Gaming Machines
The gaming machine enhances jackpot game chances during small winning games by varying ball firing probabilities and states, addressing the risk of game stagnation and increasing player engagement.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2023144532
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-09-06
- Publication Date
- 2025-01-17
- Estimated Expiration
- 2041-06-18
AI Technical Summary
In gaming machines like pachinko machines, players can control whether to cause a game ball to pass through a predetermined area during a small winning game, affecting the likelihood of a jackpot game, leading to a risk of the game not progressing and missing the jackpot opportunity.
The gaming machine allows players to fire game balls towards specific channels with varying probabilities of winning a small hit, transitioning between gaming states with different jackpot game odds, and uses presentation means to enhance the expectation of a jackpot game.
This design increases the likelihood of triggering a jackpot game during a small winning game, enhancing player engagement and reducing the risk of the game stagnating without a jackpot occurrence.
Smart Images

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Abstract
Description
[Technical field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine. [Background technology]
[0002] Among gaming machines, such as pachinko machines, there are some that are configured to be able to shoot gaming balls, execute pattern changes based on the entry of the gaming ball into the starting hole, and if a small win is won in the pattern change, the small win game starts after the pattern change ends, and if the gaming ball passes through a specified area during the small win game, the big win game starts after the small win game ends. For example, see Patent Document 1. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-80637 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0004] In such a gaming machine, the player can select whether or not to make the game ball pass through a predetermined area in the small win game, that is, whether or not to make the big win game occur in the small win game, depending on whether or not the game ball is shot and the shooting direction. Therefore, in order to further increase the interest in the game, if there is a difference in the advantage of the big win game via the small win game, the game may not be played in the expected flow of the game, such as the player not shooting the game ball in the small win game, and the big win game via the small win game may not occur.
[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and provides a gaming machine that makes it easier to induce a big win game in a small win game. [Means for solving the problem]
[0006] According to the present invention, a gaming machine capable of launching a gaming ball toward a first flow path provided with a first starting port, or toward a second flow path provided with a second starting port, and generating a big win game when the gaming ball passes through a predetermined area in a small win game executed based on winning a small win in a hit / miss judgment, and capable of setting a first game state in which the launch of the gaming ball toward the first flow path, or a second game state in which the launch of the gaming ball toward the second starting port is recommended, is provided with a presentation means and a presentation control means for controlling the presentation means, and is configured such that, with respect to the probability of winning the small win in the hit / miss judgment, the probability of winning the small win in the hit / miss judgment related to the second starting port is higher than the probability of winning the small win in the hit / miss judgment related to the first starting port, or the probability of winning the small win in the hit / miss judgment related to the second starting port is higher than the probability of winning the small win in the hit / miss judgment related to the second starting port. Gain, When the small win is not won in the hit / miss judgment related to the first starting port, the types of the big win game include a first big win game and a second big win game having a higher advantage than the first big win game, and when the big win game occurs via the small win game, the type of the big win game is determined before the timing when the game ball passes through the specified area in the small win game, and when the number of fluctuations in the second game state reaches a specified number, a transition is made from the second game state to the first game state, and the conditions for setting the second game state include a first condition and a second condition in which the advantage of the second game state to be set is higher than that of the first condition, and the presentation control means first Specific production and the second specific performance It is possible to execute The first specific effect can be a first effect mode that is a effect mode with a high expectation that the second jackpot game will occur among the effect modes that the first specific effect can become, or a effect mode that notifies the occurrence of the second jackpot game, and the second specific effect can be a second effect mode that is a effect mode with a high expectation that the second jackpot game will occur among the effect modes that the second specific effect can become, or a effect mode that notifies the occurrence of the second jackpot game, The above The first performance mode Regarding the rate at which a specific effect is executed, in the second gaming state set by the second condition, The first performance mode The rate at which a specific effect is executed is set in the second gaming state triggered by the first condition. The first performance mode Lower than the rate at which a specific performance is performed Ku Or, in the second gaming state set by the first condition, The first performance mode A specific effect can be executed, and in the second gaming state set by the second condition, The first performance mode Specific performances are not performed, Regarding the rate at which the second specific performance of the second performance mode is executed, the rate at which the second specific performance of the second performance mode is executed in the second gaming state set by the second condition is lower than the rate at which the second specific performance of the second performance mode is executed in the second gaming state set by the first condition, or the second specific performance of the second performance mode can be executed in the second gaming state set by the first condition, the second specific performance of the second performance mode is not executed in the second gaming state set by the second condition, and the second specific performance can be executed after the first specific performance, and the rate at which the second specific performance becomes the second performance mode when the second jackpot game occurs is higher than the rate at which the first specific performance becomes the first performance mode,In the second gaming state set by the second condition, a variation pattern shorter than that of the second gaming state set by the first condition is likely to be determined. The first specific performance may be a third performance mode different from the first performance mode, and the second jackpot game may be generated when the first specific performance of the third performance mode is executed in both the second game state set by the first condition and the second game state set by the second condition. A gaming machine is provided that has the following features. Effect of the Invention
[0007] According to the present invention, a gaming machine is provided that makes it easier to induce a big win game in a small win game. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of the gaming machine. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a pattern display device disposed in the area II shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a bird's-eye view showing the operation buttons and their surroundings arranged in the area III shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a game board installed in the gaming machine. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a rear view of the gaming machine. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the gaming machine. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the gaming machine. [Figure 8] Figure 8(a) is a diagram that shows a schematic drawing of a lottery table for determining whether a special symbol is a hit or not, Figure 8(b) is a diagram that shows a schematic drawing of a lottery table for selecting stopping symbols used when a big hit is derived in the special symbol hit or not determination related to special symbol 1, Figure 8(c) is a diagram that shows a schematic drawing of a lottery table for selecting stopping symbols used when a big hit is derived in the special symbol hit or not determination related to special symbol 2, and Figure 8(d) is a diagram that shows a schematic drawing of a lottery table for selecting stopping symbols used when a small hit is derived in the special symbol hit or not determination related to special symbol 2. [Figure 9]Figure 9(a) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart change pattern lottery table used in the pattern change related to special chart 1 when in the special chart change pattern derivation state PA, and Figure 9(b) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart change pattern lottery table used when special chart change pattern HNP is determined in the pattern change related to special chart 1 when in the special chart change pattern derivation state PA. [Figure 10] Figure 10(a) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart change pattern lottery table used in the pattern change related to special chart 2 when the special chart change pattern derivation state PC is in effect, and Figure 10(b) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart change pattern lottery table used when special chart change pattern HNP is determined in the pattern change related to special chart 2 when the special chart change pattern derivation state PC is in effect. [Figure 11] Figure 11(a) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart change pattern lottery table used in the pattern change related to special chart 2 in the special chart change pattern derivation state PB or in the special chart change pattern derivation state PE, and Figure 11(b) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart change pattern lottery table used when a special chart change pattern HNP is determined in the pattern change related to special chart 2 in the special chart change pattern derivation state PB or in the special chart change pattern derivation state PE. [Figure 12] Figure 12(a) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart change pattern lottery table used in the pattern change related to special chart 2 in the special chart change pattern derivation state PD, and Figure 12(b) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart change pattern lottery table used when special chart change pattern HNP is determined in the pattern change related to special chart 2 in the special chart change pattern derivation state PD. [Figure 13] FIG. 13(a) is a state transition diagram showing the transition of the special chart variation pattern derivation state, and FIG. 13(b) is a diagram showing the relationship of the average variation time for each special chart variation pattern derivation state. [Figure 14] 14(a) to 14(c) are diagrams showing specific examples of the symbol pre-reading performance. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a flow chart of the pattern pre-reading performance control process. [Figure 16]16(a) to 16(c) are diagrams that typically show lottery tables used in lottery for determining whether or not to execute the symbol pre-reading performance and the manner of execution. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a flow chart of the pattern pre-reading effect regulation process. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 shows a flow of the reach symbol determination process. [Figure 19] 19(a) to 19(c) are diagrams that diagrammatically show lottery tables used in the lottery that determines the reach pattern. [Figure 20] Figure 20(a) is a schematic diagram showing a lottery table for drawing the special chart 1 stopping pattern when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment is a miss, and Figure 20(b) is a schematic diagram showing a lottery table for drawing the special chart 2 stopping pattern when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment is a miss, and Figure 20(c) is a table summarizing the type of current special chart change pattern derivation state and the validity of the transition to the special chart change pattern derivation state PE for each of patterns D and f. [Figure 21] 21(a) and 21(b) are diagrams showing a specific example of the number of times displayed according to this embodiment. [Figure 22] Figures 22(a) and 22(b) are figures showing the transition of the count display when a power outage and restoration occurs during a period in which the number of times pattern fluctuations are executed after the end of a jackpot game is 0 to 1000 times. Figure 22(a) shows the transition of the count display when a RAM clear process is executed at the time of the power outage, and Figure 22(b) shows the transition of the count display when a RAM clear process is not executed at the time of the power outage. [Diagram 23] Figures 23(a) and 23(b) are figures showing the transition of the count display when a power outage and restoration occurs during the period after a transition from the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PD to the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PA. Figure 23(a) shows the transition of the count display when a RAM clear process is performed at the time of the power outage, and Figure 23(b) shows the transition of the count display when a RAM clear process is not performed at the time of the power outage. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In all drawings, the same components are given the same reference numerals, and the description will be omitted as appropriate. In the following description, "front", "rear", "left", "right", "upper", and "lower" refer to the gaming machine 10 as viewed from the front side (player side) as shown in FIG. 1, unless otherwise specified. In the following explanation, "advantageous (degree of advantage)" refers to an advantage for the player, and further, unless otherwise specified, refers to an advantage in terms of the amount of prize balls (gaming media) obtained (including not only the payout of gaming balls but also the payout of medals), excluding aspects of presentation such as so-called premium images.
[0010] <Features of the present invention> Before describing the details of the gaming machine 10 in this embodiment, the features of the invention (the present invention) described in this embodiment will be described. In addition, when explaining the features, the configuration in parentheses is an example of the configuration of this embodiment corresponding to the immediately preceding configuration, and the configuration may be described in parentheses for the same purpose in the explanations of the gaming machine 10 that follow.
[0011] The present invention relates to A gaming machine capable of launching game balls, capable of executing a pattern change based on the entry of the game ball into a first start hole (first start hole 57) or a second start hole (second start hole 59), executing a win / lose judgment including a judgment of whether or not a small win will be won with the start of the pattern change, and if the small win is won in the win / lose judgment, starting a small win game after the end of the pattern change in which the win / lose judgment was executed, and if the game ball passes through a specified area (V winning area) during the small win game, starting a big win game after the end of the small win game, A game status management means (game status control means 155) for managing a game status; A presentation means (main display unit 81); A performance control means (first sub-control board 200, second sub-control board 300) for controlling the performance means; Equipped with Regarding the probability of winning the small prize in the above-mentioned winning judgment, The probability of winning the small jackpot with the pattern variation related to the second starting port is higher than the probability of winning the small jackpot with the pattern variation related to the first starting port, Or, the small win may be won by the pattern change related to the second starting port, while the small win may not be won by the pattern change related to the first starting port, The game status management means includes: As the game state, a first game state (low probability of winning) or a second game state (high probability of winning) in which it is easier for a game ball to enter the second starting hole than in the first game state can be set; When the first condition (transition condition (ii) or transition condition (iii)) or the second condition (transition condition (vi)) is satisfied, a gaming state is transitioned from the first gaming state to the second gaming state; In both the second game state set in response to the first condition and the second game state set in response to the second condition, when the number of symbol variations executed in the second game state without the big win game reaching a specified number of times in the second game state, the game state is transitioned from the second game state to the first game state; The specified number of times (500 times) for the second gaming state set in response to the second condition is greater than the specified number of times (80 times) for the second gaming state set in response to the first condition, The types of the jackpot game that arises via the small jackpot game related to the small jackpot won in the pattern variation related to the second starting port include a first jackpot game (a jackpot game with four rounds) and a second jackpot game (a jackpot game with ten rounds) that is more advantageous than the first jackpot game, When the jackpot game is generated via the small jackpot game, the type of the jackpot game is determined before the game ball passes through the predetermined area in the small jackpot game, The performance control means is capable of executing a specific performance (a symbol pre-reading performance related to a special odd number barake eye, a 7 symbol reach state) which is a performance suggesting that the expectation of the second jackpot game is high or a performance informing that the second jackpot game will occur, When the player wins the small jackpot that may cause the second big jackpot game, the ratio of the specific performance being executed is as follows: The rate at which the specific effect is executed in the second gaming state set in response to the second condition is lower than the rate at which the specific effect is executed in the second gaming state set in response to the first condition. Alternatively, the specific effect may be executed in the second gaming state set in response to the first condition, while the specific effect is not executed in the second gaming state set in response to the second condition. This is a gaming machine characterized by the above.
[0012] According to the present invention, in a small hit game in the second game state set in response to the second condition, the risk that the game will not be played in the expected flow of the game, such as the player not firing the game ball, and a big hit game will not occur via the small hit game is reduced, making it easier to generate a big hit game in a small hit game.
[0013] First, the above phrase "the type of the jackpot game is determined before the timing at which the game ball passes through the specified area in the small jackpot game" refers to the fact that the jackpot game generated by the small jackpot game is linked to the stopping pattern of the special chart related to the small jackpot game.
[0014] In addition, the factor that causes the difference in the degree of advantage between the first jackpot game and the second jackpot game is not limited to the difference in the number of rounds in each jackpot game, but may also be caused by the difference in the specified number of times related to the high probability of a normal jackpot game after the jackpot game, or may be caused by a combination of these differences.
[0015] In addition, "an effect suggesting a high expectation that the second jackpot game will occur" refers to the rate at which the second jackpot game will occur when the effect in question is executed being higher than the rate at which the second jackpot game will occur when other effects (not all effects but some of them) are executed. Furthermore, "an effect notifying that the second jackpot game will occur" means that the second jackpot game will occur when the effect is executed, but it is not necessarily necessary that the effect be executed when the second jackpot game occurs.
[0016] In addition, the above-mentioned small hit refers to a small hit that can result in a big hit game, and does not include a small hit that results in a small hit game in which the period during which the special electric device 65 described below is in an open state is extremely short, or in which the game ball does not actually pass through the specified area during the small hit game.
[0017] The gaming machine 10 having the above-mentioned features will be specifically described based on the following embodiment. <Structure of the gaming machine 10> First, the structure of the gaming machine 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. Figure 1 is a front view of the gaming machine 10, Figure 2 is a diagram showing a pattern display device 90 arranged in area II shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a bird's-eye view showing a group of operation buttons arranged in area III shown in Figure 1 and their surroundings, Figure 4 is a diagram showing a game board 50 installed in the gaming machine 10, and Figure 5 is a rear view of the gaming machine 10. 1 to 5 are merely components necessary for explaining the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment, and components and functions not shown here may be added to the gaming machine 10. In addition, the gaming machine 10 does not necessarily have to include all of the components shown here, and some components or functions may be omitted as long as the effects of the present invention are not impaired.
[0018] The gaming machine 10 of this embodiment is a so-called pachinko machine, in which gaming balls are shot into a front area (hereinafter referred to as "game area 50a") of a gaming board 50 on which a large number of gaming nails (not shown) are erected, and a prize ball is obtained when the gaming ball enters a winning hole (for example, a big winning hole 55, etc.). In the following description, the entry of a gaming ball into a winning hole may be simply expressed as "entering (a winning hole)."
[0019] The gaming machine 10 comprises a rectangular outer frame 15 that opens at the front and rear, a middle frame 17 that detachably holds a gaming board 50 on the front side of the opening of the outer frame 15, and a front frame 20 configured to cover the front side of the gaming board 50.
[0020] The middle frame 17 is supported so as to be rotatable about the left end side by a hinge mechanism (not shown) on the same side as the hinge mechanism 21, and can be opened and closed to the front side of the outer frame 15. The middle frame 17 can be locked and unlocked by a cylinder lock 23 (inserting a door key into the cylinder lock 23 and turning the door key in the opposite direction to the unlocking direction of the front frame 20 (right in this embodiment)).
[0021] The front frame 20 is supported by a hinge mechanism 21 so as to be rotatable about the left end side, and can be opened and closed relative to the middle frame 17. The front frame 20 can be locked and unlocked by a cylinder lock 23 (by inserting a door key into the cylinder lock 23 and turning the door key in the opposite direction to the unlocking direction of the middle frame 17 (left in this embodiment)). In addition, the front frame 20 is provided with a transparent member 25 arranged to cover the playing area 50a, and the transparent member 25 protects the playing area 50a and the playing board 50 from view. The front frame 20 also has an upper ball tray 27 and a lower ball tray 29 for storing game balls, and the upper ball tray 27 and the lower ball tray 29 are spaced apart from each other vertically and are formed integrally with the front frame 20. In addition, the front frame 20 is provided with an operating handle 31 on the right side of the lower ball tray 29, and by rotating the operating handle 31, the game balls stored in the upper ball tray 27 are launched toward the game area 50a.
[0022] 1 to 5, the middle frame 17 has a middle frame open door sensor 76 that detects whether the middle frame 17 is in an open state or a closed state relative to the outer frame 15, and a front frame open door sensor 77 that detects whether the front frame 20 is in an open state or a closed state relative to the middle frame 17. In this embodiment, both of these door open sensors are ON in the open state and OFF in the closed state. However, these door open sensors may be configured to be OFF in the open state and ON in the closed state. This allows the gaming machine 10 to detect both the open / closed state of the middle frame 17 relative to the outer frame 15 and the open / closed state of the front frame 20 relative to the middle frame 17.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 3, a group of operation buttons operated by the player is arranged on the upper surface of the upper ball tray 27. The group of operation buttons includes a ball loan button 39a and a return button 39b for accepting a return operation of a prepaid card as a main operation unit 39 electrically connected to a main control board 100 described later, and includes a performance button 37 for switching the performance generated during a game or accepting a player's operation to obtain various information related to the gaming machine 10 as an operation unit electrically connected to a first sub-control board 200 described later, and cursor buttons 38 (upper cursor button 38a, lower cursor button 38b, left cursor button 38c, right cursor button 38d, middle cursor button 38e) for instructing operations to the up, down, left, and right directions, respectively. Each operation unit is provided with a sensor for detecting the operation, and the control board to be connected detects the operation of each operation unit by a change in the detection state of the sensor. Furthermore, a movable decorative body 22, which is operated by an actuator such as a motor (not shown), is provided on the side of the upper ball tray 27.
[0024] A ball ejection mechanism 36 is provided below the lower ball tray 29 to eject the game balls stored in the lower ball tray 29 downward. By operating this ball ejection mechanism 36, a bottom opening (not shown) formed on the bottom surface of the lower ball tray 29 opens, and the game balls fall naturally from the bottom opening and are ejected. Although not shown in the figure, the upper ball tray 27 is provided with a mechanism which, similar to the ball removal mechanism 36, can be operated to move the stored balls to the lower ball tray 29, and by operating both this mechanism and the ball removal mechanism 36, it is possible to remove the stored balls.
[0025] As shown in Fig. 1, a pair of speakers 33 (33a, 33b) are disposed on the left and right sides of the upper frame portion 32 of the front frame 20. The upper frame portion 32 and the left and right side frame portions 34a, 34b of the front frame 20 are formed of light-transmitting covers, and frame lamps 35 (35a, 35b, 35c) are disposed inside the covers. The speaker 33 and the frame lamps 35 can emit sounds or turn on or off in conjunction with effects and error notifications that occur during play.
[0026] The performance display device 80 is composed of a main display unit 81 disposed approximately in the center of the game board 50, and a sub-display unit 82 disposed around the main display unit 81. The sub-display unit 82 further includes an upper sub-display unit 82a disposed above the main display unit 81, a left sub-display unit 82b disposed on the left side of the main display unit 81, and a right sub-display unit 82c disposed on the right side of the main display unit 81. Here, the main display unit 81 is a fixed liquid crystal display device, and the upper sub-display unit 82a, the left sub-display unit 82b, and the right sub-display unit 82c are movable liquid crystal display devices operated by actuators such as motors (not shown).
[0027] The main display unit 81 can display the changing display of a pattern row that is performed in conjunction with the changing display in the first special pattern display device 91 or the second special pattern display device 92 described below, and can also display various other effects. In the variable display of the pattern row (decorative pattern) displayed on the main display unit 81, the displayed decorative pattern forms three pattern rows. In this embodiment, the direction of the variable display of each pattern row is downward, but the direction is not particularly limited. For example, it may be upward, left and right, depth, or a combination of these (diagonal direction). Here, the depth direction refers to a virtual direction recognized by the player in a display mode that uses a method (e.g., perspective) that makes the player perceive the pattern row as if it is changing from the back of the main display unit 81 to the front or vice versa, even though in reality it is a planar changing display on the display screen of the main display unit 81. In addition, the decorative symbols in this embodiment include a "1 symbol" that imitates the number "1", a "2 symbol" that imitates the number "2", a "3 symbol" that imitates the number "3", a "4 symbol" that imitates the number "4", a "5 symbol" that imitates the number "5", a "6 symbol" that imitates the number "6", a "7 symbol" that imitates the number "7", an "8 symbol" that imitates the number "8", and a "9 symbol" that imitates the number "9", and these symbols are provided in each symbol row. In the following description, the "1 symbol", "3 symbol", "5 symbol", "7 symbol", and "9 symbol" may be collectively referred to as "odd number symbols", and the "2 symbol", "4 symbol", "6 symbol", and "8 symbol" may be collectively referred to as "even number symbols".
[0028] Each of the sub-display units 82 is not only provided mainly for displaying a performance image related to a performance, but is also configured to be movable. The initial positions of the upper sub-display unit 82a are on the upper side relative to the main display unit 81, the left sub-display unit 82b are on the left side relative to the main display unit 81, and the right sub-display unit 82c are on the right side relative to the main display unit 81, and each of the sub-display units 82 is configured to be movable from these initial positions to a position where the entire display area of the sub-display unit 82 overlaps with the display area of the main display unit 81.
[0029] In addition, in this embodiment, the performance display device 80 (main display unit 81, upper sub-display unit 82a, left sub-display unit 82b, right sub-display unit 82c) all use liquid crystal display devices, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, various types of display devices such as drum type and dot matrix type can be used as the performance display device 80.
[0030] A number of light emitting diodes (hereinafter abbreviated as "LEDs") are arranged on the lower right side of the main display unit 81, and these LEDs form the display area of the pattern display device 90, which displays special patterns and normal patterns. In addition, the symbol display device 90 is disposed in a position that is more difficult for the player to see than the main display unit 81, and the display area of the symbol display device 90 is smaller than the display area of the main display unit 81. In addition, the arrangement and number of LEDs in the pattern display device 90 in this embodiment are as shown in Figure 2, but this is just one example, and the arrangement and number of LEDs in the pattern display device 90 are not limited to this example.
[0031] The special symbols are symbols that are stopped and displayed as a result of a symbol change that determines whether or not to activate a special electric role (for example, the special electric role 65). The special symbols in this embodiment include a first special symbol displayed on the first special symbol display device 91 and a second special symbol displayed on the second special symbol display device 92. In addition, the special pattern may be abbreviated as "Special pattern", the first special pattern as "Special pattern 1", and the second special pattern as "Special pattern 2".
[0032] The normal symbol is a symbol that is stopped and displayed as a result of a symbol variation that determines whether or not to operate a normal electric role (for example, the normal electric role 61). The normal symbol in this embodiment is displayed on the normal symbol display device 93. In addition, normal patterns are sometimes abbreviated as "Fuzu", and normal electric devices are sometimes called "denchu".
[0033] In addition to the above-mentioned display devices, the symbol display device 90 is provided with a first special symbol reservation lamp 94, a second special symbol reservation lamp 95, and a normal symbol reservation lamp 96. The first special pattern reserve lamp 94 makes it possible to identify the number of pattern variations of reserved special pattern 1, the second special pattern reserve lamp 95 makes it possible to identify the number of pattern variations of reserved special pattern 2, and the normal pattern reserve lamp 96 makes it possible to identify the number of pattern variations of reserved normal patterns, and all of them make it possible to identify the corresponding number of pattern variations by the lighting state of the two LEDs (in this embodiment, right side only constantly lit = 1, left and right sides constantly lit = 2, right side flashing + left side constantly lit = 3, left and right flashing = 4).
