arranged light sources 720 (see FIG. 19), toward the front side where the player is positioned. Here, the multiple annularly arranged light sources 720 are arranged in a ring shape, with the lower-left light source 720a and the lower-right light source 720b arranged on the left and right sides of the lower side as a set, and five sets are located on the lower, upper left, lower left, upper right, and lower right sides, so that the entire annularly shaped decorative body 740 can be illuminated.

[0284] The lower-left light source 720a is configured to include a lower-left substrate 721a (light-emitting substrate) on which electronic components (not shown) are mounted, and a plurality of LED elements 722a (light-emitting means) arranged on one side of the lower-left substrate 721a in a direction that outputs light toward the front (predetermined direction). Similarly to the annularly arranged light source 720, the central light source 730 is configured to include a central substrate 731 (light-emitting substrate) that has roughly the same external shape as the central decorative part 751 and has a plurality of LED elements 732 (light-emitting means). The reflective decorative body 710 may be positioned so that it can be illuminated by light output from each of the plurality of LED elements 722a provided on the lower-left substrate 721a, or may be positioned so that it can be illuminated by light output from only some of these elements. Furthermore, the reflective decorative portion 711 is primarily configured to be positioned so that it can be irradiated with light output from one of the plurality of annularly-arranged light sources 720, the lower-left light source 720a, but this is not limited to this configuration, and it may be configured so that the length of the reflective decorative portion 711 is increased so that it can be irradiated with light output from two or more annularly-arranged light sources 720, or so that the reflective decorative body 710 has a circular shape when viewed from the front so that it can be irradiated with light output from all of the annularly-arranged light sources 720. Furthermore, the reflective decorative portion 711 is configured so that it can be irradiated with light from both the light sources (the lower-left light source 720a and the central light source 730) provided corresponding to each of the annularly-arranged decorative body 740 and the central decorative body 750, but this is not limited to this configuration, and it may be configured so that it can be irradiated with light from a light source provided corresponding to one of the annularly-arranged decorative body 740 and the central decorative body 750. In addition, the reflective decorative portion 711 may be configured to be able to emit light from a dedicated light source that is not also used to irradiate light onto other decorative objects, in addition to or instead of the lower left light source 720a and the central light source 730.

[0285] The reflective decorative portion 711 is decorated with a predetermined ornament and is configured to be visible to the player. Specifically, the reflective decorative portion 711 is formed in the shape of a transparent plate and includes a passing portion 712 through which light output from the LED element 722a of the lower-left light source 720a and the LED element 732 of the central light source 730 passes. The reflective decorative portion 711 is also provided with a reflecting portion 713 that is arranged to overlap the lower side (the side from which the light is output after passing) of the passing portion 712 and is capable of reflecting the light that has passed through the passing portion 712. The reflecting portion 713 is arranged below the passing portion 712 and reflects the light that has once passed through the passing portion 712 and outputs it upward and forward. The upper surface of the passing portion 712 (the surface opposite the reflecting portion 713) is decorated with unevenness (an undulating shape), and this upper surface serves as a decorative surface 712S. The reflective decorative portion 711 is not limited to a configuration in which the surface of the passing portion 712 opposite the reflecting portion 713 is decorated, but may also be configured to decorate the surface of the passing portion 712 facing the reflecting portion 713 in addition to or instead of that surface. The reflective decorative portion 711 is also not limited to a configuration in which the decoration is provided by unevenness formed on the surface of the passing portion 712, but may be configured to decorate the surface of the passing portion 712 by arranging a decorative member such as a decorative sticker or plate on the surface of the passing portion 712 in contact with or spaced apart from the passing portion 712. The reflective decorative portion 711 is configured to include the passing portion 712 and the reflecting portion 713, and to decorate the passing portion 712, but is not limited to this configuration. The passing portion 712 may not be provided, and the reflection portion 713 may be omitted, but the reflection portion 713 may be decorated by forming unevenness on its upper surface or by providing a decorative member on its upper surface. Furthermore, the reflective decorative portion 711 is configured to include the passing portion 712 formed from a single member, but is not limited to this configuration and may be configured to include a passing portion having a flat or undulating decorative surface on the upper surface by combining members formed from transparent materials of different colors. Furthermore, the reflective decorative portion 711 is configured to include the passing portion 712 that is actually decorated, but is not limited to this configuration and may be configured to simply have a flat surface without actually decorating the passing portion 712, and to project decoration from another decorative portion such as the rotating decorative portion 742 onto this flat surface, thereby artificially decorating the passing portion 712 and the reflecting portion 713.

[0286] The reflective decorative portion 711 is disposed at a position where it does not overlap with the lower left substrate 721a or the central substrate 731 in the front-to-back direction. Specifically, the reflective decorative body 710 is disposed below the display portion 479a of the decorative pattern display device 479 provided at the center of the game board 700 in the vertical and horizontal directions, and is disposed forward and below (hereinafter also referred to as the lower front side) the lower left substrate 721a and the central substrate 731, as shown in Fig. 20. Therefore, due to reflection by the reflective decorative portion 711, light traveling in the lower front direction so as to move away from the position of the eyes of a player seated in a standard posture (generally a position spaced a predetermined distance from the center of the display portion 479a in the front-to-back direction) can be made to travel forward and upward (hereinafter also referred to as the upper front side) so as to approach that position. The reflective decorative body 710 is arranged below the display unit 479a and is configured to reflect light upward, but this configuration is not limited to this, and the reflective decorative body 710 may be arranged above the display unit 479a and reflect light downward, or may be arranged to the right of the display unit 479a and reflect light to the left, or may be arranged to the left of the display unit 479a and reflect light to the right.

