Gaming Machines

Abstract

To provide a game machine capable of more suitably performing presentations including a frame body side and an image display means side. [Solution] The machine comprises a frame body with a viewing window through which the game area can be seen, an image display means capable of displaying an image, a win / lose determination means for determining whether the game has been won or lost when a predetermined condition is met, and an effect execution means for executing a specific effect by transforming the image displayed on the image display means, the frame body having a replaceable member around at least a portion of the periphery of the viewing window, the replaceable member having at least a portion of an overlapping portion that overlaps with the viewing window when viewed from the front, and capable of executing a preview effect that can suggest information regarding the result of the win / lose determination, and configured so that when a specific effect is executed on a specific image in the preview effect, the result of the win / lose determination is more likely to be a win than when a specific effect is not executed on the specific image.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to gaming machines such as pachinko machines, arrange ball machines, and slot machines. [Background technology]

[0002] In a pachinko machine, a large image display means such as a liquid crystal display means is disposed in the approximate center of the playing area of ​​the game board attached to the game machine body, and various effect images, notification images, etc. are displayed by the image display means during play. Rumo (See Patent Document 1) 。 [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2015-192899 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Book The invention is The image on the image display means is subjected to a predetermined transformation process, and important notification contents can be easily and reliably recognized by the player. The object is to provide a gaming machine. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present invention relates to a frame body having a viewing window through which a game area can be viewed, On the display screen In a gaming machine comprising an image display means capable of displaying an image, a launch means for launching a game ball toward the gaming area based on the operation of a launch handle, and an effect execution means for executing a specific effect by performing a predetermined transformation process on the image displayed on the image display means, the frame body comprising a replaceable unit portion, The game area is provided on the front side of a game board attached to the frame body, and the game board comprises a game member arranged on the front side of the display screen, and a movable body configured to be operable in front of the display screen and capable of stopping at a predetermined stopping position including an origin position, the display screen is composed of a first display area corresponding to the rear side of the game member when viewed from the front, a second display area corresponding to the rear side of the stopping position of the movable body, and a third display area which is neither the first display area nor the second display area, the second display area includes a specific second display area corresponding to the rear side of the origin position of the movable body, a preview effect image relating to the reliability of the occurrence of a profit state can be displayed on the display screen, the preview effect image is composed of a first display section suggesting the reliability and a second display section other than the first display section, the first display section can be displayed in the third display area, and the second display section can be displayed across the specific second display area and the third display area,The image display means can display a launch guidance image indicating whether it is advantageous for a player to aim at the left flow-down path or the right flow-down path in the game area, depending on the game state, and the launch guidance image includes a figure pointing to one of the left flow-down path and the right flow-down path, and does not include the launch guidance image. The image has transformation information indicating that a predetermined transformation process is to be performed. The predetermined transformation process is performed on a specific image, and the predetermined transformation process is not performed on a non-specific image including the launch prompting image, and the performance execution means has a primary buffer area and a frame buffer area as areas for drawing the image to be displayed on the image display means, and depending on whether or not the predetermined transformation process is performed, When the specific performance is performed A first rendering process for rendering an image to be subjected to the predetermined transformation process via the primary buffer area, When the specific performance is performed For images that are not subjected to the predetermined transformation process, a second rendering process is executed to perform rendering without going through the primary buffer area, and for the specific image, after storing it in the primary buffer area, When the specific performance is performed The first rendering process is executed to perform the predetermined transformation process based on the vertex coordinate information and the rotation angle information and render the image in the frame buffer area, and the non-specific image is rendered without going through the primary buffer area. When the specific performance is performed The second rendering process is configured to perform rendering in the frame buffer area without performing the predetermined transformation process. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present invention, The image on the image display means is subjected to a predetermined transformation process, and important notification contents can be easily and reliably recognized by the player. It is possible. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is an overall front view of a pachinko machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a front view of the game board of the pachinko machine. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a plan cross-sectional view of the game board of the pachinko machine. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the game board of the pachinko machine. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the front part of the game board of the pachinko machine. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a front view of the rear part of the game board of the pachinko machine. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the rear part of the game board of the pachinko machine. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the image display area of ​​the pachinko machine. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the image display area of ​​the pachinko machine. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the control system of the pachinko machine. [Figure 12] This figure shows the winning probability and fluctuation time of the normal pattern for each game state of the pachinko machine, and the opening and closing pattern of the second special pattern starting means. [Figure 13] This figure shows an example of the correspondence between the jackpot determination random number value, jackpot pattern random number value, jackpot state, and special game state when determining a jackpot and a miss for the first and second special patterns of the same pachinko machine. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the presentation pattern of the pachinko machine. [Figure 15] This figure shows examples of the reserved base image, reserved display image, and changing reserved image of the same pachinko machine. [Figure 16] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing examples of left-hit guidance images and right-hit guidance images of the same pachinko machine. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an error notification image of the pachinko machine. [Figure 18] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing examples of volume and light intensity adjustable notification images of the same pachinko machine. [Figure 19] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing examples of a volume setting image and a light intensity setting image of the pachinko machine. [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a flowchart of the customer waiting effect processing of the pachinko machine. [Figure 21] FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the menu management process of the pachinko machine. [Figure 22]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a flowchart of the processing when the effect button of the pachinko machine is pressed. [Figure 23] 10 is a diagram showing a flowchart of the process when the up key (down key) of the pachinko machine is pressed. FIG. [Figure 24] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a menu display notification image of the pachinko machine. [Figure 25] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing examples of a menu image and a menu operation notification image of the pachinko machine. [Figure 26] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a lower-level menu image of the pachinko machine. [Figure 27] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display when a selection item that does not have a subordinate menu of the same pachinko machine is selected. [Figure 28] 3A and 3B are diagrams showing the arrangement of movable bodies in each mode of the pachinko machine. [Figure 29] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a power saving mode notification image of the pachinko machine. [Figure 30] FIG. 10 shows an example of image display when the pachinko machine is in a waiting state for customers (a), and a diagram showing the correspondence between each image and an area on the display screen (b). [Figure 31] 10A is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed when the menu of the pachinko machine is displayed, and FIG. 10B is a diagram showing the correspondence between each image and an area on the display screen. [Figure 32] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing (a) an example of image display during normal fluctuations in the same pachinko machine, and (b) the correspondence between each image and the area on the display screen. [Figure 33] 10A shows an example of an image displayed during reach fluctuations in the pachinko machine, and FIG. 10B shows the correspondence between each image and an area on the display screen. [Figure 34] 10A shows an example of an image displayed during the step-up preview performance of the pachinko machine, and FIG. 10B shows the correspondence between each image and the area on the display screen. [Figure 35] 10A is a diagram showing an example of an image display of the button conversation preview performance of the same pachinko machine, and FIG. 10B is a diagram showing the correspondence between each image and the area on the display screen. [Figure 36]10A is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed when a button is operated in the button conversation preview performance of the same pachinko machine (a), and a diagram showing the correspondence between each image and an area on the display screen (b). [Figure 37] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing (a) an example of the image display in the first stage of the mini-character preview performance of the pachinko machine, and (b) the correspondence between each image and the area on the display screen. [Figure 38] 10A is a diagram showing an example of the image display in the second stage of the mini-character preview performance of the same pachinko machine, and FIG. 10B is a diagram showing the correspondence between each image and the area on the display screen. [Figure 39] FIG. 10 is a front view of a game board of a pachinko machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 40] FIG. 2 is a plan cross-sectional view of the game board of the pachinko machine. [Figure 41] 1A and 1B are a plan view and a front view, respectively, of the tiltable effect means of the pachinko machine. [Figure 42] 1A is a plan view and FIG. 1B is a front view of the movable lifting effect means of the pachinko machine. [Figure 43] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing the operation patterns of the movable body of the pachinko machine. [Figure 44] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the control system of the pachinko machine. [Figure 45] FIG. 2 is a conceptual block diagram of the image transformation process of the pachinko machine. [Figure 46] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the image rotation process of the pachinko machine. [Figure 47] 10 is an explanatory diagram of the image rotation process of the pachinko machine. FIG. [Figure 48] A figure showing the changes in the movable body and displayed image when the tilt preview performance of the same pachinko machine is executed. [Figure 49] A figure showing an example of the display priority and transformation information of each image when the tilt preview performance of the same pachinko machine is executed. [Figure 50] This figure shows how the display image changes when a door opening error or volume change operation occurs while the tilt preview performance is being performed on the same pachinko machine. [Figure 51]This figure shows an example of the display priority and transformation information for each image when the tilt descent preview performance of the same pachinko machine is executed. [Figure 52] This figure shows an example of the display priority and transformation information for each image when the tilt descent preview performance of the same pachinko machine is executed. [Figure 53] This figure shows the changes in the movable body and displayed image when the tilt preview effect is executed at the start of the pattern change on the same pachinko machine. [Figure 54] This figure shows an example of the display priority and transformation information for each image when a tilt preview effect is executed at the start of pattern change on the same pachinko machine. [Figure 55] This is a diagram showing an example of the operation history of the movable body and each image when the tilt preview effect is executed at the start of the pattern change in the same pachinko machine. [Figure 56] This figure shows the changes in the movable body and displayed image when the tilt descent preview effect is executed at the start of the pattern change in the same pachinko machine. [Figure 57] This figure shows an example of the display priority and transformation information for each image when the tilt descent preview effect is executed at the start of pattern change on the same pachinko machine. [Figure 58] This is a diagram showing an example of the operation history of the movable body and each image when the tilt descent preview effect is executed at the start of the pattern change in the same pachinko machine. [Figure 59] This figure shows the movable body and displayed image when a tilt effect is performed on the pachinko machine while waiting for customers (a), the display priority and deformation information of each image displayed on the image display means (b), and the display priority and deformation information of each image displayed on the sub-image display means (c). [Figure 60] This figure shows the movable body and displayed image when a menu display operation is performed while the tilt effect is being performed on the same pachinko machine (a), the display priority and transformation information of each image displayed on the image display means (b), and the display priority and transformation information of each image displayed on the sub-image display means (c). [Figure 61] FIG. 10 is an overall front view of a pachinko machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 62] FIG. [Figure 63]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rear side of the pachinko machine. [Figure 64] FIG. [Figure 65] This is a plan cross-sectional view of the part including the front frame and game board. [Figure 66] This is a plan cross-sectional view of the part including the front frame, game board, and joint portion. [Figure 67] This is a vertical cross-sectional view of the upper side including the front frame and game board. [Figure 68] This is a vertical cross-sectional view of the lower side including the front frame and game board. [Figure 69] FIG. [Figure 70] FIG. [Figure 71] FIG. [Figure 72] FIG. [Figure 73] This is a plan cross-sectional view of the part including the front frame, game board, and movable presentation means. [Figure 74] FIG. 10 is a front view of the portion including the mounting frame and the movable effect means. [Figure 75] FIG. [Figure 76] FIG. [Figure 77] FIG. [Figure 78] FIG. 2 is a front view of the stage portion of the game board. [Figure 79] FIG. 2 is a plan cross-sectional view of the central display frame. [Figure 80] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the central display frame. [Figure 81] FIG. [Figure 82] FIG. [Figure 83] FIG. 2 is a plan cross-sectional view of a portion including the game board and main control board case. [Figure 84] FIG. 2 is a plan cross-sectional view of a portion including the game board and harness receiving base. [Figure 85] FIG. [Figure 86] FIG. [Figure 87] 10 is an explanatory diagram of the installation process of the game board. FIG. [Figure 88] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a display area of ​​the image display means. [Figure 89] 10A to 10C are explanatory diagrams illustrating a process of attaching the image display means. [Figure 90] FIG. 10 is a rear view of a game board according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 91] FIG. [Figure 92] FIG. [Figure 93] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the mounting frame and the side board mounting base. [Figure 94] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a portion including the game board, image display means, and performance control board case. [Figure 95] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a portion including the game board, image display means, and side board mounting base. [Figure 96] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion including the game board and the upper guide rail. [Figure 97] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion including the game board and image display means. [Figure 98] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion including the game board, image display means, and performance control board case. [Figure 99] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the image display means. [Figure 100] FIG. [Figure 101] FIG. [Figure 102] FIG. [Figure 103] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the harness fastener in an attached state. [Figure 104] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the display unit mounting portion. [Figure 105]FIG. [Figure 106] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the mounting frame and the image display means. [Figure 107] 10A to 10C are explanatory diagrams illustrating a process of attaching the image display means. [Figure 108] FIG. 10 is a front view of a pachinko machine according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 109] FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway side view of the pachinko machine. [Figure 110] FIG. [Figure 111] FIG. [Figure 112] FIG. [Figure 113] FIG. [Figure 114] FIG. [Figure 115] FIG. 2 is another enlarged cross-sectional view of the outer frame. [Figure 116] FIG. [Figure 117] FIG. [Figure 118] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rear side of the locking portion of the front door. [Figure 119] FIG. [Figure 120] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the locking portion of the front door. [Figure 121] FIG. 4 is a plan sectional view of an upper protrusion of the side unit. [Figure 122] FIG. [Figure 123] FIG. [Figure 124] FIG. 2 is a plan cross-sectional view of the side unit. [Figure 125] FIG. [Figure 126] FIG. 2 is a front view of the second side unit. [Figure 127] FIG. 2 is a side view of the second side unit. [Figure 128]FIG. 10 is a rear view of the second side unit. [Figure 129] FIG. [Figure 130] FIG. [Figure 131] FIG. 2 is a plan cross-sectional view of the luminous decorative part. [Figure 132] FIG. 4 is a front cross-sectional view of the blower section of the second side unit. [Figure 133] 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the blower section of the second side unit. FIG. [Figure 134] FIG. 4 is a plan cross-sectional view of the blower section of the second side unit. [Figure 135] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a positioning means of the second side unit. [Figure 136] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the locking means of the second side unit. [Figure 137] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the locking means of the second side unit. [Figure 138] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the locking means of the second side unit. [Figure 139] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the fixing means of the second side unit. [Figure 140] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the fixing means of the second side unit. [Figure 141] FIG. [Figure 142] FIG. [Figure 143] FIG. [Figure 144] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the pachinko machine in an upright state. [Figure 145] FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway side view of the operation and performance means side. [Figure 146] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the operation performance means side. [Figure 147] FIG. 2 is a front cross-sectional view of the operation and performance means side. [Figure 148] FIG. 2 is a plan cross-sectional view of the operation performance means side. [Figure 149] FIG. [Figure 150] FIG. [Figure 151] FIG. [Figure 152] FIG. [Figure 153] FIG. [Fig. 154] FIG. [Figure 155] FIG. [Figure 156] FIG. [Figure 157] FIG. [Figure 158] FIG. [Figure 159] FIG. 10 is a partially cutaway side view of a pachinko machine according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 160] FIG. 10 is a partially cutaway side view of a pachinko machine according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 161] FIG. 13 is a front view of a pachinko machine according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 162] FIG. 2 is a front view of the second side unit. [Figure 163] FIG. 10 is a rear view of the second side unit. [Fig. 164] FIG. 2 is a plan cross-sectional view of the front frame and second side unit. [Figure 165] FIG. 4 is a plan cross-sectional view of a right protrusion of the second side unit. [Figure 166] FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway left side view of the right protruding portion of the second side unit. [Figure 167] FIG. 2 is a front cross-sectional view of the vibration-type performance means. [Figure 168] FIG. 2 is a plan cross-sectional view of the vibration-type performance means. [Figure 169] FIG. 2 is a front cross-sectional view of the vibration-type performance means on the buffer means side. [Figure 170] FIG. [Figure 171] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the second side unit. [Fig. 172] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the second side unit and the like. [Figure 173] 10 is a side cross-sectional view of an upper protrusion of the second side unit. FIG. [Fig. 174] FIG. 4 is a front cross-sectional view of an upper protrusion of the second side unit. [Figure 175] 1(a) is a plan view and FIG. 1(b) is a side view. [Figure 176] FIG. [Figure 177] 10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams illustrating a reflecting state of the light guide portion. [Figure 178] FIG. 13 is a plan cross-sectional view of a second side unit according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 179] FIG. 20 is a plan cross-sectional view of a second side unit according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 180] FIG. 23 is an explanatory view of a second side unit according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 181] FIG. [Figure 182] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of model information. [Figure 183] FIG. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Figures 1 to 38 illustrate a first embodiment in which the present invention is adopted in a pachinko machine. In Figures 1 and 2, a gaming machine main body 1 includes an outer frame 2 and a front frame 3 arranged in front of the outer frame 2. The front frame 3 is pivotally attached to the outer frame 2 via a first hinge 4 in the up-down direction arranged at one end in the left-right direction, for example, at the left end, so as to be openable, closable, and detachable. The front frame 3 can be locked in a closed state relative to the outer frame 2 by a locking means 5 provided on the opposite side in the left-right direction from the first hinge 4, for example, at the right end.

[0009] The front frame 3 comprises a main body frame 6 and a glass door 7 arranged in front of the main body frame 6. The glass door 7 is pivotally attached to the main body frame 6 via a second hinge 8 in the vertical direction arranged at one end in the left-right direction, for example, at the left end, so as to be openable, closable, and detachable, and can be locked in the closed state relative to the main body frame 6 by a locking means 5. The first hinge 4 and the second hinge 8 are arranged so as to be coaxial.

[0010] As shown in Figure 2, the outer frame 2 is rectangular and made up of a pair of left and right vertical frame members 2a, 2b and a pair of upper and lower horizontal frame members 2c, 2d. A front cover member 9 made of synthetic resin is attached to the lower front side of the outer frame 2, connecting the lower front sides of the left and right vertical frame members 2a, 2b along the front edge of the lower horizontal frame member 2d. The front cover member 9 protrudes forward beyond the left and right vertical frame members 2a, 2b, with the main frame 6 disposed above it. In addition, an upper outer frame hinge fitting 11, which constitutes the first hinge 4, is disposed on the upper left side of the outer frame 2, and a lower outer frame hinge fitting 12 is disposed above the front cover member 9 on the lower left side.

[0011] The main body frame 6 is made of synthetic resin and integrally comprises a rectangular frame portion 13 that is above the front cover member 9 and can substantially abut against the front edge of the outer frame 2, a game board mounting portion 14 provided on the upper side within this frame portion 13, and a lower mounting portion 15 provided on the lower side within the frame portion 13. A game board 16 is detachably mounted on the front side of the game board mounting portion 14, and a launching means 17, a lower speaker 18, etc. are disposed on the front side of the lower mounting portion 15. In addition, the main body frame 6 is provided with a main body frame upper hinge metal fitting 19 that constitutes the first hinge 4 and a main body frame upper hinge metal fitting 20 that constitutes the second hinge 8 at the upper left, and a main body frame lower hinge metal fitting 21 that constitutes the first and second hinges 4, 8 at the lower left.

[0012] The glass door 7 is provided with a door base 22 made of resin and formed in a rectangular shape corresponding to the front side of the main body frame 6. In this door base 22, a window hole 24a of a glass window 24 is formed corresponding to the front side of a playing area 23 formed on the playing board 16, and multiple (four in this case) upper speakers 25, a blower effect device 26 and other effect means are arranged around the window hole 24a, and an upper decorative cover 27 is attached to substantially cover the upper speakers 25 etc. from the front side.

[0013] Also, at the lower front side of the door base 22, there are arranged an upper tray 30 that stores game balls dispensed from the dispensing means 28 located at the rear of the main body frame 6 and supplies them to the launching means 17, a lower tray 31 that stores surplus balls when the upper tray 30 is full, a launching handle 32 that is operated to activate the launching means 17, and more. Furthermore, a lower decorative cover 33 is attached that substantially covers the upper tray 30, lower tray 31, etc. from the front. The lower decorative cover 33 is formed in a forward-facing bulge shape, and on its upper side, there are provided operating means such as an effect button 34 that can be pressed by the player and a cross operating means 35. The cross operating means 35 has four operating parts: an up key 35a on the rear side, a down key 35b on the front side, a left key 35c on the left side, and a right key 35d on the right side.

[0014] A glass unit 36 ​​is detachably attached to the back side of the door base 22 so as to substantially close the window hole 24a from the rear side, and a vertical hinge end reinforcing plate 37 arranged along the edge of the first and second hinges 4, 8, a vertical opening / closing end reinforcing plate 38 arranged along the edge of the opening / closing end, and a horizontal lower reinforcing plate 39 arranged below the window hole 24a are detachably fixed by screws, etc. Also, a glass door upper hinge fitting 40 that constitutes the second hinge 8 is arranged on the upper left of the door base 22, and a glass door lower hinge fitting 41 is arranged on the lower left.

[0015] In addition, a ball feeding unit 42, a lower tray guide unit 43, etc. are attached to the back side of the lower reinforcing sheet metal 39. The ball feeding unit 42 is for supplying the game balls in the upper tray 30 one by one to the launching means 17, and is arranged corresponding to the front side of the launching means 17. The lower tray guide unit 43 is for guiding surplus balls when the upper tray 30 is full, and foul balls that have been launched by the launching means 17 but have returned without reaching the playing area 23, to the lower tray 31, and is arranged adjacent to the ball feeding unit 42 on the first and second hinges 4, 8 sides thereof.

[0016] As shown in Figures 3 to 6, the game board 16 has a base plate 45 made of a non-transparent material such as plywood, and a guide rail 46 that guides the game balls launched from the launching means 17 is attached in a ring shape to the front side of the base plate 45, and in the game area 23 inside the guide rail 46, game components such as a central display frame unit 47, a start winning unit 48, a big winning unit 49, and a normal winning unit 50, as well as a large number of game nails (not shown), are arranged.

[0017] Moreover, on the plurality of unit components 47 to 50, various display means such as normal symbol display means 51, normal reserved number display means 52, first special symbol display means 53, second special symbol display means 54, as well as normal symbol start means 55, first special symbol start means 56, second special symbol start means 57, big prize means 58, and a plurality of normal prize means 59 are provided. Also, on the rear side of the base plate 45, as shown in Figures 5, 7, 8, etc., image display means 60 consisting of a liquid crystal display means is attached via a back mounting base 61.