[0034] In the following explanation, the pattern change in which the first special pattern display device 91 or the second special pattern display device 92 displays a special pattern in a variable manner and then stops displaying the special pattern will be referred to as the ``pattern change of the special pattern,'' and in the following explanation, the pattern change in which the normal pattern display device 93 displays a normal pattern in a variable manner and then stops displaying the normal pattern will be referred to as the ``pattern change of the normal pattern.'' In addition, in the following explanation, the change display of the pattern row (decorative pattern) displayed on the above-mentioned main display unit 81 may be referred to as "pattern change of decorative pattern" to distinguish it from "pattern change of special pattern" and "pattern change of normal pattern". In the following explanation, when the term "pattern change" is used, it means a pattern change of a special design unless otherwise specified.
[0035] As shown in FIG. 4, a number of obstacles such as game pegs (not shown), windmills 52, and decorative parts are arranged on the front of the game board 50, thereby defining a game area 50a in which the shot game ball can roll. Additionally, on the left and upper sides of the play area 50a, there are arranged a curved outer rail 51 and an inner rail 53 for guiding the game balls launched by rotating the operating handle 31 to the upper part of the play area 50a. The outer rail 51 is located outside the inner rail 53 with the center of the play area 50a as the reference point. Here, the windmill 52 is a nail-shaped mechanism for changing the direction in which the game balls fall.
[0036] The gaming machine 10 is capable of varying the strength of the game ball's launch depending on the amount of rotation (e.g., the angle of rotation) of the operating handle 31, and various obstacles are arranged in the gaming area 50a to make the game ball roll along either the first flow path X (so-called left hit), in which a game ball that is launched more weakly, or the second flow path Y (so-called right hit), in which a game ball that is launched more strongly, rolls.
[0037] In Figure 4, the main prize openings are shown as large prize opening 55, first start opening 57, second start opening 59, gate 63, and general prize opening 67, but the prize openings shown are only examples, and the number and arrangement of the openings may be changed as appropriate.
[0038] The large prize opening 55 is located in the lower right of the game area 50a. The large prize opening 55 is provided with a large prize opening sensor 72, and the result of detection by the large prize opening sensor 72 determines whether a prize has been won in the large prize opening 55, and the number of prize balls (15 in this embodiment) associated with the large prize opening 55 is awarded. In this embodiment, the obstacles are arranged so that more game balls roll toward the big prize opening 55 when rolling from the second flow path Y compared to when rolling from the first flow path X.
[0039] A special electric device 65 is disposed above the large prize opening 55. The special electric device 65 is a member that can be switched between an open state, in which it is easy to win a prize in the large prize opening 55, and a closed state, in which it is difficult to win a prize, and is switched to either the open state or the closed state by a special electric device solenoid 66. More specifically, the special electric device 65 is in an open state during a part of a big win game that starts when a big win is derived by a special pattern hit / miss judgment described later, or during a part of a small win game that starts when a small win is derived by a special pattern hit / miss judgment, and thus entry into the big winning hole 55 is permitted. In this way, when the special electric device 65 is in an open state, it is easy to win a prize in the big winning hole 55, so it can be said that a big win game or a small win, in which the chance of winning a prize ball is greatly increased, is an advantageous game state. Details will be described later, but the small win game in this embodiment can cause a big win game. In a jackpot game, the special electric device 65 is alternately set to an open state and a closed state, and one open state (sometimes referred to as a "round game", and the total number of round games occurring in one jackpot may be referred to as the "number of rounds") ends when a predetermined number (10 in this embodiment) of game balls have entered the large prize opening 55, and the special electric device 65 enters a closed state. Furthermore, one open state in a jackpot game also ends when a sufficient time (30 s (seconds) in this embodiment) has elapsed for a predetermined number of game balls to enter the large prize opening 55. On the other hand, in the small win game, the game ends when the special electric device 65 is open for 1.8 seconds or when 10 game balls enter the big prize hole. Therefore, in the small win game, it is difficult for game balls to enter the big prize hole compared to the big prize game.
[0040] The first starting hole 57 is located at the lower center of the game area 50a. A first starting hole sensor 70 is attached to the first starting hole 57, and the winning of the first starting hole 57 is determined based on the detection result of the first starting hole sensor 70, and the number of prize balls (4 in this embodiment) associated with the first starting hole 57 is awarded. In at least some of the cases where the winning of the first starting hole 57 is determined, the pattern of the special chart 1 is changed. In addition, in the game area 50a of this embodiment, obstacles such as game nails are arranged so that more game balls roll toward the first starting hole 57 when they roll from the first flow path X compared to when they roll from the second flow path Y.
[0041] The second starting hole 59 is located in the lower right of the play area 50a. A second starting hole sensor 71 is attached to the second starting hole 59, and the winning of the second starting hole 59 is determined based on the detection result of the second starting hole sensor 71, and the number of winning balls associated with the second starting hole 59 (1 in this embodiment) is awarded. In at least some cases where a winning jackpot has been awarded at the second starting hole 59, the pattern on special chart 2 will change. In addition, in the game area 50a of this embodiment, obstacles such as game nails are arranged so that more game balls roll toward the second starting hole 59 when they roll from the second flow path Y compared to when they roll from the first flow path X.
[0042] A normal electric device 61 is disposed in the flow path connected to the second starting port 59. The normal electric device 61 is a member that can be switched between an open state in which it is easy to insert a game ball into the second starting port 59 and a closed state in which it is difficult to insert the ball, and is switched to either the open state or the closed state by a normal electric device solenoid 62. More specifically, the normal electric device 61 is in an open state at least in part of the normal winning game that is played by winning the pattern variation of the normal picture, and thus entry into the second starting hole 59 is permitted. In this way, when the normal electric device 61 is in an open state, entry into the second starting hole 59 is easy, so that the opportunity for the pattern variation of the special picture 2 to be executed can be greatly increased while suppressing the decrease in game balls due to the prize balls.
[0043] The gate 63 is located in the right center of the game area 50a. A gate sensor 74 is attached to the gate 63, and the winning of the gate 63 is determined based on the detection result of the gate sensor 74. In at least some cases where the winning of the gate 63 is determined, the pattern of the normal figure is changed.
[0044] The general winning opening 67 is located at the lower left of the game area 50a. A general winning opening sensor 73 is attached to the general winning opening 67, and a winning ball is determined based on the detection result of the general winning opening sensor 73, and the number of prize balls associated with the general winning opening 67 (4 in this embodiment) is awarded. In this embodiment, the obstacles are arranged so that more game balls roll toward the general winning opening 67 when rolling from the first flow path X compared to when rolling from the second flow path Y, but the obstacles may be arranged so that more game balls roll toward the general winning opening 67 when rolling from the second flow path Y. Also, a plurality of general winning openings 67 may be provided.
[0045] The outlet 69 is disposed at the bottom of the game area 50a. A game ball that is shot into the game area 50a and does not enter any of the winning holes falls into the outlet 69 and is treated as an out ball. In this embodiment, an out ball sensor 75 (not shown) is provided for detecting out balls, which are game balls that have entered the winning hole and the out hole.
[0046] As shown in FIG. 5, the rear of the game board 50 is fitted with a main control board case 109 in which the main control board 100 is stored, a first sub-control board case 209 in which the first sub-control board 200 is stored, a second sub-control board case 309 in which the second sub-control board 300 is stored, a power supply control board case 509 in which the power supply control board 500 is stored, and a payout control board case 409 in which the payout control board 400 is stored. In addition to the rear of the first sub-control board case 209 and the second sub-control board case 309, an opening / closing cover 45 which covers part of the rear of the main control board case 109 is attached in a removable manner. In addition, the main control board 100 is provided with a RAM clear switch 43. Furthermore, the substrate cases and covers that cover the respective substrates are made of transparent materials, and the corresponding substrates can be seen through the respective substrate cases and covers.
[0047] The power supply control board 500 is composed of a normal power supply circuit 501 that generates normal power to be supplied to electronic and electrical components such as the control board mentioned above based on the primary power supply supplied from the game island's power supply equipment, a backup power supply circuit 502 that generates backup power, and a power interruption detection circuit 503 that detects power interruption (when the voltage supplied by the normal power supply drops to a specified voltage). In addition, a power switch 40 is connected to the power supply control board 500, and assuming that primary power is supplied from the power supply equipment of the game island, when the power switch 40 is turned ON, normal power is generated in the normal power supply circuit 501 of the power supply control board 500, and power is supplied to electronic and electrical components including the above-mentioned control boards (main control board 100, first sub-control board 200, second sub-control board 300, and payout control board 400). In addition, when a power interruption is detected by the power interruption detection circuit 503, the power supply control board 500 transmits a power interruption signal (NMI signal) to each of the main control board 100, the first sub-control board 200, and the dispensing control board 400. In addition, the backup power circuit 502 is configured to be charged when power is being supplied to the gaming machine 10 from the power supply equipment of the gaming island. In addition, the backup power supply circuit 502 may be provided on the dispensing control board 400, and the power interruption detection circuit 503 may not be provided on the power supply control board 500, but may be provided on each of the main control board 100, the first sub-control board 200, and the dispensing control board 400.
[0048] A game ball tank 46 for storing game balls supplied from the ball supply facility of the game island is disposed on the back of the game board 50, above the opening and closing cover 45. The game ball tank 46 is further connected to a payout passage 49 leading to the upper ball tray 27 via a tank rail 47 and a payout unit 48, and the balls paid out by the payout unit 48 are paid out to the upper ball tray 27 through the payout passage 49.
[0049] So far, the structure of the gaming machine 10 in this embodiment has been described, but this is only one specific example, and the present invention can also be implemented with a different configuration.
[0050] <Regarding the control configuration of the gaming machine 10> Next, a control configuration of the gaming machine 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the gaming machine 10. Note that the control configuration shown in Fig. 6 is necessary for explaining the gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment, and the gaming machine 10 may have a control configuration not shown in Fig. 6.
[0051] The main control board 100 is equipped with a CPU 101 which performs various calculation processes related to the game, a ROM 102 which stores data such as control programs and various lottery tables, a RAM 103 which functions as a work area and buffer memory that serves as a temporary storage area, an I / O port 104 which inputs and outputs signals between peripheral boards and each device, and a random number circuit 105 which operates in a system separate from the program processing by the CPU 101 and generates random numbers (hard random numbers), and these are connected to each other via an internal bus.
[0052] The CPU 101 executes various processes related to the main control of the game by reading out various control programs stored in the ROM 102 and performing arithmetic processing. The RAM 103 is backed up by a backup power source generated in a backup power circuit described later. Specifically, among the information stored in the RAM 103, various information is backed up so that when power is restored (when power is turned on) after a power outage, the data can be used to restore the gaming machine 10 to the state it was in immediately before the power outage. For example, in addition to data such as a stack pointer and each register that were held when the power outage occurred, information related to the game, such as the state of the gaming machine 10 at that time (a game stop state or a playable state) and the current regular drawing state, are backed up. Note that this information is cleared (initialized) by a RAM clear process. Therefore, after the RAM is cleared, a special pattern variation pattern derivation state PA (low probability of regular pattern described later) described later is newly set. Furthermore, when a RAM clear process is executed, the pattern string related to the decorative pattern is in a state in which the initial pattern combination (a combination different from the pattern combination that can be stopped by the pattern pre-reading performance described later) is stopped and displayed, and even if the RAM clear process is not executed when the power is turned on and the pattern variation is not being executed at the time of the previous power outage, the initial pattern combination is stopped and displayed. In addition, this initial symbol combination is displayed statically only when the power is turned on, and is not displayed statically due to the execution of symbol variation.
[0053] In this embodiment, at least an area in which such information related to the game is stored (sometimes referred to as the area of RAM 103 related to the game) is backed up, as well as an area in which the complement of the checksum and the backup flag related to the area of RAM 103 related to the game are stored (sometimes referred to as the backup information area of RAM 103 related to the game). Then, when power is restored, the gaming machine 10 returns to normal using the various pieces of information stored in the backed up area of RAM 103 related to the game and the backup information area of RAM 103 related to the game. In addition, the specific method of backup in this embodiment is not limited. For example, the area to be backed up in the RAM 103 may be realized with a configuration capable of holding data in a non-volatile manner even in a power-off state. As another example, in the RAM 103, a first memory configured to hold data in a non-volatile manner even in a power-off state and a second memory referenced during operation of the gaming machine 10 may be provided with different hardware. In that case, the gaming machine 10 may save information to be backed up from the second memory to the first memory when power is cut off, and recover the saved information from the first memory to the second memory when power is restored.
[0054] In addition, the main control board 100 is electrically connected to the first start port sensor 70, the second start port sensor 71, the large prize port sensor 72, the general prize port sensor 73, the gate sensor 74, the out ball sensor 75, the middle frame door opening sensor 76, the front frame door opening sensor 77, etc., and is configured to be able to input detection signals from these sensors to the CPU 101 via the I / O port 104.
[0055] In addition, the main control board 100 is electrically connected to the first special pattern display device 91, the second special pattern display device 92, the normal pattern display device 93, the first special pattern hold lamp 94, the second special pattern hold lamp 95, the normal pattern hold lamp 96, the normal electric role solenoid 62 and the special electric role solenoid 66, and is configured to be able to control these via the I / O port 104. Similarly, main control board 100 is electrically connected to main operation unit 39 and RAM clear switch 43, and is configured to be able to detect the operation of main operation unit 39.
[0056] The main control board 100 and the first sub-control board 200 are connected by eight parallel signal lines and one strobe line, and are connected so that communication is possible in only one direction, from the main control board 100 to the first sub-control board 200, and various performance control commands are transmitted from the main control board 100 to the first sub-control board 200. Furthermore, data cannot be transmitted from the first sub-control board 200 to the main control board 100, and the first sub-control board 200 is configured not to be able to request the main control board 100 to transmit data. In addition, in this embodiment, a parallel transmission method is used for transmitting data from the main control board 100 to the first sub-control board 200, but a serial transmission method may also be used.
[0057] The first sub-control board 200 comprises a CPU 201 which performs various arithmetic processing related to game presentation based on presentation control commands from the main control board 100, a ROM 202 which stores data such as presentation control programs and various lottery tables, a RAM 203 which functions as a work area or buffer memory that serves as a temporary storage area, and an I / O port 204 which inputs and outputs signals between peripheral boards and each device. These are interconnected via an internal bus, and the CPU 201 is configured to execute main control related to game presentation in accordance with the control program stored in ROM 202. In addition, the first sub-control board 200 is electrically connected to the performance button 37 and the cursor button 38, and is configured to be able to detect the operation of these operating sections.
[0058] In addition, the first sub-control board 200, through performance control processing based on performance control commands from the main control board 100, generates image control commands that instruct the image to be displayed on the second sub-control board 300, audio control commands that instruct the audio to be output to the audio control board 310, lamp control data for controlling the lighting of various lamps such as the frame lamp 35, and movement control data for controlling the movement of the movable decorative body 22 and the sub-display unit 82, etc. Here, the first sub-control board 200 is connected to the second sub-control board 300 and the voice control board 310 to enable two-way communication, and each control command (image control command, voice control command) is transmitted from the first sub-control board 200 to the second sub-control board 300 or the voice control board 310, while in response, a response command (ACK command) indicating that the control command was successfully received is transmitted from each control board (second sub-control board 300, voice control board 310) to the first sub-control board 200.
[0059] The first sub-control board 200 is also electrically connected to the frame lamp 35, and transmits lamp control data via the I / O port 204. The frame lamp 35 is configured such that its illumination is controlled by the lamp control data transmitted from the first sub-control board 200. Furthermore, the first sub-control board 200 is electrically connected to the movable ornament 22 and the sub-display unit 82, and transmits movement control data via the I / O port 204. The movable ornament 22 and the sub-display unit 82 are configured so that their movement is controlled by the movement control data transmitted from the first sub-control board 200.
[0060] The second sub-control board 300 is equipped with a CPU 301 that performs various arithmetic processing related to image presentation based on image control commands from the first sub-control board 200, a ROM 302 that stores image control programs and various data, a RAM 303 that functions as a work area and buffer memory that serves as a temporary storage area, and an I / O port 304 that inputs and outputs signals between peripheral boards and each device, and is configured so that the CPU 301 executes main control related to image presentation in accordance with the control program stored in ROM 302. In addition, the second sub-control board 300 is equipped with a VDP (not shown) that generates image data according to the content of the performance determined by a performance content determination means 225 (described later) based on a control signal received from the CPU 301, and a sound source IC that generates sound data according to the content of the performance based on a control signal received from the CPU 301. The VDP is a so-called image processor that reads image data stored in an image ROM in response to an instruction from the CPU 301, processes the image data, and transmits the generated image data to the main display unit 81 and the sub-display unit 82. A high-speed VRAM that is used for expanding and processing the image data read from the image ROM is also connected to this VDP.
[0061] The audio control board 310 includes a CPU 311 that performs various arithmetic processing related to audio performance based on audio control commands from the first sub-control board 200, a ROM 312 that stores audio control programs and audio data, a RAM 313 that functions as a work area or buffer memory serving as a temporary storage area, and an I / O port 314 that inputs and outputs signals between the peripheral boards and each device, and is configured such that the CPU 311 executes main control related to audio performance according to the control program stored in the ROM 312. Thus, the audio control board 310 reads audio data stored in the ROM 312 in response to audio control commands received from the first sub-control board 200, synthesizes the read audio data, and transmits the final synthesized audio data to the speaker 33 via an amplifier, thereby enabling the speaker 33 to output audio.
[0062] The dispensing control board 400 is mainly composed of a CPU, a ROM and a RAM (all not shown). In addition, the payout control board 400 is connected to the main control board 100 for two-way communication, and performs control to drive the payout unit 48 to pay out game balls based on a payout control command from the main control board 100, and also controls the launch of the game balls by synchronously driving the ball feeding mechanism and the launch mechanism based on the amount of operation of the operating handle 31.
[0063] The power supply control board 500 is composed of a normal power supply circuit that generates normal power to be supplied to electronic and electrical components such as the control board mentioned above based on the primary power supply supplied from the game island's power supply equipment, a backup power supply circuit that generates backup power, and a power interruption detection circuit that detects power interruption (when the voltage supplied by the normal power supply drops to a specified voltage) (all of which are not shown). In addition, a power switch 40 is connected to the power supply control board 500, and assuming that primary power is supplied from the power supply equipment of the game island, when the power switch 40 is turned ON, normal power is generated in the normal power supply circuit of the power supply control board 500, and power is supplied to electronic and electrical components including the above-mentioned control boards (main control board 100, first sub-control board 200, second sub-control board 300, and payout control board 400). In addition, when a power interruption is detected by the power interruption detection circuit, the power supply control board 500 transmits a power interruption signal (NMI signal) to each of the main control board 100, the first sub-control board 200, and the dispensing control board 400. In addition, the backup power circuit is configured to be charged when power is being supplied to the gaming machine 10 from the power supply equipment of the gaming island. In addition, the backup power supply circuit may be provided on the dispensing control board 400, and the power interruption detection circuit may not be provided on the power supply control board 500, but may be provided on each of the main control board 100, the first sub-control board 200, and the dispensing control board 400.
[0064] <Functional Configuration of the Gaming Machine 10> Next, the functional configuration of the gaming machine 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the gaming machine 10. Note that the functional configuration shown in Fig. 7 is necessary for explaining the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment, and the gaming machine 10 may have a functional configuration not shown in Fig. 7. Also, when explaining the functional configuration, Figs. 8 to 13 will be referred to as necessary.
[0065] As shown in FIG. 7, the main control board 100 is equipped with a ball entry determination means 110, a main random number generation means 115, a main hold control means 120, a pre-determination means 125, a special chart lottery means 130, a normal chart lottery means 135, a jackpot game control means 140, a pattern display control means 145, an electric gimmick control means 150, a game status control means 155, a main information storage means 160, a main error control means 165, a main command management means 170, a power restoration processing execution means 175, and a power outage processing execution means 180. These means are functional representations of what is realized by each control configuration on the main control board 100 described using FIG. 6.
[0066] First, the main information storage means 160 is a means for temporarily storing data read by the means included in the main control board 100, data derived by calculations in the means, etc., in the corresponding storage areas. In particular, the data (performance control commands) stored in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160 is transmitted to the sub-command management means 270 of the first sub-control board 200 (described later) by the command transmission means after being stored.
[0067] The winning ball determination means 110 determines whether a ball has been won at each winning hole based on the detection results of a sensor provided at each winning hole.
[0068] The main random number generation means 115 is capable of generating multiple types of random numbers with different update ranges depending on the random number circuit 105, and when a win at a winning port is determined, it obtains (latches) one or more random numbers corresponding to that winning port from the random number circuit 105. More specifically, when it is determined that the first start gate 57 or the second start gate 59 has been won, the main random number generating means 115 obtains a random number for determining whether or not the special symbol has been won, a random number for drawing a special symbol stop symbol, and a random number for drawing a special symbol change pattern, which will be described later. When it is determined that the gate 63 has been won, the main random number generating means 115 stores a random number for determining whether or not the normal symbol has been won, a random number for drawing a normal symbol stop symbol, and a random number for drawing a normal symbol change pattern, which will be described later, in a corresponding storage area of the main information storage means 160. The random number circuit 105 monitors whether the multiple types of random numbers it updates are being updated normally, and if an update abnormality occurs in which the random numbers are not updated normally, information indicating the occurrence of the abnormality is written to a specific storage area of the random number circuit 105. Therefore, the CPU 101 can grasp that an update abnormality has occurred in the random number circuit 105.
[0069] The main reservation control means 120 controls the reservation of the pattern change of the special chart and the reservation of the pattern change of the normal chart. Regarding the special chart 1, the random number for determining whether the special chart is a hit or not, the random number for drawing the special chart stop pattern, and the random number for drawing the special chart change pattern, which are obtained as a result of winning the first starting port 57, are reserved (stored) as operation reservation information for the special chart 1. More specifically, the main hold control means 120 is provided with a hold counter (hereinafter referred to as the "special chart 1 hold counter") which is incremented by 1 each time the activation hold information of special chart 1 is held and decremented by 1 each time the activation hold information of special chart 1 is used (used in the draw by the special chart draw means 130), and stores the activation hold information in a storage area corresponding to the current special chart 1 hold counter of the main information storage means 160 until the value of the special chart 1 hold counter reaches an upper limit value (4 in this embodiment), and clears the used activation hold information each time the activation hold information is used, and controls the remaining activation hold information to be moved (shifted) from the current storage area to a storage area corresponding to a special chart 1 hold counter which is 1 less than the current special chart 1 hold counter, in order from the smallest special chart 1 hold counter. In addition, the main reservation control means 120 performs the same control as described above for special drawing 2 and ordinary drawing separately from special drawing 1, and the reservation counter for special drawing 2 is referred to as the special drawing 2 reservation counter. In addition, in the following explanation, "suspended operation information" may be expressed as "suspended pattern change" or simply as "suspended." In addition, when the main hold control means 120 updates (adds or subtracts) the operation hold information (hold counter) of special chart 1 or special chart 2, it generates a performance control command (hold command) including the special chart 1 hold counter and the special chart 2 hold counter, and stores the command in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160. In this embodiment, when both the operation pending information corresponding to the special drawing 1 and the operation pending information corresponding to the special drawing 2 are reserved, a priority change is performed in which the operation pending information corresponding to the special drawing 2 is used preferentially. However, instead of this priority change, a simultaneous change in which the operation pending information corresponding to the special drawing 1 and the operation pending information corresponding to the special drawing 2 are simultaneously used in this case may be adopted.
[0070] The advance judgment means 125 executes an advance judgment for a pre-reading performance targeting the pending activation information in at least some cases where the pending activation information of a special chart is pending at a predetermined advance judgment timing. More specifically, the pre-judgment means 125 reads out each random number of the operation pending information that has been reserved this time, and executes pre-judgment for each of the special chart hit / miss judgment, special chart stop pattern lottery, and special chart change pattern lottery, which will be described later. In each pre-judgment, a lottery table (not shown) that is the same as or equivalent to the lottery table used in the lottery corresponding to each pre-judgment is used. Therefore, the results of these pre-judgments will be the same as the results of the lottery that will be executed later. Furthermore, the pre-determination means 125 generates a performance control command (pre-determination command) including the derived result of the pre-determination, and stores the command in a transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160. Since the pre-determination command is transmitted (generated and stored in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160) at least part of the timing of the predetermined pre-determination, it will be transmitted following the above-mentioned reserved command. Here, the predetermined pre-determination timing refers to a timing that is not during a jackpot game, for example, a timing when the operation reservation information of the special chart is reserved. In this embodiment, if the operation reservation information of the special chart 1 is reserved during the normal chart high probability described below, the pre-determination is restricted, and therefore the transmission of the pre-determination command corresponding to the pre-determination is also restricted. On the other hand, if the operation reservation information of the special chart 2 is reserved during the normal chart low probability described below, the pre-determination may or may not be restricted.
