Game machine

Abstract

To provide a game machine having an advantageous section capable of enhancing a player's interest in a game.SOLUTION: A game machine includes: AT control means for controlling a normal section and an advantageous section, and performing control related to an instruction function in the advantageous section; and an advantageous section counter for counting a difference number that is a value obtained by subtracting a fed number from a put-out number of a game value in a series of advantageous sections. The AT control means can control an AT state. The AT control means can end the advantageous section when the AT state is ended in a state that the difference number stored in the advantageous section counter is a positive value.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, gaming machines (slot machines) equipped with multiple reels with symbols arranged on their outer peripheries have been known. These types of gaming machines assign a certain gaming value to gaming media such as medals or pachinko balls, and players play to acquire these gaming media. Furthermore, these types of gaming machines perform an internal lottery and start the rotation of the multiple reels when the player initiates a spin operation, and stop the multiple reels in a manner corresponding to the results of the internal lottery when the player initiates a stop operation. The game result is determined by the symbol combination displayed on a winning determination line when the multiple reels are stopped, and medals or other items are paid out according to the game result.

[0003] In the gaming machine described above, a configuration is known in which the probability of winning a winning role can be changed by transitioning to an assist time state, which is a presentation state that executes a winning assistance presentation that assists in the winning of a winning role, thereby making it easier to acquire gaming value (for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-245157 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In recent years, gaming machines have been required to prevent excessive payouts of gaming value by imposing restrictions that limit the period during which various control processes related to instruction functions, including winning assistance control in the assist time state, can be executed to a specific period (advantageous zone), making it difficult to increase players' interest in gaming on gaming machines that have advantageous zones.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine having an advantageous zone that can increase a player's interest in the game. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention relates to a reel system including: Multiple stop buttons and an internal lottery means for performing an internal lottery; A control means for controlling a normal section and an advantageous section and performing control related to an instruction function in the advantageous section; A counter (for example, advantageous zone counter 196a, paragraph

[0051] ) that counts the difference number, which is the value obtained by subtracting the number of inserted coins from the number of paid-out coins of the game value in the series of advantageous zones, The control means is capable of controlling a predetermined state (for example, an AT state, paragraph

[0126] ), The control means is characterized in that it is capable of ending the advantageous period when the specified state ends with the difference in number of coins stored in the counter being a positive value. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a gaming machine having an advantageous zone that can increase a player's interest in the game. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2]1 is a diagram illustrating the functional blocks of a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing winning areas that can be won by internal lottery in a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and winning combinations included in each winning area. [Figure 4] (A) is a state transition diagram of the game state in an embodiment of the gaming machine of the present invention, and (B) is a transition diagram relating to the normal area and advantageous area controlled by the AT control means, and the presentation state during the advantageous area. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing game results for each batting order when a winning area including a small win is won in a non-RT state in a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing game results for each batting order when a winning area including a small win is won in the RBB internal state in a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing game results for each batting order when a winning area including a small win is won in the RBB state in the gaming machine of an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart showing the process of setting an upper limit on the number of payouts in the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 10 is a table summarizing the small winning combinations that are awarded based on winnings for each game state in a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] (A) is a flowchart showing the control processing related to the advantageous zone when a specific condition is met, which is executed by the AT control means in an embodiment of the gaming machine of the present invention, and (B) is a flowchart showing the control processing related to the specific continuation presentation, which is executed by the presentation control means. [Figure 11] (A) is a diagram showing the state in which a result presentation is being executed in an embodiment of the gaming machine of the present invention, (B) is a diagram showing the state in which a specific continuation presentation has started, and (C) is a diagram showing the state in which the presentation state has transitioned to a specific CZ state while a specific continuation presentation is being executed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Note that the embodiment described below does not unduly limit the content of the present invention described in the claims. Furthermore, not all of the configurations described in the embodiment are necessarily essential components of the present invention. Furthermore, in the following description, the side toward the player (nearby) will be referred to as "front" and the opposite side as "rear."

[0011] 1. Overview of the gaming machine configuration FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the exterior configuration of a slot machine 1 according to this embodiment of the present invention. The slot machine 1 of this embodiment is a so-called reel-type gaming machine, and is configured as a medal-less gaming machine in which gaming value available to a player is recorded electromagnetically based on a lending signal output from an external device provided outside the slot machine 1 and configured to electromagnetically lend and settle electronic medals that constitute gaming value, and a dedicated unit SU (see FIG. 2) serving as a specific unit. The slot machine 1 is configured to store information on the number of recorded electronic medals as the number of gaming medals and to transmit the stored number of gaming medals to the dedicated unit SU. The dedicated unit SU records the number of gaming medals received from the slot machine 1 on a recording medium such as an IC card and dispenses it to settle the electronic medals.

[0012] The slot machine 1 of this embodiment is housed in a box-shaped cabinet consisting of a cabinet BX, an upper front door UD, and a lower front door DD, and houses a reel unit RU consisting of a left reel R1 to a right reel R3 as multiple reels. The cabinet of the slot machine 1 of this embodiment also houses a control board that is equipped with a CPU, ROM (an example of an information storage medium), RAM, etc. and controls the operation of the slot machine 1.

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

[0014] The upper front door UD and the lower front door DD can be opened and closed separately. The upper front door UD is provided with a display device 410 as a display means for displaying various videos and images to assist and enhance the game. The display device 410 has a display area 410a for displaying images, and a specific area 410b facing the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 is made up of a transparent liquid crystal display. The display device 410 is configured so that the spinning and stopped states of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 can be observed through the display device 410. When the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 are stopped, three consecutive symbols (top, middle, and bottom symbols) arranged on the outer periphery of each of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 can be observed from the front of the slot machine 1 through the display device 410. Among the multiple types of symbols arranged at regular intervals on the outer periphery of each of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3, three symbols arranged consecutively on the outer periphery can be observed through the display device 410.

[0015] In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, each reel is provided with an upper row, a middle row, and a lower row as display positions for observing symbols through the display device 410, and an activated line L1 is set for an activated line formed by a combination of the display positions of each reel. In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, the number of electronic medals required for one game, the so-called specified number (specified number), is set to three (first specified number) or two (second specified number), and when electronic medals equivalent to the specified number are inserted, the activated line L1 formed by the middle row of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 is activated.

[0016] The game result is determined by the symbol combination stopped and displayed on the valid line L1 (valid line), and if the symbol combination on the valid line L1 is a symbol combination corresponding to a predetermined role, that role is considered to have won, and control according to the winning role is executed.

[0017] The lower front door DD is provided with various operating means, such as a max bet button MB as an inserting operation means for setting the electronic medals stored in the slot machine 1 to an inserted state, a start lever SL as a game start operation means for allowing the player to perform a start operation that triggers the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 to spin and start a game, stop buttons B1 to B3 as stop operation means for allowing the player to perform a stop operation that triggers the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 that are driven to rotate by a stepping motor, a counting button KB as a counting operation means for transmitting the number of game medals stored in the slot machine 1 to the dedicated unit SU, and a settlement button AB for performing a settlement operation that cancels the inserted state and returns the electronic medals that have been set to the inserted state to the medal count counter 311 (see FIG. 2).

[0018] Furthermore, the lower front door DD is provided with a main control display device 10D controlled by the CPU of the main control board 10 (see FIG. 2). The main control display device 10D is made up of a 7-segment display or the like, and displays various game information such as information on the winning combination in the current game, and information (alert display) suggesting how to press stop button B1, stop button B2, and stop button B3 related to the payout of electronic medals. The alert display displayed on the main control display device 10D corresponds to a winning combination command, which is a control signal created based on winning information, which is information on the winning combination in the current game, when a specified number of electronic medals are inserted and the start lever SL is operated.

[0019] In addition, the front lower door DD is provided with a game medal count display device MD controlled by a medal count control CPU 31 (see Figure 2). The game medal count display device MD is made up of a 7-segment display or the like, and functions as a conceptual receptacle by displaying the number of game medals stored in the slot machine 1.

[0020] The front lower door DD is provided with a plurality of sound devices 420 for producing sound effects. The sound devices 420 output a variety of sounds to assist and liven up the game.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the slot machine 1 of this embodiment. The slot machine 1 of this embodiment has, as control boards, a main control board 10, a sub-control board 20, and a medal count control board 30. The main control board 10 has a main control CPU 11 (game control means) that controls the progress of the game by controlling the game played using game values. The sub-control board 20 has a sub-control CPU 21 that controls the presentation related to the game. The medal count control board 30 has a medal count control CPU 31 that manages electronic medals and controls the number of game medals by being configured to be able to communicate with the dedicated unit SU.

[0022] The main control CPU 11 functions as setting change means 100, deposit acceptance means 105, random number generation means 110, internal lottery means 120, reel control means 130, winning determination means 140, payout control means 150, game state transition control means 160, assist time control means (AT control means) 170, and complete control means 180. Each means constituting the main control CPU 11 reads out and executes each control program stored in advance in main storage means 190 when executing each control process.

[0023] The setting change means 100 performs control (setting change control) to change the setting values ​​stored in the setting value storage means 191 of the main storage means 190. The setting change means 100 operates when a setting key is inserted into a setting key cylinder KC provided on the main control board 10 and the setting key is turned, turning on the setting change switch SS provided inside the setting key cylinder KC. When the power is turned on with the setting change switch SS in the ON state, the setting change means 100 transitions to a setting change permitted state in which setting changes are permitted. On the other hand, the setting change means 100 is configured not to transition to the setting change permitted state when the setting change switch SS is in the ON state while the power is on.

[0024] In the setting change permitted state, the setting change means 100 cyclically changes the setting value in the order of Setting 1 → Setting 2 →... → Setting 6 → Setting 1 →... each time it receives an input signal output by operating the setting change button BS provided on the power supply device, and determines the setting value based on receiving a start signal output by operating the start lever SL. In the slot machine 1, the winning probability of some of the winning areas that can be won in the internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120 is changed according to the setting value determined in the setting value storage means 191. In other words, the setting change means 100 is configured to be able to change the setting value, which is a value that can change the winning probability of a combination in the internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120.

[0025] In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, when the setting change control is executed by the setting change means 100, the control relating to the game state executed by the game state transition control means 160 and the control relating to the advantageous zone executed by the AT control means 170 are configured to be initialized, the game state is set to a non-replay time (hereinafter, replay time is also referred to as "RT") state described later, and the control relating to the auxiliary game executed by the AT control means 170 before the setting change is also initialized and a normal zone is set. Meanwhile, in the slot machine 1, when the supply of power to the main control CPU 11 is cut off (power interruption) and then the supply of power is resumed, the control relating to the game state executed by the game state transition control means 160 and the control relating to the advantageous zone executed by the AT control means 170 are configured to be resumed from the state before the power interruption, and the control relating to the auxiliary game executed by the AT control means 170 before the power interruption is also configured to be maintained in the state before the power interruption.

[0026] The deposit acceptance means 105 accepts an input signal output when the max bet button MB is operated (bet operation) while a number of game medals equal to or greater than a specified number is stored in the medal number counter 311 described below during the deposit acceptance period for accepting the deposit of electronic medals, and sets the electronic medals stored in the medal number counter 311 to an inserted state up to the specified number set for each game state, and performs processing to enable the game start operation on the start lever SL based on the fact that electronic medals equivalent to the specified number have been set to the inserted state.

[0027] In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, the first pressing of the start lever SL, which is enabled based on the setting of the inserted state of electronic medals equivalent to the specified number, is accepted as a game start operation by the player, which triggers the start of rotation of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 and also triggers the internal lottery means 120, which will be described later, to execute an internal lottery. The specified number set for each game state will be described later in detail.

[0028] In addition, the deposit acceptance means 105 accepts an input signal output when the settlement button AB is operated during the period from when the electronic medals are set to the inserted state until the start lever SL is operated to cancel the inserted state and adds the same number of electronic medals set to the inserted state to the number of game medals stored in the medal number counter 311, thereby settling the electronic medals set to the inserted state.

[0029] The random number generation means 110 is a means for generating random numbers for lotteries. In this embodiment, the term "random number" includes not only values ​​that are generated randomly in the mathematical sense, but also values ​​that may be generated regularly but whose acquisition timing is irregular, and therefore may function as random numbers.

[0030] The internal lottery means 120 is a means for conducting an internal lottery to determine whether a winning combination will be achieved based on the start signal output when the player performs a start operation on the start lever SL, and performs lottery table selection processing, random number determination processing, lottery flag setting processing, etc.

[0031] In the lottery table selection process, an internal lottery table to be used for the internal lottery is selected based on the current game state from among the multiple internal lottery tables stored in the internal lottery table storage means 192 of the main storage means 190. In each internal lottery table, various combinations such as replays, small combinations, and bonuses, and non-wins (misses) are associated with each of multiple random numbers (for example, 65,536 random numbers from 0 to 65,535).

[0032] In the following description, a bonus means a role that activates a reel or a reel continuous operation device when won, a bonus being activated means that a bonus is won and activates a reel or a reel continuous operation device, and a bonus state means that the reel or reel continuous operation device is activated.

[0033] In the random number determination process, a random number (random number for lottery) generated by the random number generation means 110 is obtained for each game based on the start signal output when the start lever SL is operated to start, and the obtained random number is compared with the internal lottery table selected in the lottery table selection process, and it is determined based on the comparison result whether or not a winning combination has been achieved.

[0034] In the lottery flag setting process, based on the result of the random number determination process, the lottery flag corresponding to the winning combination is set from a non-established state (first flag state, OFF state) to a established state (second flag state, ON state). In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, when two or more types of combinations are simultaneously won, the lottery flags corresponding to the two or more types of combinations are set to an established state. Note that the slot machine 1 of this embodiment provides a lottery flag (carry-over flag) that can carry over its established state to the next game or thereafter until a prize is won, and a lottery flag (non-carry-over flag) that is reset to an unestablished state without carrying over its established state to the next game or thereafter regardless of whether a prize is won or not. In addition, the lottery flag setting information is stored in the lottery flag storage means 193 of the main storage means 190.

[0035] The reel control means 130 executes reel rotation control, which starts the rotation of the left reels R1 to R3 and controls the rotation pattern of the left reels R1 to R3, based on the player's start operation of the start lever SL and the output of a start signal. Furthermore, when the left reels R1 to R3 are in a steady rotation state at a predetermined speed (e.g., approximately 80 rpm), the reel control means 130 executes control to validate a stop operation by operating the stop buttons B1 to B3 corresponding to each reel. When the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated to stop and a reel stop signal is output, the reel control means 130 executes control (reel stop control) to stop each of the left reels R1 to R3 corresponding to the stop button B1 to B3 that was operated to stop.

