Game machine

Abstract

To provide a game machine capable of enhancing a player's willingness to continue playing a game.SOLUTION: In a game machine, bells A to D can be won if stop operation is performed in correct hitting order set to each of hitting orders 3 to 6 from among the hitting orders 3 to 6 when a winning area "hitting order bell 1" to a winning area "hitting order 8" are won in an internal lottery, a 1-token role C to a 1-token role N are won with a predetermined probability if a 1-token role A is won and stop operation is performed in hitting order that becomes incorrect hitting order from among hitting order 3 to hitting order 6 when stop operation is performed in hitting order 1 and hitting order 2, and no winning combinations are won when the 1-token role C to 1-token role N are not won. Performance control means can execute display of a shortening notification icon for reporting execution of shortening control and display of a period notification icon for reporting a result of shortening control. Display of a shortening notification icon is displayed before display of a period notification icon.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 22

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, gaming machines (reel type gaming machines, slot machines) equipped with multiple reels with patterns arranged on the outer periphery are known. In this type of gaming machine, a certain gaming value is assigned to gaming media such as medals and pachinko balls, and a game is played to acquire such gaming media. In addition, in this type of gaming machine, an internal lottery is performed and the rotation of the multiple reels is started when the player operates to start the rotation, and the multiple reels are stopped in a manner according to the result of the internal lottery when the player operates to stop the rotation. The result of the game is determined by the combination of symbols displayed on the winning determination line when the multiple reels are stopped, and medals and the like are paid out according to the result of the game.

[0003] In the above-mentioned gaming machine, a configuration is known in which the probability of winning a winning combination is changed by transitioning to an assist time state as a performance state for executing a winning assistance performance that assists the winning of a winning combination, thereby making it easier to obtain gaming media. Also, a configuration is disclosed in which points are awarded according to the results of a game during a game in which the assist time state is not being executed, and the number of games in the assist time state is determined according to the cumulative value of the points at the start of the assist time state (for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2015-43864 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the gaming machine described in Patent Document 1, the number of plays in the assist time state is determined based on points, so that once the assist time state is initiated, the player can earn benefits according to the accumulated points. However, since the player cannot receive the benefit of the accumulated points unless the assist time state is initiated, it is difficult to motivate the player to continue playing when the assist time state is not being executed, and it is difficult to improve the operation of the gaming machine.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that can increase a player's motivation to continue playing the game. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention relates to a reel system comprising: Multiple stop buttons An internal lottery means for performing an internal lottery; 、 play A performance control means for controlling a performance related to a technique, the plurality of reels includes a first reel, a second reel, and a third reel; the plurality of stop buttons includes a first stop button, a second stop button, and a third stop button; the first stop button corresponds to the first reel; the second stop button corresponds to the second reel; the third stop button corresponds to the third reel; In the internal lottery, the winning or losing of a plurality of winning patterns is determined, The plurality of winning modes includes a plurality of specific winning modes, The specific winning patterns include a small win of a first payout and a small win of a second payout, The first dividend is higher than the second dividend, A specific operation mode that enables the player to win a small combination of the first payout as an operation mode of the plurality of stop buttons is set for each of the plurality of specific winning modes, The operation mode for first stopping the first reel is not set to the specific operation mode in any of the specific winning modes, the specific winning mode in which the operation mode for first stopping the second reel is the specific operation mode, and the specific winning mode in which the operation mode for first stopping the third reel is the specific operation mode, When the specific winning mode is won in the internal lottery, When the plurality of stop buttons are operated in the specific operation mode, a small combination of the first payout can be won. When the plurality of stop buttons are operated in an operation mode that stops the first reel first among the operation modes different from the specific operation mode, the small combination of the second payout is won; When the plurality of stop buttons are operated in an operation mode that stops the second reel or the third reel first among the operation modes different from the specific operation mode, the small combination of the second payout is won with a predetermined probability, and when the small combination of the second payout is not won, no combination is won; The performance control means includes: To notify a player that a beneficial benefit will be given to the playerThe first performance and Inform the user of the contents of the benefit to be granted The second performance and the second performance can be performed. The first performance is executed before the second performance is executed. R , characterized in that Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, a gaming machine can be provided that can increase a player's motivation to continue playing the game. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of a gaming machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 1 is a diagram illustrating functional blocks of a gaming machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing winning areas that can be won in an internal lottery in the gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention, winning combinations included in each winning area, and the number of lottery values ​​associated with each winning area. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of symbols on a reel in a gaming machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining symbol combinations showing winning forms of Bell A to Bell L and 1-coin roles A1 to A4 in the gaming machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining symbol combinations showing winning forms of 1-coin roles B1 to E4 in the gaming machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining symbol combinations showing winning forms of 1-coin roles F1 to G4, rare role A, special small role A, and special small role B in the gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 2 is a state transition diagram of the gaming state in the gaming machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 9] This is a transition diagram relating to the normal area and advantageous area controlled by the AT control means in the gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention, and the presentation state during the advantageous area. [Figure 10] This figure shows the winning combinations that can be won in each batting order when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1A" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 12A" and the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1B" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 12B" are won in the non-RT state in the gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] This figure shows the winning combinations that can be won in each batting order when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1A" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 12A" and the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1B" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 12B" are won in a bonus-achieved state in the gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing winning combinations that can be won in each batting order when the winning areas "BATTERN CHANCE 1A" to "BATTERN CHANCE 4A" are won in the gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] (A) is a diagram showing the normal state presentation when no shortened control is being executed by the AT control means in the gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention, (B) is a diagram showing a presentation notifying the execution of one shortened control by the AT control means in the normal state, and (C) is a diagram showing a presentation notifying the execution of eight shortened control by the AT control means in the normal state when the normal state continues without transitioning to a premonition state. [Figure 14] (A) is a diagram showing the presentation executed when a transition is made from the state shown in Figure 13(C) to a premonition state in a gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention; (B) is a diagram showing the presentation when the presentation button is pressed four times from the state shown in Figure 14(A); (C) is a diagram showing the presentation in a state before the period shortened by the shortening control whose execution was notified by the shortening notification icon is disclosed and the period shortened by the shortening control whose execution was notified by the special shortening notification icon is disclosed; and (D) is a diagram showing the presentation when the presentation button is pressed from the state shown in Figure 14(C). [Figure 15](A) is a diagram showing a presentation notifying the player that two shortened control processes have been executed by the AT control means in the gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention, (B) is a diagram showing the ending screen of the AT state, and (C) is a diagram showing the presentation when the player has transitioned from the AT state to the normal state by the AT control means. [Figure 16] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing winning areas that can be won by an internal lottery in a gaming machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention, winning combinations included in each winning area, and the number of lottery values ​​associated with each winning area. [Figure 17] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of symbols on the reels in a gaming machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining symbol combinations showing winning forms of 15-coin roles A to C, bells A to E, and 3-coin roles A to F in the gaming machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining symbol combinations showing winning forms of 1-coin roles A to J in the gaming machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 20] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining symbol combinations showing winning forms of 1-coin roles K to S in the gaming machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 21] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing winning combinations that can be won when a winning area including a small winning combination is won in a non-RT state in the gaming machine of the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 22] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing winning combinations that can be won when a winning area including a small winning combination is won in a bonus established state in the gaming machine of the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 23] A figure showing the payout rate for each game method in each game state in the gaming machine of the second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] [First embodiment] The first embodiment will be described below. Note that the first embodiment described below does not unduly limit the contents of the present invention described in the claims. Also, not all of the configurations described in the first embodiment are necessarily essential components of the present invention.

[0011] 1. Overview of the gaming machine configuration 1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of a slot machine 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The slot machine 1 according to the first embodiment is a so-called reel type gaming machine, which is a type of gaming machine in which games are played using medals as gaming media.

[0012] The slot machine 1 of the first embodiment is housed in a box-shaped housing consisting of a housing BX, a front upper door UD, and a front lower door DD, and a reel unit 310 (see FIG. 2) consisting of a left reel R1 to a right reel R3 as a plurality of reels. In addition, a hopper unit 320 (see FIG. 2) as a medal payout device is housed below the reel unit 310 in the housing. In addition, a control board having a CPU, a ROM (an example of an information storage medium), a RAM, etc. mounted thereon and controlling the operation of the slot machine 1 is also housed in the housing of the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment.

[0013] The outer periphery of each of the left reel R1 to right reel R3 shown in Figure 1 is divided into 20 areas (hereinafter, each area will be referred to as a "frame") at regular intervals, and each frame has one of several types of patterns arranged on it.

[0014] The front upper door UD and the front lower door DD are provided so that they can be opened and closed separately. The front upper door UD is provided with a display window DW that allows the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 to be observed in their rotating and stopped states. When the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 are stopped, three patterns (upper pattern, middle pattern, and lower pattern) that are consecutively arranged on the outer periphery of each of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 among a plurality of patterns arranged at regular intervals on the outer periphery of each of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 can be observed from the front of the slot machine 1 through the display window DW.

[0015] In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, an upper, middle, and lower row are provided for each reel as display positions for observing the symbols through the display window DW, and an activated line L1 is set for an activated line based on a combination of the display positions of each reel. In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the number of medals required for one game, that is, the so-called prescribed insertion number, is set to three in any game state, and when medals equivalent to the prescribed insertion number are inserted, an activated line L1 consisting of the upper row of the left reel R1, the middle row of the center reel R2, and the lower row of the right reel R3 is activated.

[0016] The game result is determined by the symbol combination stopped and displayed on the winning line L1 in the display window DW, and if the symbol combination on the winning line L1 corresponds to a predetermined winning combination, that winning combination is deemed to have won and medals are paid out from the hopper unit 320.

[0017] In addition, the front upper door UD is provided with a display device 330 for performing effects. The display device 330 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays various videos and images for assisting and livening up the game. In addition, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, a plurality of sound devices 340 for performing effects are provided on the front upper door UD and the front lower door DD. The sound devices 340 are composed of speakers, and output various sounds for assisting and livening up the game.

[0018] In addition, a game information display section DS is provided on the front upper door UD. The game information display section DS is made up of LEDs, lamps, 7-segment displays, etc., and displays various game information such as the number of medal credits, the number of medals paid out or won in one game, the total number of medals paid out or won in a bonus state, information on the winning combination in the current game, and information suggesting how to press the stop buttons B1, B2, and B3 related to the payout of medals.

[0019] The game information display section DS includes a main control display device 500 consisting of a 7-segment display, and when a specified number of medals are inserted and the start lever SL is operated, a notification display is displayed which is a display corresponding to a winning combination command which is a control signal created based on winning information which is information on the combination that has been won in the current game, and when the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 stop after the notification display is displayed, the notification display ends and the number of medals paid out or won is displayed. In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, a notification display is executed in which each segment of the main control display device 500 is turned on and off in a display mode corresponding to the winning combination command.

[0020] The main control display device 500 is also provided with a section notification section 500A, which is a dot of a 7-segment display and lights up when an advantageous section is started by the AT control means 200 (see FIG. 2) described later and the expected medal acquisition value is 1 or more due to the assistance of the winning of a minor prize. In addition, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, a plurality of sound devices 340 for performing effects using sound are provided on the front upper door UD and the front lower door DD. The sound devices 340 output various sounds for assisting and livening up the game.

[0021] In addition, the front upper door UD is provided with a performance button PU that is activated at a predetermined opportunity and starts a specific performance when pressed. The performance button PU is a substantially circular button with "PUSH" written inside. In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, when the performance button PU is pressed to activate a performance signal output from the performance switch 270 to the performance control means 180 (see FIG. 2), a performance is executed on the display device 330 to notify the player that the performance button PU should be pressed.

[0022] Various operating means are provided on the front lower door DD. The operating means include a single bet button BT for inserting one medal and a max bet button MB for inserting a specified number of medals as inserting operation means for inserting credited (stored) medals, a start lever SL as a game start operation means for allowing a player to execute a start operation that triggers the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 to start a game, stop buttons B1 to B3 as stop operation means for allowing a player to execute a stop operation that triggers the stopping of each of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 rotated by a stepping motor, and a settlement button BS for settling credited medals.

[0023] In addition, a medal payout outlet MO and a medal tray MP are provided at the bottom of the front lower door DD, and medals in a number according to the results of a game are paid out from the medal payout outlet MO to the medal tray MP. In addition, when the settlement button BS is pressed while credited medals are stored in the gaming machine, a settlement process is executed in response to pressing of the settlement button BS, in which a number of medals equivalent to the number of credits (the number of credited medals) is paid out from the hopper unit 320, and the medals are paid out from the medal payout outlet MO to the medal tray MP.

[0024] 2 is a functional block diagram of the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment. The slot machine 1 of the first embodiment is controlled by a game control means 10 as a control board. The game control means 10 receives input signals from input means such as a coin insertion switch 210, a bet switch 220, a start switch 230, a stop switch 240, a setting change permission switch 250, and a setting change switch 260 as a plurality of operation detection means, performs various calculations for executing a game, and controls the operation of output means such as a performance device 300, a reel unit 310, a hopper unit 320, and a main control display device 500 based on the calculation results.

[0025] The game control means 10 also includes a setting change means 100, an input acceptance means 105, a random number generation means 110, an internal lottery means 120, a reel control means 130, a winning determination means 140, a payout control means 150, a replay processing means 160, a game state transition control means 170, a performance control means 180, a storage means 190, and an assist time control means (AT control means) 200. Each of the means constituting the game control means 10 reads out and executes each control program pre-stored in the storage means 190 when each control process is executed.

[0026] The setting change means 100 performs control (setting change control) to change the setting value stored in the setting value storage means 191 of the storage means 190. In a setting change permission state in which the setting change permission switch 250 is ON and setting change is permitted with the front upper door UD open, the setting change means 100 cyclically changes the setting values ​​stored in the setting value storage means 191 in the order of setting 1 → setting 2...setting 6 → setting 1 →... each time it receives an input signal output from the setting change switch 260 provided in the power supply device. In addition, in the slot machine 1, the setting value stored in the setting value storage means 191 is finalized based on a start signal from the start switch 230 operated by the operation of the start lever SL in the setting change permission state, and the setting change permission state is terminated. In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the winning probability of some winning areas among the winning areas that can be won by the internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120 is changed according to the setting value finalized in the setting value storage means 191. In other words, the setting change means 100 is configured to be able to change a setting value that is a value that can change the probability of winning a combination in an internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120.

[0027] In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, when the setting change control by the setting change means 100 is executed, the control related to the game state executed by the game state transition control means 170 and the control related to the advantageous zone executed by the AT control means 200 are configured to be initialized, the game state is set to a non-replay time (hereinafter, replay time is also referred to as "RT") state described later, and a normal zone is set. For this reason, in the slot machine 1, the control related to the auxiliary game executed by the AT control means 200 before the setting change is also configured to be initialized. On the other hand, in the slot machine 1, when the supply of power to the game control means 10 is cut off (power interruption) and the supply of power is resumed thereafter, the control related to the game state executed by the game state transition control means 170 and the control related to the advantageous zone executed by the AT control means 200 are configured to be resumed from the state before the power interruption. For this reason, in the slot machine 1, when the power interruption occurs and the supply of power is resumed thereafter, the control related to the auxiliary game executed by the AT control means 200 before the power interruption is also configured to be maintained in the state before the power interruption.

[0028] The insertion acceptance means 105 performs a process of validating a game start operation on the start lever SL based on the insertion of medals equivalent to the specified insertion number (3 medals) during an insertion acceptance period during which the insertion of medals is accepted. Specifically, when medals are inserted into the medal insertion slot MI (see FIG. 1), the insertion acceptance means 105 sets the inserted medals to an inserted state up to the specified insertion number in response to the operation of the medal insertion switch 210. In addition, when a bet operation is executed in which the single bet button BT or the max bet button MB is pressed with medals credited, the insertion acceptance means 105 sets the credited medals to an inserted state up to the specified insertion number in response to the operation of the bet switch 220.

[0029] In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the first press of the start lever SL, which is activated based on the insertion of a specified number of medals, is accepted as the player's operation to start the game, and serves as a trigger for starting the rotation of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3, as well as a trigger for the internal lottery means 120, which will be described later, to execute an internal lottery.

[0030] The random number generating means 110 is a means for generating random numbers for lotteries. In the first embodiment, the term "random number" includes not only values ​​that are generated randomly in a mathematical sense, but also values ​​that may function as random numbers substantially because the timing of acquisition is irregular, even if the generation itself is regular.

[0031] The internal lottery means 120 is a means for conducting an internal lottery to determine whether a winning combination has been achieved based on a start signal output when the player performs a start operation on the start lever SL and the start switch 230 detects the start operation, and performs lottery table selection processing, random number determination processing, lottery flag setting processing, etc.

[0032] In the lottery table selection process, which internal lottery table is to be used for the internal lottery is selected based on the current game state from among the multiple internal lottery tables stored in the internal lottery table storage means 192 of the storage means 190. In each internal lottery table, various roles such as replay, small role, and bonus, and non-win (miss) are associated with each of multiple random numbers (for example, 65536 random numbers from 0 to 65535).

[0033] In the following description, a bonus means a role that activates a reel or a device for continuously operating a reel when it is won, a bonus being activated means that a bonus is won and activates a reel or a device for continuously operating a reel, and a bonus state means that the reel or device for continuously operating a reel is activated.

[0034] In the random number determination process, a random number (random number for lottery) generated by the random number generation means 110 is obtained for each game based on the start signal output from the start switch 230, and the obtained random number is compared with the internal lottery table selected in the lottery table selection process, and it is determined whether or not a winning combination has been achieved based on the comparison result.

[0035] In the lottery flag setting process, based on the result of the random number determination process, the lottery flag corresponding to the winning combination is set from a non-established state (first flag state, OFF state) to an established state (second flag state, ON state). In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, when two or more types of combinations are overlappingly won, the lottery flags corresponding to each of the two or more types of combinations that are overlappingly won are set to an established state. In addition, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, there are provided a lottery flag (carry-over flag) that can carry over the established state to the next or subsequent games until a prize is won, and a lottery flag (non-carry-over flag) that is reset to an unestablished state without carrying over the established state to the next or subsequent games regardless of whether a prize is won. In addition, the setting information of the lottery flag is stored in the lottery flag storage means 193 of the storage means 190.

[0036] The reel control means 130 executes reel rotation control, which starts the rotation drive of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 and controls the rotation mode of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3, based on a start signal output from the start switch 230, which is operated by the player performing a start operation on the start lever SL. In addition, when the rotation state of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 becomes a rotation state in which the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 are steadily rotated at a predetermined speed (for example, about 80 rpm), the reel control means 130 executes control to validate a stop operation detected by the stop switch 240 by pressing the stop button B1 to the stop button B3 corresponding to each reel. Then, when a reel stop signal is output from the stop switch 240 that detected the stop operation, the reel control means 130 executes control to stop each of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 corresponding to the stop switch 240 that detected the stop operation (reel stop control).

[0037] In the following description, when the reel control means 130 starts the rotation of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 and the player presses each of the active stop buttons B1 to B3, the first press will be referred to as the first stop operation, the second press as the second stop operation, and the third press as the third stop operation.

[0038] In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the reel that is rotating corresponding to the stop button pressed is stopped within a predetermined period of 190 ms from the time when the stop button B1 to B3 is pressed (the time when the stop switch 240 detects the stop operation) for the left reel R1 to the right reel R3. Here, when the rotating reel is stopped within 190 ms from the time when the stop button is pressed, the stop position of each rotating reel is configured to be able to rotate a maximum of four frames from the time when the stop button is pressed until the reel stops, depending on the diameter and rotation speed of each reel.

[0039] Therefore, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, for the left reel R1 to the right reel R3, a total of five frames from the frame displayed on the pay line L1 at the time the stop button is pressed until four frames have rotated are the range (pull-in range) in which the pattern can be pulled onto the pay line L1.

[0040] When executing the reel stop control, the reel control means 130 performs a logic calculation process to determine the stop position of the spinning reel based on a preset priority order by logic calculation including a pull-in process to stop the spinning reel so that a combination with a lottery flag set to a hit state can be won as much as possible, and a kick-off process to stop the spinning reel so that a combination with a lottery flag set to a non-hit state cannot be won, and a table reference process to determine the stop position of the spinning reel by referring to the stop control table stored in the stop control table storage means 194 of the storage means 190, thereby stopping the spinning reel and displaying a pattern on the pay line L1 (hereinafter, stopping the spinning reel by the reel stop control and displaying a pattern on the pay line L1 is also referred to as "stop display").

[0041] In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, when multiple types of small winning combinations are won in the internal lottery, the priority of the candidate stop positions can be determined according to the number of symbol combinations that can be displayed on the pay line L1 (number priority control), or according to the number of medals to be paid out based on the payout that is predefined for the small winning combination (number priority control). However, when the number priority control is executed, if the same payout is won twice, the priority of the candidate stop positions that can win each small winning combination is treated as being the same.

[0042] The winning determination means 140 performs a winning determination process to determine whether or not a winning combination has been achieved based on the stopping state of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3. Specifically, while referring to the winning determination table stored in the winning determination table storage means 195 of the storage means 190, it is determined whether or not the symbol combination displayed on the pay line L1 at the time when all of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 have stopped is a winning form of a predetermined winning combination. Then, the winning determination table is prepared so that the presence or absence of a bonus, replay, or small winning combination can be determined (hereinafter, referred to as "winning determination") based on the symbol combination displayed on the pay line L1 when each reel has stopped. In the following description, the symbol combination indicating the winning form of a winning combination is also referred to as "winning symbol combination".

[0043] In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, each process is executed based on the judgment result of the winning judgment means 140 in the winning judgment process. As each process executed based on the judgment result of the winning combination, for example, when a small combination is won, a process is executed to determine the number of medals to be paid out by the payout control means 150, when a replay is won, a process is executed to make the replay processing means 160 execute the next game without consuming medals, and when a combination that triggers a transition of the game state such as a bonus is won, a process is executed to make the game state transition control means 170 transition the game state.

[0044] The payout control means 150 performs a payout process for paying out medals according to game results. Specifically, when a small winning combination is won, the payout number of medals in a game is determined based on a payout amount determined in advance for each combination, and the payout control means 150 controls the hopper unit 320 as a payout device to pay out medals equivalent to the determined payout number.