[0287] The decorative surface 712S is configured to be inclined when viewed from the player's side. Specifically, the plate-shaped passing portion 712 is positioned downward and away from the display portion 479a, protruding in a direction approximately perpendicular to the base 401 of the gaming board 700. Therefore, the decorative surface 712S, which is the upper surface of the passing portion 712, is configured to be inclined at a predetermined angle (e.g., 40°) when viewed from a player seated in a standard position. This ensures that the size of the decorative surface 712S visible to the player falls within a predetermined range, while allowing the player to view the decorative surface 712S brightly. Note that the decorative surface 712S may be configured so that its perpendicular direction is not perpendicular to the line of sight (a line of sight directed diagonally downward) of a player seated in a standard position, but is inclined at a predetermined angle. Preferably, the decorative surface 712 is inclined at an angle between 10° and 80° relative to the line of sight, and more preferably between 25° and 60°. Furthermore, the decorative surface 712S is not limited to a configuration in which it is disposed so as to protrude perpendicularly from the base 401, but may be configured so as to protrude in an inclined direction relative to the base 401. In this configuration, the inclination of the passing portion 712 relative to the base 401 may be changed by adjusting the installation angle of the passing portion 712, which has a substantially uniform thickness, or by adjusting the thickness of the passing portion 712 according to the distance from the rear surface of the base 401, rather than making the thickness of the passing portion 712 uniform. Furthermore, although the decorative surface 712S is configured so as to be inclined at a constant angle relative to the base 401, this is not limitative, and the angle may be configured to vary depending on the location of the decorative surface 712S. It is preferable that the inclination of the decorative surface 712S be set at an angle that allows the player to view the decorative surface 712S at a predetermined size and with a predetermined brightness, taking into consideration its position on the gaming board 700 and its relative position relative to the lower-left light source 720a and the central light source 730. For example, if the decorative surface 712S is located lower than the position shown in Figure 18, it is preferable to protrude the decorative surface 712S so that it slopes downward as it moves away from the back surface of the base 401, and to allow the light reflected by the reflective decorative portion 711 to travel toward the position of the player's eyes.

[0288] Here, the output of light from the reflective decorative part 711 based on the light output from the annularly arranged light source 720 (lower left light source 720a) will be described with reference to Fig. 21. Fig. 21 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the reflective decorative body 710 along a cut surface including the Y1-Y1 line in Fig. 18, in order to explain the form in which light from the annularly arranged light source 720 (lower left light source 720a) is irradiated onto the reflective decorative part 711.

[0289] As shown in Figure 21, light output from the lower left light source 720a (for example, light along the path indicated by the solid line and the dashed dotted line) passes through the annular decorative body 740 provided separately from the reflective decorative body 710 and is irradiated onto the reflective decorative part 711. This irradiation causes the reflective decorative part 711 to output light toward the player. In the following, before explaining the form of light irradiation onto the reflective decorative part 711, the configuration of the annular decorative body 740 will be explained.

[0290] The annular decorative body 740 includes a lower-left movable decorative part 741a that can move toward the center of the display part 479a of the decorative pattern display device 479, as a decorative part onto which light output from the LED elements 722a on the lower-left substrate 721a is irradiated. The lower-left movable decorative part 741a is one of a plurality of movable decorative parts 741 provided corresponding to each of the plurality of annular arrangement substrates 721, and is provided corresponding to the lower-left substrate 721a. The annular decorative body 740 also includes a circular rotating decorative part 742 that covers all of the movable decorative parts 741 on the front side and is rotatable around the front-to-back direction of the game board 700 as an axis of rotation, as a decorative part onto which light output from the LED elements 722a on the lower-left substrate 721a is irradiated. The lower-left substrate 721a is integrated with the lower-left movable decorative portion 741a and is supported on the base 401 via an annular decorative support portion 749 that supports the lower-left movable decorative portion 741a and the rotating decorative portion 742 on the base 401. Furthermore, the lower-left movable decorative portion 741a and the rotating decorative portion 742 allow light output from the LED element 722a of the lower-left substrate 721a to pass through to the forward side where the player is positioned. Therefore, the reflective decorative portion 711 can be irradiated with light that has passed through the lower-left movable decorative portion 741a and the rotating decorative portion 742. This illumination allows the player to see the decoration of the decorative surface 712S.

