Game machine

Abstract

To provide a game machine which can suitably display a performance image.SOLUTION: A sub control board 940 displays on a decorative pattern display device 479 a game machine image 1701 being the image corresponding to a Pachinko machine and a player image 1702 being the image corresponding to a player located in front of the Pachinko machine indicated by the game machine image 1701 when the start winning of a special pattern is generated. The content of another variable display that can be displayed when the start winning of the special pattern is generated is displayed on a region according to a display screen of a display device included in the Pachinko machine indicated by the game machine image 1701 in the game machine image 1701.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 26

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a gaming machine typified by a pachinko machine.

Background Art

[0002] As a representative example of a gaming machine, there is a pachinko machine. In a conventional typical pachinko machine, when a ball enters a start port provided in a game area and wins a jackpot in a lottery conducted in response to the ball entry, a configuration is known in which the machine shifts to a special game state more advantageous than the normal game state (for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, various improvements have been made to the configuration of conventional gaming machines, but there may still be room for improvement.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances and the like, and an object thereof is to provide a gaming machine capable of suitably displaying a production image.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, a gaming machine according to the present invention is provided with lottery means for conducting a predetermined lottery when a predetermined start condition is satisfied, game control means for generating a special game state more advantageous than the normal game state when the lottery result by the lottery means is a predetermined result, and a display unit capable of displaying at least a predetermined variable display and a result display corresponding to the lottery result, Display control means for performing control to cause the display unit to display the predetermined variable display and the result display when the predetermined start condition is satisfied, wherein when the predetermined start condition is satisfied, a variable display image including at least a part of the variable display to be displayed when the predetermined start condition is satisfied, an image corresponding to the gaming machine on which the variable display image is displayed on the display unit, and an image corresponding to a player located on the front side of the gaming machine are displayed on the display unit. It is characterized by having display control means for performing control to do so.

Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a gaming machine capable of suitably displaying a production image.

Brief Explanation of Drawings

[0008]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Embodiments of the gaming machine according to the present invention will be described using the pachinko machine 100 as an example of a ball game machine, which is a type of gaming machine. Subsequently, modified examples and other types of gaming machines will be described. First, regarding the embodiment of the pachinko machine 100, the structural configuration, electrical configuration, and various control processes will be described in order.

[0010] <Structural configuration> First, with reference mainly to FIGS. 1 to 9, the configuration of the structural part of the pachinko machine 100 will be described. FIGS. 1 to 4 are perspective views showing various states of the pachinko machine 100. FIG. 1 shows the closed state of the pachinko machine 100, FIG. 2 shows a state in which the front block 102 and the intermediate block 103 are integrally opened with respect to the outer frame 101, FIG. 3 shows a state in which the front block 102 is opened with respect to the intermediate block 103, and FIG. 4 shows a state in which the rear block 104 is opened with respect to the intermediate block 103. Further, FIG. 5 is a front view of the pachinko machine 100, and FIG. 6 shows a state in which the front block 102 of the pachinko machine 100 is removed from the state of FIG. 5. In each figure, various wirings are omitted, and in FIGS. 3 and 6, a part of the configuration of the game board 400 is omitted.

[0011] The pachinko machine 100 includes, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, an outer frame 101, a front block 102, an intermediate block 103, and a rear block 104, and these parts are configured to be relatively displaceable by a predetermined operation.

[0012] The outer frame 101 has a function as a main body support means for supporting the main body part of the pachinko machine 100. The outer frame 101 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, a substantially quadrilateral frame body to which a top plate part 111, a bottom plate part 112, a left side plate part 113, and a right side plate part 114 are assembled, and is fitted into a gaming machine installation facility (island facility) provided in a game hall where the pachinko machine 100 is installed and firmly fixed by a fixing tool (not shown). In the pachinko machine 100, the outer frame 101 is not an essential configuration, and it may be a configuration in which a support mechanism that has the same inner shape as the outer frame 101 or the outer frame 101 and supports a main body part corresponding to the configuration of the pachinko machine 100 excluding the outer frame 101, and a part of a locking mechanism for locking the main body part are provided in the island facility.

[0013] On one side in the left - right direction (the side of the left - hand plate portion 113) of the outer frame 101, intermediate - block support mechanisms 121 and 122 are provided. By these intermediate - block support mechanisms 121 and 122, the outer frame 101 and the intermediate block 103 are connected (linked), and the main - body portion of the pachinko machine 100 is configured to be rotatable forward with one end side (left - hand side) in the left - right direction in the front view of the pachinko machine 100 as the rotation base end side and the other end side (right - hand side) as the rotation tip end side.

[0014] The intermediate - block support mechanisms 121 and 122 are, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, provided separately at the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the outer frame 101. Each of the intermediate - block support mechanisms 121 and 122 is configured to be rotatable, for example, in a state where a shaft portion provided on the intermediate block 103 is supported from below by a shaft - support portion provided on the outer frame 101 and the shaft portion is inserted into a shaft hole provided in the shaft - support portion. Note that the configuration for making the main - body portion of the pachinko machine 100 including the intermediate block 103 rotatable is not limited to the above - described configuration, and other configurations such as providing a shaft hole on the intermediate - block 103 side and forming a shaft portion on the outer - frame 101 side may also be used.

[0015] The intermediate - block support mechanisms 121 and 122 are provided with a function of releasing the connection state between the outer frame 101 and the intermediate block 103 by a predetermined removal operation, and the main - body portion of the pachinko machine 100 including the intermediate block 103 is detachably attached to the outer frame 101. For example, by performing a predetermined removal operation of opening the intermediate block 103 with respect to the outer frame 101 by a certain amount or more and moving it upward by a certain amount, the connection state of the intermediate block 103 with respect to the outer frame 101 is released. Thereby, the main - body portion of the pachinko machine 100 is made detachable with respect to the outer frame 101.

[0016] In front of the intermediate block 103, the front block 102 is arranged so as to overlap, and the intermediate block 103 and the front block 102 are connected by front block support mechanisms 131, 132 provided on the left side in the front view. The front block support mechanisms 131, 132 have the same configuration as the intermediate block support mechanisms 121, 122, support the front block 102 so as to be rotatable forward with respect to the intermediate block 103, and are configured to be removable by a predetermined removal operation.

[0017] Behind the intermediate block 103, the rear block 104 is arranged so as to overlap, and the intermediate block 103 and the rear block 104 are connected by rear block support mechanisms 136, 137 (see FIG. 8) provided on the left side in the front view. The rear block support mechanisms 136, 137 have the same configuration as the intermediate block support mechanisms 121, 122 and the front block support mechanisms 131, 132, support the rear block 104 so as to be rotatable backward with respect to the intermediate block 103, and are configured to be removably supported by a predetermined removal operation.

[0018] In addition, the pachinko machine 100 is provided with an intermediate block locking mechanism for restricting the opening and closing of the intermediate block 103 with respect to the outer frame 101, a front block locking mechanism for restricting the opening and closing of the front block 102 with respect to the intermediate block 103, and a key operation mechanism that is operated to unlock and lock the intermediate block locking mechanism and the front block locking mechanism. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a key cylinder 141 as a key operation mechanism that is exposed on the front side of the pachinko machine 100 through the opening of the front block 102 is provided on the intermediate block 103.

[0019] As a predetermined operation on the key cylinder 141, when a right rotation operation is performed with an operation key (not shown), a movable part 143 of the intermediate block locking mechanism provided on the intermediate block 103 operates. As a result, the engagement between the engaged part 142 provided on the outer frame 101 and the movable part 143 as a part of the intermediate block locking mechanism is released, and the intermediate block 103 is in a state where it is allowed to open and close with respect to the outer frame 101.

[0020] On one hand, in response to a left rotation operation by a predetermined operation key for the key cylinder 141, the movable part 144 of the front block locking mechanism provided on the intermediate block 103 operates. As a result, the engagement between the engaged part 145 provided on the front block 102 and the movable part 144, which is a part of the front block locking mechanism, is released, and the front block 102 becomes in a state where it can be opened and closed with respect to the intermediate block 103.

[0021] In addition, the pachinko machine 100 is provided with a rear block opening / closing regulation mechanism that regulates the opening and closing of the rear block 104 with respect to the intermediate block 103. By this rear block opening / closing regulation mechanism, the rear block 104 can be switched between a state where opening and closing are prohibited (opening / closing prohibited state) and a state where opening and closing are permitted (opening / closing permitted state) with respect to the intermediate block 103 by a predetermined operation.

[0022] The rear block opening / closing regulation mechanism is constituted by, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, two opening / closing regulation parts 150A and 150B provided on the intermediate block 103 and one opening / closing regulation part 150C provided on the rear block 104. Rotatable rotating pieces 151A to 151C are provided on these three opening / closing regulation parts 150A to 150C. The rotating pieces 151A to 151C change the engagement state with an opening part arranged to overlap front and back in the closed state of the rear block 104 by a rotation operation. Thereby, it is possible to switch between an opening / closing prohibited posture corresponding to the opening / closing prohibited state and an opening / closing permitted posture corresponding to the opening / closing permitted state. When all the rotating pieces 151A to 151C are in the opening / closing permitted posture, each of the rotating pieces 151A to 151C can pass through the opening, and the rear block 104 becomes in a state where it can be opened and closed with respect to the intermediate block 103. Note that as the opening / closing prohibited posture and the opening / closing permitted posture, it is sufficient that the opening / closing prohibited state and the opening / closing permitted state can be switched by at least a change in the position and / or orientation of the rotating pieces 151A to 151C. It may be configured to only rotate at a fixed position, or may be configured to move in a fixed direction, or may be configured to operate by a combination of movement and rotation. Hereinafter, the same applies to the change in posture when the constituent members in each device shift between a plurality of postures.

[0023] Of the three rotating pieces 151A to 151C, two rotating pieces 151A and 151B corresponding to a part thereof are exposed to the back side of the pachinko machine 100 through an opening formed in the rear block 104 in the open / close prohibited state of the rear block 104 as shown in FIG. 2, and one rotating piece 151C corresponding to the remaining part is exposed to the front side of the intermediate block 103 as shown in FIG. 6. For this reason, it is not possible to switch all the rotating pieces 151A to 151C to the open / close allowable posture only by an operation from one side such as the back side of the pachinko machine 100 or the front side of the intermediate block 103, and thereby, the crime prevention property is enhanced.

[0024] Further, the pachinko machine 100 is provided with a game ball movement regulating mechanism for regulating the movement of game balls from the intermediate block 103 to the front block 102. The game ball movement regulating mechanism is constituted by, for example, a combination of a downward flow regulating piece 161 provided in the intermediate block 103 and a regulation changing part 162 provided in the front block 102 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, and the downward flow regulating piece 161 is biased by a coil spring (not shown) toward the front side where the front block 102 is located.

[0025] In a state where the front block 102 is closed with respect to the intermediate block 103 (the closed state of the front block 102), the downward flow regulating piece 161 is in a movement allowable state that allows the downward flow of game balls. Specifically, it is pressed and pushed rearward of the intermediate block 103 by the regulation changing part 162. The downward flow regulating piece 161 is displaced rearward with respect to a guiding passage (not shown) for guiding game balls from the intermediate block 103 to the front block 102 in the movement allowable state. Thereby, in the closed state of the front block 102, the movement of game balls from the intermediate block 103 to the front block 102 is allowed.

[0026] On the other hand, in a state where the front block 102 is open with respect to the intermediate block 103 (the open state of the front block 102), the pressing of the flow-down restricting piece 161 by the regulation changing part 162 is released, and the flow-down restricting piece 161 is in a movement-prohibited state of protruding toward the front block 102 side as compared with the closed state of the front block 102. The flow-down restricting piece 161 protrudes into the guiding passage in the movement-prohibited state and blocks the flow-down of the game balls to the downstream side. Thereby, the movement of the game balls from the intermediate block 103 to the front block 102 is prohibited.

[0027] Further, as shown in FIG. 2, for example, an open / close detection switch 108 for detecting whether or not the intermediate block 103 is closed with respect to the outer frame 101 is provided at the lower end portion on the rear side of the intermediate block 103 and on the rotation tip side (left side when viewed from the back), and as shown in FIG. 3, for example, an open / close detection switch 109 for detecting whether or not the front block 102 is closed with respect to the intermediate block 103 is provided at the lower end portion on the front side of the intermediate block 103 and on the rotation tip side (right side when viewed from the front).

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

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the front block 102 forms substantially the entire front surface of the pachinko machine 100 and is a substantially rectangular member having a thickness in the front-rear direction, and has a function as front decoration means for decorating the front surface portion of the pachinko machine 100. The front block 102 is mainly composed of a base frame 201 made of synthetic resin, and a plurality of functional components are attached to the front and rear of the base frame 201. On the front side of the base frame 201, a front decoration body 210 forming the front surface of the pachinko machine 100 is attached in a state of surrounding the opening 210A along the outer edge of the opening 210A formed including the central portion in the front view of the front block 102. In a state where the base frame 201 and the front decoration body 210 constituting the front block 102 are combined, the opening 210A is formed to penetrate in the front-rear direction over a wide range excluding the outer peripheral portion to which the front decoration body 210 is attached. Through this opening 210A, an intermediate block 103 including a game board 400 located on the rear side of the front block 102 is configured to be visible to the player.

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

[0031] Also, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, as a part of the front decoration body 210, the front block 102 is formed with an opening peripheral portion 211 surrounding the periphery of the opening 210A, an upper protruding portion 217 protruding forward below the opening 210A, a lower protruding portion 218 protruding forward below the upper protruding portion 217, and a substantially flat region located on the right side of the lower protruding portion 218 and deeper than the upper protruding portion 217 and the lower protruding portion 218, and a flat portion 219 on which the firing operation device 250 is arranged. The main storage mechanism 230 is arranged on the upper protruding portion 217, and the auxiliary storage mechanism 240 is arranged on the lower protruding portion 218.

[0032] The central panel 220 functions as a cover body that enables the rear side to be visible while closing the opening 210A formed through in the front-rear direction in a state where the base frame 201 and the front decorative body 210 are combined. The central panel 220 includes, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a panel frame 221 (see FIG. 3) attached from the rear side of the base frame 201, a light-transmissive front plate 222 (see FIG. 1) fitted to the front side of the panel frame 221, and a light-transmissive rear plate 223 (see FIG. 3) fitted substantially parallel to the front plate 222 with a predetermined gap on the rear side of the panel frame 221.

[0033] The main storage mechanism 230 has a function of storing game balls acquired according to the progress of the game and game balls lent from the game parlor. The main storage mechanism 230 includes, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, a storage unit 231, a ball extraction mechanism (not shown), and a ball extraction operation member 232 for operating the ball extraction mechanism. The storage unit 231 is provided with an inlet 231A for allowing game balls to flow into the storage unit 231 from the inside of the pachinko machine 100, an outlet (not shown) for allowing game balls to flow out from the storage unit 231 to the inside of the pachinko machine 100, and a discharge port (not shown) formed upstream of the outlet. When this discharge port is opened, the game balls are discharged to the player side without being taken into the pachinko machine 100 from the storage unit 231. The ball extraction mechanism has a function of switching the discharge destination of the game balls between the outlet and the discharge port.

[0034] Game balls acquired according to the progress of the game and game balls lent according to a lending operation for a lending operation device 292 described later mainly flow into the storage unit 231 through the inlet 231A. Further, the storage unit 231 is formed with an opening on the upper side, and through this opening portion, game balls owned by the player are manually inserted or game balls lent at the game parlor are supplied.

[0035] The game balls that have flowed into the storage unit 231 are sequentially guided to the side where the outlet and the discharge port are formed (the upper right side in FIG. 1) while being aligned in a row. When a ball extraction operation (for example, a pressing operation) on the ball extraction operation member 232 is not performed, the game balls are guided to a launch device 330 (see FIG. 3) described later through the outlet. On the other hand, when a ball extraction operation on the ball extraction operation member 232 is being performed, the game balls are guided to an auxiliary storage mechanism 240 (see FIG. 1) through the discharge port.

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the auxiliary storage mechanism 240 includes a storage unit 241 having inlets 241A, 241C (see FIG. 5) and an outlet 241B (see FIG. 1) for game balls, a ball extraction mechanism 243 for opening and closing the outlet 241B, and a ball extraction operation member 242 for operating the ball extraction mechanism 243. Game balls and the like obtained according to the progress of the game mainly flow into the main storage mechanism 230, but if the storage unit 231 is full, they flow into the storage unit 241 through the inlet 241A. Also, according to the ball extraction operation on the ball extraction operation member 232, the game balls flow from the storage unit 231 into the storage unit 241 through the inlet 241C.

[0037] The bottom surface of the storage unit 241 slopes downward toward the outlet 241B. When the outlet 241B is opened by a ball extraction operation (for example, a pressing operation) on the ball extraction operation member 242, all the game balls stored in the storage unit 241 can be sequentially discharged to the outside of the pachinko machine 100. When the outlet 241B is completely opened by a ball extraction operation on the ball extraction operation member 242, it is maintained in the open state until a return operation (for example, another pressing operation) on the ball extraction operation member 242 is performed. A ball overflow switch 249 (see FIG. 10) for detecting whether an excessive number of game balls are stored in the storage unit 241 is provided deep inside the inlet 241A.

[0038] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the launch operation device 250 includes a pedestal 251 that protrudes forward from the flat portion 219 of the front decorative body 210, a rotatable launch handle 252 provided around the pedestal 251, a variable resistor 253 (see FIG. 10) that detects the amount of rotational operation of the launch handle 252, a contact sensor 254 (see FIG. 10) that detects that a player is in contact with the launch handle 252, and a launch stop switch 255 (see FIG. 5) that invalidates the ejection of the game ball accompanying the rotational operation of the launch handle 252 by the player's operation. When the launch handle 252 is rotationally operated by the player, the game ball is ejected from the launch device 330 (see FIG. 3) toward the game board 400 (see FIG. 3) with an intensity corresponding to the amount of rotational operation. Note that when the contact sensor 254 does not detect contact between the launch handle 252 and the player, or when the launch operation is invalidated by the operation of the launch stop switch 255, the game ball is not ejected from the launch device 330 even if the launch handle 252 is rotationally operated.

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

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

[0041] Also, as shown in FIG. 5, in the previous block 102, for example, an upper left acoustic output port 211F and an upper right acoustic output port 211G are provided at the upper part of the opening peripheral edge portion 211, and an upper left acoustic device 281 and an upper right acoustic device 282 (see FIGS. 3 and 10) are provided corresponding to each of the upper left acoustic output port 211F and the upper right acoustic output port 211G. The upper left acoustic device 281 and the upper right acoustic device 282 are attached to the base frame 201 so as to be located behind (rearward) the opening peripheral edge portion 211 of the front decorative body 210.

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

[0043] In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, the front block 102 is provided with an input operation device 260 that enables an input operation different from the shooting operation by the player. The input operation device 260 includes, for example, a pressing operation device 261 that allows a pushing operation, a rotating operation device 262 that allows a rotating operation, and a selection operation device 263 that allows a direction operation in the up, down, left, and right directions. By these operation devices 261 to 263, an effect selection operation for selecting an effect executed in the pachinko machine 100, a device setting operation for setting the volume and light amount of each device that executes the effect of the pachinko machine 100, or an effect setting operation for inputting information about the player and enabling the execution of the effect of the pachinko machine 100 according to the game before the previous game can be executed, and these operations can be executed by the player or the game hall manager as needed. Note that the input operation part (for example, the annular rotation operation part in the rotation operation device 262) that the player contacts in the input operation device 260 is preferably configured to be capable of performing operations such as rotation, vertical movement, or vibration by input operation part driving means such as a motor or a solenoid under the control of the pachinko machine 100 (for example, the control of the sub-control board 940 (see FIG. 10)). By operating the input part at any one or a plurality of timings before, after, or during the input operation, it is possible to diversify the effects involving the input operation, such as actively promoting the input operation.

[0044] Next, the intermediate block 103 will be described. The intermediate block 103 is a substantially rectangular member having substantially the same size as the front block 102, and has a function of integrating the main body part of the pachinko machine 100 by attaching the front block 102 and the rear block 104. The intermediate block 103 is configured by attaching a plurality of functional components including the game board 400 to the base frame 301.

[0045] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the intermediate block 103 includes a base frame 301 having an opening, a game board 400 (see FIG. 3) attached from the front side while covering the opening of the base frame 301, a game board support mechanism that rotatably and detachably supports the game board 400 with respect to the base frame 301, a game board fixing mechanism that fixes the position of the game board 400 with respect to the base frame 301, a launching device 330 (see FIG. 3) that launches game balls onto the game board 400, a main control device 370 (see FIG. 4) attached to the back side of the game board 400 that comprehensively controls the progress of the game, and a sub-control device 390 (see FIG. 4) that controls game effects and status notifications based on commands from the main control device 370.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 3, the base frame 301 is provided with a guiding passage portion 301A in which a guiding passage for guiding game balls discharged from a payout device 540 (see FIG. 8) described later to the front block 102 is formed inside, and an opening 301B where a plurality of wirings (not shown) and a signal relay device 311 are located. The opening 301B has a shape that penetrates in the front-rear direction below the game board 400. The plurality of wirings inserted through the opening 301B include wirings for electrically connecting various devices provided in the front block 102 (for example, frame lighting devices 271 to 275, upper left acoustic device 281, and upper right acoustic device 282) and devices provided on the back side of the intermediate block 103 and the rear block 104 (for example, the main control device 370 and the sub-control device 390). The signal relay device 311 functions as a relay board that relays a part of the wiring.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 3, the game board 400 includes a flat base 401 having through-holes such as a discharge port 401A through which game balls can pass back and forth, an outer rail 402 that smoothly curves from the lower left to the upper right of the base 401, an inner rail 403 that smoothly curves from the lower right to the upper left of the base 401, a return ball prevention mechanism 404 attached to the tip of the upper left side of the inner rail 403, and a rebound prevention member 405 attached to the tip of the upper right side of the outer rail 402. The outer rail 402 guides the game balls launched from a launching device 330 described later into the game area. The return ball prevention mechanism 404 prevents the game balls once released into the game area from the launch passage 401B formed in the portion where the outer rail 402 and the inner rail 403 face each other in parallel from returning to the launch passage 401B. The rebound prevention member 405 has shock absorbency to prevent a significant rebound of the game ball such that the game ball moving toward the right beyond the upper center of the game board 400 returns to the left via the upper center again, and is formed of a material such as vibration damping rubber, for example.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 3, a return ball passage portion 163 is formed at the lower part on the back side of the front block 102. There is a gap between a guiding member 335 that guides the game ball from the launching device 330 toward the launch passage 401B and the outer rail 402. The game balls launched from the launching device 330 but not reaching beyond the return ball prevention mechanism 404 and moving back in the launch passage 401B are returned to the auxiliary storage mechanism 240 (see FIG. 5) from the inflow port 241A (see FIG. 5) via the return ball passage portion 163 disposed below this gap.

[0049] The game balls that have advanced beyond the return ball prevention mechanism 404 reach the game area and move (flow down) while falling under their own weight within the game area. The game area has a substantially circular outer peripheral shape and is partitioned into a shape that mostly has a front-rear width slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball. The game area is generally partitioned by the outer rail 402 and the inner rail 403 at the outer peripheral portion, the front side is partitioned in a substantially planar shape by the rear plate 223 of the central panel 220, and the rear side is partitioned in a substantially planar shape by the base 401 of the game board 400. Various structures provided in the game area will be described later.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 3, the launching device 330 includes a ball feeder mechanism 331 that sequentially sends out the game balls stored in the main storage mechanism 230 to the launching position, a ball feed solenoid 332 (see FIG. 10) that drives the ball feeder mechanism 331, a launching mechanism 333 that launches the game balls arranged at the launching position, a launching solenoid 334 (see FIG. 10) that drives the launching mechanism 333, and a guiding member 335 that guides the game balls launched from the launching mechanism 333 to the launching passage 401B of the game board 400. The launching device 330 operates in response to the launching operation on the launching operation device 250 as described above, and the driving control of the launching solenoid 334 changes according to the launching operation on the launching operation device 250, and the launching force is adjusted.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 4, the main control device 370 includes a main control board 920 (see FIG. 10) and a two-part substrate case 371 that houses the main control board 920. The main control board 920 is housed inside the light-transmissive substrate case 371 that is sealed so that it cannot be opened without leaving a trace.

[0052] In addition, the main control device 370 is rotatably attached to the back side of the game board 400. Specifically, an attachment portion 372 is rotatably connected and fixed to the back side of the base body 401 of the game board 400, and the main control device 370 is attached to the attachment portion 372. As a result, not only the back side (front side) of the main control device 370 but also the front side (back side) of the main control device 370 can be easily confirmed while the main control device 370 is attached to the game board 400 by rotating the attachment portion 372. The main control device 370 may be connected to the attachment portion 372 so that it cannot be removed without leaving a trace, or the removal status of the main control device 370 may be made easier to manage.

[0053] The sub-control device 390 includes a sub-control board 940 (see FIG. 10) and a substrate case 391 with a two-part structure that houses the sub-control board 940. The sub-control board 940 is, for example, housed inside a light-transmissive substrate case 391 that is sealed so that it cannot be opened without leaving a trace, similar to the main control board 920, and is attached to the back side of the game board 400.

[0054] Here, regarding the various structures arranged in the game area on the game board 400, an explanation will be given mainly with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a front view of the game board 400. In FIG. 7, an example of the decorative pattern displayed on the decorative pattern display device 479 is illustrated.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 7, the game board 400 includes a base 401, flow change members such as nails 411 and windmills 412 that give changes to the flowing direction and flowing speed of the game balls, a central structure 420 arranged approximately in the center of the base 401, starting devices related to the first special symbol arranged below the central structure 420 (specifically, the upper middle starting winning device 431A and the lower middle starting winning device 431B), starting devices related to the second special symbol arranged in the lower right side of the central structure 420 (specifically, the right starting winning device 432), large winning devices 433, 434 arranged below the right starting winning device 432 (specifically, the lower large winning device 433 and the upper large winning device 434), a starting device 436 related to the normal symbol arranged above (upstream side) the right starting winning device 432, a combination operation device 435 arranged in the upper right side of the game board 400 and above (upstream side) the upper and lower large winning devices 433, 434, and general winning devices 439A, 439B arranged on both the left and right sides of the lower middle starting winning device 431B.