[0045] The hopper unit 320 performs an operation of paying out the number of medals instructed by the payout control means 150. The hopper unit 320 is provided with a payout medal detection switch 325 that is activated each time a medal is paid out. The payout control means 150 is configured to be able to manage the number of medals actually paid out from the hopper unit 320 based on an input signal from the payout medal detection switch 325. When medal credit is permitted, instead of actually paying out medals by the hopper unit 320, a credit addition process is performed in which the payout number is added to the credit number (the number of credited medals) stored in a credit storage area (not shown) of the storage means 190, and medals are virtually paid out.

[0046] When the winning determination means 140 determines that a symbol combination indicating a winning replay among a plurality of types of replay roles described later is stopped and displayed on the pay line L1, and the replay wins, the replay processing means 160 performs a replay process (replay process) to set the next game to a ready state in which the game can be played without inserting medals. That is, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, when the replay wins, an automatic insertion process is performed to automatically insert a specified number of medals without using medals (including credit medals) held by the player, and the same pay line L1 as the previous game is set, and the start operation of the next start lever SL is awaited.

[0047] The game state transition control means 170 performs a process of transitioning the game state between a plurality of game states, and a process related to the activation and termination of a bonus. Here, the transition condition for each game state may be one condition or multiple conditions. When multiple conditions are defined, the game state can be transitioned to another game state based on the establishment of any one of the multiple predetermined conditions, or the establishment of all of the multiple predetermined conditions.

[0048] The performance control means 180 controls performances related to the game, such as image and video performances using the display device 330 as a performance display device and sound performances using the sound device 340, based on the performance data stored in the performance control data storage means 196. Specifically, when a player operates each component of the slot machine 1 by inserting a medal, operating the single bet button BT, the max bet button MB, the start lever SL, the stop buttons B1 to B3, or when a game event such as a change in the game state occurs, the performance control means 180 executes performances using the left reels R1 to R3 that delay the start of rotation of the left reels R1 to R3 when a start signal is output from the start switch 230, thereby controlling the execution of performances that liven up the game or assist the game.

[0049] Also, the performance control means 180 causes each component constituting the performance device 300 to execute a performance based on each performance state. In the first embodiment, the performance control means 180 acquires a random number from the random number storage area of ​​the random number generation means 110 for each lottery process using a random number, and executes each lottery process using a performance lottery table required for each lottery process among a plurality of performance lottery tables stored in the performance control data storage means 196.

[0050] In the first embodiment, when the AT control means 200 executes the winning assistance, the performance control means 180 executes a winning assistance performance that notifies the content to be notified in the winning assistance (for example, announcing the correct batting order when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1A" is won) through a performance using the performance device 300.

[0051] The AT control means 200 functions as an auxiliary game control means configured to be able to execute control related to auxiliary games. The AT control means 200 executes control related to transition between an advantageous zone (advantageous period), which is a zone (period) in which an auxiliary game capable of executing a winning assistance to assist the winning of a specific role is executed, and a normal zone (non-advantageous period, non-advantageous zone), which is a zone (period) in which a game in which control related to auxiliary games based on the result of an internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120 is not executed, using data stored in the AT control data storage means 197. The AT control data storage means 197 stores an advantageous zone transition lottery table used in an advantageous zone transition lottery that determines whether or not to start an advantageous zone in the normal zone, and data (various flags, counters, etc. that are set to ON or OFF by a predetermined control process) used in various controls related to multiple types of presentation states including the AT state and normal state executed in the advantageous zone.

[0052] The AT control means 200 sets the presentation state to the AT state (assist time state) under a predetermined condition in the advantageous zone, and displays information (an example of operation instruction information) corresponding to the operation sequence (correct batting order) of the stop buttons B1 to B3 that enables the winning specific role to win on the main control display device 500 consisting of a 7-segment display, thereby performing a winning assistance (announcement of correct batting order) that assists the winning of the specific role. In addition, in the slot machine 1, when the winning assistance is executed by the AT control means 200, the presentation control means 180 executes a winning assistance presentation that displays an indicator corresponding to the correct batting order on the display device 330. In this way, in the slot machine 1, in the AT state, the operation mode of the stop buttons B1 to B3 is notified by the winning assistance, thereby executing an auxiliary game (AT game, announcement game) that is advantageous to the player.

[0053] More specifically, when a predetermined end condition for ending the advantageous zone, which will be described later, is satisfied, the AT control means 200 executes a predetermined end process for ending the advantageous zone and starting a normal zone from the next game, and a predetermined initialization process for initializing information related to the advantageous zone, such as various flags and numerical values ​​set within the advantageous zone. In addition, the AT control means 200 turns on the zone notification unit 500A when the advantageous zone starts and the winning assistance is executed, so that the expected medal acquisition value becomes 1 or more. For this reason, the AT control means 200 is configured to be able to turn off the zone notification unit 500A when the advantageous zone has started but the winning assistance is not executed, in a performance state.

[0054] The AT control means 200 executes a game number update process in which, in a game that has started an advantageous zone, a value "1" corresponding to one game is added to a value (storage value) stored in the first advantageous zone counter 197a each time a game is played, and the stored value of the first advantageous zone counter 197a is cumulatively incremented and updated. Also, the AT control means 200 executes a difference number update process in which, in the second advantageous zone counter 197b, a difference value (difference number) obtained by subtracting the number of medals paid out from the game that has started an advantageous zone by the number of medals inserted is cumulatively recorded.

[0055] The AT control means 200 of the first embodiment, when controlling in a favorable zone, executes a game number update process in which, regardless of the game state, a value of "1", which corresponds to one game, is cumulatively added (updated) to the stored value of the first favorable zone counter 197a each time one game is played, and a difference number update process in which a value equivalent to the difference in the number of medals is cumulatively updated to the stored value of the second favorable zone counter 197b.

[0056] Here, in the difference number update process for updating the stored value of the second advantageous zone counter 197b, when the stored value of the second advantageous zone counter 197b is less than the value "0" because the number of medals paid out in the game is less than the specified number of medals inserted, the AT control means 200 sets the stored value of the second advantageous zone counter 197b to the value "0". As a result, the AT control means 200 can fix the value when the stored value of the second advantageous zone counter 197b is at the lowest point to the value "0", so that in the control process using the stored value of the second advantageous zone counter 197b, it is not necessary to vary the value that is the threshold for judgment according to the specific numerical value at the lowest point, and the load of the control process using the stored value of the second advantageous zone counter 197b can be reduced.

[0057] The AT control means 200 determines that a specific end condition has been met as a predetermined end condition for terminating the advantageous zone when 1500 games have been played, that is, when the stored value of the first advantageous zone counter 197a becomes the first value "1500", or when the player has won more than 2400 medals from the point at which the most medals were consumed in the advantageous zone, that is, when the stored value of the second advantageous zone counter 197b becomes the value "2401" from the point at which it was the lowest value (lowest point), and executes a predetermined initialization process which is a process for initializing information regarding the advantageous zone, and a predetermined end process which ends the advantageous zone and starts the normal zone from the next game.

[0058] In a predetermined initialization process, the AT control means 200 initializes all information used in various control processes in the favorable zone, such as each flag set to the ON state in the favorable zone and values ​​set in the favorable zone. The AT control means 200 can also end the favorable zone when a predetermined end condition (normal end condition) other than the specific end condition is met, and executes a predetermined initialization process and a predetermined end process even when the normal end condition is met. Details of the normal end condition set by the AT control means 200 in the first embodiment will be described later.

[0059] 2. Configuration of the gaming machine in the first embodiment Next, the components of the slot machine 1 in the first embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

[0060] <Winning areas subject to internal lottery> FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the winning areas that are the subject of the internal lottery in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the winning numbers and winning roles associated with each winning area, and the number of lottery values ​​associated with each winning area in each game state.

[0061] In addition, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment has a regular big bonus (hereinafter, the regular big bonus is also referred to as "RBB") as a bonus that is a consecutive operation device related to the first type special feature. In addition, the slot machine 1 has, as game states controlled by the game state transition control means 170, a non-RT state (general) in which the RBB is not set to an established state and the RBB is not operating, a bonus establishment state in which the RBB is set to an established state and the RBB is maintained in the internal bonus state (inside bonus) in which the RBB is established and the RBB is maintained in the internal bonus state until the RBB is activated, and a bonus state in which the RBB is activated and the RBB is activated (operating bonus) in which the RBB is activated and the RBB is activated.

[0062] As shown in Fig. 3, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the winning areas that are the subject of the internal lottery include the winning area "all small roles", the winning area "all 1-coin roles", the winning area "normal replay 1", the winning area "normal replay 2", the winning area "rare replay 1", the winning area "rare replay 2", the winning area "rare role 1", the winning area "batting order bell 1A" to the winning area "batting order bell 12A", the winning area "batting order bell 1B" to the winning area "batting order bell 12B", the winning area "batting order chance 1A" to the winning area "batting order chance 4A", the winning area "RBB & 1-coin role" and the winning area "RBB", and the winning numbers 1 to 37 are associated with them, respectively. In addition, in the slot machine 1, the winning number 0 is associated with a non-win (miss) as a result of the internal lottery.

[0063] Here, the "batting order" refers to the order in which the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed. In the following description, the timing at which the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed is also referred to as the "pressing timing."

[0064] In the random number determination process, the internal lottery means 120 determines whether each winning area is a winner in the order from the winning area corresponding to the winning number 37 to the non-winning area corresponding to the winning number 0.

[0065] In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the small roles that can be won when the internal lottery is won include Bell A to Bell L, 1 coin role A1 to 1 coin role G4, Rare role A, Special small role A, and Special small role B, and the replays that can be won when the internal lottery is won include Replay A, Replay B, Rare Replay A, and Rare Replay B. Each small role and each replay is associated with each winning area in the combination shown in FIG. 3. Also, as shown in FIG. 3, in the slot machine 1, a winning area "RBB & 1 coin role" is set as a winning area including a bonus and a small role.

[0066] In the first embodiment, the winning area "batting order bell 1A" to the winning area "batting order bell 12A" and the winning area "batting order bell 1B" to the winning area "batting order bell 12B" are configured as winning areas in which the small winning combination that can be won varies depending on the game state in the winning game and the operation mode of the stop button B1 to the stop button B3. Also, the winning area "batting order chance 1A" to the winning area "batting order chance 4A" are configured as winning areas in which the small winning combination that can be won varies depending on the operation mode of the stop button B1 to the stop button B3. Details of the winning area "batting order bell 1A" to the winning area "batting order bell 12A", the winning area "batting order bell 1B" to the winning area "batting order bell 12B", and the winning area "batting order chance 1A" to the winning area "batting order chance 4A" will be described later.

[0067] Rare role A, which is a minor role included in the winning area "Rare role 1", wins when the timing of pressing the stop button B2 is such that rare role A can be won, and when the timing of pressing the stop button B2 is such that rare role A cannot be won, a pattern combination different from the winning pattern combination of any role is displayed stopped on the activated line L1, resulting in a missed win (non-winning).

[0068] The winning area "Normal Replay 1" is a winning area where Replay A wins regardless of the batting order and pressing timing of Stop Button B1 to Stop Button B3. Also, the winning area "Normal Replay 2" is a winning area where Replay A wins regardless of the batting order and pressing timing of Stop Button B1 to Stop Button B3, although Replay A and Replay B win overlappingly.

[0069] Here, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the role to which the carryover possible flag is associated is RBB, and the small role and replay are associated with the non-carryover possible flag. That is, in the lottery flag setting process, when a winning area including RBB is won in the internal lottery, a process is performed to carry over the established state of the lottery flag of the winning RBB until the RBB wins. At this time, the internal lottery means 120 performs an internal lottery to determine whether or not the small role and replay are won, even in a game in which the established state of the lottery flag of RBB is carried over. That is, in the lottery flag setting process, when a small role or replay is won in a game in which the established state of the lottery flag of RBB is carried over, the lottery flag corresponding to two or more roles consisting of the lottery flag of the already won RBB and the lottery flag of the small role or replay won in the internal lottery is set to an established state.

[0070] <Internal lottery table> In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, as the internal lottery tables used in the internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120, an internal lottery table used in the non-RT state (normal) (hereinafter referred to as internal lottery table A), an internal lottery table used in the bonus establishment state (internal) (hereinafter referred to as internal lottery table B), and an internal lottery table used in the bonus state (operating) (hereinafter referred to as internal lottery table C) are stored in the internal lottery table storage means 192. In each of the internal lottery tables A to C, as shown in FIG. 3, the lottery value number is associated with the winning area that is the subject of the lottery.

[0071] <Random number determination process> In the random number determination process, the internal lottery means 120 of the first embodiment sequentially subtracts the random number obtained from the random number generation means 110 by the lottery value numbers corresponding to each winning area in the internal lottery table obtained from the internal lottery table storage means 192, and when the result of the subtraction is a negative value, it determines that the winning area corresponding to the subtracted lottery value number has been won. Also, when the result of the subtraction is a positive value at the time when the internal lottery means 120 has finished subtracting all the lottery value numbers stored in the internal lottery table, it determines that none of the roles have been won.

[0072] The random number generating means 110 of the first embodiment is configured to generate a total of 65536 random numbers from 0 to 65535 as random numbers used in the internal lottery. As shown in Fig. 3, in the internal lottery table A, the total number of lottery values ​​associated with the winning area "RBB" to the winning area "Normal Replay 1" is 65536, and in the internal lottery table B, the total number of lottery values ​​associated with the winning area "RBB & 1 coin role" to the winning area "Normal Replay 1" is 65536. Therefore, in the internal lottery in the non-RT state or the bonus establishment state, any role will be won, and no non-winning role will be won.

[0073] <Bonus winning judgment process> As described above, in the internal lottery means 120 of the first embodiment, in the bonus establishment state, the lottery value number is set in the winning area "RBB & 1 piece role". Therefore, in the internal lottery means 120, in the internal lottery when the gaming state is the bonus establishment state, since there is a possibility that the RBB will be won again in the state where the RBB has already been set to the establishment state, in order not to set the newly won RBB to the establishment state, it is configured to execute the bonus winning judgment process to judge whether the winning area determined by the random number judgment process is a winning area including a bonus.

[0074] In the bonus winning determination process, when the random number determination process determines that the winning area including the bonus is the target for determining whether or not the bonus has been won, the internal lottery means 120 executes a process to skip the process of setting the bonus to the winning state when the winning area including the bonus is won and the game state is the bonus winning state. In this way, the slot machine 1 prevents a new RBB from being set to the winning state when the RBB has already been set to the winning state.

[0075] <Arrangement of designs> 4 is a diagram showing each symbol arranged on the periphery of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a white 7 symbol "white 7", a BAR symbol "BAR", a replay symbol "RP", a bell A symbol "BLA", a bell B symbol "BLB", a cherry symbol "CH", a watermelon symbol "WM", a blank A symbol "BKA", a blank B symbol "BKB" and a blank C symbol "BKC" are arranged on the periphery of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3. In addition, 20 symbols are arranged on each of the periphery of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3.

[0076] In the first embodiment, the BAR symbol "BAR" and the white 7 symbol "white 7" have a width wider than the other symbols when viewed from the front, and are configured as symbols with higher visibility than the other symbols during the rotation of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3. Also, in the first embodiment, the BAR symbol "BAR" is configured with a red image, and the white 7 symbol "white 7" is configured with a white image.

[0077] <Reel control means> In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, in any game state, the priority order of the winning combinations to be stopped on the pay line L1 in the reel stop control is set in the order of "replay>small combination>bonus." In other words, when a bonus and a small combination or a bonus and a replay are won in combination, the reel control means 130 executes stop control to give priority to the bonus and win the small combination or the replay.

[0078] <Small prize payout> In the first embodiment, the payouts for Bell A to Bell L are set to a payout number (13) that is greater than the prescribed number of insertions (3). The payouts for Rare A are set to a payout number (3) that is the same as the prescribed number of insertions. The payouts for 1-piece A1 to 1-piece G4, special small symbol A, and special small symbol B are set to a payout number (1) that is less than the prescribed number of insertions.

[0079] <Small prize winning combination> 5 to 7 are diagrams showing winning symbol combinations of Bell A to Bell L, 1 coin combination A1 to 1 coin combination G4, rare combination A, special small combination A, and special small combination B. First, Bell A to Bell L will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0080] As shown in Figure 4, the left reel R1 has bell A symbols "BLA" arranged at intervals of 4 frames or less, and watermelon symbols "WM" arranged at intervals of 4 frames or less. Also, the left reel R1 has cherry symbols "CH" or blank B symbols "BKB" arranged at intervals of 4 frames or less.

[0081] In addition, on the center reel R2, bell A symbols "BLA" are arranged at intervals of 4 frames or less, bell B symbols "BLB" are arranged at intervals of 4 frames or less, and replay symbols "RP" are arranged at intervals of 4 frames or less. In addition, on the center reel R2, watermelon symbols "WM" or cherry symbols "CH" are arranged at intervals of 4 frames or less.

[0082] In addition, on the right reel R3, bell A symbols "BLA" are arranged at intervals of 4 frames or less, watermelon symbols "WM" are arranged at intervals of 4 frames or less, and cherry symbols "CH" or blank B symbols "BKB" are arranged at intervals of 4 frames or less on the right reel R3.

[0083] Due to this configuration, Bells A to L, which are composed of the winning pattern combination shown in Figure 5, are configured to be able to stop and display the patterns that make up the winning pattern combination on the activated line L1 when the first stop operation is executed at a press timing (described later) that is set to enable a win.

[0084] Next, the 1-coin roles A1 to G4 will be explained with reference to Figs. 4 to 6. As shown in Fig. 4, the left reel R1 has a BAR symbol "BAR" arranged on the frame with stop number 4, and a blank C symbol "BKC" arranged on the frame with stop number 19. Also, the left reel R1 has a blank A symbol "BKA" arranged on the frame with stop number 9, and a white 7 symbol "white 7" arranged on the frame with stop number 14.

[0085] Therefore, on the left reel R1, the pull-in range in which the BAR symbol "BAR" or the blank C symbol "BKC" can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 is the range of 10 frames out of 20 frames from the replay symbol "RP" at stop number 8 to the cherry symbol "CH" at stop number 0 and the blank C symbol "BKC" at stop number 19. Also, the pull-in range in which the white 7 symbol "white 7" or the blank A symbol "BKA" can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 is the range of 10 frames out of 20 frames from the replay symbol "RP" at stop number 18 to the blank A symbol "BKA" at stop number 9, and is composed of a range that does not overlap with the pull-in range of the BAR symbol "BAR" or the blank C symbol "BKC".

[0086] On the center reel R2, the BAR symbol "BAR" is arranged on the frame with stop number 4, and the blank A symbol "BKA" is arranged on the frame with stop number 9. Also, on the center reel R2, the white 7 symbol "white 7" is arranged on the frame with stop number 14, and the blank C symbol "BKC" is arranged on the frame with stop number 19.

[0087] Therefore, in the center reel R2, the pull-in range in which the BAR symbol "BAR" or the blank A symbol "BKA" can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 is the range of 10 frames out of 20 frames from the bell A symbol "BLA" at stop number 13 to the BAR symbol "BAR" at stop number 4. Also, the pull-in range in which the white 7 symbol "white 7" or the blank C symbol "BKC" can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 is the range of 10 frames out of 20 frames from the bell A symbol "BLA" at stop number 3 to the replay symbol "RP" at stop number 0, and from the blank C symbol "BKC" at stop number 19 to the white 7 symbol "white 7" at stop number 14, and is configured with a range that does not overlap with the pull-in range of the BAR symbol "BAR" or the blank A symbol "BKA".

[0088] On the right reel R3, the BAR symbol "BAR" is arranged on the frame of stop number 4, and the blank A symbol "BKA" is arranged on the frame of stop number 9. Also, on the right reel R3, the white 7 symbol "white 7" is arranged on the frame of stop number 14, and the blank C symbol "BKC" is arranged on the frame of stop number 19.

[0089] Therefore, in the right reel R3, the pull-in range in which the BAR symbol "BAR" or the blank A symbol "BKA" can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 is the range of 10 frames out of 20 frames from the replay symbol "RP" at stop number 13 to the BAR symbol "BAR" at stop number 4. Also, the pull-in range in which the white 7 symbol "white 7" or the blank C symbol "BKC" can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 is the range of 10 frames out of 20 frames from the replay symbol "RP" at stop number 3 to the bell A symbol "BLA" at stop number 0, and from the blank C symbol "BKC" at stop number 19 to the white 7 symbol "white 7" at stop number 14, and is configured as a range that does not overlap with the pull-in range of the BAR symbol "BAR" or the blank A symbol "BKA".

[0090] As shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 7, the winning symbol combinations of 1 coin role A1 to 1 coin role G4 are composed of the symbols on the left reel R1 being a bell A symbol "BLA", a BAR symbol "BAR", a blank C symbol "BKC", a white 7 symbol "white 7", and a blank A symbol "BKA", and the symbols on the center reel R2 are composed of the bell A symbol "BLA", a bell B symbol "BLB", a BAR symbol "BAR", a white 7 symbol "white 7", a blank A symbol "BKA", a blank C symbol "BKC", and a blank A symbol "BKA". It is composed of either the symbol "BAR" and a blank A symbol "BKA", or the white 7 symbol "white 7" and a blank C symbol "BKC", and the symbols on the right reel R3 are composed of either the bell A symbol "BLA", a watermelon symbol "WM", a BAR symbol "BAR", a white 7 symbol "white 7", a blank A symbol "BKA", a blank C symbol "BKC", a BAR symbol "BAR" and a blank A symbol "BKA", a white 7 symbol "white 7" and a blank C symbol "BKC".

[0091] Due to this configuration, the slot machine 1 is configured so that the winning probability is 1 / 4 for a 1-coin role in which the winning symbol combination is composed of symbols on the middle reel R2 and the right reel R3 that are composed of a pull-in range of 10 frames out of 20 frames, such as the 1-coin role A1 in which the winning symbol combination is composed of "BLA-BAR(BKA)-BAR(BKA)", and the winning probability is 1 / 8 for a 1-coin role in which the winning symbol combination is composed of symbols on the middle reel R2 or the right reel R3 that are composed of a non-listen range of 5 frames out of 20 frames, such as the 1-coin role B1 in which the winning symbol combination is composed of "BAR(BKC)-BLA-BAR".