[0291] The lower left movable decorative portion 741a and the rotating decorative portion 742 do not need to be configured to allow light to pass through their entirety, and may be configured to allow light to pass through only a portion. The reflective decorative portion 711 is configured to be provided at a position where light passing through the two decorative portions, the lower left movable decorative portion 741a and the rotating decorative portion 742, is irradiated, but this configuration is not limited thereto and the reflective decorative portion 711 may be provided at a position where light passing through either one of the decorative portions is irradiated. The reflective decorative portion 711 is configured to be provided at a position where light passing through the two decorative portions, the lower left movable decorative portion 741a and the rotating decorative portion 742, is irradiated, but the reflective decorative portion 711 may be provided at a position where three or more decorative portions separate from the reflective decorative portion 711 are irradiated with light passing through those decorative portions. Furthermore, the reflective decorative portion 711 is configured to be irradiated with light that has passed through the members that form the lower-left movable decorative portion 741a and the rotating decorative portion 742, but this configuration is not limited to this, and the configuration may also be such that light output from the LED element 722a on the lower-left substrate 721a is directly irradiated, such as by providing an opening in the lower-left movable decorative portion 741a or the rotating decorative portion 742 and allowing the light to travel through the opening. Furthermore, the reflective decorative portion 711 is configured to be irradiated with light that has passed through the lower-left movable decorative portion 741a and the rotating decorative portion 742, but this configuration is not limited to this, and the game board 700 may be provided with a light-guiding member that guides light in a predetermined direction, such as an optical fiber or a light-guiding plate, and the light guided by the light-guiding member may be irradiated onto the reflective decorative portion 711.

[0292] The decoration formed on the reflective decorative portion 711 is made of a colorless and transparent resin. Therefore, the decoration is difficult to see or cannot be seen when the light output from the annular light source 720 or the central light source 730 is not irradiated, but becomes visible when the light is irradiated. Therefore, by changing the reflective decorative portion 711 from a state where it is not irradiated with light to a state where it is irradiated with light, the decoration on the reflective decorative portion 711 can appear to the player. Note that the decoration on the reflective decorative portion 711 is configured to be difficult to see or cannot be seen when the light output from the annular light source 720 or the central light source 730 is not irradiated, but is not limited to this configuration and may be configured to be visible even when the light is not irradiated.

[0293] The back surfaces of the lower-left movable decorative portion 741a and the rotating decorative portion 742 (the side where the lower-left light source 720a is located) are shaped with continuous concaves and convexes. This allows light passing through the lower-left movable decorative portion 741a and the rotating decorative portion 742 to travel in various directions (scatter), and light output from the LED elements 722a scattered on the lower-left substrate 721a can be irradiated onto the entire lower-left movable decorative portion 741a and the rotating decorative portion 742. Furthermore, it is also possible for light passing through the lower-left movable decorative portion 741a and the rotating decorative portion 742 to be irradiated onto the reflective decorative portion 711 at various angles. In this way, by being able to irradiate light onto the reflective decorative portion 711 at various angles, the light reflected by the reflective decorative portion 711 can also be irradiated toward the player at various angles. Therefore, the angle range in which the player can see the reflected light can be increased, and even if the player's eye position differs depending on the player's sitting height, or even if the player's eye position changes when the player changes from a standard posture to a forward or backward leaning posture, the player can easily see the decoration of the reflective decorative part 711.

[0294] Here, we will explain the reflection of light output from the LED elements 722a on the lower left substrate 721a by the reflective decorative portion 711. The passing portion 712 of the reflective decorative portion 711 is formed from a colorless and transparent resin, and the reflecting portion 713 is formed from a glossy metal material such as aluminum foil, film, or plate attached to the underside of the passing portion 712. Therefore, light irradiated onto the reflective decorative portion 711 is reflected by the decorative surface 712S, which is the upper surface of the passing portion 712, and the upper surface of the reflecting portion 713 (the interface between the decorative surface 712S and the reflecting portion 713). The light reflected by the upper surface of the decorative surface 712S and the light reflected by the upper surface of the reflecting portion 713 are irradiated onto different parts of the decorative surface 712S, thereby expanding the range of brightness and visibility on the decorative surface 712S. Furthermore, because these lights are viewed simultaneously by the player, the decorations on the decorative surface 712S can be viewed as overlapping at offset positions. The deviation of the decoration that is visually perceived by the player can be adjusted by the thickness of the passing portion 712, and this deviation also makes it possible to visually perceive the decoration of the decorative surface 712S in three dimensions.

[0295] While the passing portion 712 is formed from a colorless and transparent resin, the present invention is not limited to this configuration and may instead be formed from a colored and transparent resin, or from a colorless or colored material other than a resin that allows light to pass through. Furthermore, the reflecting portion 713 is formed by adhering a metal member to the passing portion 712, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration and may instead be formed in the form of a film by vapor-depositing a metal material or the like on the passing portion 712. While the reflecting portion 713 is formed in contact with the passing portion 712, the present invention is not limited to this configuration and may instead be formed at a distance from the passing portion 712. In this configuration, the misalignment of the decoration visually perceived by the player can be adjusted by adjusting the distance between the passing portion 712 and the reflecting portion 713.

[0296] The decorative surface 712S is configured to include an undulating portion on the surface opposite the reflecting portion 713. Specifically, the plate-shaped passing portion 712 that forms the decorative surface 712S is formed of a flat region 712a of approximately uniform thickness and a protruding decorative region 712b that protrudes a predetermined slight amount (e.g., 1 mm or less) from the top surface of the flat region 712a and forms a predetermined figure. This allows the decorative surface 712S, which is the top surface of the passing portion 712, to have a shape that includes an undulating portion. When this decorative surface 712S is irradiated with light output from the LED element 722a on the lower left substrate 721a, it is possible for the player to visually perceive the decoration as protruding higher than its actual protrusion amount. This makes the decoration on the decorative surface 712S stand out, enhancing the effect of the reflective decorative portion 711.

