Gaming Machines

Abstract

To provide a game machine capable of preventing stability of control from decreasing.SOLUTION: A game machine can display a setting confirmation screen capable of displaying a setting value, and a dispenser connection error notification screen 413 for reporting occurrence of a dispenser connection error on a display device 410. The game machine displays a setting confirmation screen on the display device 410 when a setting change switch is turned on in a state in which power is turned on and no games are underway, and continuously displays the dispenser connection error notification screen 413 on the display device 410 when the setting change switch is turned on in a state in which the dispenser connection error notification screen 413 is displayed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical field]

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

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

[0003] In the gaming machine described above, a configuration is known in which, in order to change the setting value that determines the probability of winning a role in the internal lottery, a door on the front of the gaming machine is opened and a setting key switch provided inside the gaming machine is operated (for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-182840 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In general, in a gaming machine, when a predetermined event such as an error that disables the progress of a game occurs and requires initialization to cancel the event, a door provided on the front of the gaming machine is opened and a reset switch provided inside the gaming machine is operated to initialize the gaming machine, and the event is cancelled. In a gaming machine, both canceling the event and operating the setting key switch require the operation of various switches provided inside the gaming machine, and if the setting key switch is operated while the event is occurring, there is a risk that the event will occur due to an operation unintended by the designer, and the control will become even more unstable.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that can prevent a decrease in control stability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention includes an openable and closable door and A setting change switch that can be operated by opening the door; A display means, the setting change switch is operable to switch between a first state and a second state, The display means includes a first display and a second display. The third display, It is possible to display The first display is a gaming machine is specified Setting Status To be of Notification This is a display that The second display is a display for notifying the occurrence of a predetermined event, The third display is displayed when a game can be executed, When the setting change switch is in the first state while the power is turned on and a game is not being played, the first display is displayed on the display means; When the setting change switch is switched to the first state while the second display is being displayed, the second display continues to be displayed on the display means. 、 When the second display is displayed and the setting change switch is in the first state and the predetermined event is released, the third display is displayed on the display means. The present invention is characterized in that: Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a gaming machine that can prevent a decrease in control stability. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of a gaming machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 1 is a diagram illustrating functional blocks of a gaming machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 3] 1 is a diagram showing winning areas which can be won by an internal lottery in the gaming machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and winning combinations included in each winning area. FIG. [Figure 4] (A) is a state transition diagram of the game state in a gaming machine of the first embodiment 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. [Diagram 5] 1 is a table summarizing some of the errors that may occur in the gaming machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is a front view showing the internal configuration of a gaming machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 1 is a front view showing the configuration of a main control board unit of a gaming machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] (A) is a diagram showing a state in which a normal screen is displayed on a display device in a gaming machine of a first embodiment of the present invention and the setting change switch is in the OFF state, and (B) is a diagram showing a state in which the setting change switch has been switched from the state shown in (A) to the ON state and a setting confirmation screen is displayed on the display device. [Figure 9] (A) is a diagram showing a state in which a setting confirmation screen is displayed on a display device in an gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention, and (B) is a diagram showing a state in which a rental device connection error has occurred from the state shown in (A) and a rental device connection error notification screen is displayed on the display device. [Figure 10](A) is a diagram showing a state in which the setting change switch is in the OFF state in an gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention, a rental device connection error has occurred, and a rental device connection error notification screen is displayed on the display device; (B) is a diagram showing a state in which the setting change switch has been switched to the ON state from the state shown in (A); and (C) is a diagram showing a state in which the rental device connection error has been resolved from the state shown in (B). [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing winning areas which can be won by an internal lottery in a gaming machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and winning numbers which are associated with each winning area. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of symbols on the reels in a gaming machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing winning symbol combinations of small win 1 to small win 16 and payouts for small win 1 to small win 16 in the gaming machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] 13 is a diagram showing winning symbol combinations of small winning symbols 17 to 24 and payouts for small winning symbols 17 to 24 in the gaming machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 15] 13 is a diagram showing winning symbol combinations of small winning symbols 25 to 36 and payouts for small winning symbols 25 to 36 in the gaming machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 16] 13A is a diagram showing the game results for each batting order when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 4" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 6", the winning area "Batting Order Bell 10" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 12", the winning area "Special minor role 1", and the winning area "Special minor role 2" are won by internal lottery in the non-RT state of a gaming machine of the second embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 13B is a diagram showing the game results for each batting order when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 4" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 6", the winning area "Batting Order Bell 10" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 12", the winning area "Special minor role 1", and the winning area "Special minor role 2" are won by internal lottery in the bonus formation state. [Figure 17]This figure explains the patterns that can be stopped in the middle of the middle reel depending on the timing of operating the stop button when a first type of small win is won in a game in which the winning area "Batting Order Bell 6", the winning area "Batting Order Bell 12", the winning area "Special Small Winner 1", or the winning area "Special Small Winner 2" is won in the gaming machine of the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] This figure explains the patterns that can be stopped in the middle of the middle reel depending on the timing of operating the stop button in a game in which the winning area "special small prize 1" and the winning area "special small prize 2" are won and a small prize of the second type can be won in the gaming machine of the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] (A) is a diagram explaining the symbols that can be stopped in the middle of the right reel when the win area "special minor feature 1" is won in the bonus formation state in a gaming machine of the second embodiment of the present invention, depending on the timing of the operation of the stop button when the stop button is operated at batting orders 5 and 6; (B) is a diagram explaining the symbols that can be stopped in the middle of the right reel when the win area "special minor feature 2" is won in the bonus formation state, depending on the timing of the operation of the stop button when the stop button is operated at batting orders 5 and 6. [Figure 20] This figure explains the pull-in range of the symbols that can be stopped in the middle of the left reel and the pull-in range of the watermelon symbol arranged at stop number 2 when small symbols 34 and 36 can be won on the gaming machine of the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 21] 13(A) is a diagram explaining the pattern that is displayed in a stopped state within a specific area when batting order 4 is announced in auxiliary play and the stop button is operated at batting order 4 in a gaming machine of the second embodiment of the present invention; and (B) is a diagram explaining the pattern that is displayed in a stopped state within a specific area when batting order 5 is announced in auxiliary play and the stop button is operated at batting order 5 in a gaming machine of the second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

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

[0011] 1. Overview of the gaming machine configuration FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of a slot machine 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The slot machine 1 of the first embodiment is a so-called reel type gaming machine, and is configured as a so-called medal-less gaming machine that records gaming value by electromagnetic means based on a lending signal output from a dedicated unit SU (see FIG. 2) that is provided outside the slot machine 1 and has a configuration for lending and settling medals that become gaming value by electromagnetic means, for gaming value that a player can use for playing. The slot machine 1 is configured to store information on the number of recorded gaming value as the number of medals and to be able to transmit the stored number of medals to the dedicated unit SU. The dedicated unit SU records the number of medals received from the slot machine 1 on a recording medium such as an IC card and discharges it to settle the medals.

[0012] The slot machine 1 of the first embodiment is housed in a box-shaped housing BX, a front upper door UD and a front lower door DD that can be opened and closed, and a reel unit RU consisting of a left reel R1 to a right reel R3 as a plurality of reels. The housing of the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment also houses a control board that is equipped with a CPU, a ROM (an example of an information storage medium), a 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 each frame has one of several types of patterns arranged on it.

[0014] The front upper door UD and the front lower door DD are provided so as to be able to be opened and closed separately. The front upper door UD is provided with a display device 410 as a display means for performing effects composed of various videos and images for assisting and livening up a game. In addition, the display device 410 is configured such that a specific area 410b facing the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 in a display area 410a for displaying images is composed of a transparent liquid crystal display, and the spinning state and stopped state 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 patterns (upper pattern, middle pattern, lower pattern) arranged consecutively on the outer periphery of each of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 among a plurality of types of patterns arranged at regular intervals on the outer periphery of each of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 can be observed through the display device 410 from the front of the slot machine 1.

[0015] In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, an upper, middle, and lower row are provided for each reel as display positions for observing symbols through the display device 410, and an activated line L1 is set for an activated line based on a combination of the display positions of each reel. In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the number of medals required for one game, the so-called prescribed insertion number (prescribed number), is set to three in any game state, and when medals equivalent to the prescribed insertion number are inserted, an 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 pay line L1 (on the pay line), and if the symbol combination on the pay line L1 corresponds to a predetermined role, that role is deemed to have won, and control according to the winning role is executed.

[0017] The front lower door DD is provided with various operating means. The operating means include a max bet button MB as an insert operating means for setting the medals stored in the slot machine 1 to the inserted state, a start lever SL as a game start operating means for allowing the player to execute a start operating which triggers the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 to spin and start a game, stop buttons B1 to B3 as stop operating means for allowing the player to execute a stop operating which triggers the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 rotated by a stepping motor, a count button KB as a count operating means for performing a counting operation for transmitting the medal number stored in the slot machine 1 to the dedicated unit SU, a settlement button AB for performing a settlement operation for releasing the inserted state and returning the medals set to the inserted state to the medal number counter 311 (see FIG. 2), and a performance button EB used for performance.

[0018] The presentation button EB is a presentation operation means for allowing the player to execute an operation that triggers the display of a menu screen on the display device 410 when no medals are set to an inserted state and the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 are stopped and no game is being played. The presentation button EB has a plurality of selection buttons for selecting an object from the items displayed on the menu screen, and a decision button for deciding the selected object. The items displayed on the menu screen include an item for displaying a volume adjustment screen for adjusting the volume of the sound output from the slot machine 1, an item for displaying a setting information screen for issuing setting information on the presentation environment of the slot machine 1 by a QR code (registered trademark), and the like.

[0019] 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 the stop button B1, stop button B2, and stop button B3 related to the payout of 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 medals are inserted and the start lever SL is operated.

[0020] In addition, the front lower door DD is provided with a medal count display device MD controlled by a medal count control CPU 31 (see FIG. 2). The medal count display device MD is made up of a 7-segment display or the like, and functions as a conceptual tray by displaying the medal count stored in the slot machine 1.

[0021] The front lower door DD is provided with a plurality of sound devices 420 for producing effects using sound. The sound devices 420 output various sounds to assist or liven up the game.

[0022] 2 is a functional block diagram of the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment. The slot machine 1 of the first embodiment has a main control board 10 and a sub-control board 20 as control boards. The main control board 10 has a main control CPU 11 that controls the progress of the game, and a medal count control CPU 31 that controls the medal count. The sub-control board 20 has a sub-control CPU 21 that controls the presentation related to the game.

[0023] The main control CPU 11 functions as a setting change means 100, an input receiving means 105, a random number generation means 110, an internal lottery means 120, a reel control means 130, a winning determination means 140, a payout control means 150, a game state transition control means 160, an assist time control means (AT control means) 170, and a complete control means 180. Each means constituting the main control CPU 11 reads out and executes each control program prestored in the main storage means 190 when each control process is executed.

[0024] 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. In the setting change means 100, a setting key is inserted into a setting key cylinder KC provided on the main control board 10, and a setting change switch SS provided inside the setting key cylinder KC is turned ON when the setting key is turned ON. 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 a setting change is permitted. On the other hand, the setting change means 100 is configured not to transition to a setting change permitted state when the setting change switch SS is turned ON while the power is turned on.

[0025] In the setting change permission 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. That is, the setting change means 100 of the first embodiment is configured to be able to change the setting value that is a value that can change the winning probability of a role in the internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120. In other words, the setting value is configured as a value that can change the winning probability in the internal lottery as a degree of advantage in playing.

[0026] In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, when the setting change control by the setting change means 100 is executed, the control related to the game state executed by the game state transition control means 160 and the control related 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 written as "RT") state described later, and the control related to the auxiliary game executed by the AT control means 170 before the setting change is also initialized and a normal zone is set. On the other hand, 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 again, the control related to the game state executed by the game state transition control means 160 and the control related 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 related 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.

[0027] The medal insertion acceptance means 105 accepts an input signal output when the max bet button MB is operated (bet operation) while a number of medals equal to or greater than the specified insertion number is stored in the medal count counter 311 described below during the insertion acceptance period for accepting the insertion of medals, and sets the medals stored in the medal count counter 311 to an inserted state up to the specified insertion number (3 medals), and performs processing to enable the game start operation on the start lever SL based on the fact that the medals equivalent to the specified insertion number have been set to the inserted state.

[0028] In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the first press of the start lever SL, which is activated based on the fact that the specified number of medals have been set to the inserted state, is accepted as the player's operation to start the game, and serves as a trigger for starting the rotation of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3, as well as a trigger for the internal lottery means 120, which will be described later, to execute an internal lottery.

[0029] In addition, during the period when the medals are set to the inserted state and until the start lever SL is operated to start, the deposit acceptance means 105 accepts an input signal outputted when the settlement button AB is operated, thereby cancelling the inserted state and adding the same number of medals as those set to the inserted state to the number of medals stored in the medal number counter 311, thereby settling the medals set to the inserted state.

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0036] The reel control means 130 executes reel rotation control to start the rotation drive of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 and control the rotation mode of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 based on the start operation of the start lever SL performed by the player and the output of a start signal. In addition, when the rotation state of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 becomes a steady rotation state at a predetermined speed (for example, about 80 rpm), the reel control means 130 executes control to validate a stop operation in which the stop button B1 to the stop button B3 corresponding to each reel is operated. Then, when the stop button B1 to the stop button B3 is operated to stop and a reel stop signal is output, the reel control means 130 executes control to stop each of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 corresponding to the stop button B1 to the stop button B3 that has been operated to stop (reel stop control).

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

[0038] In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 are stopped within a predetermined period of 190 ms from the time when the stop button B1 to the stop button B3 is pressed. In the following description, pressing the stop button B1 to the stop button B3 is also referred to as an operation. In addition, the slot machine 1 may be configured to output a stop signal not only when the stop button B1 to the stop button B3 are pressed, but also when an operation is performed in which the pressed stop button B1 to the stop button B3 are pressed and the pressed stop button B1 to the stop button B3 are released.

[0039] Here, when the reels are stopped within 190 ms from the time the stop button is pressed, the stop position of each reel can be rotated a maximum of four frames from the time the stop button is pressed until the reels stop, depending on the diameter and rotation speed of each reel. Therefore, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, for the left reel R1 to the right reel R3, a total of five frames from the frame displayed on the pay line L1 at the time the stop button is pressed until the reels stop four frames are the range in which the symbols can be pulled onto the pay line L1 (pulling-in range).