[0092] Next, the special small win A and the special small win B will be explained with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 7, the winning symbol combination of the special small win A is composed of "WM-ANY-RP", and the left reel R1 and the right reel R3 are composed of symbols that can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 regardless of the timing of pressing the stop button B1 and the stop button B3, and the winning symbol combination of the center reel R2 is composed of any symbol (ANY) among all symbols arranged on the center reel R2. The winning symbol combination of the special small win B is composed of "WM-RP-ANY", and the left reel R1 and the center reel R2 are composed of symbols that can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 regardless of the timing of pressing the stop button B1 and the stop button B2, and the winning symbol combination of the right reel R3 is composed of any symbol (ANY) among all symbols arranged on the right reel R3.

[0093] Due to this configuration, in the slot machine 1, when the symbol combination "WM-RP-RP" is displayed on the activated line L1, both the winning symbol combination "WM-ANY-RP" for special minor win A and the winning symbol combination "WM-RP-ANY" for special minor win B are displayed, resulting in a winning combination of both special minor win A and special minor win B.

[0094] <Game state transition control means> FIG. 8 is a state transition diagram showing game states to which a transition can be made from each game state in the control relating to the transition of the game state executed by the game state transition control means 170 of the first embodiment.

[0095] As shown in Fig. 8, the non-RT state is a gaming state (initial gaming state, normal gaming state) that corresponds to the initial state among a plurality of gaming states, and is a non-bonus state in which a bonus is not activated or established. In the non-RT state, the gaming state transition control means 170 causes the internal lottery means 120 to execute an internal lottery using the internal lottery table A in which the probability of winning a replay is set to approximately 1 / 7.3.

[0096] The bonus establishment state is a gaming state that transitions when winning in the internal lottery in the non-RT state in either the winning area "RBB" or the winning area "RBB & 1 winning combination", and RBB is set to the established state. In the bonus establishment state, the game state transition control means 170 causes the internal lottery means 120 to execute an internal lottery using the internal lottery table B in which the winning probability of replay is set to approximately 1 / 7.3.

[0097] The bonus state is a gaming state that transitions when RBB wins and RBB activates. In the bonus state, the game state transition control means 170 determines whether the end condition of the activated RBB is satisfied based on the total number of medals paid out, and when more than a predetermined number of payouts (for example, 100 medals) are paid out, ends the activation of RBB to end the bonus state and transitions the game state to the non-RT state which is the non-bonus state. In the bonus state, the game state transition control means 170 causes the internal lottery means 120 to execute an internal lottery using the internal lottery table C. Details of the bonus state will be described later.

[0098] <AT control means> FIG. 9 is a state transition diagram showing details of the normal section and the advantageous section controlled by the AT control means 200 of the first embodiment, and the effect state controlled during the advantageous section.

[0099] As described above, the normal section is a period in which control related to the auxiliary game based on the result of the internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120 is configured to be inexecutable. The AT control means 200 executes an advantageous section lottery, which is a lottery to determine whether to end the normal section and start the advantageous section based on the winning area won in the internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120, in the game during the normal section.

[0100] In the advantageous zone lottery, the AT control means 200 first obtains an advantageous zone transition lottery table, which is a data table in which "start of advantageous zone" and "miss (no win)" are associated with each of a plurality of random numbers, from the AT control data storage means 197. Then, the AT control means 200 obtains a random number from the random number generation means 110, compares the obtained random number with the advantageous zone transition lottery table, and determines whether or not to start an advantageous zone based on the comparison result.

[0101] The AT control means 200 executes the advantageous zone lottery so that the probability obtained by multiplying the winning probability of the winning area selected in the internal lottery by the winning probability of the "start of the advantageous zone" in the advantageous zone lottery is 1 / 17500 or more.

[0102] The AT control means 200 of the first embodiment is configured to execute a favorable zone lottery when a winning area other than the winning area "normal replay 2" is won in the internal lottery in the non-RT state or the bonus establishment state, and not to execute a favorable zone lottery when the winning area "normal replay 2" is won in the non-RT state or the bonus establishment state, or when a winning area that can be won in the internal lottery in the bonus state is won. Also, the AT control means 200 executes a favorable zone lottery that wins the "start of the favorable zone" with a high probability of about 1 / 1.5.

[0103] In the advantageous zone, the AT control means 200 has a normal state, a premonition state, a first CZ state, a second CZ state, a first pseudo bonus state, and a second pseudo bonus state as states (presentation states) related to the instruction function, and is configured not to execute the winning assistance of bells A to L when the winning area "batting order bell 1A" to the winning area "batting order bell 12A" and the winning area "batting order bell 1B" to the winning area "batting order bell 12B" are won in the normal state and the premonition state, and is configured to execute the winning assistance of bells A to L when the winning area "batting order bell 1A" to the winning area "batting order bell 12A" and the winning area "batting order bell 1B" to the winning area "batting order bell 12B" are won in the first CZ state, the second CZ state, the first pseudo bonus state, and the second pseudo bonus state. Also, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment is configured so that the staying ratio of the advantageous zone in the entire game can be 70% or more.

[0104] In the first embodiment, when the winning area "batting order chance 1A" to the winning area "batting order chance 4A" are won in the internal lottery in the normal state and the premonition state, the AT control means 200 executes the winning assistance of notifying the player of the batting order (set batting order) that allows the player to win the special small role A and the special small role B, which are operation modes that are advantageous to the player by increasing the number of winning small roles. In addition, when the winning area "batting order chance 1A" to the winning area "batting order chance 4A" are won in the internal lottery in the state in which the winning assistance of Bell A to Bell L can be executed, the AT control means 200 executes the winning assistance of notifying the player of the batting order (non-set batting order) that allows the player to win the bell A, bell B, bell G, and bell H, which are operation modes that are advantageous to the player by increasing the number of medals paid out in the case of winning. Details of the winning assistance when the winning area "batting order chance 1A" to the winning area "batting order chance 4A" are won will be described later.

[0105] Also, as described above, when a specific ending condition is met, namely, when 1500 games have been played in the advantageous zone as the specified number of times, i.e., when the stored value of the first advantageous zone counter 197a becomes the value "1500", or when the difference in the number of medals in the advantageous zone from the point where the stored value of the second advantageous zone counter 197b becomes the lowest point exceeds the specified difference of 2400 medals, i.e., when the stored value of the second advantageous zone counter 197b becomes the value "2401" or more, the AT control means 200 executes a predetermined initialization process which is a process of initializing information relating to the advantageous zone, and a predetermined ending process which ends the advantageous zone and starts the normal zone from the next game.

[0106] The normal state is a presentation state (normal presentation state) that corresponds to the initial state among a plurality of presentation states. In the first embodiment, the AT control means 200 has a normal mode as a variable used when executing various controls related to the auxiliary game in the normal state.

[0107] The normal mode is composed of five types of modes, the first normal mode to the fifth normal mode, and the modes are arranged in the following order: first normal mode < second normal mode < third normal mode < fourth normal mode < fifth normal mode, in which control advantageous to the player is executed. When starting the second CZ state, the AT control means 200 executes a mode setting process to set the normal mode, and in the normal state executed after the end of the CZ state or the AT state, executes various controls using the normal mode set in the mode setting process.

[0108] In the mode setting process, the AT control means 200 first determines whether the condition for setting the fifth normal mode is met. In the first embodiment, the AT control means 200 determines that the condition for setting the fifth normal mode is met when the AT state that was executed before the transition to the normal state ends after three sets of the second pseudo bonus state described below are executed.

[0109] When the AT control means 200 determines that the condition for setting the fifth normal mode is not satisfied, it executes a fourth normal mode lottery to determine whether or not to set the fourth normal mode, and when it determines that the fourth normal mode is to be set, it sets the fourth normal mode as the normal mode. On the other hand, when it determines that the fourth normal mode is not to be set in the fourth normal mode lottery, the AT control means 200 adds a value "1" to the stored value of the AT lottery reference value counter 197e that stores the AT lottery reference value, which is a value referenced when determining the pseudo bonus state to be executed in the AT state, and executes a third normal mode lottery to determine whether or not to set the third normal mode.

[0110] If the AT control means 200 determines in the third normal mode lottery to set the third normal mode, it sets the third normal mode as the normal mode, and if it determines in the third normal mode lottery not to set the third normal mode, it adds a value of "1" to the stored value of the AT lottery reference value counter 197e and executes a second normal mode lottery to determine whether or not to set the second normal mode.

[0111] If the AT control means 200 determines in the second normal mode lottery to set the third normal mode, it sets the second normal mode as the normal mode, and if it determines in the second normal mode lottery not to set the second normal mode, it adds a value "1" to the stored value of the AT lottery reference value counter 197e and sets the first normal mode as the normal mode.

[0112] By executing the mode setting process, the AT control means 200 can set the normal mode to be used in the normal state, and can also set an AT lottery reference value to be referenced when determining the pseudo bonus state to be executed in the AT state.

[0113] In addition, the AT control means 200 stores the AT lottery reference value in the AT lottery reference value counter 197e depending on the results of the second normal mode lottery to the fourth normal mode lottery. In other words, both the normal mode used in the normal state and the AT lottery reference value used in the AT state are set in a mode setting process executed based on the start of the second CZ state. This allows the information used for control in the AT state and the information used for control in the normal state to be set in a process triggered by a single trigger, thereby reducing the program capacity, and also allows control of the content corresponding to the control in the AT state granted as a bonus to be executed in the normal state executed after the bonus ends, thereby enabling the playability in the normal state transitioned from the AT state to be associated with the AT state, thereby enhancing playability.

[0114] In the first embodiment, the normal mode set in the mode setting process is configured to be set with different probabilities for each set value stored in the set value storage means 191. Specifically, in the mode setting process, if the set value stored in the set value storage means 191 is setting 1, the first normal mode is set with a probability of about 90%, the second normal mode is set with a probability of about 7%, the third normal mode is set with a probability of about 2%, and the fourth normal mode is set with a probability of about 1%. Also, if the set value is setting 6, the first normal mode is set with a probability of about 40%, the second normal mode is set with a probability of about 28%, the third normal mode is set with a probability of about 20%, and the fourth normal mode is set with a probability of about 12%.

[0115] In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the settings 2 to 5 stored in the setting value storage means 191 are configured in a manner similar to the relationship between setting 1 and setting 6, such that the higher the setting value, the higher the probability of being set to the fourth normal mode, and the lower the setting value, the higher the probability of being set to the first normal mode.

[0116] As described above, when the winning area "batting order chance 1A" to the winning area "batting order chance 4A" are won in the internal lottery in the normal state, the AT control means 200 executes the winning assistance of notifying the batting order (set batting order) that allows the special small win A and the special small win B to be won in a duplicated manner. When the winning area "batting order chance 1A" to the winning area "batting order chance 4A" are won in the internal lottery in the normal state and a game is executed in which the stop button B1 to the stop button B3 are pressed in the set batting order, the AT control means 200 executes the AT stock granting lottery that determines whether or not to grant a privilege that allows one set of the first pseudo bonus state or the second pseudo bonus state to be executed when the AT state is transitioned to. When the AT stock granting lottery is won to "stock one set of pseudo bonus state," the AT control means 200 confirms the transition from the second CZ state to the AT state if the presentation state transitions to the second CZ state while continuing the advantageous zone, and makes it possible to execute pseudo bonus states for the number of sets stocked in the AT state to be transitioned to.

[0117] The AT control means 200 executes the following processes in a game in which the normal state is started based on a transition from the CZ state or the AT state to the normal state: a process of setting an initial value to the normal game number counter 197c, which is a counter that counts the number of times the game is played in the normal state and the premonition state; a process of setting an initial value to the waiting game number counter 197d, which is a counter that manages the period during which the normal state and the premonition state are waited without transitioning to the CZ state until the next CZ state is started; and a process of setting the favorable zone end judgment counter 197f to a judgment value used to judge whether or not to end the favorable zone when transitioning from the first CZ state to the second CZ state.

[0118] In the process of setting the initial value of the normal game number counter 197c, the AT control means 200 is configured to set the initial value by referring to the normal mode, and when the first normal mode is set, the initial value is set to a value of "1000", when the second normal mode is set, the initial value is set to a value of "700", when the third normal mode is set, the initial value is set to a value of "500", and when the fourth normal mode or the fifth normal mode is set, the initial value is set to a value of "200". The AT control means 200 executes a decrement update (update process) that subtracts the stored value of the normal game number counter 197c by a value of "1" corresponding to one game every time a game is played in the normal state and the premonition state.

[0119] In addition, the AT control means 200 is configured to execute a normal shortening lottery to determine whether or not to execute shortening control to shorten the number of games from the normal state to the transition to the CZ state via the premonition state by subtracting a larger value from the stored value of the normal game number counter 197c than the update process when the winning area "Rare Role 1", the winning area "Rare Replay 1", or the winning area "Rare Replay 2" is won in the internal lottery.

[0120] When it is determined that the shortened control is to be executed in the normal shortened lottery, the AT control means 200 determines by lottery which of the values ​​"20", "30", "50", "100", and "300" should be subtracted from the normal game number counter 197c, and subtracts the determined value from the stored value of the normal game number counter 197c. The AT control means 200 is configured to subtract the stored value of the normal game number counter 197c in a game in which the shortened control is determined to be executed in the normal shortened lottery.

[0121] Furthermore, when the AT control means 200 executes the shortening control so that the stored value of the normal game number counter 197c becomes a negative value, that is, when subtracting a value that exceeds the stored value of the normal game number counter 197c, the AT control means 200 executes an excess stock lottery to determine whether or not to stock one set of the second pseudo bonus state. In the excess stock lottery, the AT control means 200 executes a lottery in which the larger the value that exceeds the stored value of the normal game number counter 197c is, the more likely it is to win "the stock of one set of the second pseudo bonus state".

[0122] The AT control means 200 executes a CZ transition lottery to determine whether or not to transition to the CZ state in each game in the normal state. In the CZ transition lottery, when the stored value of the normal game number counter 197c is a predetermined value set in each normal mode, the AT control means 200 executes a CZ transition lottery in which the probability of winning "transition to the CZ state" is higher than when the stored value is other values.

[0123] Specifically, when the first normal mode is set, the AT control means 200 executes a CZ transition lottery in which the probability of winning "transition to CZ state" is higher when the stored value of the normal game number counter 197c is the value "200", the value "400", the value "600", or the value "800" than when the stored value is other values, and when the second normal mode is set, the probability of winning "transition to CZ state" is higher when the stored value of the normal game number counter 197c is the value "100", the value "200", the value "300", or the value "400" than when the stored value is other values. When the third normal mode is set, a CZ transition lottery is executed to win "Transition to CZ state" with a higher probability than when the stored value of the normal game number counter 197c is the value "100" or the value "200", and when the fourth normal mode or the fifth normal mode is set, a CZ transition lottery is executed to win "Transition to CZ state" with a higher probability than when the stored value of the normal game number counter 197c is the value "50" or the value "100".

[0124] In the process of setting an initial value to the waiting game number counter 197d, the AT control means 200 sets the initial value to "200" when there is a transition from the CZ state to the normal state. In addition, the AT control means 200 sets the initial value to "200" when not even one set of the second pseudo bonus state has been executed, or when the normal state is started based on a transition from an AT state in which three sets of the second pseudo bonus state have been executed to the normal state. Then, when one or two sets of the second pseudo bonus state have been executed, the AT control means 200 executes a waiting game number lottery to determine one of the values ​​"200", "300", and "400" as the initial value.

[0125] The AT control means 200 executes a decrement update to subtract the stored value of the waiting game number counter 197d by the value "1" corresponding to one game each time a game is played in the normal state and the premonition state, and when the stored value of the waiting game number counter 197d becomes the value "0", it stops subsequent decrement updates until a new initial value is set.

[0126] The AT control means 200 refers to the stored value of the waiting game number counter 197d when the stored value of the normal game number counter 197c becomes the value "0" and when the "transition to CZ state" is won in the CZ transition lottery. When the stored value of the waiting game number counter 197d is the value "1" or more, the AT control means 200 determines that the transition condition to the CZ state is not met until the stored value of the waiting game number counter 197d becomes the value "0", and when the stored value of the waiting game number counter 197d is the value "0", the AT control means 200 determines that the transition condition to the CZ state is met and transitions to the CZ state via the premonition state.

[0127] In addition, the AT control means 200 is configured to be able to execute a premonition transition lottery that determines whether or not to transition the performance state from the normal state to the premonition state even if the transition condition to the CZ state is not satisfied. The AT control means 200 of the first embodiment is configured to execute a premonition transition lottery in every game in the normal state.

[0128] In the process of setting a judgment value in the advantageous period end judgment counter 197f, the AT control means 200 is configured to determine by lottery which value in the range of "300" to "1000" will be set in the advantageous period end judgment counter 197f, and to maintain the determined value until it is initialized or the next setting is made.

[0129] The premonition state is a presentation state to which a transition occurs from the normal state. The AT control means 200 sets a value corresponding to a predetermined number of games (e.g., 10 games) to a premonition game number counter (not shown) of the AT control data storage means 197 at the start of the premonition state, and executes a decrement update to subtract a value "1" corresponding to one game from the stored value of the premonition game number counter each time a game is executed.

[0130] The AT control means 200 executes an AT stock granting lottery when the winning area "batting order chance 1A" to the winning area "batting order chance 4A" are won in the internal lottery in the premonition state, and a game is executed in which the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in the set batting order. When "stocking one set of pseudo bonus state" is won in the AT stock granting lottery, the AT control means 200 confirms the transition from the second CZ state to the AT state if the performance state transitions to the second CZ state while continuing the advantageous zone, and enables the execution of pseudo bonus states for the number of sets stored in the AT state to be transitioned to.

[0131] The AT control means 200 transitions the presentation state from the premonition state to the normal state when the stored value of the premonition game number counter becomes the value "0" for the premonition state that is started when the transition condition to the CZ state is not satisfied. When transitioning from the premonition state to the normal state, the AT control means 200 is configured not to execute the process of setting the initial value of each counter or the process of setting the judgment value that are executed when transitioning from the CZ state or the AT state to the normal state.

[0132] On the other hand, the AT control means 200 transitions the presentation state from the premonition state to the first CZ state when the stored value of the premonition game number counter becomes the value "0" for the premonition state that is started when the transition condition to the CZ state is satisfied. Also, at the start of the premonition state that is started when the transition condition to the CZ state is satisfied, the AT control means 200 compares the stored value of the first advantageous zone counter 197a with the judgment value stored in the advantageous zone end judgment counter 197f, and when the stored value of the first advantageous zone counter 197a is equal to or greater than the judgment value, it determines that the advantageous zone is to be ended when the presentation state is transitioned from the first CZ state to the second CZ state, and when the stored value of the first advantageous zone counter 197a is less than the judgment value, it determines that the advantageous zone is to be continued when the presentation state is transitioned from the first CZ state to the second CZ state.

[0133] As described above, the AT control means 200 is configured to store the judgment value stored in the advantageous zone end judgment counter 197f by lottery, which is a value between "300" and "1000". Therefore, in the slot machine 1, when the CZ state or AT state is shifted to the normal state, the player cannot determine whether the advantageous zone ends after the end of the first CZ state in the next CZ state.

[0134] Furthermore, in the slot machine 1, as described above, when the winning area "Batting Order Chance 1A" through "Batting Order Chance 4A" are won in the internal lottery in the normal state or premonition state, the winning assistance that increases the number of small winning symbols is executed, rather than the winning assistance that maximizes the number of medals paid out in the event of a win. Therefore, in a game in which the winning assistance is executed in the normal state or premonition state, pressing stop button B1 through stop button B3 in a batting order that does not follow the winning assistance will allow more medals to be won than pressing stop button B1 through stop button B3 in a batting order that follows the winning assistance.

[0135] However, the AT control means 200 is configured to execute an AT stock lottery and grant a bonus to the player when the winning area "Batting Order Chance 1A" to winning area "Batting Order Chance 4A" are won in an internal lottery in the normal state or premonition state, and when stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in the batting order according to the winning assistance, and is configured so that if the advantageous zone does not end between the transition from the normal state to the CZ state and the transition from the first CZ state to the second CZ state, it is more advantageous for the player to have one set of pseudo bonus states stocked by the AT stock grant lottery than to win medals by winning Bell A, Bell B, Bell G, and Bell H in the game without following the winning assistance.

[0136] Because of this configuration, if the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment can determine whether the advantageous zone ends when the first CZ state ends after transitioning from the normal state to the CZ state, then if the advantageous zone ends with the end of the first CZ state, a game that does not follow the winning assistance is executed in the normal state or premonition state, and if the advantageous zone does not end even after the first CZ state ends, a game that follows the winning assistance is executed in the normal state or premonition state, is executed. However, by setting the judgment value referenced when determining whether to end the advantageous zone to a value in the range of "300" to "1000" by lottery, the configuration can be configured so that the player cannot determine whether the advantageous zone ends when the first CZ state ends, and this prevents the gaming machine from being tricky.

[0137] The CZ state is a state consisting of two presentation states, the first CZ state and the second CZ state. When transitioning from the premonition state to the CZ state, the AT control means 200 sets the presentation state to the first CZ state.

[0138] The first CZ state is a presentation state that is more advantageous to the player than the normal state, by implementing the following assistance for winning: Bell A to Bell L when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1A" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 12A" and the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1B" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 12B", and the assistance for winning: Bell A, Bell B, Bell G, Bell H when the winning area "Batting Order Chance 1A" to winning area "Batting Order Chance 4A" is won.

[0139] At the start of the first CZ state, the AT control means 200 sets the number of times (for example, 5 times) to be executed for the winning assistance of Bell A to Bell L when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1A" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 12A" and the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1B" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 12B" are won, and the winning assistance of Bell A, Bell B, Bell G, and Bell H when the winning area "Batting Order Chance 1A" to winning area "Batting Order Chance 4A" is won, and performs a decrement update each time a winning assistance is executed, subtracting the value stored in the first CZ winning assistance counter by the value "1", which corresponds to 1 time.

[0140] When the stored value of the CZ winning auxiliary counter becomes the value "0", if the AT control means 200 judged that the advantageous zone would be ended based on the end of the first CZ state in the premonition state before the transition to the first CZ state, it judges that the normal end condition among the end conditions of the advantageous zone is satisfied, and executes a predetermined initialization process which is a process of initializing information about the advantageous zone, and a predetermined end process which ends the advantageous zone and starts the normal zone from the next game. On the other hand, if the AT control means 200 judged that the advantageous zone would be continued even after the end of the first CZ state in the premonition state before the transition to the first CZ state, it transitions the presentation state from the first CZ state to the second CZ state.