[0297] While the upper surface of the protruding decorative region 712b is configured to be at a constant height relative to the upper surface of the flat region 712a, this configuration is not limited to this, and the height may vary depending on the location. Furthermore, the passing portion 712 is not limited to a configuration in which a predetermined decorative figure protrudes from the flat region 712a toward the opposite side of the reflective portion 713, but may be configured to be recessed toward the reflective portion 713 relative to the flat region 712a. In this case, it is possible for the player to visually perceive the decoration as being recessed deeper than it actually is. Furthermore, while the flat region 712a is configured to have a uniform thickness, this configuration is not limited to this, and the thickness may be thicker or thinner as it moves away from the base 401. With this configuration, the inclination of the decorative surface 712S as seen from the player's side can be set to a predetermined angle by changing the thickness of the flat region 712a.

[0298] The lower left movable decorative part 741a and the rotating decorative part 742 are decorated with multiple colors different from the colors of the LED elements 722a on the lower left substrate 721a. This allows the reflective decorative part 711 to be irradiated with light of a color different from the color of the LED elements 722a on the lower left substrate 721a, and also allows the reflective decorative part 711 to emit different colors depending on the area. Furthermore, by rotating the rotating decorative part 742, the same area of ​​the reflective decorative part 711 can be colored in different colors.

[0299] Here, the output of light from the reflective decorative part 711 based on the light output from the central light source 730 will be described with reference to Fig. 22. Fig. 22 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the reflective decorative body 710 along a cut surface including line Y1-Y1 in Fig. 18, in order to explain the form in which light from the central light source 730 is irradiated onto the reflective decorative body 710.

[0300] As shown in Figure 22, light emitted from the central light source 730 is reflected by a central decorative body 750 provided separately from the reflective decorative body 710 and is irradiated onto the reflective decorative part 711. Before describing the form of light irradiation onto the reflective decorative part 711, the configuration of the central decorative body 750 will be described below.

[0301] The central decorative body 750 includes a central decorative portion 751, which is composed of a decorated decorative member 753 as a decorative portion onto which light output from the LED elements 732 of the central substrate 731 is irradiated, and a scattering member 754 disposed between the decorative member 753 and the central substrate 731 and scattering the light output from the LED elements 732 of the central substrate 731 in various directions. The central substrate 731 is integrated with the central decorative portion 751 and is supported on the base 401 via a central decorative support portion 759 that supports the central decorative portion 751. The decorative member 753 is made of a colored, transparent resin, and the scattering member 754 is made of a colorless, transparent resin. Therefore, the decorative member 753 and the scattering member 754 allow a portion of the light output from the LED elements 732 of the central substrate 731 to pass toward the front where the player is positioned, and can also reflect a portion of that light.

[0302] While decorative member 753 and scattering member 754 are made of resin, they may be made of a colorless or colored material other than resin that allows light to pass through. Also, central decorative portion 751 is provided with scattering member 754 in addition to decorative member 753, and is configured to scatter light with unevenness formed on the back surface (the surface facing central substrate 731) of scattering member 754, but they may be made of a material that scatters light by forming unevenness on the back surface of decorative member 753 without providing scattering member 754.

[0303] The central decorative body 750 includes a frame 752 that surrounds the periphery of the central decorative portion 751. The frame 752, together with the central decorative portion 751, is supported on the base 401 via a central decorative support 759. The frame 752 covers only a portion of the front side of the lower end portion 754B of the scattering member 754, where the reflective decorative portion 711 is located. The frame 752 is formed of a transparent resin whose surface is covered with a reflective film (not shown) formed by vapor deposition. Therefore, light output from the LED elements 732 of the central substrate 731 and reflected by the back surface of the scattering member 754 (for example, light traveling along the path indicated by the solid line or dashed line in FIG. 22) can pass through the lower end portion 754B of the frame 752 that is not covered by the lower end portion 752B and output to the reflective decorative portion 711 side.

[0304] The central decorative part 751 is configured to reflect light output from the LED elements 732 of the central substrate 731, and pass the reflected light through a lower end portion 754B of the scattering member 754 that is not covered by the lower end portion 752B of the frame part 752, and output it toward the reflective decorative part 711. However, this configuration is not limited to this, and the light output from the LED elements 732 of the central substrate 731 may be passed through a lower end portion 754B that is not covered by the lower end portion 752B, and output it toward the reflective decorative part 711, without being reflected by the scattering member 754. For example, at least one LED element 732 provided on the central substrate 731 may be oriented so as to output light in a direction that is inclined downward (toward the reflective decorative part 711) with respect to the vertical direction, and the light output from the LED element 732 may travel along the path shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. Furthermore, the central decorative part 751 is configured to pass light output from the LED elements 732 through the lower end portion 754B and output it toward the reflective decorative part 711, but this configuration is not limited to this, and an opening or cutout may be provided in the lower end portion 754B and the light may be output through the opening or cutout toward the reflective decorative part 711. Furthermore, the central decorative part 751 is configured to have a reflective film on the surface of the lower end portion 753B of the frame part 752 and to restrict light that passes through the lower end portion 754B and is output toward the reflective decorative part 711 at the lower end portion 752B, but this configuration is not limited to this, and a reflective film may not be provided on the surface of the lower end portion 753B of the frame part 752 and light may be output toward the reflective decorative part 711 from the area where the lower end portions 752B and 754B overlap.