[0056] In addition, on the game board 400, a plurality of switches are provided as detection means for detecting the passage of game balls corresponding to the above-described upper middle start winning device 431A and the like (see FIG. 10), and the entry of game balls into a predetermined area corresponding to each switch can be detected. For example, a middle start winning switch (upper middle start winning switch 441A) for detecting a game ball that has entered the upper middle start winning device 431A, a middle start winning switch (lower middle start winning switch 441B) for detecting a game ball that has entered the lower middle start winning device 431B, a right start winning switch 442 for detecting a game ball that has entered the right start winning device 432, a lower large winning switch 443 for detecting a game ball that has entered the lower large winning device 433, an upper large winning switch 444 for detecting a game ball that has entered the upper large winning device 434, a combination operation switch 445 for detecting a game ball that has entered the combination operation device 435, a start switch 446 for detecting a game ball that has entered the start device 436, a non-specific passage switch 447 for detecting a game ball that has entered a non-specific passage (not shown) formed inside the lower large winning device 433, a specific passage switch 448 for detecting a game ball that has entered a specific passage (not shown) formed inside the lower large winning device 433, general winning switches 449A and 449B for detecting game balls that have entered the general winning devices 439A and 439B, etc. are installed on the game board 400.

[0057] In addition, various sensors are provided on the game board 400 for preventing fraud (see FIG. 10), and it is possible to detect abnormalities occurring in the pachinko machine 100. For example, a magnetic sensor 491, a vibration sensor 492, a radio wave sensor 493, etc. are installed on the game board 400.

[0058] The entrance portions of the game balls of the central structure 420 and the starting device 436 constitute the ball entry ports, and the game balls that enter each ball entry port are discharged into the game area. The entrance portions of the game balls of each winning device, specifically, the upper middle starting winning device 431A, the lower middle starting winning device 431B, the right starting winning device 432, the lower large winning device 433, the upper large winning device 434, and the general winning devices 439A and 439B constitute the winning ports, and the game balls that enter each winning port are guided through the through holes formed in the base body 401 to a recovery and discharge passage (not shown) formed on the back side of the base body 401. Also, the game balls that did not enter each winning device are guided to the recovery and discharge passage through the discharge port 401A provided in the most downstream portion of the game area. The game balls guided to the recovery and discharge passage are discharged from the pachinko machine 100 to a game ball circulation device (not shown) provided in the game hall. When a game ball enters any of the winning devices, a predetermined number of game balls corresponding to the type of the winning device are paid out from the payout device 540 (see FIGS. 8 and 9).

[0059] Note that each winning device may be configured separately from other winning devices, or the winning device may be configured by a device in which two or more winning devices (for example, the upper middle starting winning device 431A and the lower middle starting winning device 431B) are integrated. Also, for starting devices such as the upper middle starting winning device 431A, it is not necessarily required to be a winning port where a predetermined number of game balls are paid out when a game ball enters, and it may be a ball entry port where the game ball is discharged back into the game area without being paid out.

[0060] For each of the upper middle start winning device 431A and the lower middle start winning device 431B related to the first special symbol, and the general winning devices 439A and 439B, they do not change the entry probability of the game balls thereto, but guide the entered game balls to the back side of the base 401. Further, the right start winning device 432 related to the second special symbol has a mechanism for changing the entry probability of the game balls into it. Note that the mechanism for changing the entry probability of the game balls does not necessarily need to be provided only in the start device related to the second special symbol. Instead of that, or in addition to that, it may be provided in any one or a plurality of the start devices related to the first special symbol, and the general winning devices 439A and 439B. Also, the mechanism for changing the entry probability of the game balls may be constituted by driving means such as a solenoid that is electrically driven, or may be constituted by a mechanically operating mechanism typified by a mechanism that operates by the own weight of the game balls that have entered a predetermined area.

[0061] The right start winning device 432 related to the second special symbol includes a right entry restriction mechanism 452 that changes the entry probability of the game balls into it by shifting between an entry allowable posture and an entry prohibited posture, and a right entry restriction solenoid 462 (see FIG. 10) that drives the right entry restriction mechanism 452. The right entry restriction mechanism 452 includes two movable pieces that are driven by the right entry restriction solenoid 462. When the right entry restriction mechanism 452 is in the entry prohibited posture, the two movable pieces narrow (or close) the entry port (winning port), so that the game balls cannot enter the right start winning device 432. However, when the right entry restriction mechanism 452 is in the entry allowable posture, the two movable pieces are arranged such that the interval between their tip portions expands, so that the game balls can enter the right start winning device 432. The right entry restriction mechanism 452 shifts to the entry allowable posture for a predetermined number of times and a predetermined time in response to the drive by the right entry restriction solenoid 462 when winning in a lottery (hereinafter also referred to as "ordinary symbol lottery") based on the detection of the game balls that have entered the start device 436 related to the ordinary symbol by the start switch 446.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 7, the lower large winning device 433 is provided with a lower entry restricting mechanism 453 that restricts the entry of game balls into its interior by transitioning between an entry-permitted posture and an entry-prohibited posture, a lower entry restricting solenoid 463 (see FIG. 10) that changes the posture of the lower entry restricting mechanism 453, a sorting mechanism (not shown) that sorts game balls that have entered the lower large winning device 433 into a non-specific passage or a specific passage by transitioning between a non-guiding posture and a guiding posture, and a switching solenoid 465 (see FIG. 10) that changes the posture of the sorting mechanism to switch the guiding destination of the game balls. When the lower entry restricting mechanism 453 of the lower large winning device 433 is in the entry-prohibited posture, the lower entry restricting mechanism 453 closes the entry port (winning port), and thus game balls cannot enter the lower large winning device 433. However, when the lower entry restricting mechanism 453 is in the entry-permitted posture, the lower entry restricting mechanism 453 opens the entry port, and thus game balls can enter the lower large winning device 433. Further, game balls that have entered the lower large winning device 433 are guided to the non-specific passage when the sorting mechanism is in the non-guiding posture where it protrudes forward, and are guided to the specific passage when the sorting mechanism is in the guiding posture where it sinks backward. The specific passage, the non-specific passage, and the sorting mechanism are provided to diversify the transition of the game state. When a game ball enters the specific passage, a game state advantageous to the player as a privilege is provided.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 7, the upper large winning device 434 is provided with an upper entry restricting mechanism 454 that restricts the entry of game balls into its interior by transitioning between an entry-permitted posture and an entry-prohibited posture, and an upper entry restricting solenoid 464 (see FIG. 10) that changes the posture of the upper entry restricting mechanism 454. When the upper entry restricting mechanism 454 is in the entry-prohibited posture, the upper entry restricting mechanism 454 closes the entry port (winning port), and thus game balls cannot enter the upper large winning device 434. However, when the upper entry restricting mechanism 454 is in the entry-permitted posture, the upper entry restricting mechanism 454 opens the entry port, and thus game balls can enter the upper large winning device 434.

[0064] Note that, as the mechanisms for changing the entry probability of the game balls into the interior of the right entry restriction mechanism 452 and the like, the allowable entry posture and the prohibited entry posture may be those corresponding to the change in the posture of the operating member that switches between a special state in which a game ball can enter the winning opening (or the ball entry opening) of each device constituting each mechanism and a normal state in which a game ball cannot enter, as long as at least one of the position and the orientation of the operating member differs according to each posture. Also, as a mechanism for changing the entry probability of the game balls of the right entry restriction mechanism 452 and the like, it is not always necessary to set the state in which the game balls cannot enter as the normal state. It may be configured such that the entry of the game balls is allowed even in the normal state, and the posture of the operating member changes to a state in which the game balls are more likely to enter than in the normal state in the special state.

[0065] When the big win lottery is won, game balls can enter the lower large winning device 433 and the upper large winning device 434. Specifically, when winning the lottery (hereinafter also referred to as "the first special symbol lottery") based on the detection of a game ball that has entered the upper middle start winning device 431A or the lower middle start winning device 431B related to the first special symbol by the upper middle start winning switch 441A or the lower middle start winning switch 441B, or when winning the lottery (hereinafter also referred to as "the second special symbol lottery") based on the detection of a game ball that has entered the right start winning device 432 related to the second special symbol by the right start winning switch 442, at least one of the lower entry restriction solenoid 463 or the upper entry restriction solenoid 464 operates. By this operation, at least one of the lower entry restriction mechanism 453 or the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 takes the allowable entry posture for a predetermined number of times for a predetermined period. Also, the distribution mechanism shifts to the guiding posture in response to the operation of the switching solenoid 465 after a predetermined time from the shift to the allowable entry posture of the lower entry restriction mechanism 453, and returns to the non-guiding posture in response to the stop of the switching solenoid 465 after a predetermined time from the shift to the guiding posture.

[0066] The combination operation device 435 is a device for setting the conditions necessary for the lower big winning device 433 and the upper big winning device 434 to start operating. After winning the jackpot lottery, either the lower big winning device 433 or the upper big winning device 434 starts operating on the condition that a game ball passes through the combination operation device 435. Therefore, when a player wins the jackpot, the player can start the special game state at the timing of their own intention. Note that it is not necessarily configured such that either the lower big winning device 433 or the upper big winning device 434 starts operating on the condition that a game ball passes through the combination operation device 435. Instead of that, or in addition to that, it may be configured such that either the lower big winning device 433 or the upper big winning device 434 starts operating after a predetermined time has elapsed.

[0067] In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, the game board 400 is provided in the lower left part corresponding to a part of the game board 400 with a display having a plurality of light emitting parts in which display devices 471 to 473 for variably displaying symbols and displaying lottery results and display devices 476 to 478 for displaying the number of suspended games are integrated. The plurality of light emitting parts are partitioned in advance into light emitting areas corresponding to each device, and the state of each device is displayed by the light emitting state.

[0068] Specifically, on the game board 400, there are a special symbol display device 471 related to the first special symbol that variably displays the first special symbol or definitely displays the first special symbol as a stop symbol according to the lottery result in accordance with the first special symbol lottery, and a special symbol display device 472 related to the second special symbol that variably displays the second special symbol or definitely displays the second special symbol as a stop symbol according to the lottery result in accordance with the second special symbol lottery, a special symbol hold display device 476 that displays the number of held unit games related to the first special symbol, and a special symbol hold display device 477 that displays the number of held unit games related to the second special symbol. The rights of unit games related to the first special symbol and the rights of unit games related to the second special symbol can each be held up to a maximum of 4 times. Here, a unit game is a single game executed based on one start winning, and refers to a series of games including the start of the variable display from the start of the lottery win / loss determination executed based on one start winning to the end of the variable display that displays the lottery result based on the win / loss determination.

[0069] When the right of a unit game related to the first special symbol is held up to the maximum number of times, even if the game ball that has entered the start winning device 431 is detected by the upper middle start winning switch 441A (see FIG. 10) or the lower middle start winning switch 441B (see FIG. 10), the right of the unit game related to the first special symbol is not added. Similarly, when the right of a unit game related to the second special symbol is held up to the maximum number of times, even if the game ball that has entered the right start winning device 432 is detected by the right start winning switch 442 (see FIG. 10), the right of the unit game related to the second special symbol is not added.

[0070] Each of the special symbol display device 471 related to the first special symbol and the special symbol display device 472 related to the second special symbol is composed of a plurality of light emitting parts and is controlled by the main control board 920 (see FIG. 10). Each of the display of the first special symbol and the display of the second special symbol is expressed by the light emission pattern (combination of light emission states (extinguished, lit, blinking) including the light emission color) of the plurality of light emitting parts. The special symbol hold display device 476 related to the first special symbol and the special symbol hold display device 477 related to the second special symbol display the number of held times by the combination of the light emission states (extinguished, lit, blinking) of two single-color light emitting parts.

[0071] In addition, on the game board 400, there are provided a normal symbol display device 473 that variably displays normal symbols or fixedly displays normal symbols as stop symbols according to the lottery result in accordance with the normal symbol lottery, and a normal symbol hold display device 478 that displays the number of times the right to a unit game related to the normal symbol is held. The right to a unit game related to the normal symbol can be held up to a maximum of 4 times. When the right to a unit game related to the normal symbol has been held up to the maximum number of times, even if a game ball that has entered the start device 436 is detected by the start switch 446, the right to a unit game related to the normal symbol is not added.

[0072] The normal symbol display device 473 is composed of a plurality of light emitting parts and is controlled by the main control board 920 (see FIG. 10). The normal symbol is represented by the light emission patterns of the plurality of light emitting parts. In addition, the normal symbol hold display device 478 displays the number of holds by the combination of the light emission states (extinguished, lit, flashing) of two single-color light emitting parts.

[0073] In addition, on the game board 400, a decoration symbol display device 479 is provided so as to overlap the rear of the central structure 420, and in the unit games related to the first special symbol and the second special symbol, the decoration symbol is variably displayed or fixedly displayed.

[0074] The decoration symbol display device 479 includes three symbol display areas 479A, 479B, and 479C arranged in the left-right direction. The symbol display areas 479A, 479B, and 479C are all areas where the decoration symbol is variably displayed or fixedly displayed. Among the symbol display areas 479A, 479B, and 479C, the decoration symbol displayed in the leftmost symbol display area 479A constitutes the left symbol row, and the decoration symbol displayed in the rightmost symbol display area 479B constitutes the right symbol row. In addition, the decoration symbol displayed in the symbol display area 479C located between the symbol display area 479A and the symbol display area 479B constitutes the middle symbol row.

[0075] In the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, the decorative symbol display device 479 is configured as a reel device including three cylindrical reels (rotating bodies) arranged in the left-right direction. Each reel of the reel device is configured to be independently rotatable by a motor (not shown) controlled by the sub-control board 940.

[0076] Each of the cylindrical reels constituting the reel device includes a cylindrical main body (hereinafter also referred to as a "reel main body") made of a light-transmissive resin (for example, a transparent resin), and a belt-like symbol sheet 601 (see FIG. 13) attached along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the reel main body. A plurality of decorative symbols are provided in a row along the longitudinal direction in a predetermined order on the symbol sheet 601.

[0077] By rotating each reel, the decorative symbol display device 479 can move (scroll) a plurality of decorative symbols provided on the symbol sheet 601 in the upward or downward direction or the opposite direction in each symbol display area 479A, 479B, 479C. Thereby, the variable display of the decorative symbols in the decorative symbol display device 479 is realized. Note that the decorative symbol display device 479 does not necessarily have to be configured by a plurality of reels, and may be configured by another device such as a liquid crystal display device capable of displaying an image.

[0078] The variable display and the determined display of the decorative symbols by the decorative symbol display device 479 are controlled by the sub-control board 940 and are synchronized with the variable display and the determined display of the first special symbol and the second special symbol by the main control board 920. In the variable display of the decorative symbols, more complex and diverse effects are executed than the variable display of the first special symbol and the second special symbol. Note that the variable display and the determined display of the first special symbol and the second special symbol and the variable display and the determined display of the decorative symbols do not necessarily have to start changing at exactly the same timing or stop as a determined display at exactly the same timing. It is also possible to set such that the changes start at substantially the same timing with a slight time difference between each timing, and the determined display is performed at substantially the same timing.

[0079] In addition, the game board 400 is provided with a board surface lighting device 490 (see FIG. 10) provided on the back side of various structures. The board surface lighting device 490 executes various light emission effects associated with the progress of the game and state notifications by light emission based on the control by the sub-control board 940.

[0080] Here, various game states and transitions between game states will be described. The normal game state (hereinafter also abbreviated as "normal game state") corresponds to a state where the variable display times of the first special symbol, the second special symbol, and the normal symbol are long (hereinafter also referred to as "non-time-short state").

[0081] When winning a jackpot in the first special symbol lottery or the second special symbol lottery, depending on whether or not the game ball enters a specific passage (the internal passage of the lower big winning device 433) during the special game state that is shifted based on the winning, the game state to be shifted to after the special game state is different. When the game ball does not enter the specific passage during the special game state, it is a state where the variable display times of the first special symbol lottery, the second special symbol, and the normal symbol are shorter than the non-time-short state (hereinafter also referred to as "time-short state"), and moreover, the jackpot winning probability in the first special symbol lottery and the second special symbol lottery is the same as that in the normal game state (hereinafter also referred to as "low probability state") (hereinafter also referred to as "time-short game state"). On the other hand, when the game ball enters the specific passage during the special game state, it is a state that is in the time-short state and moreover, the jackpot winning probability in the first special symbol lottery and the second special symbol lottery is higher than that in the normal game state (hereinafter also referred to as "high probability state") (hereinafter also referred to as "probability variable game state").

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

[0083] Note that the gaming state and the transition between gaming states do not necessarily have to be configured as described above. For example, the high-probability state may continue until the next jackpot is won, or at least one of the above gaming states may be configured with other content, or the configuration may further include a gaming state different from each of the above-described gaming states, or the gaming states may transition according to conditions different from the above-described conditions.

[0084] Next, the operations of the main devices on the game board 400 will be generally described in chronological order. On the main control board 920, winning random numbers related to special symbols (common to the first special symbol and the second special symbol), jackpot symbol random numbers, stop pattern random numbers, and various variation pattern random numbers are generated. When a game ball that has entered one of the start winning devices 431A and 431B related to the first special symbol in various gaming states is detected by one of the middle start winning switches 441A and 441B (see FIG. 10), it becomes a start winning of the first special symbol. At the time of the start winning of the first special symbol, if the right to a unit game related to the first special symbol has not been reserved up to the maximum number of times, the winning random numbers, jackpot symbol random numbers, and stop pattern random numbers related to the special symbols are acquired and stored in a predetermined area of the RAM of the main control board 920.

[0085] The unit game based on the random numbers acquired based on the start winning of the first special symbol starts immediately after the storage of those random numbers when it is not during the special gaming state, not during the unit game related to the first special symbol or the second special symbol, and the right to the unit game related to the first special symbol has not been reserved. Also, even when not in the special gaming state, during the unit game related to the first special symbol or the second special symbol or when the right to the unit game related to the first special symbol or the second special symbol is reserved, after the end of all unit games related to the special symbols (the first special symbol and the second special symbol) reserved before this winning, the unit game based on this start winning starts. When each random number is acquired based on the start winning of the first special symbol during the special gaming state, the unit game based on that random number starts after all unit games related to the special symbols reserved before this start winning after the special gaming state.

[0086] In addition, the unit game based on the random number obtained based on the start winning of the first special symbol starts after the completion of all unit games related to the second special symbol. That is, when each random number is obtained based on the start winning of the second special symbol after the current start winning, the unit game based on the start winning of the second special symbol is preferentially executed. Note that it is not necessarily required to have a configuration in which the unit game based on the start winning of the second special symbol is preferentially executed over the unit game related to the first special symbol. A configuration in which the unit game priority control related to the first special symbol and the second special symbol is executed in the order of start winning may be adopted, or a configuration in which the two special symbols can vary simultaneously instead of being alternative may also be adopted.

[0087] When winning a jackpot in the first special symbol lottery based on the start winning of the first special symbol, furthermore, the type of stop symbol (jackpot symbol) corresponding to the jackpot win in the first special symbol lottery is determined based on the obtained jackpot symbol random number. The type of this stop symbol corresponds to the type of jackpot. For example, the number of rounds (e.g., 6 rounds and 16 rounds) corresponding to the number of times the lower entry restriction mechanism 453 or the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 takes the entry allowable posture, or the type of game state such as the game state to shift to after the special game state (whether to shift to the sure change game state) corresponds to a plurality of types of jackpots being set, and the jackpot symbols are set for each type. When not winning a jackpot in the first special symbol lottery, a losing symbol different from the jackpot symbol is set as the stop symbol.

[0088] After the first special symbol lottery, based on the current game state, lottery results, value of the stop pattern random number, values of various variation pattern random numbers, and the number of times the right to a unit game related to the first special symbol is reserved, the variation display time of the first special symbol is determined and the variation pattern of the decorative symbol is selected. The variation patterns of the decorative symbol are roughly classified into a variation pattern (hereinafter also referred to as "reach variation pattern") in which a reach display is made before the decorative symbol corresponding to the stop symbol (big win symbol or loss symbol) related to the first special symbol is definitely displayed, and a variation pattern in which a reach display is not made before the decorative symbol corresponding to the case where the stop symbol related to the first special symbol is a loss symbol is definitely displayed.

[0089] Note that the "reach display" is a display that suggests to the player that after the variation display of the decorative symbol starts in a unit game related to a special symbol (first special symbol, second special symbol), the combination of decorative symbols definitely displayed in each symbol column except one symbol column (for example, each of the left and right symbol columns) satisfies the condition for becoming a big win symbol, and there is a possibility of becoming a big win symbol depending on the display result (that is, the stop symbol) when the decorative symbol in the remaining symbol column (for example, the middle symbol column) where the variation display continues is definitely displayed.

[0090] The reach display includes a normal reach which is a reach display with a relatively short variation display time (for example, approximately 25 seconds to approximately 30 seconds), and a super reach which is a reach display with a variation display time longer than the normal reach (for example, approximately 60 seconds to approximately 180 seconds). Note that the types of reach displays are not limited to two types, namely normal reach and super reach, and may include three or more types such as a special reach which is a reach display with a variation display time longer than the super reach.

[0091] After the variable display time of the first special symbol is determined and the variable pattern of the decorative symbol corresponding to the variable display time is selected, the variable display of the first special symbol in the special symbol display device 471 related to the first special symbol and the variable display (variable effect) of the decorative symbol in the decorative symbol display device 479 are started. In the case of the first special symbol, the variable display according to a certain pattern continues over the variable display time, and in the case of the decorative symbol, the variable display according to the variable pattern continues over the variable display time. Then, as the variable display time elapses, the stop symbol related to the first special symbol is definitely displayed, and also, as the decorative symbol, the symbol corresponding to the stop symbol of the first special symbol is definitely displayed. The definite display of the first special symbol and the decorative symbol continues for at least a predetermined fixed time.

[0092] When the stop symbol related to the first special symbol is a big win symbol, after the definite display of the first special symbol, the game state shifts to a special game state. In the special game state, the lower entry restriction mechanism 453 of the lower big winning device 433 and the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 of the upper big winning device 434 become in the entry - permitted posture a predetermined number of times in a predetermined order according to the type of big win. During each entry - permitted posture of the lower entry restriction mechanism 453 and the upper entry restriction mechanism 454, when a predetermined number (for example, 8) of game balls are detected by the big winning switches 443, 444, or when a predetermined maximum entry - permitted time (for example, 29.5 seconds) has elapsed, the lower entry restriction mechanism 453 or the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 shifts to the entry - prohibited posture. Then, after the elapse of a predetermined entry - prohibited time, again, either the lower entry restriction mechanism 453 or the upper entry restriction mechanism 454 returns to the entry - permitted posture. This entry restriction operation is repeated a predetermined number of times in a predetermined order corresponding to the type of big win.

[0093] The downward entry restricting mechanism 453 and the upward entry restricting mechanism 454 are configured such that only one of them takes an entry-permitted posture during the special game state. After a predetermined waiting time has elapsed from the start of the special game state (after the opening period), one of them shifts to the first entry-permitted posture. Further, after a predetermined entry-prohibited time has elapsed from the return to the final entry-prohibited posture and after a further predetermined waiting time has elapsed thereafter (after the ending period), the special game state ends. After the end of the special game state, as described above, it shifts to the time-reduced game state or the probability-variable game state.

[0094] In various game states, when a game ball that has entered the right start winning device 432 related to the second special symbol is detected by the right start winning switch 442, it becomes a start winning of the second special symbol. The control of the unit game based on the start winning of the second special symbol is executed in the same manner as the control related to the first special symbol described above. That is, if the right to the unit game related to the second special symbol has not been reserved up to the maximum number of times at the time of the start winning of the second special symbol, each random number related to the special symbol is acquired, and the unit game based on this start winning is executed. Also, the determination of the stop symbol according to the second special symbol lottery, the determination of the variable display time of the second special symbol, the selection of the variable pattern of the decorative symbol corresponding to the variable display time, the execution of the variable display, and the transition control of the game state, etc. are also executed in the same manner as the control related to the first special symbol.

[0095] In various game states, when a game ball that has entered the start device 436 is detected by the start switch 446, if the right to the unit game related to the normal symbol has not been reserved up to the maximum number of times, the winning random number related to the normal symbol is acquired and stored in a predetermined area of the RAM of the main control board 920. At this time, if it is not during the unit game related to the normal symbol, immediately after the storage, the unit game related to the acquired normal symbol is started. On the other hand, if it is during the unit game related to the normal symbol, after the end of the unit game based on the right to the existing unit game related to the normal symbol, the unit game related to the acquired normal symbol is started.

[0096] In the unit game related to the normal symbol, it is determined whether a winning has occurred based on the value of the winning random number. If a winning occurs, a predetermined winning symbol is set as the stop symbol. On the other hand, if no winning occurs in the normal symbol lottery, a predetermined losing symbol is set as the stop symbol. After the normal symbol lottery, the variable display of the normal symbol is started on the normal symbol display device 473. In the non-time-saving state, the variable display according to a certain pattern continues for a predetermined variable display time, and in the time-saving state, the variable display according to a certain pattern continues for a predetermined variable display time shorter than that in the non-time-saving state. As a predetermined time corresponding to the game state elapses, the stop symbol related to the normal symbol is fixedly displayed for a certain period of time.