[0141] The second CZ state is a presentation state that is more advantageous to the player than the normal state, by implementing the following assistance for winning: Bell A to Bell L when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1A" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 12A" and the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1B" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 12B", and the assistance for winning: Bell A, Bell B, Bell G, Bell H when the winning area "Batting Order Chance 1A" to winning area "Batting Order Chance 4A" is won.

[0142] The AT control means 200 sets a value corresponding to a predetermined number of games (e.g., 20 games) to the second CZ game number counter (not shown) of the AT control data storage means 197 at the start of the second CZ state, and executes a decrement update to subtract the stored value of the second CZ game number counter by the value "1" corresponding to one game each time a game is executed. In addition, the AT control means 200 executes the above-mentioned mode setting process at the start of the second CZ state, sets the normal mode, and sets a reference value to the AT lottery reference value counter 197e.

[0143] If one or more pseudo bonus states have been stored until the second CZ state starts, the AT control means 200 determines to transition to the AT state after the end of the second CZ state. In addition, the AT control means 200 executes a pseudo bonus set number lottery in the second CZ state to determine the number of sets of pseudo bonus states to be executed in the AT state.

[0144] In the first embodiment of the slot machine 1, the pseudo bonus states that can be executed in the AT state are configured to have a maximum of three sets, and the total number of pseudo bonus states stored in one set before the second CZ state is started, plus the number of pseudo bonus states whose execution is determined by a pseudo bonus set number lottery, is configured not to exceed three sets.

[0145] When one or more pseudo bonus states are not stocked and the number of sets for executing the pseudo bonus state is determined to be 0 in the pseudo bonus set number lottery, the AT control means 200 transitions the presentation state from the second CZ state to the normal state after the stored value of the second CZ game number counter becomes the value "0." On the other hand, when one or more pseudo bonus states are stocked or the number of sets for executing the pseudo bonus state is determined to be 1 or more in the pseudo bonus set number lottery, the AT control means 200 executes a pseudo bonus determination lottery to determine whether the pseudo bonus state to be executed in each set in the AT state is the first pseudo bonus state or the second pseudo bonus state.

[0146] In the pseudo bonus determination lottery, the AT control means 200 determines the type of pseudo bonus state to be executed in each of the first to third sets. In addition, the AT control means 200 refers to the reference value stored in the AT lottery reference value counter 197e and acquires a lottery table to be used in the pseudo bonus determination lottery. In the pseudo bonus determination lottery, regardless of the number of pseudo bonus states stocked, it is determined whether the first pseudo bonus state or the second pseudo bonus state is executed in each set when three sets of pseudo bonus states are executed.

[0147] The AT control means 200 determines the details of the pseudo bonus state to be executed in the AT state using the result of the pseudo bonus determination lottery and the number of sets of the pseudo bonus state that has been determined to be executed. For example, when the AT control means 200 determines to execute "the second pseudo bonus state, the first pseudo bonus state, and the first pseudo bonus state" in the pseudo bonus determination lottery and the number of sets of the pseudo bonus state that has been determined to be executed is two sets, first, in the AT state, one set of the second pseudo bonus state is executed, and then one set of the first pseudo bonus state is executed, and then the AT state is terminated.

[0148] The AT state is a state consisting of two presentation states, the first pseudo bonus state and the second pseudo bonus state. The AT control means 200 sets the presentation state to the first set of pseudo bonus states determined in the second CZ state.

[0149] In addition, when the winning area "Rare Role 1", the winning area "Rare Replay 1", the winning area "Rare Replay 2", or the winning area "RBB & 1 Coin Role" is won in the internal lottery during the AT state, the AT control means 200 is configured to execute an AT shortening lottery in the normal state executed after the end of the AT state, in which an initial value of the normal game number counter 197c is set, and then to determine whether or not to execute shortening control to subtract the initial value.

[0150] When it is determined that shortening control is to be executed in the AT shortening lottery in the first pseudo bonus state, the AT control means 200 determines by lottery which of the following values ​​should be subtracted from the normal game number counter 197c: "50", "100", or "300". When it is determined that shortening control is to be executed in the AT shortening lottery in the second pseudo bonus state, the AT control means 200 determines by lottery which of the following values ​​should be subtracted from the normal game number counter 197c: "20", "30", "50", "100", or "300".

[0151] When the number of sets of the pseudo bonus state to be executed is determined to be one or two sets at the start of the AT state, the AT control means 200 executes a second pseudo bonus granting lottery to determine whether or not to add one set of the second pseudo bonus state at the start of the AT state. When "add one set of the second pseudo bonus state" is won in the game in which the second pseudo bonus granting lottery is executed, the AT control means 200 ends the second pseudo bonus granting lottery if the number of sets of the pseudo bonus state scheduled to be executed is three sets, and executes the second pseudo bonus granting lottery again in the next game if the number of sets of the pseudo bonus state scheduled to be executed is two sets. After the game in which the second pseudo bonus granting lottery is executed is finished, the AT control means 200 shifts the presentation state to the scheduled first set of the pseudo bonus state.

[0152] The first pseudo-bonus state is a presentation state that is more advantageous to the player than the normal state by implementing the following: assistance for winning with Bells A to L when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1A" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 12A" and the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1B" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 12B" are won; and assistance for winning with Bells A, B, G, and H when the winning area "Batting Order Chance 1A" to winning area "Batting Order Chance 4A" is won.

[0153] At the start of the first pseudo bonus state, the AT control means 200 generates a freeze that delays the progress of the game based on the start operation of the start lever SL, and causes the reel control means 130 to execute the first drum performance as a drum performance using the left reel R1 to the right reel R3. In the first drum performance, the reel control means 130 starts rotating the left reel R1 to the right reel R3, and after they have rotated at a constant speed, stops the left reel R1, the center reel R2, and the right reel R3 in that order, and displays the BAR symbol "BAR" in the middle of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3. Then, after a predetermined time has passed, the reel control means 130 starts rotating the left reel R1, the center reel R2, and the right reel R3 in that order. The AT control means 200 ends the freeze after the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 have rotated steadily, and enables pressing the stop buttons B1 to B3.

[0154] The AT control means 200 sets a value corresponding to a predetermined difference number (for example, 150) in the first pseudo bonus difference number counter (not shown) of the AT control data storage means 197 at the start of the first pseudo bonus state, and subtracts the stored value of the first pseudo bonus difference number counter by a value corresponding to the difference number each time a game is played. The AT control means 200 determines that the end condition of one set of the first pseudo bonus state has been established in a game in which the stored value of the first pseudo bonus difference number counter becomes a value of "0" or less by subtracting the difference number, and starts a new set of the pseudo bonus state from the next game if the next set of the pseudo bonus state is scheduled, and determines that the end condition of the AT state has been established and transitions from the AT state to the normal state if the current first pseudo bonus state is the last set scheduled.

[0155] The second pseudo-bonus state is a presentation state that is more advantageous to the player than the normal state, by implementing the following: assistance for winning with Bells A to L when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1A" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 12A" and the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1B" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 12B" are won; and assistance for winning with Bells A, B, G, and H when the winning area "Batting Order Chance 1A" to winning area "Batting Order Chance 4A" is won.

[0156] At the start of the second pseudo bonus state, the AT control means 200 generates a freeze that delays the progress of the game based on the start operation of the start lever SL, and causes the reel control means 130 to execute the first drum performance as a drum performance using the left reel R1 to the right reel R3. In the first drum performance, the reel control means 130 starts rotating the left reel R1 to the right reel R3, and after they have rotated at a constant speed, stops the left reel R1, the center reel R2, and the right reel R3 in that order, and displays a white 7 pattern "white 7" in the middle of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3. Then, after a predetermined time has passed, the reel control means 130 starts rotating the left reel R1, the center reel R2, and the right reel R3 in that order. The AT control means 200 ends the freeze after the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 have rotated steadily, and enables pressing the stop buttons B1 to B3.

[0157] The AT control means 200 sets a value corresponding to a predetermined difference number (e.g., 700) in the second pseudo bonus difference number counter (not shown) of the AT control data storage means 197 at the start of the second pseudo bonus state, and subtracts the stored value of the second pseudo bonus difference number counter by a value corresponding to the difference number each time a game is played. The AT control means 200 determines that the end condition of one set of the second pseudo bonus state has been established in a game in which the stored value of the second pseudo bonus difference number counter becomes a value of "0" or less by subtracting the difference number, and starts a new set of the pseudo bonus state from the next game if the next set of the pseudo bonus state is scheduled, and determines that the end condition of the AT state has been established and transitions from the AT state to the normal state if the current first pseudo bonus state is the last set scheduled.

[0158] In this way, the second pseudo bonus state is configured as an effect state in which a greater number of medals can be won than in the first pseudo bonus state, and is configured as the most advantageous state for the player in the slot machine 1.

[0159] 3. Details of the winning pattern of the batting order minor prize As described above, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the winning areas (batting order minor winning patterns) in which the minor winning combination that can be won varies depending on the batting order include winning area "Batting Order Bell 1A" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 12A", winning area "Batting Order Bell 1B" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 12B", and winning area "Batting Order Chance 1A" to winning area "Batting Order Chance 4A".

[0160] <Details of the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1A" ~ "Batting Order Bell 12A", and the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1B" ~ "Batting Order Bell 12B"> First, the winning area "batting order bell 1A" to the winning area "batting order bell 12A" and the winning area "batting order bell 1B" to the winning area "batting order bell 12B" will be described. In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, when the winning area "batting order bell 1A" to the winning area "batting order bell 12A" and the winning area "batting order bell 1B" to the winning area "batting order bell 12B" are won, the control contents of the reel stop control by the reel control means 130 are changed according to the game state, so that the winning combination that can be won is different.

[0161] Fig. 10 is a diagram showing the winning combinations that can be won depending on the batting order of the stop buttons B1 to B3 when the winning area "batting order bell 1A" to the winning area "batting order bell 12A" and the winning area "batting order bell 1B" to the winning area "batting order bell 12B" are won in the non-RT state. As shown in Fig. 10, in the slot machine 1, when the winning area "batting order bell 1A" to the winning area "batting order bell 12A" and the winning area "batting order bell 1B" to the winning area "batting order bell 12B" are won in the internal lottery in the non-RT state, the bells A to L set to a payout (13 coins) greater than the specified number of coins to be inserted do not win, and the 1-coin combinations A1 to G4 set to a payout (1 coin) less than the specified number of coins to be inserted win with the winning probability shown in Fig. 10, regardless of the order of pressing the stop buttons B1 to B3.

[0162] Using the winning area "batting order bell 1A" as an example, the details of the winning probability of 1 coin role A1 to 1 coin role G4 will be explained. As shown in Figure 3, in the winning area "batting order bell 1A", Bell A, 1 coin role A1, 1 coin role A4, 1 coin role C1, and 1 coin role E1 are overlapping wins.

[0163] When the winning area "batting order bell 1A" is won and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in batting order 1 or batting order 2, the reel control means 130 executes the number priority control as the reel stop control based on the fact that the stop button B1 is operated for the first stop, and stops and displays the bell A pattern "BLA" that constitutes the winning pattern combination "BLA-BLA-BLA" of the bell A on the activated line L1. As a result, in the slot machine 1, the winning combinations that can win in the game are limited to the bell A whose winning pattern combination is "BLA-BLA-BLA", the 1-piece role A1 whose winning pattern combination is "BLA-BAR(BKA)-BAR(BKA)", and the 1-piece role A4 whose winning pattern combination is "BLA-white 7(BKC)-white 7(BKC)".

[0164] Next, the reel control means 130 executes the number priority control as the reel stop control based on the second stop operation of the stop button B2 or the stop button B3. When the winning area "batting order bell 1A" is won and the bell A symbol "BLA" is stopped and displayed on the upper row of the left reel R1 constituting the activated line L1, the slot machine 1 displays one symbol combination when the bell A symbol "BLA" is stopped and displayed on the activated line L1 on the center reel R2 or the right reel R3, and displays two symbol combinations when any of the BAR symbol "BAR", blank A symbol "BKA", white 7 symbol "white 7", and blank C symbol "BKC" are stopped and displayed on the activated line L1 on the reel corresponding to the stop button on which the second stop operation was executed.

[0165] As described above, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the pull-in range in which the BAR symbol "BAR" or the blank A symbol "BKA" can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 on the center reel R2 and the right reel R3, and the pull-in range in which the white 7 symbol "WHITE 7" or the blank C symbol "BKC" can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 are set to non-overlapping ranges and to a range of 10 frames out of 20 frames each.

[0166] Due to this configuration, in the slot machine 1, when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1A" is won and stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in batting order 1 or batting order 2, at the time when the second stop operation is executed, the winning combination that can be won in that game is limited to either one of the 1-coin role A1 whose winning symbol combination is "BLA-BAR(BKA)-BAR(BKA)" or the 1-coin role A4 whose winning symbol combination is "BLA-White 7(BKC)-White 7(BKC)".

[0167] In the slot machine 1, for the third stop operation, the symbols constituting the winning symbol combination of the 1-coin role A1 or 1-coin role A4, which are limited to the minor roles that can be won in the game at the time of the second stop operation, are stopped and displayed on the valid line L1, so that the 1-coin role A1 or 1-coin role A4 wins, and the timing of pressing the third stop operation, which makes it possible to win the 1-coin role A1 or 1-coin role A4, is the timing at which symbols in a range of 10 frames out of 20 frames are rotated and displayed on the valid line L1.

[0168] With this configuration, in the slot machine 1, when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1A" is won in the non-RT state and stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in batting order 1 or batting order 2, there is a 1 / 2 probability that a 1-coin role A1 or a 1-coin role A4 will win depending on the timing of pressing the third stop operation, and there is a 1 / 2 probability that a pattern combination different from the winning pattern combination of either role will be displayed on the pay line L1, resulting in a missed win (non-winning).

[0169] In addition, in the slot machine 1, when the winning area "batting order bell 1A" is won in the non-RT state and the stop button B1 to the stop button B3 are pressed in batting order 3 or batting order 4, the number priority control is executed as the reel stop control based on the fact that the stop button B2 is operated to perform the first stop, and the bell B symbol "BLB" which constitutes the winning symbol combination "BAR (BKC)-BLB-BAR (BKA)" of the 1-piece role C1 is stopped and displayed on the activated line L1. As a result, in the slot machine 1, the winning role that can win in the game is limited to the 1-piece role C1 which is composed of the winning symbol combination "BAR (BKC)-BLB-BAR (BKA)".

[0170] As described above, in the slot machine 1, the pull-in range in which the white 7 symbol "WHITE 7" or the blank A symbol "BKA" can be stopped and displayed on the pay line L1 on the left reel R1 is set to a range of 10 out of 20 frames.

[0171] For this reason, in the slot machine 1, the minor winning combination that can be won in that game at the time of the first stop operation is limited to the 1-coin role C1, and the timing of pressing the second stop operation and the timing of pressing the third stop operation that make the 1-coin role C1 win possible are timings at which the patterns in a range of 10 frames out of 20 frames are rotated and displayed on the winning line L1, with a 1 / 4 probability that the 1-coin role C1 will win, and a 3 / 4 probability that a pattern combination different from the winning pattern combination of any of the roles will be displayed on the winning line L1, resulting in a miss (non-winning).

[0172] In addition, in the slot machine 1, when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1A" is won in the non-RT state and stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed at batting order 5 or batting order 6, at the time when stop button B3 is operated to make the first stop, the small winning combination that can be won in that game is limited to the 1-coin role E1, and the timing of pressing the second stop operation and the timing of pressing the third stop operation that make the 1-coin role E1 winnable are each set to a timing at which a range of 10 frames out of 20 frames are rotated and displayed on the active line L1, so there is a 1 / 4 probability that the 1-coin role E1 will win, and a 3 / 4 probability that a pattern combination different from the winning pattern combination of any of the roles will be displayed on the active line L1, resulting in a missed opportunity (non-winning).

[0173] 11 is a diagram showing the winning combinations that can be won by the batting order of the stop buttons B1 to B3 when the winning area "batting order bell 1A" to the winning area "batting order bell 12A" and the winning area "batting order bell 1B" to the winning area "batting order bell 12B" are won in the bonus established state. As shown in FIG. 11, in the slot machine 1, when the winning area "batting order bell 1A" to the winning area "batting order bell 12A" and the winning area "batting order bell 1B" to the winning area "batting order bell 12B" are won in the internal lottery in the bonus established state, the batting order (correct batting order) that can win Bell A to Bell L is set for each winning area.

[0174] In the slot machine 1, if the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1A" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 12A" or the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1B" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 12B" is won, and the batting order of the stop buttons B1 to B3 is the correct batting order, any of the winning Bells A to L will win a prize.

[0175] In addition, in the slot machine 1, if the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1A" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 12A" or the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1B" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 12B" is won and the stop button B1 to stop button B3 are pressed in a batting order different from the correct batting order (incorrect batting order), any of the winning 1-coin roles A1 to G4 will win with the winning probabilities shown in Figure 11.

[0176] <Details of winning areas "Batting Order Chance 1A" to "Batting Order Chance 4A"> Fig. 12 is a diagram showing winning combinations that can be won depending on the batting order of the stop buttons B1 to B3 when the winning areas "batting order chance 1A" to "batting order chance 4A" are won in the non-RT state and the bonus establishment state. As shown in Fig. 12, in the slot machine 1, when the winning areas "batting order chance 1A" to "batting order chance 4A" are won in the internal lottery in the non-RT state and the bonus establishment state, the small winning combinations that can be won in the game at the time when the first stop operation is executed are limited to any one of Bell A, Bell B, Bell G, and Bell H, which are set to a payout of 13 coins, and the special small winning combinations A and B, which are set to a payout of 1 coin each.

[0177] Also, as shown in FIG. 12, in the winning areas "Batting Order Chance 1A" to "Batting Order Chance 4A", the batting orders (non-set batting orders) that allow Bell A, Bell B, Bell G, and Bell H to be won are set to batting orders 1 and 2, in which the stop button B1 is operated to the first stop, and the batting orders (set batting orders) that allow Special Small Winning A and Special Small Winning B to be won are set to batting orders 3 to 6, in which the stop button B2 and stop button B3 are operated to the first stop.

[0178] The details of the reel stop control when the winning areas "Batting Order Chance 1A" to "Batting Order Chance 4A" are won will be described using the winning area "Batting Order Chance 1A". In the slot machine 1, when the winning area "Batting Order Chance 1A" is won and the stop button B1 to the stop button B3 are pressed in the non-set batting order where the stop button B1 is operated to be stopped for the first time, the number-priority control is executed in the reel stop control by the reel control means 130, and the bell A symbol "BLA" constituting the winning symbol combination "BLA-BLA-BLA" of the special small symbol A set to a payout of 1 coin and the bell A set to a payout of 13 coins, which is more than the special small symbol B, is stopped and displayed on the upper row of the left reel R1 constituting the activated line L1, so that the small symbol that can win in the game is limited to the bell A.

[0179] In addition, in the slot machine 1, when the winning area "Batting Order Chance 1A" is won and stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in the set batting order (batting order 3, batting order 4) in which stop button B2 is operated to be stopped for the first time, the bell A symbol "BLA" is displayed as a stopped symbol in the middle row of middle reel R2, making it possible to display two symbol combinations, the winning symbol combination "BLA-BLA-BLA" of bell A and the winning symbol combination "WM-ANY-RP" of special minor feature A on the activated line L1, and the replay symbol "RP" is displayed as a stopped symbol in the middle row of middle reel R2, making it possible to display two symbol combinations, the winning symbol combination "WM-ANY-RP" of special minor feature A and the winning symbol combination "WM-RP-ANY" of special minor feature B on the activated line L1.

[0180] Since the number of winning pattern combinations that can be displayed on the active line L1 when the bell A pattern "BLA" and the replay pattern "RP" are each stopped and displayed in the middle row of the middle reel R2 is the same, the reel control means 130 cannot assign priority between the bell A pattern "BLA" and the replay pattern "RP" by quantity priority control, so it decides to stop and display the replay pattern "RP" on the active line L1 by reel stop control using the stop control table stored in the stop control table storage means 194, and the replay pattern "RP" is stopped and displayed in the middle row of the middle reel R2 that constitutes the active line L1, and the small symbols that can win in the game are limited to the special small symbol A and the special small symbol B.

[0181] In addition, in the slot machine 1, when the winning area "Batting Order Chance 1A" is won and stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in the set batting order (batting order 5, batting order 6) where stop button B3 is the first stop operation, the bell A symbol "BLA" is stopped and displayed on the bottom row of the right reel R3, making it possible to display two symbol combinations, the winning symbol combination "BLA-BLA-BLA" of bell A and the winning symbol combination "WM-RP-ANY" of special minor feature B, on the active line L1, and the replay symbol "RP" is stopped and displayed on the bottom row of the right reel R3, making it possible to display two symbol combinations, the winning symbol combination "WM-ANY-RP" of special minor feature A and the winning symbol combination "WM-RP-ANY" of special minor feature B, on the active line L1.

[0182] Since the number of winning pattern combinations that can be displayed on the active line L1 when the bell A pattern "BLA" and the replay pattern "RP" are each stopped and displayed on the bottom row of the right reel R3 is the same, the reel control means 130 cannot assign priority between the bell A pattern "BLA" and the replay pattern "RP" by quantity priority control, so it decides to stop and display the replay pattern "RP" on the active line L1 by reel stop control using the stop control table stored in the stop control table storage means 194, and the replay pattern "RP" is stopped and displayed in the middle row of the right reel R3 that constitutes the active line L1, and the small symbols that can win in that game are limited to the special small symbol A and the special small symbol B.