[0036] In the following description, when the reel control means 130 starts the rotation of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 and the player operates each of the active stop buttons B1 to B3, the first operation will be referred to as the first stop operation, the second operation as the second stop operation, and the third operation as the third stop operation.

[0037] In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 are stopped by the time a predetermined period of 190 ms (milliseconds, msec) has elapsed since the time when the stop button B1 to B3 is pressed. In the following description, pressing the stop button B1 to B3 is also referred to as an operation. The slot machine 1 may be configured to output a stop signal not only when the stop button B1 to B3 is pressed, but also when, for example, an operation of pressing the stop button B1 to B3 and then releasing the pressed stop button B1 to B3 is performed.

[0038] Here, when the rotating reels are stopped within 190 ms from the time the stop button is pressed, the stop position of each rotating reel is configured to be able to rotate a maximum of four frames from the time the stop button is pressed until the reel stops, depending on the diameter and rotation speed of each reel. Therefore, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, for the left reel R1 to the right reel R3, a total of five frames from the frame displayed on the pay line L1 at the time the stop button is pressed until the reel stops are the range (pull-in range) in which symbols can be pulled onto the pay line L1.

[0039] When executing reel stop control, the reel control means 130 performs a logic calculation process to determine the stop position of the spinning reel based on a predetermined priority through logic calculations including a pull-in process to stop the spinning reel so that a winning combination for which the lottery flag is set to a hit state can be won as much as possible, and a kick-off process to stop the spinning reel so that a winning combination for which the lottery flag is set to a non-hit state cannot be won, and a table reference process to determine the stop position of the spinning reel by referring to a stop control table stored in the reel control data storage means 194 of the main storage means 190, thereby stopping the spinning reel and displaying a pattern on the pay line L1 (hereinafter, stopping the spinning reel by reel stop control and displaying a pattern on the pay line L1 is also referred to as a "stop display").

[0040] In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, when multiple types of small winning combinations are won in the internal lottery, there are two methods for determining the priority of the candidate stop positions: a method for determining the priority according to the number of symbol combinations that can be displayed on the activated line L1 (number priority control), and a method for determining the priority according to the number of electronic medals to be paid out based on the payout predetermined for the small winning combination (number priority control). However, when the number priority control is executed, if multiple small winning combinations with the same payout are won, the priority of the candidate stop positions that can win each small winning combination is treated as being the same.

[0041] The winning determination means 140 performs a winning determination process to determine whether or not a winning combination has been achieved based on the stopping patterns of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3. Specifically, by referring to the winning determination table stored in the winning determination table storage means 195 of the main storage means 190, it determines whether or not the symbol combination displayed on the pay line L1 when all of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 have stopped is a winning form for each predetermined winning combination. The winning determination table is prepared so that the presence or absence of a bonus, replay, or small winning combination can be determined (hereinafter referred to as "winning determination") based on the symbol combination displayed on the pay line L1 when each reel has stopped. In the following description, the symbol combination that indicates the winning form of a winning combination will also be referred to as the "winning symbol combination."

[0042] In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, each process is executed based on the determination result of the winning determination process by the winning determination means 140. As each process executed based on the determination result of the winning combination, for example, when a small combination is won, a process is executed to determine the number of game medals to be paid out of electronic medals by the payout control means 150, when a replay is won, a process is executed to make the payout control means 150 execute the next game without consuming electronic medals, and when a combination that triggers a transition of the game state, such as a bonus, is won, a process is executed to make the game state transition control means 160 transition the game state.

[0043] The payout control means 150 performs a payout process for paying out electronic medals according to the game results. Specifically, when a small winning combination is achieved, the payout number of electronic medals in the game is determined based on the payout amount predetermined for each combination, and the number of game medals corresponding to the determined payout number is added to the medal number counter 311 to virtually pay out the medals.

[0044] Furthermore, when the winning determination means 140 determines that a symbol combination indicating a winning replay among a plurality of types of replay roles described later has been stopped and displayed on the pay line L1, and the replay wins, the payout control means 150 performs a replay process (replay process) to set the machine to a ready state in which the next game can be played without inserting electronic medals. That is, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, when a replay wins, an automatic insertion process is performed to automatically insert a specified number of electronic medals without using the electronic medals in the player's possession, and the machine waits for the start operation of the start lever SL to be performed next time, with the same pay line L1 as in the previous game set.

[0045] In addition, in the slot machine 1, during the period from the game in which a replay is won until the start of the next game, i.e., during the period in which a specified number of electronic medals are automatically inserted by the replay process but the game has not started, even if the settlement button AB is operated, the number of game medals equal to the specified number will not be added to the medal number counter 311.

[0046] The game state transition control means 160 performs a process for transitioning game states between multiple game states and a process for activation and termination of bonuses. Here, the transition condition for each game state may be one condition or multiple conditions. When multiple conditions are defined, the game state can be transitioned to another game state based on the fulfillment of any one of the multiple predetermined conditions or the fulfillment of all of the multiple predetermined conditions.

[0047] The AT control means 170 uses data stored in the AT control data storage means 196 to control the transition between an advantageous zone (advantageous period), which is a zone (period) during which control related to instruction functions including auxiliary games that display notifications on the main control display device 10D to assist in winning specific roles, and a normal zone (non-advantageous period), which is a zone (period) during which control related to auxiliary games (control related to instruction functions) based on the results of internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120 cannot be executed, and constitutes an auxiliary game control means that performs control related to the normal zone, advantageous zone, and auxiliary games.

[0048] The AT control data storage means 196 stores data (various flags, counters, etc. that are set to ON or OFF by specified control processing) used in various controls related to multiple types of presentation states, including normal states and AT states, that are executed within the advantageous zone.

[0049] The AT control means 170 sets the presentation state to the AT state (assist time state) under predetermined conditions in the advantageous zone, and displays information (an example of operation instruction information) corresponding to the operation mode of the stop buttons B1 to B3 that makes it possible to win the specific role that has been won on the main control display device 10D consisting of a 7-segment display, thereby performing an operation notification to assist in the winning of the specific role. Furthermore, in the slot machine 1, when the operation notification by the AT control means 170 is executed, the presentation control means 200, which will be described later, executes a navigation presentation in which an indicator corresponding to the correct batting order is displayed on the display device 410. In this way, in the slot machine 1, in the AT state, the operation mode of the stop buttons B1 to B3 is notified by the operation notification and the winning assistance of the navigation presentation, thereby executing an auxiliary game (AT game, notification game) that is advantageous to the player.

[0050] More specifically, when a predetermined termination condition for terminating the advantageous zone, which will be described later, is met, the AT control means 170 executes a predetermined termination process that terminates the advantageous zone and starts the normal zone from the next game, and a predetermined initialization process that initializes information related to the advantageous zone, such as various flags and numerical values ​​set within the advantageous zone.

[0051] The AT control means 170 executes an update process (advantageous zone difference number update process) that cumulatively records in the advantageous zone counter 196a the difference value (difference in number of medals, number of medals won) obtained by subtracting the number of electronic medals paid out by the number of electronic medals inserted from the game that started the advantageous zone. When the AT control means 170 is in control of the advantageous zone, regardless of the game state, it executes advantageous zone difference number update process that cumulatively updates the value stored in the advantageous zone counter 196a to a value equivalent to the difference in number of electronic medals.

[0052] Furthermore, in the advantageous zone difference number update process, when the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a is subtracted because the number of electronic medals paid out in the game is less than the specified number, the AT control means 170 also sets the subtracted result in the advantageous zone counter 196a even if the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a becomes less than the value "0." In other words, the AT control means 170 is configured to be able to set a negative value in the advantageous zone counter 196a.

[0053] When more than 2400 electronic medals are won in the advantageous zone, that is, when the value stored in the advantageous zone counter 196a exceeds the value "2400," the AT control means 170 determines that a specific termination condition has been met as a predetermined termination condition for ending the advantageous zone, and executes a predetermined termination process that ends the advantageous zone and starts the normal zone from the next game. Therefore, in the slot machine 1, for example, if the value stored in the advantageous zone counter 196a is a negative value of "-900" before the transition to a presentation state in which electronic medals can be won, a total of 3301 electronic medals can be won in the presentation state in which electronic medals can be won: 900 medals until the value stored in the advantageous zone counter 196a becomes "0" and 2401 medals until the value stored in the advantageous zone counter 196a becomes "2401" or more.

[0054] In a predetermined initialization process, the AT control means 170 initializes all information used in various control processes in the advantageous zone, such as each flag set to ON in the advantageous zone and values ​​set in the advantageous zone. Note that the AT control means 170 can also end the advantageous zone when a predetermined end condition (normal end condition) other than the specific end condition is met, and also executes the predetermined initialization process and predetermined end process when the normal end condition is met. Details of the normal end condition set by the AT control means 170 in this embodiment will be described later.

[0055] The complete control means 180 controls the activation of a complete function, which is a function that stops the slot machine 1 when the cumulative number of electronic medals won since the slot machine 1 was powered on reaches a predetermined value (for example, 19,000 medals). The complete control means 180 executes an update process (complete acquired number update process) that cumulatively records the difference value (number of medals difference, number of medals won) obtained by subtracting the number of electronic medals paid out in each game by the number of electronic medals inserted into the medal acquired number counter 197a of the complete storage means 197. Note that the complete control means 180 does not update the stored value of the medal acquired number counter 197a when a replay wins.

[0056] In a complete winning number update process that updates the stored value of the earned medal counter 197a, if the stored value of the earned medal counter 197a becomes less than the value "0" when the stored value of the earned medal counter 197a is subtracted because the number of electronic medals paid out in the game is less than the specified number, the complete control means 180 sets the stored value of the earned medal counter 197a to the value "0." This allows the complete control means 180 to fix the value when the stored value of the earned medal counter 197a reaches its lowest point to the value "0." Therefore, in the control process that uses the stored value of the earned medal counter 197a, it is not necessary to vary the value that serves as the judgment threshold depending on the specific numerical value at the lowest point, and the load of the control process that uses the stored value of the earned medal counter 197a can be reduced.

[0057] The complete control means 180 determines that the conditions for activating the complete function are met when the number of medals acquired from the lowest point of the number of electronic medals paid out after the slot machine 1 is turned on reaches 19,000, that is, when the stored value of the medal acquisition number counter 197a reaches the value "19,000."

[0058] When none of the Regular Bonus (RB) as a first type special feature, the Regular Big Bonus (RBB) as a feature continuous operation device related to the first type special feature, and the Challenge Big Bonus (CBB) as a feature continuous operation device related to the second type special feature is operating, the complete control means 180 activates the complete function after the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated to stop and the left reel R1 to right reel R3 are stopped in a game in which the conditions for activating the complete function are met, based on the establishment of the conditions for activating the complete function.

[0059] On the other hand, when any of RB, RBB or CBB is activated, the complete control means 180 activates the complete function after the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated to stop and the left reel R1 to right reel R3 stop in a game in which the activated RB, RBB or CBB has ended.

[0060] When the complete function is activated, the complete control means 180 sets the complete function activation flag stored in the complete flag storage means 197b of the complete storage means 197 to the ON state. When the complete function activation flag is set to the ON state, the slot machine 1 enters a play-stop state, and no further play can be performed until the complete function activation flag is set to the OFF state. The complete function activation flag that has been set to the ON state is reset to the OFF state by opening the upper front door UD of the slot machine 1 and operating the setting change button BS provided inside. With this configuration, when the complete function is activated, the slot machine 1 is configured so that the complete function cannot be released by an operation by the player.

[0061] The sub-control CPU 21 functions as the performance control means 200. Each means constituting the sub-control CPU 21 reads out and executes each control program stored in advance in the sub-storage means 210 when executing each control process.

[0062] The effect control means 200 controls effects related to the game, such as image and video effects using the display device 410 and sound effects using the sound device 420, based on the effect data stored in the effect control data storage means 211 of the sub-storage means 210. Specifically, when a player operates each component of the slot machine 1, such as the max bet button MB, the start lever SL, the stop buttons B1 to B3, or the count button KB, or when a game event such as a change in the game state occurs, the effect control means 200 controls the execution of effects to liven up the game, assist the game, and notify the player that an operation has been performed, by executing effects such as lighting or flashing of lamps and LEDs and sound output from the sound device 420. In addition, the effect control means 200 causes each component of the effect device 400 to execute effects based on each effect state.

[0063] Furthermore, when executing control related to images and videos, the performance control means 200 draws them on the corresponding layers among the multiple layers provided in the sub-storage means 210. The performance control means 200 superimposes the images drawn on the multiple layers into a single image in the frame buffer 213 provided in the sub-storage means 210, and displays the superimposed image in the display area 410a of the display device 410. When drawing images in the frame buffer 213, the performance control means 200 draws the images drawn on the lower layers in the frame buffer 213 in order, so that images drawn on the higher layers are displayed in the display area 410a in priority to images drawn on the lower layers.

[0064] The medal count control CPU 31 functions as medal count control means 300. Each means constituting the medal count control CPU 31 reads out and executes each control program stored in advance in the medal count storage means 310 when executing each control process.

[0065] The medal count control means 300 is configured to be able to transmit signals to the dedicated unit SU via the lending device connection terminal board 40, and is also configured to be able to receive signals transmitted from the dedicated unit SU via the lending device connection terminal board 40. The medal count control CPU 31 stores the number of game medals, which is the total number of electronic medals that can be used for games in the slot machine 1, using a medal count counter 311, and displays the number of game medals stored in the medal count counter 311 on the game medal number display device MD.

[0066] The medal count control means 300 mainly updates (adds or subtracts) the number of game medals stored (held) in the medal count counter 311 in response to commands received from the main control board 10, notifications received from the dedicated unit SU, or operation of the count button KB incorporating the count switch 126. The medal count control means 300 also displays the number of game medals updated in this way on the game medal number display device MD.

