gaming machines

Abstract

To provide a game machine capable of executing a new performance using a rotating reel. [Solution] The game is provided with multiple spinning reels, and an effect may occur in which multiple first locations on the multiple spinning reels are more visible than multiple second locations, the first locations and the second locations do not overlap, and lines connecting the multiple first locations and lines connecting the multiple second locations intersect at at least two points.

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, gaming machines that light up the rotating reels while the reels are stopped have been known (see Patent Document 1). In such gaming machines, for example, a backlight installed inside the rotating reels lights up the reels in a V-shape as an effect to announce a jackpot. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-107095 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, conventional gaming machines lack interesting presentation.

[0005] In response to this, the inventors of the present invention have discovered a new effect using a spinning reel.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that can execute novel effects using a spinning reel. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention provides It has multiple spinning reels, An effect may occur in which a plurality of first locations on the plurality of spinning reels are more easily visible than a plurality of second locations, The first location and the second location do not overlap, A line connecting the plurality of first locations and a line connecting the plurality of second locations intersect at least two points. It is an amusement machine. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a gaming machine that can execute novel effects using a spinning reel. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of a slot machine according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a slot machine and a card unit in a first embodiment. [Figure 3] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating details of a reel window when an illumination effect process is being performed in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the rotary reel in the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the spinning reel in the first embodiment. [Figure 6] 2 is a diagram illustrating the connection / communication relationship between the main control board, the game value control board, and the sub-control board in the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of an illumination rendering process in the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating details of a reel window when an illumination effect process is being performed in the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] [First embodiment] A slot machine 1 according to an embodiment of a gaming machine of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 7. Note that the embodiment described below is merely one example of the present invention, and the embodiment of the present invention can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In the following description, "connection" includes cases where connection targets are directly connected to each other, and cases where connection targets are indirectly connected to each other via another board or device, etc.

[0011] The slot machine 1 of this embodiment is a reel-type gaming machine in which the quantity of gaming value is managed by electronic data (hereinafter referred to as "gaming value data") without using physically existing medals, as shown in Fig. 1. Note that Fig. 1 shows the slot machine 1 as seen from the front, and in the following, the top, bottom, left, and right of the page of Fig. 1 will be referred to as the top, bottom, left, and right of the slot machine 1.

[0012] <Configuration of card unit 7> As shown in FIG. 2, the card unit 7 is connected to the slot machine 1 outside the slot machine 1 so as to be able to communicate with the slot machine 1.

[0013] The card unit 7 can store therein a card 70 that stores gaming value data as electronic data in place of medals that are real objects.

[0014] The details of the card unit 7 are the same as those of a card unit connected to a conventional medal-less machine, and therefore detailed explanation will be omitted.

[0015] <Configuration of Slot Machine 1> As described above, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment is a medal-less machine that allows a game to proceed without using medals, which are real objects. In the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, a game is played using gaming value data as electronic data, instead of medals, which are real objects.

[0016] 1, the slot machine 1 includes a cabinet 10. A front door 100 is provided on the front of the cabinet 10.

[0017] 1 and 3, a transparent reel window 200 is provided in the center of the front door 100. Through this reel window 200, a player can see multiple symbols displayed on the surface of each of the multiple rotating reels 20, which will be described later.

[0018] Above the reel window 200, there are provided a liquid crystal screen 3, a speaker 101, and an illumination unit 102 for performing various effects during a game.

[0019] The liquid crystal screen 3 is equipped with a monitor LED and a backlight, and displays various effect videos (effect screens) while the player is playing.

[0020] The speaker 101 outputs predetermined background music (BGM), sound effects (SE), and audio.

[0021] The illumination unit 102 is composed of LEDs and the like, and lights up or goes out in a predetermined pattern when, for example, a highly anticipated performance screen is displayed or a winning combination is achieved.

[0022] Below the reel window 200, there are provided an operation unit 4, a lower panel 103, a front bottom 104, etc. The lower panel 103 displays the title of the slot machine 1, etc. Also, LED lighting is provided on the back side of the lower panel 103. The front bottom 104 is designed to allow players to place their personal belongings, etc.

[0023] The operation unit 4 includes a plurality of stop switches 40 (40a, 40b, 40c), a bet switch 41, a lever 42, a digital counter 43, a count button 44, a cancel button 45, and a performance button 46.

[0024] Near each switch of the operation unit 4, a sensor is provided that detects the operation by the player and outputs an operation signal to the control unit 6.