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

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

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

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

[0044] The payout control means 150 performs a payout process for paying out medals according to game results. Specifically, when a small winning combination is won, the payout number of medals in the game is determined based on a payout amount determined in advance for each combination, and medals equivalent to the determined payout number are added to the medal number counter 311 to virtually pay out the medals.

[0045] In addition, when the winning determination means 140 determines that a symbol combination indicating a winning replay among a plurality of types of replay roles described later is stopped and displayed on the pay line L1, and the replay wins, the payout control means 150 performs a replay process (replay process) to set the next game to a ready state in which the game can be played without inserting medals. That is, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, when the replay wins, an automatic insertion process is performed to automatically insert a specified number of medals without using medals held by the player, and the payout control means 150 waits for the start operation of the next start lever SL in a state in which the same winning line L1 as the previous game is set.

[0046] 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 the specified number of medals have been automatically inserted by the replay process but the game has not yet started, the number of medals equal to the specified number of insertions is not added to the medal count counter 311 even if the settlement button AB is operated.

[0047] The game state transition control means 160 performs a process of transitioning the game state between a plurality of game states, and a process related to the activation and termination of a bonus. Here, the transition condition for each game state may be one condition or multiple conditions. When multiple conditions are defined, the game state can be transitioned to another game state based on the establishment of any one of the multiple predetermined conditions, or the establishment of all of the multiple predetermined conditions.

[0048] The 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 an auxiliary game in which a notification to assist in the winning of a specific role is displayed on the main control display device 10D, 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 an 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 game.

[0049] The AT control data storage means 196 stores data (various flags, counters, etc. that are set to ON or OFF by a specified control process) used in various controls related to multiple types of presentation states including the normal state and AT state that are executed within the advantageous zone.

[0050] The AT control means 170 sets the presentation state to the AT state (assist time state) under a predetermined condition in the advantageous zone, and displays information (an example of operation instruction information) corresponding to the operation mode of the stop buttons B1 to B3 that enables the winning of 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 the winning of the specific role. In addition, in the slot machine 1, when the operation notification by the AT control means 170 is executed, a navigation presentation is executed by the presentation control means 200 described later, which displays an indicator corresponding to the correct hitting order 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 winning assistance of the operation notification and the navigation presentation, so that an auxiliary game (AT game, notification game) that is advantageous to the player is executed.

[0051] More specifically, when a predetermined termination condition for terminating the advantageous zone, described later, is met, the AT control means 170 executes a predetermined termination process for terminating the advantageous zone and starting the normal zone from the next game, and a predetermined initialization process for initializing information regarding the advantageous zone, such as various flags and numerical values ​​set within the advantageous zone.

[0052] 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 medals paid out from the game that started the advantageous zone by the number of medals inserted. When controlling in the advantageous zone, the AT control means 170 executes advantageous zone difference number update process that cumulatively updates the value equivalent to the difference in number of medals to the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a regardless of the game state.

[0053] In addition, in the advantageous zone difference number update process, when the number of medals paid out in the game is less than the specified number of medals, the AT control means 170 subtracts the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a, and if the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a becomes less than the value "0", the AT control means 170 sets the subtracted result to the advantageous zone counter 196a. In other words, the AT control means 170 is configured to be able to set a negative value to the advantageous zone counter 196a.

[0054] When more than 2400 medals are won in the advantageous zone, that is, when the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a exceeds the value "2400", the AT control means 170 determines that a specific end condition is met as a predetermined end condition for ending the advantageous zone, and executes a predetermined end process for ending the advantageous zone and starting the normal zone from the next game. For this reason, in the slot machine 1, for example, when the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a is a negative value of "-900" before the transition to the presentation state in which medals can be won, in the presentation state in which medals can be won, a total of 3301 medals can be won, including 900 medals until the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a becomes the value "0" and 2401 medals until the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a becomes the value "2401" or more.

[0055] 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 the ON state in the advantageous zone and values ​​set in the advantageous zone. 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 executes a predetermined initialization process and a predetermined end process when the normal end condition is met. Details of the normal end condition set by the AT control means 170 in the first embodiment will be described later.

[0056] The completion control means 180 performs control to activate a completion function as a function to stop the slot machine 1 when the cumulative number of medals acquired since the slot machine 1 was powered on reaches a predetermined value (for example, 19,000 medals). The completion control means 180 executes an update process (complete acquisition number update process) to cumulatively record a difference value (number of medals difference, number of medals acquired) obtained by subtracting the number of medals paid out in each game by the number of medals inserted after the slot machine 1 is powered on in an acquired medal number counter 197a of the completion storage means 197. Note that the completion control means 180 does not update the stored value of the acquired medal number counter 197a when a replay wins.

[0057] In a complete winning number update process for updating the stored value of the winning medal number counter 197a, if the stored value of the winning medal number counter 197a becomes less than the value "0" when the number of medals paid out in the game is less than the specified number of medals inserted and the stored value of the winning medal number counter 197a is subtracted, the complete control means 180 sets the stored value of the winning medal number counter 197a to the value "0." This allows the complete control means 180 to fix the value when the stored value of the winning medal number counter 197a is at the lowest point to the value "0," so that in the control process using the stored value of the winning medal number counter 197a, it is not necessary to vary the value serving as the judgment threshold according to the specific numerical value at the lowest point, and the load of the control process using the stored value of the winning medal number counter 197a can be reduced.

[0058] The complete control means 180 determines that the conditions for activating the complete function are met when the number of medals won from the lowest point of the number of medals paid out after the slot machine 1 is turned on reaches 19,000, that is, when the stored value of the medal winning count counter 197a reaches the value "19,000."

[0059] 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 are operating, the complete control means 180 operates the complete function based on the establishment of a condition for activating the complete function in a game in which the condition is established, after the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated to stop and the left reel R1 to right reel R3 are stopped.

[0060] 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 are stopped in a game in which the activated RB, RBB or CBB has ended.

[0061] 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 the slot machine 1 is in a state where play cannot be performed thereafter 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 initialized by opening the front upper door UD of the slot machine 1 and operating the setting change button BS provided inside, and is set to the OFF state. Due to this configuration, in the slot machine 1, when the complete function is activated, the complete function is not released by the player's operation.

[0062] The sub-control CPU 21 functions as a performance control means 200. Each means constituting the sub-control CPU 21 reads out and executes each control program pre-stored in the sub-storage means 210 when executing each control process.

[0063] The performance control means 200 performs control related to performances related to the game, such as image and video performances performed using the display device 410 and sound performances performed using the sound device 420, based on the performance data stored in the performance control data storage means 211 of the sub-storage means 210. Specifically, when the player operates each component of the slot machine 1 by operating the max bet button MB, the start lever SL, the stop buttons B1 to B3, and the count button KB, or when a game event such as a change in the game state occurs, the performance control means 200 performs execution control of performances that liven up the game, assist the game, and notify the player that an operation has been performed by executing performances using lighting or blinking of lamps and LEDs, and sound output from the sound device 420. In addition, the performance control means 200 causes each component constituting the performance device 400 to execute a performance based on each performance state.

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

[0066] When the count button KB is operated while the game is available, the medal count control means 300 transmits a value corresponding to the medal count stored in the medal count counter 311 to the dedicated unit SU via the lending device connection terminal board 40, and subtracts the medal count corresponding to the transmitted value from the medal count counter 311. Here, "while the game is available" 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, the gaming machine or the dedicated unit SU are not undergoing maintenance, and no error that makes it impossible to play the game has occurred. In addition, when the slot machine 1 is not connected to the dedicated unit SU, the operation of the count button KB is disabled, thereby preventing a state in which a signal is not transmitted to the dedicated unit SU even though the stored value of the medal count counter 311 has been subtracted.

[0067] If the count button KB is pressed for less than 500 ms, the medal count control means 300 transmits a value "1" corresponding to one medal to the dedicated unit SU via the lending device connection terminal board 40, and subtracts the value stored in the medal count counter 311 by the value "1." If the count button KB is pressed for 500 ms or more, the medal count control means 300 transmits a value "50" corresponding to 50 medals to the dedicated unit SU via the lending device connection terminal board 40 after 500 ms has elapsed, and subtracts the value stored in the medal count counter 311 by the value "50." Thereafter, every time 300 ms elapses while the count button KB is pressed, the medal count control means 300 transmits a value "50" corresponding to 50 medals to the dedicated unit SU via the lending device connection terminal board 40, and subtracts the value stored in the medal count counter 311 by the value "50." In addition, 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 stored value of the medal count counter 311 by the value corresponding to the stored value, thereby setting the stored value of the medal count counter 311 to the value "0".

[0068] 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 more medals than the 16368 medals set as the limit to be stored in the slot machine 1 have been stored. 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 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 released. This will be described in more detail later.

[0069] When the power is turned on while a medal count clear button CL provided inside the gaming machine is pressed, the medal count control means 300 initializes the medal count counter 311 and clears (initializes) the medal count to set 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 medal count remaining in the medal count counter 311 before the power was turned off.

[0070] 2. Configuration of the gaming machine in the first embodiment Next, the components of the slot machine 1 in the first embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

[0071] <Stop button> In the first embodiment, LEDs that can be lit in a first color, red, a second color, blue, and a third color, purple, are provided inside the stop buttons B1 to B3 in the slot machine 1. In the first embodiment, the lighting modes of the LEDs provided inside the stop buttons B1 to B3 are controlled by the sub-control CPU 21.

[0072] When the slot machine 1 enables the stop operation of the stop buttons B1 to B3, the LEDs arranged inside the enabled stop buttons B1 to B3 are lit in blue, and the LEDs arranged inside the stop buttons B1 to B3 for which the stop operation is disabled are lit in red.

[0073] Specifically, in slot machine 1, from the time when left reel R1 to right reel R3 are stopped until left reel R1 to right reel R3 start to rotate at a steady state, the LEDs inside stop buttons B1 to B3 light up in red, and once left reel R1 to right reel R3 start to rotate at a steady state, the LEDs inside stop buttons B1 to B3 light up in blue.

[0074] In addition, in the slot machine 1, when any of the stop buttons B1 to B3 whose internal LEDs are lit blue is pressed, the internal LEDs of all of the stop buttons B1 to B3 light up red at the time of pressing, and when the pressed stop button is released, the internal LEDs of the stop button other than the pressed stop button light up blue again. In addition, in the slot machine 1, the LEDs disposed inside the pressed stop button change from blue to red, and then remain lit up red.

[0075] Specifically, in slot machine 1, for example, when the left reel R1 to right reel R3 are rotating steadily and the first stop operation is executed on stop button B1, when stop button B1 is pressed the LEDs inside stop buttons B1 to B3 change from blue to red, and when stop button B1 is released the LEDs inside stop buttons B2 and B3 change from red to blue, but the LED inside stop button B1 remains lit red.

[0076] In addition, in the slot machine 1, when the setting change switch SS is switched to the ON state while an error occurs, and the error is released while the setting change switch SS is maintained in the ON state, the LEDs inside the stop buttons B1 to B3 are lit in purple. Details of when the LEDs inside the stop buttons B1 to B3 are lit in purple will be described later.

[0077] <Winning areas subject to internal lottery> 3 is a diagram showing winning areas that are the subject of internal lottery in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, and winning numbers and winning combinations that correspond to each winning area. Note that the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment has an RBB as a bonus, which is a continuous operation device for a special first type bonus.

[0078] As shown in Fig. 3, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the winning areas that are the subject of the internal lottery include the winning area "all small roles", the winning area "all 1-coin roles", the winning area "Replay A" to the winning area "Replay C", the winning area "batting order bell 1" to the winning area "batting order bell 12", the winning area "RBB & 1-coin roles", the winning area "RBB & rare roles", and the winning area "RBB", which are associated with the winning numbers 1 to 20, respectively. In addition, in the slot machine 1, the winning number 0 is associated with a non-win (miss) as a result of the internal lottery.

[0079] Here, the "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 is also referred to as the "operation timing."

[0080] In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the batting order, which is the order in which the three stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated, is composed 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 so-called "scissors hit". 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 hit". 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.

[0081] In the random number determination process, the internal lottery means 120 determines whether each winning area is a winner in order from the winning area corresponding to the winning number 20 to the non-winning area corresponding to the winning number 0.

[0082] In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, there are small roles 1 to 10 as small roles that can be won if the internal lottery is won, and there are Replays 1 to 3 as replays that can be won in the internal lottery. Each small role and each replay is associated with each winning area by the combination shown in FIG. 3. Also, as shown in FIG. 3, in the slot machine 1, the winning area "RBB & 1 coin role" and the winning area "RBB & rare role" are set as winning areas including bonus and small roles, and the winning area "RBB" is set as a winning area including only bonus.

[0083] In the slot machine 1, the winning area "Replay C" is set to a lower winning probability than the winning areas of other replays. Also, in the slot machine 1, the winning area "RBB & Rare Role" is set to a lower winning probability than each winning area including the winning area "Battle Order Bell 1" to the winning area "Battle Order Bell 12" and the small role of the winning area "RBB & 1 coin role".

[0084] Here, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the role to which the carryover possible flag is associated is RBB, and the small role and replay are associated with the non-carryover possible flag. That is, in the lottery flag setting process, when a winning area including RBB is won in the internal lottery, a process is performed to carry over the established state of the lottery flag of the winning RBB until the RBB wins. At this time, the internal lottery means 120 performs an internal lottery to determine whether or not the small role and replay are won, even in a game in which the established state of the lottery flag of RBB is carried over. That is, in the lottery flag setting process, when a small role or replay is won in a game in which the established state of the lottery flag of RBB is carried over, the lottery flag corresponding to two or more roles consisting of the lottery flag of the already won RBB and the lottery flag of the small role or replay won in the internal lottery is set to an established state.

[0085] <Internal lottery table> In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, as the internal lottery tables used in the internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120, an internal lottery table used in the non-RT state (normal 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) are stored 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.

[0086] <Random number determination process> In the random number determination process, the internal lottery means 120 of the first embodiment sequentially subtracts the random number obtained from the random number generation means 110 by the lottery value numbers corresponding to each winning area in the internal lottery table obtained from the internal lottery table storage means 192, and when the result of the subtraction is a negative value, it determines that the winning area corresponding to the subtracted lottery value number has been won. Also, when the result of the subtraction is a positive value at the time when the internal lottery means 120 has finished subtracting all the lottery value numbers stored in the internal lottery table, it determines that none of the roles have been won.