[0097] When the stop symbol related to the normal symbol is a winning symbol, after the fixed display of the normal symbol, the right entry restriction mechanism 452 of the right start winning device 432 shifts to the entry allowable posture at least once. Specifically, when winning in the non-time-saving state (normal game state and special game state), the right start winning device 432 shifts to the entry allowable state for a predetermined maximum entry allowable time (for example, approximately 0.1 second), and when winning in the time-saving state (time-saving game state and probability-variable game state), the right start winning device 432 intermittently (for example, in three steps) shifts to the entry allowable posture for a predetermined maximum entry allowable time longer than that in the non-time-saving state (for example, approximately 4.8 seconds). However, when a predetermined number (for example, 10) of game balls are detected by the right start winning switch 442, the right entry restriction mechanism 452 shifts to the entry prohibited posture without waiting for the elapse of the maximum entry allowable time, and also, even if the number of shifts to the entry allowable posture has not reached a predetermined number, the operation of the right start winning device 432 in the unit game related to the current normal symbol ends.

[0098] Next, the gaming performance of the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment will be described. In order to receive the second special symbol lottery, first, it is necessary to win in the normal symbol lottery, and further, the game ball must enter the right start winning device 432 in the enterable state of the right start winning device 432 based on the win. The winning probability of a win in the normal symbol in the normal gaming state is the same as that in the time-saving gaming state, but the staying time of the enterable state of the right start winning device 432 based on the win in the normal gaming state (for example, approximately 0.1 second) is extremely short compared to the staying time in the time-saving state (for example, approximately 4.8 seconds). Therefore, in the normal gaming state, the opportunity per unit time to receive the second special symbol lottery is significantly smaller than the opportunity per unit time to receive the first special symbol lottery. Conversely, in a time-saving state such as the time-saving gaming state or the probability-variable gaming state, the opportunity per unit time to receive the second special symbol lottery is significantly larger than the opportunity per unit time to receive the first special symbol lottery.

[0099] Therefore, the player plays the game aiming to win a big win in the first special symbol lottery and then shift to the probability-variable gaming state by causing the game ball to enter a specific passage in the subsequent special gaming state. On the other hand, in the time-saving gaming state and the probability-variable gaming state, the player plays the game aiming to win a big win in the second special symbol lottery before each gaming state ends.

[0100] Specifically, on the game board 400, a central structure 420 is provided at the center of the game area where the game balls flow down. There is a configuration in which a gaming method (left-shot gaming method) of causing the game balls to flow down mainly from the left side of the central structure 420 and a gaming method (right-shot gaming method) of causing the game balls to flow down mainly from the right side of the central structure 420 can be selectively performed. The player plays the game using the left-shot gaming method in the normal gaming state, and plays the game using the right-shot gaming method in the time-saving gaming state and the probability-variable gaming state. Also, since the lower big winning device 433 and the upper big winning device 434 are arranged on the right side of the central structure 420, the game is played using the right-shot gaming method even in the special gaming state.

[0101] Next, the rear block 104 will be described. FIGS. 8 and 9 are a rear side perspective view and a rear view showing the pachinko machine 100, respectively. In FIG. 8, for ease of understanding, the outer frame 101 is shown omitted.

[0102] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the rear block 104 is configured by attaching other members and devices to the base body 501. The base body 501 and the intermediate block 103 are connected by the rear block support mechanisms 136 and 137, whereby the rear block 104 is supported by the intermediate block 103 so as to be openable and closable.

[0103] The rear block 104 includes a game ball tank 510 as a ball storage unit for storing game balls, a tank rail 520 as a ball alignment unit that continuously rectifies (e.g., in a single row) and aligns the game balls in a single stage on the downstream side of the game ball tank 510, a case rail 530 as a ball guiding unit that guides the game balls flowing in from the tank rail 520 on the downstream side of the tank rail 520, a payout device 540 that executes payout and lending out of game balls on the downstream side of the case rail 530, a guiding member 550 as a ball guiding unit that guides the game balls flowing out from the payout device 540 to a guiding passage (not shown) formed in the base body 501 on the downstream side of the payout device 540, a payout control device 560 that controls the payout and lending out of game balls by the payout device 540, a power supply means that converts external power into power of a predetermined voltage required by various devices and outputs it, and a function as a firing control means that controls the ejection of game balls based on the firing operation for the firing operation device 250 in cooperation with the main control board 920. It also includes a relay device 950 that relays signals between the payout control device 560, the game ball lending device 290 (see FIG. 1), and a card unit (not shown) disposed on the side of the pachinko machine 100.

[0104] The base body 501 is integrally formed of a resin (for example, an ABS resin), and includes a base portion 502 corresponding to the front side portion and a protective cover portion 503 located behind the base portion 502. The upper side portion of the base portion 502 is formed in a substantially frame shape along the outer shape of the rear block 104, and the lower side portion is formed in a substantially flat shape having a thickness in the front-rear direction, and has a function as an attachment portion to which other devices are attached.

[0105] The protective cover portion 503 is formed in a substantially plate shape having a thickness in the front-rear direction. Also, the protective cover portion 503 is not shaped to cover the entire back surface of the intermediate block 103, but is sized to form a window portion for exposing a part of the back surface of the intermediate block 103, such as a part of the main control device 370, which requires frequent inspection and confirmation, to the back surface of the pachinko machine 100. A number of ventilation holes 503A having a function of improving the heat dissipation of heat generation in the main control device 370 and the sub-control device 390 are formed on the back surface of the protective cover portion 503.

[0106] The game ball tank 510 is a horizontally long box-shaped container that is open upward, and game balls supplied from a ball circulation device (not shown) of the island facility are sequentially replenished at one end side in the longitudinal direction thereof. An opening (not shown) is formed at one end side in the longitudinal direction different from the side where the game balls are supplied in the game ball tank 510. The bottom surface of the game ball tank 510 is gently inclined in the longitudinal direction, and the game balls supplied to the game ball tank 510 move toward the opening side by their own weight. Also, the bottom surface of the game ball tank 510 is inclined in the direction (front-rear direction) orthogonal to the longitudinal direction as compared with the longitudinal direction, and preferentially guides the game balls to the side where the opening is provided (for example, the front side). Further, an antistatic plate (not shown) made of metal is attached to the bottom surface of the game ball tank 510 so as to overlap thereon, and the antistatic plate is connected to the ground potential to remove static electricity of the game balls in the game ball tank 510 and on the downstream side thereof.

[0107] The tank rail 520 is attached to the side where the opening of the game ball tank 510 is formed, and game balls flow in through the opening of the game ball tank 510. The tank rail 520 includes a passage forming member 521 that forms a substantially gutter-shaped passage for game balls through which the game balls pass in a row, and a rectifying member 522 that has a top surface whose height gradually decreases as the upper surface of the passage formed by the passage forming member 521, and rectifies the game balls flowing down the passage from a height where the game balls overlap vertically to a height of one step gradually. The passage formed by the tank rail 520 is gently inclined toward the downstream side, and guides the game balls to the side opposite to the game ball tank 510.

[0108] The case rail 530 is formed vertically so as to be continuous with the lower side of the tank rail 520, and game balls from the tank rail 520 flow in. The case rail 530 curves to the left and right while continuously extending downward so that the game balls do not flow vigorously. Further, a ball break detection unit 539 for detecting a ball break is provided in the middle part of the ball passage in the case rail 530. A reserve ball switch 591 (see FIG. 10) is incorporated in the ball break detection unit 539, and the reserve ball switch 591 detects a ball break state in which a ball jam or the like occurs on the case rail 530 or upstream thereof and game balls are not normally replenished into the case rail 530.

[0109] The payout device 540 includes a sending mechanism for sending out game balls, a payout motor 542 (see FIG. 10) as a driving means for driving the sending mechanism, and a payout counting switch 592 (see FIG. 10). In response to the operation of the payout motor 542 based on the control by the payout control device 560, the game balls stored in the ball passage are discharged to the downstream side. The passage of the discharged game balls through the ball passage is detected by the payout counting switch 592, whereby the payout control device 560 (payout control board 930) counts the number of game balls paid out.

[0110] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the payout control device 560 and the power supply / transmission control device 570 are attached so as to overlap the lower back surface of the base portion 502 of the base body 501 and be located at the lower back side of the rear block 104. The rear block 104 including these payout control device 560 and power supply / transmission control device 570 can be continuously used even when the game board 400 is replaced with another game board in the case of model change or the like.

[0111] The payout control device 560 includes a payout control board 930 (see FIG. 10) and a board case for housing the payout control board 930. The payout control board 930 is housed inside a board case that is sealed so that it cannot be opened without leaving a trace of opening, similar to the main control board 920.

[0112] The power supply / transmission control device 570 includes a power supply / transmission control board 900 (see FIG. 10) and a board case for housing the power supply / transmission control board 900. The power supply / transmission control board 900 is housed inside a sealed board case, similar to the main control board 920.

[0113] Also, as shown in FIG. 9, a back setting switch 905 is provided on the back side of the pachinko machine 100. The back setting switch 905 is a setting enabling device for enabling a setting operation for setting the ball payout rate of the pachinko machine 100 to any one of a plurality of predetermined levels (for example, 6 levels, 9 levels, etc.).

[0114] By inserting a predetermined key (not shown) into the back setting switch 905 and rotating it to a predetermined position (in this embodiment, a position rotated approximately 90° clockwise from the initial position), it is possible to enable (permit) the setting change of the ball payout rate. By performing a predetermined setting operation (in this embodiment, pressing the initialization switch 907) in a state where the setting change of the ball payout rate is thus enabled, the setting change of the ball payout rate is effectively performed.

[0115] When the setting change of the ball launch rate is effectively made, a predetermined game mode is changed according to each set stage. That is to say, it can be said that the setting change of the ball launch rate by the operation of the back setting switch 905 and the initialization switch 907 is also a setting change of the game mode.

[0116] In the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, according to each stage set by the setting change of the ball launch rate (that is, the setting change of the game mode), the first winning probability (in the present embodiment, the winning probability of the first special symbol lottery) and the probability of continuing a probability variation (in the present embodiment, when shifting to the special game state via the second special symbol lottery in the probability variation game state, the probability of shifting to the probability variation game state after the special game state) can be selected from any of nine different game modes. Therefore, when the setting change of the ball launch rate (the setting change of the game mode) is effectively made, the winning probabilities of the first special symbol lottery and the second special symbol lottery are changed so as to be the first winning probability and the continuation probability according to the set stage (that is, probability lottery data corresponding to each winning probability is used), thereby adjusting the ball launch rate.

[0117] Specifically, in the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, a top type with a significantly low first winning probability but a significantly high probability of continuing a probability variation, a middle type with a medium first winning probability and a medium probability of continuing a probability variation, and a bottom type with a significantly low first winning probability but a significantly high probability of continuing a probability variation can be selected. Further, in each of these types, a three-stage probability state (hereinafter, also referred to as a probability setting state) in which the first winning probability of each type is subdivided into a smaller width than the width of the first winning probabilities between the types, that is, the first stage probability with the lowest first winning probability among the three stages, the second stage probability with the second lowest first winning probability, and the third stage probability with the highest first winning probability can be selected.

[0118] In the top type, the number of prize balls associated with winning in the upper and lower start winning devices 431A and 431B and the right start winning device 432 is less than that of other types, but the number of prize balls associated with winning in the lower large winning device 433 and the upper large winning device 434 is more than that of other types. On the other hand, in the bottom type, the number of prize balls associated with winning in the middle start winning devices 431A and 431B and the right start winning device 432 is more than that of other types, but the number of prize balls associated with winning in the lower large winning device 433 and the upper large winning device 434 is less than that of other types.

[0119] Here, the number of prize balls for any of the top type, middle type, and bottom type may be set to the same number. This makes it impossible for the player to determine which of the top type, middle type, and bottom type the setting is based on the number of prize balls, and the gameplay of speculating which type it is can be added over a long period of time.

[0120] Also, although the profit rate for the player changes according to the stage of the probability setting state for any of the top type, middle type, and bottom type, if the stage of the probability setting state is the same for any type, the profit rate for the player is substantially set to be the same. Therefore, even if the probability setting is changed by changing the type, the profit per certain period (for example, one day) obtained by the casino side is easy to predict, and the management of the casino can be made easier.

[0121] In addition, the gaming mode changed by changing the setting of the ball payout rate does not necessarily have to be limited to the combination of the first hit probability and the probability of entering the probability variation state as described above. For example, it may be either the first hit probability or the probability of entering the probability variation state. Further, lottery probabilities other than the first hit probability and the probability of entering the probability variation state, for example, the winning probability of the first special symbol lottery or the second special symbol lottery, the winning probability of the normal symbol lottery, the probability that a small win is selected in the first special symbol lottery or the second special symbol lottery, the probability of entering the probability variation gaming state (in this embodiment, the probability of entering the probability variation gaming state via winning in the second special symbol lottery), the probability that the probability variation gaming state shifted to after the special gaming state ends (for example, the probability that the end of the probability variation gaming state is selected in the fall lottery performed every time the symbol variation display is executed during the probability variation gaming state), etc. may be used, or a combination of two or more of these gaming modes may be used.

[0122] Above the back setting switch 905, a setting display device 906 is provided. When the setting change of the ball payout rate (setting change of the gaming mode) is effectively performed by operating the back setting switch 905, the setting display information corresponding to the currently set gaming mode is displayed on the setting display device 906. The setting display information is composed of a combination of an alphabet representing the type and a number representing the probability setting state. In the pachinko machine 100 of this embodiment, each of the top type, middle type, and bottom type is represented by the alphabets "T", "M", and "B", respectively. Also, the probability setting state of each type represents the first-stage probability as "1", the second-stage probability as "2", and the third-stage probability as "3".

[0123] Therefore, for example, the setting display information displayed on the setting display device 906 when it is the gaming mode of the first-stage probability of the top type is "T1", the setting display information displayed on the setting display device 906 when it is the gaming mode of the third-stage probability of the middle type is "M3", and the setting display information displayed on the setting display device 906 when it is the gaming mode of the second-stage probability of the bottom type is "B2".

[0124] <Electrical Configuration> Next, the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 100 will be described. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 100. As shown in FIG. 10, the pachinko machine 100 includes control circuit devices such as a power supply and firing control board 900, a power supply monitoring board 910, a main control board 920, a payout control board 930, and a sub-control board 940. In FIG. 10, relay circuit devices that only relay various signals are omitted. These main control circuit devices will be individually described in detail below.

[0125] The power supply and firing control board 900 includes a power supply unit 901 that supplies power of a predetermined voltage to each part of the pachinko machine 100 via a power supply path (broken line in the figure), a firing control unit 902 that controls the driving of the firing device 330 according to the operation of the firing operation device 250, and a signal relay unit 903 that relays an initialization signal from the initialization switch 907 and a ball overflow signal from the ball overflow switch 249.

[0126] The power supply unit 901 takes in external power supplied from the outside (for example, alternating current 24 volts), converts it into internal power (for example, direct current 24 volts), and generates various types of power from the internal power. The power generated by the power supply unit 901 includes power of a driving voltage (for example, direct current 12 volts) for driving devices such as various solenoids and various motors, power of a control voltage (for example, direct current 5 volts) for driving various switches and executing control processes, power of a backup voltage for holding the contents of the RAM of the main control board 920, and the like.

[0127] The power supply unit 901 supplies various types of power generated from internal power to the power supply monitoring board 910, the main control board 920, the payout control board 930, the sub-control board 940, etc. Specifically, for the power supply monitoring board 910, power for internal power, drive voltage, control voltage, and backup voltage is supplied. For the main control board 920, power for drive voltage, control voltage, and backup voltage is supplied, and these powers are supplied via the power supply monitoring unit 911 of the power supply monitoring board 910. For the payout control board 930, power for drive voltage and control voltage is supplied. For the sub-control board 940, power for drive voltage and control voltage is supplied. For the emission control unit 902 and the signal relay unit 903, power for drive voltage and control voltage is supplied.

[0128] A power switch 909 is connected to the power supply unit 901. When the power switch 909 is in the off state, the intake of external power is stopped. Note that the state where the supply of power to the inside of the pachinko machine 100 is stopped or the supply of external power itself is stopped by turning off the power switch 909 or removing a power plug (not shown) connected to the power supply unit 901 via the power switch 909 from a power supply outlet (not shown) is collectively referred to as a "power outage state".

[0129] The power supply unit 901 is configured to normally output the power of the control voltage even after transitioning to a power outage state for a predetermined period. As a result, the main control board 920 can save the state so as to be able to return to the current control state and end the control.

[0130] The launch control unit 902 controls the driving of the ball feed solenoid 332 and the launch solenoid 334 of the launch device 330 in cooperation with the main control board 920. Note that the ball feed solenoid 332 and the launch solenoid 334 are permitted to operate when predetermined conditions are met. Specifically, based on the contact sensor signal from the contact sensor 254, it is detected that the player is touching the launch handle 252 (see FIG. 1), and provided that the launch stop switch 255 for stopping the launch is not operated, the launch control unit 902 outputs an on-state launch permission signal to the main control board 920. Further, based on the launch permission signal and the launch abnormality signal, the main control board 920 outputs a launch solenoid control signal and a ball feed solenoid control signal to the launch control unit 902. The launch control unit 902 operates the ball feed solenoid 332 based on the on-state ball feed control signal, and operates the launch solenoid 334 based on the reception of the on-state launch solenoid control signal and the resistance value of the variable resistor 253. Thereby, game balls are sequentially launched from the launch device 330 with a strength corresponding to the resistance value of the variable resistor 253 (the amount of rotational operation of the launch handle 252).

[0131] When the initialization switch 907 is pressed, the signal relay unit 903 outputs an on-state initialization signal to the main control board 920. In the main control board 920, the stored information stored in the RAM of the main control board 920 is initialized in response to the reception of the on-state initialization signal. Note that the initialization switch 907 does not necessarily need to be configured to output a signal to the main control board 920 via the signal relay unit 903. For example, the initialization switch 907 may be directly mounted on the main control board 920 so that the initialization switch 907 is housed within the board case 371. Thereby, unauthorized signal input targeting the signal transmission section can be suppressed.

[0132] Also, when the ball overflow switch 249 detects a game ball, the signal relay unit 903 outputs an on-state ball overflow signal to the main control board 920. Based on the detection of the on-state ball overflow signal, the main control board 920 outputs a low-speed payout signal to the payout control board 930. The payout control board 930 that receives the low-speed payout signal reduces the rotation speed of the payout motor 542 (the payout speed of the game balls from the payout device 540). Also, based on the detection of an off-state ball overflow signal, the main control board 920 outputs a high-speed payout signal to the payout control board 930. The payout control board 930 that receives the high-speed payout signal increases the rotation speed of the payout motor 542.

[0133] Also, as shown in FIG. 10, a back setting switch 905 and a setting display device 906 are connected to the signal relay unit 903. The signal relay unit 903 relays an on-state setting signal output to the main control board 920 when the back setting switch 905 is rotated approximately 90° clockwise by a predetermined key (not shown). In the main control board 920, the change of the game mode is allowed in response to receiving the on-state setting signal from the back setting switch 905. Also, the signal relay unit 903 relays the setting display signal output from the main control board 920 to the setting display device 906. The setting display device 906 displays the setting display information corresponding to the received setting display signal.

[0134] The power supply monitoring board 910 includes a power supply monitoring unit 911 that monitors the power supply state from the power supply and emission control board 900, and a signal relay unit 912 that relays the power supply and the transmission of various signals between the power supply and emission control board 900 and the main control board 920. The power supply monitoring unit 911 also outputs a power failure signal to the main control board 920 in response to the transition to a power failure state. It monitors the voltage of the DC stabilized 24 volts, which is the maximum voltage output from the power supply unit 901. When the state where this voltage is less than 22 volts continues for a predetermined time, it determines that it is in a power failure state and outputs an on-state power failure signal to the main control board 920. The main control board 920 recognizes the transition to a power failure state by receiving the on-state power failure signal.

[0135] The main control board 920 comprehensively controls the operation of the pachinko machine 100. An MPU (not shown) as a one-chip microcomputer is mounted on the main control board 920. The MPU includes a CPU (not shown) as an arithmetic processing unit, a ROM (not shown) that stores various control programs and fixed data executed by the CPU, and a RAM (not shown) that temporarily stores various data and the like when executing the control program. Various circuits such as a timer circuit (not shown), a counter circuit (not shown), a clock generation circuit (not shown), and a signal transmission / reception circuit (not shown) are also mounted on the main control board 920. The RAM of the main control board 920 is configured to maintain (backup) internal data by the power supply of the backup voltage from the power supply and emission control board 900 even after transitioning to a power-off state.

[0136] The payout control board 930 controls the payout operation of game balls by the payout device 540 in response to an instruction from the main control board 920 and the lending operation of game balls by the payout device 540 in response to the operation of the game ball lending device 290. Similar to the main control board 920, the payout control board 930 is equipped with an MPU (not shown) as a one-chip microcomputer including a CPU (not shown), a ROM (not shown), and a RAM (not shown), and various circuits such as a timer circuit (not shown), a counter circuit (not shown), a clock generation circuit (not shown), and a signal transmission / reception circuit (not shown).

[0137] The payout control board 930 is equipped with an input / output port as a connection means for communicating information with other devices. For example, it is connected to the main control board 920 and the relay device 950 in a bidirectional information input / output communication manner. The open / close detection switches 108 and 109, the storage sphere switch 591, and the payout count switch 592 are connected in a manner that allows only unidirectional information input communication, and the payout motor 542 is connected in a manner that allows only unidirectional information output communication. Note that the RAM of the payout control board 930 may be configured to have a backup function that can maintain internal data for a certain period in a power-off state, similar to the RAM of the main control board 920, or it may be configured to not maintain internal data in a power-off state, different from the RAM of the main control board 920.

[0138] The sub-control board 940 controls the operations of various effect devices, various light-emitting devices, various acoustic devices, etc., based on instructions from the main control board 920. The sub-control board 940 is equipped with an input / output port as a connection means for communicating information with other devices. For example, it is connected to the main control board 920 in a manner that allows only unidirectional information input communication, and is connected to the input operation device 260 in a bidirectional information communication manner, and is connected to the decorative pattern display device 479, etc., in a manner that allows only unidirectional information output communication.

[0139] <Various control processes> Next, various control processes executed by the main control board 920 will be described. The control processes in the main control board 920 are roughly classified into a main process that is activated with the return from a power-off state and a timer interrupt process that periodically (in this embodiment, at a cycle of 2 ms (milliseconds)) interrupts the main process and is executed.

[0140] First, referring to FIG. 11, the main process executed by the main control board 920 will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the main process of the main control board 920 (abbreviated as "main control main process" in FIG. 11).

[0141] In the main processing of the main control board 920, first, a series of control start processes (program start process S1001 to random number initial setting process S1019) for starting up the main control board 920 and initializing various information are executed only once. After that, an interrupt prohibition process S1020 for prohibiting interrupts, a random number initial value update process S1021 for updating the values of the winning random number initial value counter (a part of the RAM area) related to the special symbol, the big win symbol random number initial value counter (a part of the RAM area), and the winning random number initial value counter (a part of the RAM area) related to the normal symbol, a variable counter update process S1022 for updating the values of the first to fourth variable type counters (a part of the RAM area) for determining the variable display time (variable time), variable pattern, etc., and an interrupt permission process S1023 for permitting interrupts are repeatedly executed. If a timer interrupt request occurs before the interrupt permission process S1023, the timer interrupt process is executed immediately after the interrupt permission process S1023.

[0142] In the series of control start processes, a program start process S1001 for setting an initial value in the stack pointer (a part of the RAM area) for controlling the execution of the program, an interrupt mode setting process S1002 for setting the interrupt mode, and a startup waiting process S1003 for waiting for a predetermined time until the payout control board 930, the sub-control board 940, etc. start up are executed.

[0143] After the standing-by process S1003, a determination process S2001 of the output state of the setting signal from the back setting switch 905 of the power supply and emission control board 900 is performed. In the determination process S2001, when it is determined that the setting signal from the back setting switch 905 is in the off state (S2001: N), a determination process S1004 of the output state of the initialization signal from the initialization switch 907 of the power supply and emission control board 900, a determination process S1005 of the value of the power failure information (a part of the area of the RAM), and a determination process S1007 of the storage state of the stored information are performed, and based on these determination results, it is determined whether to erase the stored information in the RAM. Here, the stored information is information necessary to return to the state of the game before the power failure, corresponding to a part of the area of the RAM that was updated according to the progress of the game before the power failure, and examples include the value of the counter related to the unit game being executed and the value of the counter stored by the start winning.

[0144] The storage state of the stored information is determined as follows. First, a checksum value for a storage area in a predetermined range of the RAM is calculated (checksum calculation process S1006), and it is determined whether the exclusive logical sum of the current checksum value and the RAM determination value, which is the two's complement of the checksum value calculated in the power failure monitoring process S1202 (see FIG. 12) when shifting to the previous power failure state, is "0" (determination process S1007). Thereby, it is determined whether the current checksum value is the same as the checksum value at the time of shifting to the power failure state.

[0145] When the initialization signal is in the on state (S1004: Y), when the power failure information is not a predetermined power failure value indicating that the stored information was saved and ended when shifting to the power failure state (S1005: N), or when the stored information is not normally held (S1007: N), a RAM clear process S1008 for erasing the stored information in the RAM is executed. After it is determined that the stored information is normally held (S1007: Y), or after the RAM clear process S1008 is executed, a hardware initialization process S1009 for initializing various devices connected to the main control board 920 is executed.

[0146] After the hardware initialization process S1009, a determination process S1010 is executed to determine whether the power failure information is the power failure value. When the power failure information is the power failure value (S1010: N), a RAM return setting process S1011 for initializing various types of information including the return of the held information is performed, and a return command indicating the completion of the setting is set (return command output process S1012). By returning the held information in the RAM return setting process S1011, the control state of the main control board 920 returns to the control state immediately before the transition to the previous power failure state.

[0147] On the other hand, when the power failure information is not the power failure value (S1010: Y), various types of information are initialized without returning the held information (RAM initialization process S1013), and an initialization command indicating the completion of the setting is output (initialization command output process S1014).