[0183] Then, when the winning area "batting order chance 1A" is won and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in the set batting order of batting order 3 to batting order 6, the slot machine 1 executes reel stop control in which the watermelon symbol "WM" is stopped and displayed on the upper row of the left reel R1 by pressing the stop button B1, and the replay symbol "RP" is stopped and displayed on the middle row of the center reel R2 and the lower row of the right reel R3, and the symbol combination "WM-RP-RP" is stopped and displayed on the activated line L1. As described above, the winning symbol combination of the special small role A is "WM-ANY-RP", and since the winning symbol combination is composed of any symbol (ANY) among all the symbols arranged on the center reel R2, the replay symbol "RP" is also included as one of the any symbols, so the "WM-RP-RP" displayed on the activated line L1 also constitutes the winning symbol combination of the special small role A. In addition, the winning symbol combination for special minor feature B is "WM-RP-ANY," and since the winning symbol combination is composed of any symbol (ANY) among all symbols arranged on the right reel R3, the replay symbol "RP" is also included as one of the any symbols, and therefore "WM-RP-RP" displayed on the activated line L1 also constitutes the winning symbol combination for special minor feature B.

[0184] In other words, the symbol combination "WM-RP-RP" stopped and displayed on the pay line L1 is a symbol combination that satisfies either the winning symbol combination of the special minor win A or the winning symbol combination of the special minor win B. As a result, in the slot machine 1, when the symbol combination "WM-RP-RP" is stopped and displayed on the pay line L1, the two minor wins, the special minor win A and the special minor win B, overlap and win (double win).

[0185] 4. Relationship between the probability of winning small prizes in each game state <Probability of winning a small prize in a non-bonus state and probability of winning a small prize in a bonus state> Next, we will explain in detail the relationship between the probability of winning a small prize in a gaming state (non-bonus state) in which the bonus in the non-RT state and bonus establishment state is not activated, and the probability of winning a small prize in the bonus state in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment.

[0186] As shown in FIG. 3, in the internal lottery table C, random numbers are associated with a winning area "all small roles" in which all small roles including Bell A to Bell L, special small roles A, special small roles B, 1-coin roles A1 to 1-coin roles G4, and rare roles A are multiple wins, and a winning area "all 1-coin roles" in which small roles with a payout set to 1, excluding special small roles A and special small roles B from 1-coin roles A1 to 1-coin roles G4, are multiple wins.

[0187] The non-bonus state and the bonus state will be described in detail with reference to Figures 3, 11, and 12. In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, in the bonus state in which the internal lottery table C is selected, the winning probability of the winning area "all small roles" is 5129 / 65536 (about 1 / 12.8), and the winning probability of the winning area "all 1-coin roles" is 51430 / 65536 (about 1 / 1.3), so the winning probability of the winning area "all small roles" or the winning area "all 1-coin roles" is 56559 / 65536 (about 1 / 1.2).

[0188] In addition, in the slot machine 1, the probability of winning in any of the winning areas including the small prize in the internal lottery table selected in the non-bonus state, that is, the internal lottery table A or the internal lottery table B, is 56554 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 1.2).

[0189] For this reason, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment is configured so that the probability of winning a small prize in the bonus state is higher than the probability of winning a small prize in the non-bonus state.

[0190] In addition, in the bonus state, the winning probability of each of the 1-piece roles A1 to G4 is 56559 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 1.2) because the winning area of ​​the 1-piece roles A1 to G4 is included in both the winning area "all small roles" and the winning area "all 1-piece roles" in the bonus state. Therefore, the winning probability of each of the 1-piece roles A1 to G4 in the bonus state is higher than the winning probability of each of the 1-piece roles A1 to G4 in the non-bonus state.

[0191] In addition, in the bonus state, Bell A to Bell L, Special Small Symbol A, Special Small Symbol B, and Rare Symbol A are included in the winning area "All Small Symbols", and the winning probability of Bell A to Bell L, Special Small Symbol A, Special Small Symbol B, and Rare Symbol A is 5129 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 12.8).

[0192] In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the winning probability of Bell A is 2716 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 24.1) because Bell A is included in the winning area "batting order Bell 1A", the winning area "batting order Bell 1B", and the winning area "batting order chance 1A" in the non-bonus state, and the winning probability of Bell A is configured to be higher in the bonus state than in the non-bonus state. In addition, the slot machine 1 is configured such that Bell B, Bell G, and Bell H, which have the same winning probability in the non-bonus state as Bell A, have a higher winning probability in the bonus state than in the non-bonus state.

[0193] In addition, in the slot machine 1, since the winning area "batting order bell 3A" and the winning area "batting order bell 3B" are included in the non-bonus state, the winning probability of the bell C is 3900 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 16.8), and the winning probability of the bell C is higher in the bonus state than in the non-bonus state. In addition, in the slot machine 1, the winning probability of the bells D to F and the bells I to L, which have the same winning probability in the non-bonus state as the bell C, is also higher in the bonus state than in the non-bonus state.

[0194] In addition, in the slot machine 1, the special small role A is configured to be included in each of the winning areas "batting order chance 1A" to "batting order chance 4A" in the non-bonus state, so the winning probability of the special small role A is 2464 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 26.6), and the winning probability of the special small role A is configured to be higher in the bonus state than in the non-bonus state. In addition, in the slot machine 1, the special small role B, which has the same winning probability as the special small role A in the non-bonus state, is also configured to be higher in the bonus state than in the non-bonus state.

[0195] In the slot machine 1, the rare role A is configured to be included in the winning area "rare role 1" in the non-bonus state, so the winning probability of the rare role A is 790 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 83.0), and the winning probability of the rare role A is configured to be higher in the bonus state than in the non-bonus state.

[0196] That is, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the probability of winning each of all the small winning combinations in the bonus state is set to be higher than the probability of winning each of all the small winning combinations in the non-bonus state.

[0197] In addition, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the probability of winning any of Bell A to Bell L, which are set to a payout of 13 coins, in the non-bonus state, i.e., the sum of the winning probabilities of each of Bell A to Bell L, is 42064 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 1.6), which is the sum of the winning probabilities of the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1A" to "Batting Order Bell 12A", "Batting Order Bell 1B" to "Batting Order Bell 12B", and "Batting Order Chance 1A" to "Batting Order Chance 4A". This is a higher probability of winning any of Bell A to Bell L in the bonus state, i.e., the winning probability of the winning area "All Small Roles", which is 5129 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 12.8).

[0198] In this way, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment has a plurality of first winning patterns (winning area "batting order bell 1A" to winning area "batting order bell 12A", winning area "batting order bell 1B" to winning area "batting order bell 12B") in which a plurality of types of first minor roles (Bell A to Bell L) set to a payout greater than the amount of game value inserted required to start playing do not overlap with each other and are overlappingly won with a second minor role different from the first minor role, and a third winning pattern (winning area "all minor roles") in which a plurality of types of first minor roles are overlappingly won, and the internal lottery means 120 is configured to perform an internal lottery so that a plurality of types of first winning patterns exist in the normal game state (non-RT state) and bonus establishment state, and to perform an internal lottery so that a third winning pattern exists in the bonus state. In addition, in the slot machine 1, the probability of winning the third winning mode in the internal lottery in the bonus state is lower than the probability of winning any of the multiple first winning modes in the internal lottery in the normal game state and the bonus establishment state, and the winning probability of each of all minor roles in the internal lottery in the bonus state is configured to be equal to or higher than the winning probability of each of all minor roles in the internal lottery in the normal game state and the bonus establishment state.

[0199] Therefore, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the expected value of the medal acquisition rate in the bonus state is less than 100%.

[0200] Here, when the bonus is established, when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1A" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 12A", or the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1B" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 12B", is won, the configuration is such that Bells A to L cannot win unless Stop Button B1 to Stop Button B3 are pressed in the correct batting order. Therefore, the probability of any of Bells A to L winning is limited to when Stop Button B1 to Stop Button B3 are pressed in the correct batting order out of the six types of batting orders. Therefore, the probability of any of Bells A to L winning when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1A" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 12A", or the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1B" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 12B" is won is set to 1 / 6.

[0201] On the other hand, when an AT game is executed in which the AT control means 200 provides winning assistance, the correct batting order is announced when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1A" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 12A" and the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1B" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 12B" are won, making it possible to ensure that Bells A to L will win, thereby increasing the probability of any of Bells A to L winning by up to six times compared to when the winning assistance is not provided.

[0202] In this way, in the first embodiment, 12 types of winning combinations (specific combinations) are set, from Bell A to Bell L, which pay out more medals than the specified number of medals when the stop operation is performed in the correct hitting order. The probability of obtaining a winning combination including a specific combination in the bonus state is compressed to about 1 / 6 of the probability of obtaining a winning combination including a specific combination in a game state other than the bonus state.

[0203] <Details of the bell that can win in batting order 1 and batting order 2> As shown in Fig. 11 and Fig. 12, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the bell A is configured to win when the winning area "batting order bell 1A" or the winning area "batting order bell 1B" is won in the internal lottery in the bonus establishment state and the stop button B1 to the stop button B3 are pressed in the batting order 1, and when the winning area "batting order chance 1A" is won in the internal lottery in the non-bonus state and the stop button B1 to the stop button B3 are pressed in the batting order 1 or the batting order 2. The winning probability of the bell A is set to 2716 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 24.1), which is lower than the probability of the bells C to F and the bells I to L, which are set in the batting order 3 to the batting order 6 as the correct batting order.

[0204] With this configuration, in the slot machine 1, in the internal lottery in the non-bonus state, for Bell A, in addition to the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1A" and the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1B", the winning area "Batting Order Chance 1A" is also won. However, since the combined winning probability of the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1A", the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1B", and the winning area "Batting Order Chance 1A" is lower than the winning probability of the 13-coin minor prize that can be won when stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in the correct batting order, such as Bell C to Bell F and Bell I to Bell L, it does not affect the design of the winning probability of the winning area "All Minor Prizes" in the bonus state.

[0205] In addition, in slot machine 1, the correct batting order is set to batting order 1 or batting order 2, and the winning probabilities of Bell B, Bell G, and Bell H, which are also included in the winning areas "Batting Order Chance 2A" to "Batting Order Chance 4A," are the same as those of Bell A.

[0206] With this configuration, when the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment compresses the probability of obtaining a winning combination including a specific role in the bonus state, it is possible to compress the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1A", "Batting Order Bell 2A", "Batting Order Bell 7A", "Batting Order Bell 8A", "Batting Order Bell 1B", "Batting Order Bell 2B", "Batting Order Bell 7B", and "Batting Order Bell 8B", as well as Bell A, Bell B, Bell G, and Bell H which are also included in the winning areas "Batting Order Chance 1A" to "Batting Order Chance 4A". This makes it possible to design the medal acquisition performance for AT play while lowering the lower limit of the medal acquisition rate in the bonus state to less than 100%, thereby dramatically improving the design freedom of the slot machine 1 with AT function.

[0207] Bell A, Bell B, Bell G, and Bell H each constitute the first specific minor role in the first embodiment, Bells C to F and Bells I to L each constitute the second specific minor role in the first embodiment, the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1A", the winning area "Batting Order Bell 2A", the winning area "Batting Order Bell 7A", the winning area "Batting Order Bell 8A", the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1B", the winning area "Batting Order Bell 2B", the winning area "Batting Order Bell 7B", and the winning area "Batting Order Bell 8B" each constitute the first specific winning pattern in the first embodiment, and the winning area "Batting Order Bell 3A" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 6A", the winning area "Batting Order Bell 9A" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 12A", the winning area "Batting Order Bell 3B" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 6B", and the winning area "Batting Order Bell 9B" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 12B" each constitute the second specific winning pattern in the first embodiment.

[0208] 5. Details of the shortening control Next, the details of the performance executed by the performance control means 180 of the first embodiment will be described.

[0209] <Normal state> Figure 13 is a diagram explaining the details of the presentation in the normal state executed by the presentation control means 180 of the first embodiment, where Figure 13(A) is a diagram showing the presentation in the normal state when no shortening control is being executed by the AT control means 200, Figure 13(B) is a diagram showing a presentation notifying the execution of one shortening control by the AT control means 200 in the normal state, and Figure 13(C) is a diagram showing a presentation notifying the execution of eight shortening controls by the AT control means 200 in the normal state when the normal state continues without transitioning to a premonition state.

[0210] As shown in FIG. 13(A), when the presentation state controlled by the AT control means 200 is normal, the presentation control means 180 of the first embodiment displays a game count counter display 330a, which is a display corresponding to the number of games executed before transitioning to the CZ state, in the upper right corner when viewed from the front of the display device 330, and displays an icon display area 330b, which is capable of displaying an icon indicating the execution of shortened control by the AT control means 200, in the lower part when viewed from the front of the display device 330.

[0211] The presentation control means 180 displays, for the number of times play counter display 330a, a number of times play corresponding to the stored value of the normal game number presentation counter 196a in the presentation control data storage means 196, and a gauge display in which the scale progresses each time the stored value of the normal game number presentation counter 196a increases by a predetermined value (for example, the value "10").

[0212] The counter 196a for normal game number presentation is set to a value of "0" as an initial value when the state transitions from the CZ state or AT state to the normal state, and is an increment-updated counter in which a value of "1", which corresponds to one game, is added each time a game is played.

[0213] The presentation control means 180 is configured to notify, in the gauge display, the number of games played corresponding to the stored value of the normal game number counter 197c that increases the probability of winning the "transition to CZ state" in the CZ transition lottery.

[0214] Specifically, when the first normal mode is set as the normal mode, the presentation control means 180 uses a gauge display to notify that the probability of winning the "Transition to CZ state" in the CZ transition lottery is high when the stored value of the normal game count counter 197c, which is set to a value of "1000" as an initial value and is decremented by "1" each game, is "200", "400", "600", or "800", and therefore, when the 200th, 400th, 600th, or 800th game is played in the normal state, there is a high probability of winning the "Transition to CZ state" in the CZ transition lottery, and a game that is likely to transition to the CZ state is being played.

[0215] In addition, the presentation control means 180 is configured to display a predetermined icon (a star-shaped icon in the example shown in Figure 13 (A)) at the top of the gauge display as a presentation to notify that a game has been played that has a high probability of winning the ``transition to CZ state'' in the CZ transition lottery.

[0216] As shown in Fig. 13(B), the presentation control means 180 displays a shortened notification icon 330c in the icon display area 330b to notify the execution of shortened control by the AT control means 200. As shown in Fig. 13(B), the shortened notification icon 330c is an icon that notifies the presence or absence of execution of shortened control, and is configured not to notify in the normal state of the stored value of the normal game number counter 197c shortened by the shortened control, that is, the specific value shortening the set period set as the period during which the normal state will continue as a result of the shortened control.

[0217] Also, as shown in FIG. 13(B), the presentation control means 180 controls the normal game number presentation counter 196a not to update with a value equivalent to the number of games played shortened by the execution of shortening control by the AT control means 200 in the game, thereby preventing the player from discerning the period shortened by the shortening control from the number of games played counter display 330a.

[0218] In addition, the presentation control means 180 is configured to, when starting to display the abbreviated notification icon 330c in the icon display area 330b in the normal state, continue to display the abbreviated notification icon 330c until the state transitions to the premonition state, and is configured to enable the player to determine the history of the execution of the abbreviated notification icon 330c until the state transitions to the premonition state based on the number of abbreviated notification icons 330c displayed.

[0219] In addition, the presentation control means 180 is configured not to display the shortcut notification icon 330c notifying the execution of shortcut control by the AT control means 200 when the stored value of the normal game number counter 197c is the value "0" and the stored value of the waiting game number counter 197d is the value "1" or more.

[0220] In addition, the performance control means 180 is configured to display a demo screen indicating that the game is waiting to be played when the game is not played until a certain time has passed, and is configured to display the abbreviated notification icon 330c in the image or video displayed on the demo screen when the display of the demo screen is started in a state where the display of the abbreviated notification icon 330c has already started. In other words, the performance control means 180 is configured to continue displaying the abbreviated notification icon 330c even when the game is not played until a certain time has passed while the display of the abbreviated notification icon 330c (first performance) is being performed and the display of the demo screen (game waiting performance) is started.

[0221] As a result, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, even if a player finishes playing and leaves the slot machine 1 while the abbreviated notification icon 330c is being displayed and the display of the demo screen is started, the abbreviated notification icon 330c is displayed in parallel with the display of the demo screen, so that another player can visually recognize the abbreviated notification icon 330c and determine that the abbreviated control has been executed, thereby increasing the possibility that the other player will resume playing, and the operating rate of the gaming machine can be improved. Note that the performance control means 180 may be configured to display the abbreviated notification icon 330c on an image or video displayed on the demo screen by drawing it on a layer higher than the image or video displayed on the demo screen.

[0222] As shown in Fig. 13(C), when the number of times that the AT control means 200 has executed the shortened control before the premonition state is multiple (eight times in the example shown in Fig. 13(C)), the performance control means 180 performs a display on the display device 330 according to the number of times of execution and the period shortened by each shortened control. For the first to fourth shortened controls, the performance control means 180 displays shortened notification icons 330c in order from the left in the figure in the icon display area 330b. In addition, for the fifth and subsequent shortened controls, the performance control means 180 displays the number of times that the shortened control has been executed by using a shortened number of times display 330d displayed on the right in the icon display area 330b in the figure.

[0223] As shown in FIG. 13(C), the shortened notification icon 330c has a plurality of display modes with different colors, and the expectation of the period shortened by the shortened control is different for each displayed color. In the example shown in FIG. 13(C), the shortened notification icons 330c of yellow, white, blue, and purple are displayed in the icon display area 330b from the left in the figure, and the white shortened notification icon 330c indicates that the period subtracted by the shortened control is most likely to be 20 games, the yellow shortened notification icon 330c indicates that the period subtracted by the shortened control is most likely to be 30 games, the blue shortened notification icon 330c indicates that the period subtracted by the shortened control is most likely to be 50 games, and the purple shortened notification icon 330c indicates that the period subtracted by the shortened control is most likely to be 100 games. For this reason, in the slot machine 1, the color of the shortened notification icon 330c is configured so that the expectation of the shortened period increases in the order of white<yellow<blue<purple.

[0224] In addition, the performance control means 180 is configured to be able to display a special shortened notification icon 330e in the upper left of the figure of the display device 330 when 300 games are shortened by the shortened control. The special shortened notification icon 330e is a purple icon with the letter "S" and is displayed in the upper left of the figure of the display device 330 regardless of the number of shortened notification icons 330c displayed in the icon display area 330b. Note that, in the case where 300 games are shortened by the shortened control, the performance control means 180 is configured to be able to display a purple shortened notification icon 330c in the icon display area 330b without displaying the special shortened notification icon 300e, and is configured to determine by lottery whether to display the shortened notification icon 330c or the special shortened notification icon 330e.

[0225] <Performance during premonition> Figure 14 is a diagram explaining the details of the presentation in the premonition state executed by the presentation control means 180 of the first embodiment, Figure 14(A) is a diagram showing the presentation executed when transitioning to the premonition state from the state shown in Figure 13(C), Figure 14(B) is a diagram showing the presentation in the state where the presentation button PU is pressed four times from the state shown in Figure 14(A), Figure 14(C) is a diagram showing the presentation in the state before the period shortened by the shortening control whose execution was notified by the shortening notification icon 330c is disclosed and the period shortened by the shortening control whose execution was notified by the special shortening notification icon 330e is disclosed, and Figure 14(D) is a diagram showing the presentation in the state where the presentation button PU is pressed from the state shown in Figure 14(C).

[0226] In addition, when the performance control means 180 executes a performance related to a period shortened by the shortening control shown in Figures 14(A) to 14(D), it displays a premonition entry performance that notifies that a premonition state is occurring as the background of the performance related to the period shortened by the shortening control, but is configured to emphasize and display the performance related to the period shortened by the shortening control by setting the brightness of the image or video displayed in the premonition entry performance to a lower brightness than the brightness when the performance related to the period shortened by the shortening control is not being executed.

[0227] As shown in Figure 14 (A), when the presentation state controlled by the AT control means 200 transitions from a normal state to a premonition state, the presentation control means 180 displays up to four abbreviated notification icons 330c that were displayed in the icon display area 330b in the approximate center of the display device 330 in the figure, and displays a presentation button operation display 330f near the bottom of each abbreviated notification icon 330c to encourage the user to press the presentation button PU.

[0228] In addition, when the position where the shortcut notification icon 330c displayed in the icon display area 330b is changed to approximately the center of the display device 330, the performance control means 180 changes the display indicating the execution of shortcut control, which was displayed by the shortcut count display 330d and was not displayed by the shortcut notification icon 330c, to a display using the shortcut notification icon 330c. When changing the display of the shortcut control execution displayed by the shortcut count display 330d to a display using the shortcut notification icon 330c, the performance control means 180 displays the shortcut control execution status in the icon display area 330b, left-justified in the figure, in the order in which the shortcut count display 330d started displaying the execution status of shortcut control. Note that the performance control means 180 is configured to continue displaying the special shortcut notification icon 330e, which was displayed by the special shortcut notification icon 330e, in the upper left corner of the display device 330, without displaying it in the icon display area 330b, as shown in FIG. 14(A).

[0229] As shown in Fig. 14(B), the performance control means 180 changes the display of the performance button operation display 330f to an effect indicating that the performance button PU is pressed (for example, an effect in which the performance button operation display 330f pops or an effect in which the performance button operation display 330f disappears, etc.), and changes the display of the shortening notification icon 330c at the approximate center of the display device 330 to a period notification icon 330g that notifies the shortened period in the shortening control that was notified by the shortening notification icon 330c. In the example shown in Fig. 14(B), the first shortening control shortens by 30 games, the second shortening control shortens by 20 games, the third shortening control shortens by 50 games, and the fourth shortening control shortens by 100 games, so that the four period notification icons 330g notify that the set period managed by the normal game number counter 197c has been shortened by 200 games by the four shortening controls.

[0230] In addition, when the presentation control means 180 changes the display of the shortened notification icon 330c to the display of the period notification icon 330g, the presentation control means 180 adds a value corresponding to the period shortened by each shortened control to the normal game number presentation counter 196a, thereby reflecting the result of the shortened control in the display of the game number counter display 330a. In the example shown in Fig. 14(B), the normal state transitions to the premonition state in a state in which 430 games have been played, and the presentation of the shortened notification icon 330c is changed to the display of the period notification icon 330g for a total of 200 games based on the start of the premonition state, and the display is changed to the content notifying that a game equivalent to 630 games has been played by adding the value "200" to the normal game number presentation counter 196a.