[0018] 6 and other figures, the base plate 45 is formed in a generally rectangular shape when viewed from the front, and has a plurality of (for example, three) mounting holes 62-64, an outlet 65, and the like formed to penetrate the base plate in the front-to-rear direction for mounting the central display frame unit 47, the starting winning unit 48, the big winning unit 49, the regular winning unit 50, and the like. The mounting hole 62 is for mounting the central display frame unit 47, and is provided in a range excluding a part of the lower side, etc., of the playing area 23. The mounting holes 63 and 64 are for mounting the starting winning unit 48 and the regular winning unit 50, respectively, and are provided in the lower center and lower left of the playing area 23, respectively, independently from the other mounting holes.

[0019] As shown in Figures 4, 5, 7, 8, etc., the rear mounting base 61 integrally comprises a rear wall portion 66 formed approximately parallel to the base plate 45 and having a rectangular opening 66a formed approximately in the center thereof, a peripheral wall portion 67 extending forward from the outer edge of the rear wall portion 66 to the rear surface of the base plate 45, and a fixing portion 68 protruding from the front edge of the peripheral wall portion 67 along the rear surface of the base plate 45 and fixed to the base plate 45 by a fixing screw or the like, and a vertically elongated image display means 60 is fixed removably to the rear side of the rear wall portion 66 while being housed in a storage case 69.

[0020] The storage case 69 is formed in the shape of a flat box with an open front side. The image display means 60 is fitted into the storage case 69 from the front side with the display screen 60a facing forward and fixed by screws or the like. The storage case 69 is integrally provided with a lower fixing portion 69a protruding downward from the front lower end and an upper fixing portion 69b protruding upward from the front upper end. With the lower fixing portion 69a fitted into a recess (not shown) on the back wall portion 66, the upper fixing portion 69b is screwed to the back wall portion 66, whereby the front side of the outer periphery of the image display means 60 is abutted against or adjacent to the back side of the back wall portion 66, and the image display means 60 is detachably fixed to the back side of the rear mounting base 61.

[0021] In this embodiment, the entire display screen 60a of the image display means 60 is the entire screen area A in which an image can be displayed (see FIG. 9(a)), and a portion of the rear wall 66 of the rear mounting base 61 (hereinafter referred to as the window frame 74) corresponds to an area of ​​approximately constant width on the outer periphery of the entire screen area A and abuts or is close to the front side of the entire screen area A. Hereinafter, the portion of the entire screen area A corresponding to the rear side of the window frame (play member) 74 is referred to as the first fixed hidden area B1 (see FIG. 9(b)). In this embodiment, the window frame 74 is transparent, and the portion of the image displayed in the entire screen area A that is displayed in the first fixed hidden area B1 can also be seen from the front side through the window frame 74.

[0022] Here, the term "hidden area" refers to an area of ​​the display screen 60a of the image display means 60 that overlaps with the rear of a component in front of it when viewed from the front of the gaming machine. Therefore, if the component in front is opaque, the image displayed in the hidden area cannot be seen from the front. Although the first fixed hidden area B1 is a "hidden area," because the front window frame 74 is transparent, the displayed image can be seen from the front unless there is another component in front of it. Furthermore, even in a "hidden area," if there is space between it and the component in front of it, the displayed image may be visible by shifting the viewpoint (looking in) to avoid the component in front.

[0023] Furthermore, one or more, for example, four, movable performance means 75-78 are arranged on the front side of the rear mounting base 61. As shown in Figures 4, 7, 8, etc., the first movable performance means 75 includes a first movable body 75a and a first drive means 75b that drives the first movable body 75a in the up and down direction. The first movable body 75a is arranged in a horizontally elongated shape in front of the image display means 60, and its front side is decorated with, for example, any decoration (here, a three-dimensional decoration with an airplane motif), and its left and right ends are supported by a pair of first drive means 75b, 75b that are arranged in front of the image display means 60 corresponding to the left and right sides thereof, in a state where they can move in the up and down direction via first drive connectors 79, 79.

[0024] The first driving means 75b is supported on the rear mounting base 61 via a vertically elongated mounting base 80, and comprises an elongated cylindrical lifting guide 81 arranged along the side edge of the image display means 60 from its upper end to its lower end and guiding the first driving connector 79 in the vertical direction, a drive pulley 82a arranged near one end of the lifting guide 81, for example the lower end, a driven pulley 82b arranged near the other end of the lifting guide 81, for example the upper end, a drive source 83 consisting of a stepping motor or the like that rotates the drive pulley 82a, and an endless gear belt 84 that is wound around the drive pulley 82a and the driven pulley 82b and to which the first driving connector 79 is fixed at a predetermined location on its circumference, and the end of the first movable body 75a is rotatably connected to the first driving connector 79 by a pivot in the front-to-rear direction.

[0025] The first movable body 75a can be moved by the pair of left and right first drive means 75b, 75b between an upper position (FIGS. 28(a), (c), (d)) on the upper front side of the image display means 60 and a lower position (FIG. 28(b)) on the lower front side, while maintaining a substantially horizontal state. The front end side of the first movable body 75a protrudes to the front side of the base plate 45 through the mounting hole 62 (FIG. 4). Of course, the first movable body 75a may move and stop in an oblique state.

[0026] 4, 7, 8, etc., the second movable performance means 76 includes a second movable body 76a and a second drive means 76b that drives the second movable body 76a in the up and down direction. The second movable body 76a is disposed in a horizontally elongated shape in front of the image display means 60, and its front side is given an optional decoration (not shown). The left and right ends are supported by a pair of second drive means 76b, 76b disposed on both the left and right sides of the image display means 60 via second drive connectors 85, 85 in a state in which they can move in the up and down direction, respectively.

[0027] The second driving means 76b is arranged behind the first driving means 75b and in front of the rear mounting base 61, and comprises an elongated cylindrical lifting guide 86 that is arranged along the side edge of the image display means 60 at the lower side thereof and guides the second driving connector 85 in the up and down direction, a drive pulley 87a that is arranged in the vicinity of one end side of the lifting guide 86, for example the upper end side, a driven pulley 87b that is arranged in the vicinity of the other end side of the lifting guide 86, for example the lower end side, a drive source 88 consisting of a stepping motor or the like that rotates and drives the drive pulley 87a, and an endless gear belt 89 that is wound around the drive pulley 87a and the driven pulley 87b and to which the second driving connector 85 is fixed at a predetermined location on its circumference, and the end of the second movable body 76a is rotatably connected to the second driving connector 85 by a pivot in the front-to-rear direction.

[0028] The second movable body 76a can be moved by the pair of left and right second drive means 76b, 76b while maintaining a substantially horizontal state between a lower position (FIGS. 28(a) and (b)) at the front of the lower part of the image display means 60 and an upper position (FIGS. 28(c) and (d)) at the front of the middle part in the vertical direction. Of course, the second movable body 76a may move and stop in an oblique state.

[0029] Although the movement paths of the first movable body 75a and the second movable body 76a partially overlap when viewed from the front, the movement path of the first movable body 75a is shifted forward relative to the movement path of the second movable body 76a, so the first movable body 75a and the second movable body 76a can move without interfering with each other.

[0030] As shown in Figures 4, 7, 8, etc., the third movable performance means 77 and the fourth movable performance means 78 are arranged symmetrically corresponding to the left and right sides of the image display means 60. The third and fourth movable performance means 77 and 78 include third and fourth movable bodies 77a and 78a, and third and fourth drive means 77b and 78b that drive the third and fourth movable bodies 77a and 78a in the left and right directions. The third and fourth movable bodies 77a and 78a are arranged in a vertically elongated shape on the front side along the left and right edges of the image display means 60, respectively, and are decorated on the front side as desired (not shown).

[0031] The third and fourth drive means 77b, 78b are configured by electromagnetic slide tables in which a slide portion 92 can slide in the left-right direction relative to a base portion 91, and are disposed approximately in the vertical center corresponding to the side of the image display means 60, with the base portion 91 fixed to the peripheral wall portion 67 of the rear mounting base 61, and the third and fourth movable bodies 77a, 78a fixed to the front side of the slide portion 92. The third and fourth movable bodies 77a, 78a can be moved by the third and fourth drive means 77b, 78b, respectively, between an external position (FIGS. 28(a) to (c)) on the outside in the left-right direction relative to the image display means 60 and an internal position (FIG. 28(d)) on the inside in the left-right direction.

[0032] The third and fourth movable bodies 77a and 78a do not interfere with each other because their respective movement paths are spaced apart from each other. Furthermore, the movement paths of the third and fourth movable bodies 77a and 78a are behind the movement path of the first movable body 75a and in front of the movement path of the second movable body 76a, so the third and fourth movable bodies 77a and 78a and the first and second movable bodies 75a and 76a can move without interfering with each other.

[0033] Furthermore, the portion of the entire screen area A that corresponds to the rear of the first to fourth movable bodies 75a to 78a is referred to as the movable concealment area C (FIG. 10(c)). Of course, since the first to fourth movable bodies 75a to 78a can each move between a plurality of stop positions, the movable concealment area C also changes as the first to fourth movable bodies 75a to 78a move. Note that the movable concealment area C may not exist in some cases. Of the image displayed in the entire screen area A, the portion displayed in the movable concealment area C is blocked by at least the first to fourth movable bodies 75a to 78a and cannot be seen from the front, but since the first to fourth movable bodies 75a to 78a are all spaced forward from the image display means 60, at least a portion of it can be seen from the front by shifting the viewpoint.

[0034] As described above, the first to fourth movable bodies 75a to 78a are arranged between the image display means 60 and the base plate 45, and only a portion of the front end of the first movable body 75a protrudes to the front side of the base plate 45 through the mounting hole 62.

[0035] Furthermore, at least a portion of the entire screen area A of the image display means 60 extends outside the mounting hole 62 of the base plate 45 when viewed from the front. Hereinafter, the portion of the entire screen area A corresponding to the rear side of the base plate (play member) 45 (here, including the portion corresponding to the rear side of the mounting holes other than the mounting hole 62) will be referred to as the second fixed concealed area B2 (FIG. 9(c)).

[0036] Of the image displayed in the entire screen area A, the portion displayed in the second fixed concealed area B2 cannot be seen from the front because it is blocked by at least the base plate 45, but since the image display means 60 is positioned behind the base plate 45, at least a portion of it can be seen from the front by shifting the viewpoint.

[0037] The guide rail 46 is disposed on the front side of the base plate 45 so as to surround the outer periphery of the play area 23, and is formed by three first to third rail members 101 to 103 as shown in Figures 3, 5, 8, etc. The first rail member 101 is made of synthetic resin and is detachably attached to the front side of the base plate 45 along the left edge and upper edge thereof, and its side surface on the play area 23 side, which is generally arc-shaped when viewed from the front, is the first rail 46a that constitutes part of the guide rail 46.

[0038] The second rail member 102 is made of metal and is arranged in a generally arcuate shape in front view from the upper left to the lower left of the game board 16 so as to be parallel to the inside of the first rail 46a, and is erected at a generally constant width on the front side of the base plate 45 to form the second rail 46b that constitutes part of the guide rail 46. The portion sandwiched between the first rail 46a and the second rail 46b forms a launch guide passage 104 that guides the game balls launched by the launching means 17 to the game area 23.

[0039] The third rail member 103 is made of synthetic resin and is detachably attached to the front side of the base plate 45 along the right and bottom edges thereof so as to connect the upper right end of the first rail member 101 and the lower left end of the second rail member 102, and its side surface on the playing area 23 side forms the third rail 46c that constitutes part of the guide rail 46. The first rail member 101 and the third rail member 103 may be divided into multiple pieces along the rail longitudinal direction.

[0040] The central display frame unit 47 constitutes a display frame for the image display means 60 and is detachably attached to the front side of the base plate 45 along the inner periphery of the attachment hole 62. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 , the central display frame unit 47 includes a front attachment plate 105 that is disposed outside the attachment hole 62 along the front surface of the base plate 45 and allows game balls to pass through the front side of the central display frame unit 47; a decorative frame 106 that is disposed in a generally gate-like shape in front view extending from both the left and right sides of the front side of the image display means 60 to the upper side and protrudes forward from the inner periphery of the front attachment plate 105; and a stage 107 that is disposed between the left and right lower ends of the decorative frame 106. Game balls that are launched by the launching means 17 and enter the upper side of the game area 23 are split to the left and right at the top of the decorative frame 106 and flow down either a left flow path 108a on the left side of the central display frame unit 47 or a right flow path 108b on the right side.

[0041] A warp entrance 109 through which game balls can flow is provided on at least one side of the left flow-down path 108a side or the right flow-down path 108b side of the central display frame unit 47, for example, on the left flow-down path 108a side. The game balls that flow into the warp entrance 109 roll freely in the left-right direction on the stage 107, and then fall forward from either a central drop section 110 provided corresponding to the left-right center of the game area 23 or from another part.

[0042] In addition, an intrusion prevention means 111 is provided on the upper side of the stage 107 to prevent game balls from entering the rear side due to bouncing or the like. The intrusion prevention means 111 integrally comprises a first intrusion prevention plate 111a erected parallel to the base plate 45 along the rear side of the stage 107, and a second intrusion prevention plate 111b protruding forward from the upper edge of the first intrusion prevention plate 111a. The intrusion prevention means 111 is entirely transparent, and the rear side can be seen from the front side through the intrusion prevention means 111.

[0043] 6 and other figures, the central display frame unit 47 is made up of a second unit 47a equipped with the stage 107, warp entrance 109, entry prevention means 111, etc., and a first unit 47b that includes the rest, and these two units 47a, 47b are attached and fixed to the base plate 45 in a pre-connected state. Of course, the first unit 47b and the second unit 47a may be configured to be attachable to the base plate 45 separately.

[0044] Furthermore, at least a portion of the central display frame unit 47 is located in front of the entire screen area A of the image display means 60. Hereinafter, of the entire screen area A, the portion corresponding to the rear side of the first unit (game member) 47b will be referred to as the third fixed hidden area B3 (FIG. 9(d)), and the portion corresponding to the rear side of the second unit (game member) 47a will be referred to as the fourth fixed hidden area B4 (FIG. 10(a)). Furthermore, of the fourth fixed hidden area B4, the portion corresponding to the rear side of the transparent portion of the second unit 47a (here, the intrusion prevention means 111), i.e., the area corresponding to the rear side of the second unit 47a but visible from the front side through the transparent portion, will be referred to as the transparent hidden area (first transparent display area) B4a.

[0045] Of the image displayed in the entire screen area A, the portion displayed in the third fixed concealed area B3 and the fourth fixed concealed area B4 (excluding the transparent concealed area B4a) is blocked by at least the central display frame unit 47 and cannot be seen from the front, but since the central display frame unit 47 is spaced forward from the image display means 60, at least a portion of it can be seen from the front by shifting the viewpoint.

[0046] The starting winning unit 48 is disposed below the central display frame unit 47, and is detachably attached to the attachment hole 63 from the front side. The big winning unit 49 is detachably attached to a predetermined position on the lower right side of the central display frame unit 47 from the rear side. The regular winning unit 50 is disposed below the central display frame unit 47 to the left of the starting winning unit 48, and is detachably attached to the attachment hole 64 from the front side.

[0047] At least a portion of the special prize unit 49 is located in front of the full screen area A of the image display means 60. Hereinafter, the portion of the full screen area A that corresponds to the rear of the special prize unit (game member) 49 will be referred to as the fifth fixed hidden area B5 (FIG. 10(b)). Of the image displayed in the full screen area A, the portion displayed in the fifth fixed hidden area B5 cannot be seen from the front because it is blocked by at least the special prize unit 49. However, because the special prize unit 49 is spaced forward from the image display means 60, at least a portion of it can be seen from the front by shifting the viewpoint.

[0048] Furthermore, within the entire screen area A on the front side of the image display means 60, the area that is not obstructed by the window frame portion 74, the base plate 45, the central display frame unit 47, the big prize unit 49, and the first to fourth movable bodies 75a to 78a when viewed from the front, i.e., the area that does not belong to either the first to fifth fixed hidden areas B1 to B5 or the movable hidden area C, is defined as the non-hidden area D (FIG. 10(d)). Note that there are overlapping portions between the first to fifth fixed hidden areas B1 to B5, and there are also overlapping portions between the first to fifth fixed hidden areas B1 to B5 and the movable hidden area C. In other words, there are areas that belong to two or more of the first to fifth fixed hidden areas B1 to B5 and the movable hidden area C.

[0049] Here, the first to fifth fixed concealed areas B1 to B5 are an example of a first display area corresponding to the rear side of the play component when viewed from the front, the movable concealed area C is an example of a second display area corresponding to the rear side of the movable body, and the non-concealed area D is an example of a third display area that is neither the first display area nor the second display area.

[0050] The normal symbol starting means 55 is used to start the variable display of normal symbols by the normal symbol display means 51, and is composed of a passage gate or the like through which gaming balls can pass, and is equipped with passage detection means (not shown) that detects the passage of gaming balls. This normal symbol starting means 55 is provided on the front side of the front mounting plate 105 on the right part of the central display frame unit 47, and gaming balls flowing down the right flow-down path 108b can pass through it.

[0051] The normal symbol display means 51 is for variably displaying normal symbols, and is provided with a plurality of light-emitting elements (e.g., LEDs) corresponding to a plurality of normal symbols (e.g., two types, "○" and "×"), and is arranged in the decorative frame 106 of the central display frame unit 47. This normal symbol display means 51 flashes so that a plurality of light-emitting elements emit light in a predetermined sequence based on the detection of a gaming ball by the normal symbol start means 55, and when the hit determination random number value included in the normal random number information acquired when the gaming ball is detected by the normal symbol start means 55 matches a predetermined hit determination value, the light-emitting element on the "○" side corresponding to the hit mode (predetermined mode) lights up, and otherwise the light-emitting element on the "×" side corresponding to the miss mode lights up and stops. When the stopped symbol after the change of the normal symbol display means 51 becomes a hit mode, a normal profit state occurs.

[0052] Furthermore, when the normal symbol starting means 55 detects a gaming ball during a normal reservation period, which includes when the normal symbol display means 51 is changing symbols and when the normal profit state is in effect, the normal random number information acquired thereby is reserved and stored up to a predetermined upper limit of reserved numbers, for example, up to four, and each time the normal reservation period ends, one piece is consumed at a time, causing the normal symbol to change. The number of stored normal random number information (normal reservation number) is notified to the player by the normal reservation number display means 52, etc. The normal reservation number display means 52 is arranged in the decorative frame 106 of the central display frame unit 47.

[0053] The first special symbol starting means 56 is for starting the variation of symbols by the first special symbol display means 53, and is configured by a non-opening / closing type winning means that does not have an opening / closing means, and is equipped with a game ball detection means (not shown) that detects a winning game ball. This first special symbol starting means 56 is provided in the starting winning unit 48, and is arranged with an upward opening below the central drop section 110 of the stage 107 in correspondence with it, and because there is a winning route from the warp entrance 109 on the left flow-down path 108a side through the stage 107, a game ball that has flowed down the left flow-down path 108a has a higher probability of winning than a game ball that has flowed down the right flow-down path 108b.

[0054] The second special pattern starting means 57 is used to start the pattern change by the second special pattern display means 54, and is composed of an opening and closing type winning means that can be changed between an open state in which the game ball can win a prize and a closed state in which it is not possible to win a prize (or it is more difficult to win a prize than in the open state) by operating the opening and closing section 112, and is equipped with a game ball detection means (not shown) that detects a winning game ball, and when the stopped pattern after the change of the normal pattern display means 51 becomes a winning pattern (predetermined pattern) and a normal profit state occurs, the opening and closing section 112 changes from a closed state to an open state for a predetermined time.

[0055] This second special symbol starting means 57 is disposed on the front mounting plate 105 at the right part of the central display frame unit 47 and downstream of the normal symbol starting means 55, so that a gaming ball flowing down the right flow path 108b has a higher probability of winning than a gaming ball flowing down the left flow path 108a. The opening / closing section 112 can swing around a rotation axis in the left-right direction provided on the lower side, and in the closed state, it is approximately flush with the front mounting plate 105, allowing gaming balls to pass through the front side, and in the open state, it is inclined backwards on the front side of the front mounting plate 105, allowing gaming balls to win backwards.

[0056] The first special symbol display means (symbol display means) 53 is configured with a display means such as a 7-segment type that can variably display one or more, for example, one first special symbol, and variably displays the first special symbol for a predetermined period of time on the condition that the first special symbol start means 56 detects a gaming ball, and stops in a first jackpot mode if the jackpot determination random number value included in the first special random number information acquired when the first special symbol start means 56 detects a gaming ball matches a predetermined jackpot determination value, and stops in a first miss mode otherwise. If the stopped symbol after the variance of the first special symbol display means 53 becomes the first jackpot mode, a first special advantage state occurs.

[0057] The second special symbol display means (symbol display means) 54 is configured with a display means such as a 7-segment type that can variably display one or more, for example, one, second special symbol, and variably displays the second special symbol for a predetermined period of time on the condition that the second special symbol start means 57 detects a gaming ball, and stops in a second jackpot mode if the jackpot determination random number value included in the second special random number information acquired when the second special symbol start means 57 detects a gaming ball matches a predetermined jackpot determination value, or stops in a second miss mode otherwise. If the stopped symbol after the variation of the second special symbol display means 54 becomes the second jackpot mode, a second special advantage state occurs.

[0058] The first and second special symbol display means 53, 54 are arranged in the decorative frame 106 of the central display frame unit 47. The first and second special symbols are not numerical symbols or the like, but are composed of a plurality of types of symbols consisting of combinations of lines and dots that do not have any special meaning in themselves, and one or more of these symbols represent the first and second jackpot modes, and the others represent the first and second loss modes.