[0025] Each stop switch 40a, 40b, 40c is provided corresponding to each reel 20 (20a, 20b, 20c). The stop switches 40a, 40b, 40c accept an operation to stop the rotation of the corresponding reel 20a, 20b, 20c while the reel 20a, 20b, 20c is rotating.

[0026] Lamps are provided inside the stop switches 40a, 40b, and 40c. The lamps can indicate by a color (e.g., red) that the stop switches 40a, 40b, and 40c are in an inoperative state, for example, from when the lever 42 is operated until the reels 20a, 20b, and 20c reach a steady rotation state. Furthermore, the lamps can indicate by a different color (e.g., blue) that the stop switches 40a, 40b, and 40c are in an operable state, for example, from when the reels 20a, 20b, and 20c reach a steady rotation state until the stop switches 40a, 40b, and 40c are operated.

[0027] The bet switch 41 is used when a player bets game value. The credited game value and the amount of bet game value are managed by the slot machine 1 (media management unit 620). The bet switch 41 is also provided with a lamp inside or around it that lights up when the operation is valid and goes out when the operation is invalid.

[0028] In this embodiment, the lever 42 functions as a start switch that accepts an operation to rotate the reels 20a, 20b, and 20c.

[0029] The digital counter 43 digitally displays the number of gaming value credits, the number of gaming value paid out (acquired), etc. By checking the digital counter 43, the player can also check the amount of gaming value he or she possesses while playing.

[0030] The counting button 44 can accept an operation by the player to transfer the gaming value data from the media management unit 620 to the card unit 7. When the counting button 44 accepts an operation by the player, a transfer signal is generated in the counting button 44. The counting button 44 also has a lamp inside or around it that changes its light color or turns on / off depending on whether it is not being operated or is being operated.

[0031] The cancel button 45 can accept an operation by a player to change a gaming value that has been bet (betting state) to a non-betting state (non-betting state). When the cancel button 45 accepts an operation by a player, a cancel signal is generated by the cancel button 45. After that, the media management unit 620, which receives the cancel signal, manages the gaming value data that has been bet as a non-betting state. The cancel button 45 also has a lamp inside or around it that changes its light color or turns on / off depending on whether it is being operated or not.

[0032] The effect button 46 is a button used by the player when playing a game to set the light intensity of the LEDs of the illumination unit 101, set the volume of the speaker 102, check game data, and perform various other menu settings related to the game on the menu screen. The effect button 46 may also be operated by the player during play depending on the effect. When the effect button 46 is operated during play, a change occurs in the effect.

[0033] For example, when a transition to a special game state (hereinafter referred to as AT, which is assist time) is confirmed (including when the AT lottery is won, when the number of games since the end of the previous AT reaches the so-called ceiling number of games and the AT is confirmed, and when the continuation of the AT is confirmed; the same applies below), if the player presses the effect button 46 while the reels 20a, 20b, 20c are rotating, an illumination effect process is executed in which the reel lamps 23a, 23b, 23c (see Figures 4 and 5) arranged inside the reels 20a, 20b, 20c illuminate the reel belts 203a, 203b, 203c. Details of this illumination effect process will be described later.

[0034] Furthermore, when the effect button 46 is operated, a signal indicating that the effect button 46 has been operated is transmitted to the effect control unit 630.

[0035] The effect button 46 also has a lamp inside or around it that can emit light in various colors and patterns. The lamp is lit when the effect button 46 is in an enabled state, and is turned off when the effect button 46 is in an disabled state.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 2, a reset button 51 and a setting change button 52 are provided inside the housing 10.

[0037] The reset button 51 is operated to clear various errors and initialize the RAM that constitutes the control unit 6. For example, when the power of the slot machine 1 is switched from off to on while the reset button 51 is being operated, the quantity of game value managed by the media management unit 620 is cleared to "0," and the second game state of the slot machine 1 is set to the "general game state," and the game zone is set to the "normal zone."

[0038] The setting change button 52 is a button that is operated by a store staff member when one of multiple setting values ​​is set in the slot machine 1. For example, when the power of the slot machine 1 is switched from off to on while the slot machine 1 is set in the setting change mode, the setting change button 52 becomes operable, and when the setting change button 52 is operated in this state, the setting value can be set.

[0039] 2, the slot machine 1 includes a spinning reel unit 2 and a control unit 6 (consisting of a main control unit 61 mounted on a main control board P1, a game value control unit 62 mounted on a game value control board P2, and a sub-control unit 63 mounted on a sub-control board P3). The spinning reel unit 2 and the control unit 6 are arranged inside the cabinet 10 together with a power supply device for supplying voltage to the slot machine 1 and the like.