[0148] In the RAM return setting process S1011 and the RAM initialization process S1013, the power failure information is set to a predetermined energized value different from the power failure value, and even if various error states such as an illegal detection error occur immediately before the transition to the previous power failure state, all those error states are cleared. Also, either a return command or an initialization command is output from the main control board 920 to both the payout control board 930 and the sub-control board 940, and a predetermined initialization process is also executed in each of the payout control board 930 and the sub-control board 940 that has received the return command or the initialization command.

[0149] After the initial setting of the RAM according to the startup situation (determination process S1004 ~ initialization command output process S1014), if the conditional device was operating when transitioning to the previous power failure state, preparations are made to return to the special game state (special game state return preparation process S1015). Specifically, in the special game state return preparation process S1015, the operating states of the conditional device and the accessory continuous operation device are determined, and processing corresponding to the game situation during the power failure state is executed in the sub-control board 940.

[0150] After the special game state return preparation process S1015, it is determined whether it is a short-time state or a non-short-time state by determining whether the short-time state flag is set (determination process S1016). If it is a short-time state (S1016: Y), a short-time command is output (short-time command output process S1017). On the other hand, if it is a non-short-time state (S1016: N), a non-short-time command is output (non-short-time command output process S1018). Thereafter, the value of the winning random number counter (a part of the RAM area) related to the special symbol is initialized (random number initial setting process S1019).

[0151] On the other hand, in the determination process S2001, when it is determined that the setting signal from the back setting switch 905 is in an on state indicating that the back setting switch 905 is operated by a predetermined key (S2001: Y), a RAM clear process S2002 for erasing information in substantially all areas of the RAM 922 is executed. Specifically, in the RAM clear process S2002, information in substantially all areas except the setting corresponding information stored in the RAM 922 is erased.

[0152] The setting corresponding information is information corresponding to each of a plurality of predetermined levels (nine types in the present embodiment) of game modes, and the setting mode information corresponding to the game mode being set is stored in the RAM 922. Therefore, by the RAM clear process S2002, information in substantially all areas except the storage area of the setting corresponding information in the RAM 922 of the main control board 920 is erased, and a state that permits setting changes is achieved.

[0153] When a state that permits setting changes is achieved, a setting display signal for identifying the game mode corresponding to the setting corresponding information stored in the RAM 922 is output to the setting display device 906. The setting display device 906 displays the setting display information corresponding to the setting display signal received from the main control board 920. That is, the setting display information corresponding to the setting corresponding information stored in the RAM 922 is displayed on the setting display device 906.

[0154] Next, a setting change process S2003 is executed to change the setting of the game mode until the setting signal from the back setting switch 905 becomes the off state. Note that the setting signal from the back setting switch 905 becomes the off state when the back setting switch 905 is not operated by a predetermined key.

[0155] The setting change of the game mode is performed by pressing the initialization switch 907 while the back setting switch 905 is operated by a predetermined key. Specifically, in this state, each time the main control board 920 receives an initialization signal based on the pressing of the initialization switch 907, the setting correspondence information is sequentially changed. Specifically, a predetermined order for cyclically selecting nine types of game modes (for example, ···→T1→T2→T3→M1→M2→M3→B1→B2→B3→T1→T2→···) is determined in advance, and the selected game mode is sequentially changed according to this order each time the initialization switch 907 is pressed.

[0156] Each time such a change is made, the value corresponding to the selected game mode is stored in the RAM 922 as the setting correspondence information. Each time the setting correspondence information stored in the RAM 922 is changed, a setting display signal corresponding to the setting correspondence information is output to the setting display device 906, and the setting display information corresponding to the changed setting correspondence information is displayed on the setting display device 906.

[0157] Therefore, the setting changer such as the game hall administrator repeatedly presses the initialization switch 907 until the desired game mode is selected for the pachinko machine 100 while the back setting switch 905 is operated by a predetermined key, and then by causing a game ball to win in the upper middle start winning device 431A or the lower middle start winning device 431B, the selection of the game mode can be completed. Therefore, the setting change process S2003 ends when a game ball wins in the middle start winning devices 431A and 431B after the selection of the game mode by pressing the initialization switch 907.

[0158] When the setting signal from the back setting switch 905 is in the off state (S2004: Y), a RAM change setting process S2005 is executed to newly initialize various types of information except for the information related to the setting of the game mode (that is, the setting corresponding information) in the RAM 922. As a result, the startup of the main control board 920 is substantially completed, and it is determined that the game will proceed in the game mode corresponding to the setting corresponding information stored in the RAM 922.

[0159] After the RAM change setting process S2005, a set command output process S2006 for outputting a set command indicating the completion of the setting of the RAM 922 to the payout control board 930 is executed. When the payout control board 930 receives the set command output by the main control board 920, it can recognize that the main control board 920 has shifted to the normal game process and can recognize in which game mode it operates. After the set command output process S2006, the processes after the special game state return preparation process S1015 are executed.

[0160] Next, with reference to FIG. 12, the timer interrupt process executed by the main control board 920 will be described. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the timer interrupt process (abbreviated as "main control interrupt process" in the figure) executed by the main control board 920.

[0161] In the timer interrupt process of the main control board 920, first, an interrupt start process S1201 for starting the timer interrupt is executed. Specifically, a predetermined value is set in the interrupt control register. As a result, interrupts other than this timer interrupt are prohibited. Thereafter, the power failure monitoring process S1202 to the external information output process S1221 related to the actual control such as the progress control of the game of the pachinko machine 100 and the monitoring of various sensors are sequentially executed. However, when the game progress has been stopped based on the detection of various irregularities (S1207: Y), the control signal output process S1208 to the external information output process S1221 are not executed. Finally, an interrupt permission process S1222 for permitting the next timer interrupt is executed, and the current timer interrupt process ends. Hereinafter, various main processes will be individually described.

[0162] In the power failure monitoring process S1202, the value of the power failure information (a part of the area of the RAM) is updated based on the output state of the power failure signal output from the power monitoring unit 911 of the power supply monitoring board 910. Specifically, the output state of the power failure signal is confirmed three times, and when the on state is detected all three times, it is determined that the power failure state exists. If it is not determined that the power failure state exists in this determination, the power failure information is maintained at the energized value.

[0163] On the other hand, when it is determined that the power failure state exists in the power failure monitoring process S1202, the following processes are executed. First, the value of the power failure information is changed from the energized value set in the RAM return setting process S1011 or the RAM initial setting process S1013 (see FIG. 11) to a predetermined power failure value. Also, a checksum value for a storage area in a predetermined range of the RAM is calculated, and the two's complement of the checksum value is set as the RAM determination value. Thereby, the pachinko machine 100 enters an infinite loop in which it does not perform substantial control such as the progress of the game and the monitoring of various sensors, and the state of the RAM after the RAM determination value is set is held based on the backup power. Note that, in order for the output state of the power failure signal to be confirmed three times, each process of the timer interrupt is executed twice after the reception of the power failure signal is first detected.

[0164] In the random number update process S1203, the winning random number counter related to the special symbol, the big win symbol random number counter, the stop pattern selection counter, and the winning random number counter related to the normal symbol are updated. Specifically, when the value of the winning random number counter related to the special symbol is a value different from the specified maximum value (for example, "576"), it is changed to a value "1" larger than the current value, and when the value of the winning random number counter related to the special symbol is the specified maximum value, it is changed to the specified minimum value ("0"). However, when the changed value becomes the same value as the circulation initial value for the winning random number counter related to the special symbol, the value of the winning random number counter related to the special symbol is set to the same value as the winning random number initial value counter related to the special symbol, and the circulation initial value is also set to the same value as the winning random number initial value counter.

[0165] The winning random number counter for the big win symbol, the stop pattern selection counter, and the winning random number counter for the normal symbol are updated in the same manner as the winning random number counter for the special symbol. However, as the update range determined by the specified maximum value and the specified minimum value of each counter, a value unique to each counter is set, and a configuration is adopted in which a plurality of counters are updated asynchronously. For the initial value of each counter's cycle, an initial value counter unique to each counter is referenced. For example, the range of values of the winning random number counter for the special symbol and the initial value counter of the winning random number for the special symbol is the same, the range of values of the big win symbol random number counter and the big win symbol random number initial value counter is the same, and the range of values of the winning random number counter for the normal symbol and the initial value counter of the winning random number for the normal symbol is the same.

[0166] In the random number initial value update process S1204, the initial value counter of the winning random number for the special symbol, the big win symbol random number initial value counter, and the initial value counter of the winning random number for the normal symbol are updated. Specifically, when the value of the initial value counter of the winning random number for the special symbol is different from the specified maximum value (for example, "576"), it is changed to a value that is "1" greater than the current value, and when the value of the initial value counter of the winning random number for the special symbol is the specified maximum value, it is changed to the specified minimum value ("0"). For the symbol random number initial value counter for the special symbol and the initial value counter of the winning random number for the normal symbol, except that the specified maximum value and the specified minimum value are values unique to those counters, they are updated in the same manner as the initial value counter of the winning random number for the special symbol.

[0167] In the variable counter update process S1205, the values of the first to fourth variable type counters for determining the variable display time (variable time), variable pattern, etc. are updated. Specifically, when the value of the first variable type counter is different from the specified maximum value (for example, "187"), it is changed to a value that is "1" greater than the current value. When the value of the first variable type counter is the specified maximum value, it is changed to the specified minimum value ("0"). For the second to fourth variable type counters, they are updated in the same manner as the first variable type counter, except that the specified maximum value and the specified minimum value are unique values for those counters.

[0168] Note that each winning random number counter, big win symbol random number counter, stop pattern selection counter, and each variable type counter related to the special symbol and the normal symbol do not necessarily have to be configured as described above. At least a part of the above counters may be configured differently. For example, it may be configured to update from a certain initial value without using the initial value counter, or it may be configured by a random number generation IC without using a program and refer to the value as needed.

[0169] In the game stop determination process S1206, when the fraud detection information is the fraud detection value, it is updated to the game stop value, and various types of information for stopping the game progress are set. On the other hand, when the fraud detection information is not the fraud detection value or is already the game stop value, the game stop determination process S1206 ends without executing each process for stopping the game progress. Note that the fraud detection information is set to the fraud detection value when various types of fraud are detected in the fraud detection process S1211. Also, in the determination process S1207, it is determined whether the game is stopped based on whether the fraud detection information is the game stop value.

[0170] In the control signal output process S1208, based on the control data stored in the output buffer, signals for controlling various notification devices such as the special symbol display device 471 related to the first special symbol, the special symbol display device 472 related to the second special symbol, and the normal symbol display device 473 related to the normal symbol are output. Also, based on the control data stored in the output buffer, signals for controlling various actuators such as the ball feed solenoid 332, the launch solenoid 334, the right entry restriction solenoid 462, the lower entry restriction solenoid 463, the upper entry restriction solenoid 464, and the switching solenoid 465 are output.

[0171] In the switch reading process S1209, the signal states from each of the medium start winning switches 441A, 441B, the right start winning switch 442, the lower big winning switch 443, the upper big winning switch 444, the combination operation switch 445, the start switch 446, the non-specific passage switch 447, the specific passage switch 448, and the general winning switches 449A, 449B are read, and changes in the detection state of the game balls by the various switches are detected.

[0172] Specifically, in the switch reading process S1209, signal states from various switches are read into the input buffer (a partial area of the RAM) twice at predetermined time intervals. For each signal from various switches, based on the signal state read for the first time (hereinafter abbreviated as the "first signal state"), the signal state read for the second time (hereinafter abbreviated as the "second signal state"), and the detection state detected in the previous timer interrupt (hereinafter abbreviated as the "previous detection state"), a change in the detection state of various switches is detected. Then, for each switch, when the previous detection state is in the off state, if the first signal state is in the on state and the second signal state is in the on state, it is determined as a transition to the on state, and a detection flag (a partial area of the RAM) corresponding to the type of the switch is set. As described in the power failure monitoring process S1202, even if the power supply stops, since each process of the timer interrupt is executed twice, the detection flag of various switches can be accurately set even when the on state of various switches starts immediately after the power supply stops.

[0173] In the timer update process S1210, various timers (predetermined areas of the RAM) used for the variable display of special symbols and normal symbols, the control of each gaming state, and fraud monitoring are updated.

[0174] In the fraud detection process S1211, fraud such as forcibly entering a game ball into various winning devices or forcibly operating various winning devices is detected. Specifically, it detects the occurrence of a situation where there is a high possibility of fraud such as the movement of the right start winning device 432, the lower large winning device 433, and the upper large winning device 434 to a forced entry allowable posture, the induction of a game ball into a specific passage of the lower large winning device 433 by vibration, the induction of a forced malfunction of the right start winning device 432, the lower large winning device 433, and the upper large winning device 434 by radio waves, the induction of a game ball into various winning devices by magnetic adsorption, and the induction of a game ball into the upper middle start winning device 431A, the lower middle start winning device 431B, the right start winning device 432, the lower large winning device 433, and the upper large winning device 434 at an abnormal timing.

[0175] In the winning detection response process S1212, control based on the detection of game balls by various switches provided on the game board 400 is executed. Specifically, when the middle start winning switch detection flag is set based on the detection of game balls by the upper middle start winning switch 441A (see FIG. 10) and the lower middle start winning switch 441B (see FIG. 10), the middle start winning counter (a predetermined area of the RAM) and the first payout counter (a predetermined area of the RAM) are updated. Also, when the right start winning switch detection flag is set based on the detection of game balls by the right start winning switch 442 (see FIG. 10), the first payout counter is updated. Further, when the lower big winning switch detection flag is set based on the detection of game balls by the lower big winning switch 443 (see FIG. 10) or when the upper big winning switch detection flag is set based on the detection of game balls by the upper big winning switch 444 (see FIG. 10), the big winning counter (a predetermined area of the RAM) and the second payout counter (a predetermined area of the RAM) are updated.

[0176]

[0177] In the input signal monitoring process S1214, based on the output state of the signal from the open / close detection switch 108 (see FIG. 10) via the payout control board 930, it is detected whether the intermediate block 103 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) is closed with respect to the outer frame 101 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Also, based on the output state of the signal from the open / close detection switch 109 via the payout control board 930 (see FIG. 10), it is detected whether the front block 102 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) is closed with respect to the intermediate block 103 (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

[0178] ​In the payout status monitoring process S1215, information indicating the payout control status output from the payout control board 930 is monitored, and various payout status commands corresponding to the payout control status are set as necessary. Note that the sub-control board 940 that has received the payout status command causes the decoration pattern display device 479, the upper left acoustic device 281, the upper right acoustic device 282, etc. to execute notifications corresponding to the type of the payout status command.

[0179] In the payout signal output process S1216, various prize ball commands are set based on the values of the first payout counter and the second payout counter as necessary, and are output to the payout control board 930. Note that the first payout counter and the second payout counter are updated according to the setting of the prize ball command. For example, the first payout counter is incremented by 1 each time a game ball corresponding to one winning is detected, and is decremented by 1 each time a prize ball command based on that winning is set. In the payout control board 930, each time control for paying out a corresponding number (for example, 3) of game balls for that winning is executed (specifically, shortly before the payout is completed), a prize ball command is requested from the main control board 920, and in a situation where the payout of prize balls continues, a further prize ball command is output from the main control board 920. The second payout counter is a counter that is updated corresponding to a winning with a different number of prize balls from the first payout counter (for example, 13). When the payout control board 930 receives a prize ball command based on the value of the second payout counter, the payout control board 930 executes control for paying out a number of game balls corresponding to that prize ball command.

[0180] In the special symbol related process S1217, the right to retain the unit game related to the first special symbol and the control of the unit game related to the first special symbol are executed. Specifically, in the control for retaining the right to the unit game related to the first special symbol, the operation control of the special symbol retention display device 476 related to the first special symbol is executed. Also, in the control of the unit game related to the first special symbol, the operation control of the special symbol display device 471 related to the first special symbol is executed, and when winning the big hit in the first special symbol lottery, the operation control of the lower big winning device 433 and the upper big winning device 434 is further executed.

[0181] Also, in the unit game related to the first special symbol, each piece of information for causing the variable display and the fixed display of the decorative symbol to be displayed on the decorative symbol display device 479 is selected. For example, in the unit game related to the first special symbol, the variation pattern of the variable display of the decorative symbol executed on the decorative symbol display device 479 is selected based on the current game state, lottery result, value of the stop pattern random number, values of various variation pattern random numbers, and the number of times the right to the unit game related to the first special symbol is reserved.

[0182] Also, in the special symbol related process S1217, the reservation control of the right to the unit game related to the second special symbol and the control of the unit game related to the second special symbol are executed. Specifically, in the reservation control of the right to the unit game related to the second special symbol, the operation control of the special symbol reservation display device 477 related to the second special symbol is executed. Also, in the control of the unit game related to the second special symbol, the operation control of the special symbol display device 472 related to the second special symbol is executed, and when winning a big hit in the second special symbol lottery, the operation control of the lower big winning device 433 and the upper big winning device 434 is further executed.

[0183] Also, in the unit game related to the second special symbol, each piece of information for causing the variable display and the fixed display of the decorative symbol to be displayed on the decorative symbol display device 479 is selected. For example, in the unit game related to the second special symbol, the variation pattern of the variable display of the decorative symbol executed on the decorative symbol display device 479 is selected based on the current game state, lottery result, value of the stop pattern random number, values of various variation pattern random numbers, and the number of times the right to the unit game related to the second special symbol is reserved.

[0184] In the normal symbol related process S1218, the reservation control of the right to the unit game related to the normal symbol and the control of the unit game related to the normal symbol are executed. Specifically, in the reservation control of the right to the unit game related to the normal symbol, the operation control of the normal symbol reservation display device 478 is executed. Also, in the control of the unit game related to the normal symbol, the operation control of the normal symbol display device 473 related to the normal symbol is executed, and when winning the normal symbol lottery, the operation control of the right start winning device 432 is further executed.

[0185] In the display control process S1219, based on various information updated to control the operations of the special symbol display device 471 related to the first special symbol, the special symbol display device 472 related to the second special symbol, the special symbol hold display device 476 related to the first special symbol, the special symbol hold display device 477 related to the second special symbol, etc. in the special symbol related process S1217, output data for specifically operating these devices is synthesized. The synthesized output data is output to each device in the control signal output process S1208 based on the next timer interrupt.

[0186] Also, in the display control process S1219, various commands corresponding to each information for causing the variable display and the determined display of the decorative symbol selected in the special symbol related process S1217 to be displayed on the decorative symbol display device 479 are set. For example, a variable pattern command corresponding to the variable pattern selected in the special symbol related process S1217 is set. The set commands are output to the sub-control board 940 in the control signal output process S1208 based on the next timer interrupt. The sub-control board 940 controls the decorative symbol display device 479 based on the commands received from the main control board 920.

[0187] In the motor control process S1220, the operation control of various motors is executed. In the external information output process S1221, output data to be output to external devices such as a data display device (not shown) and a management device (not shown) electrically connected to the pachinko machine 100 is set.

[0188] <Symbol Sheet> Next, with reference to FIG. 13, the configuration of the symbol sheet 601 will be described. FIG. 13(A) is a front view showing a part of the symbol sheet 601, and FIG. 13(B) is a cross-sectional view of the symbol sheet 601 along the line A-A in FIG. 13(A). In FIG. 13(B), for reference, the directions of each surface in the symbol sheet 601 are indicated by arrows.

[0189] As shown in FIGS. 13(A) and 13(B), the symbol sheet 601 includes a sheet-like base material 611 that extends in a strip shape and has light transmissivity (transparency) such as transparency, a decorative pattern 621 formed on the back surface of the base material 611 (the surface facing the reel body when the symbol sheet 601 is attached to the reel body), and a decorative portion 622 formed on the front surface of the base material 611 (the surface facing outward when the symbol sheet 601 is attached to the reel body).

[0190] The decorative pattern 621 includes a main pattern 621A that can form a jackpot pattern and a sub-pattern 621B that cannot form a jackpot pattern. The decorative pattern 621 is arranged such that the main pattern 621A and the sub-pattern 621B alternate along the longitudinal direction of the symbol sheet 601.

[0191] The main pattern 621A is configured as a pattern that includes information (hereinafter, this information is referred to as "numerical information") that defines individual numerical values, such as numbers and characters corresponding to numbers. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 13(A), the main pattern 621A is configured as a pattern that includes both numbers indicating numerical values such as "2" and "3" and characters corresponding to each number (for example, a pufferfish corresponding to "2" and a turtle corresponding to "3") as numerical information.

[0192] Note that the main pattern 621A may be configured such that the numerical information is composed only of numbers indicating numerical values, or may be composed only of characters corresponding to each numerical value (number). Further, the main pattern 621A may be configured to be unified by any of a pattern that includes only numbers indicating numerical values as numerical information, a pattern that includes only characters corresponding to each numerical value as numerical information, or a pattern that includes both numbers indicating numerical values and characters corresponding to each number as numerical information, or may be configured such that these patterns are mixed.

[0193] The main pattern 621A is configured as a pattern that includes numerical information corresponding to each numerical value from "1" to "9", for example. Note that the main pattern 621A may be a pattern that includes numerical information corresponding to each numerical value (for example, "4") excluding some numerical values among the numerical values from "1" to "9".

[0194] The jackpot symbol is constituted by, for example, a predetermined combination (e.g., a combination of the same main symbol 621A) of the main symbols 621A in each symbol column (left symbol column, right symbol column, middle symbol column). In the unit game related to the special symbol (first special symbol, second special symbol), when winning the first special symbol lottery or the second special symbol lottery, the jackpot symbol is definitely displayed as a stop symbol on a preset effective line.

[0195] The "effective line" is a line on which the game state transitions to a special game state when the jackpot symbol by the decorative symbol is displayed as a stop symbol on the line. In the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, five effective lines are set. Specifically, three horizontal effective lines (specifically, the upper line located at the uppermost side, the lower line located at the lowermost side, and the middle line located between the upper line and the lower line), and two diagonal effective lines (specifically, the effective line in the upward right direction and the effective line in the downward right direction) are set.

[0196] Note that the number of effective lines to be set does not necessarily have to be five, and one or a plurality of appropriate numbers can be set. For example, a configuration in which three lines, namely the upper line, the lower line, and the middle line, are set as effective lines may be adopted, or a configuration in which one effective line such as the middle line is set may be adopted.

[0197] The main symbol 621A is arranged on the symbol sheet 601 such that the numerical values of the numerical information are in ascending or descending order from top to bottom when the reel is viewed from the front. For example, in the symbol sheet 601 used for the reel corresponding to the left symbol column in the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13(A), the main symbol 621A is arranged such that the numerical values corresponding to the numerical information are in ascending order from top to bottom when the reel is viewed from the front. On the other hand, in the symbol sheet 601 used for each reel corresponding to the right symbol column and the middle symbol column, the main symbol 621A is arranged such that the numerical values corresponding to the numerical information are in descending order from top to bottom when the reel is viewed from the front.

[0198] The sub-symbol handle 621B is configured as a predetermined symbol of a pattern that does not include numerical information and is smaller than the main symbol 621A. In the example shown in FIG. 13(A), the sub-symbol handle 621B is configured as a star-shaped pattern. In the symbol sheet 601, the sub-symbol handle 621B is disposed between two main symbol handles 621A.

[0199] The decorative symbol 621 (main symbol handle 621A, sub-symbol handle 621B) is formed as a coating film on the back side of the base material 611 by printing using an ink having light transmissibility. Therefore, when a backlight (not shown) provided on the inner peripheral side of the reel body is lit, the light from the backlight passes through the decorative symbol 621 and the base material 611, so that the decorative symbol 621 drawn on the symbol sheet 601 can be displayed in a light-emitting manner.

[0200] The decoration part 622 is provided outside the formation region of the decorative symbol 621 (main symbol handle 621A, sub-symbol handle 621B) on the symbol sheet 601. The decoration part 622 is colored with a color that is more likely to reflect light than at least some of the colors that color the decorative symbol 621. Note that the "at least some of the colors that color the decorative symbol 621" may be, for example, the color that is most likely to reflect light (for example, the color with the highest brightness) among the main colors that color each main symbol handle 621A included in the decorative symbol 621 (for example, the color that colors the largest area in the main symbol handle 621A), or may be the color that is most likely to reflect light among the colors that color all of the decorative symbols 621.

[0201] Also, the "color configured to be more likely to reflect light" may be defined, for example, by the presence or absence of glitter, or may be defined by the brightness of the color. In the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, for example, the decorative symbol 621 is colored with an ink that does not contain a glitter material, and the decoration part 622 is colored with a color having glitter, such as a metallic color (for example, gold, silver, etc.) or a pearl-like color (for example, pearl-like white), as a color that is more likely to reflect light than at least some of the colors that color the decorative symbol 621.

[0202] Alternatively, the decorative portion 622 may be configured to be colored with a color that is more likely to reflect light than at least some of the colors that color the decorative pattern 621, and the color of the decorative portion 622 may be a color with a higher brightness than the color that is most likely to reflect light among the colors that color the decorative pattern 621 (for example, a high-brightness color such as white or light yellow).

[0203] As shown in FIG. 13(B), the decorative portion 622 is formed as a coating film on the front surface side of the base material 611 by printing using ink of a color configured to be more likely to reflect light. As a result, the decorative portion 622 protrudes forward (front surface side) from the decorative pattern 621 formed on the back surface side of the base material 611, and the decorative portion 622 can be provided three-dimensionally with respect to the decorative pattern 621. Note that the surface (the surface facing outward) of the decorative portion 622 may be smooth, may have unevenness, or may have a configuration in which smooth portions and uneven portions are mixed on the surface thereof.

[0204] Next, the operation and effects of the pachinko machine 100 described above will be described.

[0205] In the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, the decorative pattern 621 is formed on the back surface side of the sheet-like base material 611 having light transmissivity (translucency), and the decorative portion 622 is formed on the front surface side of the base material 611 and on the peripheral side of the decorative pattern 621. As a result, the decorative portion 622 can be provided three-dimensionally with respect to the decorative pattern 621, so that the decorative feeling of the decorative portion 622 with respect to the decorative pattern 621 can be improved.