[0087] <Details of the batting order bell> In the first embodiment, the winning areas "batting order bell 1" to "batting order bell 12" are set with batting orders (correct batting orders) that allow small wins 1 to 6 to be won if the winning areas are won.

[0088] In the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" and "Batting Order Bell 7", the correct batting order that will allow minor role 1 to be won is set to batting order 1, in the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 2" and "Batting Order Bell 8", the correct batting order that will allow minor role 2 to be won is set to batting order 2, in the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 3" and "Batting Order Bell 9", the correct batting order that will allow minor role 3 to be won is set to batting order 3, in the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 4" and "Batting Order Bell 10", the correct batting order that will allow minor role 4 to be won is set to batting order 4, in the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 5" and "Batting Order Bell 11", the correct batting order that will allow minor role 5 to be won is set to batting order 5, and in the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 6" and "Batting Order Bell 12", the correct batting order that will allow minor role 6 to be won is set to batting order 6. The winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" through "Batting Order Bell 12" are configured so that when stop buttons B1 through B3 are operated in a batting order that is different from the correct batting order set for each winning area, there is a 1 / 2 probability that small prize 7 or small prize 8 will win, and there is a 1 / 2 probability that a pattern combination different from the winning pattern combination of either role will be stopped and displayed on the active line L1, resulting in a missed win (non-winning).

[0089] <Reel control means> In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, in any game state, the priority order of the winning combinations to be stopped on the pay line L1 in the reel stop control is set in the order of "replay>small combination>bonus." In other words, when a bonus and a small combination or a bonus and a replay are won in combination, the reel control means 130 executes stop control to give priority to the bonus and win the small combination or the replay.

[0090] As described above, the reel control means 130 is configured to be capable of rotating 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 capable of stopping and displaying the symbols arranged on the left reel R1 through the right reel R3 at intervals of four frames or less on the pay line L1 regardless of the timing of pressing the stop buttons B1 through B3.

[0091] <Small prize payout> The payouts for small wins 1 to 6 are set to a payout number (15 coins) that is greater than the specified number of coins (3 coins). The payouts for small wins 7 to 9 are set to a payout number (1 coin) that is less than the specified number of coins. The payout for small wins 10 is set to a payout number (3 coins) that is equal to the specified number of coins.

[0092] <Game state transition control means> FIG. 4(A) is a state transition diagram showing game states to which a transition can be made from each game state in the control relating to the transition of the game state executed by the game state transition control means 160 of the first embodiment.

[0093] As shown in Fig. 4(A), the non-RT state is a gaming state (initial gaming state, normal gaming state) that corresponds to the initial state among a plurality of gaming states, and is a non-bonus state in which a bonus is not activated or established. In the non-RT state, the gaming state transition control means 160 causes the internal lottery means 120 to execute an internal lottery using the internal lottery table A in which the probability of winning a replay is set to 8978 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 7.3).

[0094] The RBB internal state is a game state to which the player enters when the winning area "RBB & 1 coin role", the winning area "RBB & rare 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. In the RBB internal state, the game state transition control means 160 causes the internal lottery means 120 to execute an internal lottery using the internal lottery table B in which the winning probability of replay is set to 8982 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 7.3).

[0095] The RBB state is a game state to which the game state is transitioned when the RBB is won and the RBB is activated. In the RBB state, the game state transition control means 160 determines that the RBB termination condition is met when a number of medals exceeding a predetermined payout number (for example, 100 medals) are paid out, terminates the operation of the RBB, and transitions the game state to a non-RT state. In the RBB state, the game state transition control means 160 causes the internal lottery means 120 to execute an internal lottery using the internal lottery table C.

[0096] In the internal lottery table C, random numbers are associated with the winning area "All Small Winnings", which is a winning area for winning all small winnings from Small Winnings 1 to Small Winnings 10, and the winning area "All 1 Coin Winnings", which is a winning area for winning all small winnings with a payout set to 1 coin.

[0097] In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the probability of winning the winning area "All Small Roles" or the winning area "All 1 Coin Roles" while the RBB is in operation is higher than the probability of winning any of the winning areas including small roles in a game state in which the RBB is not in operation, and when the RBB is in operation, the probability of winning the winning area "All Small Roles" is set to be the same as the sum of the probability of winning any one of the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 6" and any one of the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 7" to "Batting Order Bell 12" in a game state in which the RBB is not in operation.

[0098] Due to such a configuration, in the gaming state where the RBB is operating, the winning probabilities of all minor winning combinations in the gaming state when the RBB is not operating are increased, and the probability of winning any minor winning combination is also configured to be the same or increased.

[0099] Also, during the operation of the RBB, the probability of winning the winning area "All Minor Winning Combinations" of the slot machine 1 is configured to be lower than the probability of winning any one of the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 12" (the winning probability obtained by summing up the winning probabilities of each of the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 12").

[0100] With such a configuration, in the first embodiment, after reducing the lower limit of the expected value of the medal acquisition rate in the state where the RBB is operating to less than 100%, the medal acquisition performance regarding the state where the RBB is not operating can be designed, so that the design freedom of the slot machine 1 can be significantly improved.

[0101] <AT Control Means> FIG. 4(B) is a state transition diagram showing details of the normal section and the advantageous section controlled by the AT control means 170 of the first embodiment, and the production state controlled during the advantageous section.

[0102] As described above, the normal section is a period during which control regarding the auxiliary game based on the result of the internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120 is not executed. 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 in the game during the normal section.

[0103] In the advantageous zone lottery, the AT control means 170 first obtains an advantageous zone transition lottery table, which is a data table in which "start of advantageous zone" and "miss (no win)" are associated with each of a plurality of random numbers, from the AT control data storage means 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 zone transition lottery table, and determines whether or not to start an advantageous zone based on the comparison result.

[0104] The AT control means 170 executes the advantageous zone lottery so that the probability obtained by multiplying the winning probability of the winning area selected in the internal lottery by the winning probability of the "start of the advantageous zone" in the advantageous zone lottery is 1 / 17500 or more.

[0105] The AT control means 170 of the first embodiment is configured to execute a favorable zone lottery when the winning area "batting order bell 1" to the winning area "batting order bell 12", the winning area "RBB & rare role", the winning area "RBB & 1 coin role", the winning area "Replay A", or the winning area "Replay C" is won in the internal lottery, and not to execute a favorable zone lottery when another winning area is won. Also, the AT control means 170 executes a favorable zone lottery that wins the "start of the favorable zone" with a high probability of about 1 / 1.5.

[0106] In the advantageous zone, the AT control means 170 has a normal state, a CZ state, and an AT state as states (presentation states) related to the instruction function, and in the normal state, it is configured not to execute the winning assistance of small prize 1 to small prize 6 when the winning area "batting order bell 1" to the winning area "batting order bell 12" are won, and in the CZ state and the AT state, it is configured to execute the winning assistance of small prize 1 to small prize 6 when the winning area "batting order bell 1" to the winning area "batting order bell 12" are won. Also, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment is configured so that the ratio of staying in the advantageous zone during the entire game can be 70% or more.

[0107] The normal state is a presentation state (normal presentation state) that corresponds to a normal state among multiple types of presentation states, and is set when there is no transition to another presentation state. When the presentation state transitions to the normal state, the AT control means 170 executes an incremental update to add a value "1" corresponding to one game to a normal game number counter (not shown) that counts the number of games played in the normal state each time a game is played. When the stored value of the normal game number counter becomes a value "700", the AT control means 170 determines that a transition condition to the CZ state (CZ transition condition) has been established, and transitions the presentation state from the normal state to the CZ state.

[0108] The AT control means 170 is configured to execute a CZ lottery to determine whether or not to transition to the CZ state in a game in which a winning area not including an RBB is won in an internal lottery in the normal state. In addition, the AT control means 170 is configured to execute a CZ lottery in which, when the winning area "Replay C" is won in the internal lottery, the player is more likely to win the "transition to the CZ state" than when a winning area not including an RBB and different from the winning area "Replay C" is won, thereby increasing the probability of a favorable result for the player. When the "transition to the CZ state" is won in the CZ lottery, the AT control means 170 transitions the presentation state from the normal state to the CZ state.

[0109] In addition, when the winning area "RBB & rare role" is won in the internal lottery, the AT control means 170 executes a normal AT lottery to select whether or not to transition to the AT state, and when "transition to AT state" is won, it determines that the transition condition to the AT state (AT transition condition) is met, and transitions from the normal state to the AT state.

[0110] The 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 or not 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 CZ state, the AT control means 170 sets a value corresponding to a predetermined number of games (for example, 10 games) to the CZ game number counter (not shown) of the AT control data storage means 196, and executes a decrement update that subtracts the stored value of the CZ game number counter by the value "1" corresponding to one game each time a game is executed.

[0111] The AT control means 170 is configured to execute a CZ AT lottery to determine whether or not to transition to the AT state during each game in the CZ state. If the "transition to the AT state" is selected in the CZ AT lottery, the AT control means 170 transitions the presentation state from the CZ state to the AT state after 10 games have been played since the start of the CZ state.

[0112] The AT control means 170 executes a CZ set number addition lottery to determine whether or not to add (add) to the number of times one set of the AT state is executed for the AT state to which the CZ state is transitioned during play until the CZ state ends after the "transition to AT state" has been won in the CZ AT lottery.

[0113] On the other hand, if 10 games are played in the CZ state without winning the ``transition to AT state'' in the AT lottery during the CZ, the AT control means 170 ends the CZ state and transitions the presentation state to the normal state.

[0114] The AT control means 170 is configured to execute the lottery for the auxiliary game executed in the CZ state (AT lottery during CZ, set number addition lottery during CZ) regardless of the result of the internal lottery. Also, the AT control means 170 is configured to execute the lottery for the auxiliary game executed in the CZ state so that the probability of "not winning (missing)" is lower when the winning area "Replay C" is won in the internal lottery and when the winning area "RBB & Rare role" is won, compared to when other winning areas are won, resulting in a favorable result for the player (if the AT lottery is executed during CZ, the probability of "transition to AT state" is higher).

[0115] The AT state is a presentation state that is more advantageous to the player than the normal state, because when the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 12" are won, the winning assistance of small prizes 1 to 6 is executed.

[0116] At the start of the AT state, the AT control means 170 sets an initial value (50 games) corresponding to a predetermined number of games in an AT game number counter (not shown) in the AT control data storage means 196, and performs a decrement update each time a game is played, subtracting the stored value of the AT game number counter by the value "1" corresponding to one game.

[0117] In addition, when the winning area "RBB & rare role" is won in the internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120, or when the winning area "Replay C" is won, the AT control means 170 executes an addition lottery to determine whether or not to add (add) the period during which the AT state continues by determining whether or not to add a value determined by lottery to the stored value of the AT game number counter, and is configured to execute an addition process to add the determined value to the AT game number counter when the value determined by the addition lottery is 1 or greater.

[0118] When the stored value of the AT game number counter becomes "0" due to a decrement update performed each time a game is played in the AT state, the AT control means 170 determines that the termination condition of the AT state (AT termination condition) has been met, terminates the AT state, and determines that the normal termination condition among the termination conditions of the advantageous zone has been met, and executes a predetermined initialization process which is a process of initializing information regarding the advantageous zone, and a predetermined termination process which ends the advantageous zone and starts the normal zone from the next game.

[0119] In addition, when the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a exceeds the value "2400" during the AT state, the AT control means 170 determines that the AT termination condition has been met, terminates the AT state, and determines that a specific termination condition among the advantageous zone termination conditions has been met, and executes a predetermined initialization process which is a process for initializing information related to the advantageous zone, and a predetermined termination process which ends the advantageous zone and starts the normal zone from the next game.

[0120] When the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a reaches the value "2000" in the AT state, the AT control means 170 decides to continue the AT state until the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a exceeds the value "2400", and stops updating the AT game number counter. This state in which the update of the AT game number counter is stopped and the AT state continues until the stored value of the advantageous zone counter 196a exceeds the value "2400" constitutes the ending state in the first embodiment. The fact that it is in the ending state is notified by the ending display by the performance control means 200.

[0121] When the AT state ends, the performance control means 200 executes a display related to the end of the AT state. In the display related to the end of the AT state, the performance control means 200 displays an AT result image showing the result of the AT state of the number of games executed in the current AT state and the number of medals acquired in the current AT state, and a warning image as an image for preventing the player from being excessively absorbed in the game, so-called addiction or dependence on the game, by calling the player's attention to continuing the game.

[0122] As shown in Fig. 4(B), the AT control means 170 is configured to set the presentation state at the start of the advantageous zone to the CZ state when the "start of advantageous zone" is selected in the advantageous zone lottery in the normal zone and the advantageous zone starts. Also, as described above, the AT control means 170 is configured to end the advantageous zone and start the normal zone when the AT state ends.

[0123] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment is configured such that the CZ state starts when the AT state ends and the normal zone transitions to the advantageous zone, so that the probability of transitioning back to the AT state is higher than when the normal state is set at the start of the normal zone. As a result, once the AT state is started, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment can start the AT state again via the normal zone and the CZ state, so that medals can be earned through multiple AT states, and the player's interest in playing can be increased.

[0124] <Complete control means> As described above, the completion control means 180 activates the completion function when the stored value of the acquired medal number counter 197a reaches the value "19000." In other words, the completion control means 180 is configured to control whether or not to activate the completion function by referring to the stored value of the acquired medal number counter 197a, which is different from the medal number counter 311 controlled by the medal number control means 300.

[0125] When the stored value of the medal acquisition counter 197a reaches the value "18000", that is, when the number of medals acquired from the lowest point of the number of medals paid out since the slot machine 1 was turned on reaches 18000, the presentation control means 200 executes a complete advance notification presentation that notifies the player that the complete function will be activated by acquiring the remaining 1000 medals.

[0126] In the complete advance notification performance, the performance control means 200 outputs a complete advance notification sound as a sound notifying that the complete function will be activated when 1000 medals remain to be acquired from the audio device 420. In addition, the performance control means 200 displays a complete advance notification image on the display device 410 as a display notifying that the complete function will be activated when 1000 medals remain to be acquired.

[0127] When the complete advance notification image is displayed, the performance control means 200 ends the display of the complete advance notification image when the complete function is activated or when the stored value of the medal acquisition number counter 197a becomes less than a predetermined end value (for example, a value "17970"). In other words, when the complete function is activated, the performance control means 200 ends the display of the complete advance notification image and displays a complete notification image (complete notification display) that notifies that the complete function has been activated, and when the number of medals required to be acquired until the complete function is activated becomes more than 30 medals out of the remaining 1000 medals, the performance control means 200 ends the display of the complete advance notification image and displays an image according to the progress of the game.