[0040] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the spinning reel unit 2 includes three spinning reels 20a, 20b, and 20c, and three stepping motors 21a, 21b, and 21c.

[0041] For example, symbols are arranged on the surfaces of the reels 20a, 20b, and 20c. When the reels 20a, 20b, and 20c stop spinning, a game result determination unit 612 (described later) determines whether the combination of symbols displayed on the pay line L (described later) is a predetermined combination of symbols, and the game progresses.

[0042] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the rotating reels 20a, 20b, and 20c are composed of first frames 201a, 201b, and 201c located on the left side of the slot machine 1, second frames 202a, 202b, and 202c located on the right side, and reel bands 203a, 203b, and 203c.

[0043] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, on the front side of the slot machine 1 inside each rotating reel 20a, 20b, 20c, reel lamps 23a, 23b, 23c are provided to illuminate the reel bands 203a, 203b, 203c from the inside, making it easier for players to see the patterns.

[0044] These reel lamps 23a, 23b, 23c increase the illuminance of the symbols at the corresponding positions on the illuminated reel bands 203a, 203b, 203c, making it easier for the player to understand the type of symbol.

[0045] More specifically, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, reel lamp 23a has light sources 231a, 232a, and 233a, respectively, for the upper, middle, and lower rows of reel 20a, reel lamp 23b has light sources 231b, 232b, and 233b, respectively, for the upper, middle, and lower rows of reel 20b, and reel lamp 23c has light sources 231c, 232c, and 233c, respectively, for the upper, middle, and lower rows of reel 20c.

[0046] In this embodiment, when a predetermined condition (transition to AT is confirmed and the player presses the effect button 46 while the reels 20a, 20b, and 20c are rotating) is met, the effect control unit 630 described below executes the illumination effect processing using the reel lamps 23a, 23b, and 23c.

[0047] The stepping motors 21a, 21b, and 21c are provided corresponding to the rotating reels 20a, 20b, and 20c, and drive the corresponding rotating reels 20a, 20b, and 20c.

[0048] The stepping motors 21a, 21b, 21c stop the rotation of the rotating reel 20 (e.g., 20a) corresponding to the operated stop switch 40 (e.g., 40a) within 190 ms after the stop switch 40a, 40b, 40c is operated while the rotating reels 20a, 20b, 20c are rotating.

[0049] The rotation and stopping of these reels 20a, 20b, and 20c and stepping motors 21a, 21b, and 21c are controlled by a reel control unit 611, which will be described later.

[0050] <The flow of play by players> The player uses the credited gaming value to bet on the slot machine 1 by outputting a bet signal from the bet switch 41. When a predetermined number (e.g., 3) of gaming value is bet on the slot machine 1, the pay line L (see FIGS. 1 and 3) is activated. After that, the lever 42 can be operated, i.e., the game can be started.

[0051] In this embodiment, the pay line L is made up of the lower row of the left reel 20a, the middle row of the middle reel 20b, and the lower row of the right reel 20c.

[0052] In this embodiment, one game (one play) refers to a series of actions in which a player operates the lever 42 and stop switches 40a, 40b, 40c, etc. to obtain a predetermined play result, including internal lottery, prize determination processing, and processing to increase or decrease play value data.

[0053] Specifically, for example, when the lever 42 is operated, an internal lottery is conducted to determine the winning flag, and the reels 20a, 20b, and 20c begin to rotate. In this state, when one of the stop switches 40a, 40b, and 40c is operated, the reel 20 (20b) corresponding to the operated stop switch 40 (for example, 40b) stops. When all the reels 20a, 20b, and 20c stop, a payout process of a predetermined amount of game value is executed according to the symbol combination (winning combination) that has aligned (won) on the pay line L. This completes one game.

[0054] At least some of the information regarding the progress of the game until these predetermined game results are obtained (for example, that the lever 42 has been operated, that the stop switch 40 has been operated, that an internal lottery has been executed, that a predetermined role has been won, that the reels have spun, etc.) is managed by the main control unit 61 implemented on the main control board P1.

[0055] <Configuration of control unit 6> As mentioned above, the control unit 6 is composed of a main control unit 61 implemented on the main control board P1, a game value control unit 62 implemented on the game value control board P2, and a sub-control unit 63 implemented on the sub-control board P3.

[0056] The main control board P1, the game value control board P2, and the sub-control board P3 each include a microcomputer, a voltage supply unit, a power interruption / recovery detection unit, a WDT (watchdog timer), and a memory unit (ROM, RAM).