[0071] The special drawing means 130 includes a special drawing hit / miss judgment means 131, a special drawing stop pattern lottery means 132, and a special drawing change pattern derivation means 133, and executes processing by each means in the order of the special drawing hit / miss judgment means 131, the special drawing stop pattern lottery means 132, and the special drawing change pattern derivation means 133. When the special drawing change start condition is satisfied, the special drawing lottery means 130 reads out the earliest operation pending information among the operation pending information reserved in the main information storage means 160. In addition, "the conditions for starting the change of the special chart are satisfied" means, for example, that all of the following conditions are satisfied: the player is not in a jackpot game, neither Special Chart 1 nor Special Chart 2 is in the process of changing the pattern (including when the pattern change related to Special Chart 1 or Special Chart 2 is displayed as stopped), and at least one of Special Chart 1 and Special Chart 2 has pending operation information.
[0072] Here, Figs. 8 to 12 are diagrams that typically show a lottery table used in the main control board 100, and will be referred to as necessary in the following description. In addition, in a lottery using a lottery table, including other lottery tables, the lottery values stored in the lottery table are added to the read random number in a predetermined order (if there is only one lottery value, the addition is performed once), and a result corresponding to the lottery value where a carry (overflow) occurs is derived as the result of the lottery. Similarly, in the explanation of the lottery table, the lottery table is given a name for convenience of explanation, but it is sufficient that the data such as the lottery value included in the lottery table corresponding to the name is identifiably stored in each ROM, and these names do not specify the area in which the data is stored. In the illustrated lottery table, there are items described for convenience of explanation, and if "-" or "0" is described as the lottery value, these do not necessarily indicate the data stored in each ROM. And, a result with "-" or "0" described as the lottery value will not win. Furthermore, if the same lottery value as the random number range used for the lottery (the number of random numbers that can be obtained in the range) is described in the lottery table, the result is derived 100%, so it is not necessary to perform a lottery. Furthermore, if the total value of the lottery values used in one lottery matches the random number range used in the lottery, a carry will always occur when adding the final lottery value, so that addition does not need to be performed, and in that case, the lottery values used in that addition themselves become unnecessary.
[0073] The special pattern hit / miss judgment means 131 reads out a random number for the special pattern hit / miss judgment for each pattern change, and executes a special pattern hit / miss judgment to judge by lottery whether a big hit, a small hit, or a miss will be won, using the read out random number and a lottery table for the special pattern hit / miss judgment. FIG. 8(a) is a diagram showing a schematic drawing of a lottery table for determining whether or not a special drawing is a hit, and the lottery table is different between special drawing 1 and special drawing 2, and the range of random numbers used in these determinations is 0 to 65535. Therefore, in the special drawing hit / miss determination in special drawing 1, a big hit is derived with a probability of 205 / 65536 (about 1 / 320), and a miss is otherwise obtained, and a small hit is not derived. On the other hand, in the special drawing hit / miss determination in special drawing 2, a big hit is derived with a probability of 205 / 65536 (about 1 / 320), a small hit is derived with a probability of 1100 / 65536 (about 1 / 59.6), and a miss is otherwise obtained. In this embodiment, as described later, a jackpot game can occur via a small jackpot, so the probability of a jackpot being derived in the special chart hit / miss determination is set to the one probability mentioned above.
[0074] When the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment is a big hit or a small hit, the special chart stopping pattern selection means 132 determines the special chart stopping pattern by lottery using a random number for special chart stopping pattern selection (in this embodiment, in the range of 0 to 999) and a selection table for special chart stopping pattern selection. Specifically, as shown in Figure 8(b), which is a schematic diagram of a lottery table for selecting the stopping patterns used when a jackpot is derived in the special pattern hit / miss judgment related to Special Pattern 1, when a jackpot is derived in the special pattern hit / miss judgment related to Special Pattern 1, pattern A is determined as the stopping pattern with a probability of 950 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 1.05), and pattern B is determined as the stopping pattern with a probability of 50 / 1000 (1 / 20). Here, whether pattern A or pattern B is determined, after the end of the jackpot game, the normal pattern will have a high probability, as described below, but the number of pattern changes during which the normal pattern will continue to have a high probability will be 30 times if pattern A is determined after the end of the jackpot game, and 80 times if pattern B is determined after the end of the jackpot game. Here, pattern A has 4 rounds, is a stopping pattern that becomes a normal high probability pattern after the end of the jackpot game, as described below, and the specified number of times for the normal high probability pattern (the maximum number of times the pattern change is executed while the normal high probability pattern continues) is 30. On the other hand, pattern B has 10 rounds, is a stopping pattern that becomes a normal high probability pattern after the end of the jackpot game, and the specified number of times for the normal high probability pattern is 80. Therefore, pattern B can be said to be a more advantageous pattern than pattern A in terms of both the number of rounds and the specified number of times for the normal high probability pattern.
[0075] As shown in Figure 8(c), which is a schematic diagram of a lottery table for selecting the stopping symbols used when a jackpot is derived in the special symbol hit / miss judgment related to special symbol 2, when a jackpot is derived in the special symbol hit / miss judgment related to special symbol 2, symbol a is determined as the stopping symbol with a probability of 250 / 1000 (1 / 4), and symbol b is determined as the stopping symbol with a probability of 750 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 1.33). Here, pattern a has 4 rounds, is a stopping pattern that becomes a normal high probability pattern after the end of the jackpot game, and the specified number of times related to the normal high probability pattern is 80. On the other hand, pattern b has 10 rounds, is a stopping pattern that becomes a normal high probability pattern after the end of the jackpot game, and the specified number of times related to the normal high probability pattern is 80. Therefore, it can be said that pattern b is a more advantageous pattern than pattern a in terms of the number of rounds.
[0076] As shown in Figure 8(d), which is a schematic diagram of a lottery table for selecting the stopping symbols used when a small win is derived in the judgment of whether the special symbol is a hit or miss related to special symbol 2, when a small win is derived in the judgment of whether the special symbol is a hit or miss related to special symbol 2, symbol c is determined as the stopping symbol with a probability of 250 / 1000 (1 / 4), and symbol d is determined as the stopping symbol with a probability of 750 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 1.33). Here, if a jackpot game occurs in a small jackpot game related to pattern c, the number of rounds in the jackpot game will be 4, and the stopping pattern will be a normal high probability pattern after the jackpot game ends, and the specified number of times for the normal high probability pattern is 80. On the other hand, if a jackpot game occurs in a small jackpot game related to pattern d, the number of rounds in the jackpot game will be 10, and the stopping pattern will be a normal high probability pattern after the jackpot game ends, and the specified number of times for the normal high probability pattern is 80. Therefore, pattern d can be said to be a more advantageous pattern than pattern c in terms of the number of rounds when a jackpot game occurs. In addition, when a jackpot game occurs in a small win game, the number of rounds in the jackpot game is the number of rounds of the small win game. In the following explanation, a jackpot game that occurs in a small win game related to the pattern c may be expressed as a "jackpot game related to the pattern c", and a jackpot game that occurs in a small win game related to the pattern d may be expressed as a "jackpot game related to the pattern d".
[0077] In addition, if the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment regarding special chart 1 is a miss, the special chart stop pattern lottery means 132 determines pattern C or pattern D as the stop pattern, and if the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment regarding special chart 2 is a miss, it determines pattern e or pattern f as the stop pattern. As will be described in detail later, when pattern D or pattern f is determined in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, the display of these stopped patterns causes a transition from the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PE, which will be described later.
[0078] In this manner, in the above-described embodiment, the jackpot game generated in the pattern variation related to the special chart 2 tends to be more advantageous than the jackpot game generated in the pattern variation related to the special chart 1. Therefore, the game interest can be further increased by transitioning from the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA to another special chart variation pattern derivation state, which will be described later.
[0079] The special pattern variation pattern derivation means 133 has a plurality of types of special pattern variation pattern selection tables to be referred to when determining the special pattern variation pattern, and selects one special pattern variation pattern selection table for determining the current special pattern variation pattern based on the current special pattern variation pattern derivation state and the result of the current special pattern hit / miss judgment, determines one special pattern variation pattern using the selected special pattern variation pattern selection table and the random number for special pattern variation pattern selection, and determines the variation time based on the determined special pattern variation pattern. Here, the variation time refers to the time from the start of the pattern variation related to the special pattern (special pattern 1 or special pattern 2) to the end of the pattern variation. Although details of the transition conditions will be described later, the special chart variation pattern derivation state in this embodiment includes a special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, a special chart variation pattern derivation state PB, a special chart variation pattern derivation state PC, a special chart variation pattern derivation state PD, and a special chart variation pattern derivation state PE. The above-mentioned method of determining the special chart variation pattern is adopted in the pattern variation of the special chart 1 in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, and is adopted in the pattern variation of the special chart 2 in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB, the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC, the special chart variation pattern derivation state PD, and the special chart variation pattern derivation state PE. In addition, in the pattern variation related to the other special chart in each special chart variation pattern derivation state, a predetermined special chart variation pattern is determined according to the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment.
[0080] FIG. 9(a) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart variation pattern lottery table used in the pattern variation related to special chart 1 during the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, and the range of random numbers used in the lottery is 0 to 999. As shown in FIG. 9(a), in the pattern change related to the special chart 1 during the special chart change pattern derivation state PA, special chart change patterns HNP to ASP-C can be determined. Specifically, if the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in the pattern change related to special chart 1 during the special chart change pattern derivation state PA is a miss, there is a 900 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 1.11) probability of special chart change pattern HNP, a 52 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 19.2) probability of special chart change pattern HRP, a 13 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 76.9) probability of HSP1-A, and a 11 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 90. 9) probability of HSP1-B, 9 / 1000 (about 1 / 111) probability of HSP2-A, 7 / 1000 (about 1 / 143) probability of HSP2-B, 5 / 1000 (1 / 200) probability of HSP3-A, 3 / 1000 (about 1 / 333) probability of HSP3-B are determined, and in this case, the special pattern variation pattern ASP1-A to the special pattern variation pattern ASP-C are not determined. Details will be described later using Figure 9 (b), but when the special pattern variation pattern HNP is determined, the special pattern variation pattern is further specified using the value of the special pattern 1 reserved counter at the start of the current pattern variation. On the other hand, when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in the pattern change related to the special chart 1 during the special chart change pattern derivation state PA is a jackpot, the special chart change pattern ASP1-A has a probability of 90 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 11.1), the special chart change pattern ASP1-B has a probability of 110 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 9.09), the special chart change pattern ASP2-A has a probability of 135 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 7.41), and the special chart change pattern ASP3-B has a probability of 165 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 6.01). Special chart fluctuation pattern ASP2-B is determined with a probability of 1.06), special chart fluctuation pattern ASP3-A with a probability of 180 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 5.56), special chart fluctuation pattern ASP3-B with a probability of 220 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 4.56), and special chart fluctuation pattern ASP-C with a probability of 100 / 1000 (1 / 10). In such cases, special chart fluctuation pattern HNP to special chart fluctuation pattern HSP3-B will not be determined. In this embodiment, when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in the pattern fluctuation related to the special chart 1 in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PA is a miss, any one of the special chart fluctuation patterns HRP to HSP3-B is determined at a rate of 100 / 1000 (1 / 10), and the special chart fluctuation pattern HNP is determined at a rate of 900 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 1.11). Furthermore, when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in the pattern fluctuation related to the special chart 1 in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PA is a big hit, any one of the special chart fluctuation patterns ASP1-A to ASP-C is determined at a rate of 1000 / 1000 (1 / 1). Here, in the description of the special pattern variation pattern of this embodiment, when two special pattern variation patterns are described with "~" between them, the description of the special pattern variation pattern existing between the special pattern variation pattern described earlier and the special pattern variation pattern described later is omitted according to the order described in the drawing related to the special pattern variation pattern lottery table for each special pattern variation pattern derivation state. Also, in the description of the special pattern variation pattern of this embodiment, regardless of whether the corresponding variation time is described or not, if the names of the special pattern variation patterns are different, it means that the different special pattern variation patterns are different (the variation time is different).
[0081] Figure 9(b) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart variation pattern lottery table used when special chart variation pattern HNP is determined in the pattern variation related to special chart 1 during special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, and the range of random numbers used in the lottery (different from the random numbers used in the lottery related to the special chart variation pattern lottery table shown in Figure 9(a)) is 0 to 999. As shown in Figure 9 (b), the special chart fluctuation patterns HNP that can be determined in the pattern fluctuation related to special chart 1 during special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PA include special chart fluctuation pattern HNP-A with a fluctuation time of 3200 ms (milliseconds), special chart fluctuation pattern HNP-B with a fluctuation time of 5600 ms, special chart fluctuation pattern HNP-C with a fluctuation time of 8000 ms, and special chart fluctuation pattern HNP-D with a fluctuation time of 11200 ms, in that order of increasing fluctuation time. Specifically, if the special pattern 1 reserved counter is 3 at the start of the current pattern change, the special pattern change pattern HNP-A is determined with a probability of 1000 / 1000 (1 / 1). Similarly, if the special pattern 1 reserved counter is 2 at the start of the current pattern change, the special pattern change pattern HNP-A is determined with a probability of 150 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 6.67), and the special pattern change pattern HNP-B is determined with a probability of 850 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 1.18). If the special pattern 1 reserved counter is 1 at the start of the current pattern change, the special pattern change pattern HNP-A is determined with a probability of 50 / 1000 (1 / 20), and the special pattern change pattern HNP-B is determined with a probability of 150 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 6.67). The special pattern variation pattern HNP-B is determined with a probability of 800 / 1000 (1 / 1.25), and the special pattern variation pattern HNP-C is determined with a probability of 800 / 1000 (1 / 1.25). If the special pattern 1 reserved counter at the start of the pattern variation is 0, the special pattern variation pattern HNP-B is determined with a probability of 50 / 1000 (1 / 20), the special pattern variation pattern HNP-C is determined with a probability of 100 / 1000 (1 / 10), and the special pattern variation pattern HNP-D is determined with a probability of 850 / 1000 (about 1 / 1.18). In the following explanation, if the value of the special pattern reserved counter to be referenced is 3, it may be called "reserved 3", if the value of the special pattern reserved counter is 2, it may be called "reserved 2", if the value of the special pattern reserved counter is 1, it may be called "reserved 1", and if the value of the special pattern reserved counter is 0, it may be called "reserved 0". In this way, when the special pattern change pattern HNP is determined in the special pattern change pattern derivation state PA, the special pattern change pattern (change time) that is likely to be determined by the value of the special pattern 1 reserved counter at the start of the current pattern change differs. More specifically, the smaller the value of the special pattern 1 reserved counter at the start of the current pattern change, the more likely it is that a long pattern change will be determined (the larger the value of the special pattern 1 reserved counter at the start of the current pattern change, the more likely it is that a short change time will be determined). In addition, such special chart variation pattern HNP (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "basic special chart variation pattern") also exists in special chart variation pattern derivation state PB, special chart variation pattern derivation state PC, special chart variation pattern derivation state PD, and special chart variation pattern derivation state PE, and in these special chart variation pattern derivation states, the reserved counter referenced is different from that in special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, and in all cases the value of the special chart 2 reserved counter is referenced.
[0082] FIG. 10(a) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart variation pattern lottery table used for the pattern variation related to special chart 2 when the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC is in, and the range of random numbers used in the lottery is 0 to 999. As shown in FIG. 10(a), in the pattern change related to special chart 2 in the special chart change pattern derivation state PC, special chart change pattern HNP to special chart change pattern ASP-F can be determined. Specifically, when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in the pattern change related to the special chart 2 during the special chart change pattern derivation state PC is a miss, the special chart change pattern HNP is determined with a probability of 960 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 1.04), the special chart change pattern HSP-D with a probability of 20 / 1000 (1 / 50), the special chart change pattern HSP-E with a probability of 15 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 66.7), and the special chart change pattern HSP-F with a probability of 5 / 1000 (1 / 200) is determined, and in this case, the special chart change pattern ASP-D to the special chart change pattern ASP-F are not determined. Details will be described later using FIG. 10(b), but when the special chart change pattern HNP is determined, the special chart change pattern is further specified using the value of the special chart 2 reserved counter at the start of the current pattern change. The method of determining the special chart variation pattern using this special chart 2 pending counter is also the same in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC, the special chart variation pattern derivation state PD, and the special chart variation pattern derivation state PE described below. On the other hand, if the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in the pattern change related to special chart 2 during the special chart change pattern derivation state PC is a big hit or a small hit, special chart change pattern ASP-D is determined with a probability of 500 / 1000 (1 / 2), ASP-E with a probability of 350 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 2.86), and ASP-F with a probability of 150 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 6.67), and in such case, special chart change pattern HNP to special chart change pattern HSP-F will not be determined. In this embodiment, when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in the pattern fluctuation related to the special chart 2 in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PC is a miss, any one of the special chart fluctuation patterns HSP-D to HSP-F is determined at a rate of 40 / 1000 (1 / 25), and the special chart fluctuation pattern HNP is determined at a rate of 960 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 1.04). Furthermore, when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PC is a big hit or a small hit, any one of the special chart fluctuation patterns ASP-D to ASP-F is determined at a rate of 1000 / 1000 (1 / 1).
[0083] Figure 10(b) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart variation pattern lottery table used when special chart variation pattern HNP is determined in the pattern variation related to special chart 2 when in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC, and the range of the random numbers used in the lottery (different from the random numbers used in the lottery related to the special chart variation pattern lottery table shown in Figure 10(a)) is 0 to 999. As shown in Figure 10 (b), the special chart fluctuation patterns HNP that can be determined in the pattern fluctuation related to special chart 2 in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PC include special chart fluctuation pattern HNP-E with a fluctuation time of 1500 ms and special chart fluctuation pattern HNP-F with a fluctuation time of 10,000 ms. Specifically, if the special chart 2 reserved counter is 3 at the start of the current pattern change, if the special chart 2 reserved counter is 2 at the start of the current pattern change, and if the special chart 2 reserved counter is 1 at the start of the current pattern change, the special chart change pattern HNP-E is determined with a probability of 1000 / 1000 (1 / 1), and in these cases, the special chart change pattern HNP-F is not determined. On the other hand, if the special chart 2 reserved counter is 0 at the start of the current pattern change, the special chart change pattern HNP-F is determined with a probability of 1000 / 1000 (1 / 1), and in these cases, the special chart change pattern HNP-E is not determined. In addition, special chart variation pattern HNP-E and special chart variation pattern HNP-F are different from any of the special chart variation patterns that can be determined when special chart variation pattern HNP is determined in the pattern variation related to special chart 1 in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA described above, the special chart variation pattern that can be determined when special chart variation pattern HNP is determined in the pattern variation related to special chart 2 in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB or special chart variation pattern derivation state PE described below, and the special chart variation pattern that can be determined when special chart variation pattern HNP is determined in the pattern variation related to special chart 2 in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PD described below.
[0084] FIG. 11(a) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart variation pattern lottery table used for pattern variation related to special chart 2 in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB or the special chart variation pattern derivation state PE, and the range of random numbers used in the lottery is 0 to 999. As shown in FIG. 11(a), in the pattern change related to special chart 2 in the special chart change pattern derivation state PB or the special chart change pattern derivation state PE, special chart change pattern HNP to special chart change pattern ASP-I can be determined. Specifically, if the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in the pattern change related to special chart 2 during special chart change pattern derivation state PB or special chart change pattern derivation state PE is a miss, special chart change pattern HNP is determined with a probability of 950 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 1.05), special chart change pattern HSP-G with a probability of 25 / 1000 (1 / 40), special chart change pattern HSP-H with a probability of 15 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 66.7), and HSP-I with a probability of 10 / 1000 (1 / 100), and in such case, special chart change pattern ASP-G to special chart change pattern ASP-I will not be determined. On the other hand, if the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in the pattern change related to special chart 2 during special chart change pattern derivation state PB or special chart change pattern derivation state PE is a big hit or a small hit, special chart change pattern ASP-G is determined with a probability of 500 / 1000 (1 / 2), ASP-H with a probability of 350 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 2.86), and ASP-I with a probability of 150 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 6.67), and in such case, special chart change pattern HNP to special chart change pattern HSP-I will not be determined. In this embodiment, when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in the pattern fluctuation related to the special chart 2 in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB or the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PE is a miss, any one of the special chart fluctuation patterns HSP-G to HSP-I is determined at a rate of 50 / 1000 (1 / 20), and the special chart fluctuation pattern HNP is determined at a rate of 950 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 1.05). Furthermore, when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in the pattern fluctuation related to the special chart 2 in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB or the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PE is a big hit or a small hit, any one of the special chart fluctuation patterns ASP-G to ASP-I is determined at a rate of 1000 / 1000 (1 / 1).
[0085] Figure 11(b) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart variation pattern lottery table used when a special chart variation pattern HNP is determined in the pattern variation related to special chart 2 in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB or the special chart variation pattern derivation state PE, and the range of the random numbers used in the lottery (different from the random numbers used in the lottery related to the special chart variation pattern lottery table shown in Figure 11(a)) is 0 to 999. As shown in Figure 11 (b), the special chart fluctuation patterns HNP that can be determined in the pattern fluctuation related to special chart 2 in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB or the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PE include special chart fluctuation pattern HNP-G with a fluctuation time of 2000 ms, and special chart fluctuation pattern HNP-H with a fluctuation time of 12000 ms. Specifically, when the special pattern 2 reserved counter is 3 at the start of the current pattern change, when the special pattern 2 reserved counter is 2 at the start of the current pattern change, and when the special pattern 2 reserved counter is 1 at the start of the current pattern change, the special pattern change pattern HNP-G is determined with a probability of 1000 / 1000 (1 / 1), and in these cases, the special pattern change pattern HNP-H is not determined. On the other hand, when the special pattern 2 reserved counter is 0 at the start of the current pattern change, the special pattern change pattern HNP-H is determined with a probability of 1000 / 1000 (1 / 1), and in these cases, the special pattern change pattern HNP-G is not determined. In addition, special chart variation pattern HNP-G and special chart variation pattern HNP-H are different from any of the special chart variation patterns that can be determined when special chart variation pattern HNP is determined in the pattern variation related to special chart 1 in the above-mentioned special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, the special chart variation pattern that can be determined when special chart variation pattern HNP is determined in the pattern variation related to special chart 2 in the above-mentioned special chart variation pattern derivation state PC, and the special chart variation pattern that can be determined when special chart variation pattern HNP is determined in the pattern variation related to special chart 2 in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PD described below.
[0086] FIG. 12(a) is a schematic diagram showing a special pattern variation lottery table used in the pattern variation related to special pattern 2 in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PD, and the range of random numbers used in the lottery is 0 to 999. As shown in Figure 12 (a), in the pattern change related to the special pattern 2 in the special pattern change pattern derivation state PD, the special pattern change pattern HNP to the special pattern change pattern ASPF can be determined. In particular, the special pattern change pattern HSP-G to the special pattern change pattern ASP-I are common to the special pattern change pattern derivation state PB and the special pattern change pattern derivation state PE. Specifically, if the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in the pattern change related to special chart 2 during the special chart change pattern derivation state PD is a miss, special chart change pattern HNP is determined with a probability of 965 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 1.04), special chart change pattern HSP-G with a probability of 30 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 33.3), special chart change pattern HSP-H with a probability of 3 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 333), and HSP-I with a probability of 2 / 1000 (1 / 500), and in such case, special chart change pattern ASP-G to special chart change pattern ASP-I will not be determined. On the other hand, if the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in the pattern change related to special chart 2 during the special chart change pattern derivation state PD is a big hit or a small hit, special chart change pattern ASP-G is determined with a probability of 800 / 1000 (1 / 1.25), ASP-H with a probability of 150 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 6.67), and ASP-I with a probability of 50 / 1000 (1 / 20), and in such case, special chart change pattern HNP to special chart change pattern HSP-I will not be determined.