[0206] In particular, since the decorative portion 622 is colored with a color configured to be more likely to reflect light than at least some of the colors that color the decorative pattern 621, brilliance and luster can be added to the decorative portion 622, thereby more suitably improving the decorative feeling of the decorative portion 622.

[0207] In this way, by improving the decorative feeling by the decorative portion 622, it is possible to improve the degree of attention to the decorative pattern 621 provided on the peripheral side by the decorative portion 622, and thereby, it is possible to improve the degree of attention to the gaming machine.

[0208] Further, the reel of the reel device constituting the decorative pattern display device 479 is configured by attaching a pattern sheet 601 including a base material 611, a decorative pattern 621 formed with a coating film on the back surface side of the base material 611, and a decorative portion 622 formed with a coating film on the front surface side of the base material 611 to the outer peripheral surface of the reel body. Therefore, since the decorative feeling by the decorative portion 622 is improved, it is possible to suitably improve the degree of attention to the variable display and stop display (determined display) of the decorative pattern 621.

[0209] <Second Embodiment> Next, referring to FIG. 14, the second embodiment will be described. In the pachinko machine 100 of the second embodiment, a pattern that becomes visible when a predetermined situation occurs is drawn on the pattern sheet 601.

[0210] In the following description, for components having the same configuration as those in the pachinko machine 100 of the above-described embodiment (hereinafter, this embodiment is also referred to as the "first embodiment"), the same reference numerals are given and the description thereof is omitted. Further, the configuration described below as the second embodiment may be added to the configuration provided in the pachinko machine 100 of the first embodiment described above, or may be provided in place of a part of the configuration of the pachinko machine 100 of the first embodiment described above.

[0211] FIGS. 14(A) to 14(C) are front views of the decorative pattern display device 479 of the second embodiment. FIG. 14(D) is a front view showing a part of the pattern sheet 601 corresponding to each pattern row. In FIGS. 14(B) and 14(C), for reference, the position of the middle line L2, which is one of the set effective lines, is illustrated by a dashed line.

[0212] In the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14(A), a heater 650 that functions as a heat source is provided on the inner peripheral side of each reel body corresponding to the left symbol column Z1 and the right symbol column Z2 at a position where it can overlap with the symbols 721A and 721B to be described later in a front view.

[0213] On the symbol sheets 601 corresponding to the respective symbol columns Z1, Z2, and Z3, there are provided symbols 701, 702, and 703 that are difficult or impossible to visually recognize under normal conditions but become visible when a predetermined light such as flash light is applied and the light is retroreflected. The symbols 701, 702, and 703 are drawn across the symbol sheets 601 corresponding to the respective symbol columns Z1, Z2, and Z3, and are configured such that each symbol is completed when a predetermined main symbol 621A is arranged on the middle line L2 in the definite display.

[0214] For example, as shown in FIG. 14(B), when the definite display is made in a state where the main symbol 621A including the numerical information corresponding to the number "7" is arranged on the middle line L2 in each of the symbol columns Z1, Z2, and Z3 (that is, when the jackpot symbol by the main symbol 621A corresponding to the number "7" becomes the stop symbol and the definite display is made), the symbol 701 is completed by the symbol 701A provided on the symbol sheet 601 corresponding to the left symbol column Z1, the symbol 701B provided on the symbol sheet 601 corresponding to the right symbol column Z2, and the symbol 701C provided on the symbol sheet 601 corresponding to the middle symbol column Z3.

[0215] Also, as shown in FIG. 14(C), when the main symbol 621A including the numerical information corresponding to the number "5" is arranged on the middle line L2 in the left and right symbol columns Z1 and Z2, and the definite display is made in a state where the main symbol 621A including the numerical information corresponding to the number "9" is arranged on the middle line L2 in the middle symbol column Z3, the symbol 702 is completed by the symbol 702A provided on the symbol sheet 601 corresponding to the left symbol column Z1, the symbol 702B provided on the symbol sheet 601 corresponding to the right symbol column Z2, and the symbol 702C provided on the symbol sheet 601 corresponding to the middle symbol column Z3.

[0216] That is, in a configuration where the stop order of the variably displayed decorative symbol 621 is the left symbol column Z1, the right symbol column Z2, and the middle symbol column Z3, after a reach display occurs on the middle line L2 by the main symbol 621A including digital information corresponding to the numerical value "5" in the left and right symbol columns Z1, Z2, when the main symbol 621A including digital information corresponding to the numerical value "9" stops on the middle line L2 of the middle symbol column Z3 and becomes a losing symbol (more specifically, a losing symbol constituting a losing reach), the pattern 702 is completed.

[0217] Also, in the symbol sheet 601 of the example shown in FIG. 14(D), when the main symbol 621A including digital information corresponding to the numerical value "9" is arranged on the middle line L2 in the left and right symbol columns Z1, Z2, and the main symbol 621A including digital information corresponding to the numerical value "5" is arranged on the middle line L2 in the middle symbol column Z3 and a determination display is made, the pattern 703 is completed by the pattern 703A provided on the symbol sheet 601 corresponding to the left symbol column Z1, the pattern 703B provided on the symbol sheet 601 corresponding to the right symbol column Z2, and the pattern 703C provided on the symbol sheet 601 corresponding to the middle symbol column Z3.

[0218] In the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, the symbol sheet 601 is configured such that the decorative portion 622 (see FIG. 13) is not formed on the surface side of the base material 611 (see FIG. 13). Patterns such as the pattern 701, which can be made visible by the fact that when a predetermined light such as flash light is applied, the light is retroreflected, are formed on the surface side of the base material 611 by ink having retroreflectivity and emitting light in a predetermined color (for example, black, green, etc.) when irradiated with flash light or the like.

[0219] Therefore, when a predetermined main symbol 621A is arranged on the middle line L2 in the determination display, and thereby a predetermined pattern (for example, the pattern 701, the pattern 702, etc.) is completed, by performing flash photography with a camera, an image in which the predetermined pattern drawn in a predetermined color is captured can be obtained.

[0220] Also, in the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, on the symbol sheets 601 corresponding to the respective symbol columns Z1, Z2, and Z3, there are provided patterns 721A and 721B that are difficult or impossible to visually recognize under normal conditions but become visually recognizable when heated or warmed.

[0221] As shown in FIG. 14(B), the patterns 721A and 721B are provided at positions that overlap the heater 650 in a front view when the main symbol 621A including numerical information corresponding to the number "7" in the left and right symbol columns Z1 and Z2 is located on the middle line L2. The patterns 721A and 721B are formed on the surface side of the base material 611 by ink that changes from colorless to a predetermined color (for example, pink, orange, etc.) when heated or warmed.

[0222] The heater 650 is configured to be heated or warmed under the control of the sub-control board 940 when a winning symbol by the main symbol 621A corresponding to the number "7" in each of the symbol columns Z1, Z2, and Z3 is fixedly displayed in a state where it is arranged on the middle line L2 (that is, when the winning symbol by the main symbol 621A corresponding to the number "7" becomes a stop symbol and is fixedly displayed).

[0223] Therefore, when the winning symbol by the main symbol 621A corresponding to the number "7" becomes a stop symbol and is fixedly displayed, the patterns 721A and 721B appear visibly in a predetermined color. When the heating or warming of the heater 650 is started because the main symbol 621A including numerical information corresponding to the number "7" is fixedly displayed in a state where it is arranged on the middle line L2, the sub-control board 940 ends the heating or warming by the heater 650 when the variable display of a special symbol is started thereafter.

[0224] Next, the operation and effects of the pachinko machine 100 described above will be explained.

[0225] In the pachinko machine 100 of this embodiment, on the symbol sheet 601, there are symbols 701, 702, 703 that are difficult or impossible to visually recognize under normal conditions but become visible when a predetermined light such as a flash light is applied and the light is retroreflected, and symbols 721A, 721B that are difficult or impossible to visually recognize under normal conditions but become visible when heated or warmed. Therefore, different symbols can be made visible under different situations. Thereby, the degree of attention to the gaming machine can be improved by different symbols that become visible according to the situation.

[0226] Also, in the pachinko machine 100 of this embodiment, when the stop symbol is a predetermined losing symbol (for example, the losing symbol shown in FIG. 14(C)), a specific symbol such as symbol 702 can be made visible by irradiating with a flash light (for example, flash photography by a camera). When the decorative symbol 621 is definitely displayed as a losing symbol, if the number of reserved times of the right to play a unit game related to the special symbol (the first special symbol, the second special symbol) is zero, the state of the definitely displayed losing symbol is maintained for a period until the next start winning of the special symbol (the first special symbol, the second special symbol) occurs. That is, a specific symbol such as symbol 702 can be maintained in a completed state for that period.

[0227] Therefore, when the number of reserved times of the right to play a unit game related to the special symbol is zero, the period during which the specific symbol completed by the decorative symbol 621 being definitely displayed as a predetermined losing symbol is visible can be made longer than when the number of reserved times is 1 or more. The longer the period during which a specific symbol is visible, the more the player can be prevented from missing the specific symbol (for example, missing the specific symbol because the preparation of the camera for flash photography is not in time). Therefore, in the pachinko machine 100 of this embodiment, it is possible to provide a gameplay that enjoys not increasing the number of reserved times of the right to play a unit game related to the special symbol.

[0228] In addition, when the decorative symbol 621 is determined and displayed as a predetermined jackpot symbol, a special gaming state occurs thereafter. Therefore, since the player tends to prioritize an operation (operation on the firing handle 252) for winning a game ball in the large winning devices 433 and 434 in the special gaming state, an operation for making a specific symbol visible (for example, an operation of a camera for flash photography) cannot be performed, and there is a possibility of missing the specific symbol. On the other hand, in the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, even when not winning the special symbol lottery, a completed specific symbol (for example, symbol 702) can be visually recognized by irradiating with flash light. Therefore, even when not winning the special symbol lottery, it is possible to provide a gaming property that allows visual recognition of a specific symbol.

[0229] As described in the present embodiment, in a configuration in which symbols 701, 702, and 703 can be visually recognized when a predetermined light such as flash light is applied, for example, by providing a stage 670 on the front side of the decorative symbol display device 479, it is possible to improve the gaming property in which symbols 701, 702, and 703 can be visually recognized under a predetermined situation.

[0230] FIG. 15 is a front view of the decorative symbol display device 479 in a modification of the present embodiment. In FIG. 15, the stage 670 provided on the front side of the decorative symbol display device 479 is schematically illustrated according to the shape of its rolling surface. In FIG. 15, game balls P1 and P2 are illustrated as an example of game balls rolling on the stage 670 for reference. In FIG. 15, the position of the middle line L2, which is one of the set effective lines, is illustrated by a one-dot chain line for reference.

[0231] As shown in FIG. 15, in this modification, a stage 670 is provided on the front side of the decorative pattern display device 479. The stage 670 has a rolling surface that is substantially W-shaped in a front view. On the left end side of the stage 670, a warp passage (not shown) is provided that can guide the game balls flowing down the left side of the central structure 420 to the stage 670, and guides the game balls entering the warp passage to the left end side of the stage 670.

[0232] The game balls that enter the left end side of the stage 670 reciprocate in the left-right direction on the stage 670 along the rolling surface of the stage 670. By positioning the two recesses in the stage 670 configured in a substantially W shape at the portions corresponding to the eyes in the face-like pattern 702, it becomes possible to regard the game balls (for example, game balls P1, P2) passing near the recesses as eyes.

[0233] As a result, when the pattern 702 can be displayed (that is, when the main pattern 621A including the numerical information corresponding to the number "5" in the left symbol column Z1, the main pattern 621A including the numerical information corresponding to the number "5" in the right symbol column Z2, and the main pattern 621A including the numerical information corresponding to the number "9" in the middle symbol column Z3 are arranged on the middle line L2 and the pattern 702 is completed), it becomes possible to obtain an interesting image as if eyes are added to the pattern 702 at the timing of flash photography by the camera.

[0234] In addition, a passage through which the game balls discharged (dropped) from the two recesses in the stage 670 configured in a substantially W shape can pass is formed of a resin having light transmissivity (translucency) through which the game balls passing through the passage can be visually recognized by the player, so that the game balls discharged from the recesses can be made to look like tears. By making the passage a zigzag passage that goes downward while reciprocating left and right, it is possible to ensure a period during which the player can visually recognize the game balls.

[0235] <Third Embodiment> Next, referring to FIG. 16, the third embodiment will be described. In the pachinko machine 100 of the third embodiment, when a predetermined situation occurs, the gaming mode currently set is configured to be suggestible by utilizing the configuration in which the pattern that can be visually recognized is drawn on the pattern sheet 601.

[0236] In the following description, the same components as those in the pachinko machine 100 of the first embodiment or the second embodiment described above will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. Further, the configuration described below as the third embodiment may be added to the configuration provided in the pachinko machine 100 of the first embodiment or the second embodiment described above, or may be provided in place of a part of the configuration of the pachinko machine 100 of the first embodiment or the second embodiment described above.

[0237] FIG. 16(A) is a schematic side view for explaining the configuration of the reel device, and FIGS. 16(B) to 16(C) are front views of the decorative pattern display device 479 of the third embodiment. In FIG. 16(A), for easy understanding of the drawing, the reel body R and the pattern sheet 601 attached to the outer peripheral surface of the reel body R are shown separated. Further, in FIG. 16(A), for reference, the irradiation direction of the light by the light emitter 690 is illustrated by an arrow, and the vertical display range of the decorative pattern 621 located on the upper line, the middle line, and the lower line is illustrated.

[0238] Also, in FIGS. 16(B), 16(C), and 16(D), for reference, the positions of the upper line L3, the middle line L2, and the lower line L1 are illustrated by dashed-dotted lines. Further, in FIGS. 16(B), 16(C), and 16(D), for easy understanding of the drawing, the color density of the patterns 741A, 741B, and 741C is represented by the density of hatching. Specifically, the denser the hatching, the darker the color.

[0239] In the pachinko machine 100 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16(A), heaters 650A, 650B, and 650C that function as heat sources, similar to the heater 650, are provided on the inner peripheral sides of the respective reel bodies R corresponding to the respective symbol columns Z1, Z2, and Z3. More specifically, the heater 650A is provided at a position that overlaps with the main symbol 621A located on the upper line L3 in a front view, the heater 650B is provided at a position that overlaps with the main symbol 621A located on the middle line L2 in a front view, and the heater 650C is provided at a position that overlaps with the main symbol 621A located on the lower line L1 in a front view.

[0240] The heaters 650A, 650B, and 650C are each configured as heaters having different temperatures by heating (warming). Specifically, the heater 650A is a heater that can be heated to the highest temperature among the heaters 650A, 650B, and 650C, the heater 650B is a heater that can be heated to the second highest temperature among the heaters 650A, 650B, and 650C, and the heater 650C is a heater that can be heated to the lowest temperature among the heaters 650A, 650B, and 650C. Note that the heating (warming) by the heaters 650A, 650B, and 650C is controlled by the sub-control board 940.

[0241] In the pachinko machine 100 of this embodiment, on the symbol sheets 601 corresponding to the respective symbol columns Z1, Z2, and Z3, there are provided patterns 741A, 741B, and 741C that are difficult or impossible to visually recognize during normal times but become visually recognizable when heated or warmed. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 16(B), the pattern 741A is an annular pattern that surrounds the periphery of the main symbol 621A including the numerical information corresponding to the number "7" among the main symbols 621A provided on the symbol sheet 601 corresponding to the left symbol column Z1.

[0242] Also, as shown in FIG. 16(B), the pattern 741B is an annular pattern that surrounds the periphery of the main pattern 621A that includes digital information corresponding to the numerical value "9" among the main patterns 621A provided on the pattern sheet 601 corresponding to the right pattern column Z2. Further, as shown in FIG. 16(B), the pattern 741C is an annular pattern that surrounds the periphery of the main pattern 621A that includes digital information corresponding to the numerical value "8" among the main patterns 621A provided on the pattern sheet 601 corresponding to the middle pattern column Z3.

[0243] In the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, the pattern sheet 601 is configured such that the decorative portion 622 (see FIG. 13) is not formed on the surface side of the base material 611 (see FIG. 13), and the patterns 741A, 741B, 741C are formed on the surface side of the base material 611 with ink that changes from colorless to a predetermined color (for example, pink or orange) when heated or warmed. The ink forming the patterns 741A, 741B, 741C is configured to develop a darker color as the temperature of heating or warming is higher.

[0244] Therefore, when the left pattern column Z1 has a confirmed display in a state where the main pattern 621A including digital information corresponding to the numerical value "7", the right pattern column Z2 has the main pattern 621A including digital information corresponding to the numerical value "9", and the middle pattern column Z3 has the main pattern 621A including digital information corresponding to the numerical value "8" are arranged on the upper line L3, and heating (warming) is performed by the heater 650A, the patterns 741A, 741B, 741C are displayed in a darker color as compared with the case where they are heated by the heater 650B or the heater 650C in a state where these main patterns 621A are arranged on the middle line L2 or the lower line L1, as shown in FIG. 16(B).

[0245] Also, when the main symbols 621A are fixedly displayed while being arranged on the middle line L2 and are heated (warmed) by the heater 650B, the patterns 741A, 741B, and 741C are lighter in color as shown in FIG. 16(C) compared to the case where they are heated by the heater 650A while the main symbols 621A are arranged on the upper line L3, and are darker in color compared to the case where they are heated by the heater 650C while the main symbols 621A are arranged on the lower line L1.

[0246] Also, when the main symbols 621A are fixedly displayed while being arranged on the lower line L1 and are heated (warmed) by the heater 650C, the patterns 741A, 741B, and 741C are lighter in color as shown in FIG. 16(D) compared to the case where they are heated by the heater 650A or the heater 650B while the main symbols 621A are arranged on the upper line L3 or the middle line L2.

[0247] As described above, the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment is configured such that the setting of the ball output rate (the setting of the game mode) can be changed by operating the back setting switch 905 (see FIG. 9) and the initialization switch 907 (see FIG. 9), and the currently set game mode is suggested by the darkness of the colors of the patterns 741A, 741B, and 741C.

[0248] Specifically, among the nine game modes that can be set by operating the back setting switch 905 and the initialization switch 907, when the game mode corresponding to the ball output rate that gives the highest profit rate for the player (that is, the game mode of the first-stage probability in each of the top type, middle type, and bottom type) is set, the patterns 741A, 741B, and 741C are configured to appear in the darkest color (that is, darker than when other game modes are set).

[0249] More specifically, when the game modes of the first-stage probabilities for each of the top type, middle type, and bottom type are set, if the sub-control board 940 has not won in the special symbol lottery (the first special symbol lottery and the second special symbol lottery), in the unit game related to the special symbol, with a predetermined probability (for example, approximately 10%), the main symbol 621A including digital information corresponding to the numerical value "7" in the left symbol column Z1, the main symbol 621A including digital information corresponding to the numerical value "9" in the right symbol column Z2, and the main symbol 621A including digital information corresponding to the numerical value "8" in the middle symbol column Z3 are arranged and fixedly displayed on the upper line L3, and the heater 650A is heated or warmed. Thereby, the patterns 741A, 741B, and 741C can be presented in a darker color than when other game modes are set.

[0250] Also, among the nine game modes that can be set by operating the back setting switch 905 and the initialization switch 907, when the game mode corresponding to the payout rate that is the lowest for the player (that is, the game mode of the third-stage probability for each of the top type, middle type, and bottom type) is set, the patterns 741A, 741B, and 741C are configured to appear in the lightest color (that is, a lighter color than when other game modes are set).

[0251] More specifically, when the game modes of the third-stage probabilities for each of the top type, middle type, and bottom type are set, if the sub-control board 940 has not won in the special symbol lottery (the first special symbol lottery and the second special symbol lottery), in the unit game related to the special symbol, with a predetermined probability (for example, approximately 10%), the main symbol 621A including digital information corresponding to the numerical value "7" in the left symbol column Z1, the main symbol 621A including digital information corresponding to the numerical value "9" in the right symbol column Z2, and the main symbol 621A including digital information corresponding to the numerical value "8" in the middle symbol column Z3 are arranged and fixedly displayed on the lower line L1, and the heater 650C is heated or warmed. Thereby, the patterns 741A, 741B, and 741C can be presented in a lighter color than when other game modes are set.

[0252] Further, among the nine types of game modes that can be set by operating the back setting switch 905 and the initialization switch 907, when the game mode corresponding to the payout rate that is the second highest for the player (i.e., the game mode of the second-stage probability in each of the top type, middle type, and bottom type) is set, the patterns 741A, 741B, and 741C are configured to appear in a lighter color than when the game mode of the first-stage probability in each type is set, and in a darker color than when the game mode of the third-stage probability in each type is set.

[0253] More specifically, when the game mode of the second-stage probability in each of the top type, middle type, and bottom type is set, the sub-control board 940, in a unit game related to the special symbol in the case of not winning the special symbol lottery (the first special symbol lottery, the second special symbol lottery), with a predetermined probability (for example, approximately 10%), the main symbol 621A including the numerical information corresponding to the number "7" in the left symbol column Z1, the main symbol 621A including the numerical information corresponding to the number "9" in the right symbol column Z2, and the main symbol 621A including the numerical information corresponding to the number "8" in the middle symbol column Z3 are arranged and fixedly displayed on the middle line L2, and the heater 650B is heated or warmed. Thereby, the patterns 741A, 741B, and 741C can be made to appear in a lighter color than when the game mode of the first-stage probability in each type is set, and in a darker color than when the game mode of the third-stage probability in each type is set.

[0254] Note that the appearance probability of the patterns 741A, 741B, and 741C in the case of not winning the special symbol lottery (the first special symbol lottery, the second special symbol lottery) may be a fixed value of 1 (for example, approximately 10%), or may be a variable value that changes according to the situation. For example, a configuration may be such that the appearance probability of the patterns 741A, 741B, and 741C changes according to the number of times the right to a unit game related to the special symbol is retained. Specifically, for example, a configuration may be such that the appearance probability of the patterns 741A, 741B, and 741C becomes higher as the number of times the right to a unit game related to the special symbol is retained increases.

[0255] Alternatively, the configuration may be such that the appearance probabilities of the patterns 741A, 741B, and 741C change according to the length of the gaming time. For example, the configuration may be such that the appearance probabilities of the patterns 741A, 741B, and 741C increase as the gaming time becomes longer. The gaming time may be, for example, the time measured from the timing when a so-called "customer waiting effect" (that is, an effect display unrelated to the gaming state such as a title display or a demo display that is displayed on the decoration pattern display device 479 when a predetermined time has elapsed since the pachinko machine 100 has not been played by the player) ends, or may be the time during which the firing handle 252 is continuously operated.

[0256] Alternatively, the configuration may be such that the appearance probabilities of the patterns 741A, 741B, and 741C change according to the gaming mode. For example, in the case of a probability-variable gaming state, the configuration may be such that the appearance probabilities of the patterns 741A, 741B, and 741C are higher than in the case of a normal gaming state.

[0257] When the heating or warming of the heaters 650A, 650B, and 650C is started by the confirmed display in a state where the main pattern 621A including the numerical information corresponding to the numerical value "7" in the left symbol column Z1, the main pattern 621A including the numerical information corresponding to the numerical value "9" in the right symbol column Z2, and the main pattern 621A including the numerical information corresponding to the numerical value "8" in the middle symbol column Z3 are arranged on the lines L1, L2, and L3 of each stage, the sub-control board 940 then ends the heating or warming by the heaters 650A, 650B, and 650C when the variable display of the special symbol is started.

[0258] Further, in the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, the patterns 701, 702, and 703 (see FIG. 14) provided on the pattern sheets 601 corresponding to the respective symbol columns Z1, Z2, and Z3 are configured to be patterns that are difficult or impossible to visually recognize under normal conditions but become visually recognizable when irradiated with black light. That is, the patterns 701, 702, and 703 in the present embodiment are formed on the surface side of the base material 611 by ink that emits light in a predetermined color (for example, black or green) when irradiated with black light.

[0259] In front of each reel (reel body R and symbol sheet 601) corresponding to each symbol column Z1, Z2, Z3, a light emitter 690 (for example, a black light LED), which is a light emitting means capable of irradiating a black light, is provided in a range that is a display area for decorative symbols. For example, as shown in FIG. 16(A), black light LEDs as light emitters 690 directed toward the display areas of the decorative symbols on each reel are arranged in a row in the width direction (left-right direction) of each reel, respectively, on the upper front side and the lower front side of each reel.

[0260] In the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, when a main symbol 621A including numerical information corresponding to the number "7" is located on the middle line L2 in the left and right symbol columns Z1, Z2, etc., in a situation where symbols such as symbols 701, 702, 703 are completed, the sub-control board 940 is configured to cause the light emitter 690 to emit light (that is, irradiate a black light). Thereby, when a predetermined main symbol 621A is arranged on the middle line L2 in the definite display, the player can visually recognize each symbol such as symbols 701, 702, 703.

[0261] In a configuration in which symbols such as symbols 701, 702, 703 are formed on the symbol sheet 601 with ink that emits light in a predetermined color when irradiated with a black light, it is not always necessary to provide the light emitter 690 capable of irradiating a black light, and a configuration may be adopted in which the player uses a light emitting means capable of irradiating a black light that the player owns or has been lent to display symbols such as symbols 701, 702, 703.

[0262] Next, the operation and effects of the pachinko machine 100 described above will be described.

[0263] In the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, when not winning the special symbol lottery (the first special symbol lottery, the second special symbol lottery), pictures 741A, 741B, and 741C that become visible by heating or warming are heated or warmed at a temperature corresponding to the current game mode set with a predetermined probability. Since the pictures 741A, 741B, and 741C are configured to develop colors in darker shades as the heating or warming temperature is higher, the player can determine the type of the current game mode in the pachinko machine 100, that is, the ball payout rate (machine ratio, payout rate) of the game balls, based on the darkness of the colors developed by the pictures 741A, 741B, and 741C.