[0059] Furthermore, when the first and second special symbol start means 56, 57 detect a gaming ball during a special reservation period including the period during which the first special symbol display means 53 is changing, the period during which the second special symbol display means 54 is changing, and the first and second special advantage states are in effect, the first and second special random number information acquired thereby is reserved and stored up to a predetermined upper limit of the number of pieces reserved, for example, up to four pieces each. When the special reservation period ends, if the reserved memory on the second special symbol side is 1 or more (if the pattern change start condition for the second special symbol is established), the reserved memory of the second special symbol is consumed and the second special symbol is changed, and if only the reserved memory on the first special symbol side is 1 or more (if the pattern change start condition for the first special symbol is established), the reserved memory of the first special symbol is consumed and the first special symbol is changed.

[0060] In this embodiment, the first special symbol and the second special symbol are not both changing, and when there are reserved memories on both the first special symbol side and the second special symbol side, the second special symbol is given priority to change. The number of stored first and second special random number information (number of first and second special reserved information) is notified to the player by the image display means 60 or the like.

[0061] The big winning means 58 is an open / close type winning means equipped with an opening / closing plate 113 that can be switched between an open state in which game balls can win and a closed state in which game balls cannot win, and is provided in the big winning unit 49, and is arranged downstream of the second special symbol starting means 57 at the lower right side of the central display frame unit 47, so that game balls that have flowed down the right flow path 108b have a higher probability of winning than game balls that have flowed down the left flow path 108a. In this big winning means 58, during the first and second special advantage states that occur when the first and second special symbols of the first and second special symbol display means 53, 54 fluctuate and then stop in the first and second jackpot modes, the opening / closing plate 113 opens forward according to a predetermined opening pattern, allowing game balls that fall onto it to win inside.

[0062] In addition, the image display means 60 displays a changing effect pattern 114 (Figure 16, etc.) in parallel with the changing display of the first and second special patterns by the first and second special pattern display means 53, 54, and also displays various images such as first and second hold display images X1 to X4, Y1 to Y4 (Figure 15, etc.) indicating the number of first and second special holds, volume and light intensity adjustment notification images (notification images) 116a, 116b (Figure 18, etc.) and volume and light intensity setting images 117a, 117b (Figure 19, etc.) related to the volume and light intensity adjustment function described later, menu display possible notification image (notification image) 118a (Figure 24, etc.) related to the menu display function described later, menu image 118b and menu operation notification image 118c (Figure 25, etc.), left hit guidance image 162a and right hit guidance image 162b (Figure 16, etc.), error notification image 163 (Figure 17, etc.).

[0063] Here, as shown in Figure 14, the performance pattern 114 is composed of a combination of pattern images 114a consisting of numbers such as 1 to 9 and characters or other decorative images 114b, and can change in multiple rows in the left and right directions, for example, three rows, and starts changing by vertical scrolling or the like according to a predetermined change pattern at approximately the same time as the first and second special patterns start to change, and stops in a predetermined order such as left, right, center, etc. so as to finally stop at approximately the same time as the first and second special patterns stop changing.

[0064] In addition, when all the performance symbols 114 are the same, a jackpot performance is achieved, and otherwise a miss performance is achieved. When the first and second special symbols are the first and second jackpot performances, performance symbol 114 is in the jackpot performance mode, and when the first and second special symbols are the first and second miss performances, performance symbol 114 is in the miss performance mode.

[0065] In addition, the fluctuation patterns of the performance pattern 114 include multiple types of reach jackpot fluctuation patterns (for example, normal reach jackpot fluctuation pattern, super reach jackpot fluctuation pattern, etc.) that go through a reach state and then become a jackpot performance mode, multiple types of reach miss fluctuation patterns (for example, normal reach miss fluctuation pattern, super reach miss fluctuation pattern, etc.) that go through a reach state and then become a miss performance mode, and one or multiple types of normal fluctuation patterns that go into a miss performance mode without going through a reach state.

[0066] Figure 11 is a block diagram of the control system of this pachinko machine. In Figure 11, 121 is a main control board, 122 is a performance control board, and these control boards 121, 122 are housed in board cases that are detachably attached to an appropriate location on the back of the gaming machine main body 1 including the front frame 3 and gaming board 16, such as the back side of the back cover that covers the image display means 60 attached to the gaming board 16.

[0067] The main control board 121 controls the overall game operation, and is equipped with a normal random number creation processing means 131, a normal start port check processing means 132, a normal random number storage means 133, a normal pattern processing means 134, a normal pattern display control means 135, a normal profit state generation means 136, a special random number creation processing means 137, a special start port check processing means 138, a special random number storage means 139, a special pattern processing means 140, a special pattern display control means 141, a special profit state generation means 142, a special game state generation means 143, a control command transmission means 144, etc., which are composed of a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc.

[0068] The normal random number creation processing means 131 is configured to repeatedly generate, at predetermined time intervals, a win determination random number, etc., used to determine whether or not the normal symbol after the change is a winning pattern. The normal start port check processing means 132 performs processing based on the detection of a gaming ball by the normal symbol start means 55, and is configured to obtain normal random number information, such as a win determination random number value, created by the normal random number creation processing means 131 based on the detection of a gaming ball by the normal symbol start means 55, and store the normal random number information in a first-in, first-out normal random number storage means 133 up to a predetermined upper limit of reserved numbers (for example, 4).

[0069] The normal pattern processing means 134 performs processing related to the display of changing normal patterns, and is equipped with a hit determination function that, on the condition that the normal pattern display means 51 is in a state where it can display changes and one or more hit determination random number values ​​are stored in the normal random number storage means 133 (the number of normal pending numbers is 1 or more), retrieves a hit determination random number value from the head of the queue of normal random number information stored in the normal random number storage means 133 and determines whether it is a hit or a miss depending on whether the hit determination random number value matches a predetermined hit determination value, a normal stop pattern selection function that selects the type of stop pattern after the normal pattern changes based on the hit / miss determination result, and a change time selection function that selects the change time of the normal pattern.

[0070] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the probability of winning during the special game state (during the time-saving state and the special mode state) described below (for example, 1 / 1.3) is set higher than the probability of winning during other normal game states (for example, 1 / 10), and the variable time during the special game state (for example, 2.7 seconds) is set shorter than the variable time during the normal game state (for example, 27 seconds).

[0071] The ordinary pattern display control means 135 controls the display of the ordinary pattern display means 51 based on the ordinary pattern processing by the ordinary pattern processing means 134, and starts the variation of the ordinary pattern by the ordinary pattern display means 51 on the condition that the ordinary pattern display means 51 is in a state where it can display a variable pattern and one or more ordinary random number information is stored in the ordinary random number storage means 133 (the number of ordinary reserved numbers is 1 or more), and stops the variation of the ordinary pattern at the stop pattern selected by the ordinary pattern processing means 134 based on the elapse of the variation time selected by the ordinary pattern processing means 134.

[0072] The normal profit state generating means 136 generates a normal profit state in which the opening and closing part 112 of the second special symbol starting means 57 changes to an open state according to one of a plurality of opening and closing patterns when the stopped symbol after the variation of the normal symbol display means 51 becomes a winning symbol based on the result of the winning judgment by the normal symbol processing means 134 being a winning symbol. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 12, two opening and closing patterns are set: a normal opening and closing pattern (for example, 0.2 seconds x 1 opening) and an extended opening and closing pattern (for example, 2 seconds x 3 openings) set so that the opening time is longer than that of the normal opening and closing pattern. The normal opening and closing pattern is selected during the normal game state, and the extended opening and closing pattern is selected during the special game state.

[0073] The special random number creation processing means 137 is configured to perform special random number creation processing to repeatedly generate jackpot determination random numbers used to determine jackpot / miss, pattern determination random numbers used to select the stopping pattern after the special pattern changes, fluctuation pattern random numbers used to select the fluctuation pattern, and other specified random numbers.

[0074] The special start port check processing means (start detection processing means) 138 performs processing based on the entry of a gaming ball into the first and second special pattern start means (start means) 56, 57, and is configured to obtain first and second special random number information, such as a jackpot determination random number value and a jackpot pattern random number value, created by the special random number creation processing means 137 based on the entry of a gaming ball into either the first or second special pattern start means 56, 57, and store the first and second special random number information in the special random number storage means 139 up to a predetermined upper limit of the number of reserved items (for example, 4).

[0075] The special start port check processing means 138 also includes a look-ahead determination means 138a. This look-ahead determination means 138a is configured to perform a look-ahead determination on the first and second special random number information, which is acquired when a gaming ball enters the first and second special symbol start means 56, 57, as to whether or not the jackpot determination random number values ​​included in the first and second special random number information match the first and second jackpot determination values. The look-ahead determination result is transmitted to the performance control board 122, etc., by a reserve increase command transmitted based on the gaming ball entering either the first or second special symbol start means 56, 57.

[0076] The special pattern processing means 140 performs processing related to the variable display of the first and second special patterns, and when the first and second special pattern display means 53, 54 are in a state where they can display variables, it takes out the first jackpot determination random number value from the queue of the second special random number information if the number of second special reserved items is 1 or more, or from the queue of the first special random number information if only the number of first special reserved items is 1 or more, and determines whether or not there is a jackpot or a miss depending on whether the jackpot determination random number value matches a predetermined jackpot determination value, a special stop pattern selection function that selects the stop pattern after the first and second special patterns have changed based on the jackpot pattern random number value contained in the first and second special random number information depending on the result of the jackpot determination, and a variation pattern selection function that selects from a plurality of variation patterns of the first and second special patterns depending on the result of the jackpot determination, etc.

[0077] The special pattern display control means 141 controls the display of the first and second special pattern display means 53, 54, and starts the variation of the first and second special patterns by the first special pattern display means 53 or the second special pattern display means 54 based on the special pattern processing by the special pattern processing means 140, and stops the variation of the first and second special patterns at the selected stopping pattern based on the lapse of the variation time corresponding to the selected variation pattern.

[0078] The special advantage state generating means (advantage state generating means) 142 is for generating first and second special advantage states that are advantageous to the player, and is configured to generate first and second special advantage states (advantage states) that open the big prize winning means 58 according to a predetermined opening pattern when the result of the jackpot determination by the special pattern processing means 140 is a jackpot and the stopped pattern after the first and second special patterns change becomes the first and second jackpot pattern (specific pattern).

[0079] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 13, two types of opening patterns, α and β, of the big win means 58 are provided, and the special advantage state generating means 142 is configured to select one of the opening patterns α and β according to the big win symbol random number value. The opening pattern α is set to perform two rounds of opening the big win means 58 for 0.2 seconds. In this opening pattern α, the opening time for one round is as short as 0.2 seconds and the number of rounds is also small at two, so the possibility of a game ball winning during that opening is extremely small.

[0080] On the other hand, the opening pattern β is set to close the special prize means 58 for a predetermined number of rounds (e.g., 15 rounds) after a predetermined time (e.g., 28 seconds) has elapsed since the special prize means 58 was opened, or a predetermined number of game balls (e.g., 9 balls) have been entered by that time. In the case of this opening pattern β, if 15 balls are awarded for one entry into the special prize means 58, the player can expect to receive 9 × 15 × 15 = 2,025 balls in most cases by simply continuing the normal firing operation, and the direct profit that the player can obtain is significantly greater than that of the opening pattern α. Also, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the probability that the opening pattern β is selected is set to a higher value when the second special symbol is in the second special prize state (second special advantage state) than when the first special symbol is in the second special prize state (first special advantage state).

[0081] The special game state generating means 143 is for generating a special game state advantageous to the player after the first and second special advantage states have ended, and is configured to generate either a time-saving state or a special variable state according to the jackpot pattern random number value when the jackpot determination random number value contained in the first and second special random number information matches the jackpot determination value, as shown in FIG. 13.

[0082] During the time-saving state, the fluctuation time of the first and second special symbols is switched to a shortened fluctuation time that is shorter than the normal fluctuation time, the probability that the normal symbols will become a winning pattern is switched from a normal probability (e.g., 1 / 10) to a high probability (e.g., 1 / 1.3), the fluctuation time of the normal symbols is switched from a normal fluctuation time (e.g., 27 seconds) to a shortened fluctuation time (e.g., 2.7 seconds), and the opening and closing pattern of the second special symbol starting means 57 is switched from a normal opening and closing pattern (e.g., 0.2 seconds x 1 opening) to an extended opening and closing pattern (e.g., 2 seconds x 3 openings). The time-saving state begins after the end of the first and second special advantage states and ends when the next special advantage state occurs or when the first and second special symbols have changed a predetermined number of times (e.g., 50 times).

[0083] During the probability variable state, the probability that the first and second special symbols will become the first and second jackpot patterns is switched to a higher probability (e.g., 1 / 35) than the normal probability (e.g., 1 / 350). Also, during the probability variable state, the same switching as in the time-saving state is also performed in principle, but if a special advantage state of opening pattern α occurs during the normal game state, the probability variable state that occurs after the end of that state is not switched in the same way as in the time-saving state (so-called latent probability variable state). The probability variable state begins after the end of the first and second special advantage states and ends when the next special advantage state occurs, but other termination conditions, such as the number of times the first and second special symbols change, may be added.

[0084] The control command sending means 144 is for sending predetermined control commands to a sub-control board such as the performance control board 122 to give control instructions, and based on the special pattern processing by the special pattern processing means 140, when the first and second special patterns start to fluctuate, it sends to the performance control board 122 in this order first and second reserve decrease commands that specify a decrease in the number of first and second special reserves, first and second fluctuation pattern designation commands that specify the fluctuation pattern of the performance pattern 114, and first and second stop pattern mode designation commands that specify the stop pattern mode of the first and second special patterns, and when the fluctuation of the first and second special patterns ends, it sends first and second fluctuation stop designation commands to the performance control board 122 that instruct the fluctuating first and second performance patterns to stop, and when the number of first and second special reserves increases, it sends first and second It has the function of transmitting a first and second reserve increase command to the presentation control board 122 side, a function of transmitting a customer waiting demo command when the first and second special reserve numbers are both 0 and the first and second special symbols have finished varying, etc., and the first and second special symbols are in a waiting state for variation, a function of transmitting a special game state generation command, a special game state end command, etc. to the presentation control board 122 side when a special game state is generated and ended by the special game state generating means 143, and a function of transmitting an error command corresponding to the type of error when an error such as a door opening error, magnetic detection error, radio wave detection error, payout error, winning switch error, or illegal winning error occurs, and an error release command corresponding to the type of error when the error is released, etc.

[0085] The performance control board 122 controls the performances by various performance means, and is equipped with a performance control means 150, a special reserved number display control means 151, a pattern change performance control means 152, a launch induction notification control means 153, an error notification control means 154, a volume adjustment means 155, a light intensity adjustment means 156, a customer waiting control means 157, a power saving mode setting means 158, etc.

[0086] The performance control means 150 controls each performance means, and includes image display control means 150a that controls image display by the image display means 60, audio control means 150b that controls audio output from speakers 18, 25, light emission control means 150c that controls the light emission of lighting means 159 such as LEDs, and movable body control means 150d that controls movable performance means 75-78 having first to fourth movable bodies 75a-78a.

[0087] The special hold number display control means 151 controls the display of the first and second special hold numbers on the image display means 60, and as shown in Figure 15, etc., in response to an increase or decrease in the first and second special hold numbers, it is configured to display first hold display images X1 to X4 corresponding to the number of first special holds (maximum of 4), second hold display images Y1 to Y4 corresponding to the number of second special holds (maximum of 4), and a changing hold image Z corresponding to the changing first and second special patterns superimposed in front of a specified hold base image 161 on the image display means 60 via the image display control means 150a.

[0088] In this embodiment, in order to consume the reserved memory of the second special symbol with priority over the reserved memory of the first special symbol, the second reserved display images Y1 to Y4 are displayed partially overlapping in front of the first reserved display images X1 to X4. When the first and second reserved increase commands are received from the main control board 121, one of the first and second reserved display images X1 to Y1 is additionally displayed at the end of the queue.

[0089] Furthermore, when a first or second hold decrease command is received from the main control board 121, the first and second hold display images X1~, Y1~ are shifted one by one toward the front of the queue, and the pushed-out first and second hold display images X1, Y1 are moved to a predetermined position and changed into the changing hold image Z. Note that, since the change of the second special symbol takes priority over the first special symbol, while the second hold display image Y1~ is displayed, the first hold display image X1~ may increase but will not decrease.

[0090] The pattern change performance control means 152 controls the change display of the performance pattern 114 and the accompanying preview performance, etc., and is equipped with a performance pattern control means 152a, a preview performance control means 152b, etc. The performance pattern control means 152a controls the display of the performance pattern 114 and the accompanying sound output, illumination light, etc. via the performance control means 150, and when it receives first and second variation pattern designation commands from the main control board 121, it starts the variation of the performance pattern 114 based on the designated variation pattern and the accompanying sound output and illumination light, and when it receives first and second variation stop designation commands, it stops the variation of the performance pattern 114 in the stop pattern mode selected based on the first and second stop pattern mode designation commands and the first and second variation pattern designation commands, and also stops the accompanying sound output and illumination light.

[0091] The notice effect control means 152b controls the notice effect relating to the change of the first and second special symbols and the effect symbol 114, such as whether or not the stopped symbols after the change of the first and second special symbols become the first and second jackpot states and the first and second special profit states occur. The notice effects include a "pre-read notice effect" performed based on the pre-read determination result by the pre-read determination means 138a, and a "normal notice effect" performed based on the jackpot determination result at the start of the symbol change by the special symbol processing means 140, etc.

[0092] In addition, the "pre-reading preview performance" includes a "pre-reading continuous performance" that executes the same performance for multiple pattern changes up to the pattern change corresponding to the special random number information that was the subject of the pre-reading judgment based on the pre-reading judgment result, as well as a "pre-reading hold change performance" that displays the first and second hold display images X1~, Y1~ in a predetermined display mode as shown in Figure 15 based on the pre-reading judgment result.

[0093] Furthermore, the "normal preview effect" includes a "conversation preview effect," a "step-up preview effect," a "button preview effect," a "mini-character preview effect," etc. In the "conversation preview effect," the character's lines are displayed on the image display means 60 while the first and second special symbols are fluctuating, and the content of the lines suggests the reliability that the first and second special symbols will become the first and second jackpot patterns (hereinafter referred to as the jackpot reliability). In the "step-up preview effect," while the first and second special symbols are fluctuating, predetermined performance steps including the display of a performance image on the image display means 60 are executed up to a predetermined stage out of multiple stages (for example, five stages) according to the jackpot reliability. In this step-up preview effect, the jackpot reliability is set to increase as the performance step progresses.

[0094] In the "button preview effect," if it is determined that the operation of the effect button 34 satisfies a predetermined operation condition (operation is successful) during the valid operation period while the first and second special symbols are fluctuating, a predetermined operation-time effect is executed according to the reliability of the jackpot. In the "mini character preview effect," one or more mini character images are displayed on the image display means 60, and an action is performed that suggests the reliability of the jackpot.

[0095] The preview performance control means 152b is configured to hold a lottery to start execution of a pre-reading preview performance when predetermined conditions are met, such as when the first and second reserve increase commands are received and the pre-reading continuous performance is not in progress, and to start execution of the pre-reading preview performance if at least one of the multiple types of pre-reading preview performances (pre-reading continuous performance, pre-reading reserve change performance, etc.) is won, and to hold a lottery to start execution of the pre-reading preview performance when the first and second special symbols start to change, that is, when the first and second reserve decrease commands, the first and second change pattern designation commands, and the first and second stop symbol mode designation commands are received within a certain period of time, and to execute the normal preview performance while the first and second special symbols are changing if at least one of the multiple types of normal preview performances (conversation preview performance, step-up preview performance, etc.) is won.

[0096] The launch guidance notification control means 153 controls the launch guidance notification to aim at either the left or right side of the game area 23 and is configured to display either a left-hit guidance image 162a (Figure 16(a)) such as "← left" to aim at the left flow-down path 108a and launch, or a right-hit guidance image 162b (Figure 16(b)) such as "right →" to aim at the right flow-down path 108b and launch, on the image display means 60 at a predetermined timing during play via the image display control means 150a.

[0097] In this embodiment, during the normal gaming state, the probability of a winning state occurring on the normal symbol display means 51 is low, and even if a winning state occurs and a normal profit state occurs, the second special symbol start means 57 is only open for a short time (FIG. 12), so the possibility of winning on the second special symbol start means 57 is extremely low. Therefore, during the normal gaming state, it is more advantageous for the player to hit left and aim for a winning on the first special symbol start means 56 from the left flow-down path 108a side than to hit right and aim for the normal symbol start means 55 and second special symbol start means 57 on the right flow-down path 108b side, so it is desirable to display the left hit guide image 162a at a predetermined timing such as when the special gaming state ends.

[0098] On the other hand, during the first and second special advantage states, the big prize means 58 opens, so the player should hit right, aiming at the big prize means 58 on the right flow-down path 108b. Also, during the special game state, the probability of a winning state occurring on the normal symbol display means 51 increases, and the opening time of the second special symbol start means 57 becomes longer when a winning state occurs and a normal advantage state occurs (FIG. 12). Therefore, it is advantageous for the player to hit right, aiming at the normal symbol start means 55 and the second special symbol start means 57 on the right flow-down path 108b. Therefore, during the first and second special advantage states and the special game state, it is desirable to display the right hit guide image 162b at a predetermined timing.

[0099] In this embodiment, in the first and second special advantage states of the opening pattern α, the opening time of the big winning means 58 is short, and the special game state that occurs after the end of the opening time is a latent probability change, and the opening of the second special symbol starting means 57 is not extended (FIG. 13), so it is desirable not to display the right hit guiding image 162b. Also, either the left hit guiding image 162a or the right hit guiding image 162b, or only the right hit guiding image 162b may be displayed.