[0128] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment can end the display of the complete pre-notification image in response to a decrease in the possibility of the complete function being activated if, after displaying the complete pre-notification image, no medals are acquired and more than 30 medals are consumed, thereby preventing the complete pre-notification image from continuing to be displayed for a long period of time without the complete function being activated and preventing a decrease in the player's interest in the presentation.

[0129] <Performance control means> When the number of medals stored in the medal count counter 311 reaches 15,000 or more, a possession number warning occurs and medals cannot be lent out, so the performance control means 200 executes a count prompt performance to encourage the player to count. In the count prompt performance, the performance control means 200 displays a count prompt image on the display device 410 as a display encouraging the player to count medals by operating the count button KB to cancel the possession number warning, since a possession number warning has occurred.

[0130] Furthermore, when the number of medals stored in the medal number counter 311 becomes 16,369 or more, the performance control means 200 executes an overflow notification performance to notify that a medal overflow has occurred and a medal overflow error, which will be described later, has occurred. In the overflow notification performance, the performance control means 200 outputs a medal overflow notification sound as a sound to notify that a medal overflow has occurred from the audio device 420. Furthermore, the performance control means 200 displays a medal overflow notification image on the display device 410 as an indication to notify that a medal overflow has occurred.

[0131] When the counting button KB is operated to count the medals, the performance control means 200 outputs a counting sound indicating that counting is being performed from the audio device 420 each time a signal related to the medal count is transmitted from the medal count control means 300 to the dedicated unit SU. In other words, when the counting button KB is continuously pressed for 500 ms or more and more than 50 medals are counted, the performance control means 200 outputs a counting sound when 500 ms has elapsed since the counting button KB began to be pressed, and thereafter outputs the counting sound each time 300 ms has elapsed and medals are counted.

[0132] Furthermore, the performance control means 200 of the first embodiment is configured to be able to display on the display device 410 a setting confirmation screen 412 (see FIG. 8) that allows the setting values ​​stored in the setting value storage means 191 to be displayed (confirmed) as preset settings of the slot machine 1 when the setting change switch SS is turned ON by inserting and turning a setting key into the setting key cylinder KC while the slot machine 1 is powered on. The setting confirmation screen 412 will be described later in detail.

[0133] 3. Relationship between errors occurring on gaming machines and setting changes Next, a detailed description will be given of a case where the occurrence of an error and the display of the setting confirmation screen 412 overlap in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment.

[0134] <Errors occurring on gaming machines> Fig. 5 is a table summarizing some of the errors that may occur in the slot machine 1. Fig. 5 lists five types of errors, namely, a backup error, a medal overflow error, a dispensing device connection error, a shot stop error, a possession number warning, and a door open error, as well as a possession number warning, but errors other than those shown in Fig. 5 may occur in the slot machine 1, and the details of these errors will be omitted.

[0135] A backup error is an error that occurs when the backup of the RWM of the main control board 10 fails. When a backup error occurs, the main control CPU 11 displays the error code "E0" on the main control display device 10D. When the power is turned on, the main control CPU 11 compares the checksum of the data backed up before the power was turned off with the checksum calculated when the power was turned on, and determines that a backup error has occurred if the values ​​are different. When a backup error occurs, the slot machine 1 is unable to play the game, and the error is released by opening the front upper door UD of the slot machine 1 and operating the setting change button BS provided inside to initialize the slot machine.

[0136] A medal overflow error occurs when the number of medals stored in the medal count counter 311 exceeds 16,369. When a medal overflow error occurs, the main control CPU 11 displays the error code "E1" on the main control display device 10D. When a medal overflow error occurs, the slot machine 1 is unable to play the game, and the medal count is performed by operating the count button KB. The error is released when the number of medals stored in the medal count counter 311 falls to 16,368 or less.

[0137] A rental device connection error is an error that occurs when the dedicated unit SU is not connected to the rental device connection terminal board 40. When a rental device connection error occurs, the main control CPU 11 displays the error code "E2" on the main control display device 10D. When a rental device connection error occurs, the slot machine 1 is unable to play the game, and the error is released when the dedicated unit SU is connected to the rental device connection terminal board 40.

[0138] A play stop error occurs when the number of medals acquired since power-on exceeds 19,000 and the complete function is activated by the complete control means 180. When a play stop error occurs, the main control CPU 11 displays the error code "E3" on the main control display device 10D. When a play stop error occurs, the slot machine 1 is unable to continue playing, and the error can be released by opening the front upper door UD of the slot machine 1 and operating the setting change button BS provided inside to initialize the slot machine.

[0139] The possession number warning occurs when the number of medals stored in the medal count counter 311 becomes 15,000 or more. When the possession number warning occurs, the slot machine 1 can proceed with the game, but when a lending signal transmitted from the dedicated unit SU is received, a signal indicating that a possession number warning has occurred is transmitted, so that the medals are not lent out and the stored value of the medal count counter 311 is not incremented. In the slot machine 1, the counting button KB is operated to count the medals, and the possession number warning is released when the number of medals stored in the medal count counter 311 becomes 14,999 or less, or when the medals are set to the inserted state by the execution of the game and the number of medals stored in the medal count counter 311 becomes 14,999 or less. Note that the possession number warning is merely a warning that allows the game to continue although medals are no longer lent out, and there is no need to open the front upper door UD and the front lower door DD when releasing the warning. For this reason, the main control CPU 11 does not display an error code on the main control display device 10D.

[0140] A door open error occurs when the front upper door UD or the front lower door DD is open. When a door open error occurs, the main control CPU 11 displays the error code "E4" on the main control display device 10D. When a door open error occurs, the slot machine 1 is unable to play the game, and the error is released when the open door of the front upper door UD or the front lower door DD is closed. In the following description, the front upper door UD and the front lower door DD are collectively referred to as the front door.

[0141] In the slot machine 1, the presence or absence of a possession number warning and the presence or absence of a medal overflow error are determined by referring to the stored value of the medal count counter 311, and when the stored value of the medal count counter 311 becomes a value of "15000" or more, a possession number warning is generated and the lending of medals by the dedicated unit SU is stopped, and when the stored value of the medal count counter 311 becomes a value of "16369" or more, a medal overflow error occurs and the game cannot proceed until the medals are counted. In addition, in the slot machine 1, the presence or absence of a play stop error is determined by referring to the stored value of the medal acquisition counter 197a, and when determining whether or not a play stop error has occurred, the stored value of the medal count counter 311 is not referred to.

[0142] Due to this configuration, in the slot machine 1, if a play stop error occurs when the stored value of the medal count counter 311 is less than the value "15000", it is possible to not only count the medals but also lend out the medals.

[0143] In addition, when the condition for a play stop error to occur and the condition for a medal overflow error to occur are met at the same time, specifically, when the stored value of the medal count counter 311 becomes equal to or greater than the value "16369" and the stored value of the medal winning count counter 197a becomes equal to or greater than the value "19000" in a game in which any of the minor prizes 1 to 6 is won, the presentation control means 200 displays a medal overflow notification image notifying the occurrence of a medal overflow error in preference to a complete notification image notifying the occurrence of a play stop error by activation of the complete function.

[0144] As described above, the play stop error is an error that occurs based on the operation of the complete function, and the game center is configured to stop the operation of the gaming machine on which the play stop error occurred on the day the play stop error occurred. On the other hand, the medal overflow error is an error that is released when the medal counting value of the medal count counter 311 becomes equal to or less than the value "16368" by operating the counting button KB and counting the medals.

[0145] Due to this configuration, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment notifies the player of a medal overflow error, which is an error that can be quickly cleared by the player operating the counting button KB, in priority to a play stop error that cannot be cleared by the player and cannot be cleared until the amusement arcade closes, preventing a state in which multiple errors occur simultaneously from continuing for a long period of time and suppressing an excessive increase in the processing load on the main control CPU 11 due to the occurrence of multiple errors.

[0146] Furthermore, when a stop error occurs and another error occurs, specifically when a stop error occurs and the dedicated unit SU becomes disconnected from the rental device connection terminal board 40, the performance control means 200 displays a rental device connection error notification image that notifies the occurrence of the rental device connection error in preference to the complete notification image. As described above, the rental device connection error is an error that is cleared by connecting the dedicated unit SU to the rental device connection terminal board 40.

[0147] Due to this configuration, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment notifies the player of a rental device connection error, which is an error that can be quickly cleared by the amusement center staff, in priority to a play stop error that cannot be cleared by the player and cannot be cleared until the amusement center closes, preventing a state in which multiple errors occur simultaneously from continuing for a long period of time and suppressing an excessive increase in the processing load on the main control CPU 11 due to the occurrence of multiple errors.

[0148] <Main control board configuration> Fig. 6 is a front view showing the state in which the front door of the slot machine 1 is open. As shown in Fig. 6, in the slot machine 1, the main control board unit 10U is provided on the upper side facing the front upper door UD inside the cabinet BX, and the power supply unit PU and the medal control board unit 30U are provided on the lower side facing the front lower door DD. In the first embodiment, the sub-control board unit including the sub-control board 20 is provided on the back side of the front upper door UD.

[0149] In the slot machine 1, the power is turned on by opening the lower front door DD and turning on the power button on the power supply unit PU. In addition, in the slot machine 1, the setting key can be inserted into the setting key cylinder KC on the main control board unit 10U by opening the upper front door UD.

[0150] Fig. 7 is a front view showing the main control board unit 10U. In the examples shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, the cover member covering the setting key cylinder KC and the setting change switch SS is omitted, but in the slot machine 1, the setting key cylinder KC and the setting change button BS are covered by the cover member, so that the setting key cannot be inserted into the setting key cylinder KC or the setting change switch SS cannot be operated unless the front upper door UD is opened and the cover member is opened.

[0151] 7, in the main control board unit 10U, a part of the main control board 10 including the main control CPU 11 is covered by a transparent case cover 12 and fixed with screws 12a. The setting key cylinder KC and the setting change button BS are covered by a cover member (not shown) that can be opened and closed freely, and are configured to be operable without opening the case cover 12.

[0152] When the setting key cylinder KC has a keyhole extending in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. 7, the setting change switch SS provided inside is in the OFF state, and when the setting key is inserted and rotated clockwise by approximately 90 degrees, the setting change switch SS is in the ON state.

[0153] The setting change switch SS is configured to be able to switch between an ON state and an OFF state by inserting a setting key into the setting key cylinder KC and operating it. In other words, even when the slot machine 1 is not powered on, the setting change switch SS can be switched between an ON state and an OFF state by inserting the setting key into the setting key cylinder KC and operating it.

[0154] In addition, when the setting change switch SS is in the ON state, the main control CPU 11 is configured to be able to execute controls related to the output of signals to other control units such as the sub-control CPU 21 and the hall computer, and controls related to setting changes, but is configured not to execute processes such as referencing various flag data set in the main memory means 190 until the setting change switch SS is in the OFF state.

[0155] For this reason, for example, when an error occurs when the setting change switch SS is in the ON state, the main control CPU 11 can set flag data indicating the occurrence of the error to the ON state, but since it does not refer to the information on the ON / OFF state of the flag data, it does not display error codes, etc. on the main control display device 10D by referring to the flag data, and if the error has not been resolved when the setting change switch SS is turned OFF, it displays an error code corresponding to the error that has occurred on the main control display device 10D.

[0156] <Settings change confirmation screen> Next, a detailed description will be given of the setting confirmation screen 412 displayed on the display device 410. Note that each of the screens displayed on the display device 410 illustrated in Fig. 8 to Fig. 10 is a screen that is displayed when the front upper door UD and the front lower door DD are closed and a door open error has not occurred, and when at least one of the front upper door UD and the front lower door DD is open, a door open error notification screen that notifies a door open error is displayed on the display device 410.

[0157] FIG. 8(A) is a diagram illustrating a state in which a normal screen 411 is displayed on the display device 410, and FIG. 8(B) is a diagram illustrating a setting confirmation screen 412 that is displayed on the display device 410 when the setting change switch SS is turned ON by inserting and rotating the setting key into the setting key cylinder KC from the state shown in FIG. 8(A).

[0158] In the state shown in Fig. 8(A), the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 are stopped, no medals are set to the inserted state, and no game is in progress in the slot machine 1. Also, in the state shown in Fig. 8(A), the slot machine 1 displays a normal screen 411, which is one of the screens displayed when no error has occurred, a game can be played, and the presentation state is normal.

[0159] In the slot machine 1, when the power is turned on as shown in FIG. 8(A) and game play is possible, and no errors have occurred, when the setting key is inserted and rotated into the setting key cylinder KC to turn the setting change switch SS ON, a setting confirmation screen 412 is displayed on the display device 410 as shown in FIG. 8(B), indicating the setting status of the slot machine 1.

[0160] In the setting confirmation screen 412, "Checking setting" is displayed at the top of the display area 410a, and a number of boxes are displayed, including a setting value confirmation box 412a in which a setting value is displayed on the display device 410 when the display is confirmed, and a time setting box 412b in which a time setting screen for setting the time controlled by the sub-control CPU 21 is displayed when the display is confirmed. In the slot machine 1, by operating the performance button EB, it is possible to select and confirm each box that indicates that the setting state of the slot machine 1 that is previously set and displayed on the setting confirmation screen 412 can be displayed, and the setting state of the slot machine 1 corresponding to the selected and confirmed box is displayed. In other words, in the slot machine 1, various settings including the setting value currently set in the slot machine 1 and the setting of the time controlled by the sub-control CPU 21 constitute the setting state.

[0161] In the slot machine 1, when the front upper door UD is opened while the setting confirmation screen 412 is being displayed, the display of the setting confirmation screen 412 is interrupted and a door open error screen is displayed to inform the user that the front door is open. Then, in the slot machine 1, when the setting key is turned and the setting change switch SS is switched to the OFF state, the display of the setting confirmation screen 412 is terminated, and the front upper door UD is closed, causing the normal screen 411 to be displayed on the display device 410.