[0264] Therefore, it is possible to add a gameplay element in which the player infers probability information about the gaming machine during the game based on the difference in the darkness of the colors developed by the pictures 741A, 741B, and 741C. For example, considering whether the pachinko machine 100 is a gaming machine suitable for the player's preference or a different gaming machine, and using the inferred probability information as one of the selection elements such as whether to continue the game or move to another gaming machine, it is possible to improve the gameplay of a gaming machine in which the lottery probability can be set in multiple stages.

[0265] <Fourth Embodiment> Next, with reference to FIGS. 17 and 18, the fourth embodiment will be described. In the pachinko machine 100 of the fourth embodiment, a light-emitting decorative body 780 with improved decorativeness on the peripheral side (edge side) is provided to increase the player's attention.

[0266] In the following description, the same components as those in the pachinko machine 100 of each of the above-described first to third embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. Further, the configuration described below as the fourth embodiment may be added to the configuration provided in any of the pachinko machines 100 of the above-described first to third embodiments, or may be provided in place of a part of the configuration of any of the pachinko machines 100 of the above-described first to third embodiments.

[0267] FIG. 17 is a front view of the game board 400 of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 18(A) is a front view of the light-emitting decorative body 780, and FIG. 18(B) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the light-emitting decorative body 780 taken along line B-B in FIG. 18(A).

[0268] In FIG. 18(A), for reference, a schematic boundary line G between the direct light transmission region X1 and the reflected light transmission region X2 in the peripheral side decoration portion 788 is illustrated by a two-dot chain line. Also, in FIG. 18(B), for reference, examples of the paths along which the light output from the light-emitting bodies 782 as the light-emitting means travels are illustrated as arrows J1 and J2.

[0269] As shown in FIG. 17, in the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, a light-emitting decorative body 780 configured in a star shape in a front view is provided substantially at the center of the upper portion of the central structure 420.

[0270] As shown in FIGS. 18(A) and 18(B), the light-emitting decorative body 780 includes light-emitting bodies 781 and 782, a substrate 783, an inner lens 784, a reflector 785, a decorative lens portion 786, a protruding portion 787, a peripheral side decoration portion 788, a decorative sheet 789, and a reflecting component 790.

[0271] The light-emitting bodies 781 and 782 are configured to include light sources (for example, full-color LEDs, etc.) capable of expressing full colors. The light-emitting bodies 781 and 782 emit light in a predetermined color by light emission control by the sub-control board 940. Note that the light sources constituting the light-emitting bodies 781 and 782 do not necessarily have to be light sources capable of displaying full colors, and may be light sources that emit light in a single color (for example, white LEDs, etc.).

[0272] The light emitter 781 is a light-emitting means disposed inside the inner lens 784. The light emitter 782 is disposed on the outer side of the inner lens 784 and on the rear side (the lower side in FIG. 18(B)) with respect to the peripheral side decorative portion 788 so as to overlap the peripheral side decorative portion 788 in a front view. The light emitters 781 and 782 are disposed on the front side (the upper side in FIG. 18(B)) of the substrate 783. The substrate 783 is a circuit board such as a printed circuit board provided with the light emitters 781 and 782 and electronic components such as resistors for operating the light emitters 781 and 782.

[0273] The inner lens 784 is made of a resin (for example, an acrylic resin) having light transmissibility (translucency) such as a transparent resin, and transmits (guides) the light output (emitted) from the light emitter 781. The inner lens 784 includes a top surface portion 784A that overlaps the front side of the light emitter 781 in a front view, and a side surface portion 784B that is continuously provided on the peripheral side of the top surface portion 784A, and is provided so as to surround the front side of the light emitter 781.

[0274] As shown in FIG. 18(B), in the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, the inner lens 784 is configured to have a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional shape. More specifically, the top surface portion 784A is configured to be a flat plate shape extending in a substantially horizontal direction, and the side surface portion 784B is configured to be a flat plate shape extending in a substantially vertical direction.

[0275] The outer shape of the inner lens 784 on the top surface portion 784A side (the outer shape of the front side of the inner lens 784) is configured to be a shape that can be fitted to the inner surface of the decorative lens portion 786 described later (more specifically, the surface composed of the rear surface of the top surface portion 786A and the surface facing the inside of the side surface portion 786B).

[0276] The reflector 785 is an opaque component having a color capable of reflecting light (e.g., white), and is provided adjacent to the outer side of the rear side (more specifically, the rear side of the side surface portion 784B) in the inner lens 784. The reflector 785 reflects the light emitted outward from the rear side (the side closer to the light emitter 781) of the side surface portion 784B of the inner lens 784 toward the inner lens 784. Thereby, the light output from the light emitter 781 can be preferably guided to the front side (that is, the side of the top surface portion 784A of the inner lens 784).

[0277] Further, the reflector 785 is located between the light emitter 782 and the side surface portion 784B of the inner lens 784, and can preferably guide the light output from the light emitter 782 to the front side (that is, the side of the peripheral side decorative portion 788).

[0278] Therefore, by disposing the reflector 785 between the light emitter 781 and the light emitter 782, the light output from the light emitter 781 can be made to enter the decorative lens portion 786 through the inner lens 784, and the light output from the light emitter 782 can be made to enter the peripheral side decorative portion 788. Note that a reflector similar to the reflector 785 may be provided on the side of the reflecting component 790 with respect to the light emitter 782 (the side opposite to the reflector 785).

[0279] The reflector 785 does not necessarily have to be an opaque component having a color capable of reflecting light, and may be configured to form an opaque surface by performing mirror finishing (e.g., chrome plating, etc.) on each surface on the inner lens 784 side and the light emitter 782 side.

[0280] The decorative lens portion 786 is made of a resin having light transmissivity (translucency) such as a transparent resin (e.g., an acrylic resin), and transmits (guides) the light that has passed through the top surface portion 784A of the inner lens 784 when the light emitter 781 is lit (when light is output from the light emitter 781).

[0281] The decorative lens part 786 includes a top surface part 786A that overlaps the front side of the top surface part 784A of the inner lens 784 in a front view, and a side surface part 786B that is continuously provided on the peripheral side of the top surface part 786A. In the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 18(B), the decorative lens part 786 is configured to have a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional shape. More specifically, the top surface part 786A is configured as a flat plate extending in a substantially horizontal direction, and the side surface part 786B is configured as a flat plate extending in a substantially vertical direction.

[0282] The front surface 786A1 of the top surface part 786A is exposed so that the player can directly visually recognize it in an area where the protruding part 787 described later is not provided. Therefore, when the light emitter 781 is lit, the player can visually recognize the light transmitted through the top surface part 786A and emitted from the front surface 786A1.

[0283] In the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 18(A), the exposed part of the top surface part 786A of the decorative lens part 786 is configured in a star shape in a front view. Therefore, in this configuration, when the light emitter 781 is lit, the player can visually recognize the light-emitting decorative body 780 that emits light in a star shape by the light emitted from the front surface 786A1 of the top surface part 786A. The decorative lens part 786 functions as a first decorative part that constitutes the main body part of the decoration in the light-emitting decorative body 780.

[0284] In particular, in the present embodiment, since the top surface part 786A of the decorative lens part 786 is configured as a plate shape with the front surface 786A1 being substantially flat, the light-emitting decorative body 780 can cause the decorative shape (in the present embodiment, a star shape) by the decorative lens part 786, which is the first decorative part, to emit light in a planar manner.

[0285] Note that in the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, the top surface portion 786A of the decorative lens portion 786 is configured to be a flat plate shape extending in a substantially horizontal direction, but it may be a plate shape inclined in a predetermined direction (for example, inclined backward as it goes downward in a front view). Further, in the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, the top surface portion 786A of the decorative lens portion 786 is configured to be a flat plate shape, that is, both the front surface 786A1 (the front side surface visible to the player) and the rear surface (the surface facing the inner lens 784 side) are substantially flat surfaces. However, either one of the front surface 786A1 or the rear surface, or each of these surfaces may be a curved surface, or may be a flat surface or a curved surface including fine irregularities.

[0286] The protruding portion 787 is made of a resin having the same light transmissibility as the decorative lens portion 786, and protrudes forward from the front surface 786A1 on the top surface portion 786A. In the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, the protruding portion 787 is continuously provided on the front surface 786A1 of the top surface portion 786A by being integrally molded together with the decorative lens portion 786 and a peripheral side decorative portion 788 described later. Note that the protruding portion 787 may be configured as a component independent of the decorative lens portion 786 and the peripheral side decorative portion 788.

[0287] The protruding portion 787 is provided along at least the peripheral edge of the top surface portion 786A along the peripheral edge. In the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 18(A), the protruding portion 787 is provided along the peripheral edge of the star-shaped top surface portion 786A along the peripheral edge, and is provided in a substantially straight line connecting adjacent concave portions in the star shape.

[0288] A light diffusion process such as a matte process (for example, embossing) is applied to the front end surface 787A on the front side of the protruding portion 787. Thereby, natural light is diffused on the end surface 787A, and the end surface 787A can be made to look white. Note that instead of the matte process for the end surface 787A, a configuration may be adopted in which a color that easily reflects light such as white or a metallic color (for example, silver or gold) is printed on the end surface 787A.

[0289] The peripheral side decorative portion 788 is composed of a resin having the same light transmissibility as the decorative lens portion 786, and is provided along the entire periphery of the peripheral side (outer side) of the decorative lens portion 786. More specifically, the peripheral side decorative portion 788 projects outward from the side surface portion 786B along the entire circumference of the decorative lens portion 786.

[0290] In the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, the peripheral side decorative portion 788 is continuously provided on the side surface portion 786B by being integrally molded together with the decorative lens portion 786 and the protruding portion 787. Note that the peripheral side decorative portion 788 may be configured as a component independent of the decorative lens portion 786 and the protruding portion 787.

[0291] The front surface 788A (the front surface on the side visible to the player) of the peripheral side decorative portion 788 is configured as a substantially horizontal substantially flat surface. Note that the front surface 788A does not necessarily have to be a substantially horizontal substantially flat surface, and may be a plane inclined in a predetermined direction (for example, a plane inclined rearward as it goes outward in a front view) or a substantially flat surface. Further, the front surface 788A of the peripheral side decorative portion 788 may be a curved surface, or may be a plane or a curved surface including fine irregularities.

[0292] In the example shown in FIG. 18(B), the front surface 788A of the peripheral side decorative portion 788 is configured to be located on the rear side of the front surface 786A1 of the top surface portion 786A in the decorative lens portion 786. Note that the front surface 788A does not necessarily have to be on the rear side of the front surface 786A1, and may be configured to be located on the front side of the front surface 786A1, or may be configured such that the position in the front-rear direction substantially coincides with the front surface 786A1.

[0293] On the other hand, the rear surface 788B (the surface facing the light emitter 782 side) of the peripheral side decorative portion 788 is configured as an inclined surface that inclines so as to be farther away from the substrate 783 toward the outside. Thereby, part of the light output (emitted) forward from the light emitter 782 enters from the rear surface 788B and transmits to the front side (the side of the front surface 788A), and part of the light is reflected at the rear surface 788B and travels rearward and outward as shown in FIG. 18(B).

[0294] Although details will be described later, the peripheral side decorative portion 788 emits light by light corresponding to the light output from the light emitter 782 (light that directly enters, or light that is reflected by the rear surface 788B and then reflected by the reflection film portion 790B of the reflection component 790). Therefore, in the light-emitting decorative body 780, the peripheral side decorative portion 788 functions as an edge portion as a second decorative portion with respect to the shape (a star shape in this embodiment) of the decorative lens portion 786 as the first decorative portion when viewed from the front.

[0295] The decorative sheet 789 is composed of a resin sheet having light transmissivity (translucency) configured in the outer shape (a star shape in this embodiment) of the top surface portion 786A of the decorative lens portion 786, and is disposed between the top surface portion 786A of the decorative lens portion 786 and the top surface portion 784A of the inner lens 784. The decorative sheet 789 may be configured to be adhered to the rear surface of the top surface portion 786A (the surface facing the inner lens 784 side) or the front surface of the top surface portion 784A (the surface facing the decorative lens portion 786 side), or may be configured to be sandwiched between the rear surface of the top surface portion 786A and the front surface of the top surface portion 784A.

[0296] Note that the decorative sheet 789 does not necessarily have to be a single resin sheet configured in the outer shape of the top surface portion 786A of the decorative lens portion 786, and may be a plurality of resin sheets divided into the shape of the top surface portion 786A surrounded by the protruding portion 787. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 18(A), the decorative sheet 789 may be configured to be divided into each resin sheet corresponding to five substantially triangular shapes formed on the convex portion side of the star side and a resin sheet corresponding to one substantially pentagonal shape formed on the center side.

[0297] The decorative sheet 789 is configured as a light-transmissive sheet that is entirely colored in a single color (for example, each single color such as yellow or blue) or multiple colors. Thereby, when the light-emitting body 781 is lit, the light emitted from the front surface 784A1 of the decorative lens portion 786 can be made into a color corresponding to the color of the decorative sheet 789. Thereby, for example, in a configuration where both the inner lens 784 and the decorative lens portion 786 are made of a transparent resin, the player can visually recognize the color of the light-emitting decorative body 780 that glows in a star shape in the color of the decorative sheet 789.

[0298] When the decorative sheet 789 is colored in multiple colors, the multiple colors may be configured to be colored as independent regions, or may be configured to be colored in a gradation. Further, the decorative sheet 789 may be configured with a predetermined pattern (such as a design, a picture, or a character) drawn thereon.

[0299] The reflecting component 790 is a resin component that is provided on the outer side of the light-emitting body 782 and has a function of reflecting the light reflected by the rear surface 788B of the peripheral side decorative portion 788 so as to travel forward and outward.

[0300] The reflecting component 790 is spaced downward from the rear surface 788B of the peripheral side decorative portion 788 and has a front surface 790A that is an inclined surface that inclines away from the substrate 783 as it goes outward, similar to the rear surface 788B.

[0301] In the example shown in FIG. 18(B), the front surface 790A of the reflecting component 790 is configured as an inclined surface that is substantially parallel to the rear surface 788B of the peripheral side decorative portion 788. Note that the front surface 790A does not necessarily have to be substantially parallel to the rear surface 788B, and a configuration in which the front surface 790A and the rear surface 788B are non-parallel (that is, a configuration in which the inclination angle of the front surface 790A is different from the inclination angle of the rear surface 788B) may also be used.

[0302] The reflecting component 790 is arranged such that a part of the front surface 790A overlaps with the peripheral side decorative part 788 in a front view, and the remaining part of the front surface 790A does not overlap with the peripheral side decorative part 788 (i.e., can be directly visually recognized in a front view). Note that the width of the region (non-overlapping region X3) on the front surface 790A of the reflecting component 790 that does not overlap with the peripheral side decorative part 788 in a front view is preferably, for example, at least approximately 3 mm, and more preferably at least approximately 5 mm.

[0303] In the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, the light output forward from the light emitter 782 can travel outward while being reflected between the rear surface 788B of the peripheral side decorative part 788 and the front surface 790A of the reflecting component 790 (more specifically, the reflecting film part 790B described later). Also, a part of the light reflected from the front surface 790A can enter from the rear surface 788B (e.g., arrow J1), and a part can travel outside the peripheral side decorative part 788 without entering the peripheral side decorative part 788 (e.g., arrow J2). Thus, the inclination angles of the rear surface 788B of the peripheral side decorative part 788 and the front surface 790A of the reflecting component 790, and the overlapping amount (overlapping width) of the rear surface 788B and the front surface 790A in a front view are set.

[0304] A reflecting film part 790B that is light-impermeable and can reflect light is formed on the front surface 790A of the reflecting component 790. The reflecting film part 790B is, for example, a coating film with a substantially uniform thickness formed by vapor deposition, coating, or printing a light-emitting pigment such as a metallic pigment.

[0305] The reflecting film part 790B may be composed of a single color or multiple colors. The color of the reflecting film part 790B may be the same as or a similar color to the color of the decorative sheet 789 or the main color in the decorative sheet 789. By configuring it in this way, a sense of unity can be given to the color tone of the light-emitting decorative body 780, and unnatural color matching or excessive gaudiness can be suppressed.

[0306] As described above, the front surface 790A of the reflecting component 790 is an inclined surface that inclines away from the substrate 783 as it faces outward. Therefore, the reflecting component 790 provided with the reflecting film portion 790B on the front surface 790A can reflect the light reflected by the rear surface 788B of the peripheral side decorative portion 788 so as to travel forward and outward by receiving it with the reflecting film portion 790B.

[0307] In addition, hereinafter, the light reflected by the reflecting film portion 790B based on the light from the light emitter 782 (that is, the reflected light by the reflecting film portion 790B of the light reflected by the rear surface 788B of the peripheral side decorative portion 788) is also referred to as "specific reflected light".

[0308] According to the light-emitting decorative body 780 configured as described above, among the regions that overlap with the rear side (the side of the substrate 783) of the peripheral side decorative portion 788 in a front view, the light emitter 782 is provided on the inner side (the side closer to the decorative lens portion 786). Therefore, the light output from the light emitter 782 directly enters the inner side (the side closer to the decorative lens portion 786) of the peripheral side decorative portion 788.

[0309] On the other hand, among the regions that overlap with the rear side of the peripheral side decorative portion 788 in a front view, the reflecting film portion 790B of the reflecting component 790 (more specifically, a part of the inner side of the reflecting film portion 790B) is disposed at a position outside the light emitter 782. As described above, the rear surface 788B of the peripheral side decorative portion 788 and the front surface 790A of the reflecting component 790 are set such that a part of the light reflected by the reflecting film portion 790B (specific reflected light by the reflecting film portion 790B) can enter from the rear surface 788B. Therefore, a part of the specific reflected light by the reflecting film portion 790B can be made to enter the outside of the region where the light output from the light emitter 782 directly enters in the peripheral side decorative portion 788.

[0310] Therefore, among the light incident from the rear surface 788B of the peripheral side decorative portion 788, the direct light from the light emitter 782 passes through the direct light transmission region X1 on the inner side, and the specific reflected light by the reflecting film portion 790B passes through the reflected light transmission region X2 outside the direct light transmission region X1.

[0311] In FIG. 18(A), a straight boundary line G is shown as the boundary between the direct light transmission region X1 and the reflected light transmission region X2. However, it is not necessary for the direct light transmission region X1 and the reflected light transmission region X2 to be clearly separated at the boundary line G. A configuration may be adopted in which a region where both the direct light from the light emitter 782 and the specific reflected light by the reflection film portion 790B are transmitted exists in the vicinity of the boundary line G.

[0312] Also, the rear surface 788B of the peripheral side decoration portion 788 and the front surface 790A of the reflection component 790 are set such that a part of the specific reflected light by the reflection film portion 790B can travel outside the peripheral side decoration portion 788 (that is, outside the reflected light transmission region X2) without entering the peripheral side decoration portion 788. Therefore, a part of the specific reflected light by the reflection film portion 790B can travel through the air as light that can be directly visually recognized by the player outside the peripheral side decoration portion 788.

[0313] Next, the operation and effects of the pachinko machine 100 described above will be described.

[0314] In the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, since the reflector 785 is provided between the light emitter 781 and the light emitter 782, the decoration lens portion 786 and the peripheral side decoration portion 788 can be independently illuminated by the light output from the light emitter 781 and the light emitter 782, respectively. Therefore, the peripheral side decoration portion 788 can be independently illuminated as an edge portion with respect to the shape (a star shape in the present embodiment) of the decoration lens portion 786 in a front view.

[0315] In the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, a peripheral side decoration portion 788 that can transmit the light output from the light emitter 782 is provided on the peripheral side of the decoration lens portion 786. The peripheral side decoration portion 788 is configured such that the direct light from the light emitter 782 passes through the direct light transmission region X1 on the inner side (the side closer to the decoration lens portion 786), and the light reflected by the reflection film portion 790B of the reflection component 790 (specific reflected light) passes through the reflected light transmission region X2 on the outer side.

[0316] As a result, in the direct light transmission region X1 where light based on the direct light from the light emitter 782 is emitted, and in the reflected light transmission region X2 where light based on the specific reflected light by the reflection film portion 790B is emitted, the way the light appears to the player (e.g., brightness, color tone, etc.) can be made different. Therefore, in the peripheral side decorative portion 788 that appears to glow based on the light output from the light emitter 782 (direct light and specific reflected light by the reflection film portion 790B), the way it glows can be made different between the inner side and the outer side. Thus, the decorativeness by the light emitted from the front surface 788A of the peripheral side decorative portion 788 (the decorativeness by the light transmitted through the peripheral side decorative portion 788) can be improved.

[0317] Also, generally, since the intensity of the reflected light is smaller than the intensity of the incident light, in the configuration where the direct light from the light emitter 782 passes through the direct light transmission region X1 on the inner side of the peripheral side decorative portion 788 and the specific reflected light by the reflection film portion 790B of the reflection component 790 passes through the reflected light transmission region X2 on the outer side, the intensity of the light passing through the reflected light transmission region X2 can be made weaker than the intensity of the light passing through the direct light transmission region X1. Thereby, it can be made to appear that the outer side of the peripheral side decorative portion 788 glows weaker than the inner side. Therefore, the way the peripheral side decorative portion 788 glows can be made to have a difference in intensity. Also in this regard, the decorativeness by the light emitted from the front surface 788A of the peripheral side decorative portion 788 can be improved.

[0318] Since the decorativeness by the light emitted from the front surface 788A of the peripheral side decorative portion 788 is improved as described above, the distinction in the way of glowing from the decorative lens portion 786 that glows in a planar manner by the light from the light emitter 781 becomes clear. Thus, the degree of attention to the decorative lens portion 786 and the peripheral side decorative portion 788 can be improved. Thereby, the degree of attention to the gaming machine can be improved.

[0319] Also, in the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, since the light passing through both the direct light transmission region X1 and the reflected light transmission region X2 corresponds to the light (direct light or specific reflected light) output from the light emitter 782, there is no need to separate the light source that serves as the light supply source for passing the light through the direct light transmission region X1 and the light source that serves as the light supply source for passing the light through the reflected light transmission region X2 (that is, since the light sources can be shared), the manufacturing cost can be suppressed in this regard, and the complexity of the arrangement of the light sources can be suppressed.

[0320] Also, in the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, part of the specific reflected light by the reflection film portion 790B of the reflection component 790 enters (penetrates) the rear surface 788B of the peripheral side decoration portion 788, and part of it advances as light that can be directly visually recognized by the player outside the peripheral side decoration portion 788 (that is, outside the reflected light transmission region X2) without entering the peripheral side decoration portion 788. Depending on whether the specific reflected light by the reflection film portion 790B passes through the peripheral side decoration portion 788 (more specifically, the reflected light transmission region X2) or advances outside the peripheral side decoration portion 788, the appearance of the light (for example, brightness and glow) as seen by the player can change. Therefore, the decorativeness of the light-emitting decoration body 780 formed by the specific reflected light by the reflection film portion 790B can be improved.

[0321] Also, in the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, since a part of the reflection film portion 790B in the reflection component 790 does not overlap the peripheral side decoration portion 788 on the outer side of the peripheral side decoration portion 788 in a front view (that is, is directly visually recognizable and exposed to the player in a front view), the player can visually recognize the light in which the reflected light of natural light (hereinafter, this reflected light is also referred to as "natural reflected light") by the reflection film portion 790B and the specific reflected light by the reflection film portion 790B are mixed on the outer side of the peripheral side decoration portion 788. As a result, it is possible to give an impression different from the case where the light that the player can visually recognize on the outer side of the peripheral side decoration portion 788 is only natural reflected light, for example, an impressive glow (metallic feeling).

[0322] In addition, in the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, since the decorative sheet 789 is disposed on the rear surface side of the top surface portion 786A of the decorative lens portion 786, even if the decorative lens portion 786, the peripheral side decorative portion 788, and the protruding portion 787 are integrally formed using a transparent resin, it is possible to cause only the decorative lens portion 786 (top surface portion 786A) to glow in the color of the decorative sheet 789. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately manufacture the decorative lens portion 786 and the peripheral side decorative portion 788, and the manufacturing cost can be suppressed in this regard. Also, it is not necessary to directly print a predetermined color, a predetermined pattern, or the like on the rear surface side of the top surface portion 786A.

[0323] In addition, when the color of the decorative sheet 789 having light transmissivity described later or the main color of the decorative sheet 789 is a relatively dark color such as blue, it is preferable that the light emitter 781 emits light in the same color or a similar color as the color of the decorative sheet 789 or the main color of the decorative sheet 789 (for example, a blue-based color such as light blue when the decorative sheet 789 is blue). Thereby, it is possible to suppress the color of the decorative sheet 789 or the main color of the decorative sheet 789 from appearing lighter than the original color as compared with the case where the light emitter 781 emits white light.

[0324] In addition, in the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 18(A) and 18(B), the protruding portion 787 is provided along the periphery on the peripheral edge side of the top surface portion 786A of the decorative lens portion 786. Since the decorative sheet 789 is provided on the back surface side of the decorative lens portion 786, the protruding portion 787 can be provided three-dimensionally with respect to the decorative sheet 789. Thereby, the decorative feeling by the protruding portion 787 can be improved.

[0325] In particular, since the front end surface 787A is subjected to a light diffusion treatment, it appears whitish due to the diffusion of natural light. Thereby, by configuring the main color in the decorative sheet 789 (for example, the color that colors the largest area in the decorative sheet 789) to be a color that is less likely to reflect light than white, the decorative feeling of the protruding portion 787 where the end surface 787A appears whitish can be suitably improved.

[0326] In addition, since the protruding portion 787 protruding forward with respect to the decorative lens portion 786 is provided along the periphery of the top surface portion 786A of the decorative lens portion 786, the shape of the decorative lens portion 786 in a front view (in this embodiment, a star shape) can be three-dimensionally decorated by the protruding portion 787. Thereby, the decorativeness of the decoration of the light-emitting decorative body 780 can be improved.