[0100] The error notification control means 154 controls error notification and executes error notification such as displaying an error notification image 163 on the image display means 60 via the image display control means 150a from the time an error command is received from the main control board 121 until an error release command is received. In the case of a door open error, the error notification image 163 such as "Door open" is displayed on the image display means 60 from the time a door open command is received from the main control board 121 until a door open release command is received (FIG. 17).

[0101] The volume adjustment means 155 controls the volume setting, and is configured to display a volume adjustment possible notification image (notification image) 116a (FIG. 18(a)) indicating that volume adjustment is possible on the image display means 60 at a predetermined timing during a volume adjustment possible period when the volume can be adjusted by a player operation, and to display a volume setting image 117a (FIG. 19(a)) indicating the volume setting status on the image display means 60 when a player operation related to volume adjustment is performed during the volume adjustment possible period. In this embodiment, the left key 35c and the right key 35d of the cross operation means 35 are assigned for volume adjustment operation, and during the volume adjustment possible period, pressing the left key 35c decreases the volume, and pressing the right key 35d increases the volume.

[0102] The volume adjustable notification image 116a is composed of an illustration of the left key 35c and right key 35d used for volume adjustment and the text "Adjust volume with," as shown in Fig. 18(a). Also, the volume setting image 117a is composed of a plurality of (five) scale images corresponding to predetermined levels (e.g., five levels) of volume and the text "volume," as shown in Fig. 19(a), and the number of scale images corresponding to the current volume setting is displayed in a different manner (e.g., display color) from the other scale images.

[0103] If the player operates either the left key 35c or the right key 35d during the volume adjustable period, and if the volume adjustable notification image 116a (Fig. 18(a)) is displayed, the volume adjustable notification image 116a will be erased from the image display means 60. Furthermore, the volume will be changed in response to the player's operation, and a volume setting image 117a (Fig. 19(a)) corresponding to the changed volume will be displayed on the image display means 60 for a certain period of time.

[0104] In this embodiment, the volume adjustable period is set not only during a waiting-for-customer state, which will be described later, but also during other gaming states. However, a predetermined period, such as after power-on, may be excluded from the volume adjustable period. Furthermore, the volume adjustable notification image 116a may be displayed all the time during the volume adjustable period, or may be displayed only during a specific period, such as during a waiting-for-customer state. Furthermore, if either the left key 35c or the right key 35d is operated while the volume setting image 117a is not displayed, the volume setting image 117a may be displayed but the volume may not be changed upon the first operation, and the volume may be changed upon the second or subsequent operation after the volume setting image 117a is displayed.

[0105] The light intensity adjusting means 156 controls the adjustment of the light intensity of the illumination means 159, and is configured to display a light intensity adjustable notification image (notification image) 116b (FIG. 18(b)) indicating that an operation for adjusting the light intensity is possible on the image display means 60 at a predetermined timing during a light intensity adjustable period when the light intensity can be adjusted by a player operation, and to display a light intensity setting image 117b (FIG. 19(b)) indicating the setting status of the light intensity on the image display means 60 when a player operation for adjusting the light intensity is performed during the light intensity adjustable period. In this embodiment, the up key 35a and down key 35b of the cross operation means 35 are assigned for the light intensity adjustment operation, and during the light intensity adjustable period, pressing the up key 35a increases the light intensity, and pressing the down key 35b decreases the light intensity.

[0106] The light intensity adjustable notification image 116b is composed of an illustration of the up key 35a and down key 35b used for adjusting the light intensity and the text "Adjust light intensity with," as shown in Fig. 18(b). The light intensity setting image 117b is composed of a plurality of (five) scale images corresponding to predetermined levels (e.g., five levels) of light intensity and the text "light intensity," as shown in Fig. 19(b), and the number of scale images corresponding to the current light intensity setting is displayed in a different manner (e.g., display color) from the other scale images.

[0107] If the player operates either the up key 35a or the down key 35b during the light intensity adjustable period, and if the light intensity adjustable notification image 116b (Fig. 18(b)) is displayed, the light intensity adjustable notification image 116b will be erased from the image display means 60. Furthermore, the light intensity is changed in response to the player's operation, and a light intensity setting image 117b (Fig. 19(b)) corresponding to the changed light intensity is displayed on the image display means 60 for a certain period of time.

[0108] In this embodiment, the light intensity adjustable period and the volume adjustable period are set to the same period, but the two periods may be different. Furthermore, the light intensity adjustable notification image 116b may be displayed at all times during the light intensity adjustable period, or may be displayed only during a specific period, such as while waiting for customers. Furthermore, if either the up key 35a or the down key 35b is operated while the light intensity setting image 117b is not displayed, the first operation may display the light intensity setting image 117b but not change the light intensity, and the light intensity may be changed on the second or subsequent operation after the light intensity setting image 117b is displayed.

[0109] The customer waiting control means 157 controls the presentation etc. during the customer waiting state (waiting period) from when it receives a customer waiting demo command from the main control board 121 until the first and second special pattern display means 53, 54 start varying the first and second special patterns, and is capable of executing customer waiting presentation processing (Figure 20) and menu management processing (Figure 21) in a timer interrupt.

[0110] In this embodiment, the period from when the customer waiting demo command is received from the main control board 121 until the first and second special patterns start to fluctuate (during the customer waiting state) is set as a menu operation period during which settings can be changed (settings related to the game) by menu selection operations, and during this customer waiting state, the player can press the effect button 34 to display the menu image 118b (Figure 25, etc.), and in that state, the player can select and execute any of the options displayed on the menu image 118b by pressing the up key 35a, down key 35b, and effect button 34 of the cross operation means 35.

[0111] In this embodiment, since the cross operation means 35 is also used to adjust the volume and light intensity, it is desirable to exclude the period during which the menu image 118b is displayed (the period during which the cross operation means 35 can be used to select a menu) from the volume adjustment period and light intensity adjustment period, so that the cross operation means 35 cannot be used to adjust the volume and light intensity.

[0112] Next, the customer waiting effect processing shown in Fig. 20 will be explained. In this customer waiting effect processing, first, a customer waiting state flag is determined (S1). This customer waiting state flag indicates whether or not the machine is in a customer waiting state, and is set to 1 if the machine is in a customer waiting state, and 0 if the machine is not in a customer waiting state. If the customer waiting state flag is not 1 (S1: No), it is determined whether or not a customer waiting demo command has been received from the main control board 121 (S2), and if the customer waiting demo command has not been received (S2: No), the customer waiting effect processing ends here.

[0113] In addition, the customer waiting demo command is sent from the main control board 121 to the performance control board 122 when the first and second special reserved numbers are both 0 and the first and second special patterns are waiting to change, when backing up from the customer waiting state is restored, when the RAM is cleared, etc.

[0114] If a customer waiting demo command is received when not in a customer waiting state (S1: No → S2: Yes), the customer waiting state flag is set to 1 (in a customer waiting state) (S3), and the display of a menu display possible notification image 118a on the image display means 60 is started (S4). Here, the menu display possible notification image (notification image) 118a is used to notify that an operation to display a menu image 118b is possible, and is composed of an illustration showing the effect button 34 used to display the menu being pressed and the words "display menu with," as shown in Fig. 24.

[0115] Then, the normal customer waiting performance starts (S5), the demo timer is set to an initial value (S6), and the customer waiting performance processing ends. In the normal customer waiting performance, the image of the performance pattern 114 that was stopped in the previous pattern change continues to be displayed on the image display means 60, the illumination means 159 emits light in a predetermined light emission pattern, and predetermined background music is output from the speakers 18, 25. The demo timer is used to count the duration of the normal customer waiting performance, and a value corresponding to 180 seconds is set as the initial value.

[0116] The menu operation possible period starts when the customer waiting demo command is received, but the menu display possible notification image 118a may be displayed on the image display means 60 after a predetermined time (e.g., 30 seconds) has elapsed since the customer waiting command was received. In addition to the predetermined time (e.g., 30 seconds) after the customer waiting state starts, the menu display possible notification image 118a may not be displayed during a predetermined period during the customer waiting state (e.g., while the company logo is displayed during the customer waiting demo performance described below).

[0117] Also, if the customer waiting state flag is 1 (in the customer waiting state) in S1 (S1: Yes), it is determined whether the timing to start the variation of the first and second special symbols has arrived, i.e., whether the first and second variation pattern designation commands have been received (S7). If the variation of the first and second special symbols has not yet started (S7: No), it is determined whether the normal customer waiting effect is in progress, i.e., whether the normal customer waiting effect is in progress or the customer waiting demo effect described below is in progress (S8). If the normal customer waiting effect is in progress (S8: Yes), the demo timer is decremented by 1 (S9). Provided that the value of the demo timer after the decrement is 0 (S10: Yes), the customer waiting demo effect is started (S11). On the other hand, if the value of the demo timer after the decrement is not 0 (S10: No), the normal customer waiting effect continues (S10a).

[0118] In the customer waiting demo performance, the image display means 60 repeatedly displays a model image, a company logo image, a still image of the performance pattern 114, etc. in a predetermined pattern, the illumination means 159 emits light in a predetermined light emitting pattern, and predetermined background music is output from the speakers 18, 25. Note that the sound output may be stopped in the customer waiting demo performance.

[0119] After the customer waiting demo effect starts (S8: No), the customer waiting demo effect is repeatedly executed (S12) until the timing to start varying the first and second special symbols arrives (S7: Yes). Note that the customer waiting demo effect and the customer waiting normal effect may be executed alternately and repeatedly.

[0120] Furthermore, if it is determined in S7 that the timing to start varying the first and second special symbols has arrived (S7: Yes), the customer waiting state flag is set to 0 (S13), the customer waiting normal effect or customer waiting demo effect currently being executed is ended (S14), the display of the menu display possible notification image 118a is ended (S15), the menu no-operation timer is cleared to 0 (S16), and the customer waiting effect processing is ended. The menu no-operation timer will be described later.

[0121] Next, the menu management process shown in Fig. 21 will be described. In this menu management process, first, a subtraction process is performed on the menu no-operation timer, that is, a process of subtracting 1 on the condition that the value is greater than 0 (S21, S22). Here, the menu no-operation timer is used to measure the no-operation period while the menu is displayed, and an initial value is set in S48 (Fig. 22) and S66 (Fig. 23) described later.

[0122] Next, it is determined whether the effect button 34 or any of the up and down keys 35a, 35b of the cross operation means 35 has been pressed, and if the effect button 34 has been pressed (S23: Yes), a process when the effect button is pressed (S24) is executed, if the up key 35a of the cross operation means 35 has been pressed (S25: Yes), a process when the up key is pressed (S26) is executed, and if the down key 35b has been pressed (S27: Yes), a process when the down key is pressed (S28) is executed. Note that in this embodiment, simultaneous pressing of the effect button 34 and the keys of the cross operation means 35 is not permitted.

[0123] When the effect button 34 is pressed, the effect button pressing process (S24) is performed according to the procedure shown in Fig. 22. That is, first, it is determined whether the customer waiting state flag is 1, that is, whether the menu operation is possible or not (S41), and if the customer waiting state flag is not 1 (S41: No), the effect button pressing process ends here.

[0124] If the customer waiting state flag is 1 (S41: Yes), it is determined whether the menu image flag is 1 (S42). Here, the menu image flag indicates whether a menu image is being displayed or not, and is set to 1 while a menu image is being displayed. Also, as shown in Fig. 25, the menu image 118b is made up of a plurality of (here, four) selection item images 164a to 164d corresponding to a plurality of selection items including "Back" for returning to the previous display state, and a cursor indicating a provisionally selected state is positioned on any of the plurality of selection item images 164a to 164d.

[0125] The menu image 118b in Figure 25 is composed of four selection item images 164a to 164d: "History," "Mode change," "Guidance," and "Back." In the initial state, the cursor (shown hatched in the drawing) is positioned on the "Back" selection item image 164d.

[0126] If the menu image flag is not 1 in S42 (S42: No), the display of the menu display possible notification image 118a is terminated (S43), and the image display means 60 starts displaying the menu image 118b and the menu operation notification image 118c (S44, S45), and the speakers 18, 25 output a menu display sound (S46). Here, the menu operation notification image 118c is for notifying the operation method related to the menu image 118b, and as shown in Fig. 25, it is composed of an illustration showing the up and down keys 35a, 35b of the cross operation means 35 used to move the cursor and the word "SELECT", and an illustration of the effect button 34 used to confirm the selected item (selection confirmation operation) and the word "CONFIRM".

[0127] Then, the menu image flag is set to 1 (menu image is being displayed) (S47), the menu no-operation timer is set to an initial value (for example, a value corresponding to 10 seconds) (S48), and the process when the effect button is pressed is terminated. In this way, when the effect button 34 is pressed while the machine is in the waiting state and the menu image 118b is not being displayed, the menu image 118b is displayed on the image display means 60.

[0128] Furthermore, if the menu image flag is 1 (menu image is being displayed) in S42 (S42: Yes), a confirmation sound is output from the speakers 18, 25 (S49), and specific processing corresponding to the selection item image at the cursor position (provisionally selected state) is executed (S50-S54). That is, if a subordinate menu exists for the selection item image at the cursor position (S50: Yes), the subordinate menu is displayed (S51). If the selection item image at the cursor position is "Back" (S52: Yes), the state returns to the previous state (S53). If the selection item image at the cursor position does not have a subordinate menu (S50: No) and is not "Back" (S52: No), processing corresponding to the selection item image at the cursor position is executed (S54). Then, an initial value (e.g., a value corresponding to 10 seconds) is set in the menu no-operation timer (S48), and the processing when the effect button is pressed is terminated. In this way, the act of pressing the effect button 34 in a state in which a selection item image is displayed is an example of a selection confirmation operation for selecting the selection item image at the cursor position (provisionally selected state).

[0129] In the example of menu image 118b shown in Fig. 25, the selection item image for which a lower menu exists is "mode change." This "mode change" is for changing the mode setting, and when this "mode change" is selected, a lower menu image 119 as shown in Fig. 26 is displayed. The lower menu image 119 is made up of a plurality of selection item images 164a to 164e (lower selection items) including a "menu screen" for returning to the initial menu screen, and the initial position of the cursor is set to any of the selection item images 164a to 164d other than "menu screen."

[0130] In this embodiment, the positions of the first to fourth movable bodies 75a to 78a during the customer waiting state are different for each of a plurality of types, for example, four types of first to fourth modes, and it is possible to switch between these four types of modes by operating this "mode change" menu. Note that, since the positions of the movable bodies 75a to 78a are different for each mode, the movable concealed area C and the non-concealed area D are also different. It varies by mode.

[0131] In the first mode, as shown in Fig. 28(a), the first movable body 75a is stopped at the first upper position, the second movable body 76a is stopped at the second lower position, the third movable body 77a is stopped at the third outer position, and the fourth movable body 78a is stopped at the fourth outer position. In the second mode, as shown in Fig. 28(b), only the stopping position of the first movable body 75a is changed from the first upper position to the first lower position, and the lower side of the non-hidden area D is narrower and the upper side is wider than in the first mode.

[0132] In the third mode, as shown in Fig. 28(c), the second movable body 76a is changed from the second lower position to the second upper position compared to the first mode, and the lower side of the non-hidden area D is narrower than in the first mode. In the fourth mode, as shown in Fig. 28(d), the third and fourth movable bodies 77a, 78a are changed from the third and fourth outer positions to the third and fourth inner positions, respectively, compared to the third mode, and the width of the non-hidden area D is narrower than in the third mode. Note that the first mode is set as the initial state.

[0133] When the lower menu image 119 corresponding to this "mode change" is displayed, it is desirable to set the initial position of the cursor to the selection item image corresponding to the mode at that time (selection item image 164a corresponding to the first mode in the initial state) as shown in FIG. 26, but regardless of the mode at that time, the initial position of the cursor may also be set to the selection item image 164e corresponding to "menu screen" for returning to the initial menu screen.

[0134] Note that a further lower menu may be provided for any of the selection item images of this lower menu image 119. In other words, the number of menu hierarchies is arbitrary. Furthermore, the initial position of the cursor when moving to a specific menu image may be different depending on whether the image has been moved from a higher-level menu image or a lower-level menu image, and it is desirable that the initial position of the cursor when returning from a lower-level menu image be set to a selection item image for moving to a higher level, such as "menu screen" or "back."

[0135] In the example of the menu image shown in Fig. 25, the selection item image for which no lower menu exists is "History," and when the selection of this "History" is confirmed, information on the jackpot history is displayed as shown in Fig. 27. Even when the selection of such a selection item image for which no lower menu exists is confirmed, as shown in Fig. 27, the image display means 60 displays a selection item image such as "Menu screen" for returning to a higher menu such as a menu screen, and a menu operation notification image 118c for notifying the confirmation operation of the selection item.

[0136] Furthermore, the up key press processing when the up key 35a of the cross operation means 35 is pressed (S26 in FIG. 21), and the down key press processing when the down key 35b is pressed (S28 in FIG. 21), are performed in the procedure shown in FIG. 23. Note that FIG. 23 shows a flowchart of the up key press processing, and only the differences between the up key press processing and the down key press processing are shown in parentheses. Here, the up key press processing will be explained, and the down key press processing will also be mentioned.

[0137] In the process when the up key (down key) is pressed as shown in FIG. 23, first it is determined whether the menu image flag is 1, i.e., whether a menu image or the like is being displayed (S61), and if the menu image flag is not 1, i.e., if a menu image or the like is not being displayed (S61: No), the process when the up key (down key) is pressed ends here.

[0138] If the menu image flag is 1, i.e., if a menu image or the like is being displayed (S61: Yes), it is determined whether the cursor is at the top position (or the bottom position in the case of down key press processing) (S62). If it is not at the top position (or the bottom position in the case of down key press processing) (S62: No), the cursor is moved up one position (or down one position in the case of down key press processing) (S64). If it is at the top position (or the bottom position in the case of down key press processing) (S62: Yes), the cursor is moved to the bottom position (or the top position in the case of down key press processing) (S63). Then, a cursor movement sound is output from the speaker 18, 25 (S65), and the menu no-operation timer is set to an initial value (e.g., a value corresponding to 10 seconds) (S66), and the up key (down key) press processing ends.

[0139] In this way, the up and down keys 35a and 35b of the cross operation means 35 are enabled for operations related to menu selection when the menu image 118b is displayed, with the up key 35a moving the cursor upward and the down key 35b moving the cursor downward, and successive operations of these keys cause the cursor to move cyclically through multiple selection item images.

[0140] Returning to Figure 21, the explanation will continue. Following the processing of S23 to S28 as described above, it is determined whether the value of the menu no-operation timer is 0 (S29), and if the value of the menu no-operation timer is not 0, that is, if a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds) has not yet elapsed since the last operation of either the effect button 34 or the up and down keys 35a, 35b of the cross operation means 35, the menu management processing ends here.

[0141] If the value of the menu no-operation timer is 0 in S29, that is, if a predetermined time (e.g., 10 seconds) has passed since the last operation of either the effect button 34 or the up / down keys 35a, 35b of the directional control means 35 (S29: Yes), then, provided that the menu image flag is 1 (a menu image, etc., is being displayed) (S30: Yes), the display of the menu image 118b and the menu operation notification image 118c is ended (S31, S32), the display of the menu display possible notification image 118a is started (S33), and the menu image flag is set to 0 (S34), and the menu management process is terminated. In this way, if the no-operation period during menu display reaches the predetermined time (e.g., 10 seconds), the display of the menu image 118b, etc. is ended and the system enters a state of waiting for operation.

[0142] The power saving mode setting means 158 sets the power saving mode, and when the power saving mode that consumes less power than the normal mode is selected, the power saving mode is set during the waiting state for customers, and a power saving mode notification image 120 (Fig. 29, etc.) indicating that the power saving mode is in effect is displayed on the image display means 60. During the power saving mode, power supply to the illumination means 159 is stopped. Note that a switching operation means for selecting either the normal mode or the power saving mode may be provided on the back side of the front frame 3 or the like, and can be operated by a person in charge of the game hall.

[0143] In addition, the normal mode and the power saving mode may be automatically switched depending on the setting status of other setting items (for example, volume), such as by setting the power saving mode when the volume is set within a predetermined range (for example, the first level out of the first to fifth levels), and by setting the normal mode otherwise.

[0144] Next, the relationship between the various images displayed on the image display means 60 and the areas A, B1 to B5, C, and D on the display screen 60a of the image display means 60 for each of the various scenes will be described.

[0145] Fig. 30(a) shows an image displayed on the image display means 60 in one scene during the customer waiting state. In the example of Fig. 30(a), the first mode (Fig. 28(a)) and power saving mode are set, and the normal customer waiting performance is in progress. Fig. 30(b) shows the correspondence between each image in Fig. 30(a) and the area on the display screen 60a. Note that in Fig. 30(b), the lower the image in the table, the higher the display priority (the same applies to Figs. 31(b) to 38(b)).

[0146] As shown in Figures 30(a) and (b), a background image 160 (shown in gray in Figure 30(a)) is displayed on the display screen 60a covering the entire screen area A, and an image of the effect pattern 114 that has stopped in the previous pattern change is displayed across the non-concealed area D and the movable concealed area C. Of the effect pattern 114, the entire pattern image 114a is displayed in the non-concealed area D, and part of the decorative image 114b is displayed in the movable concealed area C, behind the first movable body 75a. This makes it possible to clearly notify the result of the previous pattern change while effectively utilizing the limited non-concealed area D.

[0147] Of the three effect symbols 114, left, right, and center, the left and right effect symbols 114 may be displayed across the non-concealed area D and at least one of the first to third fixed concealed areas B1 to B3. This allows a wide gap between the three effect symbols 114, and makes it possible to more clearly notify the results of the symbol fluctuations by effectively utilizing the limited non-concealed area D. In this case, it is desirable that the portion displayed in the first to third fixed concealed areas B1 to B3 is the decorative image 114b, but a portion of the symbol image 114a may be displayed in the first to third fixed concealed areas B1 to B3.