[0162] Fig. 9(A) is a diagram illustrating a state in which a setting confirmation screen 412 is displayed on the display device 410, and Fig. 9(B) is a diagram illustrating a state in which a rental device connection error notification screen 413 is displayed to notify the occurrence of a rental device connection error from the state shown in Fig. 9(A). As shown in Figs. 9(A) and (B), in the slot machine 1, when the dedicated unit SU becomes disconnected from the rental device connection terminal board 40 while the setting confirmation screen 412 is displayed, the rental device connection error notification screen 413 to notify the occurrence of a rental device connection error is displayed in priority to the setting confirmation screen 412.

[0163] As described above, in the slot machine 1, when the setting confirmation screen 412 is displayed, the setting change switch SS is switched to the OFF state, so that the game can be resumed, but when a rental device connection error occurs, the game cannot be resumed unless the rental device connection error is cleared. For this reason, in the slot machine 1, when the setting confirmation screen 412 is displayed and the dedicated unit SU is not connected to the rental device connection terminal board 40, the rental device connection error notification screen 413 is displayed, so as to prompt the user to clear the rental device connection error.

[0164] Also, as shown in FIG. 9(B), in the slot machine 1, when a lending device connection error occurs while the setting change switch SS is set to the ON state, the main control display device 10D does not display the error code "E2" indicating the occurrence of the lending device connection error. As described above, the main control CPU 11 sets the flag data indicating the occurrence of the lending device connection error to the ON state when the lending device connection error occurs, but when the setting change switch SS is in the ON state, the main control CPU 11 does not execute the process of referring to the state of the flag data, so that the main control display device 10D does not display the error code "E2". Also, the main control CPU 11 is configured to execute the process of outputting a signal from the main control board 10 to other control units even when the setting change switch SS is in the ON state. And, the sub-control CPU 21 is configured to be able to execute the control related to various performances even when the setting change switch SS is in the ON state.

[0165] Because of this configuration, the sub-control CPU21 can execute control to display a rental device connection error notification screen 413 on the display device 410 based on input of a signal indicating the occurrence of a rental device connection error output from the main control CPU11, even if the setting change switch SS is in the ON state and the main control CPU11 is not displaying the error code "E2" on the main control display device 10D.

[0166] As a result, when the setting change switch SS is in the ON state so that the main control CPU11 does not refer to the flag data and an error occurs, the slot machine 1 can display a notification of the occurrence of an error on the display device 410 by the sub-control CPU21, to which a signal related to the occurrence of the error is input from the main control CPU11, without providing a program for notifying the main control display device 10D of the occurrence of the error, thereby preventing an increase in the data capacity of the main memory means 190.

[0167] Figure 10(A) is a diagram illustrating a state in which a rental device connection error has occurred, Figure 10(B) is a diagram illustrating a state in which the setting change switch SS has been switched to the ON state from the state shown in Figure 10(A), and Figure 10(C) is a diagram illustrating a state in which the rental device connection error that has occurred has been resolved from the state shown in Figure 10(B).

[0168] As shown in FIG. 10(A), in the slot machine 1, a lending device connection error has occurred and the setting change switch SS is in the OFF state, so that the main control CPU 11 displays the error code "E2" on the main control display device 10D.

[0169] As shown in Figure 10 (B), in the slot machine 1, when a rental device connection error occurs and the front upper door UD is opened, the setting key is inserted and rotated into the setting key cylinder KC, and the setting change switch SS is switched to the ON state, the setting confirmation screen 412 is not displayed on the display device 410, and the rental device connection error notification screen 413 continues to be displayed.

[0170] In other words, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, when the setting change switch SS is turned ON while the rental device connection error notification screen 413, which notifies the occurrence of a rental device connection error, is displayed on the display device 410, the rental device connection error notification screen 413 continues to be displayed on the display device 410, so that the setting confirmation screen 412 is not displayed when a rental device connection error occurs.

[0171] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment is controlled so that the setting value cannot be confirmed even if an operation unintended by the gaming machine designer is performed, such as switching the setting change switch SS to the ON state to check the setting value while an error is occurring, and the control that allows the setting value to be checked using the setting confirmation screen 412 is limited to a case where the setting change switch SS is switched to the ON state while the error is cleared, so that it is possible to prevent control related to the setting confirmation screen 412 from being executed while an error is occurring and to prevent a decrease in the stability of the control related to the setting confirmation screen 412.

[0172] As shown in Fig. 10(C), in the slot machine 1, when the setting change switch SS is turned ON after the occurrence of the rental device connection error, and the rental device connection error is released while the setting change switch SS is maintained in the ON state, the normal screen 411 is displayed on the display device 410. Also, in the slot machine 1, a suggestion image 411a is displayed in the upper right position of the display area 410a in the figure, indicating that the setting change switch SS is ON by the characters "Cannot confirm setting", which notify that the setting confirmation screen 412 is not displayed even though the setting change switch SS is ON, and the LEDs inside the stop buttons B1 to B3 are lit in purple, which is a color that is not emitted when a normal game is being played.

[0173] In other words, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, when a rental device connection error notification screen 413, which notifies the occurrence of a rental device connection error, is displayed on the display device 410, and the setting change switch SS is turned ON and the rental device connection error is cleared, the normal screen 411 is displayed on the display device 410 instead of the setting confirmation screen 412.Therefore, when a rental device connection error occurs and the setting change switch SS is turned ON, the setting confirmation screen 412 is not displayed even if the rental device connection error is cleared.

[0174] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment is controlled so that when an operation unintended by the gaming machine designer is performed, such as switching the setting change switch SS to the ON state to check the setting value while an error is occurring, the setting value cannot be checked even if the error that has occurred is cleared, and control that allows checking of the setting value using the setting confirmation screen 412 is limited to when the setting change switch SS is switched to the ON state while the error is cleared, thereby preventing control related to the setting confirmation screen 412 from being executed while an error is occurring and preventing a decrease in the stability of the control related to the setting confirmation screen 412.

[0175] In addition, when the setting change switch SS is switched to the ON state while an error is occurring, and the error is cleared while the setting change switch SS is maintained in the ON state, the slot machine 1 indicates that the setting change switch SS is in the ON state by the suggestion image 411a and the illumination patterns of the LEDs inside the stop buttons B1 to B3, thereby making it possible to indicate that the setting change switch SS was accidentally turned ON while the error was occurring, and to indicate the reason why game play cannot be continued or the setting confirmation screen 412 is not displayed even though the error has been cleared, thereby enabling a quick recovery.

[0176] The OFF state of the setting change switch SS constitutes the first state in the first embodiment, and the ON state of the setting change switch SS constitutes the second state in the first embodiment. Also, a rental device connection error constitutes a predetermined event that causes a game to stop and prevent the game from progressing in the first embodiment. Also, among the images displayed on the display device 410, a setting confirmation screen 412 constitutes a first display that suggests a preset setting state of the slot machine 1 in the first embodiment, a rental device connection error notification screen 413 constitutes a second display in the first embodiment, and a normal screen 411 constitutes a third display in the first embodiment.

[0177] 4. Summary of the First Embodiment As described above, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, when the power is turned on and no game is being played, if the setting change switch SS is turned ON, it displays the setting confirmation screen 412 on the display device 410, and if the setting change switch SS is turned ON while the rental device connection error notification screen 413, which notifies the occurrence of a rental device connection error, is displayed on the display device 410, it continues to display the rental device connection error notification screen 413 on the display device 410.

[0178] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment is controlled so that the setting value cannot be confirmed even if an operation unintended by the gaming machine designer is performed, such as switching the setting change switch SS to the ON state to check the setting value while an error is occurring, and the control that allows the setting value to be checked using the setting confirmation screen 412 is limited to a case where the setting change switch SS is switched to the ON state while the error is cleared, so that it is possible to prevent control related to the setting confirmation screen 412 from being executed while an error is occurring and to prevent a decrease in the stability of the control related to the setting confirmation screen 412.

[0179] [Second embodiment] Next, a slot machine 1 of the second embodiment, which is a partial modification of the second embodiment, will be described. The slot machine 1 of the second embodiment is configured so that the configuration of the winning area including the small winning combination that is won by the internal lottery in the non-RT state and the bonus establishment state, the small winning combination that can be won when the winning area including the small winning combination is won, and the patterns arranged on the periphery of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 are different. Since the other configurations are the same as those of the second embodiment, the same reference numerals are attached to the components common to the second embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0180] 1. Configuration of the gaming machine in the second embodiment Next, the components of the slot machine 1 according to the second embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

[0181] <Winning areas subject to internal lottery> FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the winning areas that are the subject of an internal lottery in the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment, and the winning numbers associated with each winning area.

[0182] In addition, the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment has, as a bonus, a regular big bonus (hereinafter, the regular big bonus is also referred to as "RBB") as a device for continuously operating a special device of the first kind.

[0183] As shown in Fig. 11, in the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment, the winning areas that are the subject of the internal lottery include the winning area "Replay A", the winning area "Replay B", the winning area "All small roles", the winning area "All 1-coin roles", the winning area "Bat order bell 1" to the winning area "Bat order bell 12", the winning area "Special small roles 1", the winning area "Special small roles 2", the winning area "Slip-up roles", the winning area "RBB & 1-coin roles", and the winning area "RBB", which are associated with the winning numbers 1 to 21, respectively. In addition, in the slot machine 1, the winning number 0 is associated with a non-win (miss) as a result of the internal lottery.

[0184] The winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 12", the winning area "Special Small Winning Role 1", and the winning area "Special Small Winning Role 2" are configured so that, depending on the game status, the small winning role corresponding to the batting order among the operation modes of the stop buttons B1 to B3 can be won.

[0185] <Arrangement of designs> 12 is a diagram showing each symbol arranged on the periphery of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 in the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, ten kinds of symbols are arranged on the periphery of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3, including a white 7 symbol "white 7", a red BAR symbol "red BAR", a blue BAR symbol "blue BAR", a green BAR symbol "green BAR", a replay A symbol "RPA", a replay B symbol "RPB", a bell symbol "BL", a cherry symbol "CH", a watermelon symbol "WM" and a blank symbol "BK". Also, 20 symbols are arranged on the periphery of each of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3.

[0186] <Reel control means> The reel control means 130 is configured to be capable of rotating 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 capable of displaying stopped on the pay line L1 for the symbols arranged on the left reel R1 through the right reel R3 that are spaced four frames apart or less, regardless of the timing of the operation of the stop buttons B1 through B3.

[0187] Specifically, the reel control means 130 is configured to be able to stop the watermelon symbol "WM" and bell symbol "BL" on the left reel R1, the watermelon symbol "WM", bell symbol "BL", and cherry symbol "CH" on the center reel R2, and the bell symbol "BL" on the right reel R3, regardless of the timing of pressing the stop buttons B1 to B3, if they can be stopped on the activated line L1.

[0188] In addition, the reel control means 130 is capable of stopping symbols that are not the same as each other as long as they are arranged at intervals of four frames or less. For example, when either the replay A symbol "RPA" arranged at stop number 0 and stop number 15 on the left reel R1, or the replay B symbol "RPB" arranged at stop number 5 and stop number 10 can be stopped on the activated line L1, the reel control means 130 is configured to be able to stop the replay A symbol "RPA" or the replay B symbol "RPB" regardless of the timing of operation of the stop button B1.

[0189] Also, as shown in FIG. 4, on the right reel R3, within the pull-in range (stop numbers 3 to 12) of the Replay A symbol "RPA" arranged at stop numbers 3 and 8, there are arranged the white 7 symbol "WHITE 7" arranged at stop number 6 and the red BAR symbol "RED BAR" arranged at stop number 7, and within the pull-in range (stop numbers 0 to 2 and 13 to 19) of the Replay B symbol "RPB" arranged at stop numbers 13 and 18, there are arranged the blue BAR symbol "BLUE BAR" arranged at stop number 16 and the green BAR symbol "GREEN BAR" arranged at stop number 17.

[0190] <Small prize winning combination> 13 to 15 are diagrams showing winning symbol combinations of small winning symbols 1 to 36 provided in the slot machine 1 and payouts of small winning symbols 1 to 36. FIG.

[0191] As shown in FIG. 13, the winning combinations of minor prize 1 to minor prize 16, which are set to a payout of 1 coin, which is less than the specified number of coins (3 coins), are as follows: the left reel R1 is made up of a replay A symbol "RPA" or a replay B symbol "RPB", the center reel R2 is made up of a combination of a white 7 symbol "WHITE 7" and a watermelon symbol "WM" or a combination of a green BAR symbol "GREEN BAR" and a blank symbol "BK", and the right reel R3 is made up of a combination of a replay A symbol "RPA", a replay B symbol "RPB", a white 7 symbol "WHITE 7" and a red BAR symbol "RED BAR", or a combination of a blue BAR symbol "BLUE BAR" and a green BAR symbol "GREEN BAR".

[0192] Also, as shown in FIG. 14, the symbols that make up the winning symbol combinations of minor symbols 17 to 24, which are set to a payout of one coin, are configured such that the symbol on the center reel R2 is composed of symbols that can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 regardless of the timing of operation of the stop button B2, and the symbols on the left reel R1 and the right reel R3 can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 if the timing of operation of the stop button B1 and the timing of operation of the stop button B3 are such that each symbol can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1, and if the symbols are stopped at a timing other than the above timing, they will not be able to win.

[0193] Also, as shown in FIG. 15, the winning symbol combination "BL-RPA (blue BAR)-WM (BK)" of the minor win 25 set to a payout of 1 coin and the winning symbol combination "BL-RPB (red BAR)-WM (BK)" of the minor win 26 set to a payout of 1 coin are configured such that the symbols on the left reel R1 and the symbols on the right reel R3 are composed of symbols that can win regardless of the timing of operation of the stop buttons B1 and B3, and the symbols on the middle reel R2 have a pull-in range consisting of 10 symbols out of 20 frames, and the pull-in range of the replay A symbol "RPA" or the blue BAR symbol "blue BAR" and the pull-in range of the replay B symbol "RPB" or the red BAR symbol "red BAR" do not overlap with each other.

[0194] Also, as shown in FIG. 15, the symbols constituting the winning symbol combinations of minor symbols 27 to 30, which are set to a payout of one coin, can be stopped and displayed on the pay line L1 if any of the symbols on the left reel R1 to right reel R3 are operated at a timing when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated so that the symbols can be stopped and displayed on the pay line L1, but if the stop buttons are operated at a timing other than the above timing, the symbols cannot be stopped and displayed to win.