[0057] The connection relationships and communication processes of the main control board P1, the game value control board P2, and the sub-control board P3 will be described below with reference to FIG.

[0058] The main control board P1 and the game value control board P2 are electrically connected by a harness, and two-way serial communication is possible.

[0059] The information and commands sent from the main control board P1 to the game value control board P2 include outer edge information, whether or not settings are being changed, commands related to various errors, a signal requesting a bet of game value when it is detected that the bet switch 41 has been operated, a signal requesting the payout of game value corresponding to a winning role, a signal requesting a bet cancellation process when the cancel button 45 has been operated, and a request for the transfer of game value when the counting button 44 has been operated.

[0060] The information and commands sent from the game value control board P2 to the main control board P1 include information that the complete function (described below) has been activated, information that the number of credits has reached the upper limit (a value set to prompt the player to transfer credits because the number of credits is too high), information regarding whether or not there is a communication abnormality between the card unit 7 and the slot machine 1, and various responses to requests from the main control unit 61.

[0061] The main control board P1 and the sub-control board P3 are electrically connected by a harness, but only one-way serial communication is carried out from the main control board P1 to the sub-control board P3.

[0062] The information and commands sent from the main control board P1 to the sub-control board P3 include information regarding game value (for example, information on bets / payouts of game value, total amount of game value won during AT), information regarding the game status and game area, information regarding the start / end of game play, information regarding the start / end of device operation, information regarding various errors, and information regarding whether the player is able to operate lever 42, etc.

[0063] The game value control board P2 and the sub-control board P3 are electrically connected by a harness, but serial communication is carried out in one direction from the game value control board P2 to the sub-control board P3.

[0064] The information and commands sent from the game value control board P2 to the sub-control board P3 include the range (MY) described below, information indicating the operation of the complete function, commands related to advance notification before the complete function is activated, information related to the transfer of game value (for example, that transfer has started, that transfer is in progress, that transfer is complete, etc.), information indicating the number of credits or the number of credits acquired, information that the number of credits has reached the upper limit, error information if a backup error in the number of credits has occurred, and information as to whether the player is able to operate the counting button 44, etc.

[0065] <Description of main control unit 61> The main control unit 61 is composed of a microcomputer MCU implemented on the main control board P1, and functions as an internal lottery unit 610, a rotating reel control unit 611, a game result determination unit 612, a setting value control unit 613, a section control unit 614, a game status control unit 615, an RT status control unit 616, and an error determination unit 617.

[0066] <Internal lottery section 610> The internal drawing unit 610 performs an internal drawing based on the operation of the lever 42, and can select one flag from among a plurality of role flags as a winning flag. In detail, the internal drawing unit 610 performs an internal drawing when a start signal is output as a result of the operation of the lever 42.

[0067] <Rotary reel control unit 611> The rotating reel control unit 611 controls the driving of the stepping motors 21a, 21b, and 21c based on the operation of the lever 42 and each stop switch 40a, 40b, and 40c, and can perform rotation start control to start the rotation of each rotating reel 20a, 20b, and 20c, or rotation stop control to stop the rotation.

[0068] After the reels 20a, 20b, and 20c start to rotate, the reel control unit 611 transmits a signal to the effect control unit 630 indicating that the reels 20a, 20b, and 20c have started to rotate.

[0069] <Explanation of the Game Result Determination Unit 612> The game result determination unit 612 can determine the game result (for example, whether or not the winning combination has been awarded) based on the internal lottery result output from the internal lottery unit 610 and the results of the rotation stop control of the rotating reels 20a, 20b, and 20c.

[0070] <Explanation of the setting value control unit 613> The setting value control unit 613 can control the progress of the game using any one of a plurality of types of setting values (e.g., 1 to 6) with different degrees of advantage in the progress control of the game based on the operation of the setting change button 52 by the store staff.

[0071] <Interval control unit 614> The interval control unit 614 can control the progress of the game by setting any one of a plurality of game intervals (normal interval and advantageous interval).

[0072] <Game state control unit 615> The game state control unit 615 can control the progress of the game by setting each of the first game state (e.g., during the execution of a special combination, inside the special combination) and the second game state (e.g., general game state, special game states such as AT, CZ, etc.).

[0073] Also, when the transition to AT is determined, the game state control unit 615 transmits an AT transition signal to the effect control unit 630.

[0074] The irradiation effect process described later is executed based on the AT transition signal transmitted to the effect control unit 630, the signal indicating that the effect button 46 has been operated, and the signal indicating that the rotation of the rotating reels 20a, 20b, 20c has started.