[0148] The layout of the size, etc. of the decorative image 114b may be varied depending on the type (number) of the pattern image 114a. In this case, the decorative image 114b may be displayed across the non-hidden area D and a predetermined hidden area (which may be any of the hidden areas described above) even if the decorative image 114b differs depending on the type of the pattern image 114a. Also, some of the decorative images 114b may be displayed across the non-hidden area D and the predetermined hidden area, while the other decorative images 114b may be displayed only in the non-hidden area D. Also, the layout of the decorative image 114b may be varied depending on the moving lines of the three performance patterns 114 (left, right, and center).

[0149] The decorative image 114b is displayed across the non-hidden area D and the predetermined hidden area, but this configuration is desirable when the pattern is stationary, for example. When the pattern is changing, it does not have to be displayed across the non-hidden area D and the predetermined hidden area, and various display configurations may be used depending on the changing state of the pattern.

[0150] A predetermined animation may be added to the symbol image 114a or the decorative image 114b. For example, the symbol image 114a or the decorative image 114b may be animated when the symbol starts to change or temporarily stops, when a winning combination is reached or the symbol stops, or when the symbol stops in a losing mode or a winning mode. There may be multiple animations, and the animations may be different depending on the type of symbol image 114a or the decorative image 114b or the aforementioned situation. Even when such animations are being executed, the decorative image 114b may be displayed across the non-hidden area D and the predetermined hidden area.

[0151] Alternatively, the decorative image 114b may be displayed across both the non-hidden area D and the predetermined hidden area when an animation is being executed, and only in the non-hidden area D when the animation is not being executed. Alternatively, the decorative image 114b may be displayed only in the non-hidden area D when the animation is being executed, and only in the non-hidden area D and the predetermined hidden area when the animation is not being executed. This can improve the visibility of the decorative image 114b at least when the animation is being executed.

[0152] The decorative image 114b and the pattern image 114a of the effect symbol 114 may be changed depending on the game state (normal / time-saving / latent / probable change), game mode (background A / background B), special game mode (pre-reading mode), etc. In this case, the decorative image 114b may be configured to be displayed across the non-hidden area D and a predetermined hidden area, or displayed only in the non-hidden area D, depending on the game state, game mode, or special game mode.

[0153] Furthermore, the error notification image 163, the menu display possible notification image 118a, the volume adjustable notification image 116a, and the light intensity adjustable notification image 116b are all displayed in the non-hidden area D. Since these images have a higher display priority than the effect pattern 114, if they overlap a part of the effect pattern 114, they are displayed in front of it, but in that case, it is desirable to display them so as to overlap the decorative image 114b, avoiding the pattern image 114a.

[0154] In addition, the volume setting image 117a, which is displayed when the player operates the left and right keys 35c, 35d while the volume adjustable notification image 116a is displayed, and the light intensity setting image 117b, which is displayed when the player operates the up and down keys 35a, 35b while the light intensity adjustable notification image 116b is displayed, are also displayed in their entirety in the non-concealed area D as shown in Figure 30(b) (not shown in Figure 30(a)).

[0155] Furthermore, the holding pedestal image 161 is displayed at the bottom of the display screen 60a, spanning the non-concealed area D and at least a portion of the first to fifth fixed concealed areas B1 to B5 and the movable concealed area C (here, the first to fifth fixed concealed areas B1 to B5). Since the first and second special hold numbers are both 0 during the waiting state for customers, the importance of the holding pedestal image 161 is low, and therefore the non-concealed area D can be used more effectively by displaying at least a portion of it in an area other than the non-concealed area D. The entire holding pedestal image 161 may be displayed in an area other than the non-concealed area D, or the holding pedestal image 161 may not be displayed.

[0156] Furthermore, the power saving mode notification image 120 is displayed across the non-hidden area D and at least a part of the first to fifth fixed hidden areas B1 to B5 (here, the first to fourth fixed hidden areas B1 to B4) at the bottom side of the display screen 60a and above the holding base image 161. Since the notification of the power saving mode is less important than an error notification, etc., the non-hidden area D can be used more effectively by displaying at least a part of the power saving mode notification image 120 in an area other than the non-hidden area D.

[0157] It should be noted that, with regard to the error notification images 163, when multiple errors are to be notified, all of the error notification images 163 corresponding to those multiple errors may be displayed in the non-hidden area D. Furthermore, when multiple errors are to be notified, up to a predetermined number (about 1 to 4) of error notification images 163 are displayed in the non-hidden area D, and when errors exceeding the predetermined number are to be notified, the images exceeding the predetermined number may be displayed across the non-hidden area D and at least one of the first to fifth fixed hidden areas B1 to B5, or may be displayed in the first to fifth fixed hidden areas B1 to B5.

[0158] Furthermore, the display area may be set according to the type of error, and an error notification image 163 relating to a lower tray full error that may occur in normal play may be displayed in the non-concealed area D, while an error notification image 163 relating to an error that cannot occur in normal play, such as a door open, may be displayed at least in part in the first to fifth fixed concealed areas B1 to B5. In the case of a lower tray full error, the player must open the lower tray to resolve the error, so it is desirable to display the error notification image 163 in the non-concealed area D, which is easiest for the player to see.

[0159] Furthermore, with regard to errors that may occur when cheating occurs, such as magnetic detection errors, it is necessary to warn the player and notify hall employees that cheating may have occurred, so it is desirable to display the error notification image 163 in the non-concealed area D, which is most easily visible to players and hall employees.

[0160] Fig. 31(a) shows a state in which a menu image 118b is displayed on the display screen 60a. This menu image 118b is displayed when a player operates the effect button 34 during the menu operation possible period (waiting for customers state). Fig. 31(b) also shows the correspondence between each image in Fig. 31(a) and the area on the display screen 60a.

[0161] 31(a) and (b), display screen 60a displays background image 160 (shown in gray in FIG. 31(a)) covering the entire screen area A, and also displays four selection item images 164a-164d constituting menu image 118b and menu operation notification image 118c. When menu image 118b is displayed, the cursor (shown hatched in FIG. 31(a)) is positioned on selection item image 164d corresponding to "Back."

[0162] At least the selection item image (initial provisional selection item image) 164d corresponding to the initial cursor position is displayed entirely in the non-hidden area D, whereas at least one of the other selection item images 164a to 164c (here, selection item image 164a corresponding to "history") extends outside the non-hidden area D and is displayed straddling the non-hidden area D and the movable hidden area C (for example, behind first movable body 75a), and the others (here, selection item images 164b and 164c) are displayed entirely in the non-hidden area D. Furthermore, menu operation notification image 118c is displayed entirely in the non-hidden area D.

[0163] In this way, by displaying at least the entire selection item image (initial provisionally selected item image) corresponding to the initial cursor position in the non-hidden area D, the player can be sure to recognize the initial cursor position, and it is possible to smoothly proceed to the subsequent cursor movement operation and selection confirmation operation. Furthermore, by displaying at least one selection item image other than that of the initial cursor position straddling the non-hidden area D and an area outside it (for example, the movable hidden area C), the non-hidden area D can be used more effectively. Of course, all four selection item images 164a to 164d constituting the menu image 118b may be displayed in the non-hidden area D.

[0164] The menu operation notification image 118c may be displayed only in the non-hidden area D, and the selection item images 164a-164d corresponding to the initial cursor position and the other selection item images 164a-164d may be displayed straddling both the non-hidden area D and the hidden area. Even with this configuration, the selection items are not hidden from view, and at least the menu operation notification image 118c is visible, so that it is possible to reliably notify the player that a predetermined menu operation has been enabled.

[0165] The menu image 118b may have a first menu layer and a second menu layer, in which the display screen 60a transitions when the player operates the selection items displayed in the first menu layer. For example, the menu layer shown in FIG. 31 may be the first menu layer, and when a mode change is selected from the selection items, a second menu layer may be displayed, in which the player can select which mode to set. Furthermore, the menu layer is not limited to the first and second layers, and multiple layers may be provided. It is desirable that the second menu layer, etc., corresponding to each selection item selected by the player, have the same display mode as the first menu layer. Furthermore, the display mode may be different between the first menu layer and the second menu layer. However, it is desirable that the display mode used be different from the aforementioned display modes.

[0166] Even if a predetermined error occurs while the menu image 118b is being displayed, it is desirable to display the error notification image 163 in the non-hidden area D. It is also desirable to display the error notification image 163 superimposed on each selection item of the menu image 118b.

[0167] The configuration may be such that even while the menu image 118b is being displayed, the volume or light intensity can be adjusted by operating a predetermined operating means or by selecting and operating a predetermined option. In this case, it is desirable to configure the volume setting image 117a or light intensity setting image 117b to be displayed only in the non-hidden area D.

[0168] When the movable bodies 75a, 76a move from the origin position toward a predetermined effect position, the movable bodies 75a, 76a may stop and stop moving at the predetermined effect position due to a malfunction, etc. Even if the menu image 118b is displayed with the movable bodies 75a, 76a remaining in the effect position in this way, it is desirable to configure the display modes of the selection items of the menu image 118b, the menu operation notification image 118c, etc., or the error notification image 163, the volume setting image 117a, and the light intensity setting image 117b so as not to overlap with the movable bodies 75a, 76a, and to display them only in the non-hidden area D or in a position that straddles the non-hidden area D and the hidden area.

[0169] When the movable body is initialized at a predetermined timing such as when the power is turned on or the RAM is cleared, it is desirable to display at least the selection item image (initial provisional selection item image) corresponding to the initial cursor position in a position that does not overlap with the movement path of the movable body at the time of initialization when viewed from the front. This allows the player to reliably recognize the initial cursor position even if a menu display operation is performed while the movable body is being initialized.

[0170] Of the selection item image corresponding to the initial cursor position, a portion other than the portion indicating the selection item name (for example, the character portion of "Back") may be displayed at a position overlapping the movement path of the movable body at the time of initialization when viewed from the front. Also, it is desirable to display the menu operation notification image 118c at a position not overlapping the movement path of the movable body at the time of initialization when viewed from the front.

[0171] Figures 32(a) and 33(a) are examples of fluctuations in the performance symbol 114 due to a reach fluctuation pattern, with Figure 32(a) showing the normal fluctuation before the reach is established, and Figure 33(a) showing the reach fluctuation after the reach is established. As is clear from Figures 32(a) and 33(a), the arrangement (stop position) of the movable body differs during the normal fluctuation shown in Figure 32(a) and the reach fluctuation shown in Figure 33(a), and the size of the non-concealed area D differs accordingly.

[0172] That is, during the normal variation shown in Fig. 32(a), as in the fourth mode shown in Fig. 28(d), the first movable body 75a is stopped in the upper position, the second movable body 76a is stopped in the upper position, and the third and fourth movable bodies 77a, 78a are stopped in the inner position, but at a predetermined timing, just before the end of the normal variation, as shown in Fig. 33(a), the second movable body 76a moves to the lower lower position, and the third and fourth movable bodies 77a, 78a move to the outer outer positions, respectively, thereby expanding the non-concealed area D downward and on both the left and right sides. Note that the timing for changing the stop position of the movable body in the pattern variation due to the reach variation pattern may be at the start of the reach performance, when the pre-reading performance is executed, when the movable body performance is executed, when the reach performance ends, etc.

[0173] Also, the display mode of the image displayed on the display screen 60a is also changed in response to the change (enlargement) of this non-concealed area D. That is, during the normal variation shown in Fig. 32, the reserved base image 161 is displayed at the bottom of the display screen 60a, spanning the non-concealed area D and at least a part of the first to fifth fixed concealed areas B1 to B5 (here, the first to fourth fixed concealed areas B1 to B4), and the reserved display images X1 to Y1 and the changing reserved image Z are displayed in front of the reserved base image 161 and within the non-concealed area D. Note that all or a part of the reserved display images X1 to Y1 and the changing reserved image Z may be arranged in at least one of the movable concealed area C and the first to fifth fixed concealed areas B1 to B5, but in that case, it is desirable that the entirety of them can be seen when the player looks in.

[0174] On the other hand, during the reach fluctuation shown in Fig. 33, the reserve base image 161 and the reserve display images X1~, Y1~ are erased, leaving the fluctuating reserve image Z, and the fluctuating reserve image Z moves to the enlarged side (here, the lower side) of the non-concealed area D and is displayed across the non-concealed area D and its outer area (for example, the fourth fixed concealed area B4). Note that when viewed from the front, part of the fluctuating reserve image Z during the reach fluctuation is hidden behind the central display frame unit 47, but if the player looks in from above, the entire image can be seen.

[0175] This allows a wider display area to be used for the reach effect, in combination with the expansion of the non-hidden area D. In this case, it is desirable that the reach effect image 171 be displayed covering the entire screen area A, as shown in FIG. 33(b).

[0176] The reserved pedestal image 161, the reserved display images X1~, Y1~, and the changing reserved image Z may be moved downward in accordance with the movement of the second movable body 76a, and the reserved pedestal image 161 and the reserved display images X1~, Y1~ may be displayed so as to disappear outside the display screen 60a, or may be displayed in an enlarged area without being erased. Also, the reserved pedestal image 161 may be erased, and the reserved display images X1~, Y1~, and the changing reserved image Z may be left in the enlarged area.

[0177] Furthermore, with regard to the performance pattern 114, during the normal variation shown in Figure 32, part of the decorative image 114b varies in an area outside the non-concealed area D (for example, the movable concealed area C), while the rest is displayed in the non-concealed area D, and during the reach variation shown in Figure 33, the decorative image 114b is erased and only the pattern image 114a is displayed in the non-concealed area D.

[0178] Furthermore, the volume setting image 117a that is displayed when the player performs a volume adjustment operation is displayed entirely in the non-concealed area D during both the normal fluctuation shown in Fig. 32 and the reach fluctuation shown in Fig. 33, but the display position during the reach fluctuation may be moved to the enlarged side (for example, lower side) of the non-concealed area D compared to the normal fluctuation. In this case, it is desirable to move the display position of the volume setting image 117a after the movement of the second movable body 76a, etc. is completed.

[0179] This is to prevent the player from noticing that the game will subsequently transition to a reach variation due to the movement of the display position of the volume setting image 117a. Note that the handling of the light intensity setting image 117b (not shown in Figures 32(a) and 33(a)) that is displayed when the player performs a light intensity adjustment operation is the same as that of the volume setting image 117a.

[0180] In addition, images such as the volume setting image 117a and the light intensity setting image 117b that are displayed in the non-hidden area D during both normal fluctuation (before the non-hidden area D is changed) and reach fluctuation (after the non-hidden area D is changed) may be displayed in an area belonging to the non-hidden area D both before and after expansion, so that their display positions do not move during reach fluctuation. Also, as in the examples of Figures 32 and 33, if the position and / or size of the non-hidden area D can be changed by switching the stop position of the movable body during the pattern fluctuation, the player may be allowed to freely select whether or not to make such a change. Furthermore, during reach fluctuation, the center effect symbol during the scrolling fluctuation may be displayed larger than the other left effect symbol, right effect symbol, etc. This can shorten the time it takes for one effect symbol to scroll across the display screen 60a.

[0181] When the movable bodies 75a, 76a are moved from the origin position to a predetermined effect position during reach fluctuation, it is desirable to display the volume setting image 117a and / or the light intensity setting image 117b in the non-hidden area D even when the movable bodies 75a, 76a are located at the predetermined effect position. Naturally, the player can adjust the volume and / or the light intensity even in such a situation, but it is desirable that the setting results are actually reflected after the predetermined effect involving the movement of the movable bodies 75a, 76a has ended. Also, the above-described configuration may be used even for an effect that does not involve the movement of the movable bodies 75a, 76a.

[0182] By doing this, it is possible to execute the predetermined effects without losing interest in the effects using sounds and lights. Also, since the setting operation by the player itself is not invalid but is accepted validly, the player will not be inconvenienced or feel uncomfortable by suddenly being unable to perform the setting operation.

[0183] 34(a) shows the display areas of step-up preview images SU1 to SU5 that are displayed at each stage in a step-up preview effect, which is an example of a normal preview effect. In this step-up preview effect, the reliability of a jackpot is indicated by the number of stages to which the effect progresses out of five stages from stage 1 to stage 5, and the display area gradually changes (expands in this case) from step-up preview image SU1 to step-up preview image SU5.

[0184] 34(a) and (b), step-up preview images SU1 and SU2 are displayed entirely in non-concealed area D, but part of step-up preview image SU3 extends beyond non-concealed area D and is displayed in movable concealed area C, and step-up preview image SU4 extends not only into movable concealed area C but also into second to fifth fixed concealed areas B2 to B5, and finally step-up preview image SU5 (not shown in FIG. 34(a)) is displayed in the entire screen area A (FIG. 34(b)). Note that even if part of step-up preview images SU1 to SU5 are displayed extending beyond non-concealed area D, it is desirable to display the entire part of each image that suggests the reliability of a jackpot, etc. (such as the text portion showing the character's lines) in the non-concealed area D.

[0185] Furthermore, an introduction effect may be performed when the step-up preview images SU1 to SU5 are displayed at predetermined display positions. Here, the introduction effect is intended to notify the player of the occurrence of the step-up preview images SU1 to SU5 by moving the step-up preview images SU1 to SU5 toward the predetermined display positions or by displaying an introduction effect image immediately before the step-up preview images SU1 to SU5 are displayed at the predetermined display positions. This introduction effect may be displayed so as to straddle all or at least one of the first to fifth fixed hidden areas B1 to B5 and the non-hidden area D.

[0186] Furthermore, the volume setting image 117a, which is displayed when the player performs a volume adjustment operation, is displayed entirely in the non-concealed area D, but it is desirable to display it while avoiding parts that suggest the reliability of a jackpot, etc. (such as text parts showing the lines of a character). The same applies to the light intensity setting image 117b (not shown) that is displayed when the player performs a light intensity adjustment operation (not shown in FIG. 34(a)). Note that it is permissible to display the volume setting image 117a, light intensity setting image 117b, etc., superimposed on parts of the step-up preview image other than those that suggest the reliability of a jackpot, etc., or on introductory effects, etc.

[0187] By doing this, even if a step-up preview image is displayed using most of the non-hidden area D, the volume setting image 117a and the light intensity setting image 117b can be displayed in the non-hidden area D without impairing the visibility of the step-up preview image.

[0188] When displaying the step-up preview images SU1 to SU5, basically, the step-up preview image SU1 is displayed first, followed by step-up preview images SU2, SU3, ... SU5. However, when displaying the next step-up SU image, the previous SU image may be deleted. Alternatively, the next SU image may be displayed without deleting the previous SU image. In this case, it is desirable to display the next SU image so that it overlaps part of the previous SU image. Furthermore, larger SU images may be displayed as the steps progress.

[0189] Furthermore, although the next SU image is displayed so as to be superimposed on the previous SU image, for example, if a step-up preview image SU1 is displayed, a step-up preview image SU2 is displayed so as to overlap at least a portion of the step-up preview image SU1, and a step-up preview image SU3 is displayed so as to overlap at least a portion of the step-up preview image SU2, the step-up preview image SU1 may be deleted when the step-up preview image SU3 is displayed. Furthermore, instead of simply deleting the step-up preview image SU1, the step-up preview image SU3 may be displayed superimposed on the step-up preview image SU1 so that the step-up preview image SU1 cannot be viewed.

[0190] It may also be possible to execute a false step-up preview effect (failure effect). In the false effect, each of the SU images of the step-up preview images SU1 to SU5 can be displayed, but the display mode is slightly different from that in the successful effect. For example, in the false effect of the step-up preview image SU1, after the introductory effect of the step-up preview image SU1 is executed once, the step-up preview image SU1 in the non-execution state (for example, only the character is displayed and no speech bubble is displayed), and when the step-up preview image SU1 is executed after that, the step-up preview image SU1 in the execution state (where the character and speech bubble are displayed) is displayed. However, since this is a false effect, the step-up preview image SU1 in the execution state is not displayed, and the step-up preview image SU1 in the non-execution state is deleted (with a fade-out), and the step-up effect ends.

[0191] When a false effect is executed in this way, the SU image of the introductory effect or the non-executing state may also be configured to be displayed in a predetermined display area for each of the step-up preview images SU1 to SU5. Also, the step-up preview image SU5 may be configured so that no false effect is present.

[0192] The display areas of the step-up preview images SU1 to SU5 may be configured in various display modes other than those described in the above embodiment. For example, the display mode of the step-up preview image SU5 may be applied to the step-up preview image SU1 or the step-up preview image SU2, or the display mode of the step-up preview image SU1 or the step-up preview image SU2 may be applied to the step-up preview images SU3 to SU5. In this way, the above-described display modes may be set appropriately for each SU image.

[0193] 35(a) and 36(a) show the display image of the image display means 60 in the button conversation preview effect, which is an example of a normal preview effect. Note that this button conversation preview effect is a fusion of the button preview effect and the conversation preview effect, and when the player operates the effect button 34 during the valid operation period, an operation effect image 165 is displayed showing a scene in which a character speaks a line, and the content of the line suggests the reliability of a jackpot. Note that during the valid operation period, an operation guidance image 166 is displayed instructing the player to operate the effect button (operation means) 34.

[0194] 35(a) shows a state in which an operation guidance image 166 is displayed during the operation valid period. The operation guidance image 166 is composed of an illustration showing the state in which the effect button 34 is pressed and the word "PUSH!", and is displayed entirely in the non-concealed area D. In addition, radial and other effect images 167 are displayed around the operation guidance image 166, spanning the non-concealed area D and the area outside it (here, the movable concealed area C and the third fixed concealed area B3).

[0195] A gauge image showing the progress of the valid operation period may be displayed. In this case, it is desirable to display the gauge image in the non-hidden area D. The operation guide image 166 may be displayed so that a part of it (for example, the part showing the effect button 34) straddles at least one of the hidden areas B1 to B5 and C, but even in this case, it is desirable to display the gauge part in the non-hidden area D. When a plurality of operation means is provided and a preview effect (button preview effect) corresponding to each of the plurality of operation means can be executed, it is desirable to configure each preview effect as described above. Furthermore, when there is a difference in the reliability of a jackpot among the plurality of preview effects corresponding to the plurality of operation means, it is also possible to configure only the preview effect with a high reliability as described above.