[0195] 15, the symbols constituting the winning symbol combinations of the small winning combinations 31 to 36, which are set to a payout of 9 coins, which is more than the specified input number (3 coins), are arranged at intervals of 4 frames or less on each of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3. Therefore, when the reel stop control that enables the small winning combinations 31 to 36 to be stopped and displayed on the pay line L1 is executed, the small winning combinations 31 to 36 are configured to be stopped and displayed on the pay line L1 regardless of the operation timing of the stop buttons B1 to B3.

[0196] 2. Reel stop control in each game state Next, the reel stop control executed in each game state in the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment will be described in detail.

[0197] <Game results when winning the winning area including minor winnings in each game state> Figure 16 (A) shows the game results for each operation mode of stop buttons B1 to B3 when winning the winning area "Batting Order Bell 4" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 6", the winning area "Batting Order Bell 10" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 12", the winning area "Special Small Winner 1", and the winning area "Special Small Winner 2" in the non-RT state.

[0198] As shown in FIG. 16(A), in the slot machine 1, when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 4" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 6", the winning area "Batting Order Bell 10" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 12", the winning area "Special Small Winning Point 1", or the winning area "Special Small Winning Point 2" is won in the non-RT state, any of the small winning points set to one winning payout has a 1 / 2 probability of winning regardless of the batting order of the stop buttons B1 to B3, and there is a 1 / 2 probability of none of the winning points winning (non-winning).

[0199] In addition, in the slot machine 1, when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 6", the winning area "Batting Order Bell 12", the winning area "Special Small Winning Point 1", or the winning area "Special Small Winning Point 2" is won in the non-RT state, regardless of the hitting order of the stop buttons B1 to B3, any of the winning small winning points from small winning point 1, small winning point 3, small winning point 5, small winning point 7, small winning point 9, small winning point 11, small winning point 13, or small winning point 15 will win with a 1 / 2 probability, and there is a 1 / 2 probability that none of the winning points will win (non-winning).

[0200] Figure 16 (B) shows the game results for each operation mode of stop buttons B1 to B3 when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 4" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 6", the winning area "Batting Order Bell 10" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 12", the winning area "Special Small Winner 1", and the winning area "Special Small Winner 2" are won when a bonus is achieved.

[0201] As shown in FIG. 16(B), in the slot machine 1, when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 4", "Batting Order Bell 5", "Batting Order Bell 10", or "Batting Order Bell 11" is won in the bonus established state, if the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated with an incorrect batting order, any of the minor roles set to a payout of 1 coin will win with a probability of 1 / 2, and if the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated with a correct batting order, any of the minor roles set to a payout of 9 coins will win with a probability of 1 / 1.

[0202] In addition, in the slot machine 1, when the winning area "batting order bell 6" or the winning area "batting order bell 12" is won in the bonus establishment state, if the stop button B1 to the stop button B3 are operated in the batting order 1 to the batting order 4, any of the winning small roles among the small roles 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 will win with a probability of 1 / 2, and when the stop button B1 to the stop button B3 are operated in the batting order 5, any of the winning small roles among the small roles 25 and 26 will win with a probability of 1 / 2, and the small roles will be missed (non-winning) with a probability of 1 / 2. In addition, in the slot machine 1, when the winning area "batting order bell 6" or the winning area "batting order bell 12" is won in the bonus establishment state, if the stop button B1 to the stop button B3 are operated in the batting order 6, the small role 35 will win with a probability of 1 / 1.

[0203] In addition, in the slot machine 1, when the winning area "special small win 1" or the winning area "special small win 2" is won in the bonus established state, if the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting order 1 to batting order 4, any of the winning small wins from small win 1, small win 3, small win 5, small win 7, small win 9, small win 11, small win 13, and small win 15 has a 1 / 2 probability of winning, and there is a 1 / 2 probability that no small win will occur (non-winning).

[0204] In slot machine 1, when the bonus is established and the winning area "special small prize 1" is won, and stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting order 5 and batting order 6, any of small prize 2, small prize 4, small prize 6, small prize 8, small prize 10, small prize 12, small prize 14, and small prize 16 will win with a probability of 1 / 5, and if small prize 2, small prize 4, small prize 6, small prize 8, small prize 10, small prize 12, small prize 14, and small prize 16 do not win, any of small prize 1, small prize 7, small prize 9, and small prize 15 will win with a probability of 1 / 2, and there is a 1 / 2 probability that no small prize will win (non-winning).

[0205] In addition, in the slot machine 1, when the bonus is established and the winning area "special small prize 2" is won, and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting order 5 and batting order 6, any of the small prizes 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 will win with a probability of 1 / 10, and if the small prize 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 do not win, any of the small prizes 3, 5, 11, and 13 will win with a probability of 1 / 2, and there is a 1 / 2 probability that no small prize will win (non-winning).

[0206] <Reel stop control for winning a small prize of 1 coin> Next, in the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment, the reel stop control executed when the winning area "batting order bell 6", the winning area "batting order bell 12", the winning area "special small win 1", and the winning area "special small win 2" are won will be described. In the following description, the small win 1, small win 3, small win 5, small win 7, small win 9, small win 11, small win 13, and small win 15, which are set to a payout of one coin less than the specified input number, are collectively referred to as small wins of the first mode, and the small win 2, small win 4, small win 6, small win 8, small win 10, small win 12, small win 14, and small win 16, which are set to a payout of one coin less than the specified input number, are collectively referred to as small wins of the second mode.

[0207] Figure 17 is a diagram explaining the patterns that can be stopped in the middle of the middle reel R2 that constitutes the activated line L1 depending on the timing of operation of the stop button B2 when a small win of the first type is won in a game in which the winning area "Batting Order Bell 6", the winning area "Batting Order Bell 12", the winning area "Special Small Winner 1", or the winning area "Special Small Winner 2" is won.

[0208] As shown in FIG. 17, the reel control means 130 of the second embodiment is configured to display a blank symbol "BK" on the pay line L1 when the stop button B2 is operated at a timing when the symbols arranged at the positions of stop numbers 0, 1, and 12 to 19 are displayed and rotated on the pay line L1, and to display a watermelon symbol "WM" on the pay line L1 when the stop button B2 is operated at a timing when the symbols arranged at the positions of stop numbers 2 to 11 are displayed and rotated on the pay line L1.

[0209] In other words, the reel control means 130 is configured to stop and display the blank symbol "BK" or the watermelon symbol "WM" on the activated line L1 in preference to the white 7 symbol "WHITE 7" and the green BAR symbol "GREEN BAR" arranged on the middle reel R2 when a small symbol of the first mode is won when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 6", the winning area "Batting Order Bell 12", the winning area "Special Small Symbol 1", and the winning area "Special Small Symbol 2" shown in Figures 16(A) and (B) are won.

[0210] Figure 18 is a diagram explaining the patterns that can be stopped in the middle of the middle reel R2 that forms the activated line L1 depending on the timing of operation of the stop button B2 in a game in which the winning area "special small win 1" or the winning area "special small win 2" is won and a small win of the second type can be won.

[0211] As shown in FIG. 18, the reel control means 130 of the second embodiment displays the white 7 symbol "white 7" stopped on the valid line L1 when the stop button B2 is operated at a timing when the symbols arranged at stop numbers 6 to 10, which are within the pull-in range of the white 7 symbol "white 7", are displayed in rotation on the valid line L1, and displays the green BAR symbol "green BAR" stopped on the valid line L1 when the stop button B2 is operated at a timing when the symbols arranged at stop numbers 0 and 16 to 19, which are within the pull-in range of the green BAR symbol "green BAR", are displayed in rotation on the valid line L1.

[0212] In addition, when the stop button B2 is operated at a timing when the white 7 symbol "WHITE 7" and the green BAR symbol "GREEN BAR" cannot be stopped and displayed, the reel control means 130 stops and displays the symbols that can be stopped, among the blank symbol "BK" and the watermelon symbol "WM", on the activated line L1.

[0213] In this way, the reel control means 130 of the second embodiment stops and displays the blank symbol "BK" and the watermelon symbol "WM" on the activated line L1 in preference to the white 7 symbol "white 7" and the green BAR symbol "green BAR" when stopping the center reel R2 in the reel stop control that allows the small combination of the first mode to be won. Also, the reel control means 130 stops and displays the white 7 symbol "white 7" and the green BAR symbol "green BAR" on the activated line L1 in preference to the blank symbol "BK" and the watermelon symbol "WM" when stopping the center reel R2 in the reel stop control that allows the small combination of the second mode to be won.

[0214] Figure 19(A) is a diagram explaining the symbols that can be stopped in the middle of the right reel R3 that constitutes the active line L1 depending on the timing of operation of the stop button B3 when the winning area "Special Minor Role 1" is won when a bonus is formed and the stop button B3 is operated to the first stop.

[0215] As shown in FIG. 19(A), in the second embodiment, when the stop button B3 is operated at a timing when the stop numbers 6 and 7 are being displayed in rotation, that is, when the white 7 symbol "white 7" reaches the middle of the right reel R3 constituting the activated line L1 before the replay A symbol "RPA", the reel control means 130 stops and displays the white 7 symbol "white 7" on the activated line L1 in priority to the replay A symbol "RPA".

[0216] In addition, when the stop button B3 is operated at a timing when the stop numbers 16 and 17 are being displayed in rotation, which is the timing when the blue BAR pattern "blue BAR" reaches the middle of the right reel R3 constituting the activated line L1 before the replay B pattern "RPB", the reel control means 130 stops and displays the blue BAR pattern "blue BAR" on the activated line L1 in priority to the replay B pattern "RPB".

[0217] When the stop button B3 is operated at a timing when the symbols of stop numbers 0 to 5, 8 to 15, 18, and 19 are displayed in rotation, that is, when the Replay A symbol "RPA" and the Replay B symbol "RPB" reach the middle of the right reel R3 constituting the activated line L1 before the white 7 symbol "white 7" and the blue BAR symbol "blue BAR", the reel control means 130 stops and displays the Replay A symbol "RPA" and the Replay B symbol "RPB" on the activated line L1 in priority to the white 7 symbol "white 7" and the blue BAR symbol "blue BAR".

[0218] Figure 19(B) is a diagram explaining the symbols that can be stopped in the middle of the right reel R3 that constitutes the activated line L1 depending on the timing of operation of the stop button B3 when the winning area "Special Minor Role 2" is won when a bonus is formed and the stop button B3 is operated to the first stop.

[0219] As shown in FIG. 19(B), in the second embodiment, when the stop button B3 is operated at the timing when the pattern with stop number 7 is rotated and displayed, which is the timing when the red BAR pattern "RED BAR" reaches the middle of the right reel R3 constituting the activated line L1 before the replay A pattern "RPA", the reel control means 130 stops and displays the red BAR pattern "RED BAR" on the activated line L1 in priority to the replay A pattern "RPA".

[0220] In addition, when the stop button B3 is operated at the timing when the green BAR symbol "green BAR" reaches the middle of the right reel R3 constituting the activated line L1 before the replay B symbol "RPB" and the symbol with stop number 17 is displayed in rotation, the reel control means 130 stops and displays the green BAR symbol "green BAR" on the activated line L1 in priority to the replay B symbol "RPB".

[0221] When the stop button B3 is operated at a timing when the replay A symbol "RPA" and the replay B symbol "RPB" reach the middle of the right reel R3 constituting the activated line L1 before the red BAR symbol "RED BAR" and the green BAR symbol "GREEN BAR", and the symbols with stop numbers 0 to 6, 8 to 16, 18, and 19 are displayed in rotation, the reel control means 130 stops and displays the replay A symbol "RPA" and the replay B symbol "RPB" on the activated line L1 in priority to the red BAR symbol "RED BAR" and the green BAR symbol "GREEN BAR".

[0222] <Relationship between the winning of the first type of winning combination and the second type of small winning combination and gameplay> In this way, in the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment, when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 6" or the winning area "Batting Order Bell 12" is won and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting orders 1 to 4, the replay A pattern "RPA" or the replay B pattern "RPB" is displayed stopped in the middle of the right reel R3, making it possible to win the small winning combination of the first aspect. In addition, in the slot machine 1, when the winning area "special small win 1" or the winning area "special small win 2" is won and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting order 1 to batting order 4, and when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting order 5 and batting order 6 and the stop button B3 is operated at a timing when the white 7 symbol "WHITE 7", the red BAR symbol "RED BAR", the blue BAR symbol "BLUE BAR", and the green BAR symbol "GREEN BAR" are not stopped and displayed in the middle row of the right reel R3, the first mode of small win can be won.

[0223] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment is capable of winning the first type of small role in both games in which the winning area "Batting Order Bell 6" or the winning area "Batting Order Bell 12" is won, and in games in which the winning area "Special Small Role 1" or the winning area "Special Small Role 2" is won. This makes it difficult for the player to guess which role will be won in the current game, and prevents the player from figuring out the results of the internal lottery and creating strategies that the designer did not intend.

[0224] In addition, the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment is configured to execute reel stop control that allows the white 7 symbol "white 7" and the green BAR symbol "green BAR" to be stopped in the middle of the middle reel R2 when the winning area "special minor symbol 1" or the winning area "special minor symbol 2" is won, and execute reel stop control that prevents the white 7 symbol "white 7" and the green BAR symbol "green BAR" from being stopped in the middle of the middle reel R2 when the winning area "batting order bell 6" or the winning area "batting order bell 12" is won.

[0225] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment can stop and display any of the following symbols on the middle reel R2 among the symbols that make up the winning symbol combination of the minor prize in the first aspect: the watermelon symbol "WM", the white 7 symbol "white 7" arranged within the pull-in range of the watermelon symbol "WM", the blank symbol "BK", and the green BAR symbol "green BAR" arranged within the pull-in range of the blank symbol "BK". Therefore, the symbols determined as the winning symbol combination of the minor prize in the first aspect can be displayed by the player's operation, and fairness in the game can be maintained.

[0226] In addition, the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment is configured so that when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 6" or the winning area "Batting Order Bell 12" is won, in addition to the small win 35 and the small win of the first mode, the small win of the second mode is also won. However, regardless of the game state and the operation mode of the stop buttons B1 to B3, the small win of the second mode is not won.

[0227] The slot machine 1 of the second embodiment is configured such that, when the winning area "special small win 1" and the winning area "special small win 2" are won, the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting order 5 and batting order 6, and the stop button B3 is operated at a timing when the white 7 symbol "WHITE 7", the red BAR symbol "RED BAR", the blue BAR symbol "BLUE BAR", and the green BAR symbol "GREEN BAR" can be stopped and displayed in the middle row of the right reel R3, the second type of small win can be won.