[0305] The central decorative body 750 includes a central decorative support 759 that supports the central decorative part 751 relative to the base 401. The central decorative support 759 includes a wall 759B formed behind the lower end portion 754B of the scattering member 754 and the decorative surface 712S of the reflective decorative part 711, at a height position between the lower end portion 754B and the decorative surface 712S. The wall 759B is molded integrally with the central decorative support 759 and is made of a colorless, transparent resin. Therefore, the wall 759B can reflect a portion of the light that is reflected by the scattering member 754 and passes through the lower end portion 754B toward the rear side, and output it to the reflective decorative part 711. While wall 759B is configured to allow a portion of the irradiated light to pass through regardless of the irradiated portion, this configuration is not limiting and a reflective material capable of reflecting light may be provided on a portion of the surface of wall 759B to limit the area through which light can pass, as long as the reflective material does not significantly restrict the passage of light output from LED elements 722a of lower left substrate 721a. In this configuration, the reflectivity of light output from LED elements 732 of center substrate 731 can be increased, and decorative surface 712S can output light toward the player more efficiently.

[0306] The reflection of light output from the LED element 732 on the central substrate 731 in the reflective decorative part 711 has the same effect as the reflection of light output from the LED element 722a on the lower left substrate 721a, and the decorations on the decorative surface 712S can be seen to overlap at a shifted position.

[0307] The coverage area of ​​the lower end portion 752B of the frame 752 covering the lower end portion 754B of the scattering member 754 is set so that the light output from the LED elements 732 of the center substrate 731 is irradiated within an angle range that does not overlap with the angle range (hereinafter also referred to as the irradiation angle range) irradiated by the light output from the LED elements 722a of the lower-left substrate 721a. This allows the angle range over which the decorative surface 712S can be clearly seen to be expanded. For example, even when a player looks at the decorative surface 712S in a forward-leaning position or while standing, such as when selecting a pachinko machine to play, the decoration of the decorative surface 712S can be clearly seen by the player. Furthermore, by setting the irradiation angle ranges so that they do not overlap, it is possible to prevent the decoration of the decorative surface 712S from being perceived as overlapping in four misaligned positions, which would otherwise be the case if the irradiation angle ranges overlap, making it difficult to see the three-dimensional image. Therefore, if the player can see the decorative surface 712S brightly due to the light output from the LED elements 722a and the LED elements 732, the player can see the decoration of the decorative surface 712S in three dimensions.

[0308] The central decorative portion 751 is colored to emit a color different from the movable decorative portion 741 and the rotating decorative portion 742. Therefore, when the player changes his / her posture, for example, from a standard posture to a forward-leaning posture, the emitted color of the decorative surface 712S can be changed even though the emitted color of the LED elements 722a on the lower left substrate 721a and the LED elements 732 on the central substrate 731 has not changed. Note that the coverage range of the lower end portion 752B of the frame portion 752 covering the lower end portion 754B of the scattering member 754 is not limited to a configuration in which the irradiation angle ranges do not overlap, and may be a configuration in which the irradiation angle ranges overlap at least partially.

[0309] The central decorative body 750 may be configured to reflect a portion of the light output from each LED element 732 provided on the central substrate 731 toward the lower end portion 754B of the scattering member 754 that is not covered by the lower end portion 752B of the frame portion 752, or may be configured to reflect a portion of the light from only some of the LED elements 732 provided on the central substrate 731 toward the lower end portion 754B that is not covered by the lower end portion 752B.

[0310] Scattering member 754 is disposed at an angle such that its rear surface protrudes forward as it approaches downward, which makes it easier to reflect light from LED elements 732 on central substrate 731 toward lower end portion 754B of scattering member 754 that is not covered by lower end portion 752B of frame portion 752.

[0311] The pachinko machine 100 is provided with a reflective decorative body 710 having a reflective decorative part 711 that can reflect light emitted in a predetermined direction from an LED element 722a provided on a lower left substrate 721a toward the front side where the player is positioned. Furthermore, the decorative surface 712S formed on the reflective decorative part 711 is positioned in a position that does not overlap with the lower left substrate 721a in the front-to-back direction and is inclined as viewed from the player side.

[0312] This allows the light reflected by the reflective decorative portion 711 to travel toward a predetermined position such as the player's eyes, preventing the size of the decorative surface 712S seen by the player from becoming excessively small, while allowing the player to see the decorative surface 712S brightly. The same effect can also be achieved by the light output from the LED elements 732 provided on the central substrate 731.

[0313] In addition, by irradiating the decorative surface 712S with light from both the LED element 722a on the lower left substrate 721a and the LED element 732 on the central substrate 731, it is possible to expand the range of angles at which the player can see the illuminated decorative surface 712S compared to when light is irradiated from only one of them.