[0327] In addition, since the protruding portion 787 provided along the periphery of the top surface portion 786A of the decorative lens portion 786 is located between the exposed portion of the top surface portion 786A of the decorative lens portion 786 and the peripheral side decorative portion 788, the protruding portion 787 becomes a clear boundary between the shape of the decorative lens portion 786 in a front view, which is the first decorative portion in the decoration of the light-emitting decorative body 780, and the peripheral side decorative portion 788, which is the edge portion as the second decorative portion with respect to the first decorative portion. Thereby, when the first decorative portion and the second decorative portion (edge portion) in the decoration of the light-emitting decorative body 780 are each made to emit light independently, each portion can be clearly distinguished by light emission.

[0328] <Fifth Embodiment> Next, with reference to FIG. 19, the fifth embodiment will be described. In the pachinko machine 100 of the fifth embodiment, an image corresponding to (matching) an image including a part of a character that appears in a suggestion effect displayed after a predetermined reach display is displayed in a suggestion effect displayed after a reach display different from the reach display, thereby aiming to improve the attention of the player.

[0329] Note that the "suggestion effect" is the degree of possibility of transitioning to a special game state after the end of a unit game related to special symbols (the first special symbol and the second special symbol) (hereinafter, also referred to as the "expectation degree for transitioning to a special game state"), that is, an effect that suggests the degree of possibility that the decorative symbol 1621 variably displayed on the decorative symbol display device 479 stops at a stop symbol that is a big hit symbol.

[0330] In the following description, the same components as those in the pachinko machine 100 of each of the first to fourth embodiments described above will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. Moreover, the configuration described below as the fifth embodiment may be added to the configuration provided in any one of the pachinko machines 100 of the first to fourth embodiments described above, or may be provided in place of a part of the configuration of any one of the pachinko machines 100 of the first to fourth embodiments described above.

[0331] FIGS. 19(A) to 19(D) are screen diagrams showing an example of an effect image displayed on the decorative symbol display device 479 of the fifth embodiment. In the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, the decorative symbol display device 479 is configured as an image display device (for example, a liquid crystal display device) capable of displaying an image. In FIG. 19(B), for reference, the moving direction of the image 822 is illustrated by an arrow.

[0332] In the decorative symbol display device 479 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 19 (FIGS. 19(A) to 19(D)), the decorative symbol 1621 is displayed as an image. The decorative symbol 1621 is a decorative symbol for displaying a stop symbol (a jackpot symbol, a losing symbol) corresponding to the lottery result of a special symbol lottery (a first special symbol lottery, a second special symbol lottery), similar to the decorative symbol 621 (see FIG. 13).

[0333] In the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, the decorative symbol 1621 is composed of a main symbol capable of forming a jackpot symbol, similar to the main symbol 621A (see FIG. 13). Note that the decorative symbol 1621 may have a configuration including a main symbol and a sub-symbol similar to the sub-symbol 621B that cannot form a jackpot symbol.

[0334] The main symbol that constitutes the decorative symbol 1621 is configured as a symbol that includes digital information indicating a plurality of types of numerical values (for example, each numerical value from "1" to "9"). Note that the main symbol that constitutes the decorative symbol 1621 may be configured as a symbol that includes not only numerals indicating numerical values but also both numerals and characters corresponding to the numerals as digital information.

[0335] The decorative symbol 1621 is variably displayed on the decorative symbol display device 479 in a unit game related to a special symbol (the first special symbol, the second special symbol), and then is definitely displayed (stopped and displayed) as a stop symbol corresponding to the lottery result of the special symbol lottery. Note that the display position of the decorative symbol 1621 does not necessarily have to be substantially at the center of the display area of the decorative symbol display device 479, and the decorative symbol 1621 may be displayed at various positions within the display area. For example, as shown in FIG. 19, the decorative symbol 1621 may be displayed at a corner side (for example, the upper right corner side) in the display area of the decorative symbol display device 479.

[0336] In the decorative symbol display device 479 of the present embodiment, when a reach display occurs in the variable display of the decorative symbol 1621, a predetermined suggestive effect by a video or an image can appear after the end of the variable display.

[0337] In the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, when a reach display consisting of an odd numerical value (for example, a reach display consisting of "7") is displayed by the decorative symbol 1621, after the display of the reach display, a suggestive effect (hereinafter, this suggestive effect is also referred to as the "first suggestive effect") in which a predetermined character appears is executed with a predetermined probability. Note that the first suggestive effect in which a predetermined character appears may be an effect that is executed (displayed) only for a specific reach display such as a so-called super reach.

[0338] When the reach display consisting of an odd numerical value is displayed by the decorative symbol 1621, the probability of executing the first suggestion effect (i.e., the "predetermined probability" mentioned above) may adopt an appropriate value greater than 0%, for example, a probability less than 100% (such as 30% or 60%), or even a probability of 100% where the first suggestion effect is always displayed. Note that the selection of whether to execute the first suggestion effect is performed under the control of the sub-control board 940.

[0339] Whether the reach display by the decorative symbol 1621 is composed of odd numerical values or even numerical values depends on, for example, the jackpot symbol random number obtained by the main control board 920 at the time of winning the start of the special symbol (the first special symbol, the second special symbol). More specifically, when the stop symbol determined by the main control board 920 based on the jackpot symbol random number is a jackpot symbol, the sub-control board 940 determines a reach display composed of odd or even numerical values according to the type of jackpot indicated by the jackpot symbol. On the other hand, when the stop symbol determined by the main control board 920 based on the jackpot symbol random number is a losing symbol that constitutes a losing reach, the sub-control board 940 determines a reach display composed of a predetermined numerical value regardless of whether it is odd or even.

[0340] For the first suggestion effect, a plurality of types of effect patterns corresponding to the degree of expectation (or reliability) for the transition to the special game state are prepared. The degree of expectation for the transition to the special game state set for each effect pattern is determined by the winning probability in the special symbol lottery (the first special symbol lottery, the second special symbol lottery), the selection probability in the selection table (hereinafter also referred to as the "winning selection table") referred to when winning in the special symbol lottery, and the selection probability in the selection table (hereinafter also referred to as the "losing selection table") referred to when not winning in the special symbol lottery.

[0341] Each video data (image data) corresponding to each production pattern of the first suggestive production is stored in a predetermined area of the ROM of the sub-control board 940 in association with each production pattern. The sub-control board 940 selects a production pattern of the first suggestive production and causes the decorative symbol display device 479 to display (execute) the first suggestive production of the selected production pattern.

[0342] Note that the timing at which the sub-control board 940 selects the production pattern of the first suggestive production may be the timing at which the sub-control board 940 receives a variation pattern command corresponding to a unit game related to a target special symbol (that is, the variation display of the special symbol) from the main control board 920, or may be a predetermined timing during the period from receiving the variation pattern command until the reach display by the decorative symbol 1621 is displayed. Further, in a configuration in which a period during which an operating device such as the pressing operating device 261 can be operated is provided for the display of the first suggestive production, the sub-control board 940 may be configured to select the production pattern of the first suggestive production at the timing when the period ends.

[0343] In the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, each production pattern in the first suggestive production is configured such that the types of characters appearing vary according to the degree of expectation (or reliability) for the transition to a special game state set for the production pattern. The player can relatively recognize the height of the degree of expectation for the transition to the special game state based on the type of character that appears in the first suggestive production.

[0344] In the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, as characters that can appear in the first suggestion performance, for example, as shown in FIGS. 19(A) and 19(C), short-haired characters CA1 and CA2 holding flags 801A and 801B in both hands, and as shown in FIG. 19(D), a ponytail character CA3 holding flags 801A and 801B in both hands are prepared. The difference between characters CA1 and CA2 is the pattern drawn on the flags 801A and 801B. That is, characters CA1 and CA2 differ in whether the pattern drawn on the flags 801A and 801B is a cat or a star.

[0345] For the first suggestion performance in which character CA1 appears, the expectation level for the transition to the special game state is set, for example, at 50%. For the first suggestion performance in which character CA2 appears, the expectation level for the transition to the special game state is set, for example, at 10%. Also, for the first suggestion performance in which character CA3 appears, the expectation level for the transition to the special game state is set, for example, at 30%.

[0346] The player can recognize the expectation levels set for each character from the instruction manual distributed for the pachinko machine 100 or can empirically recognize the relative magnitudes of the expectation levels set for each character. As a result, for example, among characters CA1, CA2, and CA3, when character CA1 appears in the first suggestion performance, the player can most expect the transition to the special game state. When character CA3 appears, the player cannot expect it as much as character CA1 but can expect it more than character CA2.

[0347] In the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, when a reach display consisting of an even number (for example, a reach display consisting of "6") is displayed by the decorative pattern 1621, after the display of the reach display, a suggestion performance (hereinafter, this suggestion performance is also referred to as the "second suggestion performance") in which an image including a part of a character that suggests the expectation level (reliability) for the transition to the special game state in the first suggestion performance appears with a predetermined probability is configured to be executed.

[0348] When the reach display consisting of an even number is displayed by the decorative pattern 1621, as the probability of executing the second suggestion effect (i.e., the above-mentioned "predetermined probability"), an appropriate value greater than 0% may be adopted. For example, it may be a probability less than 100% (e.g., 30% or 60%), or it may be a probability of always displaying the second suggestion effect (i.e., 100%). Note that the selection of whether to execute the second suggestion effect is executed under the control of the sub-control board 940.

[0349] In the example shown in FIG. 19(B), after the reach display consisting of "6" is displayed by the decorative pattern 1621, a second suggestion effect in which images 821, 822, and 823 including a part of the character CA1 appear (are displayed) simultaneously is executed. More specifically, the image 821 is an image including the left eye part of the character CA1 in FIG. 19(A), the image 822 is an image including the left hand of the character CA1 and a part of the flag 801A held by the left hand, and the image 523 is an image including the button part of the jacket of the character CA1.

[0350] In the second suggestion effect in which an image including a part of a character (e.g., the image 821, etc.) appears, the degree of expectation (the height of expectation) for the transition to the special game state can be relatively recognized by the player according to the type of character corresponding to the appearing image.

[0351] Note that in the present embodiment, the degree of expectation for the transition to the special game state with respect to the character corresponding to the image that appears in the second suggestion effect is the same as the degree of expectation when the character appears in the first suggestion effect. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 19(B), a player who visually recognizes the images 821, 822, and 823 that appear in the second suggestion effect can recognize the same degree of expectation as when the character CA1 corresponding to these images 821, 822, and 823 appears in the first suggestion effect.

[0352] Images such as images 821, 822, and 823 to be presented in the second suggestive presentation, that is, images including a part of a character that suggests the degree of expectation for the transition to the special game state in the first suggestive presentation, are generated based on images cut out from the video data (image data) corresponding to the presentation pattern of the first suggestive presentation stored in the ROM of the sub-control board 940. Here, the image cut out from the video data (image data) is a part of the video or image pre-selected from the video or image composed of the video data or image data, and the expression of "cut out" may be other expressions such as pre-selecting or extracting, and the same shall apply hereinafter.

[0353] More specifically, the image to be presented in the second suggestive presentation is obtained by cutting out the corresponding area from the image of a predetermined frame including the character among the frames constituting the video data corresponding to the presentation pattern in which the character that suggests the degree of expectation for the transition to the special game state appears in the first suggestive presentation, and is generated based on the cut-out image (for example, by performing processing such as deformation, enlargement, or reduction on the cut-out image).

[0354] For example, image 821 is generated based on an image obtained by cutting out the portion of area AR1 from the image of the frame corresponding to the display content shown in FIG. 19(A) in the video data corresponding to the presentation pattern in which character CA1 appears. Similarly, images 822 and 823 are generated based on images obtained by cutting out the portions of areas AR2 and AR3, respectively, from the image of the frame. Although details will be described later, images 821, 822, and 823 are generated by performing processing such as deformation, enlargement, or reduction on the images obtained by cutting out the portions of areas AR1, AR2, and AR3.

[0355] In the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, for the production pattern in which the character CA2 appears, an image to be presented in the second suggestive production is generated based on the images of the portions of the regions AR1, AR2, and AR3 cut out from the frame corresponding to the display content shown in Fig. 19(C) in the video data corresponding to the production pattern in which the character CA2 appears. Similarly, for the production pattern in which the character CA3 appears, an image to be presented in the second suggestive production is generated based on the images of the portions of the regions AR1, AR2, and AR3 cut out from the frame corresponding to the display content shown in Fig. 19(D) in the video data corresponding to the production pattern in which the character CA3 appears.

[0356] Note that, as the region to be cut out for the images in the video data of the first suggestive production, it is preferable that the image obtained by cutting out a portion of the region can suggest the type of character. For example, it is preferable that the region includes the eyes of the character, the pattern of the flag 801A held by the character in the left hand, the jacket worn by the character, and the buttons of the jacket, such as the regions AR1, AR2, and AR3.

[0357] Hereinafter, an image (for example, an image obtained by cutting out a portion of the region AR1) including a part of the character that suggests the degree of expectation for the transition to the special game state, which is cut out from the video data corresponding to the production pattern of the first suggestive production, is also referred to as a "cut-out image".

[0358] The cut-out image is generated under the control of the sub-control board 940. Specifically, the sub-control board 940 selects one production pattern from the production patterns prepared for the first suggestive production, and generates a cut-out image from the image of a predetermined frame in the video data stored in the ROM associated with the selected production pattern.

[0359] In addition, the selection of the production pattern used for generating the cut-out image is performed by referring to the hit selection table or the miss selection table prepared for the selection of the production pattern of the first suggestion production in the same manner as when selecting the production pattern in the first suggestion production. This control is executed by the sub-control board 940.

[0360] The frame used for generating the cut-out image (that is, a predetermined frame including a character that suggests the degree of expectation for the transition to the special game state) is specified in advance by the frame number, time, etc. in the video data. Also, the cut-out area such as the area AR1 in the image of the frame to be cut out is specified in advance by the coordinates on the image, etc.

[0361] Note that the cut-out area does not necessarily have to be a rectangular area such as the area AR1, and may be an area with a shape other than a rectangle such as a circle. Also, the number of cut-out areas may be 1 or a plurality. When a plurality of cut-out areas are provided, the shapes of the respective cut-out areas do not necessarily have to be all of the same shape (for example, all rectangular shapes) like the areas AR1 to AR3, and a configuration in which areas of two or more types of shapes are mixed may also be possible.

[0362] The sub-control board 940 generates a cut-out image by cutting out a predetermined area from the image of a predetermined frame. The timing at which the sub-control board 940 generates the cut-out image may be the timing at which the sub-control board 940 receives a variation pattern command corresponding to a unit game (that is, the variation display of the special symbol) related to the target special symbol from the main control board 920, or may be a predetermined timing during the period from when the variation pattern command is received until the reach display by the decorative symbol 1621 is displayed. Also, in a configuration in which a period during which an operating device such as the pressing operating device 261 can be operated is provided with respect to the display of the second suggestion production, the sub-control board 940 may generate the cut-out image at the timing when the period ends.

[0363] In the pachinko machine 100 of this embodiment, processing such as deformation or enlargement / reduction is performed on an image (i.e., a cut-out image) cut out from video data corresponding to the production pattern of the first suggestion production, and the processed cut-out image (e.g., image 821, etc.) is displayed in the second suggestion production. Note that the processing of the cut-out image (e.g., deformation or enlargement / reduction, etc.) and the display of the processed cut-out image are controlled by the sub-control board 940.

[0364] For example, in the example shown in FIG. 19(B), the images 821, 822, 823 that appear (are displayed) in the second suggestion production are not rectangular shapes corresponding to the shapes of the cut-out regions AR1, AR2, AR3, but are displayed as images deformed into a rhombus shape in a front view, as if the front faces downward to the right. In this way, by displaying the images 821, 822, 823 so that they all appear to face in a substantially the same direction different from the front direction, a more orderly impression can be given compared to the case where the display orientation of at least one of these images 821, 822, 823 is made different from the display orientation of the other images.

[0365] Also, in the example shown in FIG. 19(B), the images 821, 822, 823 that appear in the second suggestion production are images enlarged or reduced at different magnification rates (enlargement or reduction rates) with respect to the corresponding cut-out images. Specifically, the size of the cut-out image becomes larger in the order of the image cut out from the portion of region AR1, the image cut out from the portion of region AR3, and the image cut out from the portion of region AR2, while these cut-out images are enlarged or reduced so as to become larger in the order of image 822, image 822, and image 823.

[0366] Note that it is not necessarily required to enlarge or reduce all the cut-out images, and a configuration may be adopted in which some of the plurality of cut-out images are enlarged or reduced at different magnification rates or at the same magnification rate. Also, a configuration may be adopted in which some or all of the plurality of cut-out images are enlarged or reduced at different magnification rates in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, respectively.

[0367] In the pachinko machine 100 of this embodiment, a plurality of processed cut-out images (for example, images 821, 822, 823) are configured to appear (be displayed) simultaneously in the second suggestive effect. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 19(B), the images 821, 822, 823 based on the images cut out from the frames corresponding to the display contents shown in FIG. 19(A) (cut-out images) all face downward to the right, and are displayed so as to be seen arranged in the order of image 823, image 821, and image 822 from the front to the back.

[0368] In particular, in the pachinko machine 100 of this embodiment, when a plurality of processed cut-out images appear simultaneously in the second suggestive effect, one processed cut-out image and another processed cut-out image are displayed so as to overlap at least partially (that is, so as to appear overlapping). Note that the control of this display is also performed by the sub-control board 940.

[0369] For example, in the example shown in FIG. 19(B), a part of image 822 and a part of image 821 overlap, and a part of image 821 and image 823 overlap. As a result, the contents (drawing contents) drawn in the area where image 821 overlaps in image 822 and the area where image 823 overlaps in image 821 become difficult to visually recognize (impossible to visually recognize).

[0370] In the pachinko machine 100 of this embodiment, when one processed cut-out image and another processed cut-out image are displayed so as to overlap at least partially, the display position of the image whose drawing contents have become difficult to visually recognize due to the overlap is moved, thereby making the drawing contents that were difficult to visually recognize visible. Note that the control of this display is also performed by the sub-control board 940.

[0371] For example, in the example shown in FIG. 19(B), after a part of image 822 and a part of image 821 are displayed so as to overlap, the display position of image 822, where some drawing content has become difficult to view due to the overlap with image 821, is moved in the left direction (the direction of arrow M). As the overlap between image 822 and image 821 decreases, the area where the drawing content in image 822 becomes visible increases. As a result, the player can recognize that image 822 is, for example, an image including a left hand and a part of a flag 801A held by the left hand, and that a cat pattern is drawn on flag 801A.

[0372] Here, since character CA1 is configured in the same way as character CA2 except for the pattern drawn on flag 801A, when the player can recognize that the pattern drawn on flag 801A is a cat due to the movement of image 822, it becomes possible to infer that the character corresponding to the image displayed in the second suggestive effect is character CA1. Therefore, as time elapses after the cut-out image processed in the second suggestive effect appears, the playability of inferring the degree of expectation for the transition to the special game state in the second suggestive effect is improved because it is configured to facilitate the inference of the degree of expectation for the transition to the special game state.

[0373] Next, the operation and effects of the pachinko machine 100 described above will be explained.

[0374] In the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, an image including a part of a character that suggests the degree of expectation for the transition to the special game state in the first suggestive effect and is to be presented in the second suggestive effect is generated based on an image cut out from video data corresponding to the effect pattern of the first suggestive effect. That is, the video data corresponding to the effect pattern of the first suggestive effect is diverted to the generation of the image that appears in the second suggestive effect. Therefore, the storage amount of the video data (image data) can be suppressed, and it becomes easier to reduce the need to develop effect images for the first suggestive effect and the second suggestive effect respectively, and the development cost can be suppressed accordingly.

[0375] In addition, in the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, an image corresponding to an image including a part of a character that suggests the degree of expectation for the transition to a special gaming state, which is cut out from video data corresponding to the performance pattern of the first suggestion performance (specifically, an image obtained by processing the cut-out image, such as deformation or enlargement / reduction), is displayed in the second suggestion performance. Therefore, the degree of expectation for the transition to the special gaming state suggested by the character revealed in the first suggestion performance can also be similarly suggested in the second suggestion performance. In addition, since the suggestion of the degree of expectation by the first suggestion performance and the suggestion of the degree of expectation by the second suggestion performance are realized in different appearances, it is possible to increase the variations of the suggestion performance while suppressing the cost for developing each performance image for the second suggestion performance.

[0376] Here, since the image displayed in the second suggestion performance is an image corresponding to an image including a part of a character that suggests the degree of expectation for the transition to the special gaming state revealed in the first suggestion performance, the amount of information included in the image is less than when the entire character is displayed, and it is difficult to infer the character corresponding to the image from the image displayed in the second suggestion performance.

[0377] As a result, since the difficulty of inferring the degree of expectation for the transition to the special gaming state from the content of each suggestion performance is different between the case where the first suggestion performance is displayed and the case where the second suggestion performance is displayed, it is possible to improve the playability of inferring the degree of expectation for the transition to the special gaming state from the content of each suggestion performance when the first suggestion performance or the second suggestion performance is displayed, thereby improving the degree of attention to the gaming machine.

[0378] In particular, since an image obtained by processing a cut-out image from video data corresponding to the production pattern of the first suggestion production, such as deformation or enlargement / reduction, is displayed in the second suggestion production, it is possible to suitably make it difficult to infer the character corresponding to the image from the image displayed in the second suggestion production. Also in this regard, when the first suggestion production or the second suggestion production is displayed, the playability of inferring the degree of expectation for the transition to the special game state from the content of each suggestion production can be suitably improved.

[0379] Further, since each image corresponding to a plurality of cut-out images cut out from a plurality of regions is simultaneously displayed in the second suggestion production, it is easier to infer the character corresponding to the image from the image displayed in the second suggestion production than when one cut-out image is displayed. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the situation where it becomes too difficult to infer the character corresponding to the image from the image displayed in the second suggestion production.

[0380] Also, in the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, when a plurality of processed cut-out images simultaneously appear in the second suggestion production, one processed cut-out image and another processed cut-out image are displayed so as to overlap at least partially (that is, to appear overlapping), so that it is possible to make it difficult for the player to recognize the content of the overlapping image. Also in this regard, since it is possible to suitably make it difficult to infer the character corresponding to the image from the image displayed in the second suggestion production, when the first suggestion production or the second suggestion production is displayed, the playability of inferring the degree of expectation for the transition to the special game state from the content of each suggestion production can be suitably improved.

[0381] Further, in the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, when one processed cutout image and another processed cutout image are displayed so as to overlap at least partially, and the drawing content becomes difficult to view due to the overlap, the display position of the image with the difficult-to-view drawing content is moved, thereby making the drawing content that was difficult to view visible. Therefore, according to the passage of time since a plurality of processed cutout images first appeared in the second suggestion effect, the difficulty of inferring the degree of expectation for the transition to the special game state from the content of the second suggestion effect can be made different. As a result, when the second suggestion effect is displayed, the playability of inferring the degree of expectation for the transition to the special game state from the content of each suggestion effect can be improved.

[0382] <Sixth Embodiment> Next, referring to FIGS. 20 to 22, the sixth embodiment will be described. In the pachinko machine 100 of the sixth embodiment, instead of the pressing operation device 261 (see FIG. 1) provided in the pachinko machine 100 of the first embodiment, a pressing operation device 1261 is provided in which the stroke amount by the pressing operation is variably configured by the operating mechanism 860.

[0383] In the following description, the same components as those in the pachinko machine 100 of each of the above-described first to fifth embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. Also, the configuration described below as the sixth embodiment may be added to the configuration provided in any of the pachinko machines 100 of the above-described first to fifth embodiments, or may be provided in place of a part of the configuration of any of the pachinko machines 100 of the above-described first to fifth embodiments.

[0384] FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration and operation of the pressing operation device 1261 included in the pachinko machine 100 of the sixth embodiment. FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the appearance of the pressing operation device 1261 according to the operation position. In FIG. 20, for the purpose of facilitating the understanding of the internal configuration of the pressing operation device 1261, the base body 851 and the operated part 852 of the button operation part 850, the operation cover member 870, and the bottom member 880 are each illustrated in a cross-sectional shape. Hatching is omitted for these cross-sections.

[0385] Also, in FIGS. 20 and 21, for reference, the position of the surface of the pachinko machine 100 (more specifically, the surface that can be contacted by the player around the operation cover member 870 in the front block 102) is illustrated by a dashed-dotted line Q. That is, the upper side of the dashed-dotted line Q indicates that a part (operation cover member 870) of the operation device 1261 is exposed (projected) upward from the surface in the front block 102, and the lower side of the dashed-dotted line Q indicates that the operation device 1261 is buried below the surface in the front block 102. Also, in FIG. 21, for the purpose of facilitating the understanding of the drawing, the illustration of the bottom member 880 is omitted, and the region below the dashed-dotted line Q in the operation device 1261 (that is, the region buried below the surface in the front block 102) is illustrated by a dotted line.

[0386] The pressing operation device 1261 is a device that can be pushed in by the player, similar to the pressing operation device 261. As shown in FIG. 20, the pressing operation device 1261 includes a button operation part 850, an operating mechanism 860, an operation cover member 870, and a bottom member 880. The button operation part 850 includes a base body 851, an operated part 852, and a spring member 853. The base body 851 is configured in a cylindrical shape having a bottom surface on the lower end side. The operated part 852 is configured in a cylindrical shape that can be accommodated on the inner peripheral side of the base body 851. The spring member 853 is, for example, a coil spring, and is interposed between the base body 851 and the operated part 852 to support the operated part 852 with respect to the base body 851. The spring member 853 functions as a biasing means for biasing the operated part 852 upward.

[0387] On the upper end side of the base body 851, a protruding portion 851A protruding inward is provided, and on the lower end side of the operated portion, a protruding portion 852A protruding outward is provided at a position overlapping the protruding portion 851A in a top view.