[0228] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment can display the second type of minor role, which is won but does not win when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 6" and the winning area "Batting Order Bell 12" are won, when the winning area "Special Minor Role 1" and the winning area "Special Minor Role 2" are won, and can therefore display the second type of minor role by the player's operation, thereby ensuring fairness in the game.

[0229] In addition, as shown in Fig. 16(A), the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment is configured such that, when the winning area "batting order bell 6" or the winning area "batting order bell 12" is won in the non-RT state, the small role 35 set to a payout of 9 coins does not win regardless of the operation mode of the stop buttons B1 to B3. The slot machine 1 is also configured such that, when the winning area "batting order bell 1" to the winning area "batting order bell 5" or the winning area "batting order bell 7" to the winning area "batting order bell 11" is won in the non-RT state, the small role set to a payout of 9 coins does not win, and when the winning area is won in the bonus establishment state, the small role set to a payout of 9 coins can win by operating the stop buttons B1 to B3 in the correct batting order.

[0230] In other words, the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment is configured such that the probability of winning a minor role set to a payout of 9 coins, which is more than the specified number of coins, when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1" to the winning area "Batting Order Bell 12" are won is higher when the gaming state is in a bonus establishment state than when the gaming state is in a non-RT state.

[0231] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 can be designed to reduce the expected number of medals won when the game state is in a non-RT state, while increasing the expected number of medals won when a bonus is formed, thereby improving playability in the bonus state and increasing the player's interest in the game.

[0232] The winning areas "Batting Order Bell 6" and "Batting Order Bell 12" constitute the first winning pattern in the second embodiment, and the winning area "Special Small Winning Point 1" and winning area "Special Small Winning Point 2" constitute the second winning pattern in the second embodiment. In addition, the right reel R3 constitutes the specific reel and the first reel in the second embodiment, and the replay A pattern "RPA" and the replay B pattern "RPB" of the right reel R3 which constitute the winning pattern combination of the small roles of the first aspect, small role 1, small role 3, small role 5, small role 7, small role 9, small role 11, small role 13, and small role 15, constitute the first pattern in the second embodiment, and the white 7 pattern "WHITE 7", the red BAR pattern "RED BAR", the blue BAR pattern "BLUE BAR", and the green BAR pattern "GREEN BAR" of the right reel R3 which constitute the winning pattern combination of the small roles of the second aspect, small role 2, small role 4, small role 6, small role 8, small role 10, small role 12, small role 14, and small role 16, constitute the second pattern in the second embodiment. Batting order 6, which is the operation mode of stop buttons B1 to B3 that enables the player to win a small prize 35 when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 6" or the winning area "Batting Order Bell 12" is won, constitutes a specific operation mode in the second embodiment.

[0233] In addition, the left reel R1 constitutes the second reel in the second embodiment, and the replay A pattern "RPA" and the replay B pattern "RPB", which are the patterns of the left reel R1 that constitute the winning pattern combinations of small win 1, small win 3, small win 5, small win 7, small win 9, small win 11, small win 13, and small win 15, constitute the third pattern in the second embodiment, and the center reel R2 constitutes the third reel in the second embodiment, and the center reel R2 constitutes the winning pattern combinations of small win 1 to small win 8. The white 7 symbol "WHITE 7" among the symbols and the green BAR symbol "GREEN BAR" among the symbols on the middle reel R2 that constitute the winning symbol combinations of small win 9 to small win 16 constitute the fourth symbol in the second embodiment, and the watermelon symbol "WM" among the symbols on the middle reel R2 that constitute the winning symbol combinations of small win 1 to small win 8 and the blank symbol "BK" among the symbols on the middle reel R2 that constitute the winning symbol combinations of small win 9 to small win 16 constitute the fifth symbol in the second embodiment.

[0234] <Stopping mode when winning small prize 34 and small prize 36> Next, when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 12" are won, the AT control means 170 executes the winning assistance, and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in the correct batting order to win a small prize set to a payout of 9 coins, the patterns that are stopped and displayed in the specific area 410b will be explained using the example of winning small prizes 34 and 36.

[0235] 15, the winning symbol combination of the small win 34 is "WM-BL-RPA(RPB)", and the winning symbol combination of the small win 36 is "WM-BL-WM(BK)". Therefore, in the slot machine 1, when the small win 34 and the small win 36 are won, the watermelon symbol "WM" is stopped and displayed in the middle of the left reel R1 constituting the activated line L1.

[0236] FIG. 20 is a diagram for explaining the pull-in range of the watermelon symbol "WM" arranged on the left reel R1. As shown in FIG. 20, the watermelon symbols "WM" are arranged on the left reel R1 at the positions of stop numbers 2, 3, 8, 13, and 18. The watermelon symbols "WM" arranged at the positions of stop numbers 3, 8, 13, and 18 are arranged with an interval of 4 frames between them, so that the pull-in ranges do not overlap with each other. In addition, the pull-in range of the watermelon symbol "WM" arranged at the position of stop number 2 is a range in which a total of 5 frames of symbols are arranged, from the watermelon symbol "WM" arranged at the position of stop number 2 to the white 7 symbol "white 7" arranged at the position of stop number 6.

[0237] Therefore, the pull-in range of the watermelon symbol "WM" arranged at stop number 2 is configured such that the range of one frame of stop number 2 overlaps with the pull-in range of the watermelon symbol "WM" arranged at stop number 18, and the range of four frames from stop number 3 to stop number 6 overlaps with the pull-in range of the watermelon symbol "WM" arranged at stop number 3. Also, the range of one frame of stop number 2 where the pull-in range of the watermelon symbol "WM" arranged at stop number 2 and the pull-in range of the watermelon symbol "WM" arranged at stop number 18 overlap, and the range of four frames from stop number 3 to stop number 6 where the pull-in range of the watermelon symbol "WM" arranged at stop number 2 and the pull-in range of the watermelon symbol "WM" arranged at stop number 3 overlap, do not overlap.

[0238] Due to this configuration, when the stop button B1 is operated at a timing when symbols within the range of stop number 3 to stop number 6 are displayed and rotated on the valid line L1, the reel control means 130 displays the watermelon symbol "WM" arranged at stop number 3 as stopped on the valid line L1, and when the stop button B1 is operated at a timing when symbols within the range of stop number 2 are displayed and rotated on the valid line L1, the reel control means 130 displays the watermelon symbol "WM" arranged at stop number 18 as stopped on the valid line L1. This makes it possible to prevent the probability of winning small prizes 34 and 36 from changing depending on the timing of operation of the stop button B1, even if the watermelon symbol "WM" arranged at stop number 2 is controlled not to stop on the valid line L1.

[0239] In addition, in the slot machine 1, even if the bell symbol "BL" is arranged in the position of the stop number 2 of the left reel R1, the probability of winning the winning combination is not affected even if the control is executed not to stop the bell symbol "BL" in the same way as the watermelon symbol "WM", but there is a risk that the player will think that the medal will be paid out when the bell symbol "BL" is stopped and displayed in the specific area 410b, and the gameplay may be reduced by the symbol stopped and displayed in the specific area 410b. In addition, in the slot machine 1, if symbols other than the watermelon symbol "WM" and the bell symbol "BL" are arranged, the probability of winning the winning combination of other combinations depending on the operation timing of the stop button B1 will change, and the stop control of other combinations will be affected. In the slot machine 1, ten types of symbols are arranged around the periphery of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3: a white 7 symbol "WHITE 7", a red BAR symbol "RED BAR", a blue BAR symbol "BLUE BAR", a green BAR symbol "GREEN BAR", a replay A symbol "RPA", a replay B symbol "RPB", a bell symbol "BL", a cherry symbol "CH", a watermelon symbol "WM" and a blank symbol "BK". Arranging an eleventh type of symbol at the stop number 2 position of the left reel R1 would be a configuration that violates the rules of gaming machines.

[0240] In this way, in the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment, the pull-in range of the watermelon symbol "WM" arranged at stop number 2 of the left reel R1 overlaps with the pull-in range of the watermelon symbols "WM" arranged at stop number 3 and 18, so that the watermelon symbol "WM" arranged at stop number 2 is not stopped on the active line L1. However, the watermelon symbol "WM" arranged at stop number 3 or the watermelon symbol "WM" arranged at stop number 18, whichever can be stopped, is stopped and displayed on the active line L1. Therefore, the probability of winning a combination does not change depending on the operation timing of the stop button B1, and the watermelon symbol "WM" which has a negligible effect on playability when stopped and displayed in the specific area 410b can be arranged at stop number 2, making it easier to design the symbols arranged on the reels.

[0241] 21(A) is a diagram explaining the symbols arranged on the periphery of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 that are stopped and displayed in the specific area 410b when the winning area "batting order bell 4" and the winning area "batting order bell 10" are won, batting order 4 is announced as the correct batting order in the auxiliary game, and the small winning combination 34 is won by operating the stop buttons B1 to B3 in batting order 4. As shown in FIG. 21(A), in the slot machine 1, the winning combination of symbols "WM-BL-RPA(RPB)" of the small winning combination 34 is stopped and displayed in the middle of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 that constitute the activated line L1.

[0242] As shown in FIG. 12, bell symbols "BL" are arranged on the periphery of the center reel R2 at stop numbers 3, 8, 13, and 18. Replay A symbols "RPA" are arranged on the periphery of the right reel R3 at stop numbers 3 and 8, and replay B symbols "RPB" are arranged at stop numbers 13 and 18. Bell symbols "BL" are arranged on the right reel R3 at stop numbers 4, 9, 14, and 19 below the replay A symbols "RPA" and replay B symbols "RPB" in the reel rotation direction, and the replay A symbols "RPA" and replay B symbols "RPB" arranged on the right reel R3 are stopped and displayed in the middle row of the right reel R3, so that the bell symbol "BL" is stopped and displayed in the lower row of the right reel R3.

[0243] 21(B) is a diagram explaining the symbols arranged on the periphery of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 that are stopped and displayed in the specific area 410b when the winning area "batting order bell 5" and the winning area "batting order bell 11" are won, batting order 5 is announced as the correct batting order in the auxiliary game, and the small winning combination 36 is won by operating the stop buttons B1 to B3 in batting order 5. As shown in FIG. 21(B), in the slot machine 1, the winning combination of symbols "WM-BL-WM(BK)" of the small winning combination 36 is stopped and displayed in the middle of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 that constitute the activated line L1.

[0244] As shown in Fig. 12, on the periphery of the right reel R3, watermelon symbols "WM" are arranged at stop numbers 5 and 10, and blank symbols "BK" are arranged at stop numbers 0 and 15. On the right reel R3, bell symbols "BL" are arranged at stop numbers 4, 9, 14, and 19, which are above the watermelon symbols "WM" and blank symbols "BK" in the reel rotation direction, and the watermelon symbols "WM" and blank symbols "RPB" arranged on the right reel R3 are stopped and displayed in the middle row of the right reel R3, so that the bell symbol "BL" is stopped and displayed in the upper row of the right reel R3.

[0245] In the second embodiment, when the small prize 34 or small prize 36 can be won and the stop button B1 is operated, the reel control means 130 stops and displays the watermelon symbols "WM" arranged at the stop numbers 3, 8, 13, and 18 of the left reel R1 on the activated line L1. As a result, in the slot machine 1, the watermelon symbols "WM" arranged at the stop numbers 3, 8, 13, and 18 of the left reel R1 are stopped and displayed in the middle row, and the bell symbols "BL" arranged at the stop numbers 4, 9, 14, and 19 are stopped and displayed in the lower row of the left reel R1. In other words, in the slot machine 1, the watermelon symbol "WM" arranged at stop number 2 on the left reel R1 is displayed in the middle row, which causes the watermelon symbol "WM" arranged at stop number 3 to be displayed in the lower row of the left reel R1, and prevents the bell symbol "BL" arranged at stop number 4 from being displayed in the specific area 410b.

[0246] With this configuration, in the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment, when the small winning combination 34 and the small winning combination 36, which are set to a payout of 9 coins, are won, the winning symbol combination of the small winning combination 34, "WM-BL-RPA(RPB)", and the winning symbol combination of the small winning combination 36, "WM-BL-WM(BK)", are stopped and displayed on the activated line L1, and a symbol other than the bell symbol "BL" is stopped and displayed in the left reel R1 and the middle row of the right reel R3. However, in the specific area 410b, when the small winning combination 34 is won, the lower row of the left reel R1, the middle row of the middle reel R2, and the lower row of the right reel R3, When minor winning combination 36 is won, the bell pattern "BL" is stopped and displayed on the bottom of left reel R1, the middle of middle reel R2, and the top of right reel R3. In other words, the bell pattern "BL", which the player associates with the payout of medals when it is stopped and displayed in specific area 410b, is stopped and displayed on each of left reel R1 to right reel R3, so that the gameplay can be improved by suggesting to the player that a medal has been won by the pattern stopped and displayed in specific area 410b.

[0247] The left reel R1 constitutes the specific reel in the second embodiment, the stop button B1 constitutes the specific stop button in the second embodiment, the specific area 410b constitutes the display window in the second embodiment, the watermelon symbol "WM" constitutes the first type of symbol in the second embodiment, and the bell symbol "BL" constitutes the second type of symbol in the second embodiment. Also, the position of stop number 3 on the left reel R1 constitutes the first position, the position of stop number 18 constitutes the second position, and the position of stop number 2 constitutes the third position. In addition, the four-frame range of stop numbers 3 to 6 overlapping the pull-in range of the watermelon symbol "WM" arranged at stop number 2 and the pull-in range of the watermelon symbol "WM" arranged at stop number 3 constitutes the specific range and the first range, and the one-frame range of stop number 2 overlapping the pull-in range of the watermelon symbol "WM" arranged at stop number 2 and the pull-in range of the watermelon symbol "WM" arranged at stop number 18 constitutes the second range. In addition, small winning combinations 34 and 36 constitute the specific winning combination in the second embodiment.

[0248] 3. Summary of the Second Embodiment As described above, in the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment, the pull-in range of the watermelon symbol "WM" arranged at stop number 2 of the left reel R1 overlaps with the pull-in range of the watermelon symbols "WM" arranged at stop number 3 and 18, so that the watermelon symbol "WM" arranged at stop number 2 is not stopped on the active line L1. However, the watermelon symbol "WM" arranged at stop number 3 or the watermelon symbol "WM" arranged at stop number 18, whichever can be stopped, is stopped and displayed on the active line L1. Therefore, the probability of winning a combination does not change depending on the operation timing of the stop button B1, and the watermelon symbol "WM" that has a negligible effect on playability when stopped and displayed in the specific area 410b can be arranged at stop number 2, making it easier to design the symbols arranged on the reels.