[0196] 36(a) shows a state in which a player operates the effect button 34 in the state shown in FIG. 35(a), and an operation effect image 165 is displayed. This operation effect image 165 is composed of a first display portion 165a consisting of characters representing lines suggesting the reliability of a jackpot, and a second display portion 165b consisting of other characters, speech bubbles, etc. The first display portion 165a is displayed entirely in the non-concealed area D, and the second display portion 165b is displayed straddling the non-concealed area D and the area outside it (here, the transparent concealed area B4a of the fourth fixed concealed area B4, but of course the other concealed areas B1 to B3, B5, and C may also be used). The transparent concealed area B4a is an area corresponding to the rear side of the transparent intrusion prevention means 111, so the second display portion 165b behind the intrusion prevention means 111 can be seen even from the front.

[0197] 35(a) and 36(a), the entirety of the varying effect pattern 114 is displayed in the non-concealed area D with only the pattern image 114a, and the entirety of the volume setting image 117a that is displayed when the player performs a volume adjustment operation is also displayed in the non-concealed area D. The same is true for the light intensity setting image 117b (not shown) that is displayed when the player performs a light intensity adjustment operation (not shown in FIGS. 35(a) and 36(a)).

[0198] As the types of operation guidance images 166, various different operation guidance images 166 such as "rapid press," "long press," "don't press," and "release" may be displayed. Furthermore, when a plurality of operation means are provided, the types of operation buttons may be such that a first button image and a second button image can be displayed. Furthermore, when it is possible to change the mode of one operation means, a button image of a first mode, a button image of a second mode, etc. may be displayed. Furthermore, depending on the reliability of the lottery result of the variable display, the display mode of the button images may be displayed in various display modes such as blue, green, red, rainbow colors, etc.

[0199] It is desirable to display the volume setting image 117a and / or the light intensity adjustment image 117b so as not to overlap with the gauge image, not only the effect button image and the operation guide image 166. Furthermore, if the operation valid period differs depending on the display mode of the effect button 34 or the display mode of the operation guide image 166, it is possible to enlarge or reduce the display area of ​​the gauge image, but in either case it is desirable to display it in a position where it does not overlap with the gauge image.

[0200] When performing effects that involve button operation, such as button conversation preview effects, it is naturally possible for the player to adjust the volume and / or light intensity even in such situations, but it is desirable that the setting results are actually reflected after the button operation effect has ended. However, the setting results may actually be reflected at least by the end of the operation valid period during which the button image or gauge image is displayed, or may be reflected after the player performs an operation and before the operation effect image is displayed and that display ends.

[0201] By doing this, it is possible to execute the predetermined effects without losing interest in the effects using sounds and lights. Also, since the setting operation by the player itself is not invalid but is accepted validly, the player will not be inconvenienced or feel uncomfortable by suddenly being unable to perform the setting operation.

[0202] Figures 37(a) and 38(a) show the display image of the image display means 60 in a mini character preview performance, which is an example of a normal preview performance. In this mini character preview performance, as shown in Figure 37(a), first, multiple mini character images appear, for example, a first mini character image (first performance body image) 168 and a second mini character image (second performance body image) 169. At this time, both the first mini character image 168 and the second mini character image 169 are displayed across the non-concealed area D and the area outside it (here, the movable concealed area C).

[0203] As shown in FIG. 38(a), the display positions of the miniature character images 168, 169 are changed so that the proportion of the first miniature character image 168 displayed in the non-hidden area D decreases, and the proportion of the second miniature character image 169 displayed in the non-hidden area D increases, and a reliability display image 170 is displayed in the non-hidden area D corresponding to the second miniature character image 169. The reliability display image 170 displays the lines of the second miniature character image 169 and is composed of a first display portion 170a consisting of characters representing the lines suggesting the reliability of a jackpot, and a second display portion 170b consisting of other characters such as speech bubbles. Note that the first display portion 170a may be displayed entirely in the non-hidden area D, and at least a portion of the second display portion 170b may be displayed outside the non-hidden area D (for example, in the movable hidden area C).

[0204] Furthermore, the entirety of the varying effect pattern 114 is displayed in the non-concealed area D with only the pattern image 114a, and the entirety of the volume setting image 117a that is displayed when the player performs a volume adjustment operation is also displayed in the non-concealed area D. The same applies to the light intensity setting image 117b (not shown) that is displayed when the player performs a light intensity adjustment operation (not shown in Figures 37(a) and 38(a)). Note that the volume setting image 117a and the light intensity setting image 117b are set to a higher priority than the reliability display image 170, so that when they overlap with the reliability display image 170, the volume setting image 117a etc. are displayed in front, but it is desirable that the volume setting image 117a and the light intensity setting image 117b are displayed so as not to overlap at least the first display portion 170a of the reliability display image 170.

[0205] Furthermore, the reserved pedestal image 161 is displayed at the bottom of the display screen 60a, spanning the non-hidden area D and the areas outside it (here, the first to fourth fixed hidden areas B1 to B4), and the reserved display images X1 to Y1 and the changing reserved image Z are displayed in front of the reserved pedestal image 161 and within the non-hidden area D. Here, the reserved pedestal image 161 is set to a higher priority than the miniature character images 168 and 169, and a portion of the second miniature character image 169 overlaps with the reserved pedestal image 161 and is hidden behind it (Fig. 37(a)). When the second miniature character image 169 moves so that the proportion displayed in the non-hidden area D increases (Fig. 37(a) → Fig. 38(a)), the proportion of the portion not hidden by the reserved pedestal image 161 also increases. Note that the miniature character images 168 and 169 may be set to a higher priority than the reserved pedestal image 161.

[0206] As described above, the pachinko machine of this embodiment includes the image display means 60 capable of displaying an image on the display screen 60a, the game members 45, 47, 49, 74 arranged in front of the display screen 60a, the movable bodies 75a to 78a configured to be operable in front of the display screen 60a and capable of stopping at predetermined stopping positions, and the operation means 34, 35 operable by the player. The display screen 60a has fixed hidden areas (first display areas) B1 to B5 corresponding to the rear of the game members 45, 47, 49, 74 when viewed from the front, and fixed hidden areas (first display areas) B1 to B5 corresponding to the rear of the stopping positions of the movable bodies 75a to 78a. The display area is made up of a movable concealed area (second display area) C corresponding to the fixed concealed area B1 to B5 and the movable concealed area C, and a non-concealed area (third display area) D which is neither the fixed concealed areas B1 to B5 nor the movable concealed area C, and based on the operation of the operation means 34, 35 by the player, settings related to the game can be made, and notification images 116a, 116b, 118a which notify that the operation of the operation means 34, 35 can be displayed, and the notification images 116a, 116b, 118a are not displayed in the fixed concealed areas B1 to B5 and the movable concealed area C, but are displayed in the non-concealed area D.

[0207] Also, a menu image 118b having a plurality of selection items can be displayed, and the notification image includes a menu displayable notification image 118a indicating that an operation for displaying the menu image 118b is possible.

[0208] Furthermore, a volume setting image 117a indicating the setting status of the volume can be displayed in the non-hidden area D, but not in the fixed concealed areas B1 to B5 and the movable concealed area C. Furthermore, a light intensity setting image 117b indicating the setting status of the light intensity can be displayed in the non-hidden area D, but not in the fixed concealed areas B1 to B5 and the movable concealed area C. Furthermore, an error notification image 163 for notifying an error can be displayed in the non-hidden area D, but not in the fixed concealed areas B1 to B5 and the movable concealed area C. Furthermore, it is possible to switch to a power saving mode in which power consumption is lower than normal, and a power saving mode notification image 120 indicating that the device is in the power saving mode can be displayed across the non-hidden area D and the fixed concealed areas B1 to B5.

[0209] The system also includes start detection processing means 138 which acquires a random number value each time start means 56, 57 detects a gaming ball and stores the random number value in random number storage means 139 up to a predetermined upper limit, pattern display means 53, 54 which displays a changing pattern based on the random number value stored in random number storage means 139 when a pattern change start condition is met, and profit state generating means 142 which generates a profit state when the stopped pattern after change by pattern display means 53, 54 becomes a specific pattern, and by displaying reserve display images X1~, Y1~ superimposed on reserve base image 161 on image display means 60, it is possible to notify the number of reserved items, which is the number of random number values ​​stored in random number storage means 139 and not yet used for pattern change by pattern display means 53, 54, and the reserve base image 161 can be displayed across non-concealed area D and fixed concealed areas B1~B5.

[0210] Furthermore, the effect pattern 114, which is composed of a pattern image 114a and a decorative image 114b, can be displayed in a variable manner by the image display means 60, and during a standby period in which the variable display of the effect pattern 114 is not being performed, the effect pattern 114 when it stopped in the immediately preceding pattern variation can be displayed, and of the effect patterns 114 during the standby period, the pattern image 114a can be displayed in the non-concealed area D, and the decorative image 114b can be displayed across the non-concealed area D and the movable concealed area C. In this case, the stopping positions of the movable bodies 75a to 78a can be changed in a plurality of ways, and in any of the plurality of stopping positions, the pattern image 114a may be displayed in the non-concealed area D, and the decorative image 114b may be displayed across the non-concealed area D and the movable concealed area C.

[0211] Generally, multiple types of effect symbols 114 (for example, 9 types corresponding to the numbers 1 to 9) are prepared, and since different designs are applied to the decorative images 114b for each type, the size and shape may also differ for each type. Even in such cases, it is desirable to adopt the above-mentioned configuration for all types of effect symbols 114.

[0212] In addition, the above configuration may be adopted only for either odd-numbered symbols, which are often advantageous to the player when forming a jackpot mode (specific mode), or for other even-numbered symbols. For the effect symbols 114 forming the even-numbered symbols, the symbol image 114a may be displayed in the non-concealed area D, and the decorative image 114b may be displayed across the non-concealed area D and the movable concealed area C, and for the effect symbols 114 forming the odd-numbered symbols, the entirety of the effect symbols 114 may be displayed in the non-concealed area D.

[0213] Furthermore, the stop positions of the movable bodies 75a to 78a may be changed in a plurality of ways, and the notification images 116a, 116b, and 118a may be displayed in the non-hidden area D in any of the plurality of stop positions.

[0214] In addition, an operation-time effect image (preview effect image) 165 relating to the reliability of the occurrence of a profitable state can be displayed on the display screen 60a, and the operation-time effect image (preview effect image) 165 is composed of a first display section 165a indicating the reliability and a second display section 165b other than the reliability, and the first display section 165a can be displayed within the non-concealed area D, and the second display section 165b can be displayed across at least one of the fixed concealed areas B1 to B5 and the movable concealed area C and the non-concealed area D.

[0215] Furthermore, the game members 45, 47, 49, and 74 have transparent portions 111, and the fixed concealed areas B1 to B5 include a transparent concealed area (first transparent display area) B4a corresponding to the rear side of the transparent portions 111, and the second display portion 165b can be displayed across the transparent concealed area B4a and the non-concealed area D. In this case, an intrusion prevention means 111 for preventing game balls from intruding to the rear side may be provided on the front side of the lower part of the image display means 60, and at least a part of the intrusion prevention means 111 may be a transparent portion.

[0216] Furthermore, a volume setting image 117a indicating the volume setting status can be displayed on the image display means 60 with a higher priority than the operation performance image (preview performance image) 165, and the volume setting image 117a can be displayed in the non-hidden area D so as not to overlap at least the first display section 165a. Note that the transparent hidden area is an area equivalent to the non-hidden area D, and at least a part of the image described above as being to be displayed in the non-hidden area D may also be displayed in the transparent hidden area.

[0217] Furthermore, as a notice regarding the reliability of the occurrence of a profitable state, step-up notice images SU1 to SU5 of multiple stages can be displayed on the display screen 60a, and the step-up notice images SU1 to SU5 are configured so that the display area can be changed according to the stage, and the step-up notice images SU1 to SU5 can be displayed within the non-concealed area D up to a first predetermined stage, and after the first predetermined stage, straddling the non-concealed area D and at least one of the fixed concealed areas B1 to B5 and the movable concealed area C.

[0218] Furthermore, among the step-up preview images SU1 to SU5, the parts suggesting the reliability can be displayed in all of the multiple stages within the non-concealed area D. Furthermore, the volume setting image 117a showing the volume setting status can be displayed on the image display means 60 with a higher priority than the preview performance images SU1 to SU5, and the volume setting image 117a can be displayed within the non-concealed area D so as not to overlap with at least the parts suggesting the reliability.

[0219] In addition, a menu image 118b having a plurality of selection item images 164a to 164e can be displayed on the display screen 60a, and when any of the plurality of selection item images 164a to 164e is selected by a selection operation, a process corresponding to the selection item image is executed, and when a selection confirmation operation is performed while any of the plurality of selection item images 164a to 164e is in a provisionally selected state, that selection item image is selected, and an initial provisionally selected item image that is initially set to a provisionally selected state among the plurality of selection item images 164a to 164e can be displayed in the non-hidden area D.

[0220] Furthermore, among the multiple selection item images 164a to 164e, at least some of the selection item images other than the initial provisional selection item images can be displayed across the non-hidden area D and the movable hidden area C. Furthermore, the selection item image corresponding to the process of returning to the upper screen may be the initial provisional selection item image. Of course, the selection item image may be displayed across the non-hidden area D and at least one of the first to fourth fixed hidden areas B1 to B4.

[0221] Furthermore, when the operating means 34 is operated during the valid operation period, an operation effect image 165 can be displayed on the display screen 60a, and an operation guidance image 166 indicating that the operating means 34 should be operated during the valid operation period and an effect image 167 corresponding to this operation guidance image 166 are displayed on the display screen 60a, and the entire operation guidance image 166 can be displayed in the non-concealed area D, and the effect image 167 can be displayed across at least one of the fixed concealed areas B1 to B5 and the movable concealed area C and the non-concealed area D.

[0222] In addition, the operation-time performance image 165 is composed of a first display section 165a that indicates the reliability of the occurrence of a profit state and a second display section 165b that does not, and the entire first display section 165a can be displayed in the non-concealed area D, and the second display section 165b can be displayed across at least one of the fixed concealed areas B1 to B5 and the movable concealed area C and the non-concealed area D.

[0223] Furthermore, by moving the movable bodies 75a to 78a at a predetermined timing during the variable display of the symbols, it is possible to reduce the movable hidden area C and expand the non-hidden area D. The predetermined timing can be when a reach state is established in the variable display of the symbols or in the vicinity of that timing. Furthermore, the display position of the predetermined image displayed on the display screen 60a can be changed in response to the expansion of the non-hidden area D. In this case, the display position of the predetermined image can be changed after the movement of the movable bodies 75a to 78a is completed and the non-hidden area D is expanded.

[0224] In addition, the display position of the predetermined image can be moved in the direction of expansion of the non-hidden area D. The entire predetermined image can be displayed within the non-hidden area D both before and after expansion of the non-hidden area D. The predetermined image includes at least one of a volume setting image 117a indicating the volume setting status and a light intensity setting image 117b indicating the light intensity setting status.

[0225] Furthermore, when changing the display position of the predetermined image, it is also possible to erase a part of the predetermined image. Furthermore, the predetermined image includes reserved display images X1~, Y1~ and a changing reserved image Z. Furthermore, it is also possible to change the display position of the changing reserved image Z and erase the reserved display images X1~, Y1~. Furthermore, it is also possible to change the display position of the changing reserved image Z and erase the reserved base image 161.

[0226] In addition, in the preview performance regarding the reliability of the occurrence of a profitable state, the display positions of the first performance body image 168 and the second performance body image 169 can be changed so that the proportion of the first performance body image 168 displayed in the non-concealed area D is reduced and the proportion of the second performance body image 169 displayed in the non-concealed area D is increased, and a reliability display image 170 regarding the reliability of the occurrence of a profitable state can be displayed in the non-concealed area D corresponding to the second performance body image 169.

[0227] 39 to 60 illustrate the second embodiment. The only structural difference between the pachinko machine of this embodiment and the pachinko machine of the first embodiment is the configuration of the movable effect means. Therefore, the same reference numerals are used for the configurations common to both embodiments, and explanations will be omitted unless particularly necessary.

[0228] As shown in Figures 39 to 42, the pachinko machine of this embodiment has a plurality of movable performance means, for example, two movable performance means, a tilt movable performance means 201 and an elevation movable performance means 202, arranged on the front side of the rear mounting base 61. As shown in Figure 41 etc., the tilt movable performance means 201 includes a tilt movable means 203 and a tilt drive means 204 that drives the tilt movable means 203. The tilt movable means 203 includes a plurality of, for example, three display frame movable bodies 203a to 203c on the left, right, and bottom, and two interlocking units 203d, 203e that interlock the three display frame movable bodies 203a to 203c, and the display frame movable bodies 203a to 203c are supported from the rear side by mounting bases 205a to 205c fixed to the rear mounting base 61, respectively.

[0229] The left display frame movable body 203a is disposed in front of and corresponds to the left side of the image display means 60, and is formed into a substantially L-shape in front view by a vertically long vertical frame portion and an upper left frame portion that protrudes substantially rightward at a right angle from the upper end of the vertical frame portion. A front-to-rear slide shaft 206 is provided on the upper end of the left display frame movable body 203a, and this slide shaft 206 is slidably attached to a vertical guide hole 207 provided in the mounting base 205a, allowing the left display frame movable body 203a to slide up and down and rotate about the slide shaft 206.

[0230] The right display frame movable body 203b is disposed in front of and corresponds to the right side of the image display means 60, and is formed into a substantially L-shape in front view by a vertically long vertical frame portion and an upper right frame portion that protrudes substantially leftward at a right angle from the upper end of the vertical frame portion. The right display frame movable body 203b is pivotally supported to the mounting base 205b by a pivot 208 in the front-to-rear direction provided on the lower end side of the right display frame movable body 203b, and a rearward-protruding slide portion 209 provided on the upper end side is slidably inserted into an arc-shaped guide hole 210 provided in the mounting base 205b, thereby allowing the right display frame movable body 203b to swing around the pivot 208 within a predetermined angular range.

[0231] The lower display frame movable body 203c is disposed in a horizontally elongated shape in front of the image display means 60 in correspondence with its lower side, and is pivotally supported at its right end on the mounting base 205c via a pivot 211 in the front-to-rear direction. A slide portion 212 is provided on the left end of the lower display frame movable body 203c so as to protrude rearward, and this slide portion 212 is slidably inserted into an arc-shaped guide hole 213 formed in the mounting base 205c, thereby allowing the lower display frame movable body 203c to swing around the pivot 211 between a substantially horizontal normal position and a position tilted downward to the left.

[0232] The left interlocking portion 203d interlocks the left display frame movable body 203a and the lower display frame movable body 203c, and is formed in the shape of a roughly triangular plate when viewed from the front, with its upper corner connected to the lower end of the left display frame movable body 203a via a front-to-rear pivot 214, its lower corner connected to a roughly left-to-right guide hole 216 provided on the left end of the lower display frame movable body 203c via a front-to-rear slide shaft 215 so as to be able to slide freely, and the remaining left corner pivoted to the mounting base 205a via a front-to-rear pivot 217.

[0233] As a result, when the lower display frame movable body 203c transitions from the normal position to the inclined position, the left interlocking part 203d rotates clockwise around the pivot 217 and the pivot 214 moves downward to the right, so that the left display frame movable body 203a swings counterclockwise while moving downward, transitioning from the normal position in which the vertical frame part is approximately vertical to an inclined position in which the vertical frame part is inclined downward to the right (Figure 43(a) → (b)).

[0234] The right interlocking part 203e interlocks the right display frame movable body 203b and the lower display frame movable body 203c, and is formed in an elongated shape with one end connected to the lower end side of the right display frame movable body 203b via a pivot 218 in the front-to-rear direction, and a corner on the lower side connected to the right end side of the lower display frame movable body 203c via a pivot 219 in the front-to-rear direction. Note that the pivot 218 is located on the right display frame movable body 203b at a position spaced apart to the right from the pivot 208, and the pivot 219 is located on the lower display frame movable body 203c at a position spaced apart to the right from the pivot 211.

[0235] As a result, when the lower display frame movable body 203c transitions from the normal position to the inclined position, the pivot 218 is pushed up via the right interlocking part 203e, causing the right display frame movable body 203b to swing counterclockwise around the pivot 208, transitioning from the normal position in which the vertical frame part is approximately vertical to an inclined position in which the vertical frame part is inclined downward to the right (Figure 43(a) → (b)).

[0236] As described above, when the lower display frame movable body 203c swings between the normal position and the inclined position, the left display frame movable body 203a and the right display frame movable body 203b also change between the normal position and the inclined position in conjunction with this. That is, the display frame movable bodies 203a to 203c are capable of changing between the normal position (FIGS. 43(a) and (c)) in which they surround a portion of the display screen 60a of the image display means 60 in a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the front, and the inclined position (FIGS. 43(b) and (d)) inclined at a predetermined angle to the left from the normal position. The display frame movable bodies 203a to 203c are biased toward the inclined position by their own weight.

[0237] 41, the tilt drive means 204 is provided on the same mounting base 205c as the lower display frame movable body 203c, and includes a drive source 221 such as a stepping motor, and a drive transmission member 222 that transmits the drive force of the drive source 221 to the lower display frame movable body 203c. The drive transmission member 222 is composed of a spur gear mounted on the mounting base 205c in a state rotatable about an axis 222a in the front-rear direction, and meshes with a drive gear 221a mounted on the drive shaft of the drive source 221. A first engagement portion 223 in the form of a protrusion is provided on the side surface of the drive transmission member 222 corresponding to part of its circumference, and a second engagement portion 224 corresponding to the first engagement portion 223 is provided on the lower display frame movable body 203c.