[0314] The pachinko machine 100 is also provided with a reflective decorative body 710 having a reflective decorative part 711 that can reflect light output in a predetermined direction from an LED element 722a provided on a lower left substrate 721a toward the front side where a player is positioned. The reflective decorative body 710 is formed of a plate-shaped passing part 712 through which the light output from the LED element 722a passes, and a reflecting part 713 that overlaps the side of the passing part 712 where the light that has passed through it is output. Furthermore, a decorative surface 712S is formed on the surface of the passing part 712 opposite the reflecting part 713.

[0315] This allows the decoration of the decorative surface 712S, which is visible due to light that does not pass through the passing portion 712 and is reflected on the surface of the passing portion 712, and the decoration of the decorative surface 712S, which is visible due to light that passes through the passing portion 712, is reflected on the reflecting portion 713, and then passes through the passing portion 712 again, to be seen superimposed at a shifted position. Therefore, even if the decorative surface 712S is formed flat with a small amount of protrusion of the protruding decorative region 712b, it is possible to see the protruding decoration three-dimensionally.

[0316] Other characteristic configurations relating to decoration using the reflective decorative body 710 will be described below.

[0317] As shown in FIG. 18, the decorative surface 712S is curved so that the side of the decorative pattern display device 479 (display means) where the display unit 479a, on which the decorative pattern (identification information) is displayed, is located inward. Because the outer edge of the player's field of view is roughly a horizontal ellipse, the entire decorative surface 712S can be easily seen within the field of view when viewing the display unit 479a, on which the main effects corresponding to the game progress are executed. Furthermore, regardless of which part of the reflective decorative portion 711 the light output from the LED elements 722a on the lower left substrate 721a or the LED elements 732 on the center substrate 731 is irradiated, the light reflected by the reflective decorative portion 711 is easily directed in a direction closer to the player's eyes. Furthermore, this facilitates maintaining a constant angle between the player's line of sight and each part of the decorative surface 712S, thereby preventing the decorative surface 712S from appearing distorted.

[0318] As shown in FIG. 19, the decorative surface 712S of the reflective decorative portion 711 is curved in a front view, generally following the outer contour of the rotating decorative portion 742 of the annular decorative body 740. Furthermore, the decorative surface 712S is provided with a protruding decorative region 712b (see FIG. 20) that resembles a plurality of predetermined figures, which is formed along the outer contour of the rotating decorative portion 742. Furthermore, the rotating decorative portion 742 is provided with a predetermined pattern (see FIG. 18) formed over its entire surface as decoration. When light is output from the LED element 722a of the lower left substrate 721a, the rotating decorative portion 742 emits light, and the light that passes through the rotating decorative portion 742 is irradiated onto the reflective decorative portion 711. At this time, the player can see the decoration formed on the decorative surface 712S and the decoration of the rotating decorative portion 742 reflected on the decorative surface 712S. This makes it possible for the player to see the decorative surface 712S as if it were decorated with intricate ornaments.

[0319] Note that the decoration of the reflective decorative portion 711 and the decoration of the rotating decorative portion 742 are configured to be superimposed on one another as a whole, but this is not limiting, and for example, the rotating decorative portion 742 may be locally patterned with a predetermined pattern that can highlight one figure formed on the decorative surface 712S, and the player may see the highlighted figure change as the rotating decorative portion 742 rotates. Also, for example, the reflective decorative portion 711 may be decorated with a grassland-like decoration, and the rotating decorative portion 742 may be decorated with animals, so that the animals appear to be running through a grassland as the rotating decorative portion 742 rotates.

[0320] As shown in FIG. 18, at least a portion of the reflective decorative portion 711 is disposed near the lower middle start winning device 431B, near the passing area through which a gaming ball that may enter the lower middle start winning device 431B from the left side passes. Specifically, at least a portion of the reflective decorative portion 711 is disposed so as to be located slightly below the passing area on the left side near the lower middle start winning device 431B when viewed from the front. The behavior of the gaming ball near the lower middle start winning device 431B is one of the areas that players pay attention to. Therefore, when a player pays attention to the behavior of the gaming ball near the lower middle start winning device 431B, the area of ​​attention can be decorated with the effect of the reflective decorative portion 711. Furthermore, the behavior of the gaming ball can be made to appear as if it is taking place within the decoration of the decorative surface 712S.

[0321] The reflective decorative portion 711 may be configured so that at least a portion thereof is located near the lower stage 427 formed at the lower end portion of the central structure 420. Here, the lower stage 427 repeatedly rolls the gaming ball that has fallen from the upper stage 426 back and forth, causing the gaming ball to fall from near the upper side of the lower middle start winning device 431B. The behavior of the gaming ball on the lower stage 427 is one of the points that players pay attention to, and this point of attention can be highlighted by the effect of the reflective decorative portion 711. The reflective decorative portion 711 may be configured so that at least a portion thereof is located near the upper stage 426, which is one of the points that players pay attention to.

[0322] As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the gaming board 700 is provided with another reflective decorative body 710 having a similar structure to the reflective decorative body 711 but a different reflective decorative body 711 with a different shape when viewed from the front. The effect of the other reflective decorative body 711 is performed in the same manner as the effect of the reflective decorative body 711, except that light is emitted from the lower right light source 720b, one of the annularly arranged light sources 720, and produces the same effect. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 18, at least a portion of the other reflective decorative body 710 is located near the lower middle start winning device 431B, near the passing area through which a gaming ball that may enter the lower middle start winning device 431B from the right side passes. Therefore, the effect of the reflective decorative body 711 and the other reflective decorative body 711 can decorate the entire left and right areas near the lower middle start winning device 431B.