[0388] As a result, the operated portion 852 biased upward by the spring member 853 is maintained in a state where the protruding portion 851A of the base body 851 serves as a stopper and the protruding portion 852A abuts against the protruding portion 851A from below. In the button operation portion 850, the position where the protruding portion 852A abuts against the protruding portion 851A of the base body 851 from below is the initial position of the operated portion 852.

[0389] When the operated portion 852 is pushed in (that is, when the operated portion 852 is pressed downward), the operated portion 852 moves downward against the biasing force of the spring member 853 (that is, while deforming the spring member 853). Then, when the pushing operation on the operated portion 852 ends (that is, when the operated portion 852 becomes unloaded), the operated portion 852 returns to the initial position by the biasing force of the spring member 853.

[0390] The button operation portion 850 includes a detection sensor 854 that outputs a predetermined detection information (detection signal) to the sub-control board 940 when the operated portion 852 that has moved downward by a pushing operation is at a predetermined position. The detection sensor 854 is, for example, an optical proximity sensor. Hereinafter, the position of the operated portion 852 detected by the detection sensor 854 is also referred to as "the maximum pressing position of the operated portion 852 by the spring member 853" and the like. The detection sensor 854 outputs a high-level signal when the operated portion 852 reaches the maximum pressing position by the spring member 853, and outputs a low-level signal when the operated portion 852 moves from the maximum pressing position by the spring member 853.

[0391] When the signal received from the detection sensor 854 rises to a high-level signal, the sub-control board 940 determines that the operated part 852 has reached the maximum pressing position by the spring member 853, and when the signal received from the detection sensor 854 falls to a low-level signal, the sub-control board 940 determines that the operated part 852 has moved from the maximum pressing position by the spring member 853.

[0392] When the signal received from the detection sensor 854 rises to a high-level signal, the sub-control board 940 sets the maximum pressing position flag (a part of the area of the RAM) to on. When the signal received from the detection sensor 854 falls to a low-level signal, the sub-control board 940 sets the maximum pressing position flag to off. Thereby, when the maximum pressing position flag is set to on, the sub-control board 940 determines that the operated part 852 is located at the maximum pressing position by the spring member 853.

[0393] The operating mechanism 860 is provided below the button operating part 850. As shown in FIG. 20, the operating mechanism 860 includes a rack 861 which is a rod-shaped body on a toothed flat plate, a pinion (gear) 862 that meshes with the teeth of the rack 861, and a motor 863 for rotating the pinion 862. The motor 863 is, for example, a DC motor.

[0394] By rotating (driving) the motor 863, the operating mechanism 860 rotates the pinion 862, whereby the position of the button operating part 850 can be moved in the direction along the tooth row direction of the rack 861 and in the direction corresponding to the rotation direction of the motor 863 without the player's operation on the operated part 852.

[0395] In the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, the operating mechanism 860 can move the button operating part 850 in substantially the same direction as the direction in which the operated part 852 moves by the deformation (compression or restoration by biasing) of the spring member 853 (that is, the vertical direction). The button operating part 850 can be moved in the vertical direction within the moving range of the rack 861 with respect to the pinion 862 in the operating mechanism 860.

[0396] The operating mechanism 860 is provided with an encoder (not shown) capable of detecting the rotation direction, rotation position, and rotation speed of the motor 863. When controlling the movement (position change) of the button operation unit 850 by the operating mechanism 860, the sub-control board 940 detects the detection result by the encoder and controls the operation of the motor 863 corresponding to the current arrangement position.

[0397] The operating mechanism 860 is configured to be able to hold (maintain) the button operation unit 850 at a predetermined position by controlling the torque (holding force) of the motor 863 so that the detection result by the encoder becomes constant. Thereby, the unloaded button operation unit 850 (the button operation unit 850 in a state where the operated part 852 is not operated) that the player is not touching the operation cover member 870 can be held (maintained) at a predetermined position within the movement range of the button operation unit 850 by the operating mechanism 860. The position where the unloaded button operation unit 850 is held by the operating mechanism 860 is also referred to as the "neutral position".

[0398] In the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, the operating mechanism 860 is configured such that the unloaded button operation unit 850 is held at a position corresponding to the satisfied condition among a plurality of positions predetermined as the neutral position of the button operation unit 850. That is, the neutral position of the button operation unit 850 is configured to change according to the satisfied condition.

[0399] Specifically, in the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, the height of the button operation unit 850 in the neutral position (more specifically, the height from the surface of the pachinko machine 100) is configured to be higher as the number of hold times of the unit game related to the special symbols (the first special symbol, the second special symbol) increases.

[0400] When the button operation unit 850 is located at the neutral position, since the pressing operation device 1261 is also located at the neutral position, in the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, the height of the pressing operation device 1261 in the neutral position also becomes higher as the number of hold times of the unit game related to the special symbols increases.

[0401] Further, as described above, the actuating mechanism 860 is configured to hold the button operation unit 850 at a predetermined position by the torque (holding force) of the motor 863. Therefore, when a force exceeding the torque is applied to the button operation unit 850, the actuating mechanism 860 can be operated without electrically driving the motor 863 by the force, and thereby the button operation unit 850 can be moved in the direction of the force.

[0402] For example, when a downward force exceeding the torque is applied to the button operation unit 850 (that is, when the button operation unit 850 is pushed down with a force exceeding the torque), the button operation unit 850 can be moved downward by the force. Further, when an upward force exceeding the torque is applied to the button operation unit 850 (that is, when the button operation unit 850 is pulled up with a force exceeding the torque), the button operation unit 850 can be moved upward by the force.

[0403] Accordingly, in the pressing operation device 1261 of the present embodiment, the stroke amount due to the pushing operation of the pressing operation device 1261 can be set to the sum of the stroke amount S1 of the operated portion 852 due to the deformation of the spring member 853 (that is, the movement amount from the initial position of the operated portion 852 in the button operation unit 850 to the maximum pressing position) and the stroke amount S2 of the button operation unit 850 by the actuating mechanism 860 (the movement amount from the neutral position of the button operation unit 850 to the position at the lower end of the movement range of the button operation unit 850 by the actuating mechanism 860).

[0404] The operation cover member 870 is a member that covers (covers) the button operation unit 850 from the outside, and is configured in a cylindrical shape having an operation surface on the surface of the upper end side. The operation cover member 870 has translucency, and is configured to transmit light emitted by a light emitter (not shown) such as an LED disposed inside the operation cover member 870 (for example, the base 851 of the button operation unit 850).

[0405] The back surface of the operation cover member 870 with respect to the operation surface (i.e., the surface facing the button operation unit 850) is in contact with the operated portion 852 of the button operation unit 850. Therefore, when the player performs a pressing operation on the operation surface of the operation cover member 870, the operation cover member 870 and the operated portion 852 move downward integrally.

[0406] As a result, the pressing operation performed by the player on the operation surface of the operation cover member 870 becomes a pressing operation on the operated portion 852, and the operated portion 852 can be moved downward against the biasing force of the spring member 853, and the button operation unit 850 can be moved downward by the operation of the operating mechanism 860.

[0407] As shown in FIG. 21, a hold count display portion 870A is provided on the surface of the operation cover member 870. The hold count display portion 870A depicts numbers from "0" to "8" respectively corresponding to the hold counts of unit games related to special symbols (the first special symbol, the second special symbol), and line segments as graduations corresponding to these respective numbers.

[0408] In the hold count display portion 870A, the numbers corresponding to the hold counts of unit games related to special symbols are arranged in ascending order from top to bottom, and the number corresponding to the current hold count is drawn in such an arrangement that it is exposed from the surface of the pachinko machine 100 (dashed-dotted line Q) at the neutral position of the button operation unit 850 corresponding to the hold count.

[0409] As a result, for example, when the hold count of the unit game related to the special symbol is zero, as shown in FIG. 21(A), since the button operation unit 850 is arranged at the neutral position corresponding to the hold count (i.e., the hold count of zero), only the number "0" corresponding to the hold count drawn in the hold count display portion 870A is exposed from the surface of the pachinko machine 100.

[0410] Also, for example, when the number of holds of a unit game related to a special symbol is 3, as shown in FIG. 21(B), since the button operation unit 850 is arranged at the neutral position corresponding to the number of holds (that is, the number of holds which is 3), the number "3" corresponding to the number of holds drawn on the hold number display unit 870A is exposed from the surface of the pachinko machine 100. As a result, the numbers from "0" to "3" are exposed from the surface of the pachinko machine 100.

[0411] Also, for example, when the number of holds of a unit game related to a special symbol is 8, as shown in FIG. 21(C), since the button operation unit 850 is arranged at the neutral position corresponding to the number of holds (that is, the number of holds which is 8), the number "8" corresponding to the number of holds drawn on the hold number display unit 870A is exposed from the surface of the pachinko machine 100. As a result, the numbers from "0" to "8" are exposed from the surface of the pachinko machine 100.

[0412] Therefore, in a configuration where the height of the neutral position of the button operation unit 850 becomes higher as the number of holds of a unit game related to a special symbol increases, the player can grasp the current number of holds by visually recognizing the number displayed in the portion exposed from the surface of the pachinko machine 100 among the numbers drawn on the hold number display unit 870A. That is, the pressing operation device 1261 can function as a display device that displays the number of holds of a unit game related to a special symbol, similar to the special symbol hold display devices 476 and 477.

[0413] Returning to FIG. 20 for explanation. The bottom member 880 is a member that constitutes the bottom portion of the pressing operation device 1261. The bottom member 880 is configured to be substantially circular in a top view, and a groove 880A capable of accommodating the side surface of the operation cover member 870 is provided on its peripheral side. The groove 880A also functions as a guide for guiding the operation cover member 870 in the vertical direction. Note that the operation cover member 870 is configured to be movable in the vertical direction only within a certain range upward and is provided with a stopper mechanism for restricting movement upward by more than a certain amount, but the illustration thereof is omitted.

[0414] The pressing operation device 1261 includes a detection sensor 890 that outputs a predetermined detection information (detection signal) to the sub-control board 940 when the button operation unit 850 is located at the lower end of the movement range by the operating mechanism 860. The detection sensor 890 is, for example, an optical proximity sensor. This detection sensor 890 does not necessarily need to be provided, and the detection position by the detection sensor 890 may be detected by using the information of a sensor (encoder) capable of detecting the vertical position of the button operation unit 850.

[0415] The detection sensor 890 outputs a high-level signal when the button operation unit 850 reaches the lower end of the movement range by the operating mechanism 860, and outputs a low-level signal when the button operation unit 850 moves from the lower end of the movement range by the operating mechanism 860.

[0416] The sub-control board 940 determines that the button operation unit 850 has reached the lower end of the movement range by the operating mechanism 860 when the signal received from the detection sensor 890 rises to a high-level signal, and determines that the button operation unit 850 has moved from the lower end of the movement range by the operating mechanism 860 when the signal falls to a low-level signal.

[0417] When the signal received from the detection sensor 890 rises to a high-level signal, the sub-control board 940 sets the lower end position flag (a part of the RAM area) to on. When the signal received from the detection sensor 890 falls to a low-level signal, the sub-control board 940 sets the lower end position flag to off. Thereby, the sub-control board 940 determines that the button operation unit 850 is located at the lower end of the movement range by the operating mechanism 860 when the lower end position flag is set to on.

[0418] In the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, the sub-control board 940 determines that the pressing operation device 1261 has been operated when a situation occurs where the button operation unit 850 is located at the lower end of the movement range by the operating mechanism 860 and the operated portion 852 is located at the maximum pressing position by the spring member 853.

[0419] More specifically, when the sub-control board 940 determines that the signal received from the detection sensor 854 has risen to a high-level signal, if the lower-end position flag is set to on, it determines that the pressing operation device 1261 has been operated. Similarly, when the sub-control board 940 determines that the signal received from the detection sensor 890 has risen to a high-level signal, if the maximum pressing position flag is set to on, it determines that the pressing operation device 1261 has been operated.

[0420] When the pressing operation device 1261 (button operation unit 850) is set to the neutral position at a position above the lower end of the movement range of the button operation unit 850 by the operating mechanism 860, when the sub-control board 940 determines that the pressing operation device 1261 has been operated, it controls the operating mechanism 860 so that the button operation unit 850 returns to the neutral position. Thereby, the pressing operation device 1261 can be returned to the current neutral position.

[0421] When a force exceeding the torque of the motor 863 is applied to the button operation unit 850 to move the button operation unit 850, the motor 863 rotates due to the rotation of the pinion 862. Therefore, the rotation direction, rotation position, and rotation speed thereof can be detected by an encoder (not shown) provided in the operating mechanism 860. When the sub-control board 940 determines that the signal received from the detection sensor 854 has risen to a high-level signal in a situation where the lower-end position flag is off, and determines that the rotation speed of the motor 863 detected by the encoder is zero, it controls the operating mechanism 860 so that the button operation unit 850 returns to the current neutral position.

[0422] Thereby, even if the button operation unit 850 is operated (pushed in) with a force exceeding the torque of the motor 863 and the operation ends before the button operation unit 850 reaches the position at the lower end of the movement range by the operating mechanism 860, the pressing operation device 1261 can be returned to the current neutral position.

[0423] In addition, when returning the pressing operation device 1261 to the current neutral position, the moving speed of the button operation unit 850 moving toward the neutral position within the moving range of the button operation unit 850 by the operating mechanism 860 may be a constant moving speed, or may be a different moving speed according to the state at that time.

[0424] Next, the operation of the pressing operation device 1261 configured as described above will be described. When the neutral position of the pressing operation device 1261 is set to the position where the button operation unit 850 is at the lower end of the moving range by the operating mechanism 860 (see Fig. 20(A)), when a pushing operation is performed on the pressing operation device 1261 at the neutral position (that is, when a pushing operation is performed on the operation surface of the operation cover member 870), the pressing operation device 1261 is pushed down by the position change of the operated portion 852 due to the deformation of the spring member 853.

[0425] Therefore, when the pressing operation device 1261 with the neutral position at the position where the button operation unit 850 is at the lower end of the moving range by the operating mechanism 860 is pushed down until it is determined that the operation is performed by the sub-control board 940, the stroke amount is equivalent to the stroke amount S1 of the operated portion 852 due to the deformation of the spring member 853, as shown in Fig. 20(B).

[0426] On the other hand, when the neutral position of the pressing operation device 1261 is set to a position above the lower end of the moving range of the button operation unit 850 by the operating mechanism 860 (see Fig. 20(C)), when a pushing operation is performed on the pressing operation device 1261 at the neutral position, if the torque (holding force) of the motor 863 is greater than the biasing force of the spring member 853 at the maximum pressing position, the pressing operation device 1261 first has the operated portion 852 pushed down to the maximum pressing position due to the deformation of the spring member 853 (see Fig. 20(D)), and then is pushed down by the position change of the button operation unit 850 by the operating mechanism 860 (see Fig. 20(E)).

[0427] Therefore, when the pressing operation device 1261 with the neutral position set at a position above the lower end of the moving range by the operating mechanism 860 is pushed down until it is determined that the operation is performed by the sub-control board 940, the stroke amount, as shown in FIGS. 20(D) and 20(E), is the sum of the stroke amount S1 of the operated part 852 due to the deformation of the spring member 853 and the stroke amount S2 of the button operation part 850 by the operating mechanism 860, that is, (stroke amount S1 + stroke amount S2).

[0428] The stroke amount S2 of the button operation part 850 by the operating mechanism 860 is the moving amount from the neutral position of the button operation part 850 to the position at the lower end of the moving range of the button operation part 850 by the operating mechanism 860, so it is a value that varies depending on the variation of the neutral position of the button operation part 850. More specifically, the stroke amount S2 is a value that becomes larger as the neutral position of the button operation part 850 becomes higher. Therefore, in the pressing operation device 261 of the present embodiment, the stroke amount by the pressing operation becomes larger as the neutral position of the button operation part 850 becomes higher.

[0429] FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the operation position of the pressing operation device 1261 and the reaction force against the pressing operation when a pressing operation is performed on the pressing operation device 1261. More specifically, FIG. 22 is a graph with the operation position of the pressing operation device 1261 on the horizontal axis and the reaction force against the pressing operation on the vertical axis when a pressing operation is performed on the pressing operation device 1261.

[0430] In the present embodiment, the position of the operation surface of the operation cover member 870 in the pressing operation device 1261 is defined as the "operation position of the pressing operation device 1261". The position of the operated part 852 of the button operation part 850 may also be defined as the "operation position of the pressing operation device 1261".

[0431] When a pushing operation is performed on a pressing operation device 1261 (see Fig. 20(A)) that is set to a neutral position at a position that is the lower end of the movement range by an operating mechanism 860, from the operating position A1 of the pressing operation device 1261 at the neutral position to the operating position Amin of the pressing operation device 1261 (see Fig. 20(B)) in a situation where it is determined that an operation (pushing operation) is performed by the sub-control board 940 (that is, in the section of the stroke amount S1), the reaction force to the pushing operation linearly increases according to the inclination of the spring constant of the spring member 853 as it approaches the operating position Amin from the operating position A1, as shown by the straight line J1 in Fig. 21(A).

[0432] Next, when the neutral position of the pressing operation device 1261 rises and the operating position of the pressing operation device 1261 at the neutral position moves from the operating position A1 to the operating position A2 (see Fig. 20(C)), the case where a pushing operation is performed on the pressing operation device 1261 at the neutral position will be described.

[0433] In such a case, when the torque (holding force) of the motor 863 is greater than the biasing force of the spring member 853 at the maximum pressing position, from the operating position A2 of the pressing operation device 1261 at the neutral position to the operating position A2x of the pressing operation device 1261 (see Fig. 20(C)) where the operated part 852 is at the maximum pressing position (that is, in the section of the stroke amount S1), the reaction force to the pushing operation linearly increases according to the inclination of the spring constant of the spring member 853 as it approaches the operating position Ax from the operating position A1, as shown by the straight line J2 in Fig. 21(A).

[0434] From the operating position A2x to the operating position Amin of the pressing operation device 1261 (see Fig. 20(B)) in a situation where it is determined that an operation (pushing operation) is performed by the sub-control board 940 (that is, in the section of the stroke amount S2), the reaction force to the pushing operation becomes a value corresponding to the torque (holding force) of the motor 863 in the section.

[0435] Since the torque of the motor 863 depends on the value of the current supplied to the motor 863, the relationship between the operation position of the pressing operation device 1261 and the reaction force against the pushing operation to the pressing operation device 1261 can be set in various modes by controlling the value of the current supplied to the motor 863, and a plurality of types of settings can be made so as to provide different operation feelings according to the game situation and lottery result.

[0436] For example, when the torque of the motor 863 is constant regardless of the operation position of the pressing operation device 1261, the reaction force against the pushing operation to the pressing operation device 1261 can include a constant pattern in the section from the operation position A2x to the operation position Amin, as shown by the straight line J3 in FIG. 21(A).

[0437] Alternatively, when the torque of the motor 863 is linearly increased as the operation position of the pressing operation device 1261 approaches the operation position Amin, the reaction force against the pushing operation to the pressing operation device 1261 can be configured to include a pattern of linearly increasing as it approaches the operation position Amin from the operation position A2x, as shown by the two-dot chain line J4 in FIG. 21(A).

[0438] Note that the torque of the motor 863 is not limited to being increased, and a pattern of decreasing the torque of the motor 863 may also be included. In such a case, the reaction force against the pushing operation to the pressing operation device 1261 can be decreased as it approaches the operation position Amin from the operation position A2x. Also, a pattern combining an increase and a decrease in the torque of the motor 863 may be included. Further, the increase or decrease in the torque of the motor 863 does not necessarily have to be linear, and a pattern in which the torque of the motor 863 increases or decreases curvilinearly may be included, or a pattern including a maximum portion where the torque increases and then decreases, or a pattern including a minimum portion where the torque decreases and then increases may also be used.

[0439] Also, a pattern in which the change in the torque of the motor 863 becomes discontinuous in the section between the operation position A2x and the operation position Amin (specifically, a pattern in which the change in torque includes a step and becomes discontinuous before and after a predetermined position) may be adopted. In such a case, for example, as shown in FIG. 21(B), the reaction force against the pushing operation on the pressing operation device 1261 suddenly increases without a change in the operation position at the operation position X and becomes discontinuous. The change in the reaction force against the pushing operation on the pressing operation device 1261 in the section from the operation position X to the operation position Amin may be constant in this section, like the straight line J5 shown in FIG. 21(B), or may include a pattern in which it increases as it approaches the operation position Amin, like the two-dot chain line J6 shown in FIG. 21(B).

[0440] Also, a pattern in which the mode of change in the reaction force against the pushing operation on the pressing operation device 1261 in the section from the operation position A2x to the operation position X is the same as the mode of change in the reaction force against the pushing operation on the pressing operation device 1261 in the section from the operation position X to the operation position Amin may be included, or these modes of change may be different configurations.

[0441] Also, the operation position at which the reaction force against the pushing operation on the pressing operation device 1261 becomes discontinuous does not necessarily have to be one as shown in FIG. 21(B), and a pattern in which a plurality (i.e., two or more) of operation positions at which the reaction force against the pushing operation on the pressing operation device 1261 becomes discontinuous are provided may be included.

[0442] Also, it is not necessarily required to discontinuously change the torque of the motor 863 at the operation position X (i.e., discontinuously change the reaction force against the pushing operation on the pressing operation device 1261), and in a pattern in which the mode of change in the reaction force against the pushing operation on the pressing operation device 1261 is different before and after the operation position X, a pattern in which each mode of change continuously changes at the operation position X may be included.

[0443] In the pachinko machine 100 of the present embodiment, an encoder (not shown) provided in the operating mechanism 860 is configured to be able to detect the rotation direction, rotation position, and rotation speed of the motor 863 when a force exceeding the torque of the motor 863 is applied to the button operation unit 850 to move the button operation unit 850. The sub-control board 940 can detect the pushing speed (the moving speed of the pressing operation device 1261) and the moving amount of the pressing operation device 1261 in the pushing operation based on each value detected by the encoder.

[0444] Here, a target value is set in advance for the moving speed and moving amount of the pressed pressing operation device 1261 (that is, the moving speed and moving amount of the pressing operation device 1261 serving as the target value are stored in the ROM, RAM, etc. of the sub-control board 940). When the moving speed or moving amount of the pressing operation device 1261 detected by the sub-control board 940 based on each value detected by the encoder exceeds the moving speed or moving amount stored in advance as the target value, a predetermined effect or display may be displayed on the decorative symbol display device 479, or a pattern in which a predetermined accessory provided on the game board 400 operates may be included.

[0445] Specifically, when a pushing operation is performed on the pressing operation device 1261 (button operation unit 850) with a force exceeding the torque of the motor 863, the sub-control board 940 detects the moving speed or moving amount of the pressing operation device 1261 based on the rotation direction, rotation position, and rotation speed of the motor 863 detected by the encoder, compares the detected moving speed or moving amount with the moving speed or moving amount stored in advance as the target value, and when it is determined that the detected moving speed or moving amount exceeds the moving speed or moving amount stored in advance as the target value, a predetermined effect or display may be displayed on the decorative symbol display device 479, or a pattern in which a predetermined accessory provided on the game board 400 is operated may be included.

[0446] According to such a configuration, it is possible to provide a game property that allows the player to operate the pressing operation device 1261 in accordance with a predetermined target value, thereby improving the degree of attention to the pachinko machine 100.

[0447] Note that as the setting of the target value, it may be either one of the moving speed or the moving amount, or a combination of both, or the pushing operation force on the button operation unit 850 held at a certain height position. Also, as the setting of the target value, it may be a setting based on a threshold value such as whether it exceeds a predetermined target value, or an operation with an operation time set such that a certain value or a value within a predetermined range is maintained for a certain period of time or more.

[0448] Also, it is preferable to set multiple types for the setting of the target value, the height position of the neutral position, the magnitude of the reaction force, and the pattern of change in the pressing operation device 1261, respectively. Then, select which of the multiple types according to conditions based on the game situation (for example, the number of pending times, the game time, the number of executions of a predetermined effect (for example, the display of a specific character)), or select which of the multiple types according to conditions based on the lottery result of a predetermined lottery such as a big win lottery, and for example, use it as an effect that suggests to the player the result of winning or losing related to the symbol lottery or the possibility (expectation level, reliability) of transitioning to a special game state.

[0449] For example, the sub-control board 940 can detect the moving amount of the pressed pressing operation device 1261 based on each value detected by the encoder. Therefore, in a configuration where the height of the neutral position of the pressing operation device 1261 changes according to the number of pending times of the unit game related to the special symbol, when a pushing operation with a force exceeding the torque of the motor 863 is performed on the pressing operation device 1261 and a pushing operation with a speed below a certain level (for example, a moving speed of 0.5 seconds or less per stroke of one grid) is set as the target value, if the unit game currently on hold includes a unit game that has won the special symbol lottery (the first special symbol lottery, the second special symbol lottery), the operating mechanism 860 may be controlled to discontinuously change the torque of the motor 863 at a position corresponding to the number of pending times corresponding to the unit game that has won the special symbol lottery with a predetermined probability (for example, 50%).

[0450] In addition, when there is a unit game that has won the special symbol lottery among the currently held unit games, the probability of discontinuously changing the torque of the motor 863 at a position corresponding to the number of holds corresponding to the unit game that has...

Claims

Claim 1 Lottery means for conducting a predetermined lottery when a predetermined start condition is satisfied; Game control means for generating a special game state more advantageous than the normal game state when the lottery result by the lottery means is a predetermined result; A gaming machine comprising a display unit capable of displaying at least a predetermined variable display and a result display corresponding to the lottery result, wherein: Display control means for performing control to display the predetermined variable display and the result display on the display unit when the predetermined start condition is satisfied, and when the predetermined start condition is satisfied, a variable display image including at least a part of the variable display displayed when the predetermined start condition is satisfied, an image corresponding to the gaming machine on which the variable display image is displayed on the display unit, and an image corresponding to a player located on the front side of the gaming machine. The gaming machine is characterized by comprising display control means for performing control to display on the display unit.

Images