[0067] Specifically, when the counting button KB is operated while play is possible, the medal count control means 300 transmits a value corresponding to the number of game medals stored in the medal count counter 311 to the dedicated unit SU via the lending device connection terminal board 40, and subtracts the number of medals corresponding to the transmitted value from the medal count counter 311. Here, "while play is possible" means a state in which the gaming machine and the dedicated unit SU are electrically connected, both the gaming machine and the dedicated unit SU are powered on, neither the gaming machine nor the dedicated unit SU is undergoing maintenance, and no errors that prevent play from occurring. Furthermore, when the slot machine 1 is not connected to the dedicated unit SU, the slot machine 1 controls the counting button KB so that the stored value of the medal count counter 311 is not decremented by operation of the counting button KB, thereby preventing a situation in which a signal is not sent to the dedicated unit SU even though the stored value of the medal count counter 311 has been decremented.

[0068] If the count button KB is pressed for less than 500 ms, the medal count control means 300 transmits the value "1" corresponding to 1 medal to the dedicated unit SU via the lending device connection terminal board 40, and decrements the stored value of the medal count counter 311 by the value "1." Also, if the count button KB is pressed for 500 ms or more, the medal count control means 300 transmits the value "50" corresponding to 50 medals to the dedicated unit SU via the lending device connection terminal board 40 at the timing of counting after 500 ms has elapsed, and decrements the stored value of the medal count counter 311 by the value "50." Thereafter, every time 300 ms has elapsed while the count button KB is pressed, the medal count control means 300 transmits the value "50" corresponding to 50 medals to the dedicated unit SU via the lending device connection terminal board 40, and decrements the stored value of the medal count counter 311 by the value "50." Furthermore, if the stored value of the medal count counter 311 is less than the value "50" when 500 ms or more has elapsed since the counting button KB was pressed, the medal count control means 300 transmits a value corresponding to the stored value of the medal count counter 311 to the dedicated unit SU via the lending device connection terminal board 40, and subtracts the value corresponding to the stored value from the stored value of the medal count counter 311, thereby setting the stored value of the medal count counter 311 to the value "0".

[0069] When the stored value of the medal count counter 311 becomes equal to or greater than the value "16369," the medal count control means 300 determines that a medal overflow has occurred, in which the number of game medals stored exceeds 16368, which is the limit set for storage in the slot machine 1. In the slot machine 1, a medal overflow error occurs based on the determination that a medal overflow has occurred, and when the count button KB is operated to count the number of game medals stored in the medal count counter 311 and the stored value of the medal count counter 311 becomes equal to or less than the value "16368," the medal overflow error is canceled.

[0070] When the power is turned on with a medal count clear button CL provided inside the gaming machine pressed, the medal count control means 300 initializes the medal count counter 311 and clears (initializes) the medal count by setting the stored value of the medal count counter 311 to the value "0." This allows the slot machine 1 to initialize, when the power is turned on, the information on the number of medals remaining in the medal count counter 311 before the power was turned off.

[0071] 2. Configuration of the gaming machine in this embodiment Next, with reference to FIGS. 2 to 11, details of each component of the slot machine 1 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0072] <Control of the specified number by the input receiving means> In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, during a deposit acceptance period in which the deposit acceptance means 105 accepts the deposit of electronic medals, when the max bet button MB is operated (bet operation) with the number of game medals stored in the medal number counter 311 being equal to or greater than a specified number, input signals equal to the specified number set for each game state are output. Each time an input signal is input, the deposit acceptance means 105 adds a value of "1" corresponding to one electronic medal to the deposit number storage means 198 of the main storage means 190, and continues to add values ​​to the deposit number storage means 198 up to the specified number set for each game state.

[0073] In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, the specified number for the non-RT state and the RBB internal state is set to three (first specified number), and for the RBB state, the specified number is set to two (second specified number).

[0074] In other words, when the gaming state is a non-RT state or an RBB internal state, the input acceptance means 105 stores a value "3" in the input number storage means 198 based on the input signal being input three times by operating the max bet button MB when three or more gaming medals are stored in the medal count counter 311. Also, when the gaming state is an RBB state, the input acceptance means 105 stores a value "2" in the input number storage means 198 based on the input signal being input two times by operating the max bet button MB when two or more gaming medals are stored in the medal count counter 311.

[0075] <Winning areas subject to internal lottery> 3 is a diagram showing the winning areas that are the subject of the internal lottery in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, and the winning numbers and winning combinations that are associated with each winning area. Note that the slot machine 1 of this embodiment has an RBB as a bonus, which is a device for continuously operating a special bonus related to a first-class special bonus.

[0076] 3, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, the winning areas that are the subject of the internal lottery include the winning area "all small roles", the winning area "all 1-coin roles", the winning area "replay 1", the winning area "replay 2", the winning area "batting order bell 1" to the winning area "batting order bell 4", the winning area "rare role", the winning area "RBB & 1-coin role", and the winning area "RBB", and the winning numbers 1 to 11 are associated with these areas, respectively. Also, in the slot machine 1, the winning number 0 is associated with a non-winning (miss) result as a result of the internal lottery.

[0077] Here, "batting order" refers to the order in which the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated. In the following description, the timing at which the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated will also be referred to as "operation timing."

[0078] In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, the batting order, which is the order in which the three stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated, is comprised of six types of batting orders, batting order 1 to batting order 6. Batting order 1 is a batting order in which the stop operation is performed in the order of stop button B1 → stop button B2 → stop button B3, which is called a "sequential pressing" batting order. Batting order 2 is a batting order in which the stop operation is performed in the order of stop button B1 → stop button B3 → stop button B2, which is called a "scissors hitting" batting order. Batting order 3 is a batting order in which the stop operation is performed in the order of stop button B2 → stop button B1 → stop button B3. Batting order 4 is a batting order in which the stop operation is performed in the order of stop button B2 → stop button B3 → stop button B1. Batting order 5 is a batting order in which the stop operation is performed in the order of stop button B3 → stop button B1 → stop button B2. Batting order 6 is a batting order called reverse pressing, in which the stop operation is executed in the order of stop button B3 → stop button B2 → stop button B1.

[0079] In the random number determination process, the internal lottery means 120 determines whether each winning area is a winner in order from the winning area associated with the winning number 11 to the non-winning area associated with the winning number 0.

[0080] The slot machine 1 of this embodiment has small wins 1 to 9 as small wins that can be won if the internal lottery is won, and has Replay 1 and Replay 2 as replays that can be won in the internal lottery. Each small win and each replay is associated with each winning area in the combination shown in FIG. 3. Also, as shown in FIG. 3, in the slot machine 1, a winning area "RBB & 1 coin win" is set as a winning area that includes a bonus and a small win, and a winning area "RBB" is set as a winning area that includes only a bonus.

[0081] In the slot machine 1, the winning probability for the winning area "Replay 2" is set lower than that for the winning area "Replay 1." Also, in the slot machine 1, the winning probability for the winning area "Rare Role" is set lower than that for each winning area including the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 4" and the small role of the winning area "RBB & 1-piece Role."

[0082] Here, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, the role associated with the carryover flag is RBB, and the small role and replay are associated with the non-carryover flag. That is, in the lottery flag setting process, when a winning area including RBB is won in the internal lottery, a process is performed to carry over the established state of the lottery flag of the winning RBB until the RBB is won. At this time, the internal lottery means 120 performs an internal lottery to determine whether the small role and replay will be won or not, even in a game in which the established state of the lottery flag of RBB is carried over. That is, in the lottery flag setting process, when a small role or replay is won in a game in which the established state of the lottery flag of RBB is carried over, lottery flags corresponding to two or more roles consisting of the lottery flag of the already-won RBB and the lottery flag of the small role or replay won in the internal lottery are set to an established state.

[0083] <Internal lottery table> The slot machine 1 of this embodiment stores, as internal lottery tables that are lottery tables used in the internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120, an internal lottery table used in the non-RT state (normal state) (hereinafter referred to as internal lottery table A), an internal lottery table used in the RBB internal state (internal state) (hereinafter referred to as internal lottery table B), and an internal lottery table used in the RBB state (hereinafter referred to as internal lottery table C) in the internal lottery table storage means 192. In each of the internal lottery tables A to C, a lottery value number is associated with each winning area that is the subject of the lottery.

[0084] In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, the internal lottery table A corresponds 65,536 lottery values ​​to any of the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 4", the winning area "Rare Role", the winning area "Replay 1", the winning area "Replay 2", the winning area "RBB & 1-piece Role", and the winning area "RBB", and is configured to win any of the small roles, replays, or bonuses in the internal lottery.

[0085] In addition, the internal lottery table B is configured so that the 65,536 lottery values ​​correspond to any of the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 4", the winning area "Rare Role", the winning area "Replay 1", the winning area "Replay 2", and the winning area "RBB & 1-piece Role", and is configured so that in the internal lottery, either a small role, a replay, or a bonus is won.

[0086] In the internal lottery table A and the internal lottery table B, the number of lottery values ​​associated with the winning area "RBB" in the internal lottery table A is associated with the winning area "Replay 2" in the internal lottery table B. The winning probability of each winning area other than the winning area "Replay 2" and the winning area "RBB" in the internal lottery table A is the same as the winning probability of each winning area other than the winning area "Replay 2" in the internal lottery table B. Specifically, for example, the winning probability of the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1" to the winning area "Batting Order Bell 4" in the internal lottery table A is the same as the winning probability of the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1" to the winning area "Batting Order Bell 4" in the internal lottery table B.

[0087] The internal lottery table C is configured so that 65536 lottery value numbers correspond to either the winning area "all small roles" or the winning area "all 1-piece roles", and is configured so that a small role is won in the internal lottery. Also, in the internal lottery using the internal lottery table C, the probability of winning each of the small roles 1 to 9 is higher than the probability of winning each of the small roles 1 to 9 in the internal lottery using the internal lottery table A or the internal lottery table B.

[0088] Due to this configuration, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment is configured so that there will be no loss (miss) in the internal lottery in any of the gaming states, namely the non-RT state, the RBB internal state, and the RBB state.

[0089] <Random number determination process> In the random number determination process, the internal lottery means 120 of this embodiment sequentially subtracts the random number obtained from the random number generation means 110 by the lottery value numbers associated with each winning area in the internal lottery table obtained from the internal lottery table storage means 192, and when the result of the subtraction is a negative value, it determines that the winning area corresponding to the subtracted lottery value number has been won. Also, when the result of the subtraction is a positive value after completing the subtraction of all the lottery value numbers stored in the internal lottery table, it determines that no winning combination has been won, that is, that the player has not won.

[0090] <Reel control means> In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, in any game state, the priority order of the winning combinations to be stopped on the pay line L1 in the reel stop control is determined in the order of "replay > small combination > bonus." In other words, when a bonus and a small combination or a bonus and a replay are both won, the reel control means 130 executes stop control to give priority to the bonus and win the small combination or replay.

[0091] Furthermore, as described above, the reel control means 130 is configured to be able to rotate the reels a maximum of four frames from the time the stop button is pressed until the reels stop, and is therefore configured to be able to stop and display the symbols arranged on the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 that are arranged at intervals of four frames or less on the activated line L1 regardless of the timing of pressing the stop buttons B1 to B3.

[0092] Furthermore, when the start lever SL detects a start operation and receives a start signal output from a start switch built into the start lever SL, the reel control means 130 starts the rotation of the left reels R1 to R3 and starts one game, and then sets (sets) a waiting time (approximately 4.1 seconds), generally referred to as a wait (or wait time), in a wait timer (not shown) in the main storage means 190 based on the start of rotation of the left reels R1 to R3. Then, when the reel control means 130 receives a start signal from the start switch within the period from when the waiting time is set until the waiting time has elapsed, the reel control means 130 starts the rotation of the left reels R1 to R3 after the waiting time has elapsed. With this configuration, the reel control means 130 can start a game after a minimum game time (approximately 4.1 seconds) has elapsed as a fixed time from the start of one game to the start of the next game.

[0093] <Small win payout> In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, payouts are set for minor prizes 1 to 9 when the first specified number of three electronic medals is inserted to start the game (3-coin bet), and when the first specified number of two electronic medals is inserted to start the game (2-coin bet).

[0094] The payout for minor win 1 is the same when a three-coin bet game is played and when a two-coin bet game is played, and is set to 15, which is more than the first specified number. The payout for minor win 2 is the same when a three-coin bet game is played and when a two-coin bet game is played, and is set to 3, which is the same as the first specified number. The payout for minor wins 3 to 9 is the same when a three-coin bet game is played and when a two-coin bet game is played, and is set to 1, which is less than the first specified number.

[0095] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment sets the same payout for all minor roles from minor role 1 to minor role 9 when a three-coin bet game is executed and when a two-coin bet game is executed, so there is no need to set a specified number of parameters for the data related to payout setting, and there is no need to set the payout when a three-coin bet game is executed and the payout when a two-coin bet game is executed separately, so the data capacity of the data related to minor roles can be reduced in the area of ​​the main memory means 190 that stores various data.

[0096] <Setting the number of payments> In the payout process for paying out electronic medals according to the game results, when a small winning combination is won, the payout control means 150 stores a value corresponding to the payout predetermined for each winning combination in the payout number memory means 199 (see Figure 2) of the main memory means 190.

[0097] Furthermore, when a two-coin bet game is played, the payout control means 150 of this embodiment compares the upper limit of the number of payouts that can be paid out with the value stored in the payout number storage means 199 in the payout process, and if the value stored in the payout number storage means 199 is greater than the upper limit, determines the number of electronic medals to be paid out in that game by setting the payout number for that game to the upper limit, and performs control to virtually pay out medals by adding the number of game medals equivalent to the determined payout number to the medal number counter 311. Details of the process of referencing the upper limit of the number of payouts that can be paid out when a two-coin bet game is played will be described later.

[0098] <Game state transition control means> FIG. 4(A) is a state transition diagram showing game states to which transition can be made from each game state in the control relating to transition of game states executed by the game state transition control means 160 of this embodiment.

[0099] As shown in Figure 4 (A), the non-RT state is a gaming state (initial gaming state, normal gaming state) that corresponds to the initial state among multiple gaming states, and is a non-bonus state in which a bonus is not activated or established. In the non-RT state, the gaming state transition control means 160 causes the internal lottery means 120 to execute an internal lottery using internal lottery table A, in which the winning probability of a replay is set to 8978 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 7.3). In the slot machine 1, when the gaming state is the non-RT state, a first specified number (3) of electronic medals are set to an inserted state, so that a game can be started.

[0100] The RBB internal state is a gaming state to which the game enters when either the winning area "RBB & 1 coin role" or the winning area "RBB" is won in the internal lottery in the non-RT state, and the RBB is set to the established state, and is a bonus established state in which a bonus is established. In the RBB internal state, the gaming state transition control means 160 causes the internal lottery means 120 to execute an internal lottery using internal lottery table B, in which the winning probability of a replay is set to 8982 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 7.3). In the slot machine 1, when the gaming state is the RBB internal state, the slot machine 1 is configured to be able to start playing by setting the first specified number (3) of electronic medals to the inserted state.