[0231] As shown in FIG. 14(C), after changing all of the shortened notification icons 330c displayed in the icon display area 330b to the period notification icon 330g, the effect control means 180 moves the special shortened notification icon 330e from the upper left in the figure of the display device 330 to approximately the center in the figure and displays it, and displays the effect button operation display 330f near the lower part of the special shortened notification icon 330e. Then, as shown in FIG. 14(D), when the effect button PU is pressed, the effect control means 180 changes the display of the special shortened notification icon 330e at approximately the center of the display device 330 to the period notification icon 330g that notifies the period shortened in the shortening control notified by the special shortened notification icon 330e, and adds a value corresponding to the period shortened by the shortening control to the normal game number effect counter 196a, thereby reflecting the result of the shortening control in the display of the game count counter display 330a.

[0232] In this way, when the special shortened notification icon 330e is displayed in the normal state, the effect control means 180 of the first embodiment changes all of the shortened notification icons 330c displayed in the icon display area 330b to the period notification icon 330g, and then changes the special shortened notification icon 330e to the period notification icon 330g. That is, by finally displaying the result of the shortening control with the highest expectation of being the number of games with a large number of shortened game counts among multiple shortening controls, the player's interest in the effect of notifying the result of a series of shortening controls can be maintained until the end.

[0233] Further, when the effect control means 180 of the first embodiment notifies the execution of multiple shortening controls by displaying a plurality of shortened notification icons 330c and special shortened notification icons 330e until transitioning to the precursor state, based on the transition to the precursor state, the display of all the shortened notification icons 330c and special shortened notification icons 330e is changed to the period notification icon 330g, so as to notify the results of multiple shortening controls until transitioning to the precursor state.

[0234] <Effect in the AT state> Figure 15 is a diagram explaining the details of the presentation in the AT state executed by the presentation control means 180 of the first embodiment, where Figure 15(A) is a diagram showing a presentation notifying two executions of shortening control by the AT control means 200, Figure 15(B) is a diagram showing an ending screen displayed on the display device 330 upon the end of the AT state, and Figure 15(C) is a diagram showing the presentation in a state where the AT state has been transitioned to the normal state by the AT control means 200.

[0235] As shown in FIG. 15(A), when the AT control means 200 executes the shortened control, the performance control means 180 displays the shortened notification icon 330c in the icon display area 330b in substantially the same manner as in the normal state.

[0236] As shown in Fig. 15(B), the presentation control means 180 displays, as information on the results of games in the AT state to be displayed in the end presentation, a total number display 330h indicating the number of medals paid out in a series of games in the AT state, and a warning display 330i as an image (specific image) for preventing the player from becoming too absorbed in the games, so-called addiction or dependency, by calling the player's attention to continuing the games, on the display device 330. The total number display 330h may be configured to display the number of medals paid out in a series of games excluding the game in which the end presentation in the AT state is executed (end game).

[0237] The performance control means 180 displays an image with two lines of text saying "Be careful not to get addicted. Pachislot is a game that should be enjoyed in moderation" as the attention display 330i at the top of the figure of the display device 330. The performance control means 180 presets the display size of the attention display 330i so that, for example, when the size of the liquid crystal monitor of the display device 330 is D inches, the height H (unit: mm) of the attention display 330i is H≧{10×(2D−5)}÷9, and in the first embodiment in which the display device 330 is configured from a 7-inch liquid crystal monitor, the height is set to 10 mm or more and the width is set to 64.12 mm.

[0238] Note that the effect control means 180 is configured to draw the attention - calling display 330i on a layer higher than the layer on which the image to be displayed in the ending effect is drawn. With this configuration, the effect control means 180 can surely display the attention - calling display 330i regardless of the image drawn in the ending effect.

[0239] As shown in FIG. 15(B), when the effect control means 180 starts displaying the end screen in a state where the display of the abbreviated notification icon 330c has already started in the AT state, the effect control means 180 is configured to temporarily change the display of the abbreviated notification icon 330c to non - display. Thereby, even when the slot machine 1 has notified the execution of the abbreviated control by the abbreviated notification icon 330c in the AT state, it is possible to prevent the visibility of the total number of sheets display 330h and the attention - calling display 330i displayed on the end screen from being reduced due to the display of the abbreviated notification icon 330c.

[0240] As shown in FIG. 15(C), for the abbreviated notification icon 330c whose display has started in the AT state, the effect control means 180 is configured to continue the display in the icon display area 330b even when the state transitions to the normal state, and is configured not to notify the number of games shortened by the abbreviated control until the effect state transitions to the precursor state. When the effect control means 180 is transitioned from the normal state to the precursor state by the AT control means 200 and the effect button PU is pressed, the effect control means 180 is configured to notify the number of game times shortened by the execution of the abbreviated control in the AT state by changing the display of the abbreviated notification icon 330c to the display of the period notification icon 330g.

[0241] <Relationship between state transition by AT control means and effect by effect control means> As described above, the AT control means 200 of the first embodiment is configured to set an initial value corresponding to the normal mode in the normal game number counter 197c as the set period from the normal state to the CZ state at the start of the CZ state or the normal state transitioned from the AT state, execute an update process to subtract the stored value of the normal game number counter 197c every time a game is played, and execute the shortened control when the shortened lottery is won. In addition, the AT control means 200 is configured to be able to subtract a value larger than the value (value "1") to be subtracted in the update process from the stored value of the normal game number counter 197c in the shortened control, and is configured to be able to shorten the set period from the normal state to the CZ state by executing the shortened control.

[0242] As shown in Fig. 13(A) to Fig. 13(C), the presentation control means 180 of the first embodiment is configured to display the shortening notification icon 330c that notifies the execution of the shortening control by the AT control means 200 in the normal state, but not to execute the presentation that notifies the result of the shortening control, that is, the number of games shortened by the shortening control, in the normal state. As shown in Fig. 14(A) to Fig. 14(D), the presentation control means 180 is configured to notify the result of the shortening control by executing the presentation that changes the display of the shortening notification icon 330c to the period notification icon 330g at a predetermined timing in a game in which the premonition state has started.

[0243] In addition, in the first embodiment, when the execution of multiple shortened controls before transitioning to the premonition state is notified by displaying multiple shortened notification icons 330c and special shortened notification icons 330e, the presentation control means 180 is configured to notify the results of the multiple shortened controls executed before transitioning to the premonition state by changing the display of all shortened notification icons 330c and special shortened notification icons 330e to period notification icons 330g in a game that has transitioned to the premonition state.

[0244] Due to this configuration, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment is capable of shortening the period until transitioning from the normal state to the CZ state by making it possible to execute shortening control in the normal state, and by not informing the player of the specific number of games that the period shortened by shortening control is until transitioning to the premonition state, the player is informed that an advantageous process has been executed but is not allowed to determine how advantageous it is, thereby motivating the player to continue playing until transitioning to the premonition state, and when the execution of multiple shortening controls is notified before transitioning to the premonition state, the player is not allowed to determine the results of the multiple shortening controls until transitioning to the premonition state, and the results of the multiple shortening controls are notified in the premonition state, thereby more strongly motivating the player to continue playing until transitioning to the premonition state and increasing the player's willingness to continue playing.

[0245] In addition, the AT control means 200 of the first embodiment is configured to be able to execute the shortening control even when the presentation state is the AT state, and when the shortening control is executed in the AT state, the result of the shortening control is reflected in the normal game number counter 197c in the normal state after the AT state ends. As shown in Fig. 15(A) and Fig. 15(C), the presentation control means 180 displays the shortening notification icon 330c when the shortening control is executed in the AT state, but does not execute the presentation of the number of games shortened by the shortening control in the AT state and the normal state, and is configured to notify the player by executing the presentation of changing the display of the shortening notification icon 330c to the period notification icon 330g when the presentation button PU is pressed by the player.

[0246] Due to this configuration, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment can shorten the period from the normal state after the AT state ends to the CZ state by making it possible to execute abbreviated control in the AT state, and the execution of abbreviated control in the AT state is notified by the abbreviated notification icon 330c, and the execution of abbreviated control in the AT state is notified by the abbreviated notification icon 330c that the execution of abbreviated control in the AT state will be carried over to the normal state after the AT state ends, thereby notifying the player that advantageous processing has been executed in the AT state and continues to be stocked in the normal state, thereby motivating the player to continue playing until the state transitions to the premonition state, and increasing the player's willingness to continue playing.

[0247] This normal state constitutes the first state in the first embodiment, the CZ state, which is more advantageous than the normal state, constitutes the second state in the first embodiment, and the AT state, which is more advantageous than the normal state, constitutes the third state in the first embodiment. Also, the display of the shortened notification icon 330c, which is executed before the period notification icon 330g is displayed, the display of the shortened number of times display 330d, and the display of the special shortened notification icon 330e constitute the first performance in the first embodiment, the display of the period notification icon 330g, which is executed in the game in which the premonition state has started, constitutes the second performance in the first embodiment, and the display of the shortened notification icon 330c, which notifies the execution of the shortened control in the AT state, constitutes the first and third performances in the first embodiment.

[0248] 6. Summary of the First Embodiment As described above, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment is capable of shortening the period until transitioning from the normal state to the CZ state by making it possible to execute shortening control in the normal state, and by not informing the player of the specific number of games that the period shortened by shortening control is until transitioning to the premonition state, it is possible to motivate the player to continue playing until transitioning to the premonition state by notifying the player that advantageous processing has been executed without allowing the player to determine how advantageous it is, thereby increasing the player's desire to continue playing.

[0249] In addition, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment makes it possible to execute abbreviated control in the AT state, thereby shortening the period from the normal state after the AT state ends to the CZ state, and the execution of abbreviated control in the AT state is notified by the abbreviated notification icon 330c. By notifying the player by the abbreviated notification icon 330c that the execution of abbreviated control in the AT state will be carried over to the normal state after the AT state ends, the player is notified that advantageous processing has been executed in the AT state and continues to be stocked in the normal state, which motivates the player to continue playing until the premonition state is entered, thereby increasing the player's willingness to continue playing.

[0250] [Second embodiment] Next, a slot machine 1 of a second embodiment, which is a partial modification of the first embodiment, will be described. The slot machine 1 of the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the configuration related to the winning mode that can be won by internal lottery, the arrangement of the symbols on the left reel R1 to the right reel R3, the reel stop control according to the game state, and the payout rate for each operation mode of the stop button B1 to the stop button B3. In addition, the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment has a pay line L1 that is composed of the lower row of the left reel R1, the middle row of the center reel R2, and the upper row of the right reel R3. Since the other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the components common to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be described.

[0251] The payout rate is the ratio of the total number of medals won during a specified number of games (e.g., 17,500 games) to the total number of medals inserted during the specified number of games, when the game is played a sufficient number of games to sufficiently ignore the effects of temporary probability bias.

[0252] 1. Configuration of the gaming machine in the second embodiment The components of the slot machine 1 in the second embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

[0253] <Winning areas subject to internal lottery> Figure 16 is a diagram showing the winning areas that are the subject of the internal lottery in the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment, the winning numbers and winning roles associated with each winning area, and the number of lottery values ​​associated with each winning area in each gaming state.

[0254] As shown in FIG. 16, in the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment, the winning areas that are subject to the internal lottery include the winning area "all small roles", the winning area "all 8-coin roles", the winning area "all 3-coin roles", the winning area "all 1-coin roles", the winning area "normal replay 1", the winning area "normal replay 2", the winning area "batting order bell 1" to the winning area "batting order bell 8", the winning area "batting order 3-coin roles 1" to the winning area "batting order 3-coin roles 4", the winning area "batting order 15-coin roles 1" to the winning area "batting order 15-coin roles 4", the winning area "common 3-coin roles", the winning area "rare roles 1", the winning area "rare roles 2", the winning area "RBB & rare replay", the winning area "RBB & rare roles 3", the winning area "RBB & common 1-coin roles" and the winning area "RBB", which are associated with the winning numbers 1 to 30, respectively. In addition, in the slot machine 1, the winning number 0 is associated with a non-winning result (loss) as a result of the internal lottery.

[0255] In the random number determination process, the internal lottery means 120 determines whether each winning area is a winner in order from the winning area corresponding to the winning number 30 to the non-winning area corresponding to the winning number 0.

[0256] In the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment, there are Bell A to Bell D, 15 coin role A to 15 coin role C, 3 coin role A to 3 coin role F, 1 coin role A to 1 coin role S as small roles that can be won when winning the internal lottery, and there are Replay A, Replay B, and Rare Replay as replays that can be won in the internal lottery. Each small role and each replay is associated with each winning area in the combination shown in FIG. 16. Also, as shown in FIG. 16, in the slot machine 1, the winning area "RBB & Rare role 3" and the winning area "RBB & common 1 coin role" are set as winning areas including bonus and small roles, and the winning area "RBB & Rare Replay" is set as winning area including bonus and replay.

[0257] In the second embodiment, the winning area "batting order bell 1" to the winning area "batting order bell 8" are configured as winning areas in which the small winning combinations that can be won differ depending on the game state in the winning game and the operation mode of the stop buttons B1 to B3. Also, the winning area "batting order 3 coin role 1" to the winning area "batting order 3 coin role 4" and the winning area "batting order 15 coin role 1" to the winning area "batting order 15 coin role 4" are configured as winning areas in which the small winning combinations that can be won differ depending on the operation mode of the stop buttons B1 to B3. Also, the winning area "rare role 1" is configured to win when the timing of pressing the stop button B3 is a pressing timing that can win a 3 coin role C, and to be configured to be a missed win (non-winning) in which a pattern combination different from the winning pattern combination of any role is stopped and displayed on the effective line L1 when the timing of pressing the stop button B3 is a pressing timing that cannot win a 3 coin role C. Details of the small winning combinations that can be won when a winning area including a small winning combination is won and the winning probability of the small winning combinations will be described later.

[0258] <Arrangement of designs> FIG. 17 is a diagram showing each symbol arranged on the periphery of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 in the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 17, a red 7 symbol "red 7", a white 7 symbol "white 7", a BAR symbol "BAR", a replay symbol "RP", a bell symbol "BL", a cherry A symbol "CHA", a cherry B symbol "CHB", a watermelon A symbol "WMA", a watermelon B symbol "WMB" and a blank symbol "BK" are arranged on the periphery of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3. In addition, 20 symbols are arranged on each of the periphery of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3.

[0259] In the second embodiment, the BAR symbol "BAR" has a width wider than the other symbols when viewed from the front, and is configured as a symbol that is more visible than the other symbols while the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 are spinning.

[0260] As shown in FIG. 17, the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 each have replay symbols "RP" and bell symbols "BL" arranged at intervals of no more than four frames, and when the replay symbol "RP" is displayed stopped on the pay line L1 or when the bell symbol "BL" is displayed stopped on the pay line L1, they can be displayed stopped on the pay line L1 regardless of the timing of pressing the stop buttons B1 to B3.

[0261] On the left reel R1, the white 7 symbol "white 7" is arranged on the frames of stop number 0, stop number 5, and stop number 10, and the red 7 symbol "red 7" is arranged on the frame of stop number 15. On the center reel R2 and the right reel R3, the white 7 symbol "white 7" is arranged on the frames of stop number 1, stop number 6, and stop number 11, and the red 7 symbol "red 7" is arranged on the frame of stop number 16. Therefore, on the left reel R1 to the right reel R3, the pull-in ranges of the white 7 symbol "white 7" and the red 7 symbol "red 7" do not overlap.

[0262] In the slot machine 1, when a white 7 symbol "WHITE 7" or a red 7 symbol "RED 7" is stopped and displayed on the valid line L1, it can be stopped and displayed on the valid line L1 regardless of the timing of pressing the stop buttons B1 to B3. When a white 7 symbol "WHITE 7" is stopped and displayed on the valid line L1, it can be stopped and displayed on the valid line L1 if the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed at a timing when a symbol within a range of 15 frames out of 20 frames that can be drawn in is displayed in rotation on the valid line L1. When a red 7 symbol "RED 7" is stopped and displayed on the valid line L1, it can be stopped and displayed on the valid line L1 if the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed at a timing when a symbol within a range of 5 frames out of 20 frames that can be drawn in is displayed in rotation on the valid line L1.

[0263] On the left reel R1, the blank symbols "BK" are arranged on the frames of stop number 1, stop number 6, and stop number 11, and the BAR symbol "BAR" is arranged on the frame of stop number 16. On the center reel R2, the blank symbols "BK" are arranged on the frames of stop number 2, stop number 7, and stop number 12, and the BAR symbol "BAR" is arranged on the frame of stop number 17. On the right reel R3, the blank symbols "BK" are arranged on the frames of stop number 0, stop number 5, and stop number 10, and the BAR symbol "BAR" is arranged on the frame of stop number 15. For this reason, the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 are configured so that the pull-in ranges of the blank symbols "BK" and the BAR symbols "BAR" do not overlap.

[0264] In the slot machine 1, when a blank symbol "BK" or a BAR symbol "BAR" is stopped and displayed on the valid line L1, it can be stopped and displayed on the valid line L1 regardless of the timing of pressing the stop button B1 to the stop button B3. When a blank symbol "BK" is stopped and displayed on the valid line L1, the blank symbol "BK" can be stopped and displayed on the valid line L1 if the stop button B1 to the stop button B3 are pressed at a timing when a symbol within a range of 15 frames out of 20 frames that can be drawn in is displayed in rotation on the valid line L1. When a BAR symbol "BAR" is stopped and displayed on the valid line L1, the BAR symbol "BAR" can be stopped and displayed on the valid line L1 if the stop button B1 to the stop button B3 are pressed at a timing when a symbol within a range of 5 frames out of 20 frames that can be drawn in is displayed in rotation on the valid line L1.

[0265] On the left reel R1, the watermelon A symbol "WMA" is arranged on the frame with stop number 2, the watermelon B symbol "WMB" is arranged on the frame with stop number 7, the cherry A symbol "CHA" is arranged on the frame with stop number 12, and the cherry B symbol "CHB" is arranged on the frame with stop number 17. On the center reel R2 and the right reel R3, the watermelon A symbol "WMA" is arranged on the frame with stop number 4, the watermelon B symbol "WMB" is arranged on the frame with stop number 9, the cherry A symbol "CHA" is arranged on the frame with stop number 14, and the cherry B symbol "CHB" is arranged on the frame with stop number 19. For this reason, the pull-in ranges of the watermelon A symbol "WMA," the watermelon B symbol "WMB," the cherry A symbol "CHA," and the cherry B symbol "CHB" on the left reel R1 through the right reel R3 do not overlap.

[0266] In the slot machine 1, when the watermelon A symbol "WMA", the watermelon B symbol "WMB", the cherry A symbol "CHA" or the cherry B symbol "CHB" are stopped and displayed on the pay line L1, they can be stopped and displayed on the pay line L1 regardless of the timing of pressing the stop buttons B1 to B3. When the watermelon A symbol "WMA" or the watermelon B symbol "WMB" are stopped and displayed on the pay line L1, the watermelon A symbol "WMA" or the watermelon B symbol "WMB" can be drawn in within a range of 10 frames out of 20 frames. When stop button B1 through stop button B3 are pressed at the timing when the cherry A symbol "CHA" or cherry B symbol "CHB" is displayed spinning on the valid line L1, it can be displayed stopped on the valid line L1, and when stop button B1 through stop button B3 are pressed at the timing when a symbol within a range of 10 frames out of 20 frames that can be drawn in, the cherry A symbol "CHA" or cherry B symbol "CHB" can be displayed stopped on the valid line L1.

[0267] <Small prize payout> In the second embodiment, the payouts for 15-coin roles A to C are set to a payout number (15 coins) that is greater than the specified number of coins (3 coins). The payouts for Bell A to E are set to a payout number (8 coins) that is greater than the specified number of coins. The payouts for 3-coin roles A to F are set to a payout number (3 coins) that is the same as the specified number of coins. The payouts for 1-coin roles A to S are set to a payout number (1 coin) that is less than the specified number of coins.

[0268] <Small prize winning combination> 18 to 20 are diagrams showing winning symbol combinations of 15 coin roles A to C, Bell A to Bell E, 3 coin roles A to F, and 1 coin roles A to S. FIG.

[0269] First, 15-coin roles A to C will be described. The winning symbol combination of 15-coin roles A is composed of "RP-red 7 (white 7)-BL", and when reel stop control is executed to stop and display the winning symbol combination of 15-coin roles A on the pay line L1, it is configured to be able to stop and display regardless of the timing of pressing the stop buttons B1 to B3. In the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment, when the winning area "all small roles" is won in the bonus state, reel stop control is executed to stop and display the winning symbol combination of 15-coin roles A "RP-red 7 (white 7)-BL" on the pay line L1.

[0270] The winning symbol combination for 15-coin role B is composed of "Red 7 (White 7)-BAR-Red 7 (White 7)", and when reel stop control is executed to stop and display the winning symbol combination for 15-coin role B on the active line L1, the BAR symbol "BAR" is displayed when the stop button B2 is pressed within a pull-in range of 5 frames out of 20 frames that can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1.

[0271] The winning symbol combination for the 15-coin role C is composed of "BL-BL-BAR", and when reel stop control is executed to stop and display the winning symbol combination for the 15-coin role C on the pay line L1, the BAR symbol "BAR" is displayed when the stop button B3 is pressed within a pull-in range of 5 frames out of 20 frames that can be stopped and displayed on the pay line L1.

[0272] As shown in Figures 17 and 18, the winning pattern combinations of Bell A to Bell E are arranged at intervals of no more than four frames on each of the left reel R1 to right reel R3, and when reel stop control is executed to cause the winning pattern combinations of Bell A to Bell E to be stopped and displayed on the pay line L1, they are configured to be stopped and displayed on the pay line L1 regardless of the timing of pressing the stop buttons B1 to B3.

[0273] As shown in Figures 17 and 18, the winning pattern combinations of 3 coins A, 3 coins B, 3 coins E, and 3 coins F are arranged at intervals of less than 4 frames on the left reel R1 to the right reel R3, and when reel stop control is executed to stop and display the winning pattern combinations of 3 coins A, 3 coins B, 3 coins E, and 3 coins F on the pay line L1, they are configured to be stopped and displayed on the pay line L1 regardless of the timing of pressing the stop buttons B1 to B3.

[0274] The winning symbol combination for 3-coin C is composed of "RP-WMA (WMB, CHA, CHB)-red 7 (BAR)", and when reel stop control is executed to stop and display the winning symbol combination for 3-coin C on the active line L1, the red 7 symbol "red 7" or the BAR symbol "BAR" is displayed when the stop button B3 is pressed within a pull-in range of 6 frames out of 20 frames that can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1.