[0238] The first engagement portion 223 is disposed so that when the drive transmission member 222 rotates in a predetermined direction (for example, clockwise) by the drive source 221, it abuts from below against the second engagement portion 224 on the lower display frame movable body 203c side at a first angular position, and then pushes the second engagement portion 224 upward as the rotation progresses, so that when the drive transmission member 222 reaches the second angular position, the lower display frame movable body 203c assumes the normal posture. Therefore, when the drive transmission member 222 rotates in the opposite direction (for example, counterclockwise) by the drive source 221 from that state, the support position of the second engagement portion 224 by the first engagement portion 223 gradually descends, and when the drive transmission member 222 reaches the first angular position, the lower display frame movable body 203c assumes the inclined posture. In this way, by operating the drive source 221 in both directions within a predetermined step range, it is possible to deform the display frame movable bodies 203a to 203c between the normal position (Figures 43(a), (c)) and the inclined position (Figures 43(b), (d)).

[0239] 42 and other figures, the lifting and lowering movable performance means 202 includes a sub-screen movable body 231 and lifting and lowering drive means 232 that drives the sub-screen movable body 231 in the up and down direction, and is arranged in front of the tilting movable performance means 201. The sub-screen movable body 231 is arranged in a horizontally long shape in front of the image display means 60, and on the front side thereof is arranged a sub-image display means 233 consisting of a liquid crystal display means or the like that is smaller than the image display means 60 together with any decoration, and both left and right ends are supported by a pair of lifting and lowering drive means 232, 232 arranged on the left and right sides of the image display means 60 in a state where they can be moved in the up and down direction via drive connectors 234, 234.

[0240] The lifting / lowering drive means 232 is supported on the rear mounting base 61 via a vertically long mounting base 235, and includes an elongated cylindrical lifting guide 236 that is arranged along the side edge of the image display means 60 from the upper end to the lower end thereof and that guides the drive connector 234 in the up and down direction, a drive pulley 237a that is arranged in the vicinity of one end side, the lower end side of the lifting / lowering guide 236, a driven pulley 237b that is arranged in the vicinity of the other end side, the upper end side of the lifting / lowering guide 236, a drive source 238 formed of a stepping motor or the like that rotates the drive pulley 237a, and an endless gear belt 239 that is wound around the drive pulley 237a and the driven pulley 237b and to which the drive connector 234 is fixed at a predetermined location on the circumference of the drive pulley 237a. An end of the sub-screen movable body 231 is rotatably connected to the drive connector 234 by a pivot 240 in the front-rear direction.

[0241] In addition, one of the left and right pivots 240, 240 is slidably connected to a left-right long hole 241 provided on the sub-screen movable body 231 side or the drive connecting body 234 side, so that even if the left and right lifting drive means 232, 232 perform asymmetric drive operations, the sub-screen movable body 231 can be tilted to follow them as long as it is within a specified range.

[0242] The sub-screen movable body 231 of this embodiment can be changed among four types of stopping postures: an upper normal posture (Figure 43(a)) when both the left and right lifting / lowering drive means 232, 232 are stopped at an upper position; an upper inclined posture (Figure 43(b)) when the left lifting / lowering drive means 232 is lowered a predetermined number of steps from the upper normal posture; a lower normal posture (Figure 43(c)) when both the left and right lifting / lowering drive means 232, 232 are stopped at a lower position; and a lower inclined posture (Figure 43(d)) when the right lifting / lowering drive means 232 is raised a predetermined number of steps from the lower normal posture.

[0243] The sub-screen movable body 231 is approximately horizontal in each of the upper and lower normal positions (Figs. 43(a) and (c)), and is tilted downward to the left corresponding to the tilt positions of the display frame movable bodies 203a to 203c in each of the upper and lower inclined positions (Figs. 43(b) and (d)). The sub-image display means 233 operates integrally with the sub-screen movable body 231, so that the sub-screen movable body 231 is approximately horizontal when in the normal position, and is tilted downward to the left when in the inclined position.

[0244] Fig. 44 is a block diagram of the control system of this pachinko machine. The control system of this embodiment differs from the control system of the first embodiment (Fig. 11) in that the control objects of the image display control means 150a are the image display means 60 and the sub-image display means 233, and the control objects of the movable body control means 150d are the tilt movement effect means 201 and the lift movement effect means 202.

[0245] In addition, in this embodiment, at least one (here, both) of the display frame movable bodies 203a to 203c of the tilt movable performance means 201 and the sub-screen movable body 231 of the lifting movable performance means 202 can be moved from a normal position to a tilted position, and accordingly, at least a portion of the image on the image display means 60 can be tilted and displayed, thereby performing a tilt performance, and this also differs from the control system of the first embodiment (Figure 11) in that the pattern change performance control means 152, image display control means 150a, etc. are equipped with configurations for executing this tilt performance.

[0246] Here, the tilt transformation is a rotation process (predetermined transformation process) that rotates a predetermined image by a predetermined angle less than 90 degrees around a predetermined center, and the rotation angle is approximately the same as the tilt angle in the tilted posture of the display frame movable body 203a to 203c and the sub-screen movable body 231.

[0247] The configuration for executing the tilt effect will be described below. First, the images displayed on the image display means 60 and the sub-image display means 233 are drawn in a plurality of layers with predetermined priorities set for each of the display means 60 and 233.

[0248] In the example of Figure 49(a), the background image, performance pattern (pattern image), character image, reserved base image, reserved display image, variable reserved image, volume setting image, error notification image, and sub-performance pattern displayed on the image display means 60 are drawn on a plurality of layers in order of increasing display priority. Also, as shown in Figure 49(b), the background image and bubble effect image displayed on the sub-image display means 233 are also drawn on a plurality of layers in order of increasing display priority.

[0249] In addition, each image displayed on the image display means 60 and the sub-image display means 233 is provided with transformation information regarding whether or not a predetermined transformation (here, tilt transformation) is to be performed, and 1 is set for an image that is to be transformed, and 0 is set for an image that is not to be transformed.

[0250] In the example of Figure 49(a), the transformation information for the right-hit guidance image, volume setting image, error notification image and sub-performance pattern is set to 0 (no transformation), and the transformation information for other background images, performance patterns, etc. is set to 1 (transformed), and in the example of Figure 49(b), the transformation information for all images displayed on the sub-image display means 233 is set to 0 (no transformation).

[0251] In this embodiment, when the sub-screen movable body 231 is in a tilted position, the sub-image display means 233 on the sub-screen movable body 231 is also tilted downward to the left, and therefore the image displayed on the sub-image display means 233 is tilted relative to the image display means 60, etc., even if it is not tilted relative to the sub-image display means 233. That is, in this embodiment, the image displayed on the sub-image display means 233 is tilted relative to the image display means 60, etc., by tilting the sub-image display means 233 via the sub-screen movable body 231, rather than by image processing such as tilt transformation.

[0252] Next, the drawing process to the image display means 60 by the image display control means 150a will be described. In this embodiment, among the multiple types of images displayed on the image display means 60, there is a mixture of images that undergo skew transformation and those that do not. Therefore, instead of uniformly drawing all images in the frame buffer for the image display means 60, as shown in Fig. 45, images that undergo skew transformation (images with transformation information of 1) are drawn to the frame buffer via a primary buffer separate from the frame buffer, and transformation processing is performed when drawing from the primary buffer to the frame buffer, while images that do not undergo skew transformation (images with transformation information of 0) are drawn directly to the frame buffer without passing through the primary buffer.

[0253] The tilt transformation process (rotation process) performed when drawing from the primary buffer to the frame buffer is performed according to the procedure shown in Figures 46 and 47. That is, first, image data is read from the primary buffer (S101). Then, the coordinate axes (x, y), radius (r), and rotation angle (a) are specified (S102 to S104), and the coordinates of four vertices 0 to 3 are calculated (S105).

[0254] Then, the UV coordinates (upper left, upper right, lower left, lower right) of the read image data are specified (S106), and the UV coordinates of the image data are fixed to the coordinates of vertices 0 to 3 and drawn in the frame buffer (S107). This allows the image in the primary buffer to be rotated by a specified angle around a specified center and drawn in the frame buffer (Fig. 47).

[0255] Next, specific examples of tilt effects will be explained with reference to display examples of various images displayed on the image display means 60 and the sub-image display means 233, and the settings of the display priorities and transformation information of these various images.

[0256] Figure 48 shows the movements of the display frame movable bodies 203a to 203c and the sub-screen movable body 231 and the accompanying changes in the display image when the tilt notice performance is executed. Here, the tilt notice performance (tilt performance) is an example of a "normal notice performance", and while the first and second special symbols are fluctuating, the movable bodies and the image are tilted, for example, based on the jackpot reliability. In the tilt notice performance of Figure 48, the display frame movable bodies 203a to 203c change from a normal position to a tilted position, and the sub-screen movable body 231 changes from an upper normal position to an upper tilted position.

[0257] Also, in the example of Figure 48, the image display means 60 displays the background image 160, the effect symbol (pattern image) 114a, the character image 251, the reserved base image 161, the reserved display images X1~, Y1~, the changing reserved image Z, the right-hit guidance image 162b, the volume setting image 117a, the error notification image 163, and the sub-effect symbol 252 in descending order of priority, and the sub-image display means 233 displays the background image 160a and the bubble effect image 253 in descending order of priority, and a tilt notice effect is executed as shown in Figure 48(a) → (b). The sub-effect symbol 252 is a so-called fourth symbol displayed separately from the effect symbol 114, and corresponds to the change of the first and second special symbols, and is always displayed on the image display means 60 while the first and second special symbols are changing.

[0258] Here, as shown in Figure 49, the deformation information for each of these images is set to 0 (no deformation) for the right-hit guidance image 162b, volume setting image 117a, error notification image 163 and sub-performance pattern 252 displayed on the image display means 60, and all images displayed on the sub-image display means 233, and is set to 1 (deformed) for all other images.

[0259] Therefore, as shown in Figure 48(a) → (b), when the tilt preview performance is executed, the background image 160, performance pattern (pattern image) 114a, character image 251, reserved base image 161, reserved display images X1~, Y1~, and changing reserved image Z on the image display means 60 tilt to the left along with the display frame movable bodies 203a~203c due to tilt deformation, but the right-hit guidance image 162b, volume setting image 117a, error notification image 163, and sub-performance pattern 252, which have a higher priority than these images, do not undergo tilt deformation and remain upright.

[0260] Since each image displayed on the sub-image display means 233 is not tilted (Figure 49(b)), it remains upright without tilting relative to the sub-image display means 233 even when the tilt preview performance is executed. However, since the sub-image display means 233 itself is tilted by the tilt preview performance as shown in Figure 48(b), it becomes tilted relative to the image display means 60, etc., in the same way as the background image 160 on the image display means 60 side and the performance pattern (pattern image) 114a.

[0261] As described above, the right hit guide image 162b, the volume setting image 117a, the error notification image 163, and the sub-effect symbol 252 displayed on the image display means 60 are not tilted even when a tilt notice effect occurs during their display and a tilt deformation is performed on the background image 160, etc. This allows the player to easily and reliably recognize various important notification contents while a tilt notice effect is being performed on the image display means 60.

[0262] Figure 50 shows how the displayed image changes when a door-opening error occurs during the tilt preview effect or when the player adjusts the volume. Note that the priority and change information for each image related to the tilt preview effect are the same as those in Figure 49.

[0263] As shown in FIG. 50(a), when a tilt notice effect is executed during the variation of the second special symbol, the display frame movable body 203a-203c and the sub-screen movable body 231 are tilted and tilted to the left. Of the images displayed on the image display means 60, the background image 160, the effect symbol (symbol image) 114a, the character image 251, the reserved base image 161, the reserved display images X1-, Y1-, and the currently changing reserved image Z undergo tilt deformation because their transformation information is 1 (transformed), and they tilt to the left along with the display frame movable body 203a-203c, etc. However, the transformation information for the sub-effect symbol 252 is 0 (no transformation), so they do not undergo tilt deformation and remain upright. Note that, since the transformation information for each image displayed on the sub-image display means 233 is 0, no tilt deformation is performed, but due to the tilt of the sub-image display means 233 itself, they are tilted to the left relative to the image display means 60, etc.

[0264] If a door opening error occurs in this state, an error notification image 163 is displayed on the image display means 60 as shown in Figure 50(b), but since the transformation information for this error notification image 163 is 0 (no transformation) (Figure 49(a)), it is displayed in an upright position without being tilted. Similarly, if the player performs a volume adjustment operation while the tilting notice performance is being executed, a volume setting image 117a is displayed on the image display means 60 as shown in Figure 50(c), but since the transformation information for this volume setting image 117a is 0 (no transformation) (Figure 49(a)), it is displayed in an upright position without being tilted.

[0265] Although not shown in the figure, even when a right-hit guidance image 162b is displayed on the image display means 60 while the tilt preview performance is being executed, the deformation information for the right-hit guidance image 162b is 0 (no deformation) (Figure 49(a)), so it is displayed in an upright state without undergoing tilt deformation.

[0266] Figure 51 shows the movement of the display frame movable bodies 203a to 203c and the sub-screen movable body 231 and the accompanying change in the display image when the tilt descent notice performance is executed. Here, the tilt descent notice performance is an example of a "normal notice performance" like the tilt notice performance shown in Figure 48 etc., and while the first and second special symbols are fluctuating, the movable body and the image are tilted based on the jackpot reliability, but unlike the tilt notice performance, the sub-screen movable body 231 is not simply tilted, but is changed from an upper normal position to a lower tilted position accompanied by descent (Figure 43(a) → (d)).

[0267] In the example of Figure 51, the image display means 60 displays the background image 160, performance pattern (pattern image) 114a, character images 250, 251, reserve base image 161, reserve display images X1~, Y1~, changing reserve image Z and sub-performance pattern 252 in order of decreasing priority, and the sub-image display means 233 displays the background image and bubble effect image 253 in order of decreasing priority, and a tilting descent preview performance is executed as shown in Figure 51(a) → (b).

[0268] Then, when the sub-screen movable body 231 descends while tilting from the upper side to approximately the center of the image display means 60 due to the tilt descent preview performance, as shown in Figure 51 (b), the character image 250 on the image display means 60 changes to a position and state related to the movement action of the sub-screen movable body 231 and its posture after movement, for example, a state in which the sub-screen movable body 231 is being pushed diagonally downward from above, and a movable body effect image 254 corresponding to the sub-screen movable body 231 after movement is displayed.

[0269] In this way, the character image 250 and movable body effect image 254 displayed in relation to the movement of the sub-screen movable body 231 have transformation information set to 1 (transformed) as shown in Figure 52(a), and therefore are displayed tilted to match the tilt of the sub-screen movable body 231 due to tilt transformation.

[0270] Furthermore, when the sub-screen movable body 231 tilts and descends due to the tilt descent notice effect (FIG. 51(b)), the effect pattern 114 changes to a smaller evacuation pattern 255 and moves to the corner of the image display means 60, avoiding the sub-screen movable body 231. However, since the transformation information for this evacuation pattern 255 is 0 (no transformation) as shown in FIG. 52(a), no tilt transformation is performed and the pattern is displayed upright. As shown in FIG. 52(a), the transformation information for the other background image 160, reserved base image 161, reserved display images X1-, Y1-, changing reserved image Z, and sub-effect pattern 252 displayed on the image display means 60 is also 0 (no transformation), so no tilt transformation is performed and the pattern remains upright. Note that, since the transformation information for each image displayed on the sub-image display means 233 is 0, no tilt transformation is performed, but due to the tilt of the sub-image display means 233 itself, the image is tilted to the left relative to the image display means 60, etc.

[0271] In this way, images displayed in relation to a movable body may be tilted in accordance with the movement of the movable body, while other images may not be tilted.

[0272] FIG. 53 shows the operations of the display frame movable bodies 203a to 203c and the sub screen movable body 231 and the accompanying changes in the display image when the tilt advance notice performance is executed at the start of (immediately after) the pattern change.

[0273] As shown in Figure 53(a), when the pattern starts to change, the image display means 60 displays the background image 160, performance pattern 114a, hold base image 161, hold display images X1~, Y1~, changing hold image Z, volume setting image 117a and sub-performance pattern 252 in order of decreasing priority, and the sub-image display means 233 displays the background image 160a and bubble effect image 253 in order of decreasing priority, and the tilt preview performance is executed immediately after the pattern starts to change.

[0274] Due to this tilt advance notice performance, the display frame movable bodies 203a to 203c move from the normal position to the tilted position as shown in Fig. 53(b), and the sub-screen movable body 231 moves from the upper normal position to the upper tilted position, respectively, along the time chart shown in Fig. 55. Furthermore, among the images displayed on the image display means 60, the background image 160, performance symbol 114, reserved base image 161, reserved display images X1~, Y1~, and changing reserved image Z, whose deformation information shown in Fig. 54(a) is 1 (transformed), undergo tilt deformation in synchronization with the display frame movable bodies 203a to 203c, etc., as shown in Fig. 55, and are displayed gradually tilted to the left.

[0275] Also, at approximately the same time that the tilting operation of the display frame movable bodies 203a to 203c, etc. is completed, an effect image 256 (transformation information: 1) showing a crack is displayed on the image display means 60 in a tilted state in accordance with the performance pattern 114, etc.

[0276] On the other hand, for the other images displayed on the image display means 60, namely the volume setting image 117a and the sub-performance symbol 252, the transformation information is 0 (no transformation) as shown in Figure 54(a), so no tilt transformation is performed and they remain upright. Note that, since the transformation information of each image displayed on the sub-image display means 233 is 0, no tilt transformation is performed, but due to the tilt of the sub-image display means 233 itself, they are tilted to the left relative to the image display means 60, etc.

[0277] At a predetermined timing thereafter, the tilt notice performance ends, and the display frame movable bodies 203a to 203c return from the tilted position to the normal position, and the sub-screen movable body 231 returns from the upper tilted position to the upper normal position, as shown in Fig. 53(b) → (a). This return operation at the end of the tilt notice performance is performed at a slower speed than the tilt operation at the start of the tilt notice performance, as shown in Fig. 55.

[0278] Furthermore, among the images displayed in a tilted and deformed state on the image display means 60, the background image 160, the performance symbol 114, the reserved base image 161, the reserved display images X1-, Y1-, and the changing reserved image Z are subjected to tilt deformation in the opposite direction, and gradually return to an upright state in synchronization with the return action of the display frame movable bodies 203a-203c, etc., as shown in Fig. 55. On the other hand, the effect image 256 showing a crack, which was displayed when the tilt action of the display frame movable bodies 203a-203c, etc., was completed, is erased from the image display means 60 at approximately the same time as the return action of the display frame movable bodies 203a-203c, etc., begins.

[0279] Figure 56 shows the operation of the display frame movable bodies 203a-203c and the sub-screen movable body 231 and the accompanying change in the display image when the tilting descent notice performance is executed at the start of the pattern change (almost simultaneously with the start). As shown in Figure 56(a), at the start of the pattern change, the image display means 60 displays the background image 160, the reserved base image 161, the reserved display images X1-, Y1-, the changing reserved image Z, the evacuation pattern 255, the volume setting image 117a, and the sub-performance pattern 252 in order of decreasing priority, and the sub-image display means 233 displays the background image 160a and the bubble effect image 253 in order of decreasing priority, and the tilting descent notice performance is executed almost simultaneously with the start of the pattern change.

[0280] Due to this tilt descent notice performance, the display frame movable bodies 203a-203c transition from a normal position to a tilted position as shown in Figure 56(b), and the sub-screen movable body 231 transitions from an upper normal position to a lower tilted position, each according to the time chart shown in Figure 58. Also, the background image 160, reserved base image 161, reserved display images X1-, Y1-, the changing reserved image Z, the retreat image 255, the volume setting image 117a, and the sub-performance image 252 displayed on the image display means 60 all have transformation information of 0 (no transformation) as shown in Figure 57(a), so they are not tilted and remain upright. Note that, since the transformation information of each image displayed on the sub-image display means 233 is 0, no tilt transformation is performed, but due to the tilt of the sub-image display means 233 itself, they are tilted to the left relative to the image display means 60, etc.

[0281] Furthermore, when the sub-screen movable body 231 descends while tilting from the upper side of the image display means 60 to approximately the center due to the tilt descent preview performance, the character image 250 and movable body effect image 254 are displayed on the image display means 60 approximately at the same time as the movement is completed, as shown in Figure 56 (b).

[0282] The character image 250 and the movable body effect image 254 undergo tilt deformation because the transformation information is set to 1 (transformed) as shown in Figure 57(a), and the movable body effect image 254 is displayed along the periphery of the sub-screen movable body 231 and the character image 250 in a position and manner related to the posture of the sub-screen movable body 231 after movement, for example, when the character image 250 is pushing the sub-screen movable body 231 diagonally downward from above.

[0283] At a predetermined timing thereafter, the tilt descent notice performance ends, and the display frame movable bodies 203a to 203c return from the tilted position to the normal position, and the sub-screen movable body 231 returns from the lower tilted position to the upper normal position, as shown in Figure 56(b) -> (a). This return operation at the end of the tilt descent notice performance is performed at a slower speed than the tilt operation at the start of the tilt descent notice performance, as shown in Figure 58.

[0284] At that time, the character image 250 and the movable body effect image 254 that were displayed in a tilted and deformed state on the image display means 60 are erased at approximately the same time as the start of the return action of the sub-screen movable body 231, etc. Then, the background image 160, the reserved base image 161, the reserved display images X1~, Y1~, the changing reserved image Z, the evacuation pattern 255, etc. that were maintained in an upright state without being tilted and deformed even during the tilt descent notice performance are left on the image display means 60, and the remaining pattern changes continue.