[0101] The RBB state is a gaming state to which the game is transitioned when the RBB wins and the RBB is activated. In the RBB state, the gaming state transition control means 160 determines that the RBB termination condition is met when a predetermined number of electronic medals (e.g., 12 medals) has been paid out, terminates the operation of the RBB, and transitions the gaming state to a non-RT state. In the RBB state, the gaming state transition control means 160 causes the internal lottery means 120 to execute an internal lottery using the internal lottery table C. In the slot machine 1, when the gaming state is the RBB state, a game can be started by setting the second specified number (2 medals) of electronic medals to the inserted state. Details of the gameplay in the RBB state will be described later.

[0102] <AT Control Means> FIG. 4(B) is a state transition diagram showing details of a normal section and an advantageous section controlled by the AT control means 170 of the present embodiment, and a production state controlled during the advantageous section.

[0103] As described above, the normal section is a period during which control related to the auxiliary game based on the result of the internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120 is not executed. In the game within the normal section, the AT control means 170 executes an advantageous section lottery, which is a lottery for determining whether to end the normal section and start the advantageous section based on the winning area won in the internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120.

[0104] In the advantageous section lottery, the AT control means 170 first obtains an advantageous section transition lottery table, which is a data table in which "start of advantageous section" and "loss (non-winning)" are associated with each of a plurality of random numbers, from the AT control data storage means 196. Then, the AT control means 170 obtains a random number from the random number generation means 110, compares the obtained random number with the advantageous section transition lottery table, and determines whether to start the advantageous section based on the comparison result.

[0105] The AT control means 170 executes the advantageous section lottery so that the probability obtained by multiplying the winning probability of the winning area won in the internal lottery by the winning probability of "start of advantageous section" in the advantageous section lottery is 1 / 17500 or more.

[0106] The AT control means 170 of the present embodiment executes the advantageous section lottery when winning in the winning areas "batting order bell 1" to "batting order bell 4", the winning area "rare combination", and the winning area "replay 1" in the internal lottery in the non-RT state and the RBB internal state, and when winning in the winning areas "RBB & single combination" and "RBB" in the internal lottery in the non-RT state, and is configured not to execute the advantageous section lottery when winning in other winning areas. Also, the AT control means 170 executes the advantageous section lottery with a high probability of about 1 / 1.5 of winning in "start of advantageous section".

[0107] In the advantageous zone, the AT control means 170 has, as states (presentation states) related to the instruction function, a first start state, a second start state, a normal state, a specific state, a normal CZ state, a specific CZ state, and an AT state having a first AT state and a second AT state, and is configured not to execute the winning assistance of small win 1 when the winning area "batting order bell 1" to the winning area "batting order bell 4" are won in the normal state, the specific state, the normal CZ state, and the specific CZ state, and is configured to execute the winning assistance of small win 1 when the winning area "batting order bell 1" to the winning area "batting order bell 4" are won in the AT state. In addition, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment is configured so that the staying ratio of the advantageous zone in the entire game can be 70% or more.

[0108] The first start state is a presentation state that is set when the game state is in a non-RT state and in a normal zone, and the game state transitions from the normal zone to the favorable zone by a favorable zone lottery based on winning the winning area "RBB & 1 piece role", which is set as the target of the favorable zone lottery and is a winning area including RBB, and the winning area "RBB" in an internal lottery. In the first start state, when one game is executed, the AT control means 170 ends the first start state and transitions the presentation state to the normal state.

[0109] The second start state is a presentation state that is set when the game state is in a non-RT state or an internal RBB state and is in the normal zone, and the game transitions from the normal zone to the advantageous zone through an advantageous zone lottery based on winning the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 4", the winning area "Rare Role", and the winning area "Replay 1", which are set as the target of the advantageous zone lottery and do not include RBB, in the internal lottery.

[0110] In the second start state, the AT control means 170 refers to the game state at the time the second start state is started. If the game state at the time the second start state is started is a non-RT state, the AT control means 170 ends the second start state after one game is played and transitions the presentation state to the normal state. Also, if the game state at the time the second start state is started is an RBB internal state, the AT control means 170 determines to execute a specific state after the second start state ends, and after one game is played, ends the second start state and transitions the presentation state to the specific state.

[0111] With this configuration, in the slot machine 1, when a transition occurs from the normal zone to the advantageous zone during play in the normal zone (first game), the presentation state is set to the first start state or the second start state by a control process for setting the presentation state by the AT control means 170 during the first game. Next, in the slot machine 1, in a game following the first game (second game), a game is executed with the presentation state set to the first start state or the second start state, and if the presentation state is the first start state, the presentation state is transitioned to the normal state, and if the presentation state is the second start state, the presentation state is transitioned to the normal state or the specific state depending on the game state in the second game.

[0112] The normal state is a presentation state (normal presentation state) that corresponds to the normal state among multiple presentation states and is set when there is no transition to another presentation state. When there is a transition from the first start state, the second start state, or the AT state to the normal state, the AT control means 170 sets the value "700" as an initial value to an AT transition game number counter (not shown), which counts the number of games played until the transition to the AT state. Each time a game is played in either the normal state or the normal CZ state, the AT control means 170 executes a decrement update by subtracting a value "1" corresponding to one game from the stored value of the AT transition game number counter. When the stored value of the AT transition game number counter becomes the value "0," the AT control means 170 determines that the transition condition to the AT state (AT transition condition) has been met, and transitions the presentation state from the normal state to the first AT state.

[0113] The AT control means 170 is configured to execute a normal CZ lottery to determine whether or not to transition to the normal CZ state in a game in which a winning area not including an RBB is won in an internal lottery in the normal state. Also, the AT control means 170 is configured to execute a CZ lottery in which the probability of "not winning (missing)" is lower than when other winning areas are won, and the probability of winning "transition to the normal CZ state" is higher, for the normal CZ lottery executed when a winning area "rare role" is won in the internal lottery.

[0114] The normal CZ state is configured to be able to transition to the AT state with a higher probability than the normal state when control for determining whether to transition the presentation state to the AT state is executed as a control related to auxiliary games, and is a presentation state that is more advantageous to the player than the normal state. At the start of the normal CZ state, the AT control means 170 sets a value (for example, 10 games) corresponding to the number of games that can continue the normal CZ state to the CZ game number counter (not shown) of the AT control data storage means 196, and executes a decrement update each time a game is executed, subtracting the value stored in the CZ game number counter by the value "1" corresponding to one game.

[0115] The AT control means 170 is configured to execute a normal CZ AT lottery to determine whether or not to transition to the AT state during each game in the normal CZ state. If the "transition to the AT state" is selected in the normal CZ AT lottery, the AT control means 170 transitions the presentation state from the normal CZ state to the first AT state after 10 games have been played since the start of the normal CZ state.

[0116] The AT control means 170 executes a lottery for adding the number of sets during the normal CZ to determine whether or not to add (add) to the number of times one set of the first AT state is executed for the first AT state to which the player is transitioned from the normal CZ state during play until the normal CZ state ends when the player wins the "transition to AT state" lottery during the normal CZ.

[0117] On the other hand, if 10 games are played in the normal CZ state without winning the "transition to AT state" in the AT lottery during the normal CZ, the AT control means 170 ends the normal CZ state and transitions the presentation state to the normal state.

[0118] The AT control means 170 is configured to execute lotteries for auxiliary games executed in the normal CZ state (AT lottery during normal CZ, set number addition lottery during normal CZ) regardless of the result of the internal lottery. Furthermore, the AT control means 170 is configured so that, for lotteries for auxiliary games executed in the normal CZ state, if a player wins the winning area "rare combination" in the internal lottery, the probability of "not winning (missing)" is lower than if a player wins other winning areas, resulting in a favorable result for the player (in the case of the AT lottery during the normal CZ, the probability of "transition to AT state" is higher). Specifically, in the AT lottery during the normal CZ, if a player wins the winning area "rare combination," the player wins "transition to AT state" with an approximately 50% probability, and if a player wins a winning area other than the winning area "rare combination," the player wins "transition to AT state" with an approximately 30% probability.

[0119] The specific state is configured to execute control for determining whether or not to transition the presentation state to a specific CZ state as a control related to auxiliary games, and is a presentation state that is more advantageous to the player than the normal state. The AT control means 170 executes a specific CZ lottery for each game played in the specific state to determine whether or not to transition the presentation state to the specific CZ state. The AT control means 170 is configured to continue the specific state until transitioning from the specific state to the specific CZ state when the end condition of the advantageous zone is not met.

[0120] The AT control means 170 of this embodiment is configured to determine "transition to specific CZ state" with a probability of about 1 / 4 in the specific CZ lottery. Also, in the slot machine 1, when the performance state transitions to the specific state, the transition to the AT state is not determined.

[0121] The AT control means 170 is configured to execute a specific add-on lottery to determine whether or not to add (add) the period during which the second AT state continues when the state transitions to the second AT state in each game in the specific state, and if the value determined by the specific add-on lottery is 1 or greater, to execute an add-on process to add the determined value to a second AT game number counter (not shown) in the AT control data storage means 196. In addition, the AT control means 170 is configured so that the probability of winning a larger value in the specific add-on lottery when the winning area "rare role" is won in the internal lottery is higher than when other winning areas are won.

[0122] The AT control means 170 is configured so that in the specific CZ lottery when the winning area "rare role" is won in the internal lottery, the probability of "not winning (missing)" is lower than when other winning areas are won, and the probability of "transition to the specific CZ state" is higher.

[0123] The specific CZ state is configured as a control related to auxiliary games, in which a transition to the second AT state is determined based on the end of the specific CZ state, and is a presentation state advantageous to the player. At the start of the specific CZ state, the AT control means 170 sets a value (e.g., 30 games) corresponding to the number of games that can continue the specific CZ state to a CZ game number counter (not shown), and executes a decrement update each time a game is executed, subtracting the value stored in the CZ game number counter by the value "1" corresponding to one game.

[0124] The AT control means 170 is configured to execute a specific add-on lottery for each game played in the specific CZ state, and if the value determined by the specific add-on lottery is equal to or greater than 1, to execute an add-on process that adds the determined value to a second AT game number counter (not shown) in the AT control data storage means 196. In addition, the AT control means 170 is configured so that the probability of winning a larger value in the specific add-on lottery when the winning area "rare role" is won in the internal lottery is higher than when other winning areas are won.

[0125] The AT control means 170 transitions the presentation state from the specific CZ state to the second AT state after 30 games have been played since the start of the specific CZ state. In other words, the AT control means 170 is configured to transition the presentation state to the second AT state based on the end of the specific CZ state, regardless of the control content in the specific CZ state.

[0126] The AT state is configured to be able to execute the winning assistance for minor prize 1 when the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 4" are won, and is a presentation state that is more advantageous to the player than the normal state. The AT control means 170 of this embodiment is configured to set the presentation state to the first AT state when the AT state starts. In addition, the AT control means 170 is configured to initialize the stored value of the AT transition game number counter to the value "0" when the AT state starts.

[0127] The first AT state is a presentation state in which the duration for which it can be continued is managed by the number of games played. At the start of one set of the first AT state, the AT control means 170 sets an initial value (e.g., 50 games) corresponding to the number of games for which one set of the first AT state can be continued in the first AT game number counter (not shown) of the AT control data storage means 196, and executes a decrement update to subtract the value "1" corresponding to one game from the stored value of the first AT game number counter each time a game is executed. In this embodiment, one set of the first AT state is configured from the time the initial value is set in the first AT game number counter until the stored value of the first AT game number counter becomes the value "0".

[0128] When the winning area "Replay 1" is won in the internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120, the AT control means 170 executes a lottery for adding the number of sets during the first AT to determine whether or not to add (add) the number of times one set of the first AT state is executed. When the AT control means 170 determines to add the number of sets in the lottery for adding the number of sets during the first AT, it adds a value of "1" to the first AT set number counter 196b (Fig. 2 modified) of the AT control data storage means 196.

[0129] In addition, the AT control means 170 executes a second AT lottery to determine whether or not to transition the presentation state to the second AT state after one set of the first AT state has ended, when the internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120 wins the winning area "rare role." If the "transition to second AT state" is won in the second AT lottery, the AT control means 170 transitions the presentation state to the second AT state after one set of the first AT state has ended.

[0130] Each time the AT control means 170 starts one set of the first AT state, it adds a value of "1" corresponding to the start of one set of the first AT state to the first AT continuation set number counter 196c (Figure 2 modified) of the AT control data storage means 196.

[0131] When 50 games are played in one set of the first AT state, the value stored in the first AT game number counter becomes the value "0", one set of the first AT state ends, and transition to the second AT state has not been decided, the AT control means 170 refers to the value stored in the first AT continuation set number counter 196c, and if the value stored in the first AT continuation set number counter 196c is the value "10", that is, when 10 sets of the first AT state have been played in a series of AT states, it determines that a specific condition has been met and decides to end the AT state. The control processing related to the advantageous zone when a specific condition is met, which is executed by the AT control means 170, will be described in more detail later.

[0132] In addition, when one set of the first AT state has ended, and the stored value of the first AT continuation set number counter 196c is less than or equal to "9", and transition to the second AT state has not been decided, the AT control means 170 refers to the stored value of the first AT set number counter 196b, and if the stored value of the first AT set number counter 196b is greater than or equal to "1", starts a new set of the first AT state.

[0133] Then, when one set of the first AT state has ended, and the stored value of the first AT continuation set number counter 196c is equal to or less than the value "9", and the stored value of the first AT set number counter 196b is equal to the value "0", and transition to the second AT state has not been determined, the AT control means 170 executes a first AT continuation lottery to determine by lottery whether or not to start a new set of the first AT state.

[0134] When the stored value of the first AT set number counter 196b is equal to or greater than the value "1", or when the first AT continuation lottery determines that "one set of the first AT state is executed", and when a new set of the first AT state starts, the AT control means 170 subtracts the stored value of the first AT set number counter 196b by the value "1", and adds the value "1" to the stored value of the first AT continuation set number counter 196c. On the other hand, when the first AT continuation lottery determines that "the AT state ends", the AT control means 170 ends the first AT state and transitions the presentation state to the normal state.