[0249] In addition, in the slot machine 1, when the small winning combination 34 and the small winning combination 36, which are set to a payout of 9 coins, are won, the winning symbol combination "WM-BL-RPA(RPB)" of the small winning combination 34 and the winning symbol combination "WM-BL-WM(BK)" of the small winning combination 36 are stopped and displayed on the activated line L1, and a symbol other than the bell symbol "BL" is stopped and displayed in the middle of the left reel R1 and the right reel R3. However, in the specific area 410b, when the small winning combination 34 is won, a bell symbol is displayed in the lower part of the left reel R1, the middle part of the middle reel R2, and the lower part of the right reel R3. The symbol "BL" is displayed as a stopped symbol, and when minor winning combination 36 is won, the bell symbol "BL" is displayed as a stopped symbol on the bottom of left reel R1, the middle of middle reel R2, and the top of right reel R3. In other words, the bell symbol "BL", which is displayed as a stopped symbol in specific area 410b and which the player associates with the payment of medals, is displayed as a stopped symbol on each of left reel R1 to right reel R3. This realizes a gameplay that suggests to the player that a medal has been won by the symbol displayed as a stopped symbol in specific area 410b, thereby enhancing the gameplay.

[0250] [Other embodiments] In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the predetermined event is configured as a lending device connection error, but is not limited to this. The predetermined event may be configured as, for example, a medal overflow error, and may be any event that has a release condition other than initialization due to a setting change as the release condition of the event.

[0251] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured to detect a specified event, a rental device connection error, as one of the abnormal events that occur in the slot machine 1, but this is not limited to the above. A rental device connection error is a state in which the dedicated unit SU, which is an external device connected to the slot machine 1, is not connected, and no errors have occurred in the various components of the slot machine 1. Therefore, the state of the slot machine 1 is a normal state in which it can be detected that the dedicated unit SU is not connected, and the slot machine 1 may be configured to detect the rental device connection error as one of the normal events in the slot machine 1.

[0252] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured to display a door open error notification screen on the display device 410 when the power is on and game play is possible, and no errors have occurred, and when the setting change switch SS is turned ON by inserting and rotating the setting key into the setting key cylinder KC, if the front upper door UD is open. However, without being limited to this, for example, when the power is on and game play is possible, and no errors have occurred, and when the setting change switch SS is turned ON by inserting and rotating the setting key into the setting key cylinder KC, the slot machine 1 may be configured to display a setting confirmation screen 412 on the display device 410 regardless of whether the front upper door UD is open or closed.

[0253] In the first embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured to display the normal screen 411 as the third display on the display device 410 when the setting change switch SS is turned ON after the occurrence of a rental device connection error and the rental device connection error is released while the setting change switch SS is maintained in the ON state, but is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may be configured to display, as the third display, an error switching notification image on the display device 410 to notify that the setting change switch SS has been switched to the ON state during the occurrence of an error.

[0254] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, when the setting confirmation screen 412 is displayed, the slot machine 1 is configured to be able to execute various settings such as setting the time in addition to confirming the setting values; however, without being limited to this, for example, the slot machine may be configured to display the setting values ​​regardless of the operation of the performance button EB, and various settings other than confirming the setting values ​​may not be executed.

[0255] In the first embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured to be able to confirm the setting value when the setting confirmation screen 412 is displayed, but is not limited thereto. The slot machine 1 may be configured to suggest the preset setting state of the gaming machine on the setting confirmation screen 412, and may be configured to be configured to be configured to be configured to suggest that the preset time setting and volume setting can be displayed, for example, and not to display the setting value on the display device 410. In addition, the slot machine 1 may be configured to include a second display means that is provided on the main control board 10 so as to be invisible unless the front upper door UD is opened, and is controlled by the main control CPU 11 to display the setting value, and may be configured to suggest that the current setting value can be displayed as the preset setting state of the gaming machine on the second display means by displaying only the characters "setting confirmation in progress" on the setting confirmation screen 412 as the first display.

[0256] In the first embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured to continue to display the rental device connection error notification screen 413 that was displayed before the setting change switch SS was switched to the ON state when the setting change switch SS is turned ON after the occurrence of a rental device connection error, but is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may be configured to display, for example, an image notifying that a rental device connection error has occurred and that the setting change switch SS is turned ON when the setting change switch SS is turned ON after the occurrence of a rental device connection error.

[0257] When configured in this manner, the slot machine 1 may be configured to display an image on the rental device connection error notification screen 413 with text notifying that the setting change switch SS is in the ON state (for example, the text "The setting change switch is ON") superimposed thereon to notify that a rental device connection error has occurred and that the setting change switch SS is in the ON state.

[0258] In the first embodiment, the slot machine 1 includes the display device 410 as a display means, but may include the main control display device 10D as a display means. In this case, the slot machine 1 includes a second display means that is provided on the main control board 10 so as to be invisible unless the front upper door UD is opened, and is controlled by the main control CPU 11 to display the setting value. When the power is turned on and the game can be played, and when a predetermined event does not occur, when the setting key is inserted and turned into the setting key cylinder KC and the setting change switch SS is turned ON, the main control display device 10D as the first display means displays, as the first display, a display indicating that the current setting value can be displayed as the setting state of the gaming machine that is preset in the second display means, and when the setting change switch SS is turned ON after the occurrence of the predetermined event, the code indicating the occurrence of the event that was displayed on the main control display device 10D due to the occurrence of the predetermined event may be continuously displayed as the second display.

[0259] In the first embodiment, the setting change switch SS is configured such that the ON state constitutes the first state and the OFF state constitutes the second state, but is not limited thereto, and may be configured such that the OFF state constitutes the first state and the ON state constitutes the second state. In this case, the slot machine 1 is configured such that when the setting change switch SS is in the OFF state and the power is turned on, the setting value can be changed, and when the setting change switch SS is in the ON state and the power is turned on, the setting value cannot be changed. When the setting change switch SS is in the ON state, the slot machine 1 is configured such that a game can be executed, and when the setting change switch SS is in the OFF state, the slot machine 1 is configured such that the control related to the output of signals to other control units such as the sub-control CPU 21 and the hall computer and the control related to the setting change can be executed, but the process of referring to various flag data set in the main storage means 190 is not executed until the setting change switch SS is in the ON state.

[0260] In other words, the slot machine 1 is configured so that when the setting change switch is in a first state and the power is turned on, the setting value related to the degree of advantage in play can be changed, and when the setting change switch is in a second state and the power is turned on, the setting value cannot be changed, and the first state is composed of one of the ON / OFF states, and the second state is composed of the other ON / OFF state different from the one in which the first state is composed.

[0261] In the second embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured not to stop and display the first type of symbols arranged at the third position of the specific reel on the pay line L1, but is not limited to this. For example, the slot machine 1 may be configured to stop and display the first type of symbols arranged at the third position on the pay line L1 when the gaming state is a bonus state and the symbols on the specific reel among the symbols constituting the winning symbol combination can win a combination composed of the first type of symbols.

[0262] In the second embodiment, the slot machine 1 has a non-RT state as the first gaming state and a bonus establishment state as the second gaming state, but is not limited thereto. The slot machine 1 may be configured to have, for example, an RBB as an RBB in which a shift role is won and an RB (regular bonus) as a first type special role is activated when the shift role is won, an RBB operation general state in which the RBB is activated and the RB is neither won nor activated as the first gaming state, and an RBB operation RB establishment state in which the RBB is activated, the RB is won, and the RB is not activated as the second gaming state.

[0263] In addition, in the second embodiment, the reel control means 130 is configured to stop and display the white 7 symbol "white 7", red BAR symbol "red BAR", blue BAR symbol "blue BAR", and green BAR symbol "green BAR" in preference to the replay A symbol "RPA" or the replay B symbol "RPB" when the winning area "special minor symbol 1" and the winning area "special minor symbol 2" are won in the bonus establishment state and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting order 5 and batting order 6, and when the white 7 symbol "white 7", red BAR symbol "red BAR", blue BAR symbol "blue BAR", and green BAR symbol "green BAR" reach the middle of the right reel R3 constituting the active line L1 before the replay A symbol "RPA" or the replay B symbol "RPB", but is not limited to this. For example, in a case where the winning area "special minor feature 1" and the winning area "special minor feature 2" are won in a bonus established state, and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting order 5 and batting order 6, if the operation timing of the stop button B3 is a timing when the symbols within the pull-in range of the white 7 symbol "white 7", the red BAR symbol "red BAR", the blue BAR symbol "blue BAR", and the green BAR symbol "green BAR" are rotated and displayed on the effective line L1, the reel control means 130 may be configured to stop and display the white 7 symbol "white 7", the red BAR symbol "red BAR", the blue BAR symbol "blue BAR", and the green BAR symbol "green BAR" in priority to the replay A symbol "RPA" or the replay B symbol "RPB".

[0264] In addition, in the second embodiment, the slot machine 1 is configured so that when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 6" or the winning area "Batting Order Bell 12" is won and stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting order 5, which is different from the correct batting order but in which stop button B3 is operated for the first stop operation that is the same as the correct batting order, a pattern different from the replay A pattern "RPA" or the replay B pattern "RPB" is stopped and displayed on the right reel R3, but this is not limited to the above. The slot machine 1 may be configured, for example, so that when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 6" or the winning area "Batting Order Bell 12" is won and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in the correct batting order, the symbols on the right reel R3 for the small role set to a payout of 9 coins and the small role of the first mode are formed from a common first symbol, and when the first stop operation is performed with the stop button B3, the first symbol is stopped and displayed on the active line L1, making it possible to win the small role set to a payout of 9 coins and the small role of the first mode, so that when operated in batting order 5, the small role of the first mode is won, and when operated in batting order 6, the small role set to a payout of 9 coins is won.

[0265] In addition, in the second embodiment, the slot machine 1 has a left reel R1 as a specific reel and a stop button B1 as a specific stop button, but is not limited to this. For example, the slot machine 1 may have a center reel R2 as a specific reel and a stop button B2 as a specific stop button, or may have a right reel R3 as a specific reel and a stop button B3 as a specific stop button.

[0266] In the first and second embodiments, the slot machine 1 has a set value as a value that can change the winning probability in the internal lottery as a degree of advantage in the game, but is not limited thereto. The slot machine 1 is configured so that the winning probability of the role in the internal lottery is not changed in any of the settings 1 to 6, for example, and may be configured so that the degree of advantage in the game can be changed by the set value by changing the winning probability in various lotteries by the AT control means 170 (lotteries related to state transition such as CZ lottery, normal AT lottery, CZ AT lottery, and various lotteries related to instruction functions such as lotteries related to the provision of benefits related to instruction functions such as additional lottery).

[0267] In the first and second embodiments, the slot machine 1 is configured not to notify whether or not it is in an advantageous zone, but is not limited to this. For example, the slot machine 1 may be configured to notify that it is in an advantageous zone when the expected medal acquisition value is 1 or more due to the assistance of the winning of a small winning combination.

[0268] In addition, in the first and second embodiments, the slot machine 1 has a left reel R1 to a right reel R3 as a plurality of reels, and a stop button B1 to a stop button B3 corresponding to the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 as a plurality of stop buttons, but is not limited to this and may have, for example, a fourth reel and a stop button corresponding to the fourth reel.

[0269] In addition, in the first and second embodiments, the slot machine 1 has a max bet button MB for inserting a specified number of medals, but this is not limited thereto, and for example, the slot machine 1 may be configured to have, in addition to the max bet button MB, a single bet button for inserting one medal.

[0270] In the first and second embodiments, the slot machine 1 is configured as a so-called medal-less gaming machine that records the gaming value by an electromagnetic method, but is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may be configured to be capable of inserting medals that are physical media as gaming value, and to be capable of dispensing the physical media medals using a hopper unit when dispensing. When configured in this way, the slot machine 1 is configured to be capable of crediting up to 50 medals for the inserted medals. When configured in this way, the AT control means 170 ends the advantageous zone when 4000 games have been played since the advantageous zone started.

[0271] In addition, in the first and second embodiments, the slot machine 1 is configured to set the stored value of each counter and memory means as an initial value, and perform a decrement update in which one is subtracted each time a game is played, or an increment update in which one is added each time a game is played, but this is not limited to this, and the method of updating each counter and memory means may be configured to perform multiplication, division, etc., and is not particularly limited.

[0272] In the first and second embodiments, a reel-type gaming machine is exemplified as the gaming machine, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to a pachinko machine capable of so-called first type gaming, which includes a pattern determination means for determining one of a plurality of types of patterns including a jackpot pattern, a pattern display means for displaying a pattern on the pattern display unit when a predetermined variation time has elapsed since the pattern was determined, a big prize game execution means for executing a big prize game consisting of a plurality of round games when the jackpot pattern is displayed on the pattern display unit, a game profit awarding means for awarding a predetermined game profit when a game ball that has entered a big prize opening enters a specific area during a predetermined specific round game among the round games in the big prize game, and a performance execution means for executing a performance during the big prize game, or a pachinko machine capable of a second type game in which a big prize game can be started when a game ball enters a specific area during a small prize game. When the gaming machine is a pachinko machine, the gaming machine may be configured to circulate gaming balls within the gaming machine and record the gaming value used for gaming by an electromagnetic method. [Explanation of symbols]

[0273] 1. Slot machines (amusement machines) 10D Main control display device (display means) 410 Display device (display means) 411 Normal screen (3rd display) 412 Setting confirmation screen (first display) 413 Rental device connection error notification screen (second display) DD Front lower door (door) SS Setting change switch UD Front upper door (door)

Claims

[Claim 1] Openable doors and A setting change switch that can be operated by opening the door; A display means, the setting change switch is operable to switch between a first state and a second state, the display means is capable of displaying a first display, a second display, and a third display, the first display is a display for notifying that the gaming machine is in a predetermined setting state, The second display is a display for notifying an occurrence of a predetermined event, The third display is displayed when a game can be executed, When the setting change switch is in the first state while the power is turned on and a game is not being played, the first display is displayed on the display means; When the setting change switch is switched to the first state while the second display is being displayed, the second display continues to be displayed on the display means; When the predetermined event is released while the second display is being displayed and the setting change switch is in the first state, the third display is displayed on the display means. A gaming machine characterized by:

Images