[0087] As described above, in this embodiment, when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in the pattern change related to special chart 2 in the special chart change pattern derivation state PD is a miss, one of special chart change patterns HSP-G to HSP-I is determined at a rate of 35 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 28.6), which is lower than the rate (1 / 20) at which one of special chart change patterns HSP-G to HSP-I is determined when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in the pattern change related to special chart 2 in the special chart change pattern derivation state PB is a miss. On the other hand, if the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in the pattern change related to special chart 2 in the special chart change pattern derivation state PD is a miss, the special chart change pattern HNP is determined at a rate of 965 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 1.04), which is higher than the rate (approximately 1 / 1.05) at which the special chart change pattern HNP is determined when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in the pattern change related to special chart 2 in the special chart change pattern derivation state PB is a miss. In addition, when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in the pattern change related to special chart 2 during the special chart change pattern derivation state PD is a big hit or a small hit, one of the special chart change patterns ASP-G to ASP-I will be determined at a rate of 1000 / 1000 (1 / 1).
[0088] In addition, the probability (approximately 1 / 33.3) that special chart variation pattern HSP-G is determined when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in the pattern change related to special chart 2 in special chart variation pattern derivation state PD is higher than the probability (1 / 40) that special chart variation pattern HSP-G is determined when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in the pattern change related to special chart 2 in special chart variation pattern derivation state PB is higher. On the other hand, the probability (approximately 1 / 333) that special chart variation pattern HSP-H is determined when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment is a miss in the pattern change related to special chart 2 in special chart variation pattern derivation state PD is lower than the probability (approximately 1 / 66.7) that special chart variation pattern HSP-H is determined when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment is a miss in the pattern change related to special chart 2 in special chart variation pattern derivation state PB, and the probability (1 / 500) that special chart variation pattern HSP-I is determined when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment is a miss in the pattern change related to special chart 2 in special chart variation pattern derivation state PD is lower than the probability (1 / 100) that special chart variation pattern HSP-I is determined when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment is a miss in the pattern change related to special chart 2 in special chart variation pattern derivation state PB. Furthermore, the probability (1 / 1.25) that the special chart change pattern ASP-G is determined when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in the pattern change related to special chart 2 in the special chart change pattern derivation state PD is a big hit or a small hit is higher than the probability (1 / 2) that the special chart change pattern ASP-G is determined when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in the pattern change related to special chart 2 in the special chart change pattern derivation state PB is a big hit or a small hit. On the other hand, the probability (approximately 1 / 6.67) that special chart change pattern ASP-H is determined when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in the pattern change related to special chart 2 in the special chart change pattern derivation state PD is a big hit or a small hit is lower than the probability (approximately 1 / 2.86) that special chart change pattern ASP-H is determined when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in the pattern change related to special chart 2 in the special chart change pattern derivation state PB is a big hit or a small hit, and the probability (1 / 20) that special chart change pattern ASP-I is determined when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in the pattern change related to special chart 2 in the special chart change pattern derivation state PD is a big hit or a small hit is lower than the probability (approximately 1 / 6.67) that special chart change pattern ASP-I is determined when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in the pattern change related to special chart 2 in the special chart change pattern derivation state PB is a big hit or a small hit.
[0089] Figure 12(b) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart variation pattern lottery table used when a special chart variation pattern HNP is determined in the pattern variation related to special chart 2 in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PD, and the range of the random numbers used in the lottery (different from the random numbers used in the lottery related to the special chart variation pattern lottery table shown in Figure 12(a)) is 0 to 999. As shown in Figure 12 (b), the special chart change patterns HNP that can be determined in the pattern change related to special chart 2 in the special chart change pattern derivation state PD include special chart change pattern HNP-I with a change time of 1000 ms and special chart change with a change time of 5000 ms. Specifically, when the special pattern 2 reserved counter is 3 at the start of the current pattern change, when the special pattern 2 reserved counter is 2 at the start of the current pattern change, and when the special pattern 2 reserved counter is 1 at the start of the current pattern change, the special pattern change pattern HNP-I is determined with a probability of 1000 / 1000 (1 / 1), and in these cases, the special pattern change pattern HNP-J is not determined. On the other hand, when the special pattern 2 reserved counter is 0 at the start of the current pattern change, the special pattern change pattern HNP-J is determined with a probability of 1000 / 1000 (1 / 1), and in these cases, the special pattern change pattern HNP-I is not determined. In addition, special chart variation pattern HNP-I and special chart variation pattern HNP-J are different from the special chart variation pattern that can be determined when special chart variation pattern HNP is determined in the pattern variation related to special chart 1 in the above-mentioned special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, the special chart variation pattern that can be determined when special chart variation pattern HNP is determined in the pattern variation related to special chart 2 in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC described below, and the special chart variation pattern that can be determined when special chart variation pattern HNP is determined in the pattern variation related to special chart 2 in special chart variation pattern derivation state PB or special chart variation pattern derivation state PE. Furthermore, in this embodiment, as explained using Figure 12 (b), in the pattern change related to special chart 2 in the special chart change pattern derivation state PC, the change pattern is determined based on the value of the special chart 2 pending counter at the start of the pattern change, but in the pattern change, a predetermined special chart change pattern (for example, special chart change pattern HNP-I) may be determined regardless of the value of the special chart 2 pending counter at the start of the pattern change.
[0090] In this way, in this embodiment, for the purpose of reducing the development cost (data capacity) burden related to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PD and the special chart variation pattern derivation state PE, the special chart variation pattern that can be determined by lottery using the special chart variation pattern lottery table used in the pattern variation related to the special chart 2 in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PD and the special chart variation pattern derivation state PE is configured to include a part or all of the special chart variation patterns (special chart variation pattern HSP-G to special chart variation pattern ASP-I) that can be determined by lottery using the special chart variation pattern lottery table used in the pattern variation related to the special chart 2 in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB. In particular, in this embodiment, the same special chart variation pattern lottery table is used in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB and the special chart variation pattern derivation state PE. In addition, the special chart variation patterns that can be determined by lottery using the special chart variation pattern lottery table used for the pattern variation related to special chart 2 in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PD may be composed only of special chart variation patterns that can be determined by lottery using the special chart variation pattern lottery table used for the pattern variation related to special chart 2 in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB, or the same special chart variation pattern lottery table may be used in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PD and the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB.
[0091] In addition, at the start of the pattern change, the special chart change pattern derivation means 133 generates a performance control command (change start command) including the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment, the determined stopping pattern of the special chart, and the determined special chart change pattern, and stores the command in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.
[0092] The regular map lottery means 135, like the special map lottery means 130, reads out the most recent pending operation information from the pending operation information stored in the main information storage means 160 when the regular map pattern is not changing, and uses the read random number to execute a regular map hit / miss judgment to determine whether the regular map is a hit or not, and if the regular map hit / miss judgment results in the regular map being controlled to an open state, executes a regular map stop pattern lottery to determine the stopping pattern of the regular map by lottery, and a regular map change pattern lottery to determine the change pattern (change time) of the regular map by lottery. More specifically, in the normal drawing hit / miss judgment, there are a normal drawing lottery state with a high probability (sometimes abbreviated as "normal drawing high probability") and a normal drawing lottery state with a low probability (sometimes abbreviated as "normal drawing low probability"). Although the drawing of the lottery table is omitted, in this embodiment, in the normal drawing high probability, the probability of a normal drawing hit is 65535 / 65536, and the remaining probability of a 1 / 65536 miss, while in the normal drawing low probability, the probability of a normal drawing hit is 1 / 65536, and the remaining probability of a 65535 / 65536 miss. Note that in the normal drawing low probability, it may be set so that the normal drawing does not hit (65536 / 65536 miss).
[0093] In the normal stop pattern lottery, as in the special stop pattern lottery, one stop pattern is determined by lottery using a lottery table (not shown) for normal stop pattern lottery from multiple types of stop patterns with different patterns that open the normal electric role 61. If the normal pattern is a miss, the stop pattern is determined uniformly as in the special pattern 1 and special pattern 2.
[0094] In addition, in the general map fluctuation pattern lottery, as in the special map fluctuation pattern lottery, one general map fluctuation pattern is determined from multiple types of general map fluctuation patterns by lottery using a lottery table (not shown) for general map fluctuation pattern lottery.
[0095] In this way, a high probability of winning a normal draw is more likely than a low probability of winning a normal draw, and it can be said to be a more advantageous state than a low probability of winning a normal draw.
[0096] When the result of the special symbol hit / miss judgment is a big hit or a small hit, the big hit game control means 140 determines the demo time for the start demo and the demo time for the end demo according to the determined symbol. Furthermore, at the start of a jackpot game, the jackpot game control means 140 generates a presentation control command (jackpot start command) including a demo time related to the start demo of the jackpot game, and stores it in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160, and at the end of the jackpot game, generates a presentation control command (jackpot end command) including a demo time related to the end demo of the jackpot game, and stores it in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160. This is the same for a small jackpot game.
[0097] In addition, the game control means 140 starts a small win game when the result of the special winning / unwinning judgment is a small win, and when the game ball passes through a V winning area (not shown) provided in the big winning port 55 in the small win game, the end of the small win game (more precisely, the end of the end demo of the small win game) is the trigger to start a big win game corresponding to the small win. Therefore, in this embodiment, the small win game functions as a game that generates a big win game. In addition, if the game ball does not pass through the V winning area during a small win game, the big win game will not start (occur) after the small win game ends.
[0098] The pattern display control means 145 displays the special pattern 1 on the first special pattern display device 91 in a variable manner according to the variable time corresponding to the determined special pattern variable pattern of the special pattern 1, and displays the special pattern 1 in a stopped pattern determined by the special pattern stop pattern lottery after the variable time has elapsed. Similarly, the special pattern 2 is displayed on the second special pattern display device 92 in a variable manner according to the variable time corresponding to the determined special pattern variable pattern of the special pattern 2, and displays the special pattern 2 in a stopped pattern determined by the special pattern stop pattern lottery after the variable time has elapsed. In addition, the pattern display control means 145 has a special chart game timer for managing the time (variation time, stop display time) related to the display of special chart 1 and special chart 2, and when the special chart is stopped (at the timing when the value of the special chart game timer becomes "0"), it generates a presentation control command (variation stop command) for requesting a fixed stop display of the decorative pattern, and stores the command in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160. Here, the definite stop display of the decorative pattern refers to the final stop display of the decorative pattern in the pattern change, and is different from the provisional stop display of the decorative pattern that may occur during the execution of the pattern change. In the provisional stop display of the decorative pattern, for example, the decorative pattern displayed as stopped is accompanied by a movement in which the decorative pattern is slightly swaying up and down (so-called swaying change), while in the definite stop display of the decorative pattern, the decorative pattern displayed as stopped is not accompanied by a swaying change, and so on. Even if the same decorative pattern is displayed as stopped, the display mode of the decorative pattern displayed as stopped as definite is different from the display mode of the decorative pattern displayed as stopped provisionally. Therefore, the player can recognize whether the display of the decorative pattern is a definite stop display or a provisional stop display.
[0099] In addition, the pattern display control means 145 causes the normal map to be displayed on the normal pattern display device 93 in a variable manner in accordance with the normal map fluctuation pattern (fluctuation time) of the normal map, and after the fluctuation time has elapsed, causes the normal map to be displayed in a stopped pattern determined by a normal map stop pattern lottery. In addition, the symbol display control means 145 has a regular symbol game timer for managing the time related to the display of the regular symbol (variable time, stop display time).
[0100] In the above-mentioned big win game or small win game, the electric device control means 150 outputs a control signal to the special electric device solenoid 66, and opens the special electric device 65 according to an opening pattern corresponding to the stopping pattern of the special chart.
[0101] In addition, when the regular winning / losing lottery is won, the electric role control means 150 outputs a control signal to the regular electric role solenoid 62 to open the regular electric role 61 according to an opening pattern corresponding to the stopping pattern of the regular role.
[0102] The game state control means 155 controls the normal drawing state. Specifically, the game state control means 155 sets the normal drawing low probability regardless of the stopped pattern of the special drawing related to the jackpot game at the start of the jackpot game, and when a specified condition such as the end of the jackpot game is satisfied, sets the normal drawing high probability until the pattern change is performed a specified number of times, and sets the normal drawing low probability after the pattern change is performed a specified number of times. In this embodiment, during a small win game, the normal drawing lottery state in the pattern change that caused the small win game is maintained. Therefore, if a small win is won during a normal drawing high probability, the normal drawing high probability is maintained during the small win game related to the small win, and if a jackpot game is generated by the small win game, the normal drawing low probability is triggered by the start of the jackpot game.
[0103] Such a general drawing state changes in link with the above-mentioned special drawing pattern derivation state, and the transition of the special drawing pattern derivation state is managed by the game state control means 155. The transition of the special drawing pattern derivation state will be explained below with reference to Fig. 13(a) and Fig. 13(b). Fig. 13(a) is a state transition diagram showing the transition of the special drawing pattern derivation state, and Fig. 13(b) is a diagram showing the relationship of the average change time for each special drawing pattern derivation state. As shown in FIG. 13(a), the special chart variation pattern derivation state includes the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, which corresponds to the normal chart low probability, and the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB, the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC, the special chart variation pattern derivation state PD, and the special chart variation pattern derivation state PE, which correspond to the normal chart high probability, and any of these special chart variation pattern derivation states is set except during a jackpot game. The transition conditions between the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA and the special chart variation pattern derivation state PE include transition conditions (i) to (viii). In the following explanation, the normal chart high probability game state may be expressed as "time-saving".
[0104] Specifically, transition condition (i) is the end of a jackpot game related to pattern A, transition condition (ii) is the end of a jackpot game related to pattern B, transition condition (iii) is the end of a jackpot game related to patterns a, b, c, and d, transition condition (iv) is the end of pattern change in which the number of pattern changes related to special pattern 2 executed without a jackpot game in normal pattern high probability becomes 30 times (the specified number of times related to special pattern change pattern derivation state PB or special pattern change pattern derivation state PE), and transition condition (v) is the end of pattern change in which the number of pattern changes related to special pattern 2 executed without a jackpot game in normal pattern high probability becomes 80 times (the specified number of times related to special pattern change pattern derivation state PC). In addition, the transition condition (vi) is the end of the pattern change when the number of pattern changes executed consecutively without a jackpot game reaches 1000, and the transition condition (vii) is the end of the pattern change when the number of pattern changes executed related to special pattern 2 without a jackpot game in the normal pattern high probability reaches 500 (the specified number of times related to the special pattern change pattern derivation state PD). Furthermore, the transition condition (viii) is the stop display of pattern D or pattern f in the normal pattern low probability. In the special pattern change pattern derivation state PC, when the above transition condition (iii) is satisfied, the number of pattern changes executed related to the transition condition (v) is initialized to 0.
[0105] In this embodiment, the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB, the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC, the special chart variation pattern derivation state PD, and the special chart variation pattern derivation state PE are all normal chart high probability. Therefore, from the viewpoint of the expectation degree that a big hit game occurs, these special chart variation pattern derivation states can be said to be the same special chart variation pattern derivation state. Furthermore, if a big win game does not occur in the small win game related to the transition condition (iii), the state when the small win game occurred (high probability of a regular pattern, and the number of pattern changes related to special pattern 2 that can be executed within the specified number of times) is maintained. In addition, when a power outage and restoration occurs accompanied by the execution of a RAM clearing process, the number of times the pattern change related to the transition condition (vi) is executed is cleared (initialized), whereas when a power outage and restoration occurs without the execution of a RAM clearing process, the number of times the pattern change is executed is maintained.
[0106] In addition, in this embodiment, the transition condition (vi) may be satisfied during the special chart variation pattern derivation state PE, in which case the state transitions to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PD at that point, and the prescribed number of times related to the high probability of the general chart after the transition is newly set to 500. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the transition condition (vi) is configured not to be satisfied in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC and the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB from the value of the prescribed number of times related to each general chart high probability.
[0107] Furthermore, in this embodiment, in the case where the stop symbol (symbol D, symbol f) related to the transition condition (viii) is displayed as a stopped symbol in the symbol variation in which the transition condition (vi) may be satisfied, the transition condition (vi) is satisfied with priority. This is realized by the game state control means 155 judging the transition condition (vi) before (with priority) judging whether the transition condition (viii) is satisfied, and terminating the judgment related to the transition condition upon the completion of the judgment related to one transition condition.
[0108] In addition, the transition conditions among the above-mentioned transition conditions (i) to (viii) that are satisfied by the number of executions of the pattern change related to the special pattern 2 include the end of the pattern change corresponding to the transition condition, that is, the transition condition is satisfied at the end of the pattern change corresponding to the transition condition, and the transition to the special pattern change pattern derivation state occurs, but this is not limited to this. In some or all of these transition conditions, the transition condition may include the start of the pattern change corresponding to the transition condition, that is, the transition condition may be satisfied at the start of the pattern change corresponding to the transition condition, and the transition to the special pattern change pattern derivation state may occur. Furthermore, in this embodiment, for the transition conditions (i) to (viii) that are satisfied by the number of times that the pattern change related to the special drawing 2 is executed, the number of times that the pattern change related to the transition condition is executed does not include the number of times that the pattern change related to the special drawing 1 is executed. However, the number of times that the pattern change related to the transition condition is executed may include the number of times that the pattern change related to the special drawing 1 is executed that exceeds a predetermined number (4 in this embodiment, which is the maximum number of times that the pattern change related to the special drawing 1 can be reserved).
[0109] In addition, when the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PD transitions to the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PA due to the transition condition (vii), the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PD will not transition based on the number of times the pattern variation is performed, except when a new jackpot game is played or when the RAM clear process is performed. Therefore, when a power outage occurs without the execution of the RAM clear process, the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PD will not transition based on the number of times the pattern variation is performed. However, once a jackpot game is played, the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PA may transition to the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PD due to the transition condition (vi).
[0110] As shown in Figure 13(b), the average change time of each of the special pattern change pattern derivation state PA, the special pattern change pattern derivation state PB, the special pattern change pattern derivation state PC, the special pattern change pattern derivation state PD, and the special pattern change pattern derivation state PE is shorter in the order of special pattern change pattern derivation state PA, special pattern change pattern derivation state PB and special pattern change pattern derivation state PE, special pattern change pattern derivation state PC, and special pattern change pattern derivation state PD. This is due to the length of the change time related to the basic special pattern change pattern that is most likely to be determined in each special pattern change pattern derivation state. Here, the average change time refers to the sum of the change times derived by multiplying the occurrence rate (the probability that can occur in any pattern change, derived by multiplying the probability of the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment by the probability of the special pattern change pattern) for each change time related to the special pattern change pattern that can be selected in a certain special pattern change pattern derivation state. However, in this embodiment, when there is only one special chart variation pattern that can be selected in a certain special chart variation pattern derivation state, the variation time related to that special chart variation pattern is treated as the average variation time.
[0111] In this manner, in this embodiment, after the transition from the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PD to the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PA due to the satisfaction of the transition condition (vii), there is no transition back to the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PD based on the number of times pattern variation is performed in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PA, but in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PA, the transition condition (viii) is configured to be satisfied. According to this, even if there is a risk of transitioning from the special chart variation pattern derivation state PD to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA due to the transition condition (vii) being satisfied, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the desire to play the game.
[0112] In addition, when a transition occurs to the regular chart lottery state or the special chart variation pattern derivation state, the game state control means 155 generates a presentation control command (game state designation command) including the state after the transition, and stores the command in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160. Furthermore, the game state control means 155 counts the number of times that the pattern change related to the transition to another special pattern change pattern derivation state is executed in each special pattern change pattern derivation state, and generates a performance control command including the number of times of the counted pattern change each time the pattern change is started, and stores the command in the transmission command area of the main information storage means 160. The information included in the performance control command may be included in the above-mentioned change start command.
[0113] As described above, the main information storage means 160 is a means for temporarily storing data read by each means, data derived by calculations or the like by each means, etc., in the corresponding storage areas.
[0114] The main error control means 165 monitors the input information of the I / O port 104 and judges whether or not the gaming machine 10 is in an error state. If it is judged that the gaming machine 10 is in an error state, a performance control command (error command) including information capable of identifying the error state is stored in a transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.
[0115] When a performance control command is stored in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160, the main command management means 170 transmits the performance control command to the first sub-control board 200. In principle, each performance control command is transmitted in the order in which it is stored in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.
[0116] The power restoration process execution means 175 includes a restoration state setting means 176 and a playable state transition means 179 .
[0117] The return state setting means 176 executes a return state setting process to set a return state based on whether or not there is an abnormality in the RAM 103 when power is restored, the state at the time of the power outage immediately before the power restoration, the state of the RAM clear switch 43 when power is restored, and the state of the inner frame door open sensor 76 when power is restored. The return states set by this process include a game stop state and a game ready state (which may or may not involve the execution of a RAM clear process). Specifically, if there is an abnormality in the RAM 103 when power is restored, a game-stopped state is set regardless of the state of the RAM clear switch 43 and the state of the middle frame door open sensor 76 when power is restored. Also, if there is no abnormality in the RAM 103 when power is restored and the RAM clear switch 43 is ON (pressed state) when power is restored, the RAM clear process is executed and a playable state is set on the condition that the middle frame door open sensor 76 is ON when power is restored (if the middle frame door open sensor 76 is OFF when power is restored, the RAM clear process is not executed and the playable state is set), and if there is no abnormality in the RAM 103 when power is restored and the RAM clear switch 43 is OFF (not pressed state) when power is restored, the RAM clear process is not executed and the playable state is set. Here, the game stop state is a return state in which game progress is impossible by not executing processing according to the detection results of the sensors installed at each winning port (it is not necessary to look at the detection results of the sensors themselves). On the other hand, the playable state is a restored state in which the game can be played by executing a process according to the detection result of the sensor installed in each winning port. In particular, if the RAM clear process is not executed when the power is restored, the game returns to the playable state at the time of the last power outage. For example, if the last power outage was during a jackpot game, the game returns to the jackpot game that was being executed, and if the last power outage was during a pattern change, the game returns to the pattern change that was being executed.
[0118] In addition, whether or not there is an abnormality in RAM 103 is determined by executing a RAM abnormality check at the beginning of the recovery state setting process (specifically, a process which determines whether or not a backup flag is stored (whether or not the backup flag is ON) in the backup information area related to the target area, derives a checksum of the target area and the complement stored in the backup information area related to the area if the backup flag is stored (if the backup flag is ON), and if the calculation result is 0, determines that the target area is normal, and otherwise determines that the target area is abnormal) on the area related to the game in RAM 103.
[0119] The playable state transition means 179 executes a playable state transition process for transitioning to a playable state when the playable state is set. More specifically, in the game play state transition process, if the security signal output is ON, a process for turning the security signal output OFF and initial settings of the device are performed. In addition, during the initial setting of the device, processes such as sending a launch permission command to the payout control board 400 to permit the launch of game balls, setting the state in which balls will be valid when they enter each winning slot, and setting data to activate the random number circuit 105 are performed.
[0120] The power cut-off process execution means 180 executes a power cut-off process based on receiving a power cut-off signal from the power supply control board 500. Specifically, for an area of RAM 103 related to game play, a process is performed in which a checksum for that area is derived and the complement of that checksum is stored in a backup information area of RAM 103 related to game play, and a process is performed in which a backup flag indicating that a power cut process has been performed for that area is turned ON (a backup flag is stored in the backup information area of RAM 103 related to game play).
[0121] As shown in Figure 7, the first sub-control board 200 is equipped with a sub-random number generation means 210, a normal performance control means 220, a sub-error control means 230, a lamp control means 240, a movable prop control means 245, a volume adjustment means 250, a brightness adjustment means 255, a sub-information storage means 260, and a sub-command management means 270, and these means are functional representations of what is realized by each control configuration on the first sub-control board 200 described using Figure 6. Here, the sub-information storage means 260 is a means for temporarily storing data read by the means included in the first sub-control board 200, data derived by calculation in the means, etc., in the respective corresponding storage areas. Also, the performance control command transmitted from the main command management means 170 is stored in the received command storage area of the sub-information storage means 260 by the sub-command management means 270. In the following explanation, the storage of the performance control command transmitted from the main command management means 170 in the received command storage area of the sub-information storage means 260 by the sub-command management means 270 may be simply expressed as reception of the performance control command.
[0122] The sub-random number generating means 210 can generate random numbers (software random numbers) that are updated by program processing by the CPU 201, and obtains random numbers at the timing when each lottery (details will be described later) is executed by the normal performance control means 220.