[0075] <RT state control unit 616> The RT state control unit 616 can control the progress of the game using one of a plurality of RT states (the table used for internal lottery and the RT state in which the replay probability is determined in advance).

[0076] <Error determination unit 617> The error determination unit 617 can determine the presence or absence of various errors. Examples of various errors include backup abnormality, communication abnormality between the main control board P1 and the game value control board P2, connection abnormality between the slot machine 1 and the card unit 7, reaching the upper limit value of the credit number, etc.

[0077] <Explanation of the gaming value control unit 62> The gaming value control unit 62 is configured by a microcomputer MCU mounted on the gaming value control board P2, and functions as a medium management unit 620 and a function operation unit 621.

[0078] <Explanation of the Media Management Unit 620> The media management unit 620 can manage the number of credits and the number of bets of the gaming value. The media management unit 620 also calculates a range (MY), which is the difference between the maximum and minimum values ​​of the difference number, using a gaming value difference number, which is the cumulative value obtained by subtracting the number of bets of the gaming value from the number of payouts of the gaming value since the slot machine 1 was last powered on. The media management unit 620 can also calculate the gaming value difference number separately from the range (MY). The gaming value difference number can be used, for example, to control the gaming interval.

[0079] <Function Activation Unit 621> The function activation unit 621 can receive information about the range (MY) transmitted from the medium management unit 620. Then, when the range (MY) becomes equal to or greater than the first range, for example, 18500, the function activation unit 621 generates information about a prior notification indicating that activation of the complete function is imminent.

[0080] This complete function is a so-called stop function, and when the complete function is activated, the slot machine 1 will no longer accept any operations related to play, and the player will not be able to continue playing (the machine will enter a state where play is not possible) unless the power is turned off and on by store staff.

[0081] <Explanation of the sub-control unit 63> The sub-control unit 63 is implemented on the sub-control board P3 and functions as a performance control unit 630 by operation using a microcomputer MCU or the like.

[0082] <Production control unit 630> By executing a performance lottery, the performance control unit 630 can determine at least one of the following as the performance pattern: a video / still image to be output on the LCD screen 3, a sound pattern to be output from the speaker 101, a lighting pattern of the lighting unit 102 such as an LED, or a lighting pattern of the performance button 46.

[0083] In addition, the performance control unit 630 executes the illumination performance process when a predetermined condition (for example, when the transition to AT is confirmed and the performance button 46 is operated while the spinning reels 20a, 20b, and 20c are rotating) is met.

[0084] In the illumination effect processing, as shown in Figure 3, the effect control unit 630 generates an effect during rotation of the reels 20a, 20b, and 20c that makes at least a portion of a location A (an example of a non-corresponding location and a first location) that is not on the active line L of the reels 20a, 20b, and 20c easier to see than a location B (an example of a corresponding location and a second location) that is located on the active line L of the reels 20a, 20b, and 20c.

[0085] In order to execute an effect in which at least a part of a location A of the rotating reels 20a, 20b, 20c that is not on the active line L is easier to see than a location B that is on the active line L, the effect control unit 630 controls the reel lamps 23a, 23b, 23c to make the illuminance of at least a part of the location A that is not on the active line L relatively higher than the illuminance of the location B that is on the active line L.

[0086] For example, in the example of Figure 3, the performance control unit 630 turns on and off light sources 231a and 232a of reel lamp 23a, light source 233b of reel lamp 23b, and light sources 232c and 231c of reel lamp 23c, which correspond to location A that is not on the valid line L, but does not turn on (put into an extinguished state) light source 233a of reel lamp 23a, light source 232b of reel lamp 23b, light source 233c of reel lamp 23c, which correspond to location B located on the valid line L, and light source 231b of reel lamp 23b at location A that is not on the valid line L.

[0087] More specifically, as shown in Fig. 3, the performance control unit 630 turns on and off the light sources in the order of light source 231a, light source 232a, light source 233b, light source 232c, and light source 231c, with light source 233a, light source 231b, light source 232b, and light source 233c turned off. As a result, a portion A that is not on the active line L lights up in a V-shape, as indicated by the arrow indicated by line F in Fig. 3.

[0088] Alternatively, the performance control unit 630 may turn on light source 231a, light source 232a, light source 233b, light source 232c, and light source 231c simultaneously without blinking, and not in sequence, while leaving light source 233a, light source 231b, light source 232b, and light source 233c turned off, or may blink light source 231a, light source 232a, light source 233b, light source 232c, and light source 231c all at once.