[0323] In the pachinko machine 100, the decorative surface 712S is illuminated with light from the annular light source 720 and the central light source 730, making the decorative surface 712S bright, but the configuration may be such that light from the annular light source 720 and the central light source 730 is not illuminated, as long as the player can see the overlapping decorations at different positions when the player directly views the decorations on the decorative surface 712S and when the player indirectly views the decorations reflected by the reflecting portion 713. Furthermore, the configuration may be such that light from the various light sources provided in the pachinko machine 100, such as the annular light source 720 and the central light source 730, is not illuminated, and only light from indoor lighting or the like is illuminated.

[0324] <Controlling the entry of game balls into bonus area 409V> Next, a configuration capable of suitably controlling the entry of gaming balls into the bonus area 409V (specific passage) will be described with reference to FIG. 7 as well as FIGS. 23 and 24. FIG.

[0325] The entry of gaming balls into the bonus area 409V is controlled based on the operation control of a distribution mechanism 437 (see FIG. 7) provided at the entrance to the bonus area 409V and an upper entry restriction mechanism 454 (see FIG. 7) provided upstream of the distribution mechanism 437 in the direction of the gaming balls flowing downstream. Specifically, in a special gaming state to which a transition is made based on a portion of a jackpot won by the first special symbol lottery or the second special symbol lottery (a first type of jackpot), the operation control of the distribution mechanism 437 and the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 is executed so that gaming balls enter the bonus area 409V as long as the game is continued using the right-hand hitting gaming method. On the other hand, in a special gaming state to which a transition is made based on a win of a jackpot of a type different from the first type of jackpot (a second type of jackpot), the operation control of the distribution mechanism 437 and the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 (switching mechanism) is executed so that gaming balls do not enter the bonus area 409V. In the following, the special gaming state that is executed based on a first type of jackpot and is scheduled to transition to a guaranteed variable gaming state when a gaming ball enters the bonus area 409V will also be referred to as a special gaming state scheduled for guaranteed variable, and the special gaming state that is executed based on a second type of jackpot and is scheduled to transition to a time-saving gaming state when a gaming ball does not enter the bonus area 409V will also be referred to as a special gaming state scheduled for time-saving.

[0326] The pachinko machine 100 is configured such that, when a predetermined round is started in a special game state where a probability change is scheduled, the sorting mechanism 437 (sorting mechanism) transitions to an entry-enabling state, and then the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 (switching mechanism) transitions to a progress-enabling state, allowing game balls to enter the bonus area 409V in the predetermined round. Here, the entry-enabling state of the sorting mechanism 437 is a state in which game balls can enter the bonus area 409V. Furthermore, the progress-enabling state of the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 is a state in which game balls can proceed toward the sorting mechanism 437, and specifically, a state in which game balls can enter a guide passage 494 that guides game balls from the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 toward the sorting mechanism 437. When a predetermined round is started, the distribution mechanism 437 is shifted to an entry-allowed state, and then the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 is set to an advance-allowed state, so that game balls can be allowed to enter the guide passage 494 after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the predetermined round.

[0327] The upper entry restriction mechanism 454 and the allocation mechanism 437 operate in a special gaming state scheduled for a probability change or a special gaming state scheduled for a time reduction, which are configured by combining multiple rounds. The upper entry restriction mechanism 454 operates in all rounds of these special gaming states, while the allocation mechanism 437 operates in at least some of the rounds. Specifically, the allocation mechanism 437 operates in the first round (hereinafter also referred to as the first round) executed among multiple rounds (e.g., 15 rounds) in both the special gaming state scheduled for a probability change and the special gaming state scheduled for a time reduction. Hereinafter, the round in which the allocation mechanism 437 operates together with the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 and in which the gaming state to transition to after the special gaming state is determined is also referred to as the transition destination determination round.

[0328] The upper entry restriction mechanism 454 is equipped with a stepping motor as an upper entry restriction motor 464 (see FIG. 10) that changes the position of the entry restriction shutter 454A (see FIG. 24). The upper entry restriction motor 464 can change the position of the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 (entry restriction shutter 454A) from an entry prohibiting position (see the position shown by the dashed line in FIG. 24(A)) to an entry permitting position (see the position shown in FIG. 24(C)) by rotating a rotation shaft that provides power to the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 in the forward direction, and can also change the position from the entry permitting position to the entry prohibiting position by rotating in the reverse direction opposite to the forward direction. Furthermore, the upper entry restriction motor 464 can change the posture of the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 to a predetermined normal form by rotating the rotary shaft at a predetermined speed, and can change the posture of the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 more slowly than the normal form by rotating at a speed lower than the predetermined rotation speed (for example, about 1 / 100 of the predetermined rotation speed). Note that the upper entry restriction motor 464 is not limited to a stepping motor, and a DC motor may also be used.