[0123] The normal presentation control means 220 includes a presentation mode control means 221, a presentation route determination means 222, a sub-hold control means 223, a look-ahead presentation control means 224, a presentation content determination means 225, a decorative pattern control means 226, and a jackpot presentation control means 227.
[0124] When the presentation mode control means 221 receives a game state designation command, it controls the transition of the presentation mode in a manner consistent with the special chart variation pattern derivation state managed on the main control board 100 side. The performance modes in this embodiment are roughly divided into normal, RUSH challenge, RUSH, ceiling play time, and special play time modes, and the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PA corresponds to normal, the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB corresponds to RUSH challenge, the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PC corresponds to RUSH, the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PD corresponds to ceiling play time, and the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PE corresponds to special play time. In the following explanation, the ceiling play time may be simply referred to as "play time".
[0125] When the presentation route determination means 222 receives a pre-determination command, it determines (sets) a presentation route corresponding to the reserved pattern change based on the result of the pre-determination included in the command (in this embodiment, the special pattern change pattern). Note that, when the special pattern change pattern corresponding to the pattern change is the above-mentioned special pattern change pattern HNP, the presentation route determination means 222 does not determine a presentation route when the pre-determination command is transmitted, and determines a presentation route based on the special pattern change pattern included in the change start command at the start of the pattern change (for example, in the special pattern change pattern derivation state PA, the special pattern change pattern HNP-A to special pattern change pattern HNP-D). Here, the presentation route refers to the presentation from the start to the end of the pattern change, and specifies the process of the presentation that notifies the result of the special pattern determination in the pattern change. The content of the presentation executed in the pattern change is determined by the presentation content determination means 225, which will be described later, in accordance with the presentation route corresponding to the pattern change.
[0126] The presentation route in this embodiment is roughly divided into a miss presentation route that notifies that the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in the current pattern change is a miss (the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in the current pattern change is neither a big hit nor a small hit), and a big hit presentation route that notifies that the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in the current pattern change is a big hit or a small hit. Furthermore, the miss presentation route includes a non-development miss presentation route in which the development presentation is not executed, and a development miss presentation route in which the development presentation is executed. As will be described later, when the big hit presentation route is determined, the development presentation is executed unless otherwise specified. Here, the development performance refers to a performance that is executed after the decorative symbols are in a reach state (a state in which all decorative symbols except one symbol row are displayed stationary and the remaining symbol rows are displayed in a variable manner), and at the end of which, it is announced whether the result of the special symbol hit / miss judgment in the current symbol change is a big hit or a small hit. Therefore, in a development performance that corresponds to a development miss performance route, a series of performances corresponding to the development performance are executed, and at the end of which, it is announced that the result of the special symbol hit / miss judgment in the current symbol change is neither a big hit nor a small hit. On the other hand, in a development performance that corresponds to a big hit performance route, a series of performances corresponding to the development performance are executed, and at the end of which, it is announced that the result of the special symbol hit / miss judgment in the current symbol change is a big hit or a small hit. In addition, as described later, in this embodiment, in one presentation mode, each of the determined special chart variation patterns corresponds to one different presentation route. Therefore, in the following description, the presentation route for the special chart variation pattern may be simply expressed as a special chart variation pattern. However, multiple presentation routes may be made to correspond to one special chart variation pattern, and in this case, one presentation route may be determined from multiple presentation routes corresponding to the determined special chart variation pattern. Below, the contents of the presentation route corresponding to each special chart change pattern determined in each presentation mode will be explained.
[0127] First, the presentation routes corresponding to special chart fluctuation patterns HNP-A to HNP-D and special chart fluctuation pattern HRP, which are determined normally (special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PA), correspond to the non-development miss presentation route described above. Specifically, the special pattern variation patterns HNP-A to HNP-D correspond to a presentation route that notifies the user that the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment in the current pattern change is a miss when the decorative pattern is not in a reach state and the decorative pattern is displayed in a scattered pattern (a state in which all pattern rows are displayed and the same decorative pattern is not displayed in each pattern row). Here, the same decorative pattern refers to a decorative pattern imitating the same number, and the parts other than the numbers that make up the decorative pattern may be different. Similarly, different decorative patterns refer to decorative patterns imitating different numbers. The special pattern change pattern HRP corresponds to a performance route in which the decorative pattern reaches a reach state without pseudo-change, and then the decorative pattern stops and displays in a scattered manner without executing the development performance described later, thereby notifying the user that the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment in this pattern change is a miss. Here, the pseudo-change refers to a period before the development performance starts, which is divided by the stop of the decorative pattern based on a certain rule (for example, the stop of the decorative pattern in which the same decorative pattern stops in the middle pattern row and the right pattern row, such as "5 pattern-6 pattern-6 pattern"). Therefore, it can be said that a pseudo-change occurs only when the number of pseudo-changes is two. In other words, if the number of changes of the decorative pattern until the reach state is constituted is one, it can be said that a pseudo-change does not occur, and in that case, it can be said that one pseudo-change is executed. Note that the maximum number of pseudo-changes in this embodiment is three, but the maximum number of pseudo-changes is not limited to this, and any number of times equal to or greater than two may be adopted.
[0128] The special chart change patterns HSP1-A to HSP3-B correspond to the above-mentioned development miss performance route. Specifically, the special pattern change pattern HSP1-A and the special pattern change pattern HSP1-B correspond to a performance route in which the decorative pattern is in a reach state without pseudo-change, and then a development performance is executed to notify that the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment in this pattern change is a miss, and the decorative pattern is stopped and displayed with a spread eye after the development performance ends. Note that the types of development performances corresponding to each special pattern change pattern are different from each other, and the development performance HEA corresponds to the special pattern change pattern HSP1-A, and the development performance HEB corresponds to the special pattern change pattern HSP1-B. The special pattern change pattern HSP2-A and the special pattern change pattern HSP2-B correspond to a performance route in which the decorative pattern reaches a reach state through two pseudo-changes, and then a development performance is performed to notify that the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment in this pattern change is a miss, and the decorative pattern is displayed with a scattered eye after the development performance ends. Note that, like the special pattern change pattern HSP1-A and the special pattern change pattern HSP1-B, the types of development performances corresponding to each special pattern change are different from each other, and the development performance HEA corresponds to the special pattern change pattern HSP2-A, and the development performance HEB corresponds to the special pattern change pattern HSP2-B. The special pattern change pattern HSP3-A and the special pattern change pattern HSP3-B correspond to a performance route in which the decorative pattern reaches a reach state through three pseudo-changes, and then a development performance is performed to notify that the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment in this pattern change is a miss, and the decorative pattern is displayed with a scattered eye after the development performance ends. Note that, like the special pattern change pattern HSP1-A and the special pattern change pattern HSP1-B, the types of development performances corresponding to each special pattern change are different from each other, and the development performance HEA corresponds to the special pattern change pattern HSP3-A, and the development performance HEB corresponds to the special pattern change pattern HSP3-B.
[0129] The special chart change pattern ASP1-A and the special chart change pattern ASP1-B correspond to the jackpot performance route described above. Specifically, the special pattern variation pattern ASP1-A and the special pattern variation pattern ASP1-B correspond to a performance route in which the decorative pattern reaches a reach state without pseudo-variation, and then a development performance is executed to notify that the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment in this pattern change is a big hit, and after the development performance ends, the decorative pattern is displayed in a pattern alignment (a state in which all pattern rows are displayed in a stopped state, and the same decorative pattern is displayed in each pattern row). Note that the types of development performances corresponding to each special pattern variation pattern are different from each other, and the development performance HEA corresponds to the special pattern variation pattern ASP1-A, and the development performance HEB corresponds to the special pattern variation pattern ASP1-B. The special pattern variation pattern ASP2-A and the special pattern variation pattern ASP2-B correspond to a performance route in which the decorative pattern reaches a reach state through two pseudo variations, and then a development performance is performed to notify that the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment in this pattern change is a big hit, and after the development performance ends, the decorative pattern stops and is displayed with the pattern aligned. Note that, like the special pattern variation pattern ASP1-A and the special pattern variation pattern ASP1-B, the types of development performances corresponding to each special pattern variation pattern are different from each other, and the development performance HEA corresponds to the special pattern variation pattern ASP2-A, and the development performance HEB corresponds to the special pattern variation pattern ASP2-B. The special pattern variation pattern ASP3-A and the special pattern variation pattern ASP3-B correspond to a performance route in which the decorative pattern reaches a reach state through three pseudo variations, and then a development performance is performed to notify that the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment in this pattern variation is a big hit, and after the development performance ends, the decorative pattern stops and is displayed with the pattern aligned. Note that, like the special pattern variation pattern ASP1-A and the special pattern variation pattern ASP1-B, the types of development performances corresponding to each special pattern variation pattern are different from each other, and the development performance HEA corresponds to the special pattern variation pattern ASP3-A, and the development performance HEB corresponds to the special pattern variation pattern ASP3-B. The special pattern change pattern ASP-C corresponds to a presentation route in which the decorative pattern reaches a reach state without any pseudo-change, and then a development performance HEC is executed to notify that the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment in this pattern change is a jackpot, and after the development performance ends, the decorative pattern is displayed stopped in a matching pattern.
[0130] In this way, in this embodiment, by making the same development performance correspond, the performance route corresponding to the special chart change pattern ASP1-A corresponds to the performance route corresponding to the special chart change pattern HSP1-A, the performance route corresponding to the special chart change pattern ASP1-B corresponds to the performance route corresponding to the special chart change pattern HSP1-B, the performance route corresponding to the special chart change pattern ASP2-A corresponds to the performance route corresponding to the special chart change pattern ASP2-B corresponds to the performance route corresponding to the special chart change pattern ASP2-B, the performance route corresponding to the special chart change pattern ASP3-A corresponds to the performance route corresponding to the special chart change pattern ASP3-A, and the performance route corresponding to the special chart change pattern ASP3-B corresponds to the performance route corresponding to the special chart change pattern HSP3-B. As a result, the contents of the performances of the corresponding performance routes are consistent from the start to the very end (the timing when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment is shown by the development performance related to the performance route). Therefore, in the pattern change in which the development performance HEA and the development performance HEB are executed, the player can have a sense of expectation of winning the jackpot. In addition, the above-mentioned special chart change pattern that determines the performance route in which the development performance HEA and the development performance HEB are executed can also be said to be a special chart change pattern that makes you expect a big hit. These are the same for other performance modes described later. In addition, there is no corresponding development failure performance route for the special chart variation pattern ASP-C. Therefore, when the development performance HEC is executed in the pattern variation, the player can be made to recognize the big win definitively. Therefore, it can be said that the performance route corresponding to the special chart variation pattern is a performance route that determines the big win, and the special chart variation pattern is also said to be a special chart variation pattern that determines the big win.
[0131] Also, as shown in FIG. 9(a), when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment is a miss, within the range where the number of pseudo fluctuations is the same, the special chart change pattern corresponding to the performance route where the development performance HEA is executed (for example, special chart change pattern HSP1-A), the special chart change pattern corresponding to the performance route where the development performance HEB is executed (for example, special chart change pattern HSP1-B) will be more difficult to determine in that order. And when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment is a jackpot, within the range where the number of pseudo fluctuations is the same, the special chart change pattern corresponding to the performance route where the development performance HEA is executed (for example, special chart change pattern ASP1-A), the special chart change pattern corresponding to the performance route where the development performance HEB is executed (for example, special chart change pattern ASP1-B) will be more likely to be determined in that order. And, as described above, the development performance HEC is executed only when a jackpot is won. Therefore, the expectation of winning the jackpot can be increased in the order of the development performance HEA, the development performance HEB, and the development performance HEC. The expectation of winning the jackpot related to such development performance is also the same in the relationship between the development performance HED, the development performance HEE, and the development performance HEF, and the relationship between the development performance HEG, the development performance HEH, and the development performance HEI, which will be described later.
[0132] Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 9(a), when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment is a miss, in the range of the same type of development performance, the special chart change pattern corresponding to the performance route where no pseudo fluctuation occurs (for example, special chart change pattern HSP1-A), the special chart change pattern corresponding to the performance route where the number of pseudo fluctuations is two (for example, special chart change pattern HSP2-A), and the special chart change pattern corresponding to the performance route where the number of pseudo fluctuations is three (for example, special chart change pattern HSP3-A) are more likely to be determined in that order. And, when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment is a big hit, in the range of the same type of development performance, the special chart change pattern corresponding to the performance route where no pseudo fluctuation occurs (for example, special chart change pattern ASP1-A), the special chart change pattern corresponding to the performance route where the number of pseudo fluctuations is two (for example, special chart change pattern ASP2-A), and the special chart change pattern corresponding to the performance route where the number of pseudo fluctuations is three (for example, special chart change pattern ASP3-A) are more likely to be determined in that order. Therefore, the more times the pseudo fluctuation is executed, the higher the expectation of winning the jackpot.
[0133] As described above, in special chart fluctuation pattern HSP1-A, special chart fluctuation pattern HSP1-B, special chart fluctuation pattern HSP-C, special chart fluctuation pattern ASP1-A, special chart fluctuation pattern ASP1-B, and special chart fluctuation pattern ASP-C, the reach state is reached without any pseudo-fluctuation, in special chart fluctuation pattern HSP2-A, special chart fluctuation pattern HSP2-B, special chart fluctuation pattern ASP2-A, and special chart fluctuation pattern ASP2-B, the reach state is reached after two pseudo-fluctuations, and in special chart fluctuation pattern HSP3-A, special chart fluctuation pattern HSP3-B, special chart fluctuation pattern ASP3-A, and special chart fluctuation pattern ASP3-B, the reach state is reached after three pseudo-fluctuations. Therefore, the time to reach the reach state is longer in the order of the special pattern change pattern that reaches the reach state without pseudo-change, the special pattern change pattern that reaches the reach state with two pseudo-changes, and the special pattern change pattern that reaches the reach state with three pseudo-changes. However, in the pattern change that determines the special pattern change pattern ASP-C, the time to reach the reach state is longer than the special pattern change patterns that reach the reach state without other pseudo-changes (special pattern change pattern HSP1-A, special pattern change pattern HSP1-B, special pattern change pattern ASP1-A, and special pattern change pattern ASP1-B).
[0134] Next, the above-mentioned non-development miss performance route corresponds to the performance route corresponding to the basic special chart fluctuation pattern (special chart fluctuation pattern HNP-E and special chart fluctuation pattern HNP-F) that can be determined in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PC. Specifically, the special chart fluctuation pattern HNP-E and special chart fluctuation pattern HNP-F correspond to a performance route that notifies that the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in this pattern fluctuation is a miss by the decorative pattern not being in a reach state and the decorative pattern being stopped and displayed with a spread eye. This is also the same for the basic special chart fluctuation pattern in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB, special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PD, and special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PE described later, so the explanation is omitted in these special chart fluctuation pattern derivation states.
[0135] Special chart fluctuation patterns HSP-D to HSP-F correspond to the above-mentioned development miss performance route. Specifically, for special pattern variation patterns HSP-D to HSP-F, the decorative pattern will be in a reach state without pseudo variation, and then a development performance will be performed to notify that the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment in this pattern change will be a miss, and after the development performance ends, the decorative pattern will be displayed in a scattered pattern. Note that the types of development performances corresponding to each special pattern variation pattern are different from each other, and the development performance HED corresponds to the special pattern variation pattern HSP-D, the development performance HEE corresponds to the special pattern variation pattern HSP-E, and the development performance HEF corresponds to the special pattern variation pattern HSP-F. In addition, the special chart fluctuation patterns ASP-D to ASP-F correspond to the jackpot performance route described above. Specifically, for special pattern variation patterns ASP-D to ASP-F, the decorative pattern will be in a reach state without pseudo variation, and then a development performance will be executed to notify that the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment in this pattern change is a big hit or a small hit, and after the development performance ends, the decorative pattern will be displayed stopped with the pattern aligned. Note that the types of development performances corresponding to each special pattern variation pattern are different from each other, and the development performance HED corresponds to the special pattern variation pattern ASP-D, the development performance HEE corresponds to the special pattern variation pattern ASP-E, and the development performance HEF corresponds to the special pattern variation pattern ASP-F.
[0136] The special chart fluctuation pattern HSP-G to special chart fluctuation pattern HSP-I, which can be determined in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB, the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PD, and the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PE, correspond to the above-mentioned development miss performance route. Specifically, the special pattern change pattern HSP-G to the special pattern change pattern HSP-I correspond to a performance route in which the decorative pattern is in a reach state without pseudo-change, and then a development performance is executed to notify that the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment in this pattern change is a miss, and the decorative pattern is displayed with a scattered eye after the development performance ends. Note that the types of development performances corresponding to each special pattern change pattern are different from each other, and the development performance HEG corresponds to the special pattern change pattern HSP-G, the development performance HEH corresponds to the special pattern change pattern HSP-H, and the development performance HEI corresponds to the special pattern change pattern HSP-I. In addition, the special chart fluctuation patterns ASP-G to ASP-I correspond to the jackpot performance route described above. Specifically, the special pattern variation patterns ASP-G to ASP-I correspond to a performance route in which the decorative pattern reaches a reach state without pseudo-variation, and then a development performance is executed to notify that the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment in this pattern change is a big hit, and the decorative pattern stops and is displayed after the development performance ends. Note that the types of development performances corresponding to each special pattern variation pattern are different from each other, and the development performance HEG corresponds to the special pattern variation pattern ASP-G, the development performance HEH corresponds to the special pattern variation pattern ASP-H, and the development performance HEI corresponds to the special pattern variation pattern ASP-I.
[0137] As described above, in this embodiment, when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment during the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PD is a miss, the rate at which any of the special chart fluctuation patterns HSP-G to HSP-I (all of which correspond to the performance route in which the development performance is executed) is determined (about 1 / 28.6) is lower than the rate at which any of the special chart fluctuation patterns HSP-G to HSP-I are determined when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment during the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB is a miss. On the other hand, the rate at which the special chart fluctuation pattern HNP (a special chart fluctuation pattern corresponding to the performance route in which the development performance is not executed) is determined when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment during the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PD is a miss (about 1 / 1.04) is higher than the rate at which the special chart fluctuation pattern HNP is determined when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment during the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB is a miss (about 1 / 1.05). Furthermore, when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment during the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB is a big hit or a small hit, and when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment during the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PD is a big hit or a small hit, in either case, one of the special chart fluctuation patterns ASP-G to ASP-I is determined at a rate of 1000 / 1000 (1 / 1).
[0138] Therefore, in this embodiment, the rate at which a special chart variation pattern corresponding to a performance route in which a development performance is executed is determined by a lottery using a special chart variation pattern lottery table related to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PD is lower than the rate at which the special chart variation pattern is determined by a lottery using a special chart variation pattern lottery table related to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB. On the other hand, the rate at which a special chart variation pattern corresponding to a performance route in which a development performance is not executed is determined by a lottery using a special chart variation pattern lottery table related to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PD is higher than the rate at which the special chart variation pattern is determined by a lottery using a special chart variation pattern lottery table related to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB.
[0139] Furthermore, as described above, the probability (approximately 1 / 33.3) that the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP-G is determined when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment during the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PD is higher than the probability (1 / 40) that the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP-G is determined when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment during the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB is higher. On the other hand, the probability (approximately 1 / 333) that special chart fluctuation pattern HSP-H is determined when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment during special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PD is a miss is lower than the probability (approximately 1 / 66.7) that special chart fluctuation pattern HSP-H is determined when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment during special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB is a miss, and the probability (1 / 500) that special chart fluctuation pattern HSP-I is determined when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment during special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PD is a lower than the probability (1 / 100) that special chart fluctuation pattern HSP-I is determined when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment during special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB is a miss. Furthermore, the probability (1 / 1.25) that the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP-G is determined when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment during the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PD is a big hit or a small hit is higher than the probability (1 / 2) that the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP-G is determined when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment during the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB is a big hit or a small hit. On the other hand, the probability (approximately 1 / 6.67) that the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP-H is determined when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment during the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PD is a big hit or a small hit is lower than the probability (approximately 1 / 2.86) that the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP-H is determined when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment during the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB is a big hit or a small hit, and the probability (1 / 20) that the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP-I is determined when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment during the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PD is a big hit or a small hit is lower than the probability (approximately 1 / 6.67) that the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP-I is determined when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment during the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB is a big hit or a small hit.
[0140] Therefore, in this embodiment, when a special chart variation pattern corresponding to the performance route on which the development performance is executed is determined by a lottery using the special chart variation pattern lottery table related to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PD, the rate at which a special chart variation pattern corresponding to the performance route on which the development performance is executed HEG is determined is higher than the rate at which a special chart variation pattern corresponding to the performance route on which the development performance is executed HEG is determined when a special chart variation pattern corresponding to the performance route on which the development performance is executed is determined by a lottery using the special chart variation pattern lottery table related to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB. On the other hand, when a special chart variation pattern corresponding to the performance route on which the development performance is executed is determined by a lottery using the special chart variation pattern lottery table related to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PD, the rate at which a special chart variation pattern corresponding to the performance route on which the development performance is executed HEH or HEI is determined is lower than the rate at which a special chart variation pattern corresponding to the performance route on which the development performance is executed HEH or HEI is determined when a special chart variation pattern corresponding to the performance route on which the development performance is executed is determined by a lottery using the special chart variation pattern lottery table related to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB.
[0141] When the sub-reservation control means 223 receives a reserve command (hereinafter, may be simply expressed as the occurrence of a reserve winning), it sets performance data for displaying the number of reserved images corresponding to the special chart 1 reserve counter and the number of reserved images corresponding to the special chart 2 reserve counter in the reserve display area (not shown) of the main display unit 81 based on the information of the special chart 1 reserve counter and the special chart 2 reserve counter contained in the command. The reserved images are images that are the subject of reserve pre-reading performances that change into various forms that suggest the degree of advantage, such as the expectation degree of the occurrence of a jackpot game.
[0142] When a pre-reading performance control means 224 receives a pre-determination command, it determines the content of the pre-reading performance based on the result of the pre-determination included in the command. The pre-reading performance is a performance that suggests the expectation level for the result of the special symbol hit / miss judgment in the pre-reading target symbol change and the content of the performance executed in the pre-reading target symbol change before the start of the symbol change for the purpose of improving the interest in the game. The pre-reading performance in this embodiment can be executed during the high probability of normal symbols, and includes a symbol pre-reading performance (details will be described later) using a combination of decorative symbols that are stopped and displayed. Here, the symbol change of the pre-reading target refers to a symbol change related to the main special symbol (special symbol 1 in the special symbol change pattern derivation state PA, and special symbol change pattern derivation state PB, special symbol change pattern derivation state PC, special symbol change pattern derivation state PD, and special symbol change pattern derivation state PE), and refers to a symbol change reserved in the hold 1 to hold 3 state, or a symbol change reserved in the hold 0 state and during the execution of the symbol change related to the special symbol.
[0143] When the effect content determining means 225 receives a variation start command, it determines the content of the effect to be executed in the current pattern variation according to the presentation route already determined by the presentation route determining means 222. More specifically, the performance content determination means 225 determines the content of the performance (performance pattern) for each performance execution timing in the pattern change by a lottery using a performance pattern lottery table corresponding to the performance route determined by the performance route determination means 222. In this way, it is possible to change the content of the performance related to (executed according to) the determined performance route, and to provide a connection between the performances in one pattern change. Even if the same performance route is determined, it is also possible to diversify the performances to be executed. Note that the timing for determining the content of the performance can be, for example, the start of the pattern change.
[0144] When the decorative pattern control means 226 receives a variation start command, it determines the final (determined stopped) combination of decorative patterns (left pattern, center pattern, right pattern) based on the stopped pattern of the determined special pattern. In this embodiment, when the above-mentioned development performance is executed during the normal high probability, the final combination of the decorative symbols is determined based on the reach pattern determined in that case. More specifically, the reach pattern is determined based on the determined reach pattern, and the final combination of the decorative symbols is determined by the determined reach pattern. The reach pattern is determined by the decorative symbol control means 226, and the details of the determination will be described later.
[0145] When the jackpot start command is received, the jackpot performance control means 227 determines the content of the jackpot game performance that notifies the player that a jackpot game is being played, based on the information included in the command. The jackpot game performance includes a start demo performance that notifies the player that a jackpot game is being played, a round performance that notifies the player that a round game is being played, and an end demo performance that notifies the player that a jackpot game is being played. Similarly to when the jackpot start command is received, when the jackpot performance control means 227 receives a performance control command related to a small jackpot game, the jackpot performance control means 227 determines the content of the small jackpot game performance that notifies the player that a small jackpot game is being played, based on the information included in the command.