[0135] The second AT state is a presentation state in which the duration of continuation is managed by the number of games. The AT control means 170 is configured to add a value (e.g., 300 games) greater than the number of games that can continue one set of the first AT state to the second AT game number counter at the start of the second AT state, as a value corresponding to the number of games that can continue the second AT state. In other words, the second AT state is configured as a presentation state that is more advantageous to the player than the first AT state. The AT control means 170 executes a decrement update each time a game is played in the second AT state, subtracting the value stored in the second AT game number counter by the value "1" corresponding to one game.

[0136] The AT control means 170 is configured to execute a second AT addition lottery for each game in the second AT state to determine whether or not to add (add) the period during which the second AT state continues, and when the value determined by the second AT addition lottery is equal to or greater than 1, to execute an addition process to add the determined value to the second AT game number counter of the AT control data storage means 196. In addition, the AT control means 170 is configured so that when the winning area "rare role" is won in the internal lottery, the probability of winning a larger value in the second AT addition lottery is higher than when other winning areas are won.

[0137] The AT control means 170 of this embodiment is configured to execute a second AT additional lottery with a probability of about 30% when transitioning from the first AT state to the second AT state, with which a value of "10" or more is won. Also, when transitioning from a specific CZ state to the second AT state, the AT control means 170 executes a second AT additional lottery with a probability of about 70% when transitioning from the specific CZ state to the second AT state. Also, the AT control means 170 is configured so that the expected value of the value that can be won in one second AT additional lottery is greater in the second AT additional lottery executed in the second AT state transitioned from the specific CZ state than in the second AT additional lottery executed in the second AT state transitioned from the first AT state.

[0138] Due to this configuration, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment has a configuration having a first AT state and a second AT state that is more advantageous than the first AT state, and is capable of transitioning to the second AT state from either the first AT state or the specific CZ state, and the second AT state is more likely to continue for a longer period of time when transitioning from the specific CZ state to the second AT state than when transitioning from the first AT state to the second AT state, which is more advantageous for the player, and therefore the player's interest in the game can be increased when the second AT state is started via the specific CZ state.

[0139] In addition, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, by transitioning to the second AT state, the AT state continues unless the stored value of the second AT game number counter becomes the value "0", and the AT state can be continued until the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a exceeds the value "2400".Furthermore, when transitioning from a specific CZ state, an additional lottery during the second AT is executed, which has a probability of winning a value of "10" or more with approximately 70%, and the second AT state continues with an extremely high probability until the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a exceeds the value "2400".

[0140] When the number of games played in the second AT state exceeds 500, the AT control means 170 determines to continue the second AT state until the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a exceeds the value "2400." When the AT control means 170 determines that the second AT state will continue until a specific end condition of the advantageous zone is met, the presentation control means 200 switches the presentation to be executed from the presentation executed in accordance with the progress of the game in the second AT state (presentation during second AT) to the presentation that continues until the advantageous zone ends (ending presentation).

[0141] The AT control means 170 determines that the termination condition of the second AT state has been met when the stored value of the second AT game number counter becomes the value "0" and when a specific termination condition of the advantageous zone, which is met when the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a exceeds the value "2400," is met. The AT control means 170 determines that the specific condition has been met if the number of games played in the AT state exceeds 500 at the time the termination condition of the second AT state is met. Then, when the stored value of the second AT game number counter becomes the value "0" and the specific condition is met, the AT control means 170 executes control processing related to the advantageous zone when the specific condition is met, which will be described in more detail below.

[0142] On the other hand, if the number of games played in the AT state is 500 or less at the time when the stored value of the second AT game number counter becomes "0", the AT control means 170 terminates the AT state based on the establishment of the termination condition of the second AT state, and transitions the presentation state to the normal state.

[0143] 3. Playability in each game state Next, the gameplay in each game state of the slot machine 1 of this embodiment will be described.

[0144] <Game results in each game state> Figure 5 is a diagram showing the game results for each operation mode of stop buttons B1 to B3 when a winning area including a small win is won in an internal lottery in a non-RT state, Figure 6 is a diagram showing the game results for each operation mode of stop buttons B1 to B3 when a winning area including a small win is won in an internal lottery in an RBB internal state, and Figure 7 is a diagram showing the game results for each operation mode of stop buttons B1 to B3 when a winning area including a small win is won in an internal lottery in an RBB state.

[0145] As shown in Figure 5, in the slot machine 1, when a winning area "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 4" is won in the non-RT state, any of the small winning combinations 3 to 8, which have a payout set to 1 coin in a game with a bet of 3 coins, can be won, regardless of the operation mode of the stop buttons B1 to B3.

[0146] In other words, in the slot machine 1, when in the non-RT state, even if the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 4", which includes the small win 1 with a payout set to 15 coins in a 3-coin bet game, is won, the small win 1 cannot be won.

[0147] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 6, in the slot machine 1, when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 4" are won in the RBB internal state, the batting order (correct batting order) of stop buttons B1 to B3 is set so that the payout for a 3-coin bet game is set to 15 coins with a 1 / 1 probability of winning minor prize 1.

[0148] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, when the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 4" are won in the non-RT state or the RBB internal state, small wins 3 and 4 will be won with a 1 / 1 probability if stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in a batting order that allows for a win, and small wins 5 to 8 will be won with a 1 / 2 probability if stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in a batting order that allows for a win.

[0149] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, when the winning area "rare role" is won in the non-RT state or the RBB internal state, the stop button B3 is stopped at the operation timing when the small role 2 can be won, and the small role 2, which is set to a payout of 3 coins in a 3-coin bet game, is won, and the winning probability is about 1 / 1.3. In the slot machine 1, when the winning area "rare role" is won and the small role 2 is not won, it is configured to be a miss (no win).

[0150] In addition, if the winning area "RBB & 1 coin role" is won in the non-RT state or the RBB internal state, regardless of the operation mode of the stop buttons B1 to B3, the small role 9, which has a payout set to 1 coin in a game where 3 coins are bet, will be won with a probability of 1 / 1.

[0151] As shown in FIG. 7, in the slot machine 1, when the winning area "All Small Winning Features" is won in the RBB state, if the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting order 1 and batting order 2, either the small winning feature 2, which has a payout of 3 coins in a game where two coins are bet, or the small winning feature 9, which has a payout of 1 coin in a game where two coins are bet, will be won with a probability of 1 / 1, and if the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting order 3 to 6, the small winning feature 1, which has a payout of 15 coins in a game where two coins are bet, will be won with a probability of 1 / 1.

[0152] The winning symbol combination for minor win 2 and the winning symbol combination for minor win 9 are configured to include symbols common to the symbols on the left reel R1 and the center reel R2. Also, the winning symbol combination for minor win 2 and the winning symbol combination for minor win 9 are configured with different symbols on the right reel R3. The symbols on the right reel R3 that make up the winning symbol combination for minor win 2 are symbols that have a pull-in range of 15 frames out of 20 frames on the right reel R3, and the symbols on the right reel R3 that make up the winning symbol combination for minor win 9 are symbols that are arranged so that they can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 regardless of the operation timing of the stop button B3.

[0153] With this configuration, in the slot machine 1, when the winning area "All Small Wins" is won and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting order 1 and batting order 2, if the stop button B3 is operated at a timing when the symbols on the right reel R3 that make up the winning combination of small win 2 can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1, small win 2 will be won, and if the stop button B3 is operated at a timing when the symbols on the right reel R3 that make up the winning combination of small win 2 cannot be stopped and displayed on the active line L1, small win 9 will be won.

[0154] In the slot machine 1, if the winning area "All 1 Coin Role" is won in the RBB state, regardless of the order of pressing the stop buttons B1 to B3, the small role 9, which is set to pay out 1 coin in a 2-coin bet game, will be won with a probability of 1 / 1.

[0155] Here, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment is configured to set an upper limit for the number of electronic medals that can be paid out when a two-coin bet game is played, and is configured to set the payout number to the upper limit and pay out electronic medals when a small combination with a payout set equal to or greater than the upper limit is won. Specifically, the slot machine 1 is configured to set the upper limit for the number of electronic medals that can be paid out to one when a two-coin bet game is played.

[0156] <Setting the upper limit of the payout quantity> Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing an upper limit value setting process in which the slot machine 1 sets an upper limit value for the payout number. The process shown in Fig. 8 is executed after the payout value set for the winning minor winning combination is stored in the payout number storage means 199 in the payout process by the payout control means 150, which is executed when a minor winning combination is won.

[0157] 8, the payout control means 150 first acquires the payout number stored in the payout number storage means 199 (S1). In this process, the payout control means 150 acquires the stored value of the payout number storage means 199, which stores the payout value set for the small winning combination in the current game.

[0158] Next, the payout control means 150 checks the number of electronic medals that have been set to the inserted state for the current game (S2). In this process, the payout control means 150 checks the value stored in the inserted number storage means 198, thereby making it possible to determine whether the current game is a two-coin bet game or a three-coin bet game.

[0159] Next, the payout control means 150 determines whether or not the number of electronic medals set to the inserted state in the current game is two (S3). In this process, the payout control means 150 determines whether or not the stored value of the inserted number storage means 198 confirmed in the process of step S2 is the value "2". By the payout control means 150 executing the process of step S3, the slot machine 1 can determine whether or not the current game has been executed in the RBB state in which the second specified number (two medals) is set.

[0160] In the process of step S3, if it is determined that the number of electronic medals set to the inserted state in the current game is two (YES), the payout control means 150 determines whether the number of payouts in the current game is two or more (S4). In this process, the payout control means 150 determines whether the number of payouts stored in the payout number storage means 199 obtained in the process of step S1 is a value of "2" or more.

[0161] In the process of step S4, if it is determined that the number of payouts in the current game is two or more (YES), the payout control means 150 sets the number of payouts to one (S5). In this process, the payout control means 150 changes the value of two or more stored in the payout number storage means 199 to the value "1", thereby setting the number of payouts in the current game to one.

[0162] This processing in step S5 constitutes a process for setting the upper limit of the number of electronic medals that can be paid out to a specific number (1 medal) that is less than the second specified number (3 medals) when a game is started by inserting a second specified number (2 medals) that is less than the first specified number (3 medals).

[0163] After executing the processing of step S5, if it is determined in the processing of step S3 that the number of electronic medals set to the inserted state for the current game is three (NO), or if it is determined in the processing of step S4 that the number of medals to be paid out for the current game is one (NO), the payout control means 150 executes processing to pay out the electronic medals (S6) and ends the payout processing. In this processing, the payout control means 150 determines the value stored in the payout number storage means 199 as the number of electronic medals to be paid out for the game, and adds the number of electronic medals corresponding to the determined number to the medal number counter 311.

[0164] <Payout of electronic medals in each game state> 5, the slot machine 1 is configured so that a prize is not won based on the winning of the small winning combination 1, which is set to a payout greater than the first specified number, in the non-RT state. For this reason, the payout rate in the non-RT state is configured to be less than 50% regardless of the operation mode of the stop buttons B1 to B3.

[0165] The payout rate is the ratio of the total number of electronic medals won during a predetermined number of games (for example, 17,500 games), which is a number of games that is sufficient to ignore the effects of temporary probability bias, to the total number of electronic medals inserted during the predetermined number of games.

[0166] 6, in the slot machine 1, when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting order 1 or batting order 2 in the RBB internal state, the small winning combination 1 set to a payout greater than the first specified number does not win, and when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting order 3 to batting order 6, the small winning combination 1 can win. Therefore, the payout rate in the RBB internal state is configured to be less than 50% when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting order 1 or batting order 2, and to exceed 50% when operated in any of batting orders 3 to 6. Also, when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in a random batting order in the RBB internal state, the payout rate is configured to be less than 50%.

[0167] As shown in Figure 8, when a three-coin bet game is played, the payout control means 150 is configured to skip the processing of steps S4 and S5 from step S3 and proceed to step S6, determine the stored value of the payout number storage means 199, which stores the value set as the payout for the small winning combination won in the game, as the number of electronic medals to be paid out in the game, and add the number of electronic medals corresponding to the determined payout number to the medal number counter 311.

[0168] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 is configured to pay out the same number of electronic medals as the payout set for the winning small win in the non-RT state and the RBB internal state. In other words, the slot machine 1 is configured to execute a payout exceeding the first specified number when the small win 1 is won in the non-RT state and the RBB internal state where the specified number is set to the first specified number (3 medals).

[0169] On the other hand, when a two-coin bet game is played and a small role with a payout of two or more coins set as the payout for the two-coin bet game is won, the payout control means 150 is configured to execute the processing of step S5 and then proceed to step S6, and determines the stored value of the payout number memory means 199, which is set to the value "1", as the payout number of electronic medals for the game, regardless of the value set as the payout for the small role won in the game, and adds the number of electronic medals (1 medal) corresponding to the determined payout number to the medal number counter 311.

[0170] As described above, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, in the RBB state where the specified number is set to two, if the winning area "all minor symbols" is won by an internal lottery, and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting order 1 and batting order 2, minor symbol 2, the payout of which is set to three in a game where two symbols are bet, can be won, and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting order 3 to batting order 6, minor symbol 1, the payout of which is set to 15 in a game where two symbols are bet, can be won. However, by executing the upper limit value setting process for the payout number by the payout control means 150 shown in Figure 8, the number of electronic medals paid out in a game where minor symbol 1 is won is set to one.

[0171] Due to this configuration, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment has the same payout when a three-coin bet game is played and when a two-coin bet game is played, and when small winning combinations 1 and 2, which are set to a payout of more than one coin, are won in the RBB state where a two-coin bet game is played, a payout of one coin is executed, which is less than the set payout and is less than the specified number (2 coins) in the RBB state.

[0172] As described above, when a two-coin bet game is executed, the payout for small winning combinations 3 to 9 is set to one coin.

[0173] That is, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, when the specified number is set to the RBB state of 2 coins and a win area including a small win is won, a payout of 1 coin is executed regardless of which small win among all the small wins is won. In other words, in the slot machine 1, when the specified number is set to the second specified number (2 coins) and small win 1 is won, a payout of less than the second specified number is executed.

[0174] Also, as described above, in the slot machine 1, in the internal lottery in the RBB state in which the internal lottery table C is used, the winning area is configured to be either the "all small roles" winning area or the "all 1-coin roles" winning area.

[0175] In other words, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, when a first specified number of game values ​​is inserted and play begins, it is possible to execute the payout of game values ​​exceeding the first specified number, and when a second specified number of game values ​​less than the first specified number is inserted and play begins, the upper limit of the number of game values ​​that can be paid out is set to a specific number less than the second specified number.