[0089] It should be noted that gaming machine rules prohibit lighting up the point B located on the pay line L while the reels 20a, 20b, and 20c are spinning. However, in the present disclosure, it is the point A of the reels 20a, 20b, and 20c that is not on the pay line L, and not the point B located on the pay line L, that becomes relatively brighter while the reels 20a, 20b, and 20c are spinning. Therefore, in the present disclosure, the point B located on the pay line L of the reels 20a, 20b, and 20c does not light up, and the above rule is satisfied.

[0090] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, on the reels 20a, 20b, and 20c, a position A that is not on the activated line L and a position B that is on the activated line L do not overlap, but exist mutually exclusive.

[0091] 3, in this embodiment, a line F connecting points A on the reels 20a, 20b, and 20c that are not on the pay line L intersects with the pay line L (a line connecting points B located on the pay line L) at two points. That is, the line F intersects with the pay line L at one point between the middle and bottom rows between the left reel 20a and the middle reel 20b, and at another point between the middle and bottom rows between the middle reel 20b and the right reel 20c. The line F connecting points A that are not on the pay line L refers to a line formed by connecting multiple points A across multiple reels 20a, 20b, and 20c.

[0092] <Flow of lighting effect processing> The flow of the illumination rendering process of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG.

[0093] First, the flow branches based on whether or not the transition to the AT has been confirmed (step S1).

[0094] If the transition to AT has not been confirmed (S1: NO), the illumination performance process of the present disclosure ends.

[0095] On the other hand, if the transition to the AT is confirmed (S1: YES), the flow branches based on whether or not at least one of the reels 20a, 20b, 20c is spinning (step S2).

[0096] If all of the spinning reels 20a, 20b, and 20c are stopped (S2: NO), the illumination effect process of the present disclosure ends.

[0097] On the other hand, if at least one of the reels 20a, 20b, and 20c is spinning (S2: YES), the flow branches based on whether or not the effect button 46 has been operated (step S3).

[0098] If the effect button 46 has not been operated (S3: NO), the illumination effect processing of the present disclosure ends.

[0099] On the other hand, when the effect button 46 is operated (S3: YES), the effect control unit 630 executes the illumination effect process, which makes it easier for the player to see at least a part of the portion A of the spinning reels 20a, 20b, 20c that is not on the pay line L than the portion B that is on the pay line L. Through the above-described procedure, the illumination effect processing of the present disclosure is executed.

[0100] In summary, the slot machine 1 of the present disclosure has the following features: The game machine includes rotating reels 20a, 20b, and 20c. On the rotating reels 20a, 20b, and 20c, an effect may occur in which at least a portion of a point A (an example of a plurality of first points) that is not on the activated line L is more easily visible than a point B (an example of a plurality of second points) that is on the activated line L. Part A and part B do not overlap, A line F connecting a plurality of points A and a valid line L connecting a plurality of points B intersect at two points.

[0101] <Effects of the invention> Gaming machines that illuminate the rotating reels while they are stopped have been known for some time. In such gaming machines, for example, a backlight installed inside the rotating reels illuminates the reels in a V-shape to indicate a jackpot.

[0102] However, conventional gaming machines lack interesting presentation.

[0103] In contrast to this, in this embodiment, an effect may occur in which at least a part of a point A on the rotating reels 20a, 20b, 20c that is not on the activated line L is more visible than a point B that is on the activated line L, and a line F connecting multiple points A and an activated line L that is a line connecting multiple points B intersect at two points. This makes it possible to effectively notify, for example, that a transition to the AT has been confirmed by lighting up the point A that is not on the activated line L without lighting up the point B that is on the activated line L.

[0104] As described above, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a gaming machine that can execute novel effects using a spinning reel.

[0105] [Second embodiment] 8 shows another embodiment in which the slot machine 1 has pay lines L with a different shape from that of the first embodiment. Note that the symbols used in the second embodiment are the same as those used in the first embodiment.

[0106] As shown in Figure 8(a), when the activated line L is the middle row of the left rotating reel 20a, the middle row of the middle rotating reel 20b, or the bottom row of the right rotating reel 20c, the performance control unit 630 turns on and off the light sources in the order of light source 233a, light source 231a, light source 231b, light source 233b, light source 232c, and light source 231c, with light source 232a, light source 232b, and light source 233c turned off.

[0107] In this case, line F connecting points A on the reels 20a, 20b, and 20c that are not on the activated line L intersects with activated line L (line connecting points B located on the activated line L) at three points. That is, line F intersects with activated line L at one point in the middle row of the left reel 20a, at one point in the middle row of the middle reel 20b, and at one point between the middle row and the bottom row between the middle reel 20b and the right reel 20c.