[0146] The normal performance control means 220 reads out performance data for each device corresponding to each performance at the execution timing of that performance, in accordance with the content of the performance determined by the above-mentioned means provided in the first sub-control board 200. If the read performance data includes performance data related to images, an image control command is generated based on that performance data, and the command is stored in a transmission command storage area of the sub-information storage means 260. Furthermore, if the read performance data includes performance data related to sound, an audio control command related to sound is generated based on that performance data, and the command is stored in a transmission command storage area of the sub-information storage means 260. In particular, when the return state upon power restoration is a playable state accompanied by the execution of a RAM clear process, the normal presentation control means 220 reads presentation data for notifying that a playable state has been achieved accompanied by the execution of a RAM clear process, and when the return state upon power restoration is a playable state without the execution of a RAM clear process, the normal presentation control means 220 reads presentation data for notifying that a playable state has been achieved without the execution of a RAM clear process. Furthermore, when the recovery state upon power restoration is a game stop state, the normal presentation control means 220 reads out presentation data for notifying not only that the game has stopped, but also that it is necessary to execute a RAM clear process. Although details of these notifications are omitted, it is preferable that the notifications continue for a certain period of time (for example, 30 seconds) after execution has started, and the presentation device that executes the notifications does not matter.
[0147] When an error command is transmitted, the sub-error control means 230 determines an error notification pattern, and reads out performance data for executing an error notification in accordance with the error notification pattern. In addition, the error notification is executed with priority over the variable performance related to the pattern variation. Here, the error notification is executed with priority not only when the device related to the execution of the error notification and the device related to the execution of the variable performance are the same device, but also includes the case where the error notification is executed in a manner that is easier to recognize than the variable performance in the device, not only when the device related to the execution of the error notification and the device related to the execution of the variable performance are the same device, but also when the error notification is executed in a manner that is easier to recognize than the variable performance in the device. In addition, the sub-error control means 230 may independently (independently of the main error control means 165) determine whether or not the gaming machine 10 is in an error state, and if it is determined that the gaming machine 10 is in an error state, read out presentation data that executes an error notification.
[0148] The lamp control means 240 holds lamp control data for controlling the lighting of various lamps such as the frame lamp 35. For example, if the performance data read out by the normal performance control means 220 contains performance data corresponding to a lamp, the lamp control means 240 reads out the lamp control data based on the performance data, and transmits the read lamp control data to the lamp to be executed.
[0149] When the performance data read by the normal performance control means 220 contains performance data corresponding to a movable prop, the movable prop control means 245 reads movement control data for controlling the movement of the movable decorative body 22 and the sub-display unit 82 from the ROM 202 based on the performance data, and transmits the read movement control data to the movable decorative body 22 and the sub-display unit 82 to control the movement of the movable decorative body 22 and the sub-display unit 82.
[0150] As described above, the sub-information storage means 260 is a means for temporarily storing data read out by the means provided in the first sub-control board 200, data derived by calculations in the means, etc. in the corresponding storage areas.
[0151] The sub-command management means 270 receives a performance control command transmitted from the main control board 100, and stores the received performance command in a received command storage area of the sub-information storage means 260. When an image control command is stored in the transmission command storage area of the sub-information storage means 260, the sub-command management means 270 transmits the image control command to the second sub-control board 300. When an audio control command or a volume adjustment command is stored in the storage area, the sub-command management means 270 transmits these commands to the audio control board 310. In addition, these commands are transmitted in the order in which they are stored in the transmission command storage area of the sub-information storage means 260, as a rule.
[0152] As described above, the gaming machine 10 according to this embodiment is configured so that a small win can be won in the special chart hit / miss judgment related to the special chart 2, and when the game ball passes through the V winning area in the small win game caused by the small win win, the big win game is started after the small win game ends. On the other hand, when the game ball does not pass through the V winning area in the small win game, the big win game is not started. And, the big win game caused via the small win game includes the big win game related to the pattern c and the big win game related to the pattern d, and the advantage of these big win games differs depending on the number of rounds. Therefore, there is a risk that the game will not be played in the expected flow, such as the player not firing the game ball in the small hit game, and the big win game via the small hit game will not occur. Such a problem is noticeable in a state where the number of prescribed times related to the normal high probability is large (in this embodiment, the special chart variation pattern derivation state PD). In response to this, the gaming machine 10 according to the present invention has two functions for improving such problems (hereinafter, referred to as "problems according to the present invention"). These functions will be described in detail below.
[0153] <About the design pre-reading performance> First, the first function of improving the problems according to the present invention is to devise a control for the execution of the above-mentioned symbol pre-reading performance that can be executed during the normal high probability. The details of this function will be described below with reference to Figures 14 to 17. Fig. 14(a) to Fig. 14(c) are diagrams showing a specific example of the symbol pre-reading performance. Fig. 15 is a flow chart of the symbol pre-reading performance control process, and Fig. 16(a) to Fig. 16(c) are diagrams showing a selection table used for a selection to determine whether or not the symbol pre-reading performance is executed and the execution mode. Fig. 17 is a flow chart of the symbol pre-reading performance regulation process.
[0154] As shown in Figures 14(a) to 14(c), the pattern pre-reading performance is a pre-reading performance realized using a combination of decorative patterns that are stopped and displayed in the display area related to the main display unit 81, and there are three types of execution modes. Specifically, there is an execution mode in which a spread pattern consisting of even numbers is displayed stopped during one or more pattern fluctuations (in this example, the Nth rotation to the N+2th rotation) that lead to the pattern fluctuation to be pre-read (the rotation to be pre-read), an execution mode in which a spread pattern consisting of odd numbers excluding the 7 symbol is displayed stopped during each of the one or more pattern fluctuations (an execution mode shown in FIG. 14(a) hereinafter referred to as the "even spread pattern"), an execution mode in which a spread pattern consisting of odd numbers including the 7 symbol is displayed stopped during each of the one or more pattern fluctuations (an execution mode shown in FIG. 14(b) hereinafter referred to as the "normal odd spread pattern"), and an execution mode in which a spread pattern consisting of odd numbers including the 7 symbol is displayed stopped during each of the one or more pattern fluctuations (an execution mode shown in FIG. 14(c) hereinafter referred to as the "special odd spread pattern"). In this example, in each execution mode, the scatter symbols that are displayed in a stopped state in each of the multiple pattern variations that lead to the pattern variation that is the target of the pre-reading are combinations of decorative patterns that are different from each other, but as long as the rules for the scatter symbols in each execution mode are observed, the combinations of decorative patterns may match in some or all of the multiple pattern variations.
[0155] Next, the details of the pattern pre-reading performance control process that determines whether or not to execute the pattern pre-reading performance and the execution mode will be explained. Note that this process is executed every time a pre-determination command related to special pattern 2 is received during a normal pattern high probability, and in the following explanation, the hold (pattern change that can be a pre-reading target) that triggered the transmission of the pre-determination command may be referred to as the target hold. As shown in Fig. 15, in step S202, which is the first step of the pattern pre-reading performance control process, it is determined whether or not the restriction flag is ON, and if the condition is satisfied, the pattern pre-reading performance control process is terminated, and if the condition is not satisfied, the process proceeds to step S204. Here, the restriction flag is for restricting new execution of the pattern pre-reading performance, and the setting conditions of the restriction flag will be described later. In step S204, it is determined from the special pattern change pattern corresponding to the target reservation whether or not a development effect is executed in the pattern change related to the target reservation, and if the condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S206, and if the condition is not satisfied, the pattern pre-reading effect control process is terminated. In step S206, it is determined whether or not the symbol pre-reading performance is being executed. If the condition is satisfied, the symbol pre-reading performance control process is terminated, and if the condition is not satisfied, the process proceeds to step S208. In step S208, it is determined whether the current special chart variation pattern derivation state is the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC, and if the condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S210, and if the condition is not satisfied, the process proceeds to step S212. In step S210, a lottery is performed using the lottery table A1 to determine whether or not to execute the symbol pre-reading performance. In addition to the lottery using the lottery table A2 and the lottery table A3 described later, these lotteries determine the execution mode of the symbol pre-reading performance together with the execution of the symbol pre-reading performance, and the details of these lotteries will be described later. In step S212, it is determined whether the current special chart variation pattern derivation state is the special chart variation pattern derivation state PD, and if the condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S214, and if the condition is not satisfied, the process proceeds to step S216. In step S214, a lottery is carried out using the lottery table A2 to determine whether or not to execute the symbol pre-reading performance. In step S216, a lottery is performed to determine whether or not to execute the pattern pre-reading performance using the lottery table A3. Note that the lottery is performed in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PB or the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PE. In step S218, it is determined whether or not the lottery for executing the symbol pre-reading performance has been won. If the condition is met, the process proceeds to step S220. If the condition is not met, the symbol pre-reading performance control process is terminated. In step S220, effect data relating to the determined symbol pre-reading effect is set, and the symbol pre-reading effect is executed based on the set effect data.
[0156] As shown in Figures 16(a) to 16(c), the lottery that determines whether or not the pattern pre-reading performance will be executed determines whether or not there will be an even number spread, a normal odd number spread, a special odd number spread, or no execution. In this lottery, the results of the special pattern hit / miss determination and the special pattern stop pattern lottery are referenced, and the range of random numbers used in this lottery is 0 to 999. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 16(a), in the lottery using lottery table A1, that is, in the lottery to determine whether or not to execute the pattern pre-reading performance in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PC, if the result of the advance judgment regarding the target reservation is a miss and the pattern is e, there is a 300 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 3.33) probability of an even number scatter, a 100 / 1000 (1 / 10) probability of a normal odd number scatter, and the remaining 600 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 1.67) probability of no execution is determined, and in that case a special odd number scatter will not be determined.
[0157] In a lottery using lottery table A1, if the result of the pre-determination for the target reservation is a jackpot and pattern a, there is a 500 / 1000 (1 / 2) probability that an even number scatter will be selected, a 200 / 1000 (1 / 5) probability that a normal odd number scatter will be selected, and the remaining 300 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 3.33) probability that no execution will be selected, and in such a case a special odd number scatter will not be selected. On the other hand, in a lottery using lottery table A1, if the result of the pre-determination for the target reservation is a jackpot and pattern b, there is a 300 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 3.33) probability of an even number scatter, a 300 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 3.33) probability of a normal odd number scatter, a 200 / 1000 (1 / 5) probability of a special odd number scatter, and the remaining 200 / 1000 (1 / 5) probability of no execution.
[0158] In a lottery using lottery table A1, if the result of the pre-determination for the target reservation is a small win and pattern c, there is a 450 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 2.22) probability of an even number variance, a 150 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 6.67) probability of a normal odd number variance, and the remaining 400 / 1000 (1 / 2.5) probability of no execution, and in such case a special odd number variance will not be determined. On the other hand, in a lottery using lottery table A1, if the result of the pre-determination regarding the target reservation is a small hit and pattern d, there is a 250 / 1000 (1 / 4) probability of an even number scatter, a 250 / 1000 (1 / 4) probability of a normal odd number scatter, a 150 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 6.67) probability of a special odd number scatter, and the remaining 350 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 2.86) probability of no execution. In this embodiment, the rate at which the execution of the symbol pre-reading performance is determined when the result of the pre-determination is a big win, including the lottery using the lottery table A2 and the lottery using the lottery table A3, is higher than the rate at which the execution of the symbol pre-reading performance is determined when the result of the pre-determination is a small win. Therefore, it can be said that the symbol pre-reading performance is a performance that suggests that the result of the pre-determination is a big win (so-called a direct hit).
[0159] Also, as shown in FIG. 16(b), in the lottery using lottery table A2, that is, in the lottery to determine whether or not to execute the pattern pre-reading performance in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PD, if the result of the advance judgment regarding the target reservation is a miss and the pattern is e, there is a 150 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 3.33) probability of an even number scatter, a 50 / 1000 (1 / 10) probability of a normal odd number scatter, and the remaining 800 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 1.67) probability of no execution is determined, and in that case a special odd number scatter will not be determined. In addition, when the result of the pre-judgment in the lottery using the lottery table A2 is a miss and the pattern is e, the probability of the pattern pre-reading performance itself being executed is lower than when the result of the pre-judgment in the lottery using the lottery table A1 described later is a miss and the pattern is e. This is also the case in the lottery using the lottery table A3 described later.
[0160] In a lottery using lottery table A2, if the result of the advance judgment regarding the target reservation is a jackpot and pattern a, there is a 500 / 1000 (1 / 2) probability that an even number scatter will be selected, a 200 / 1000 (1 / 5) probability that a normal odd number scatter will be selected, and the remaining 300 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 3.33) probability that no execution will be selected, and in such case a special odd number scatter will not be selected. On the other hand, in a lottery using lottery table A2, if the result of the pre-determination for the target reservation is a jackpot and pattern b, there is a 300 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 3.33) probability of an even number scatter, a 300 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 3.33) probability of a normal odd number scatter, a 200 / 1000 (1 / 5) probability of a special odd number scatter, and the remaining 200 / 1000 (1 / 5) probability of no execution.
[0161] In a lottery using lottery table A2, if the result of the pre-determination for the target reservation is a small win and pattern c, there is a 450 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 2.22) probability of an even number variance, a 150 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 6.67) probability of a normal odd number variance, and the remaining 400 / 1000 (1 / 2.5) probability of no execution, and in that case a special odd number variance will not be determined. On the other hand, in the case of a lottery using the lottery table A2, if the result of the advance judgment regarding the target reservation is a small win and pattern d, the probability of an even number spread is 250 / 1000 (1 / 4), the probability of a normal odd number spread is 250 / 1000 (1 / 4), the probability of a special odd number spread is 50 / 1000 (1 / 20), and the remaining probability of 450 / 1000 (about 1 / 2.22) is determined to be non-execution. Therefore, the probability (1 / 20) of the special odd number spread being determined is lower than the probability (about 1 / 6.67) of the special odd number spread being determined when the result of the advance judgment regarding the target reservation is a small win and pattern d in the lottery using the lottery table A1.
[0162] Also, as shown in FIG. 16(c), in the lottery using lottery table A3, that is, in the lottery to determine whether or not to execute the pattern pre-reading performance in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PB or the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PE, if the result of the advance judgment regarding the target reservation is a miss and the pattern is e, there is a 150 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 3.33) probability that an even number scatter will be selected, a 50 / 1000 (1 / 10) probability that a normal odd number scatter will be selected, and the remaining 800 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 1.67) probability that no execution will be selected will determine the special odd number scatter.
[0163] In a lottery using lottery table A3, if the result of the pre-determination for the target reservation is a jackpot and pattern a, there is a 500 / 1000 (1 / 2) probability that an even number scatter will be selected, a 200 / 1000 (1 / 5) probability that a normal odd number scatter will be selected, and the remaining 300 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 3.33) probability that no execution will be selected, and in such a case a special odd number scatter will not be selected. On the other hand, in a lottery using lottery table A3, if the result of the advance judgment regarding the target reservation is a jackpot and pattern b, there is a 300 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 3.33) probability of an even number scatter, a 300 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 3.33) probability of a normal odd number scatter, and the remaining 400 / 1000 (1 / 2.5) probability of no execution, and in that case a special odd number scatter will not be determined.
[0164] In a lottery using lottery table A3, if the result of the pre-determination for the target reservation is a small win and pattern c, there is a 450 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 2.22) probability of an even number variance, a 150 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 6.67) probability of a normal odd number variance, and the remaining 400 / 1000 (1 / 2.5) probability of no execution, and in such case a special odd number variance will not be determined. On the other hand, in a lottery using the lottery table A3, if the result of the advance judgment regarding the target reservation is a small win and pattern d, an even number variance is determined with a probability of 250 / 1000 (1 / 4), a normal odd number variance is determined with a probability of 250 / 1000 (1 / 4), and no execution is determined with a probability of the remaining 500 / 1000 (1 / 2), and in such a case, a special odd number variance is not determined. Therefore, it can be said that the probability (0) of the special odd number variance being determined is lower than the probability (about 1 / 6.67) of the special odd number variance being determined when the result of the advance judgment regarding the target reservation is a small win and pattern d in a lottery using the lottery table A1. It can also be said that the probability (0) of the special odd number variance being determined is lower than the probability (1 / 20) of the special odd number variance being determined when the result of the advance judgment regarding the target reservation is a small win and pattern d in a lottery using the lottery table A2.
[0165] In this manner, in this embodiment, the special odd variance can be determined when the result of the pre-determination for the target reservation is a big win and pattern b, or when the result of the pre-determination for the target reservation is a small win and pattern d, but when the result of the pre-determination for the target reservation is a miss and pattern e, when the result of the pre-determination for the target reservation is a big win and pattern a, or when the result of the pre-determination for the target reservation is a small win and pattern c, the special odd variance will not be determined. Therefore, the symbol pre-reading effect related to the special odd-numbered scatter marks can be said to be a pre-reading effect that notifies (makes it possible to identify) the occurrence of a jackpot game with 10 rounds. Although not mentioned in the above explanation, naturally, even if the result of the pre-determination regarding the target reservation is a miss and the pattern is f, the special odd number variation will not be determined.
[0166] In particular, in this embodiment, as described above, in the lottery using the lottery table A2, that is, in the lottery to determine whether or not to execute the pattern pre-reading performance in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PD, when the result of the advance judgment regarding the target reservation is a small win and the pattern d, the probability (1 / 20) of determining the special odd number of barrages is lower than the probability (about 1 / 6.67) of determining the special odd number of barrages when the result of the advance judgment regarding the target reservation is a small win and the pattern d in the lottery using the lottery table A1, that is, in the lottery to determine whether or not to execute the pattern pre-reading performance in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PC. And, the prescribed number of times (500 times) of the normal pattern high probability in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PD is greater than the prescribed number of times (80 times) of the normal pattern high probability in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PC. According to this, in the small hit game in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PD, the player does not shoot the game ball, etc., and the game is not played in the expected flow of the game, and the risk that the big hit game via the small hit game will not occur is reduced, and it is possible to make the big hit game occur easily in the small hit game. In particular, in this example, since the pattern pre-reading performance related to the special chart odd number scatter eyes is a so-called pre-reading performance, it is possible to recognize in advance that the launch of the game ball related to the small hit game may be necessary.
[0167] In order to achieve this effect, the special odd number scatter is not limited to being a pre-reading effect that notifies the player that a jackpot game with 10 rounds may occur, but the special odd number scatter may also be a pre-reading effect that indicates a high expectation that the jackpot game will occur. Here, the term "special odd number scatter marks being a look-ahead effect with a high expectation of resulting in a jackpot game with 10 rounds" means that, while allowing for cases in which a jackpot game with 10 rounds does not occur when the special odd number scatter marks is executed (not limited to cases in which a jackpot game itself does not occur, including cases in which a jackpot game with 4 rounds occurs), the probability of a jackpot game with 10 rounds occurring in such a case is higher than the probability of such a jackpot game occurring when other look-ahead effects (for example, a pattern look-ahead effect related to a normal odd number scatter marks) are executed.
[0168] In addition, in this embodiment, in a lottery using lottery table A2, if the result of the advance judgment regarding the target reservation is a small hit and pattern d, a special odd number variance may be determined, but it may be configured so that the special odd number variance is not determined in such a case.
[0169] In addition, in this embodiment, the difference in the advantage of the big win game is caused by the difference in the number of rounds, but it is not limited to this. Specifically, the difference in the advantage may be caused by the difference in the prescribed number of times of the normal high probability after that, or may be caused by a combination of these differences.
[0170] Furthermore, the transition condition to the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PD is transition condition (vi), and the transition condition to the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PC is transition condition (ii) or transition condition (iii). However, as long as the above-mentioned relationship is guaranteed regarding the relationship between the specified number of times of normal chart high probability in these special chart fluctuation pattern derivation states, the transition conditions to these special chart fluctuation pattern derivation states are not important. In particular, in this embodiment, the prescribed number of times of 500 times of high probability of normal chart related to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PD is more than 7 times the probability denominator (the value of the denominator when the numerator of the probability is 1) of the probability of a jackpot game occurring in the special chart 2 (the sum of the probability of jackpot being derived and the probability of a small jackpot being derived), and the prescribed number of times of 80 times of high probability of normal chart related to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC is less than 3 times the probability denominator. Here, the number of times more than 7 times the probability denominator is the number of times at which the player does not feel anxious about the fact that a jackpot game will not occur in the conventional way, and the number of times less than 3 times the probability denominator is the number of times at which the player is likely to feel anxious about the fact that a jackpot game will not occur in the conventional way.
[0171] In addition, in this embodiment, the first function for improving the above-mentioned problems of the present invention is applied to a pattern pre-reading performance using a combination of decorative patterns that are displayed in a stopped state, but any performance may be adopted as long as it is a pre-reading performance, not limited to a pattern pre-reading performance.
[0172] In addition, in this embodiment, if a small win is not won in the pattern change related to special chart 1, but the probability of winning a small win is lower than the probability of winning a small win in the pattern change related to special chart 2, it is possible to make it so that a small win is won in the pattern change related to special chart 1. In this embodiment, the small win refers to a small win that can cause a big win. In other words, for example, a small win that causes a small win game in which the special electric device 65 is in an open state for an extremely short period of time in a small win game, such that the game ball does not pass through the V winning area in the small win game, is not included in the small win in this embodiment and is treated as a miss.
[0173] Therefore, in the gaming machine 10, the gaming state management means (gaming state control means 155) can set, as the gaming state, a first gaming state (low probability of winning a game ball) or a second gaming state (high probability of winning a game ball) in which it is easier for a gaming ball to enter the second starting hole than in the first gaming state, and transitions the gaming state from the first gaming state to the second gaming state when the first condition (transition condition (ii) or transition condition (iii)) or the second condition (transition condition (vi)) is satisfied. In both the second gaming state set in response to the first condition and the second gaming state set in response to the second condition, When the number of symbol changes executed in the second game state without a jackpot game reaches a prescribed number of times in the second game state, the game state is transitioned from the second game state to the first game state, and the prescribed number of times (500 times) for the second game state set in response to the second condition is greater than the prescribed number of times (80 times) for the second game state set in response to the first condition, and the types of jackpot games that arise via the small jackpot game related to the small jackpot won in the symbol change related to the second starting port include a first jackpot game (a jackpot game with 4 rounds) and a second jackpot game with a higher advantage than the first jackpot game. When a jackpot game is generated via a small win game, the type of the jackpot game is determined before the timing when the game ball passes through a predetermined area (V winning area) in the small win game, and the presentation control means (first sub-control board 200, second sub-control board 300) executes a presentation that suggests that the expectation of the second jackpot game (a jackpot game with 10 rounds) is high, or a specific presentation (a symbol pre-reading presentation related to a special odd number barakeme) that is a presentation that notifies the occurrence of the second jackpot game. and when a small win that may cause a second big win game is won, the rate at which the specific effect is executed in the second game state (normal high probability) set in response to the second condition is lower than the rate at which the specific effect is executed in the second game state set in response to the first condition, or the specific effect may be executed in the second game state set in response to the first condition, but is not executed in the second game state set in response to the second condition, and the specific effect is a pre-reading effect that is started before the target symbol variation is executed,In other words, it is a performance that suggests that there is a high expectation that the second big win game will occur due to the target pattern change, or it is a pre-reading performance that starts before the target pattern change is executed, and is a performance that notifies that the second big win game will occur due to the target pattern change.
[0174] In particular, in this embodiment, the transition condition (ii) or transition condition (iii) to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC is satisfied by the end of the jackpot game, and the transition condition (vi) to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PD is satisfied by the end of the pattern variation in which no jackpot game occurs. In this embodiment, the transition to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PD occurs when the transition condition (vi) is satisfied, and the transition to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC occurs when the transition condition (ii) or transition condition (iii) is satisfied by the end of the jackpot game that occurred in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PD. According to this, the state transitions to the special chart change pattern derivation state PC (normal chart high probability) without recognizing the pattern pre-reading performance related to the special odd number scatter, thereby reducing the risk that a big win game will not occur via a small win game in the special chart change pattern derivation state.