[0176] Due to this configuration, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, in the RBB state, two electronic medals are set to the inserted state and a game is executed in which one electronic medal is paid out. Therefore, the payout rate in the RBB state can be reduced to 50%, and the performance of acquiring game value for the state in which the RBB is not activated can be designed, thereby dramatically improving the design freedom of the slot machine 1.

[0177] Furthermore, as described above, the slot machine 1 is configured so that the payout rate in the non-RT state and the RBB internal state when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in a random order is less than 50%, and the payout rate in the non-RT state and the RBB internal state is lower than the payout rate in the RBB state (50%).

[0178] Due to this configuration, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment has a lower ball payout rate in the RBB state than in the non-RT state where the RBB is not operating and in the RBB internal state, and the performance of the RBB state does not deteriorate excessively, so the performance of the gaming machine can be fully guaranteed.

[0179] <Small winning combinations that can be won in each game state> Next, FIG. 9 is a table summarizing small winning combinations that are awarded based on winning in each gaming state of the non-RT state, the RBB inside state, and the RBB state in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment.

[0180] As shown in Figure 9, minor win 1, which has a payout set to 15 coins both when a 3-coin bet game is played and when a 2-coin bet game is played, is configured not to win if it is won in a non-RT state, but to win if it is won in an RBB internal state or an RBB state.

[0181] In addition, minor winnings 2, which have a payout set to three coins when a three-coin bet game is played and a payout set to three coins when a two-coin bet game is played, are configured to win based on winning in the non-RT state, the RBB internal state, and the RBB state.

[0182] Of the small winning combinations 3 to 9, for which the payout when a three-coin bet game is played and the payout when a two-coin bet game is played are both set to one coin, small winning combination 9 wins based on winning in the non-RT state, the state inside the RBB, and the RBB state, while small winning combinations 3 to 8 do not win based on winning in the RBB state, but win based on winning in the non-RT state and the state inside the RBB.

[0183] As described above, in the slot machine 1, in the RBB state in which the second specified number (two) of electronic medals are set to the inserted state and play begins, even if a small winning combination with a payout of two or more medals is won, the upper limit value setting process for the payout number shown in Figure 8 is executed, so that one medal is paid out.

[0184] In other words, in the slot machine 1, the payout when three electronic medals are inserted and play is started and the payout when two electronic medals are inserted and play is started are both set to a payout greater than one medal, and when minor prize 1 and minor prize 2 are won in the RBB state in which two electronic medals are inserted and play is started, the payout amount is configured to be different from when three electronic medals are inserted and play is started.

[0185] In other words, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment is configured so that when each of small prize 1 and small prize 2 is won in the RBB state where two electronic medals are set to the inserted state and play begins, the payout number is different from when three electronic medals are set to the inserted state and play begins, and is configured so that when the play state is the RBB state, small prize 1 and small prize 2 are won based on the fact that they have been won.

[0186] In other words, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, an internal lottery determines whether multiple types of roles will be won, and the multiple types of roles include minor roles included in a predetermined group, and the predetermined group is a group of minor roles that have different numbers of game values ​​paid out based on winning when a game is started after a first specified number of game values ​​is inserted and when a game is started after a second specified number of game values ​​that is less than the first specified number are inserted, and each of the minor roles included in the predetermined group wins based on winning the internal lottery in both a game that is started after a first specified number of game values ​​is inserted and when a game is started after a second specified number of game values ​​is inserted.

[0187] Furthermore, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, the minor roles included in the predetermined group include a first minor role (minor role 1) and a second minor role (minor role 2), and if the first minor role is won in an internal lottery in a game that is started after a second specified number of game values ​​has been inserted, the first minor role can be won by operating the multiple stop buttons in a first operation mode (batting order 3 to batting order 6), and if the second minor role is won in an internal lottery in a game that is started after a second specified number of game values ​​has been inserted, the second minor role can be won by operating the multiple stop buttons in a second operation mode (batting order 1, batting order 2) that is different from the first operation mode.

[0188] With this configuration, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, in the RBB state where the specified number is set to a second specified number, which is different from the specified number in the non-RT state and the state inside the RBB, the number of electronic medals paid out when small prize 1 and small prize 2 are won is less than the number of electronic medals paid out when a prize is won in the non-RT state and the state inside the RBB; however, by winning based on the fact that both small prize 1 and small prize 2 are won in the RBB state, the performance of small prize 1 and small prize 2 is prevented from deteriorating excessively, and the performance of the gaming machine can be fully guaranteed.

[0189] Also, as shown in FIG. 9, in the slot machine 1, the payout when three electronic medals are inserted and play is started, and the payout when two electronic medals are inserted and play is started, are both set to one. In the RBB state where two electronic medals are inserted and play is started, and in the case where three electronic medals are inserted and play is started, the same payout amount is awarded for small prizes 3 to 9, and in the non-RT state and the RBB internal state, small prizes are awarded based on a win. In the RBB state, small prize 9 is awarded based on a win, but in the RBB state, small prizes 3 to 8 are not awarded based on which stop button B1 to stop button B3 are operated in case of a win.

[0190] In other words, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, an internal lottery determines whether multiple types of roles will be won, and the multiple types of roles include minor roles included in a first group and minor roles included in a second group. The first group is a group of minor roles that have the same number of game values ​​paid out based on winning when a first specified number of game values ​​is inserted and game play is started and a second specified number of game values ​​that is less than the first specified number is inserted and game play is started. The second group is a group of minor roles that have a different number of game values ​​paid out based on winning when a first specified number of game values ​​is inserted and game play is started and a second specified number of game values ​​is inserted and game play is started. The minor roles included in the first group include minor roles that will not win when a second specified number of game values ​​is inserted and game play is started, regardless of the operation mode of the multiple stop buttons.

[0191] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment is configured so that in the RBB state, where the specified number is set to a second specified number, which is different from the specified number in the non-RT state and the state inside the RBB, small prizes 3 to 8, which do not result in a change in the number of electronic medals paid out when won in the RBB state and when won in the non-RT state and the state inside the RBB, are not won in the RBB state.This eliminates the need to pre-store in the reel control data storage means 194 the stop control data related to the reel stop control that makes it possible to win small prizes 3 to 8, and reduces the data capacity related to the stop control data in the RBB state.

[0192] The small winning combinations 1 and 2 constitute the second group of small winning combinations and the small winning combinations included in the predetermined group, which are made up of small winning combinations with different numbers of game values ​​paid out based on winning when a game is started after a first specified number of game values ​​is inserted and when a game is started after a second specified number of game values ​​is inserted, and the small winning combinations 3 to 9 constitute the small winning combinations included in the first group of small winning combinations with the same payout set when a game is started after a first specified number of game values ​​is inserted and when a game is started after a second specified number of game values ​​that is less than the first specified number is inserted.

[0193] <Summary of gameplay in each game state> Thus, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, the specified number is fixed to a first specified number (3 coins) in the non-RT state and the RBB internal state, which are the first gaming states in which the RBB is not operating, and the specified number is fixed to a second specified number (2 coins) in the RBB state, which is the second gaming state in which the RBB is operating. The slot machine 1 is also configured so that the payout rate in the RBB state is higher than the payout rate in the non-RT state and the RBB internal state. The slot machine 1 is also configured so that the winning probability of each minor winning combination in the RBB state is higher than the winning probability of each minor winning combination in the non-RT state and the RBB internal state.

[0194] Furthermore, the slot machine 1 is configured such that when a prize is won in the RBB state in which a second specified number of electronic medals are set to an inserted state and game play is started, the prize is won based on the winning of minor prize 1 and minor prize 2 when the game state is the RBB state, which are configured so that the payout amount is different from when a first specified number of electronic medals are set to an inserted state and game play is started.

[0195] Then, in the RBB state in which the second specified number of electronic medals is set to an inserted state and play begins, the slot machine 1 executes a process for setting an upper limit on the number of payouts, so that the upper limit on the number of electronic medals that can be paid out in the game is set to a specific number (1 medal) that is less than the second specified number, and therefore, even if small prize 1 or small prize 2 is won, one medal is paid out.

[0196] Due to this configuration, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment can reduce the ball payout rate in the RBB state to less than 100% (50% in this embodiment), and the performance in the RBB state can be designed to obtain gaming value when the RBB is not operating while adhering to the performance required for a gaming machine, thereby dramatically improving the design freedom of the slot machine 1.

[0197] In other words, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, the specified number is set to two coins, and when a winning area including a small win is won, the upper limit value setting process for the payout number (see Figure 8) is executed, and one coin is paid out regardless of which of all small wins is won. Therefore, by lowering the payout rate in the RBB state to 50%, it is possible to design the performance of acquiring game value for the state when the RBB is not activated, thereby dramatically improving the design freedom of the slot machine 1.

[0198] Furthermore, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, in the RBB state where the specified number is set to a second specified number, which is different from the specified number in the non-RT state and the state inside the RBB, the number of electronic medals paid out when small prize 1 or small prize 2 is won is less than the number of electronic medals paid out when a prize is won in the non-RT state and the state inside the RBB. However, by winning a prize based on both small prize 1 and small prize 2 being won in the RBB state, the performance of small prize 1 and small prize 2 is prevented from deteriorating excessively, and the performance of the gaming machine can be fully guaranteed.

[0199] Furthermore, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, in the RBB state where the specified number is set to a second specified number, which is different from the specified number in the non-RT state and the state inside the RBB, the slot machine 1 is configured so that small prizes 3 to 8, which do not result in a change in the number of electronic medals paid out when won in the RBB state and when won in the non-RT state and the state inside the RBB, are not won in the RBB state. This eliminates the need to store in advance in the reel control data storage means 194 the stop control data related to the reel stop control that makes it possible to win small prizes 3 to 8, and reduces the data capacity related to the stop control data in the RBB state.

[0200] Furthermore, as described above, in the RBB state in which the specified number is set to a second specified number (2 coins) different from the first specified number (3 coins), the slot machine 1 is configured to execute an upper limit value setting process for the payout number, so that the payout rate becomes 50%.

[0201] Here, as a gaming machine that suppresses the payout rate in a bonus state and makes it possible to acquire medals by executing AT play in a gaming state different from the bonus state (for example, a non-bonus state in which a bonus is not activated, such as a bonus establishment state), there has conventionally been a gaming machine that has a plurality of first winning modes in which a plurality of first specific minor roles, which are set to a payout greater than the number of game values ​​inserted required to start a game, do not overlap with each other but overlap with a second specific minor role different from the first specific minor role, and a third winning mode in which a plurality of first specific minor roles overlap and are won, and an internal lottery means In a known configuration, an internal lottery is conducted in the bonus state so that multiple types of first winning patterns exist, and in the bonus state so that a third winning pattern exists, and the probability of winning the third winning pattern in the internal lottery in the bonus state is lower than the probability of winning one of the multiple types of first winning patterns in the internal lottery in the normal game state and the bonus formation state, and the winning probability of each of all small roles in the internal lottery in the bonus state is equal to or higher than the winning probability of each of all small roles in the internal lottery in the normal game state and the bonus formation state.

[0202] In a gaming machine configured in this manner, the probability of winning the first specific minor role in the bonus state is compressed to the reciprocal of the number of types of first specific minor role (for example, 1 / 4 if the configuration has four types of first specific minor role), while ensuring that the performance in the bonus state is sufficient as required of a gaming machine, and by executing winning assistance for the first specific minor role in the non-bonus state, the probability of winning the first specific minor role is increased compared to when winning assistance is not executed, making it possible to win medals in AT play, but it is necessary to have multiple types of first specific minor role.

[0203] In gaming machines, it is common for small winning combinations that can earn medals by winning to have specific symbols (for example, bell symbols) displayed in a stopped form that is visible to the player. However, if the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 are configured so that each of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 is visible in three frames in a specific area that makes the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 visible, the number of patterns in which the specific symbols are displayed in a row is limited to five, so if the number of types of first specific small winning combinations exceeds five, it becomes necessary to display the symbols in the specific area in a display mode that is different from the display mode in which they are displayed in a row.

[0204] In addition, in gaming machines, when multiple types of small winning combinations are won in an internal lottery, there are two ways to determine the priority of the candidate stopping positions: a method of determining the priority based on the number of pattern combinations that can be displayed on the valid line L1 (number priority control), and a method of determining the priority based on the number of medals paid out based on the payout that is predetermined for the small winning combination (number priority control).

[0205] Therefore, in a gaming machine, when an operation mode of stop buttons B1 to B3 that makes it possible to win a first specific small role and an operation mode of stop buttons B1 to B3 that makes it impossible to win a first specific small role and makes it possible to win a second specific small role are set, in order to make it possible to win a second specific small role, it is necessary to make it possible to win a second specific small role by using quantity priority control.

[0206] Due to such limitations, in gaming machines, the more the types of first specific small roles are increased and the payout rate in the bonus state is compressed, the more types of second specific small roles will also increase, and an arrangement of patterns that makes it possible to win with the second specific small roles is also required, so compressing the payout rate in the bonus state tends to increase the data volume related to the small roles and make the design more difficult.

[0207] In contrast, in a slot machine 1 configured so that the payout rate is 50% when the specified number is set to a second specified number (2 coins) different from the first specified number (3 coins) in the RBB state, by executing an upper limit value setting process for the payout number, even if the payout when the first specified number of medals is set to the inserted state and play begins is configured to have one small role with a payout greater than the first specified number, the payout rate in the RBB state can be sufficiently reduced while ensuring that the performance in the RBB state is sufficient as required of a gaming machine.

[0208] By configuring the slot machine 1 in this manner, the payout rate in the RBB state can be reduced, and the data capacity related to small winning combinations can be prevented from increasing when designing medal acquisition performance for a state in which the RBB is not activated. This reduces the data capacity related to small winning combinations and improves the design freedom related to the arrangement of patterns. Furthermore, by reducing the data capacity related to small winning combinations, data capacity can be allocated to various data used in other control processes executed by the main control CPU 11, improving the design freedom of the gaming machine.

[0209] 4. Details of gameplay related to specific conditions Next, the gameplay related to the specific states controlled by the AT control means 170 of this embodiment will be described in detail.

[0210] <Gameplay using specific conditions> In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, the presentation state is configured to transition to a specific state when the advantageous zone starts and transitions from the second start state based on the game state being in the RBB internal state at the time the second start state starts, and when a specific condition is met at the end of the AT state and the advantageous zone continues due to control processing related to the advantageous zone.