[0108] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 8(b), when the activated line L is in the middle row of the left rotating reel 20a, the bottom row of the middle rotating reel 20b, or the middle row of the right rotating reel 20c, the performance control unit 630 turns on and off the light sources in the order of light source 231a, light source 233a, light source 232b, light source 233c, and light source 231c, with light source 232a, light source 231b, light source 233b, and light source 232c turned off.

[0109] In this case, line F connecting points A on the reels 20a, 20b, and 20c that are not on the activated line L intersects with activated line L (a line connecting points B located on the activated line L) at four points. In the above example, light source 231b is kept off, but the effect control unit 630 may turn light source 231b on and off after light source 232b, rather than leaving light source 231b off. That is, line F and activated line L intersect at one point in the middle of the left reel 20a, one point between the middle and bottom rows between the left reel 20a and the middle reel 20b, one point between the middle and bottom rows between the middle reel 20a and the right reel 20b, and one point in the middle row of the right reel 20c.

[0110] In the second embodiment, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

[0111] [Other embodiments] The various control means and processing procedures described in the above embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, its applications, or its uses. The various control means and processing procedures can be appropriately modified in design without changing the gist of the present invention. Furthermore, the various control means, processing procedures, and processing contents described in each embodiment can be configured individually or combined as appropriate.

[0112] Furthermore, the various definitions used in this specification are commonly used throughout the specification unless otherwise specified in each example.

[0113] In the above embodiment, an example is described in which the illumination effect process is executed when the effect button is operated when the transition to the AT has been confirmed and at least one of the rotating reels is spinning, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. The illumination effect process may be executed only when the effect button is operated when the transition to the AT has been confirmed and all of the rotating reels are spinning. Furthermore, the illumination effect process may be executed when the effect button is operated in a state in which the rotation of one or more rotating reels has been stopped first and there is still a rotating reel.

[0114] In addition, the illumination effect process may also be executed when the transition to AT has been confirmed and the rotation of the spinning reels has begun, and the effect button is operated before all the spinning reels reach a constant speed rotation state.

[0115] Furthermore, the illumination effect process may be executed when the effect button is operated after the spinning reel has entered a constant speed spinning state and before the spinning reel stops.

[0116] In the above embodiment, an example in which the special gaming state is AT has been described, but the special gaming state is not limited to AT. For example, the special gaming state may be CZ, high probability mode (a mode in which the probability of transition to AT is high), heaven mode (a mode in which the probability of transition to AT is extremely high, or a mode in which transition to AT is confirmed), ART (assist replay time), a first-class special role, a second-class special role, a role continuous operation device for a first-class special role, a role continuous operation device for a second-class special role, etc. In other words, the illumination effect processing can be effectively used when announcing that the transition to the special gaming state has been confirmed.

[0117] In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which a line connecting points that are not on a pay line intersects with the pay line at two or more points, but these lines may intersect at one point, or even not at all. An example of lines not intersecting is when the lines are parallel to each other on the reel window.

[0118] In addition, in the above embodiment, an example is described in which the effect control unit executes the illumination effect processing when a player operates the effect button while the reels are rotating and the transition to AT has been confirmed, but the illumination effect processing is not limited to being executed when a player operates the effect button.

[0119] For example, the performance control unit may execute the illumination performance process when any of the following conditions are met: (1) a predetermined time has elapsed after the lever has been operated while the reel is rotating at a constant speed; (2) predetermined illumination performance conditions have been met; (3) an "AT Confirmed" notification screen has been displayed on the LCD screen while the reel is rotating; (4) a predetermined number of times a rare role or other predetermined role has been won; or (5) if a gimmick that lights up when the AT or the role continuous operation device for the first type special role is won has been illuminated (in this case, the illumination performance process may be executed at the same time as the gimmick lights up, or with a slight delay).

[0120] Furthermore, the illumination effect process may be executed even if the transition to the AT has not been confirmed. In this case, for example, the illumination effect process may be executed by the player pressing the effect button when a predetermined lottery is won in a specific game progress state, when predetermined points are accumulated to a predetermined value or more, when a predetermined combination is won a predetermined number of times in succession, etc.

[0121] Furthermore, the performance control unit may be able to execute setting suggestions and mode suggestions by executing the illumination performance process. By receiving information about the setting value and information about the stay mode from the main control unit, the performance control unit can, for example, execute the illumination performance process more frequently the higher the setting or the better the stay mode (for example, the higher the AT winning probability compared to other modes, or the fewer the ceiling game number that determines transition to AT compared to other modes). In other words, the performance control unit can vary the probability of executing the illumination performance process in advance depending on the setting value and mode.