[0275] The winning symbol combination for 3-coin D is composed of "RP-WMA (WMB, CHA, CHB)-BK", and when reel stop control is executed to stop and display the winning symbol combination for 3-coin C on the pay line L1, the blank symbol "BK" is displayed when the stop button B3 is pressed within a pull-in range of 15 frames out of 20 frames that can be stopped and displayed on the pay line L1.

[0276] As shown in Figures 17 and 18, the winning pattern combinations of 1 coin role A and 1 coin role B are arranged at intervals of less than 4 frames on the left reel R1 to the right reel R3, and when reel stop control is executed to stop and display the winning pattern combinations of 1 coin role A and 1 coin role B on the pay line L1, they are configured to be stopped and displayed on the pay line L1 regardless of the timing of pressing the stop buttons B1 to B3.

[0277] The winning symbol combinations of 1 coin role C to 1 coin role S are composed of the symbol combinations shown in Figures 19 and 20. The details of the winning symbol combinations of 1 coin role C to 1 coin role S and the reel stop control related to the 1 coin role C to 1 coin role S will be described later.

[0278] <Odds of winning small prizes according to operation mode> FIG. 21 is a diagram showing small winning combinations that can be won depending on the operation modes of the stop buttons B1 to B3 when a winning area including a small winning combination is won in the non-RT state.

[0279] First, the winning areas "batting order bell 1" to "batting order bell 8" will be described. The slot machine 1 of the second embodiment is configured so that when the winning areas "batting order bell 1" to "batting order bell 8" are won, the winning combinations that can be won are different by changing the control contents of the reel stop control by the reel control means 130 according to the game state, and in the non-RT state, regardless of the order in which the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed, the bells A to D set to a payout (8 coins) greater than the specified number of coins to be inserted do not win, and the 1-coin combinations A to N set to a payout (1 coin) less than the specified number of coins to be inserted win with the probability shown in FIG. 21.

[0280] Using the winning area "batting order Bell 1" as an example, the details of the winning probability of 1 coin role A to 1 coin role N will be explained. As shown in FIG. 16, in the winning area "batting order Bell 1", Bell A, 1 coin role A, 1 coin role C, 1 coin role F, and 1 coin role K are overlapping wins.

[0281] When the winning area "batting order bell 1" is won and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in batting order 1 or batting order 2, the reel control means 130 executes the number priority control as the reel stop control based on the fact that the stop button B1 is operated to perform the first stop. In the slot machine 1, when the winning area "batting order bell 1" is won, when the red 7 symbol "red 7", the white 7 symbol "white 7", the cherry A symbol "CHA", and the cherry B symbol "CHB" are stopped and displayed on the pay line L1, there are two symbol combinations that can be displayed, respectively, and when the bell symbol "BL", the watermelon A symbol "WMA", and the watermelon B symbol "WMB" are stopped and displayed on the pay line L1, there are four symbol combinations that can be displayed.

[0282] Since the number of winning symbol combinations that can be displayed on the active line L1 when the bell symbol "BL", the watermelon A symbol "WMA", and the watermelon B symbol "WMB" are each stopped and displayed on the bottom row of the left reel R1 is the same, the reel control means 130 cannot assign priority between the bell symbol "BL", the watermelon A symbol "WMA", and the watermelon B symbol "WMB" by quantity priority control, so it determines to stop and display the bell symbol "BL" on the active line L1 by reel stop control using the stop control table stored in the stop control table storage means 194, and the bell symbol "BL" is stopped and displayed on the bottom row of the left reel R1 that constitutes the active line L1, and the minor roles that can be won in the game are limited to the 1-coin role A, which can be won regardless of the timing of pressing the stop buttons B1 to B3.

[0283] When the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1" is won and stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in batting order 3 or batting order 4, the reel control means 130 executes number-priority control as reel stop control based on the fact that stop button B2 has been operated to perform the first stop, and stops and displays the bell pattern "BL" on the activated line L1, which is common to the winning pattern combination "Red 7 (White 7)-BL-Red 7 (White 7)" of Bell A, the winning pattern combination "WMA (WMB)-BL-WMA (WMB)" of 1-coin role C, and the winning pattern combination "CHA (CHB)-BL-CHA (CHB)" of 1-coin role F.

[0284] When the winning area "batting order bell 1" is won and the bell pattern "BL" is displayed stopped in the middle of the center reel R2 that constitutes the activated line L1, the slot machine 1 executes number priority control as reel stop control in both cases where the second stop operation is executed on the stop button B1 and where the second stop operation is executed on the stop button B3.

[0285] When the second stop operation is performed on the stop button B1, in the slot machine 1, even if any of the red 7 symbol "RED 7", white 7 symbol "WHT 7", watermelon A symbol "WMA", watermelon B symbol "WMB", cherry A symbol "CHA", and cherry B symbol "CHB" is stopped and displayed on the active line L1 on the lower row of the left reel R1, since there are only two symbol combinations that can be displayed, the number of symbols that can be displayed is controlled by the number priority control to select the red 7 symbol "RED 7", the white 7 symbol "WHT 7", and the watermelon Since no priority can be assigned between the A symbol "WMA", the watermelon B symbol "WMB", the cherry A symbol "CHA", and the cherry B symbol "CHB", the reel stop control using the stop control table stored in the stop control table storage means 194 determines which of the watermelon A symbol "WMA", the watermelon B symbol "WMB", the cherry A symbol "CHA", and the cherry B symbol "CHB" will be stopped and displayed on the activated line L1.

[0286] When the second stop operation is performed on the stop button B3, in the slot machine 1, even if any of the red 7 symbol "RED 7", white 7 symbol "WHT 7", watermelon A symbol "WMA", watermelon B symbol "WMB", cherry A symbol "CHA", and cherry B symbol "CHB" is stopped and displayed on the active line L1 on the upper row of the right reel R3, since there are only two symbol combinations that can be displayed, the number of symbols that can be displayed is controlled by the number priority control to select the red 7 symbol "RED 7", the white 7 symbol "WHT 7", and the watermelon Since no priority can be assigned between the A symbol "WMA", the watermelon B symbol "WMB", the cherry A symbol "CHA", and the cherry B symbol "CHB", the reel stop control using the stop control table stored in the stop control table storage means 194 determines which of the watermelon A symbol "WMA", the watermelon B symbol "WMB", the cherry A symbol "CHA", and the cherry B symbol "CHB" will be stopped and displayed on the activated line L1.

[0287] As described above, in the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment, the pull-in range in which the watermelon A symbol "WMA" or the watermelon B symbol "WMB" can be stopped and displayed on the pay line L1 on the left reel R1 and the right reel R3, and the pull-in range in which the cherry A symbol "CHA" or the cherry B symbol "CHB" can be stopped and displayed on the pay line L1 are set to non-overlapping ranges and to a range of 10 out of 20 frames each.

[0288] Due to this configuration, in the slot machine 1, when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1" is won and stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed at batting order 3 or batting order 4, at the time the second stop operation is executed, the winning combination that can be won in that game is limited to either one of the 1-coin role C whose winning symbol combination is "WMA(WMB)-BL-WMA(WMB)" or the 1-coin role F whose winning symbol combination is "CHA(CHB)-BL-CHA(CHB)".

[0289] In the slot machine 1, when the third stop operation is performed within a range of 10 frames out of 20 frames that can be drawn to draw the symbols that constitute the winning symbol combination of either one of the winning 1-piece role C and one of the winning 1-piece role F, one of the winning 1-piece role C and one of the winning 1-piece role F will win, so there is a 1 / 2 probability that one of the winning 1-piece role C and one of the winning 1-piece role F will win. In addition, in the slot machine 1, when the third stop operation is performed at a pressing timing that does not result in the winning of either one of the winning 1-piece role C or one of the winning 1-piece role F, a symbol combination different from the winning symbol combination of either role will be displayed on the pay line L1, resulting in a missed win (non-winning).

[0290] When the winning area "batting order bell 1" is won and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in batting order 5 or batting order 6, the reel control means 130 executes the number priority control as the reel stop control based on the fact that the stop button B3 is operated to perform the first stop. In the slot machine 1, when the winning area "batting order bell 1" is won, when the red 7 symbol "red 7", the white 7 symbol "white 7", the watermelon A symbol "WMA", the watermelon B symbol "WMB", the cherry A symbol "CHA", and the cherry B symbol "CHB" are stopped and displayed on the pay line L1, there are two symbol combinations that can be displayed, respectively, and when the bell symbol "BL" and the replay symbol "RP" are stopped and displayed on the pay line L1, there are four symbol combinations that can be displayed.

[0291] Since the number of winning pattern combinations that can be displayed on the active line L1 when the bell pattern "BL" and the replay pattern "RP" are each stopped and displayed on the top row of the right reel R3 is the same, the reel control means 130 cannot assign priority between the bell pattern "BL" and the replay pattern "RP" by quantity priority control, so it decides to stop and display the bell pattern "BL" on the active line L1 by reel stop control using the stop control table stored in the stop control table storage means 194, and the bell pattern "BL" is stopped and displayed on the top row of the right reel R3 that constitutes the active line L1, and the minor winning combinations that can be won in that game are limited to 1-coin winning combinations K.

[0292] In the slot machine 1, when the second and third stop operations are performed within a range of 10 frames out of 20 frames in which the symbols constituting the winning symbol combination "WMA(WMB)-WMA(WMB)-BL" of the 1-piece role K can be drawn, the 1-piece role K wins, so the 1-piece role K wins with a probability of 1 / 4. Note that, in the slot machine 1, when the second or third stop operation is performed at a pressing timing that does not result in the 1-piece role K winning, a symbol combination different from any winning symbol combination of any role is displayed on the pay line L1, resulting in a missed win (non-winning).

[0293] By executing such number priority control and reel stop control using the stop control table, the slot machine 1 is configured so that when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1" to the winning area "Batting Order Bell 8" are won in the non-RT state, the 1 coin role A, 1 coin role C to 1 coin role N can be won with the winning probabilities shown in Figure 21, depending on the hitting order of the stop buttons B1 to B3.

[0294] Next, the winning areas "batting order 3 coin role 1" to "batting order 3 coin role 4" will be described. In the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment, when the winning areas "batting order 3 coin role 1" to "batting order 3 coin role 4" are won, the control contents of the reel stop control by the reel control means 130 are changed according to the game state, so that the winning roles that can be won are different. In the winning areas "batting order 3 coin role 1" and "batting order 3 coin role 2", when the stop button B1 to the stop button B3 are pressed in the batting order 3 or 4, the number priority control is executed as the reel stop control, so that the 3 coin role A is won. In addition, in the winning areas "batting order 3 coin role 3" and "batting order 3 coin role 4", when the stop button B1 to the stop button B3 are pressed in the batting order 5 or 6, the number priority control is executed as the reel stop control, so that the 3 coin role B is won.

[0295] In the slot machine 1, when the winning areas "Batting Order 3 Coin Role 1" to "Batting Order 3 Coin Role 4" are won and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in a batting order that does not allow the 3 coin roles A and 3 coin roles B to be won, reel stop control is executed using a number priority control and stop control table that is approximately the same as the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8", so that the 1 coin roles A, 1 coin roles G to 1 coin roles N can be won with the winning probabilities shown in FIG. 21.

[0296] Next, the winning area "batting order 15-piece role 1" to the winning area "batting order 15-piece role 4" will be explained. As shown in Fig. 21, the winning area "batting order 15-piece role 1" to the winning area "batting order 15-piece role 4" are configured such that when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in a batting order in which 15-piece roles B and 15-piece roles C can be won, there is a 1 / 4 probability that 15-piece roles B and 15-piece roles C will be won, and there is a 3 / 4 probability that 1-piece role A will be won.

[0297] As mentioned above, the 15-piece role B is composed of the winning symbol combination "Red 7 (White 7)-BAR-Red 7 (White 7)". When the first stop operation is performed on the stop button B2 within the range of 5 frames out of 20 frames in which the BAR symbol "BAR" on the middle reel R2 can be drawn, the 15-piece role B can be won. Therefore, the probability of the 15-piece role B winning is 1 / 4, and the probability of the 20 frames in which the BAR symbol "BAR" on the middle reel R2 cannot be drawn is 1 / 4. When the first stop operation is performed on the stop button B2 within the range of the middle 15 frames, any one of the watermelon A symbol "WMA", watermelon B symbol "WMB", cherry A symbol "CHA", or cherry B symbol "CHB", which constitutes the winning symbol combination "BL-WMA(WMB,CHA,CHB)-RP" for 1-coin role A, is displayed stopped in the middle of the middle reel R2, making it possible for 1-coin role A to win, so there is a 3 / 4 probability that 1-coin role A will win.

[0298] In addition, the 15-coin role C is composed of the winning symbol combination "BL-BL-BAR", and when the first stop operation is performed on the stop button B3 within a range of 5 frames out of 20 frames in which the BAR symbol "BAR" on the right reel R3 can be drawn, the 15-coin role C can be won with a 1 / 4 probability, and when the first stop operation is performed on the stop button B3 within a range of 15 frames out of 20 frames in which the BAR symbol "BAR" on the right reel R3 cannot be drawn, the replay symbol "RP" which constitutes the winning symbol combination "BL-WMA(WMB,CHA,CHB)-RP" of the 1-coin role A is stopped and displayed in the middle row of the right reel R3, and the 1-coin role A can be won with a 3 / 4 probability.

[0299] In the slot machine 1, when the winning areas "Batting Order 15 Coin Role 1" to "Batting Order 15 Coin Role 4" are won and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in a batting order that does not allow the 15 coin roles B and 15 coin roles C to be won, reel stop control is executed using a number priority control and stop control table that is approximately the same as the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8", so that the 1 coin roles A, 1 coin roles C to 1 coin roles F, 1 coin roles R, and 1 coin roles S can be won with the winning probabilities shown in FIG. 21.

[0300] The winning areas “Rare Role 1”, “Rare Role 2”, “Common 9-coin Role”, “RBB & Rare Role 3”, and “RBB & Common 1-coin Role” will be awarded with small roles that have the winning probabilities shown in Figure 21.

[0301] FIG. 22 is a diagram showing small winning combinations that can be won depending on the operation modes of the stop buttons B1 to B3 when a winning area including a small winning combination is won in a bonus achieved state.

[0302] In the second embodiment of the slot machine 1, when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 8" are won in a bonus established state, if the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in the correct batting order, number priority control is executed as the reel stop control, making it possible to win Bells A to D, which are set to a payout (8 coins) greater than the specified number of coins, and if the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in an incorrect batting order different from the correct batting order, number priority control and reel stop control using the stop control table are executed, making it possible to win 1 coin role A, 1 coin role C to 1 coin role N with the winning probabilities shown in FIG. 22.

[0303] In addition, in the slot machine 1, when the winning area "3 coin role 1" to "3 coin role 4" are won in the bonus establishment state, if the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in one batting order that allows the 3 coin role A and the 3 coin role B to be won (for example, batting order 3 for the winning area "3 coin role 1"), the 3 coin role A and the 3 coin role B, which are set to the same payout (3 coins) as the specified number of coins to be inserted, can be won, and if the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in another batting order, the reel stop control using the number priority control and the stop control table is executed, so that the 1 coin role A, the 1 coin role C to the 1 coin role N, which are set to the payout (1 coin) less than the specified number of coins to be inserted, can be won with the winning probabilities shown in FIG. 22.

[0304] In other words, in the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment, when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in a random batting order when the winning areas "Batting Order 3 Coin Role 1" to "Batting Order 3 Coin Role 4" are won, the frequency of winning 3 coin roles A and 3 coin roles B is higher in a non-RT state in which the batting order that allows the winning of 3 coin roles A and 3 coin roles B is set to two types than in a bonus formation state in which the batting order that allows the winning of 3 coin roles A and 3 coin roles B is set to one type.

[0305] Also, as shown in Figures 21 and 22, the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment is configured so that there is no change in the minor roles that can be won in the non-RT state and the bonus establishment state for the winning areas "15-coin role 1" to "15-coin role 4", the winning area "rare role 1", the winning area "rare role 2", the winning area "common 9-coin role", the winning area "RBB & rare role 3", and the winning area "RBB & common 1-coin role".

[0306] <Probability of winning a small prize in a non-bonus state and probability of winning a small prize in a bonus state> Next, we will explain in detail the relationship between the probability of winning a small prize in a gaming state (non-bonus state) in which the bonus in the non-RT state and bonus establishment state is not activated, and the probability of winning a small prize in the bonus state in the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment.

[0307] As shown in FIG. 16, in the internal lottery table C, random numbers are associated with the winning area "All Small Roles" where all small roles of 15-coin roles A to 15-coin roles C, Bell A to Bell E, 3-coin roles A to 3-coin roles F, and 1-coin roles A to 1-coin roles S are multiple wins, the winning area "All 8-coin roles" where all small roles of Bell A to Bell E, 3-coin roles A to 3-coin roles F, and 1-coin roles A to 1-coin roles S except for 15-coin roles A to 15-coin roles C are multiple wins, the winning area "All 3-coin roles" where 3-coin roles A to 3-coin roles F, 1-coin roles A to 1-coin roles S are multiple wins, and the winning area "All 1-coin roles" where 1-coin roles A to 1-coin roles S are multiple wins.

[0308] In the bonus state where internal lottery table C is selected, the winning probability of the winning area "All Small Roles" is 2600 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 25.2), the winning probability of the winning area "All 8-coin roles" is 2440 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 26.9), the winning probability of the winning area "All 3-coin roles" is 18200 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 3.6), and the winning probability of the winning area "All 1-coin roles" is 33315 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 2.0), so the probability of winning the winning area "All Small Roles", winning area "All 8-coin roles", winning area "All 3-coin roles" or winning area "All 1-coin roles" is 56555 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 1.2).

[0309] In addition, in the slot machine 1, the probability of winning in any of the winning areas including the small prize in the internal lottery table selected in the non-bonus state, that is, the internal lottery table A or the internal lottery table B, is 56554 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 1.2).

[0310] For this reason, the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment is configured so that the probability of winning a small prize in the bonus state is higher than the probability of winning a small prize in the non-bonus state.

[0311] In addition, in the bonus state, the 15-piece role A to 15-piece role C are included in the winning area "all small roles", and the winning probability of each of the 15-piece roles A to C is 2600 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 25.2). In the non-bonus state, the 15-piece role A is included in the winning area "batting order 15-piece role 1", the 15-piece role B is included in the winning area "batting order 15-piece role 1" and the winning area "batting order 15-piece role 2", and the 15-piece role C is included in the winning area "batting order 15-piece role 3" and the winning area "batting order 15-piece role 4", so the winning probability of the 15-piece role A is 1300 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 50.4), and the winning probability of each of the 15-piece roles B and C is 2600 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 25.2). For this reason, the probability of winning 15-coin role A in the bonus state is higher than the probability of winning 15-coin role A in the non-bonus state, and the probability of winning 15-coin roles B and C in the bonus state is the same as the probability of winning 15-coin roles B and C in the non-bonus state.

[0312] That is, in the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment, the probability of winning at least one predetermined minor winning combination in the bonus state is set to be higher than the probability of winning a predetermined minor winning combination in the non-bonus state.

[0313] In addition, in the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment, the probability of winning either the 15-coin role B or the 15-coin role C, which is set to a payout of 15 coins in the non-bonus state, i.e., the sum of the winning probabilities of the 15-coin roles B and C, is 5200 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 12.6), which is the sum of the winning probabilities of the winning areas "15-coin role 1 in batting order" to "15-coin role 4 in batting order", and is a higher winning probability than the probability of winning either the 15-coin role B or the 15-coin role C in the bonus state, i.e., the winning probability of the winning area "all small roles", which is 2600 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 25.2).

[0314] In addition, the probability of winning any one of Bells A to E, which are set for the eight payouts in the non-bonus state, that is, the sum of the winning probabilities of Bells A to E, is 20488 / 65536 (approx. 1 / 3.2), which is the sum of the winning probabilities of the winning areas "Batter Bell 1" to "Batter Bell 8", the winning probability of the winning area "Common 9-Card Hand", and the winning probability of the winning area "Rare Hand 3". This is higher than the probability of winning any one of Bells A to E in the bonus state, that is, the sum of the winning probability of the winning area "All Small Hands" and the winning probability of the winning area "All 8-Card Hands", which is 5040 / 65536 (approx. 1 / 13.0).

[0315] Therefore, for the bonus state of the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment, the expected value of the medal acquisition rate is less than 100%.

[0316] In addition, for the winning areas "Batter 15-Card Hand 1" to "Batter 15-Card Hand 4" and the winning areas "Batter Bell 1" to "Batter Bell 8" of the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment, when the prize assistance is not executed and the operation modes of the stop buttons B1 to B3 are appropriate, 15-Card Hand B, 15-Card Hand C, and Bells A to D can win. When the prize assistance is executed, a game according to the prize assistance is executed, and 15-Card Hand B, 15-Card Hand C, and Bells A to D can be surely made to win.

[0317] In this way, in the second embodiment, the probability of obtaining a winning mode including a small hand with a payout set higher than the specified input number in the bonus state is compressed compared to the probability of obtaining a winning mode including a small hand with a payout set higher than the specified input number in a game state other than the bonus state. After lowering the lower limit of the medal acquisition rate in the bonus state to less than 100%, the medal acquisition performance regarding the AT game can be designed. Therefore, the design freedom of the slot machine 1 equipped with the AT function can be significantly improved.

[0318] <Prize Assistance in the AT State> In the second embodiment, when the winning area "batting order bell 1" to winning area "batting order bell 8" or the winning area "batting order 3 coin role 1" to winning area "batting order 3 coin role 4" is won in the CZ state or the AT state, the AT control means 200 executes the winning assistance of notifying the batting order that makes it possible to win Bell A to Bell D, 3 coin role A, and 3 coin role B. Also, when the winning area "batting order 15 coin role 1" to winning area "batting order 15 coin role 4" is won in the CZ state or the AT state, the AT control means 200 executes the winning assistance of notifying the batting order that makes it possible to win 15 coin roles B and 15 coin roles C and the timing of pressing the first stop operation.