[0175] Therefore, in the gaming machine 10, the first condition (transition condition (ii) or transition condition (iii)) is a condition that can be satisfied upon the end of a jackpot game, while the second condition (transition condition (vi)) is a condition that can be satisfied upon the end of a pattern change in which a jackpot game does not occur, and in other words, the first condition can be satisfied upon the end of a jackpot game that occurs in the second game state (normal pattern, high probability) that is set upon the second condition.
[0176] In addition, in this embodiment, as described above, in the lottery using the lottery table A3, that is, in the lottery to determine whether or not to execute the pattern pre-reading performance in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PB or the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PE, if the result of the advance judgment related to the target reservation is a small win and the pattern d, the special odd number of barake eyes is not determined. And, the specified number of times (30 times) of the normal pattern high probability in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PB or the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PE is less than the specified number of times (80 times) of the normal pattern high probability in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PC. And, in this embodiment, the transition condition (i) is satisfied to transition to the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PB, and the transition condition (viii) is satisfied to transition to the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PE, and the transition condition (iii) is satisfied upon the end of the big win game that occurred in these special pattern variation pattern derivation states, and the transition to the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PC is performed. Even in this way, the game can be transitioned to the special chart change pattern derivation state PC (normal chart high probability) without recognizing the pattern pre-reading performance related to the special odd number scatter, thereby reducing the risk that a big win game will not occur via a small win game in the special chart change pattern derivation state.
[0177] In order to achieve this effect, when the result of the pre-determination regarding the target reservation in the lottery using the lottery table A3 is a small win and the pattern d, the special odd number variance may be determined with a lower probability than when the result of the pre-determination regarding the target reservation in the lottery using the lottery table A1 is a small win and the pattern d. Furthermore, as in this embodiment, it is preferable that the specified number of times (30 times) of high probability of ordinary drawing in the special drawing variation pattern derivation state PB or the special drawing variation pattern derivation state PE is less than the specified number of times (80 times) of high probability of ordinary drawing in the special drawing variation pattern derivation state PC, but these specified numbers may be the same. In addition, the transition conditions to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB or the special chart variation pattern derivation state PE (transition condition (i), transition condition (viii)) are not important as long as they are different from the transition conditions to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC and the transition conditions to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PD.
[0178] Therefore, in the gaming machine 10, the first condition (transition condition (ii) or transition condition (iii)) is a condition that can be satisfied in response to the end of a jackpot game, and the gaming state management means (gaming state control means 155) transitions the gaming state from the first gaming state (low probability of normal game) to the second gaming state (high probability of normal game) in response to the satisfaction of a third condition (transition condition (i), transition condition (viii)) which is different from either the first condition or the second condition (transition condition (vi)), and determines whether the specified number of times (30 times) for the second gaming state set in response to the third condition is equal to or less than the specified number of times (80 times) for the second gaming state set in response to the first condition, and determines whether the second jackpot game (the number of rounds) is equal to or less than the specified number of times (80 times) for the second gaming state set in response to the first condition. In other words, when a small jackpot that may result in a jackpot game of 10 or more odd numbers is won, the rate at which a special effect (a pattern pre-reading effect related to a special odd number variation) is executed in the second game state set in response to the third condition is lower than the rate at which a special effect is executed in the second game state set in response to the first condition, or, while a special effect may be executed in the second game state set in response to the first condition, a special effect is not executed in the second game state set in response to the third condition, and the first condition may be satisfied upon the end of the jackpot game that occurred in the second game state set in response to the third condition.
[0179] In particular, in this embodiment, in a lottery using lottery table A3, i.e., in a lottery to determine whether or not to execute a pattern pre-reading performance in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB or the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PE, when the result of the pre-determination regarding the reserved target is a small win and pattern d, the probability that a special odd variance is determined is lower than the probability that a special odd variance is determined when the result of the pre-determination regarding the reserved target is a small win and pattern d in a lottery using lottery table A2, i.e., in a lottery to determine whether or not to execute a pattern pre-reading performance in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PD, when the result of the pre-determination regarding the reserved target is a small win and pattern d.
[0180] Next, the setting conditions of the restriction flag will be described in detail with reference to FIG. First, the pattern pre-reading performance regulation process, which manages the setting of the regulation flag, is a process executed when a small win game ends. As shown in FIG. 17, in step S302, which is the first step in the pattern pre-reading performance regulation process, it is determined whether the current special pattern change pattern derivation state is the special pattern change pattern derivation state PD, and if the condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S304, and if the condition is not satisfied, the pattern pre-reading performance regulation process is terminated. In step S304, it is determined whether or not the game ball has not passed through the V winning area during the small win game, and if the condition is met, the process proceeds to step S306, and if the condition is not met, that is, if a big win game occurs after the small win game ends, the pattern pre-reading performance regulation process is terminated. In step S306, the restriction flag is set to ON, and then the symbol pre-reading performance restriction process is terminated.
[0181] In this way, the restriction flag is a flag that is set to ON when the game ball does not pass through the V winning area in the small winning game derived in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PD. And, when the restriction flag is set to ON, the pattern pre-reading performance control process ends immediately after the judgment of the above-mentioned step S202, so that the pattern pre-reading performance is not executed in that case. Although the flow is omitted, the restriction flag is set to OFF when all the pattern variations related to the special chart 2 that are reserved at the time of the end of the small winning game in which the restriction flag is set to ON are completed. Therefore, in this embodiment, if the game ball does not pass through the V winning area during a small win game derived in the special chart change pattern derivation state PD, the pattern pre-reading performance related to the special odd number scatter is not executed even if the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment for the pattern change related to special chart 2 reserved at the end of the small win game is a small win and pattern d. According to this, it is possible to make it easier for a player who has not achieved a big win game in a small win game derived in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PD to achieve a big win game in a small win game that occurs again immediately afterwards. In addition, in order to achieve this effect, the restriction flag may be set to OFF when the execution of all pattern changes related to Special Chart 2 that are pending at the end of the pattern change in which a small win is won in a small win game in which the restriction flag is set to ON has been completed.
[0182] Therefore, in the gaming machine 10, in the second gaming state (normal high probability) set by the second condition (transition condition (vi)), when a small win that can cause a second jackpot game (a jackpot game with 10 rounds) is won, a specific effect (a pattern pre-reading effect related to a special odd number variation) may be executed, and in the second gaming state set by the second condition, a small win game related to a small win won by a pattern change related to the second starting port (second starting port 59) is executed, and if the game ball does not pass through the specified area (V winning area) during the small win game and a jackpot game is not generated, the specific effect will not be executed, even if a small win that can cause a second jackpot game is won by a pattern change related to the second starting port that was reserved at the end of the small win game or the end of the pattern change is won.
[0183] In this embodiment, the restriction flag may be set to ON only in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PD, but the restriction flag may also be set to ON under the same conditions as the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PD in other special chart fluctuation pattern derivation states with high probability of normal chart (special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB, special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PC, special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PE).
[0184] <About the symbols that make up the reach state> Next, the second function to improve the problems of the present invention is to devise a control to determine the decorative symbols that compose the reach state during the normal high probability. The details of this function will be explained below with reference to Figures 18 and 19. FIG. 18 shows a flow of the reach symbol determination process, and FIG. 19(a) to FIG. 19(c) are diagrams that diagrammatically show a lottery table used in the lottery that determines the reach pattern.
[0185] The reach symbol determination process shown in FIG. 18 is a process executed each time a change start command for special symbol 2 is received during a high probability of normal symbol, and in this process, a decorative symbol that constitutes a reach state is determined. Specifically, in step S402, which is the first step in the reach symbol determination process, it is determined whether or not a reach state occurs in the symbol change related to the change start command that triggered the start of the process (hereinafter, sometimes simply referred to as "the symbol change"). If the condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S404, and if the condition is not satisfied, the reach symbol determination process ends. Here, whether or not a reach state occurs is determined by referring to the special symbol change pattern included in the change start command, and by whether or not the special symbol change pattern is accompanied by the execution of the above-mentioned development performance. In step S404, it is determined whether the above-mentioned restriction flag is ON. If the condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S416, and if the condition is not satisfied, the process proceeds to step S406. In step S406, it is determined whether the current special chart variation pattern derivation state is the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC, and if the condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S408, and if the condition is not satisfied, the process proceeds to step S410. In step S408, a ready-to-win pattern is determined by a drawing using the drawing table B1. Here, the ready-to-win pattern is referred to in order to determine the decorative symbols that constitute the ready-to-win state, and the drawing will be described in detail later. In step S410, it is determined whether the current special chart variation pattern derivation state is the special chart variation pattern derivation state PD, and if the condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S412, and if the condition is not satisfied, the process proceeds to step S414. In step S412, a reach pattern is determined by a lottery using the lottery table B2. In step S414, a reach pattern is determined by a lottery using the lottery table B3. Note that the lottery is executed in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB or the special chart variation pattern derivation state PE. In step S416, similarly to step S414, a reach pattern is determined by a lottery using the lottery table B3. In step S418, the decorative symbols constituting the ready-to-win state are determined based on the determined ready-to-win pattern, and then the ready-to-win symbol determination process is terminated.
[0186] As shown in Figures 19(a) to 19(c), the lottery to determine the reach pattern determines either an even pattern reach, an odd pattern reach excluding 7, or a 7 pattern reach, and this lottery refers to the results of the special pattern hit / miss determination and the special pattern stop pattern lottery, and the range of random numbers used in this lottery is 0 to 999. In addition, when an even number symbol reach is determined in the lottery for determining the reach pattern, in step S418, one even number symbol is determined by lottery from a plurality of even number symbols, and the determined one even number symbol is adopted as a decorative symbol that constitutes the reach state. Similarly, when an odd number symbol reach except for the 7 symbol is determined in the lottery for determining the reach pattern, in step S418, one odd number symbol is determined by lottery from a plurality of odd number symbols except for the 7 symbol, and the determined one odd number symbol is adopted as a decorative symbol that constitutes the reach state. On the other hand, when a 7 symbol reach is determined in the lottery for determining the reach pattern, in step S418, the 7 symbol is adopted as a decorative symbol that constitutes the reach state. In addition, the probability of each decorative symbol being determined is equal in each of the lottery for determining an even number symbol from a plurality of even number symbols and the lottery for determining an odd number symbol from a plurality of odd number symbols except for the 7 symbol.
[0187] As shown in Figure 19(a), in the lottery using lottery table B1, that is, in the lottery to determine the reach pattern in the special pattern change pattern derivation state PC, if the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment for the pattern change is a miss and the result of the special pattern stop pattern lottery is pattern e, an even pattern reach is determined with a probability of 900 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 1.11), and an odd pattern reach excluding the 7 pattern is determined with a probability of 100 / 1000 (1 / 10), and in such a case, a 7 pattern reach will not be determined.
[0188] In a lottery using lottery table B1, if the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment related to the pattern change is a jackpot and the result of the special pattern stop pattern lottery is pattern a, an even pattern reach will be determined with a probability of 800 / 1000 (1 / 1.25), and an odd pattern reach excluding the 7 pattern will be determined with a probability of 200 / 1000 (1 / 5), and in such a case a 7 pattern reach will not be determined. On the other hand, in a lottery using lottery table B1, if the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment related to the pattern change is a jackpot and the result of the special pattern stop pattern lottery is pattern b, there is a 500 / 1000 (1 / 2) probability that an even pattern reach will occur, a 300 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 3.33) probability that an odd pattern reach will occur excluding the 7 pattern, and a 200 / 1000 (1 / 5) probability that a 7 pattern reach will occur.
[0189] In a lottery using lottery table B1, if the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment related to the pattern change is a small hit and the result of the special pattern stop pattern lottery is pattern c, an even pattern reach will be determined with a probability of 850 / 1000 (1 / 1.18), and an odd pattern reach excluding the 7 pattern will be determined with a probability of 150 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 6.67), and in such a case a 7 pattern reach will not be determined. On the other hand, in a lottery using lottery table B1, if the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment related to the pattern change is a small hit and the result of the special pattern stop pattern lottery is pattern d, then there is a 600 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 1.67) probability that an even pattern reach will occur, a 250 / 1000 (1 / 4) probability that an odd pattern reach will occur excluding the 7 pattern, and a 150 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 6.67) probability that a 7 pattern reach will occur. In this embodiment, including the lottery using the lottery table B2 described later and the lottery using the lottery table B3, the rate at which the odd numbered pattern reach excluding 7 or the 7 numbered pattern reach is determined as the reach pattern when the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment related to the pattern change is a big hit is higher than the rate at which the odd numbered pattern reach excluding 7 or the 7 numbered pattern reach is determined as the reach pattern when the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment related to the pattern change is a small hit. Therefore, the reach state realized by determining the odd numbered pattern reach excluding 7 or the 7 numbered pattern reach as the reach pattern can be said to be a performance that suggests that the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment related to the pattern change is a big hit (so-called a direct hit).
[0190] Also, as shown in Figure 19 (b), in the lottery using lottery table B2, that is, the lottery to determine the reach pattern in the special pattern change pattern derivation state PD, if the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment related to the pattern change is a miss and the result of the special pattern stop pattern lottery is pattern e, an even pattern reach is determined with a probability of 950 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 1.05), and an odd pattern reach excluding the 7 pattern is determined with a probability of 50 / 1000 (1 / 20), and in such a case, a 7 pattern reach will not be determined.
[0191] In a lottery using lottery table B2, if the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment related to the pattern change is a jackpot and the result of the special pattern stop pattern lottery is pattern a, there is a probability of 800 / 1000 (1 / 1.25) that an even pattern reach will be determined, and there is a probability of 200 / 1000 (1 / 5) that an odd pattern reach excluding the 7 pattern will be determined, and in this case a 7 pattern reach will not be determined. On the other hand, in a lottery using lottery table B2, if the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment related to the pattern change is a jackpot and the result of the special pattern stop pattern lottery is pattern b, there is a 500 / 1000 (1 / 2) probability that an even pattern reach will occur, a 300 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 3.33) probability that an odd pattern reach will occur excluding the 7 pattern, and a 200 / 1000 (1 / 5) probability that a 7 pattern reach will occur.
[0192] In a lottery using lottery table B2, if the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment related to the pattern change is a small hit and the result of the special pattern stop pattern lottery is pattern C, an even pattern reach will be determined with a probability of 850 / 1000 (1 / 1.18), and an odd pattern reach excluding the 7 pattern will be determined with a probability of 150 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 6.67), and in such a case, a 7 pattern reach will not be determined. On the other hand, in the case of a lottery using the lottery table B2, if the result of the special pattern hit judgment related to the pattern change is a small hit and the result of the special pattern stop pattern lottery is pattern d, the probability of an even pattern reach is 700 / 1000 (about 1 / 1.43), the probability of an odd pattern reach excluding 7 patterns is 250 / 1000 (1 / 4), and the probability of a 7 pattern reach is 50 / 1000 (1 / 20). Therefore, the probability (1 / 20) of the 7 pattern reach being determined is lower than the probability (about 1 / 6.67) of a 7 pattern reach being determined in the case of a lottery using the lottery table B1, where the result of the special pattern hit judgment related to the pattern change is a small hit and the result of the special pattern stop pattern lottery is pattern d.
[0193] Also, as shown in Figure 19 (c), in the lottery using lottery table B3, that is, in the lottery to determine the reach pattern in the special chart change pattern derivation state PB or the special chart change pattern derivation state PE, if the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment related to the pattern change is a miss and the result of the special chart stop pattern lottery is pattern e, an even pattern reach is determined with a probability of 950 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 1.05), and an odd pattern reach excluding the 7 pattern is determined with a probability of 50 / 1000 (1 / 20), and in such a case, a 7 pattern reach will not be determined.
[0194] In a lottery using lottery table B3, if the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment related to the pattern change is a jackpot and the result of the special pattern stop pattern lottery is pattern a, an even pattern reach will be determined with a probability of 800 / 1000 (1 / 1.25), and an odd pattern reach excluding the 7 pattern will be determined with a probability of 200 / 1000 (1 / 5), and in such a case a 7 pattern reach will not be determined. On the other hand, in a lottery using lottery table B3, if the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment related to the pattern change is a jackpot and the result of the special pattern stop pattern lottery is pattern b, an even pattern reach will be determined with a probability of 700 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 1.43), and an odd pattern reach excluding the 7 pattern will be determined with a probability of 300 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 3.33), and in such a case a 7 pattern reach will not be determined.
[0195] In a lottery using lottery table B3, if the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment related to the pattern change is a small hit and the result of the special pattern stop pattern lottery is pattern C, an even pattern reach will be determined with a probability of 850 / 1000 (1 / 1.18), and an odd pattern reach excluding the 7 pattern will be determined with a probability of 150 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 6.67), and in such a case, a 7 pattern reach will not be determined. On the other hand, in the case of a lottery using lottery table B3, if the result of the special symbol hit / miss judgment related to the symbol change is a small hit and the result of the special symbol stop symbol lottery is symbol d, the probability of an even symbol reach is 750 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 1.33), and the probability of an odd symbol reach excluding 7 symbols is 250 / 1000 (1 / 4), and in such a case, the 7 symbol reach is not determined. Therefore, it can be said that the probability (0) of the 7 symbol reach being determined is lower than the probability (approximately 1 / 6.67) of the 7 symbol reach being determined when the result of the special symbol hit / miss judgment related to the symbol change is a small hit and the result of the special symbol stop symbol lottery is symbol d in the case of a lottery using lottery table B1. In addition, the probability (0) of the 7-symbol reach being determined can also be said to be lower than the probability (1 / 20) of the 7-symbol reach being determined when, in a lottery using lottery table B2, the result of the special symbol hit / miss judgment related to the symbol change is a small hit and the result of the special symbol stopping symbol lottery is symbol d.
[0196] In this way, in this embodiment, a 7-pattern reach can be determined when the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment for the pattern change is a big hit and the result of the special pattern stopping pattern lottery is pattern b, or when the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment for the pattern change is a small hit and the result of the special pattern stopping pattern lottery is pattern d, but a 7-pattern reach will not be determined when the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment for the pattern change is a miss and the result of the special pattern stopping pattern lottery is pattern e, when the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment for the pattern change is a big hit and the result of the special pattern stopping pattern lottery is pattern a, or when the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment for the pattern change is a small hit and the result of the special pattern stopping pattern lottery is pattern c. Therefore, the reach state that occurs when a 7-symbol reach is determined as the reach pattern (hereinafter, may be referred to as the "7-symbol reach state") can be said to be a pre-reading effect that notifies (makes it possible to identify) that a jackpot game with 10 rounds will occur. Naturally, even if the result of the advance judgment regarding the target hold is a miss and the pattern is F, the 7 pattern reach will not be determined.
[0197] In particular, the magnitude relationship of the probability of determining a 7 symbol reach in the lottery that determines the above-mentioned reach pattern, among the lottery tables B1, B2, and B3, is the same as the magnitude relationship of the probability of determining a special odd number barake eye in the lottery that determines whether or not the above-mentioned pattern pre-reading performance is performed, among the lottery tables A1, A2, and A3. Therefore, the details of the magnitude relationship of the probability of determining a 7 symbol reach in the lottery that determines the above-mentioned reach pattern, among the lottery tables B1, B2, and B3, will be omitted. However, the 7-symbol reach state is a presentation that notifies the player that a jackpot game with 10 rounds will occur in the pattern change. In other words, the reach state is a presentation in the pattern change (hereinafter, may be referred to as a "change presentation"), which differs from the pattern pre-reading presentation related to the special odd-numbered variations described above. In addition, in this example, since the 7 symbol reach state is a variation effect executed by the corresponding symbol variation, it is possible to make the player realize immediately beforehand that the corresponding symbol variation may require the launch of a game ball related to a small win game. In addition, in this embodiment, since the 7 symbol reach state may occur when the target reservation related to the symbol pre-reading effect related to the above-mentioned special odd number scatter eye is consumed, the effect can be further enhanced.
[0198] In addition, the 7 symbol reach state is not limited to being a variable presentation that notifies that a jackpot game with 10 rounds may occur, and the 7 symbol reach state may also be a variable presentation that indicates a high expectation that the jackpot game may occur.
[0199] In addition, in this embodiment, in a lottery using lottery table B2, if the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment related to the pattern change is a small hit and the result of the special pattern stop pattern lottery is pattern d, a 7 pattern reach may be determined, but the system may be configured so that a 7 pattern reach is not determined in this case.
[0200] In addition, in this embodiment, the second function that improves the problems of the present invention is applied to a variable presentation, but as long as it is a variable presentation, any presentation may be adopted, not limited to a reach state.
[0201] Therefore, in the gaming machine 10, the gaming state management means (gaming state control means 155) can set, as the gaming state, a first gaming state (low probability of winning) or a second gaming state (high probability of winning) in which it is easier for a gaming ball to enter the second starting hole than in the first gaming state, and transitions the gaming state from the first gaming state to the second gaming state when the first condition (transition condition (ii) or transition condition (iii)) or the second condition (transition condition (vi)) is satisfied. In either the second gaming state set in response to the first condition or the second gaming state set in response to the second condition, However, when the number of pattern changes executed in the second game state without a jackpot game reaches a prescribed number of times in the second game state, the game state is transitioned from the second game state to the first game state, and the prescribed number of times (500 times) for the second game state set in response to the second condition is greater than the prescribed number of times (80 times) for the second game state set in response to the first condition, and the types of jackpot games that arise via the small jackpot game related to the small jackpot won in the pattern change related to the second starting port include a first jackpot game (a jackpot game with four rounds) and a jackpot game with a higher degree of advantage than the first jackpot game. When a jackpot game is generated via a small win game, the type of the jackpot game is determined before the timing when the game ball passes through a predetermined area (V winning area) in the small win game, and the presentation control means (first sub-control board 200, second sub-control board 300) executes a specific presentation (7 symbol reach state) which is a presentation indicating that the second jackpot game (a jackpot game with 10 rounds) is highly expected to occur or a presentation informing that the second jackpot game will occur. When a small jackpot that may cause a second big jackpot game is won, the rate at which the specific effect is executed in the second game state (normal, high probability) set in response to the second condition is lower than the rate at which the specific effect is executed in the second game state set in response to the first condition, or the specific effect may be executed in the second game state set in response to the first condition, but is not executed in the second game state set in response to the second condition, and the specific effect is an effect executed in one pattern change,In other words, it is an effect that suggests that there is a high expectation that the second jackpot game will occur due to the pattern change, or an effect that is executed in one pattern change and notifies that the second jackpot game will occur due to the pattern change.
[0202] In addition, in the gaming machine 10, the gaming state management means (gaming state control means 155) can set, as the gaming state, a first gaming state (low probability of winning a game ball) or a second gaming state (high probability of winning a game ball) in which it is easier for a gaming ball to enter the second starting hole than in the first gaming state, and transitions the gaming state from the first gaming state to the second gaming state when the first condition (transition condition (ii) or transition condition (iii)) or the second condition (transition condition (vi)) is satisfied, and in either the second gaming state set in response to the first condition or the second gaming state set in response to the second condition, However, when the number of pattern changes executed in the second game state without a jackpot game reaches a prescribed number of times in the second game state, the game state is transitioned from the second game state to the first game state, and the prescribed number of times (500 times) for the second game state set in response to the second condition is greater than the prescribed number of times (80 times) for the second game state set in response to the first condition, and the types of jackpot games that arise via the small jackpot game related to the small jackpot won in the pattern change related to the second starting port include a first jackpot game (a jackpot game with four rounds) and a jackpot game with a higher degree of advantage than the first jackpot game. In the case where a jackpot game is generated via a small jackpot game, the type of the jackpot game is determined before the timing when the game ball passes through a predetermined area (V winning area) in the small jackpot game, and the presentation control means (first sub-control board 200, second sub-control board 300) displays a presentation that suggests that the second jackpot game (a jackpot game with 10 rounds) is highly likely to occur, or a specific presentation (a pattern related to a special odd number barakeme) that is a presentation that notifies the occurrence of a second jackpot game. It is possible to execute a special effect (pre-reading effect, 7-symbol reach state), and in the event of winning a small jackpot which may result in a second big jackpot game, the rate at which a special effect is executed in the second game state (normal symbol high probability) set in response to the second condition is lower than the rate at which a special effect is executed in the second game state set in response to the first condition, or, in other words, while a special effect can be executed in the second game state set in response to the first condition, a special effect is not executed in the second game state set in response to the second condition.