[0122] In addition, the illumination effect process may be executed while the reels are rotating or while the reels are stopped. In this case, the more the illumination effect process is executed while the reels are rotating, the higher the setting value may be suggested, and the more the illumination effect process is executed while the reels are stopped, the more an even setting value may be suggested. In this way, the meaning of the setting suggestion or the stay mode suggestion may differ between while the reels are rotating and while they are stopped.

[0123] Furthermore, the player may be able to freely set whether or not the illumination effect process is executed, and at what timing the illumination effect process is executed.

[0124] In addition, in the above embodiment, an example is described in which the corresponding light source illuminates the reel band at a location that is not on the valid line and the corresponding light source does not illuminate the reel band at a location that is on the valid line, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. The light source illuminates the reel band at both a location that is not on the valid line and a location that is on the valid line, but it is sufficient that the illuminance at the location that is not on the valid line is controlled to be greater than the illuminance at the location that is on the valid line.

[0125] Furthermore, without being limited to the above embodiment, an effect may be generated in which a non-corresponding portion, which is different from the corresponding portion on the pay lines of the multiple reels, is easier to see than the corresponding portion on the pay lines of the multiple reels, in a component located closer to the operator than the multiple reels (for example, a light guide plate or a full-screen LCD screen arranged in front of the slot machine cabinet). Here, the non-corresponding portion is, for example, a portion of the light guide plate that corresponds to the area of ​​the reel window through which the reels can be seen.

[0126] In this case, the corresponding locations and the non-corresponding locations do not overlap, and the lines connecting the multiple corresponding locations and the lines connecting the multiple non-corresponding locations can intersect at least two points.

[0127] In this case, for example, the portions of the light guide plate that correspond to the pay lines of the reels can be darkened, and the portions that do not correspond to the pay lines of the reels can be brightened. In other words, the illumination effect process is executed by increasing the illuminance of the portions of the light guide plate that do not correspond to the pay lines, not of the reels themselves, but of the reels that are arranged in front of the reels, relative to the portions that are located on the pay lines.

[0128] Furthermore, without being limited to the above embodiment, the main control board and the gaming value control board may not be separate, and the main control unit and the gaming value control unit may be mounted on the main control board.

[0129] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an example is described in which the slot machine is an AT machine, but the slot machine may also be an ART (Assisted Replay Time) machine, or it may be a bonus-only slot machine that does not execute AT, ART, etc., or a slot machine that can execute both a bonus and AT (or ART).

[0130] Furthermore, while the slot machine in the above embodiment is a medal-less machine equipped with a play area, a slot machine to which the present invention is applied does not have to be equipped with a play area, and does not have to be a medal-less machine. If the slot machine is not a medal-less machine, it will need the configuration of a conventional slot machine, such as a medal insertion slot, hopper, medal payout slot, and bottom tray. [Explanation of symbols]

[0131] 1. Slot machines (gaming machines) 20a, 20b, 20c spinning reels 21a, 21b, 21c Stepping motor 23a, 23b, 23c reel lamp 46 Production button A. Not on the valid line B. Points on the valid line F Lines connecting non-compliant areas L Effective line (line connecting corresponding points)

Claims

1. It has multiple spinning reels, An effect may occur in which a plurality of first locations on the plurality of rotating reels are more easily visible than a plurality of second locations, The first location and the second location do not overlap, a line connecting the plurality of first locations and a line connecting the plurality of second locations intersect at least two points; Gaming machine.

2. It has multiple spinning reels, In a case where a plurality of first locations are more easily visible than a plurality of second locations on a member located closer to the operator than the plurality of rotating reels, the first location is a location of the portion corresponding to an area of ​​a reel window through which the reel can be viewed, The first location and the second location do not overlap, a line connecting the plurality of first locations and a line connecting the plurality of second locations intersect at least two points; Gaming machine.

3. the second location is a corresponding location corresponding to an active line on the rotating reel, the first location is a non-corresponding location on the rotating reel other than the activated line; 3. The gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2.

4. When performing an effect in which the first location is more easily visible than the second location, The illuminance at the first location is relatively higher than the illuminance at the second location. The gaming machine according to claim 1.

5. When performing an effect in which the first location is more easily visible than the second location, The illuminance of the member corresponding to the first location is made relatively higher than the illuminance of the member corresponding to the second location. The gaming machine according to claim 2.

5. An effect that makes the first location more visible than the second location may be executed during rotation of the reel.

3. The gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2.

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