[0319] When the winning area "batting order bell 1" to the winning area "batting order bell 8" or the winning area "batting order 3-coin role 1" to the winning area "batting order 3-coin role 4" is won in the CZ state or the AT state, the performance control means 180 executes a winning assistance performance that displays on the display device 330 a batting order that allows the winning of Bell A to Bell D, 3-coin role A, and 3-coin role B. Also, when the winning area "batting order 15-coin role 1" to the winning area "batting order 15-coin role 4" is won in the CZ state or the AT state, the performance control means 180 executes a winning assistance performance that displays on the display device 330 a batting order that allows the winning of 15-coin role B and 15-coin role C and the timing of pressing the first stop operation.

[0320] The performance control means 180 displays on the display device 330 an image having a design substantially similar to the BAR pattern "BAR" as a stop button that executes the first stop operation and a first winning auxiliary performance indicator that notifies the timing of pressing the stop button in the winning auxiliary performance of 15-coin roles B and C.

[0321] In the second embodiment, when the winning area "batting order bell 1" to the winning area "batting order bell 8" is won in the normal state or the premonition state, the AT control means 200 is configured not to transmit information (selection role group information) indicating which of the winning areas "batting order bell 1" to "batting order bell 8" has been won to the performance control means 180. On the other hand, when the winning area "batting order 3-piece role 1" to the winning area "batting order 3-piece role 4" or the winning area "batting order 15-piece role 1" to the winning area "batting order 15-piece role 4" is won in the normal state or the premonition state, the AT control means 200 is configured to transmit information (selection role group information) indicating which of the winning areas "batting order 3-piece role 1" to "batting order 3-piece role 4" or the winning area "batting order 15-piece role 1" to "batting order 15-piece role 4" has been won to the performance control means 180.

[0322] 2. Payout rate in each game state Next, the payout rate for each operation mode (play method) of the stop buttons B1 to B3 in the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment will be described. Fig. 23 is a table summarizing the payout rate for each play method in each play state.

[0323] Among the game methods shown in Fig. 23, Batting Order 1 (Random) to Batting Order 6 (Random) are game methods in which the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed at random timings in one batting order. Batting Order 1 (Eye-to-Mouth) to Batting Order 6 (Eye-to-Mouth) are game methods in which, when pressing the stop buttons B1 to B3 in one batting order in which the 15-coin role B and the 15-coin role C can be won, the first stop operation is pressed at a press timing that can win the 15-coin role B and the 15-coin role C, and the stop button B3 is pressed at a press timing that can win the 3-coin role C.

[0324] Random hitting is a game method in which the batting order and pressing timing of the stop buttons B1 to B3 are randomly performed. And AT (eye pressing) is a game method in which a game is played according to the winning assistance when the winning area "batting order bell 1" to winning area "batting order bell 8", the winning area "batting order 3 coin role 1" to winning area "batting order 3 coin role 4", and the winning area "batting order 15 coin role 1" to winning area "batting order 15 coin role 4" are won, and 15 coin role B, 15 coin role C, bell A to bell D, 3 coin role A, and 3 coin role B are won.

[0325] When stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in batting order 1 and batting order 2, the probability of winning 3-coin role C when the winning area "Rare Role 1" is won is higher when the game method is batting order 1 (eye push) and batting order 2 (eye push) than when the game method is batting order 1 (random) and batting order 2 (random), so the ball payout rate is higher when the game method is batting order 1 (eye push) and batting order 2 (eye push) than when the game method is batting order 1 (random) and batting order 2 (random).

[0326] In addition, the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment is set to an extremely low ball payout rate of about 49.6% when playing with random shots in the normal (non-RT) state. However, as shown in FIG. 16, the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment has a probability of winning any of the winning areas including RBB (winning area "RBB & rare replay", winning area "RBB & rare role 3", winning area "RBB & common 1-piece role", winning area "RBB") in the non-RT state, so that the number of games executed before moving from the non-RT state to the bonus establishment state is highly likely to be extremely small.

[0327] In addition, when playing with batting order 1 (eye push) and batting order 2 (eye push), the payout rate is slightly higher in the bonus establishment state than in the non-RT state. This is because, as shown in FIG. 16, when the bonus establishment state is in effect, the winning probability of the winning area "Normal Replay 2" increases.

[0328] The slot machine 1 of the second embodiment is configured so that in the non-RT state, when playing in batting order 3 (eye push) to batting order 6 (eye push), the highest ball payout rate is approximately 73.6%, and is configured so that the ball payout rate is lower than the ball payout rate in the bonus state, which is approximately 74.5%.

[0329] In the second embodiment of the slot machine 1, when playing with batting order 1 (random) to batting order 6 (random) in a non-RT state, the ball payout rate for batting order 1 (random) and batting order 2 (random) are set to approximately 55.2%, and the ball payout rate for batting order 3 (random), batting order 4 (random), batting order 5 (random), and batting order 6 (random) are set to approximately 57.2%.

[0330] In addition, in slot machine 1, when a bonus is established and playing is performed with batting order 1 (random) to batting order 6 (random), the payout rate for batting order 1 (random) and the payout rate for batting order 2 (random) are set to approximately 55.2%, and the payout rate for batting order 3 (random), the payout rate for batting order 4 (random), the payout rate for batting order 5 (random), and the payout rate for batting order 6 (random) are set to approximately 76.4%.

[0331] In the slot machine 1, the ball payout rate when playing in the batting order 1 (random) to batting order 6 (random) in the bonus state is set to about 74.5% for any batting order (random).

[0332] <Relationship between winning area and payout rate for each game method> As shown in Figures 21 and 22, in the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment, when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 8", the winning area "Batting Order 3 Coin Role 1" to winning area "Batting Order 3 Coin Role 4", or the winning area "Batting Order 15 Coin Role 1" to winning area "Batting Order 15 Coin Role 4" is won, regardless of whether the game state is non-RT state or bonus established state, by pressing stop button B1 to stop button B3 in batting order 1 or batting order 2, 1 coin role A will be won with a probability of 1 / 1.

[0333] Due to this configuration, the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment can set the payout rate to 55% or more when playing in batting order 1 or batting order 2, as shown in Figure 23, and the payout rate when playing randomly can be set to 60% or more (the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment is approximately 64.5%), so that when playing over a long period of time of 17,500 games or more, excessive medals are not wasted and it is possible to achieve appropriate performance in accordance with the standards regarding the performance of gaming machines related to the acquisition of gaming medals, etc.

[0334] In addition, in the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment, for the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8", in the non-RT state, reel stop control is executed such that Bell A to Bell D, which are set to a payout (8 coins) greater than the specified input number, will not win a prize even if stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in any batting order, and in the bonus establishment state, reel stop control is executed such that Bell A to Bell D will win a prize when stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in the correct batting order.

[0335] In addition, in the slot machine 1, for the winning areas "Batting Order 3 Coin Role 1" to "Batting Order 3 Coin Role 4", in the non-RT state, reel stop control is executed so that 3 coin roles A and 3 coin roles B, which are set to the same payout (3 coins) as the specified number of coins inserted, can be won in multiple batting orders, and in the bonus establishment state, reel stop control is executed so that 3 coin roles A and 3 coin roles B can be won when stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in one preset batting order.

[0336] Then, for the winning areas "15-coin role 1" to "15-coin role 4", the slot machine 1 executes reel stop control so that 15-coin roles B and C, which are set to the specified number of inputs and a large payout (15 coins), can be won if the batting order and the timing of pressing the first stop operation are appropriate, regardless of whether the game is in a non-RT state or a bonus-established state.

[0337] Because of this configuration, the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment can be configured so that, in both the non-RT state and the bonus establishment state, the ball output rate when playing with the batting order 1 (random) to the batting order 6 (random) is higher than the ball output rate of the batting order 1 (random) and the ball output rate of the batting order 2 (random), as shown in FIG. 23, and the degree of advantage for the player does not change depending on the playing method even when the playing state transitions from the non-RT state to the bonus establishment state. Also, as shown in FIG. 23, the slot machine 1 is configured so that the ball output rate of the batting order 1 (random) to the batting order 6 (random) is the same in the bonus state, so that the degree of advantage for the player does not change regardless of the playing method in the bonus state.

[0338] For this reason, even if the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment is configured to execute control to adjust the difference between the ball payout rate when play is performed with batting orders 1 and 2 depending on the state (presentation state) related to the instruction function controlled by the AT control means 200 when play is performed with batting orders 3 to 6 in which stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed (for example, not executing a decrement update of the normal game number counter 197c when play is performed with batting orders 3 to 6 in the normal state), there is no risk of the player suffering an unfair disadvantage depending on the game state, and control can be executed according to the playing method while maintaining fairness in the game.

[0339] The winning areas "Bell 1" to "Bell 8" constitute a plurality of first winning patterns in which the winning probability of Bell A to Bell D (first minor role) set to a payout (8 coins) greater than the prescribed number of coins is set to a higher probability in the bonus formation state (second game state) than in the non-RT state (first game state), and the winning areas "3 coin role 1" to "3 coin role 4" constitute a plurality of first winning patterns in which the winning probability of 3 coin role A and 3 coin role B (second minor role) set to the same payout (3 coins) greater than the prescribed number of coins is set to a higher probability in the bonus formation state (second game state). A plurality of second winning modes are configured with a higher probability set in a non-RT state (first gaming state) than in a bonus established state (second gaming state), and a plurality of third winning modes are configured with the same probability set in a non-RT state (first gaming state) and a bonus established state (second gaming state) for the winning areas "15-coin role 1" to "15-coin role 4" for the winning probability of 15-coin role B and 15-coin role C (third minor role) which are set to a payout (15 coins) greater than the specified number of coins inserted.

[0340] In addition, batting orders 3 to 6, which allow the first, second, and third small wins to be won, constitute a first operation mode, and batting orders 1 and 2, which allow the first, second, and third small wins to be won, constitute a second operation mode.

[0341] In addition, with regard to the first winning probability, which is the probability of winning in one of the multiple first winning modes, the second winning probability, which is the probability of winning in one of the multiple second winning modes, and the third winning probability, which is the probability of winning in one of the multiple third winning modes, the winning probabilities are configured so that the ball payout rate when playing in the first operation mode in the first gaming state is higher than the ball payout rate when playing in the second operation mode in the first gaming state, and the ball payout rate when playing in the first operation mode in the second gaming state is higher than the ball payout rate when playing in the second operation mode in the second gaming state.

[0342] As described above, the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment has, as winning modes including minor roles with a payout set larger than the prescribed number of inputs, winning areas "batting order bell 1" to "batting order bell 8" in which bells A to D with a payout set to 8 coins can be won when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in a bonus establishment state and in the correct batting order, and 15 coin roles B and C with a payout set to 15 coins can be won when the first stop operation is executed at a pressing timing that allows the BAR symbol "BAR" with a pull-in range set to 5 frames out of 20 frames to be pulled in in a preset batting order (specific batting order). There are winning areas "15-coin role 1" to "15-coin role 4" where a prize can be won, and when the winning assistance is performed, the player is conscious of the pressing timing to stop the BAR symbol "BAR" on the valid line L1, i.e., when the so-called eye-pressing is performed, the payout rate differs between when the winning assistance is followed and the eye-pressing is performed, resulting in the 15-coin role B or 15-coin role C winning, the payout rate is approximately 176.4%, and when the winning assistance is followed and the eye-pressing is not performed and the 15-coin role B or 15-coin role C does not win, the payout rate is approximately 156.1%).

[0343] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment can prevent the payout rate from becoming excessively high when a game is played in which the winning assistance is followed and the eye-pressing is not performed, and the 15-coin role B or 15-coin role C is not won, thereby preventing a decrease in the marketability of the gaming machine.

[0344] Also, as described above, in the second embodiment, when the winning area "batting order bell 1" to the winning area "batting order bell 8" is won in the normal state or the premonition state, the AT control means 200 is configured not to transmit information (selection role group information) indicating which of the winning areas "batting order bell 1" to "batting order bell 8" has been won to the performance control means 180. On the other hand, when the winning area "batting order 3-piece role 1" to the winning area "batting order 3-piece role 4" or the winning area "batting order 15-piece role 1" to the winning area "batting order 15-piece role 4" is won in the normal state or the premonition state, the AT control means 200 is configured to transmit information (selection role group information) indicating which of the winning areas "batting order 3-piece role 1" to "batting order 3-piece role 4" or the winning area "batting order 15-piece role 1" to "batting order 15-piece role 4" has been won to the performance control means 180.

[0345] For this reason, the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment is configured not to perform a performance using the selection role group information when the winning area "batting order bell 1" to the winning area "batting order bell 8" are won in the normal state or the premonition state, and is configured not to execute the winning assistance using the main control display device 500. On the other hand, the slot machine 1 is configured to be able to execute a performance using the selection role group information when the winning area "batting order 3-coin role 1" to the winning area "batting order 3-coin role 4" and the winning area "batting order 15-coin role 1" to the winning area "batting order 15-coin role 4" are won in the normal state or the premonition state, and is configured to execute the winning assistance using the main control display device 500.

[0346] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment does not execute winning assistance when the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" are won in the normal state or premonition state, so that it is possible to win Bells A to D even in the normal state or premonition state, which would prevent the payout rate from becoming excessively high. This improves the medal acquisition performance after transitioning to the CZ state or AT state, i.e., after AT play has begun, thereby improving the marketability of the slot machine 1 with AT function.

[0347] [Other embodiments] In the first and second embodiments, the presentation control means 180 is configured to, when displaying the shortened notification icon 330c (see FIG. 13(B)) in the normal state, continue displaying it until changing the display to the period notification icon 330g (see FIG. 14(B)) in the premonition state, but is not limited to this. The presentation control means 180 may be configured to, for example, execute a cut-in presentation that is displayed temporarily and ends within one game as a presentation to notify the execution of shortened control.

[0348] In other words, the slot machine 1 does not need to be configured to constantly display the history of the first presentation that notifies the user of the execution of the shortened control by continuing the display, but may be configured to end the display at any time before the result of the shortened control is notified by the second presentation.

[0349] In the first and second embodiments, the presentation control means 180 is configured to display a shortcut notification icon 330c (see FIG. 15(C)) similar to the shortcut notification icon 330c (see FIG. 13(B)) displayed when notifying the execution of shortcut control in the normal state, but is not limited thereto. For example, the presentation control means 180 may be configured to notify the execution of shortcut control in the AT state by changing the background image according to the number of times shortcut control is executed on the AT state end screen that displays the result of the game in the AT state.

[0350] In other words, the slot machine 1 does not need to be configured to execute the third presentation, which notifies the user of the execution of shortened control in the AT state, during a game in which shortened control is executed, but rather needs to be configured to execute it before the AT state ends and the normal state begins.

[0351] In the first and second embodiments, the AT control means 200 is configured to be able to transition to the premonition state even when the transition condition to the CZ state is not satisfied, and is configured to transition the presentation state from the premonition state to the normal state when the transition condition to the CZ state is not satisfied, but is not limited thereto. The AT control means 200 may be configured to be able to transition the presentation state to the premonition state only when the transition condition to the CZ state is satisfied.

[0352] When configured in this manner, the presentation control means 180 may be configured to be capable of executing a presentation in a premonition state even when the presentation state controlled by the AT control means 200 is a normal state. Also, when the presentation control means 180 is configured to be capable of executing a presentation in a premonition state without a transition of the presentation state controlled by the AT control means 200, the slot machine 1 configures a predetermined timing when a game in a premonition state is started by the presentation control means 180.

[0353] In the first and second embodiments, the presentation control means 180 is configured to execute a second presentation that notifies the result of the shortening control in a game in which a premonition state has started as a predetermined timing, but is not limited thereto. The presentation control means 180 may be configured to determine that a predetermined timing has been reached and execute the second presentation when, for example, a game in which a premonition state ends or when a period shortened by shortening control in a normal state reaches a predetermined period, and the specific configuration is not limited to the first and second embodiments.

[0354] In the first and second embodiments, the AT control means 200 is configured to subtract the stored value of the normal game number counter 197c in a game in which the shortened control is executed, but is not limited thereto. For example, the AT control means 200 may be configured to determine by lottery whether or not the shortened control is executed in the normal state or the AT state, and when the state transitions to the premonition state, to determine by lottery a value to subtract the stored value of the normal game number counter 197c according to the number of times the shortened control is executed that has been stocked until the state transitions to the premonition state. In other words, the slot machine 1 may be configured to determine the period to be shortened by the shortened control and to notify the period shortened by the shortened control together in a game at the start of the premonition state.

[0355] In the first and second embodiments, the AT control means 200 is configured to manage the set period from the normal state to the CZ state by counting the number of times of play using the normal game number counter 197c, but is not limited to this. The AT control means 200 may be configured to count the number of times a predetermined winning area is won, and determine that the set period has elapsed when the number of times of winning reaches a predetermined number. In other words, the set period is not limited to the number of times of play, but may be the number of times a predetermined winning area is won, or may be the number of times a predetermined combination is won, and is not limited to the first and second embodiments.

[0356] In the second embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured so that the payout rate of batting order 1 (random) to batting order 6 (random) in the non-RT state varies depending on the batting order as shown in FIG. 23, but is not limited thereto. The slot machine 1 may be configured so that the payout rate of batting order 1 (random) to batting order 6 (random) in the non-RT state is substantially the same regardless of the batting order. Similarly, the slot machine 1 may be configured so that the payout rate of batting order 1 (random) to batting order 6 (random) in the bonus establishment state is substantially the same regardless of the batting order.

[0357] In the second embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured so that the payout rate does not change regardless of the play method used in the bonus state, but is not limited to this. For example, in at least one of the non-RT state and the bonus establishment state, when the payout rate varies depending on the batting order from the payout rate of batting order 1 (random) to the payout rate of batting order 6 (random), the slot machine 1 may be configured so that the payout rate varies depending on the batting order even in the bonus state.

[0358] When the slot machine 1 is configured so that there is a difference in the ball payout rate depending on the batting order in at least one of the game states of the non-RT state and the bonus establishment state, and in the bonus state, the slot machine 1 must be configured so that the magnitude relationship of the ball payout rate of each batting order does not change in at least one of the game states of the non-RT state and the bonus establishment state, and in the bonus state. Specifically, when the slot machine 1 is configured so that the ball payout rate of batting order 1 (random) = the ball payout rate of batting order 2 (random) < the ball payout rate of batting order 3 (random) = the ball payout rate of batting order 4 (random) = the ball payout rate of batting order 5 (random) = the ball payout rate of batting order 6 (random) in the bonus establishment state, the slot machine 1 must be configured so that the ball payout rate of batting order 1 (random) = the ball payout rate of batting order 2 (random) < the ball payout rate of batting order 3 (random) = the ball payout rate of batting order 4 (random) = the ball payout rate of batting order 5 (random) = the ball payout rate of batting order 6 (random) in the bonus state.

[0359] In the second embodiment, the slot machine 1 has winning areas "batting order 15-piece role 1" to "batting order 15-piece role 4" in which 15-piece role B and 15-piece role C can win when the timing of pressing the first stop operation is a timing that can pull the BAR symbol "BAR" onto the pay line L1 in a preset batting order, but is not limited thereto. The slot machine 1 may be configured to have, for example, a winning area "15-piece role 1" in which 15-piece role B is the only winning area, and a winning area "15-piece role 2" in which 15-piece role C is the only winning area.

[0360] When configured in this manner, the slot machine 1 is configured so that, when the winning area "15-coin role 1" is won, regardless of the batting order, if the stop button B2 is pressed at a timing that allows the BAR symbol "BAR" to be drawn in, a 15-coin role B will be won, and if the stop button B2 is pressed at a timing that does not allow the BAR symbol "BAR" to be drawn in, a pattern combination different from the winning pattern combination of either role will be displayed on the valid line L1, resulting in a missed win (non-winning). When the winning area "15-coin role 2" is won, regardless of the batting order, if the stop button B3 is pressed at a timing that allows the BAR symbol "BAR" to be drawn in, a 15-coin role C will be won, and if the stop button BC is pressed at a timing that does not allow the BAR symbol "BAR" to be drawn in, a pattern combination different from the winning pattern combination of either role will be displayed on the valid line L1, resulting in a missed win (non-winning).

[0361] Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments, the slot machine 1 is configured to set the stored value of each counter and memory means as an initial value, and to perform a decrement update in which one is subtracted each time a game is played, or an increment update in which one is added each time a game is played, but this is not limited to this, and the method of updating each counter and memory means may be configured to perform multiplication, division, etc., and is not particularly limited. [Explanation of symbols]

[0362] 1. Slot machines (amusement machines) 120 Internal lottery method 180 Production Control Means 200 AT control means (auxiliary game control means) R1 Left reel R2 Middle reel R3 Right reel

Claims

[Claim 1] Multiple reels and Multiple stop buttons An internal lottery means for performing an internal lottery; A performance control means for controlling performance related to a game, the plurality of reels includes a first reel, a second reel, and a third reel; the plurality of stop buttons includes a first stop button, a second stop button, and a third stop button; the first stop button corresponds to the first reel; the second stop button corresponds to the second reel; the third stop button corresponds to the third reel, In the internal lottery, the winning or losing of a plurality of winning patterns is determined, The plurality of winning modes includes a plurality of specific winning modes, The specific winning patterns include a small win of a first payout and a small win of a second payout, The first dividend is higher than the second dividend, A specific operation mode that enables the player to win a small combination of the first payout as an operation mode of the stop buttons is set for each of the multiple types of specific winning modes, The operation mode for first stopping the first reel is not set to the specific operation mode in any of the specific winning modes, the specific winning mode being the specific operation mode that causes the second reel to stop first, and the specific winning mode being the specific operation mode that causes the third reel to stop first, When the specific winning mode is won in the internal lottery, When the plurality of stop buttons are operated in the specific operation mode, a small combination of the first payout can be won. When the plurality of stop buttons are operated in an operation mode that stops the first reel first among the operation modes different from the specific operation mode, a small combination of the second payout is won; When the plurality of stop buttons are operated in an operation mode that stops the second reel or the third reel first among the operation modes different from the specific operation mode, the small combination of the second payout is won with a predetermined probability, and when the small combination of the second payout is not won, no combination is won; The performance control means includes: A first effect notifying a player that a special benefit will be awarded; A second performance is executed to notify the content of the benefit to be granted. The first effect is executed before the second effect is executed. A gaming machine characterized by:

Images