[0211] As described above, the specific state is configured so that a specific CZ lottery is held each time a game is played, and transition to the specific CZ state is possible by winning the ``transition to specific CZ state'' in the specific CZ lottery.

[0212] In addition, the AT control means 170 of this embodiment is configured to execute a specific CZ addition lottery to determine whether or not to add (add) the period during which the second AT state will continue in each game in the specific CZ state, and is configured to be able to add (add) the period during which the second AT state can be continued by transitioning to the specific CZ state.The AT control means 170 is configured to transition the presentation state to the second AT state, which is more advantageous than the first AT state, among the AT states, based on the execution and completion of 30 games in the specific CZ state.

[0213] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment is configured to be able to transition from a specific state to a specific CZ state and then to a second AT state more easily when it transitions to a specific state with a continuing advantageous zone after the end of the AT state, or when it transitions to a specific state as the AT state ends with the end of an advantageous zone and the advantageous zone begins again, than when it transitions to a normal state with a continuing advantageous zone after the end of the AT state.By transitioning to the specific CZ state, it is possible to start the second AT state after the end of the AT state and win electronic medals, thereby increasing the player's interest in the game.

[0214] Also, as mentioned above, the specific state is configured so that the duration is not a fixed period, but an indefinite period until the specific CZ lottery is won to "transition to the specific CZ state." In other words, in the slot machine 1, the number of games executed from the time the AT state ends and the advantageous zone starts again, through the second start state, the specific state, and the specific CZ state, until the transition to the second AT state is not a fixed number of games, but varies depending on the number of games executed until the specific CZ lottery is won to "transition to the specific CZ state."

[0215] In addition, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, when the advantageous zone starts, it is controlled to the first start state or the second start state, and when it is controlled to the second start state and the game state is in the RBB internal state, it can be controlled to the specific state via the second start state based on the advantageous zone starting. In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, in a game in which the advantageous zone starts, it is controlled to the first start state or the second start state, and even when the presentation state transitions to the specific state via the second start state, the transition to the second AT state has not been determined, and the transition to the second AT state is determined by winning the "transition to specific CZ state" in the specific CZ lottery and transitioning to the specific CZ state.

[0216] With this configuration, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, after the advantageous zone ends based on the number of electronic medals won in a series of advantageous zones exceeding 2,400, the number of games to be played until the AT state is started again changes each time the advantageous zone starts, and the transition to the second AT state is determined by transitioning from a specific state after passing through the second start state to a specific CZ state.This prevents the number of games to be played from the end of the AT state at the end of the advantageous zone until the execution of the AT state again is determined to be excessively small, and prevents the electronic medal winning performance from becoming excessively high, which would reduce the marketability of the gaming machine.

[0217] In addition, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, when the advantageous zone begins and the transition from the second starting state to the specific state is made, the transition to the second AT state has not been determined, and the normal zone that begins when the advantageous zone ends does not function as an advantageous state for the player.Therefore, while fully maintaining the functions of both the normal zone, in which control related to the instruction function cannot be executed, and the advantageous zone, in which control related to the instruction function can be executed and has a limit on the period for which it can continue, the slot machine 1 transitions from the specific state to a specific CZ state that can be entered, and the second AT state is started based on the end of the specific CZ state, thereby increasing the player's interest in the game.

[0218] This AT control means 170 constitutes the control means in this embodiment, and is capable of transitioning to a specific CZ state that transitions to the second AT state upon termination, and the specific state that continues until transitioning to the specific CZ state constitutes a first advantageous state that is more advantageous than the normal state in this embodiment, and the second AT state constitutes a second advantageous state that is more advantageous than the normal state and the specific state in this embodiment. Also, the specific CZ lottery that determines whether or not to transition to the specific CZ state that transitions to the second AT state upon termination and is a lottery executed in the specific state constitutes the transition lottery in this embodiment.

[0219] <Control process related to advantageous zone when specific conditions are met> Furthermore, as described above, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, in the second AT state transitioned from the specific CZ state, an additional lottery during the second AT is executed for each play, so that the probability of continuing the AT state until the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a exceeds the value "2400" is extremely high.

[0220] In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, the advantageous zone counter 196a is configured to be able to be set to a negative value, and the advantageous zone can be continued until the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a exceeds the value "2400". Therefore, for example, if the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a is a negative value at the time the second AT state is started, and the AT state continues until the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a exceeds the value "2400", it is possible to win more than 2400 electronic medals in a series of AT states.

[0221] As described above, the AT control means 170 of this embodiment is configured to determine that a specific condition is met and terminate the AT state when 10 sets of the first AT state are executed in a series of AT states, or when the first AT state transitions to the second AT state and the second AT state ends with the number of games played in the AT state exceeding 500. The slot machine 1 is configured to transition from the normal state or the normal CZ state to the first AT state, and in the normal state, the small win 1 prize support is not executed when the winning areas "Battle Order Bell 1" to "Battle Order Bell 4" are won. Therefore, if there are multiple transitions from the first AT state to the normal state before a specific condition is met in a series of advantageous zones, the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a at the time the first set of the first AT state starts may be, for example, "-3000," a stored value that remains negative even if 2400 electronic medals are won in the AT state.

[0222] For this reason, in the slot machine 1, if 10 sets of the first AT state are executed, or if the slot machine 1 transitions from the first AT state to the second AT state and the second AT state ends when the number of games played in the AT state exceeds 500, and the slot machine 1 is configured to end the advantageous zone based on the fulfillment of a specific condition regardless of the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a, even though the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a is a negative value at the time when the specific condition is fulfilled and the AT state ends, the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a will be initialized by a predetermined initialization process based on the end of the advantageous zone.As a result, even if the slot machine 1 transitions from the normal zone to the advantageous zone and starts the second AT state after passing through the second start state, specific state, and specific CZ state, the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a at the time the second AT state starts will be a value close to the value "0", resulting in a configuration in which only approximately 2,400 electronic medals can be won in the second AT state.

[0223] Due to this configuration, the AT control means 170 of this embodiment is configured to execute control processing related to the advantageous zone when a specific condition is met, and to determine whether or not to end the advantageous zone based on the meeting of the specific condition.

[0224] Fig. 10(A) is a flowchart showing the control processing related to the advantageous zone that is executed by the AT control means 170 when a specific condition is met. As shown in Fig. 10(A), the AT control means 170 first determines whether the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a is equal to or less than the value "0" (S11). In this processing, the AT control means 170 determines whether the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a is equal to or less than the value "0", thereby determining whether the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a is a positive value or not.

[0225] In the processing of step S11, if it is determined that the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a is equal to or less than the value "0" (YES), the AT control means 170 transitions the presentation state to a specific state (S12) and terminates the control processing related to the advantageous zone when the specific condition is met. In this processing, the AT control means 170 transitions from the specific state to a specific CZ state by continuing the advantageous zone and transitioning it to the specific state, and in the second AT state to which transition is made based on the end of the specific CZ state, it is possible to acquire more than 2,400 electronic medals, so transitions the presentation state to the specific state while continuing the advantageous zone.

[0226] On the other hand, if it is determined in the processing of step S11 that the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a is greater than the value "0" (NO), the AT control means 170 executes a predetermined termination process for ending the advantageous zone and starting the normal zone from the next game, and a predetermined initialization process for initializing information related to the advantageous zone, such as various flags and numerical values ​​set within the advantageous zone (S13), and terminates the control process related to the advantageous zone when a specific condition is met. In this process, when the AT control means 170 executes the control process related to the advantageous zone when a specific condition is met, if the advantageous zone continues to transition to a specific state, the AT control means 170 transitions from the specific state to a specific CZ state, and in the second AT state to which the AT control means 170 transitions based on the end of the specific CZ state, the number of electronic medals that can be acquired is less than 2,400, so the advantageous zone is terminated and the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a is initialized.

[0227] With this configuration, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, when a specific condition is met in the AT state and the advantageous zone can be ended, if the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a is equal to or less than the value "0" and includes a negative value, the advantageous zone continues and the presentation state transitions from the specific state to the specific CZ state, and in the second AT state which transitions based on the end of the specific CZ state, it becomes possible to win more than 2,400 electronic medals, thereby increasing the player's interest in the game.

[0228] Furthermore, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, when a specific condition is met in the AT state and the advantageous zone can be ended, if the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a is a value greater than the value "0", i.e., a positive value, the advantageous zone continues and the presentation state transitions to a specific state, transitioning from the specific state to a specific CZ state, and in the second AT state to which transition is made based on the end of the specific CZ state, only less than 2,400 electronic medals can be won. Therefore, by ending the advantageous zone, initializing the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a, and starting the normal zone, and transitioning to the specific state via the second start state which is started by transitioning from the normal zone to the advantageous zone, transitioning from the specific state to the specific CZ state, and in the second AT state to which transition is made based on the end of the specific CZ state, it becomes possible to win approximately 2,400 electronic medals, thereby increasing the player's interest in the game.

[0229] This advantageous zone counter 196a constitutes a counter that counts the difference in the number of coins, which is the value obtained by subtracting the number of coins inserted from the number of game value paid out in a series of advantageous zones in this embodiment, and the AT state constitutes a predetermined state, and when the advantageous zone is started, the specific state to which it is transitioned via the second start state, the specific CZ state, and the second AT state constitute the benefits that can be granted when the advantageous zone is started in this embodiment.

[0230] <Control process related to specific continuation effects> The presentation control means 200 of this embodiment is configured to execute a specific continuation presentation having continuity in the presentation content across multiple games, from a transition from a specific state to a specific CZ state, until a transition to a second AT state is made upon the end of the specific CZ state.

[0231] 10(B) is a flowchart showing the control process for the specific continuation effect executed by the effect control means 200. When the AT state ends, the effect control means 200 of this embodiment executes the control process for the specific continuation effect shown in FIG.

[0232] As shown in Fig. 10(B), the performance control means 200 first determines whether or not the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a has exceeded the value "2400" (S21). In this process, the performance control means 200 determines whether or not the advantageous zone has ended and the normal zone has started based on the establishment of the advantageous zone end condition, by determining whether or not the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a has exceeded the value "2400".

[0233] In the processing of step S21, if it is determined that the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a does not exceed the value "2400" (NO), the performance control means 200 determines whether or not the performance state will transition to a specific state (S22). In this processing, the performance control means 200 determines whether or not the advantageous zone will continue and transition to a specific state will occur after the end of the AT state, and if it is determined that the transition will not occur to the specific state (NO), it decides not to start a specific continuation performance and terminates the control processing related to the specific continuation performance.

[0234] If, in the processing of step S21, it is determined that the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a has exceeded the value "2400" (YES), or if, in the processing of step S22, it is determined that a transition to a specific state will occur (YES), the performance control means 200 decides to execute a specific continuation performance (S23), and terminates the control processing related to the specific continuation performance.

[0235] In this way, the presentation control means 200 of this embodiment is configured to execute a specific continuation presentation when the advantageous zone ends based on the fact that more than 2,400 electronic medals have been acquired in a series of advantageous zones, and when the presentation state transitions to a specific state while the advantageous zone continues.

[0236] Figure 11 is a diagram explaining the progression of images displayed on the display device 410 when a specific continuation effect is executed, where Figure 11(A) is a diagram showing the state in which a result effect is being executed to display the game result (result) in the AT state, Figure 11(B) is a diagram showing the state when a specific continuation effect has started, and Figure 11(C) is a diagram showing the state in which the effect state has transitioned to a specific CZ state while a specific continuation effect is being executed.

[0237] 11(A), in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, when a result effect is executed, a result image 414 that displays the game results in the AT state is displayed in a position above the specific area 410b and approximately in the center of the left-right direction when viewing the display device 410 from the front, in the display area 410a of the display device 410. In the example shown in FIG. 11(A), the AT state continued for 500 games, and 1500 electronic medals were acquired in the AT state, so the result image 414 displays "RESULT 500G 1500 medals."

[0238] 11(B), in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, when a specific continuation effect is executed, a character image 415a composed of an image of a human-shaped character is displayed in a position above the specific area 410b and approximately in the center of the left-right direction when the display device 410 is viewed from the front, in the display area 410a of the display device 410. Also, in the slot machine 1, when a specific continuation effect is executed, a continuation game count image 415b indicating the duration for which the specific continuation effect will continue is displayed in a position above the right-left direction and above the top-bottom direction, in the display area 410a of the display device 410 when the display device 410 is viewed from the front, in the position above the right-left direction when the display device 410 is viewed from the front, in the display area 410a of the display device 410.

[0239] As described above, the presentation control means 200 is configured to start a specific continuation presentation when the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a exceeds the value "2400" and the advantageous zone ends, or when the presentation state transitions to a specific state while the advantageous zone continues. The AT control means 170 is also configured so that the duration of the specific state is an indefinite period, and even when transitioning from the normal zone to the advantageous zone, the normal zone continues until the "transition to the advantageous zone" is selected in the advantageous zone lottery. When the presentation state transitions to the specific CZ state, the AT control means 170 is configured to end the specific CZ state based on the fact that 30 games have been played in the specific CZ state, and transition the presentation state to the second AT state.

[0240] Due to this configuration, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, when a specific continuation effect is started, the period for which the specific continuation effect continues changes depending on the results of the advantageous zone lottery and the specific CZ lottery until the effect state transitions to the specific CZ state.

[0241] For this reason, the presentation control means 200 of this embodiment displays "??G" on the number of continuing games image 415b when the specific continuation presentation shown in Figure 11(B) has started, that is, when the advantageous period has ended and a normal period has started, or when the specific state has started after transitioning to a continuing advantageous period. This indicates that the duration for which the specific continuation presentation will continue is unknown.

[0242] As shown in Fig. 11(C), in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, when the presentation state is transitioned to a specific CZ state while a specific continuation presentation is being performed, the period for which the specific continuation presentation continues coincides with the period for which the specific CZ state continues, so the number of games to continue image 415b displays a value equal to the period for which the specific CZ state continues. In the example shown in Fig. 11(C), the time point at which the specific CZ state started is illustrated, so the number of games to continue image 415b displays "30G," which corresponds to 30 games, which is the initial value for the period for which the specific CZ state can continue.

[0243] In this way, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment is equipped with a presentation control means (presentation control means 200) that controls the presentation, and the presentation control means is capable of executing a specific presentation (specific continuous presentation), and the specific presentation is configured to be executed when a predetermined state ends and the advantageous zone ends, and when a predetermined state ends and the advantageous zone continues and the first advantageous state begins.