[0203] In addition, in a lottery using lottery table B3, when the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment related to the pattern change is a small hit and the result of the special pattern stopping pattern lottery is pattern d, a 7 pattern reach may be determined with a lower probability than when the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment related to the pattern change is a small hit and the result of the special pattern stopping pattern lottery is pattern d in a lottery using lottery table B1. In particular, in this embodiment, in a lottery using lottery table B3, i.e., a lottery to determine a reach pattern in special chart change pattern derivation state PB or special chart change pattern derivation state PE, when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment for the pattern change is a small hit and the result of the special chart stopping pattern lottery is pattern d, the probability that a 7-pattern reach is determined may be configured to be lower than the probability that a 7-pattern reach is determined in a lottery using lottery table B2, i.e., a lottery to determine a reach pattern in special chart change pattern derivation state PD, when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment for the pattern change is a small hit and the result of the special chart stopping pattern lottery is pattern d.
[0204] <Regarding the transition of game states related to specific losing symbols> Next, using Figures 20(a) to 20(c), we will provide additional information on the type of specific losing pattern that will result in a transition to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PE, the rate at which each specific losing pattern is determined, and the type of current special chart variation pattern derivation state and the validity of the transition to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PE due to the stopped display of a specific losing pattern. In addition, Fig. 20(a) is a drawing that shows a drawing table for drawing the special chart 1 stop pattern when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment is a miss, and Fig. 20(b) is a drawing that shows a drawing table for drawing the special chart 2 stop pattern when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment is a miss, and the range of the random numbers used in these drawings is 0 to 999. Also, Fig. 20(c) is a table that summarizes the types of the current special chart variation pattern derivation state and the validity of the transition to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PE for each of the patterns D and f.
[0205] As shown in Figure 20(a), in the pattern variation related to special chart 1, pattern C or pattern D may be determined as the losing pattern. As shown in the remarks column, when the pattern D is determined and the determined stop pattern is stopped and displayed, there is a case where the state transitions to the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PE, and after the transition to the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PE, the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PE continues to be set until the pattern variation is performed a specified number of times, and then transitions to the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PA. The specified number of times corresponding to the pattern D is 30 times, while the pattern C is a stop pattern that does not transition to the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PE even if it is stopped and displayed. Here, the reason why it is said that there are cases where the state transitions to the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PE when the pattern D is stopped and displayed is that there are cases where the state transitions to the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PE is not possible depending on the type of the current special pattern variation pattern derivation state, and the relationship between the type of the current special pattern variation pattern derivation state and the transition to the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PE will be described later. The relationship between such a stop pattern and the current special pattern variation pattern derivation state is also the same for the pattern f described later. Specifically, when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment for special chart 1 is a miss, the lottery for the special chart 1 stopping pattern will determine pattern C with a probability of 998 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 1.002), and pattern D with a probability of 2 / 1000 (1 / 500).
[0206] Also, as shown in FIG. 20(b), in the pattern variation related to special pattern 2, pattern e or pattern f may be determined as the losing pattern. As shown in the remarks column, when the pattern f is determined and the determined stop pattern is stopped and displayed, there is a case where the state transitions to the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PE, and after the transition to the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PE, the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PE continues to be set until the pattern variation is performed a specified number of times, as in the case where the pattern D is stopped and displayed, and then transitions to the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PA. The specified number of times corresponding to the pattern f is 30 times, while the pattern e is a stop pattern that does not transition to the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PE even if it is stopped and displayed. Specifically, in the special drawing 2 stop pattern lottery when the result of the special drawing hit / miss judgment for special drawing 2 is a miss, the pattern e is determined as the stop pattern with a probability of 1 / 990 (approximately 1 / 1.01). In the stop pattern lottery, the pattern f is determined as the stop pattern with a probability of 10 / 1000 (1 / 100), which is higher than the probability (1 / 500) of pattern D being determined in the special drawing 1 stop pattern lottery when the result of the special drawing hit / miss judgment for special drawing 1 is a miss.
[0207] Next, as shown in Fig. 20(c), the special pattern variation pattern derivation state in which a transition to the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PE occurs when the pattern D or the pattern f is stopped and displayed is only the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PA. If the current special pattern variation pattern derivation state is the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PB, the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PC, the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PD, or the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PE, even if the pattern D or the pattern f is stopped and displayed, a transition to the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PE does not occur.
[0208] <About the number of times displayed> In this embodiment, in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, the display area related to the left sub-display unit 82b and the right sub-display unit 82c is configured to display the number of times. Details will be described later, but the number of times display is a display that is added or subtracted from the time the power is turned on, after the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC ends, or after the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB ends, and in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PE, the same number of times display as the previous special chart variation pattern derivation state is continuously executed. Hereinafter, the details of the number display in this embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 21(a) and 21(b) are diagrams showing a specific example of the number of times displayed according to this embodiment. Figures 22(a) and 22(b) are figures showing the transition of the count display when a power outage and restoration occurs during a period in which the number of times pattern fluctuations are executed after the end of a jackpot game is 0 to 1000 times. Figure 22(a) shows the transition of the count display when a RAM clear process is executed at the time of the power outage, and Figure 22(b) shows the transition of the count display when a RAM clear process is not executed at the time of the power outage. Figures 23(a) and 23(b) are figures showing the transition of the count display when a power outage and restoration occurs during the period after a transition from the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PD to the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PA. Figure 23(a) shows the transition of the count display when a RAM clear process is performed at the time of the power outage, and Figure 23(b) shows the transition of the count display when a RAM clear process is not performed at the time of the power outage.
[0209] As shown in Figures 21(a) and 21(b), the number of times display in this embodiment includes a number of times display H1 and a number of times display H2, and the number of times display H1 and the number of times display H2 are performed in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA.
[0210] More specifically, as shown in Figure 21(a), in the number of times display H1, the display area 821 of the display area related to the left sub-display unit 82b displays the words "??? times remaining until Yu-time", and the display area 822 of the right sub-display unit 82c displays the words "Currently xx times". Here, the text "??? times remaining until Yu-Time" is not updated each time a pattern change is executed, and the text is an indication that makes it impossible to specify the number of pattern changes that need to be executed before a special pattern change pattern derivation state PD transition pattern change occurs. The text "Currently ●●●● times" is updated (added) each time a pattern change is performed, and the text is a display that can identify the number of pattern changes that have been performed after the power outage is restored. In addition, when the text is displayed after the power outage is restored with the execution of RAM clear, the number of pattern changes that need to be performed before the special pattern change pattern derivation state PD transition pattern change is reset, so the pattern change in which the number of pattern changes specified by the display of the text is a predetermined number (1000 times) matches the special pattern change pattern derivation state PD transition pattern change. However, when the text is displayed after the power outage is restored without the execution of RAM clear, these pattern changes do not match. Therefore, the text "Currently ●●●● times" can be said to be a display that cannot identify the number of pattern changes that need to be performed before the special pattern change pattern derivation state PD transition pattern change, just like "??? times remaining until play time".
[0211] As shown in Figure 21 (b), in the count display H2, the display area 821 displays the words "●●● times remaining until Yu-time," and the display area 822 displays the words "Currently ●●●● times," similar to the count display H1. Here, the text "●●● times remaining until Yu-Time" has its content (number of times) updated (subtracted) each time a pattern change is executed, and the text is an indication that can identify the number of pattern changes that need to be executed before a special pattern change pattern derivation state PD transition pattern change occurs.
[0212] Figure 22(a) shows the transition in the number of times the pattern change is executed after the end of a jackpot game when, as an example, the number of times the pattern change is executed after the end of a jackpot game is 300 times out of a period of 0 to 1000 times, and a power outage and restoration accompanied by the execution of a RAM clear process occurs during that period. Specifically, the number of times display H1 is displayed during the period when the number of times the pattern change has been performed since the power outage was restored is 0 to 1000, and the number of times display H1 is displayed again during the period when the number of times the pattern change has been performed since the power outage was restored is 1501 or more. Note that neither the number of times display H1 nor the number of times display H2 is displayed during the period when the number of times the pattern change has been performed since the power outage was restored is 1001 to 1500. In this embodiment, the end or start timing of the number of times display may be any timing during the execution of the first pattern change in the corresponding period, but it is preferable that it is at the start of the pattern change.
[0213] Figure 22(b) shows the transition in the number of times the pattern change is executed after the end of a jackpot game when, as an example, the number of times the pattern change is executed after the end of a jackpot game is 300 times out of a period of 0 to 1000 times, and when a power outage and restoration occurs during that period without the execution of a RAM clear process. Specifically, the number of times display H1 is displayed during the period when the number of times the pattern change has been performed since the power outage was restored is 0 to 700, and the number of times display H1 is displayed again during the period when the number of times the pattern change has been performed since the power outage was restored is 1201 or more. Note that during the period when the number of times the pattern change has been performed since the power outage was restored is 701 to 1200, neither the number of times display H1 nor the number of times display H2 is displayed.
[0214] Next, Fig. 23(a) shows the transition of the number of times display when a power outage and recovery accompanied by the execution of the RAM clear process occurs during the period after the special chart variation pattern derivation state PD has transitioned to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA once, as an example of a case where the number of times is 2500, and the transition of the number of times display in this case is the same as Fig. 22(a). Therefore, the explanation will be omitted. On the other hand, Figure 23 (b) shows the transition of the number of times the display is made when a power outage and restoration occurs during a period after a transition from the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PD to the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PA has been made 2,500 times, and the number of times the display is made in this case is maintained as the number of times display H1.
[0215] <Other Modifications> Modifications not mentioned in the above description are listed below. First, in this embodiment, the execution of the symbol pre-reading performance and the execution mode are simultaneously selected, but if the execution rate of the symbol pre-reading performance described above is guaranteed, the execution of the symbol pre-reading performance may be determined, and when the execution of the symbol pre-reading performance is determined, the execution mode of the symbol pre-reading performance may be determined. In other words, the process of determining the execution of the symbol pre-reading performance and the process of determining the execution mode may be executed separately.
[0216] In addition, in this embodiment, the transition condition (vii) is satisfied when the number of pattern changes related to the special pattern 2 executed without any jackpot play during normal pattern high probability reaches 500. In addition, the transition condition (vii) may be satisfied when a small jackpot play is executed. According to this, in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PD, when the player does not shoot the game ball in the small hit game, the transition condition (vii) is satisfied, so it is possible to reliably prevent the player from aiming for a big hit game with a high advantage. In particular, in this modified example, the function of improving the problems according to the present invention described above leads to the prevention of the occurrence of an unfavorable event in which a big hit game does not occur in a small hit game for a player who does not recognize that the transition condition (vii) is satisfied by the execution of the small hit game.
[0217] Therefore, in the gaming machine 10, the gaming state management means (gaming state control means 155) executes a small win game related to a small win won by a pattern change related to the second starting hole (second starting hole 59) in the second gaming state (normal high probability) set in response to the second condition (transition condition (vi)), and if the gaming ball does not pass through a specified area (V winning area) during the small win game and a big win game does not occur, it transitions the gaming state from the second gaming state to the first gaming state (normal low probability).
[0218] In addition, in a modified example in which the transition condition (vii) is satisfied upon execution of the above-mentioned small win game, the normal high probability may also be terminated by the execution of a small win game in other special chart fluctuation pattern derivation states (special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB, special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PC, special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PE) which are normal high probability. By doing so, the end conditions of the normal high probability are unified, and when a small win game occurs in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state which is the other normal high probability, the end of the normal high probability is prevented without the occurrence of a big win game, and the processing burden related to the judgment of the end conditions of the normal high probability can be reduced.
[0219] In addition, in this embodiment, the number of types of stopped symbols related to the satisfaction of the transition condition (viii) is not limited to the number of types in this embodiment, and may be any number including one type.
[0220] Furthermore, each of the effects described in this embodiment does not necessarily have to be realized by images, but may be realized by other devices such as sound or lighting of lights, or may be realized by a combination of these devices.
[0221] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the same special chart variation pattern selection table is used in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB and the special chart variation pattern derivation state PE, but different special chart variation pattern selection tables may be used in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB and the special chart variation pattern derivation state PE.
[0222] In addition, in each special chart variation pattern derivation state, if the special chart variation pattern is determined using the special chart variation pattern lottery table shown in Figures 9 to 12, the special chart variation pattern may be determined using another special chart variation pattern lottery table, or the special chart variation pattern may be determined without using the special chart variation pattern lottery table (without drawing). However, in each special chart variation pattern derivation state, it is preferable that the special chart variation pattern is determined using the special chart variation pattern lottery table shown in Figures 9 to 12 for more than half of the period during which the special chart variation pattern derivation state continues.
[0223] In addition, in the present embodiment, the probability, ratio, and frequency, and the number of times may be 0 on the smaller side and the maximum value on the larger side, as long as the respective relationships are ensured. In particular, as for the above-mentioned ratios, as long as the phenomenal aspects are ensured, there is no restriction on the control for realizing the ratios. Furthermore, each lottery value in the lottery table illustrated in this embodiment is just an example, and as long as the magnitude relationship between the lottery tables is maintained, each lottery value may adopt any value within the range.
[0224] In the above explanation, the recovery state at the time of power recovery is determined by referring to the state of the RAM clear switch 43 at the time of power recovery, but it may be possible to refer to whether the time that the RAM clear switch 43 is in the ON state after power recovery exceeds a specified time (e.g., 3 seconds). In this way, the occurrence of erroneous RAM clear processing can be further suppressed.
[0225] In the above description, the state of the middle frame open door sensor 76 (open / closed state of the middle frame 17) was referenced when determining the return state when power was restored, but the return state may be set without reference to that state. In this case, the return state when power was restored may be set uniformly according to the case where the middle frame open door sensor 76 is ON (the middle frame 17 is open).
[0226] The present invention described above is not limited to the above description, and includes various modifications and improvements as long as the object of the present invention is achieved.
[0227] <Additional Notes> The present embodiment encompasses the following technical idea. (1) A gaming machine capable of launching game balls, capable of executing a pattern change based on the entry of the game ball into a first start port or a second start port, executing a win / lose judgment including a judgment of whether or not a small win will be won with the start of the pattern change, and if the small win is won in the win / lose judgment, starting a small win game after the end of the pattern change for which the win / lose judgment was executed, and if the game ball passes through a specified area during the small win game, starting a big win game after the end of the small win game, A game status management means for managing a game status; The means of production, A performance control means for controlling the performance means; Equipped with Regarding the probability of winning the small prize in the hit / miss judgment, The probability of winning the small prize by the pattern variation related to the second starting port is higher than the probability of winning the small prize by the pattern variation related to the first starting port, Alternatively, the small win may be won by the pattern change related to the second starting port, while the small win may not be won by the pattern change related to the first starting port, The game status management means includes: As the game state, a first game state or a second game state in which it is easier for a game ball to enter the second starting hole than in the first game state can be set; When a first condition or a second condition is satisfied, a gaming state is transitioned from the first gaming state to the second gaming state; In both the second game state set in response to the first condition and the second game state set in response to the second condition, when the number of symbol variations executed in the second game state without the big win game reaching a specified number of times in the second game state, a game state is transitioned from the second game state to the first game state; The specified number of times related to the second gaming state set in response to the second condition is greater than the specified number of times related to the second gaming state set in response to the first condition, The types of the jackpot game generated via the small jackpot game related to the small jackpot won in the pattern variation related to the second starting port include a first jackpot game and a second jackpot game having a higher advantage than the first jackpot game, When the jackpot game is generated via the small jackpot game, the type of the jackpot game is determined before the game ball passes through the predetermined area in the small jackpot game, The presentation control means is capable of executing a specific presentation that suggests that the second jackpot game is highly expected to occur or a presentation that notifies the player that the second jackpot game will occur, When the player wins the small jackpot that may cause the second big jackpot game, the ratio of the specific performance being executed is as follows: A rate at which the specific effect is executed in the second gaming state set in response to the second condition is lower than a rate at which the specific effect is executed in the second gaming state set in response to the first condition. Alternatively, the specific performance may be executed in the second gaming state set in response to the first condition, while the specific performance is not executed in the second gaming state set in response to the second condition. A gaming machine characterized by: (2) The gaming machine according to (1) above, The first condition is a condition that can be satisfied upon the end of the jackpot game, The second condition is a condition that can be satisfied upon the end of the pattern variation in which the jackpot game does not occur, The first condition may be satisfied upon the completion of the jackpot game which occurs in the second gaming state which is set upon the second condition being satisfied. A gaming machine characterized by: (3) The gaming machine according to (1) or (2) above, The first condition is a condition that can be satisfied upon the end of the jackpot game, the game state management means transitions a game state from the first game state to the second game state when a third condition different from both the first condition and the second condition is satisfied; The specified number of times related to the second gaming state set in response to the third condition is equal to or less than the specified number of times related to the second gaming state set in response to the first condition, When the player wins the small jackpot that may cause the second big jackpot game, the ratio of the specific performance being executed is as follows: A rate at which the specific effect is executed in the second gaming state set in response to the third condition is lower than a rate at which the specific effect is executed in the second gaming state set in response to the first condition. Alternatively, the specific performance may be executed in the second gaming state set in response to the first condition, while the specific performance is not executed in the second gaming state set in response to the third condition, The first condition may be satisfied upon the completion of the jackpot game which occurs in the second gaming state which is set upon the third condition being satisfied. A gaming machine characterized by: (4) A gaming machine according to any one of (1) to (3) above, The start of the pattern change is suspended until the change start condition is satisfied, at least with respect to the pattern change related to the second start port, In the second game state set by the second condition, when the small win that may cause the second big win game is won, the specific performance may be executed. In the second game state, which is set by triggering the second condition, the small win game related to the small win won by the pattern change related to the second starting port is executed, and in the case where the game ball does not pass through the specified area in the small win game and the big win game is not generated, even if the small win that can generate the second big win game by the pattern change related to the second starting port that was reserved at the end of the small win game or the end of the pattern change is won, the specific performance is not executed. A gaming machine characterized by: (5) A gaming machine according to any one of (1) to (4) above, The game state management means executes the small win game related to the small win won by the pattern variation related to the second starting port in the second game state set by the second condition as a trigger, and when the game ball does not pass through the predetermined area in the small win game and the big win game does not occur, transitions the game state from the second game state to the first game state. A gaming machine characterized by: [Explanation of symbols]
[0228] 10 Gaming machines 15 Outer Frame 17 Middle Frame 20 Front frame 21 Hinge mechanism 22 Movable Decorations 23 Cylinder lock 25 Transparent materials 27 Upper ball tray 29 Lower ball tray 31 Operating handle 32 Upper frame part 33(33a, 33b) Speaker 34a, 34b Left and right side frame parts 35(35a, 35b, 35c) Frame Lamp 36 Ball removal mechanism 37 Production button 38 Cursor Button 38a Up cursor button 38b Down cursor button 38c Left cursor button 38d Right cursor button 38e Middle cursor button 39 Main operation section 39a Ball loan button 39b Return button 40 Power Switch 43 RAM clear switch 46 Game Ball Tank 47 Tank Rail 48 Dispatch Unit 49 Dispatch Passage 50 Game Board 50a Gaming area 51 Outer rail 52 Windmill 53 Inner rail 54 Protective materials 55 Grand Prize Winner 57 First starting point 59 Second starting point 61 Normal Electric Devices 62 Normal electric accessory solenoid Gate 63 65 Special Electric Device 66 Special electric device solenoid 67 General Prize Winners 69 Outlet 70 First starting sensor 71 Second starting port sensor 72 Large prize entrance sensor 73 General prize entry sensor 74 Gate Sensor 75 Out ball sensor 76 Middle frame door open sensor 77 Front frame door open sensor 80 Performance display device 81 Main display 82 Sub display 82a Upper sub display 82b Left sub display 82c Right sub display 90 Pattern display device 91 First special pattern display device 92 Second special pattern display device 93 Ordinary pattern display device 94 1st special pattern reserved lamp 95 2nd Special Design Hold Lamp 96 Normal pattern hold lamp 100 Main control board 101 CPU 102 ROM 103 RAM 104 I / O ports 105 Random Number Circuit 109 Main control board case 110 Ball entrance determination method 115 Main random number generator 120 Main Hold Control Means 125 Preliminary Judgment Measures 130 Special drawing lottery method 131 Means of determining whether or not a special drawing is correct 132 Special stop pattern lottery means 133 Means for deriving special chart variation patterns 135 General drawing method 140 Jackpot game control means 145 Pattern display control means 150 Electrical equipment control means 155 Game status control means 160 Main information storage means 165 Main Error Control Measures 170 Main Command Management Method 175 Power restoration processing execution means 176 Return state setting means 179 Means for transitioning to playable state 180 Power cut processing execution means 200 1st sub-control board 201 CPU 202 ROM 203 RAM 204 I / O ports 209 1st sub-control board case 210 Sub-random number generator 220 Normal Production Control Means 221 Presentation mode control means 222 Method of determining direction route 223 Sub-hold control means 224 Predictive performance control means 225 Means for determining production content 226 Decorative pattern control means 227 Jackpot performance control means 230 Sub-error Control Measures 240 Lamp control means 245 Movable object control means 260 Sub-information storage means 270 Subcommand Management Method 300 Second sub-control board 301 CPU 302 ROM 303 RAM 304 I / O ports 309 Second sub-control board case 310 Voice control board 311 CPU 312 ROM 313 RAM 314 I / O ports 400 Dispatch control board 409 Dispensing control board case 500 Power supply control board 501 Normal power circuit 502 Backup power circuit 503 Power interruption detection circuit 509 Power supply control board case X First flow path Y Second flow path 821 Display area 822 Display area
Claims
[Claim 1] A gaming machine capable of launching a game ball toward a first flow path provided with a first starting port or toward a second flow path provided with a second starting port, generating a big win game when the game ball passes through a predetermined area in a small win game executed based on a win or loss judgment, and capable of setting a first game state in which the launch of the game ball toward the first flow path is recommended, or a second game state in which the launch of the game ball toward the second starting port is recommended, The means of production, A performance control means for controlling the performance means; Equipped with Regarding the probability of winning the small prize in the hit / miss judgment, The probability of winning the small win in the hit / miss judgment related to the second starting port is higher than the probability of winning the small win in the hit / miss judgment related to the first starting port, Or, the small winning may be won in the hit / miss judgment related to the second starting port, and the small winning may not be won in the hit / miss judgment related to the first starting port, The types of the jackpot game include a first jackpot game and a second jackpot game having a higher advantage than the first jackpot game, When the jackpot game is generated via the small jackpot game, the type of the jackpot game is determined before the game ball passes through the predetermined area in the small jackpot game, When the number of changes in the second gaming state reaches a specified number of times, the second gaming state is transitioned to the first gaming state, The conditions under which the second gaming state is set include a first condition and a second condition under which the degree of advantage of the second gaming state to be set is higher than that of the first condition; The performance control means is capable of executing a first specific performance and a second specific performance, The first specific performance may be a first performance mode that is a performance mode with a high expectation of the second jackpot game occurring among the performance modes that the first specific performance can be, or a performance mode that notifies the occurrence of the second jackpot game, The second specific performance may be a second performance mode that is a performance mode with a high expectation of the second jackpot game occurring among the performance modes that the second specific performance can be, or a performance mode that notifies the occurrence of the second jackpot game, Regarding the rate at which the first specific performance of the first performance mode is executed, The rate at which the first specific performance of the first performance mode is executed in the second gaming state set by the second condition is lower than the rate at which the first specific performance of the first performance mode is executed in the second gaming state set in response to the first condition; Alternatively, the first specific performance of the first performance mode may be executed in the second gaming state set by the first condition, and the first specific performance of the first performance mode may not be executed in the second gaming state set by the second condition, Regarding the rate at which the second specific performance of the second performance mode is executed, The rate at which the second specific performance of the second performance mode is executed in the second gaming state set by the second condition is lower than the rate at which the second specific performance of the second performance mode is executed in the second gaming state set in response to the first condition; Alternatively, the second specific performance of the second performance mode may be executed in the second gaming state set by the first condition, and the second specific performance of the second performance mode may not be executed in the second gaming state set by the second condition, The second specific performance may be executed after the first specific performance, When the second jackpot game occurs, the rate at which the second specific performance becomes the second performance mode is higher than the rate at which the first specific performance becomes the first performance mode; In the second gaming state set by the second condition, a variation pattern that is shorter than that in the second gaming state set by the first condition is likely to be determined, The first specific performance may be a third performance mode different from the first performance mode, In both the second gaming state set by the first condition and the second gaming state set by the second condition, when the first specific performance of the third performance mode is executed, the second jackpot game may be generated. A gaming machine characterized by:
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