[0329] Furthermore, the rotation speed of the upper entry restriction motor 464, which causes the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 to change its posture slower than in the normal form, is set to a speed that makes the time from the start of the first round until the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 becomes ready to proceed longer than the time from the start of the first round until the sorting mechanism 437 becomes ready to enter. Therefore, by setting the rotation speed of the upper entry restriction motor 464, when the first round, which is the destination determination round, starts, the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 can change its posture in a form that becomes ready to proceed (hereinafter also referred to as a delayed form) after the sorting mechanism 437 has transitioned to the ready to enter state. Note that in this configuration, the speed of the attitude change of the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 is made slower than the attitude change of the sorting mechanism 437, and the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 is set to the advance permitting state after the sorting mechanism 437 has transitioned to the entry permitting state, but this configuration is not limited to this, and a configuration may also be used in which the start of the attitude change of the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 is delayed from the start of the first round so that the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 is set to the advance permitting state after the sorting mechanism 437 has transitioned to the entry permitting state, regardless of the speed of the attitude change of the upper entry restriction mechanism 454. In the case of a configuration in which the start of the attitude change of the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 is delayed, a drive device that changes the attitude of the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 at a constant speed may be used instead of the upper entry restriction motor 464, and for example, an electromagnetic solenoid may be used.

[0330] Here, we will explain the operation control of the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 and the distribution mechanism 437. Figure 23 is a timing chart that schematically shows the operation control of the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 and the distribution mechanism 437 in a round (transition destination determination round) in which a gaming ball can enter the bonus area 409V. In addition, in Figure 23, the upper part of the figure shows the operation in a special game state scheduled for a probability change, and the lower part of the figure also shows the operation in a special game state scheduled for a time reduction, which is different from the special game state scheduled for a probability change.

[0331] When the first round starts in a special game state where a probability change is scheduled, as shown in FIG. 23, the in-round flag is turned on, and the first round (the number in parentheses in the figure) begins (time t1). The in-round flag is information that identifies whether or not a round is in progress, and is stored in RAM 922 of the main control board 920 (see FIG. 10). When the maximum duration TA (predetermined elapsed time: 29.5 seconds) has elapsed since the start of the first round, the in-round flag is turned off (time ta10), as indicated by the dashed line. When the in-round flag is turned off, the first round ends. Also, as will be described in detail later, when the value of the upper large prize counter reaches the specified number (10) for the first round (t8), the flag is turned off after a predetermined period (e.g., 3.0 seconds) has elapsed since the detection of the flag (time t10), as indicated by the solid line. Furthermore, when a predetermined time (for example, 3.0 seconds) has elapsed after the first round has ended, the in-round flag is set to an ON state (time ta11) in order to start the next round.

[0332] In the first round of the special game state scheduled for time reduction, the round flag is turned off when a maximum duration TI (for example, 4.0 seconds) shorter than the maximum duration TA of the special game state scheduled for probability change has elapsed since it was turned on (time tb1).

[0333] The time elapsed since the start of the first round is measured by a round control timer (not shown) stored in the RAM 922 of the main control board 920. The main control board 920 initially sets the round control timer to a value corresponding to the maximum duration TA of the first round stored in the ROM (not shown) of the main control board 920. The ROM (not shown) of the main control board 920 stores a value corresponding to the maximum duration TI of the first round in a special game state scheduled for time reduction, along with a value corresponding to the maximum duration TA, and the main control board 920 selects a value according to the currently executing special game state. The round control timer is updated so that its value decreases by 1 for each timer interrupt executed by the main control board 920 at a fixed interval (e.g., 2 ms). As a result, the main control board 920 detects that the value of the round control timer has returned to "0," and can turn off the round-in-progress flag (time ta9) due to the elapse of the maximum duration, thereby ending the first round (round time ending means). The main control board 920 also stores values ​​corresponding to the maximum duration of each round other than the first round, and selects a...

Claims

[Claim 1] A game area in which game balls can flow down; an information acquisition means for acquiring special information based on a game ball flowing down the game area entering a predetermined ball entry means; an acquired information storage means capable of storing the special information acquired by the information acquisition means; a determination means for determining whether the special information stored in the acquired information storage means corresponds to predetermined determination information; a game time control means for controlling the notification means so that a game time operation is started before the determination is made by the determination means or based on the determination being made by the determination means, and the end of the game time operation as a notification result corresponding to the result of the determination is counted as one game time, and the game time operation for each game time is performed in accordance with the special information stored in the acquired information storage means; means for transitioning to a special game state advantageous to a player based on the determination result by said determination means being a determination result corresponding to said predetermined determination information; a means for transitioning the gaming state to a predetermined gaming state different from the special gaming state upon termination of the special gaming state; a display device having a display screen and capable of executing a predetermined display effect on the display screen; a display control means for controlling the display of the predetermined display performance; Equipped with The display control means a means for starting a variable display of a pattern in a first display area on the display screen and performing a display corresponding to the determination result by the determination means; a means for starting a variable display of a pattern in a second display area on the display screen that is larger than the first display area, and for performing a display corresponding to the determination result by the determination means; and The display control means controls the gaming machine so as to be switchable between starting a changing display of a pattern in the first display area depending on the game status and displaying a display corresponding to the judgment result by the judgment means, and starting a changing display of a pattern in the second display area and displaying a display corresponding to the judgment result by the judgment means.

Images