[0244] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment starts a specific continuation presentation in either a state where a normal zone has started after the advantageous zone has ended, or a state where a specific state has started after the advantageous zone has continued, so that when the AT state ends after executing 10 sets of the first AT state, the player can be prevented from determining whether the advantageous zone has ended with the end of the AT state, and the number of electronic medals that can be obtained in the next second AT state can be prevented from being determined by the player, thereby increasing the player's interest in the game.

[0245] 5. Summary of this embodiment As described above, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, when a specific condition is met in the AT state and the advantageous zone can be ended, if the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a is equal to or less than the value "0" and includes a negative value, the advantageous zone continues and the presentation state transitions from the specific state to the specific CZ state, and in the second AT state which transitions based on the end of the specific CZ state, it becomes possible to win more than 2,400 electronic medals, thereby increasing the player's interest in the game.

[0246] Furthermore, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, when a specific condition is met in the AT state and the advantageous zone can be ended, if the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a is a value greater than the value "0", i.e., a positive value, the advantageous zone continues and the presentation state transitions to a specific state, transitioning from the specific state to a specific CZ state, and in the second AT state to which transition is made based on the end of the specific CZ state, only less than 2,400 electronic medals can be won. Therefore, by ending the advantageous zone, initializing the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a, and starting the normal zone, and transitioning to the specific state via the second start state which is started by transitioning from the normal zone to the advantageous zone, transitioning from the specific state to the specific CZ state, and in the second AT state to which transition is made based on the end of the specific CZ state, it becomes possible to win approximately 2,400 electronic medals, thereby increasing the player's interest in the game.

[0247] 6. Variations In this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured to execute a specific CZ lottery for each play in the specific state, and by winning the "transition to specific CZ state" in the specific CZ lottery, transition to the specific CZ state with a continuation period set to 30 games, but is not limited to this. For example, the slot machine 1 may be configured to be able to transition from the specific state to the second AT state, and the specific state may be configured as a first advantageous state that is more advantageous than the normal state in which there is no direct transition to the second AT state.

[0248] When configured in this manner, the AT control means 170 executes an auxiliary game (for example, a winning assistance that notifies the main control display device 10D of the first stop operation of stop button B2 or stop button B3, and a navigation effect that displays an "x??" or the like on the display device 410 to prompt the first stop operation at a position corresponding to stop button B2 or stop button B3) that notifies the player that the correct batting order that will allow minor winning feature 1 to win is one of batting order 3 to 6 when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 4" is won in an internal lottery in a specific state, and when minor winning feature 1 wins, a transition to the second AT state is determined based on the fact that minor winning feature 1 has won when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 4" is won in the specific state, and the AT control means 170 may be configured so that a transition to the second AT state is not determined at the time of transition to the specific state.

[0249] Furthermore, when configured in this manner, the presentation control means 200 may be configured not to display the number of continued games image 415b in the specific continuation presentation, since the duration for which the specific state will continue is unknown.

[0250] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the AT control means 170 is configured so that in the specific CZ lottery when the winning area "rare role" is won in the internal lottery in the specific state, the probability of "not winning (missing)" is lower and the probability of "transition to specific CZ state" is higher than when other winning areas are won, but is not limited to this. The AT control means 170 may be configured so that, regardless of which role is won in the internal lottery in the specific state, the specific CZ lottery determines "transition to specific CZ state" with a probability of about 1 / 4.

[0251] In addition, in this embodiment, the AT control means 170 is configured to execute a specific add-on lottery in each game in the specific state and the specific CZ state, but is not limited to this. For example, since the transition to the second AT state is not determined in the specific state, the AT control means 170 may be configured not to execute a specific add-on lottery, but to execute a specific add-on lottery in each game after transitioning to the specific CZ state.

[0252] Furthermore, the AT control means 170 may be configured to, for example, execute a first specific add-on lottery that determines whether or not to add (add) the duration of the second AT state when transitioning to the second AT state in each game in a specific state, and execute a second specific add-on lottery that determines whether or not to add (add) the duration of the second AT state in each game in a specific CZ state and that has a higher probability of winning a larger value than the first specific add-on lottery. Also, the first specific add-on lottery may be configured to have a higher probability of winning a larger value than the second specific add-on lottery.

[0253] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured to be able to transition from the first AT state to the second AT state, but is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may be configured not to transition from the first AT state to the second AT state, but to transition to the second AT state only when a specific CZ state transitioning from a specific state ends. In other words, the slot machine 1 may be configured so that the second advantageous state can be transitioned to only from the first advantageous state, and is a presentation state in which the ability to acquire electronic medals is more advantageous to the player than other presentation states.

[0254] In addition, in this embodiment, the AT control means 170 is configured not to execute the winning assistance for the small winning combination 1 when the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 4" are won in the internal lottery in the normal CZ state and the specific CZ state, but is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may be configured to execute the winning assistance for the small winning combination 1 by determining by lottery whether or not to execute the winning assistance for the small winning combination 1 when the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 4" are won in the internal lottery in the normal CZ state. Furthermore, the slot machine 1 may be configured to execute the winning assistance for the small winning combination 1 by determining by lottery whether or not to execute the winning assistance for the small winning combination 1 when the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 4" are won in the internal lottery in the specific CZ state.

[0255] In at least one of the normal CZ state and the specific CZ state, when the slot machine 1 is configured to be able to execute the winning assistance for minor prize 1 when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1" to the winning area "Batting Order Bell 4" are won by lottery, it is preferable that the slot machine 1 is designed so that the payout rate does not exceed 100% in the presentation state in which the winning assistance is executed by lottery.

[0256] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured to be able to transition from a specific state to a specific CZ state, but is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may be configured, for example, to transition from a specific state to a normal CZ state. In such a configuration, the AT control means 170 may be configured to win the "transition to AT state" with a 100% probability when executing a normal CZ AT lottery in the normal CZ state transitioned from the specific state.

[0257] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured such that the second AT state is more advantageous than the first AT state because the second AT state can be continued for a longer period of time than the first AT state, but is not limited to this. For example, in the first AT state, when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1" to the winning area "Batting Order Bell 4" are won by an internal lottery, the slot machine 1 determines by lottery whether or not to execute the winning support for the small win 1, and in the second AT state, when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1" to the winning area "Batting Order Bell 4" are won by an internal lottery, the slot machine 1 is configured to execute the winning support for the small win 1 without executing a lottery, so that there is a difference in the ability to acquire electronic medals between the first AT state and the second AT state, and the second AT state may be configured as a state more advantageous to the player than the first AT state.

[0258] In addition, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured to be able to transition from the advantageous zone to the specific state via the second start state when the advantageous zone starts, but is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may also be configured to set the presentation state to the normal state when the advantageous zone starts.

[0259] When configured in this manner, the slot machine 1 is configured to be able to transition from the normal state to the second AT state, so that at the start of the advantageous zone, no advantageous benefits are given to the player; however, when a specific condition is met in the AT state and the advantageous zone can be ended, if the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a is a value greater than the value "0", i.e., a positive value, the advantageous zone is ended and the advantageous zone is started and set again. In the normal state, even if the slot machine transitions to the second AT state after an extremely short period of time, such as several games, has elapsed, it is possible to obtain approximately 2,400 electronic medals in the second AT state, thereby increasing the player's interest in the game.

[0260] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured to determine whether to continue the advantageous zone depending on whether the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a is a positive value when a specific condition is met in the AT state and the advantageous zone can be terminated, and is configured to continue the advantageous zone and transition the presentation state to a specific state when the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a is a value equal to or less than "0," but is not limited to this. For example, when the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a is a negative value, the smaller the negative value, the higher the probability of transition to a specific CZ state in the specific state to be transitioned to, and may be configured so that the degree of advantage of the bonus granted changes depending on the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a.

[0261] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured to end the advantageous zone when a specific condition is met in the AT state and the advantageous zone can be ended when the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a is a positive value, but is not limited to this. For example, the slot machine 1 may be configured to continue the advantageous zone and transition to a specific state when a specific condition is met in the AT state and the advantageous zone can be ended when the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a is a positive value.

[0262] When configured in this manner, the slot machine 1 continues the advantageous zone if the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a is a positive value that is within the range of the number of electronic medals that are consumed on average in the specific state and the specific CZ state when a specific condition is met in the AT state and the advantageous zone can be ended (for example, if the number of electronic medals that are consumed on average in the specific state and the specific CZ state is approximately 50, the advantageous zone will be continued if the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a is a value between "1" and "50" when a specific condition is met in the AT state and the advantageous zone can be ended), and ends the advantageous zone if the value exceeds this range.This reduces the opportunities to perform predetermined termination processing and predetermined initialization processing based on the end of the advantageous zone, and reduces the load on the control processing executed by the main control CPU 11.

[0263] In addition, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured to manage the duration of each of the first AT state and the second AT state based on the number of games played, but is not limited to this. For example, the slot machine 1 may be configured to manage the duration of each of the first AT state and the second AT state based on the difference in number of coins, or may be configured to manage the duration based on the number of times the small winning combination 1 is won.

[0264] In addition, in this embodiment, the presentation control means 200 is configured to display the number of games played in the AT state and the number of electronic medals won in the result presentation, but is not limited to this. The presentation control means 200 may be configured to be able to display, for example, the number of sets in which the first AT state was played, or may be configured to display the number of sets in which the first AT state was played instead of the number of games played in the AT state.

[0265] In addition, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured to manage the duration of the second AT state based on the number of plays, but is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may also be configured to manage the number of plays that can be played in the second AT state using the number of sets, similar to the first AT state.

[0266] When configured in this manner, the slot machine 1 may be configured to continue a set of second AT states with a higher probability when a set of executable second AT states is not stocked than the probability of continuing a set of first AT states when a set of executable first AT states is not stocked.

[0267] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured to execute a process of setting the upper limit of the payout number to 1 when a two-coin bet game is executed, thereby executing the payout of 1 coin regardless of the number of coins set for the winning minor combination, but is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may be configured to set the payout for all of the minor combinations 1 to 9 when a two-coin bet game is executed to 1 coin, so that the number of electronic medals paid out when a two-coin bet game is executed is 1 coin.

[0268] By being configured in this manner, the slot machine 1 does not need to execute a process for setting an upper limit on the number of payouts (upper limit setting process) in order to set the number of payouts to one coin when a small winning combination is won in an RBB state where the specified number is set to two coins, and therefore the data capacity related to the program required to execute the upper limit setting process on the number of payouts can be reduced.

[0269] In addition, when configured in this manner, the slot machine 1 must be configured so that when a predetermined winning area is won, a prize can be won by operating stop buttons B1 to B3 in a predetermined operating manner for minor winning combinations in which the payout when a three-coin bet game is played and the payout when a two-coin bet game are played are different in the RBB state.

[0270] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured to include medal count control means 300 of the medal count control CPU 31 as management control means that manages the digitized medals and is capable of communicating with the dedicated unit SU, and to include the main control CPU 11 as game control means that controls games played using the digitized medals, but is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may be configured not to include the medal count control board 30, and the various functions mounted on the medal count control board 30 may be realized by various functions mounted on the main control board 10, so that the main control CPU 11 manages the digitized medals and functions as management control means that is capable of communicating with the dedicated unit SU.

[0271] In addition, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured not to notify whether or not it is in an advantageous zone, but this is not limiting. For example, the slot machine 1 may be configured to notify that it is in an advantageous zone when the expected value of winning electronic medals is 1 or more due to the support of winning a small winning combination.

[0272] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 has a plurality of reels, namely, left reel R1 to right reel R3, and a plurality of stop buttons, namely, stop buttons B1 to B3, corresponding to the left reel R1 to right reel R3, but is not limited to this and may have, for example, a fourth reel and a stop button corresponding to the fourth reel.

[0273] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 has a max bet button MB for inserting a specified number of electronic medals, but is not limited to this, and may be configured to have, for example, in addition to the max bet button MB, a single bet button for inserting one electronic medal.

[0274] When configured in this way, the slot machine 1 may be configured to be able to start a game when either the first specified number or the second specified number of electronic medals is set to the inserted state, with respect to the specified number in the non-RT state or the RBB state. When configured in this way, the slot machine 1 may be configured to set the first specified number of electronic medals to the inserted state when the max bet button MB is operated when the gaming state is the non-RT state or the RBB state, and to set the second specified number of electronic medals to the inserted state when the single bet button is operated twice.

[0275] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured to set the stored value of each counter and memory means as an initial value, and to perform a decrement update by subtracting 1 each time a game is played, or an increment update by adding 1 each time a game is played, but this is not limited to this, and the method of updating each counter and memory means may be configured to perform multiplication, division, etc., and is not particularly limited. [Explanation of symbols]

[0276] 1. Slot machines (gaming machines) 120 Internal lottery method 170 AT control means (control means) 196a Advantageous Zone Counter (Counter) B1 Stop button B2 Stop button B3 Stop button R1 Left reel R2 middle reel R3 Right reel

Claims

1. Multiple reels and Multiple stop buttons and an internal lottery means for performing an internal lottery; A control means for controlling a normal section and an advantageous section and performing control related to an instruction function in the advantageous section; A counter that counts the difference between the number of payouts and the number of coins inserted in the series of advantageous zones, the control means is capable of controlling a predetermined state, The control means is capable of ending the advantageous period when the predetermined state ends in a state in which the difference number stored in the counter is a first value that is a positive value. A gaming machine characterized by:

2. The control means is capable of granting a benefit when the advantageous zone is started, The control means is capable of continuing the advantageous zone and awarding the benefit when the predetermined state ends with the difference number stored in the counter being a second value smaller than the first value.

2. The gaming machine according to claim 1 .

3. The control means is capable of controlling a normal state, a first advantageous state, and a second advantageous state in the advantageous section, the first advantageous state is a state more advantageous than the normal state, the second advantageous state is a state more advantageous than the normal state and the first advantageous state, In the game in which the advantageous period has started, the transition to the second advantageous state has not been determined, When the advantageous section starts, the vehicle can be controlled to the first advantageous state, the control means executes a transition lottery in the first advantageous state to determine whether or not to transition to the second advantageous state; The first advantageous state continues until the transition to the second advantageous state is determined in the transition lottery, The control means is capable of continuing the advantageous period and starting the first advantageous state when the predetermined state ends with the difference number stored in the counter being a second value smaller than the first value.

2. The gaming machine according to claim 1 .

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