[0285] Fig. 59(a) shows a display image when a tilt effect is executed during a normal customer waiting effect in a customer waiting state, and Fig. 60(a) shows a display image when a player operates the effect button 34 while the tilt effect shown in Fig. 59(a) is being executed and the menu image 118b is displayed. Also, Figs. 59(b) and (c) correspond to Fig. 59(a) and show the display priority and transformation information of each image displayed on the image display means 60 and the sub-image display means 233, respectively.

[0286] Similarly, Figures 60(b) and (c), corresponding to Figure 60(a), respectively show the display priority and transformation information of each image displayed on the image display means 60 and the sub-image display means 233. The tilt effect may be executed after a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) has elapsed since the start of the customer waiting state (reception of the customer waiting demo command).

[0287] In the example of Figure 59(a), the image display means 60 displays, in order of decreasing display priority, a background image 160, a performance pattern 114, a reserved base image 161, a menu display available notification image 118a, a volume adjustment available notification image 116a, a light intensity adjustment available notification image 116b, a power saving mode notification image 120, and an error notification image 163, and the sub-image display means 233 displays, in order of decreasing display priority, a background image 160a and a bubble effect image 253, and a tilt performance is executed.

[0288] 59(b), of the images displayed on the image display means 60 in Fig. 59(a), the transformation information for the background image 160, the effect pattern 114, the reserved pedestal image 161, the menu display possible notification image 118a, the volume adjustable notification image 116a, the light intensity adjustable notification image 116b, and the power saving mode notification image 120 is set to 1, so that they are tilted to the left, but the transformation information for the error notification image 163 is set to 0, so that they remain upright even after the tilt effect is executed. The transformation information for each image displayed on the sub-image display means 233 is 0, so that they are not tilted, but due to the tilt of the sub-image display means 233 itself, they are tilted to the left relative to the image display means 60, etc.

[0289] The menu display available notification image 118a, the volume adjustable notification image 116a, and the light intensity adjustable notification image 116b may be configured to start displaying after a predetermined time (e.g., 30 seconds) has elapsed since the customer waiting state was initiated upon receipt of the customer waiting demo command. Also, the menu display available notification image 118a, the volume adjustable notification image 116a, and the light intensity adjustable notification image 116b may be displayed when a tilt effect is executed during the customer waiting state.

[0290] 59(a), when the player performs a volume adjustment operation or a light intensity adjustment operation, the volume adjustable notification image 116a and the light intensity adjustable notification image 116b are erased and the volume setting image 117a and the light intensity setting image 117b are displayed, but as shown in Fig. 59(b), since the transformation information for the volume setting image 117a and the light intensity setting image 117b is set to 0, the volume setting image 117a and the light intensity setting image 117b are not tilted and are displayed in an upright state (not shown). Note that the transformation information for the menu display possible notification image 118a, the volume adjustable notification image 116a, and the light intensity adjustable notification image 116b may also be set to 0 so that they remain upright even after the tilt effect is executed.

[0291] Furthermore, when the player operates the effect button 34 in the state shown in Figure 59(a) (while the tilt effect is being executed), a new menu image 118b and a menu operation notification image 118c are displayed on the image display means 60 as shown in Figure 60(a). However, since the transformation information for the menu image 118b and the menu operation notification image 118c is set to 0 as shown in Figure 60(b), no tilt transformation is performed and the image is displayed in an upright state.

[0292] As explained above, the pachinko machine of this embodiment includes image display means 60 capable of displaying images, capable of displaying a volume setting image 117a indicating the volume setting status on the image display means 60, and effect control means 122 for controlling specific effects that perform a predetermined transformation process on the image displayed on the image display means 60. When a specific effect is executed while the volume setting image 117a is being displayed, the predetermined transformation process (here, tilt transformation process) is performed on specific images that do not include the volume setting image 117a, but the predetermined transformation process is not performed on the volume setting image 117a. Furthermore, when the predetermined transformation process is performed on the specific image, movable bodies 203a-203c, 231 are operated in accordance with the predetermined transformation process. Furthermore, the image display means 60 can variably display effect symbols 114, and the specific image includes an effect symbol.

[0293] The game machine further includes a start detection processing means 138 which acquires a random number value each time the start means 56, 57 detects a gaming ball and stores the random number value in a random number storage means 139 up to a predetermined upper limit, a pattern display means 53, 54 which displays a pattern based on the random number value stored in the random number storage means 139 when a pattern change start condition is met, and a profit state generating means 142 which generates a profit state when the stopped pattern after change by the pattern display means 53, 54 becomes a specific pattern, and by displaying reserve display images X1~, Y1~ on the image display means 60, it is possible to notify the number of reserved numbers which are the number of random numbers stored in the random number storage means 139 and not yet used for pattern change by the pattern display means 53, 54, and the specific image includes the reserve display images X1~, Y1~. The specific image also includes an effect image.

[0294] In addition, the system is configured so that whether or not to perform a predetermined transformation process is determined based on transformation information previously assigned to each image, and transformation information indicating that the predetermined transformation process is to be performed is assigned to a specific image, and transformation information indicating that the predetermined transformation process is not to be performed is assigned to the volume setting image 117a.

[0295] Furthermore, when a new image is displayed during the execution of a specific effect, if the image is a specific image that does not include the volume setting image 117a, a predetermined transformation process is performed on this specific image, but if the image is at least the volume setting image 117a, the predetermined transformation process is not performed on this volume setting image 117a.

[0296] Furthermore, when a specific effect is executed while the error notification image 163 is being displayed, a predetermined transformation process is performed on specific images that do not include the error notification image 163, but the predetermined transformation process is not performed on at least the error notification image 163. Furthermore, when a new image is displayed while a specific effect is being executed, if the image is a specific image that does not include the error notification image 163, the predetermined transformation process is performed, but if the image is the error notification image 163, the predetermined transformation process is not performed.

[0297] Furthermore, the image display means 60 can display launch guidance images 162a, 162b that indicate that the ball should be fired at either the left or right side of the game area 23, and when a specific effect is executed while the launch guidance images 162a, 162b are displayed, a predetermined transformation process is performed on specific images that do not include the launch guidance images 162a, 162b, but the predetermined transformation process is not performed on the launch guidance images 162a, 162b.

[0298] In addition, the performance pattern 114 can be switched between a normal pattern and a retreat pattern 255 that is smaller than the normal pattern, and when a specific performance is executed while the retreat pattern 255 is displayed, a predetermined transformation process is performed on a specific image that does not include the retreat pattern 255, but the predetermined transformation process is not performed on the retreat pattern 255.

[0299] The first and second embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but the following configurations are also possible. That is, in the first embodiment, the mode may be changed by a player operation other than a selection operation from the menu screen. Also, the mode may be changed by a player operation even during a pattern change other than during a customer waiting state. In this case, it is desirable to enable the mode change on the condition that the operation of the movable body is not reserved in the advance notice related to the pattern change.

[0300] In the previews shown in Figures 37 and 38, the first director image 168, second director image 169, etc. are not limited to characters, and any director image can be used. Also, the first director image 168 does not have to be provided. By using a lightning effect image as the director image and changing the lightning effect image so that at least a portion of it is displayed in the first to fifth fixed concealed areas and the movable concealed area C, and the proportion displayed in the non-concealed area D increases, it is possible to create the effect of lightning running across the screen.

[0301] As in the previews shown in Figures 37 and 38, when a performance element image such as a miniature character image is changed from a first state in which at least a portion of it is displayed in any of the first to fifth fixed concealed areas or the movable concealed area C to a second state in which the proportion displayed in the non-concealed area D is greater than in the first state, the display mode (color, size, shape, etc.) of at least a portion of the performance element image (for example, an item held by the miniature character) may be configured to suggest the reliability of a jackpot, etc. In this case, if the proportion of the portion suggesting the reliability displayed in the non-concealed area D is also made greater in the second state than in the first state, it becomes easier for the player to recognize the reliability of a jackpot as the preview progresses, and the preview presentation can be made more interesting.

[0302] In the pre-reading hold change performance, when the display mode of the hold display images X1~, Y1~ is changed based on the pre-reading judgment result, the hold display image before the change may be displayed in its entirety in the non-concealed area D, and the hold display image after the change may be displayed straddling the non-concealed area D and the area outside it, such as by displaying the enlarged part or the added effect part so that it extends beyond the non-concealed area D.

[0303] It should be noted that if the first to fifth fixed hidden areas B1 to B5 and the movable hidden area C are made wider, the non-hidden area D will become narrower, but it is desirable to make the non-hidden area D wider than the first to fifth fixed hidden areas B1 to B5 and the movable hidden area C. Furthermore, any still image or video can be used for the background image 160.

[0304] In the first embodiment, the area behind the stationary movable bodies 75a to 78a was designated as the movable concealed area C. However, it is of course possible for the movable bodies to move during preview performances or mode changes. Therefore, the area of ​​the entire screen area A corresponding to the rear of all movable areas of the movable bodies (all areas where the movable bodies may move) may be designated as the movable concealed area C. In this case, the non-concealed area D is narrower than in the case of the movable concealed area C for stationary movable bodies. However, the image displayed in the non-concealed area D is always visible from the front regardless of the state of the movable body, ensuring higher visibility for images of high importance. Furthermore, even when the movable concealed area C for stationary movable bodies is adopted, it is desirable to display the error notification image 163 regarding an abnormality (movable body error) of the movable body so as to avoid the rear of all movable areas of the movable bodies.

[0305] When employing a movable concealment area C for a stationary movable body as in the first embodiment, if a movable body performance is executed while an image of high importance (such as the volume setting image 117a, the light intensity setting image 117b, or the error notification image 163) is being displayed, the movable body may move in front of those images, temporarily impeding their visibility. Therefore, if the movable body temporarily stops at a performance position other than the origin position during a movable body performance, it is desirable to display images of high importance in a manner that avoids the area behind the movable body at the performance position. This prevents the invisibility from lasting for a long period of time, even if the passing of the movable body may temporarily impede visibility.

[0306] However, when a moving body effect is performed in which multiple moving bodies operate simultaneously (for example, a moving body effect during pattern change due to a jackpot change pattern, or a moving body effect executed when an SP reach develops into an SPSP reach), it is unavoidable that the visibility of highly important images will be impaired for a long period of time.

[0307] If high visibility is required in such cases, it is highly likely that the degree of freedom of the moving object will be reduced, resulting in a decrease in the presentation effect. Furthermore, since such moving object presentations are often performed in situations that are advantageous to the player, it is thought that a certain degree of decrease in visibility is acceptable even for images of high importance.

[0308] In the embodiment, a launch guidance notification indicating that the player should aim at either the left or right side of the game area to launch is exemplified as an example of a launch notification related to a launch operation, but a launch warning notification indicating that the game ball has been launched in the opposite direction to the direction to be aimed may also be implemented. It is desirable to display launch notification images (launch guidance images, launch warning images) related to such launch notifications as launch guidance notifications and launch warning notifications so as not to overlap with the volume and light intensity setting images 117a and 117b. In this case, the launch notification images such as the launch guidance images may be displayed large enough that a portion of them extends into the concealed areas B1 to B3, B5, and C, but it is desirable to display important message portions such as "Go right!" in the non-concealed area D.

[0309] The step-up preview effect may gradually change (expand) the display area from the first stage to the final stage, or may not change the display area over multiple consecutive stages. It may also be configured so that the display area does not change up to a predetermined stage (for example, the fourth stage) and then changes (expands) the display area at the next stage (for example, the fifth stage).

[0310] Furthermore, the step-up preview effect may be executed in a manner that divides it into a teasing portion in which the step-up preview effect has not yet been determined and an execution portion in which the stage of the step-up preview effect has been determined. In the teasing portion, the step-up preview effect is gradually raised, and in the execution portion, the step-up preview effect is executed at a predetermined stage that has been determined in advance. In this case, the raised step-up preview effect in the teasing portion is not necessarily executed in the subsequent execution portion; even if the step-up preview effect has been raised from the first stage to the fourth stage, the display of the step-up preview effect may then cease, and as a result, the step-up preview effect may not be executed.

[0311] This is a so-called false effect (false step-up notice effect). By doing so, it is possible to increase the appearance rate of the step-up notice effect and give a sense of expectation that a rarely seen higher-level step-up notice effect may be executed. In the case of such a step-up notice effect, the display area may not be changed when the player rises to the top of the promotion stage, and when the step-up notice effect is executed in the execution part, the display area may be changed according to the stage of the step-up notice effect.

[0312] Even in such cases, in addition to gradually changing (expanding) the display area from the first stage to the final stage, it may also be possible to not change the display area over multiple consecutive stages, such as not changing the display area until a predetermined stage (for example, the fourth stage) and then changing (expanding) the display area at the next stage (for example, the fifth stage).

[0313] In the second embodiment, it is desirable that the entire image that is not to be deformed is displayed in the non-hidden area, but a part of the image may be displayed so that it extends outside the non-hidden area. Note that although the second embodiment does not refer to the non-hidden area, the area displayed in gray in Fig. 43 indicates the non-hidden area that is not obstructed by any of the window frame portion 74, the base plate 45, the central display frame unit 47, the big prize unit 49, the display frame movable bodies 203a to 203c, and the sub-screen movable body 231 when viewed from the front.

[0314] The deformation effect such as the tilt notice effect may be executed as a "pre-read notice effect" based on the result of the pre-read determination by the pre-read determination means 138a, or may be executed as a "normal notice effect" based on the result of the jackpot determination at the start of the pattern change by the special symbol processing means 140. Also, it may be executed in the promotion effect (round promotion or probability change promotion) in the case of a jackpot, or may be executed during reach change.

[0315] In the second embodiment, the launch guidance image is configured not to deform (tilt) even when a specific effect involving a transformation process is executed, but it may also be configured not to execute (select) a specific effect while the launch guidance image is displayed. In other words, when the game state transitions from the normal game state to the special game state (time-saving state, probability variable state), or when the special game state transitions from the normal game state, and the launch direction advantageous to the player changes, the launch guidance notification is performed until a predetermined condition is met (for example, until a predetermined time (3 seconds, etc.) has passed, until the predetermined number of symbol changes has ended, until the second special symbol has changed a predetermined number of times, etc.), but during that time, it may be configured not to execute (select) a specific effect involving a transformation process, such as a tilt notice effect. The same treatment as for the launch guidance image can be applied to the launch warning image in the launch warning notification.

[0316] The execution of a transformation effect such as a tilt preview effect may be announced by a countdown, etc. In this case, the countdown announcement effect may be performed as part of the tilt preview effect, etc., or the countdown announcement effect may be performed before the tilt preview effect, etc., and separately from the tilt preview effect, etc.

[0317] For the menu display possible notification image 118a, the volume adjustable notification image 116a, the light intensity adjustable notification image 116b, etc., tilt deformation may not be performed in either the case where a deformation effect is performed while they are displayed or the case where they are displayed after the deformation effect is executed.

[0318] While waiting for customers, it is desirable not to perform a transformation effect if the player is performing volume adjustment operations, light intensity adjustment operations, etc., but even if a transformation effect is performed, it is desirable not to perform tilt transformation on the volume setting image 117a and light intensity setting image 117b.

[0319] The menu may be displayed during a period other than when the machine is waiting for customers, for example, while the symbols are changing. In this case, a sub-window may be displayed in a portion of the display screen 60a to display the menu image 118b, etc. When the menu image 118b, etc. is displayed during the symbol change, it is desirable that the menu image 118b is not tilted together with the sub-window even if a transformation effect such as a tilt notice effect is executed.

[0320] It may also be possible to implement effects using an RTC (real-time clock). This RTC is a dedicated timing chip that counts the date and time using power supplied from an internal battery even when the power is off. The RTC effect may be implemented when a predetermined time based on the RTC has elapsed (for example, when a predetermined date and time has elapsed since the power was turned on). This RTC effect is implemented as an effect commonly set for the same gaming machine, so if multiple identical gaming machines are installed side by side in an amusement hall, a common RTC effect will be implemented all at once, such as after a predetermined time has elapsed since the power was turned on.

[0321] Furthermore, since such RTC effects are executed independently of the progress of the game, there may be cases where the timing for their execution comes during the execution of other effects such as reach effects. In such cases, the reach effects may be given priority, and the RTC effect may be executed in a sub-window displayed in a part of the display screen 60a. Furthermore, at this time, when a transformation effect such as a tilt notice effect is executed, it is desirable not to perform tilt transformation on the RTC effect executed in the sub-window. Furthermore, when a transformation effect is executed on the RTC effect side of the sub-window, it is desirable to perform tilt transformation on the RTC effect, but not on the reach effect side.

[0322] Whether or not a predetermined image is tilted may vary depending on the content of the preview, etc. The reserved base image 161 may be tilted in the first preview performance and not tilted in the second preview performance. The same applies to the background image 160, performance pattern 114, reserved display images X1~, Y1~, and changing reserved image Z, etc. However, it is desirable to set images that do not depend on the performance content, such as the error notification image 163, volume setting image 117a, and light intensity setting image 117b, to be undeformed regardless of the preview content, etc.

[0323] When performing a transformation effect on the effect pattern 114 consisting of a pattern image 114a such as a number and a decorative image 114b such as a character, it is possible to configure so that only the decorative image 114b is tilted. Since the number portion directly indicates the lottery result by its display content, it is desirable to exclude it from the target of tilt transformation and maintain a display form that is easy for the player to recognize.

[0324] In the embodiment, an example of tilt transformation is shown as an example of predetermined transformation processing on an image, but any image processing can be used, such as rotation processing of rotating an image by a predetermined angle around a predetermined center, enlargement processing, reduction processing, translation processing, or a combination of these. Regarding enlargement and reduction processing, the enlargement / reduction ratio may be uniform, or different enlargement / reduction ratios may be used in multiple directions.

[0325] In the second embodiment, whether or not to perform a predetermined transformation process is determined based on transformation information previously assigned to each image. However, it is also possible to classify multiple layers in advance into first layers that are subject to the predetermined transformation process and second layers that are not, and to perform the predetermined transformation process on images in the first layer but not on images in the second layer.

[0326] In the second embodiment, the image displayed on the sub-image display means 233 is tilted relative to the image display means 60, etc. by tilting the sub-image display means 233 via the sub-screen movable body 231, rather than by image processing such as tilt deformation. However, a predetermined deformation processing such as tilt deformation may also be performed on the image displayed on the sub-image display means 233.

[0327] In this case, if the predetermined transformation process is a rotation process such as tilt transformation, the rotation process on the image displayed on the sub-image display means 233 may be in the same direction as the rotation of the sub-image display means 233, or may be in the opposite direction. If the image displayed on the sub-image display means 233 is rotated in the opposite direction to the rotation of the sub-image display means 233 and at approximately the same angle, the image displayed on the sub-image display means 233 will appear upright to the player. Note that the predetermined transformation process may be performed on the image displayed on the sub-image display means 233 without operating the sub-image display means 233.

[0328] In the second embodiment, the predetermined transformation processing for the image displayed on the image display means 60, etc. is configured to be performed in accordance with the transformation movement of the movable bodies 203a to 203c, 231, but the predetermined transformation processing for the image may also be performed independently of the transformation movement of the movable bodies (for example, without transforming the movable bodies).

[0329] The auxiliary effect symbol 252 shown in the embodiment is assumed to be a so-called fourth symbol that resides on the LCD and flashes in response to the changes in the first and second special symbols. However, even if this fourth symbol is provided separately from the image display means 60 using an LED or the like, a so-called mini symbol may be displayed on the image display means 60 as the auxiliary effect symbol 252. This mini symbol is a simplified, small representation of the changing effect symbol 114 using numbers and symbols, and is always displayed on the image display means 60 while the first and second special symbols are changing. It is desirable not to perform transformation processing such as tilting on this mini symbol. It is also desirable to display this mini symbol in the non-hidden area D.

[0330] For convenience of explanation, the first embodiment and the second embodiment have different configurations of the movable effect means, and the first embodiment mainly describes the relationship between the image display area and the displayed image, while the second embodiment mainly describes the deformation process of the displayed image, but both embodiments may be combined in any way. The second embodiment may be applied to the first embodiment to enable deformation effects such as tilt preview effects, or the relationship between the image display area and the displayed image in the first embodiment may be applied to the second embodiment.

[0331] If an illumination panel is mounted on the front side of the game board 16, a light-emitting effect may be executed by the illumination panel when a transformation effect such as a tilt notice effect is executed. In this case, since the design part of the illumination panel may obstruct the visibility of the displayed objects on the liquid crystal, it is desirable to display at least a part of the images that do not undergo the predetermined transformation process, such as the volume setting image 117a and the light intensity setting image 117b, in a position that does not overlap with the design part of the illumination panel.

[0332] With regard to the preview effect in which a predetermined transformation process is performed, the type of image to be transformed, the time (period) and number of times the transformation process is performed, the degree of transformation of the transformation process, etc. may be varied depending on the reliability of the indication of the lottery result of the variable display. For example, if the lottery result of the variable display is a loser, a preview effect in which a predetermined transformation process with low reliability is performed is likely to be performed, and a preview effect involving transformation process with fewer types of images to be transformed, a shorter time (period) for performing the transformation process, a smaller number of times, and a smaller degree of transformation process is performed, compared to when the lottery result is a win. In this way, a configuration may be adopted in which preview effects involving different transformation processes are performed depending on the lottery result of the variable display.

[0333] Although the volume setting image 117a and the light intensity setting image 117b are not subjected to transformation processing in the above embodiment, they may be configured to be transformed. In this case, however, it is desirable to configure the image so that the volume / light intensity can be adjusted based on the player's operation even during the transformation processing. It is also desirable to configure the volume setting image 117a and the light intensity setting image 117b so that they can be updated and displayed to reflect the adjustments made by the player even during the transformation processing.

[0334] In the preview effect suggesting the result of the lottery for the variable display or in the message display informing the player of predetermined information, a message indicating that the volume or light intensity can be adjusted by a predetermined operation may be displayed. Naturally, it is desirable to enable the volume or light intensity adjustment functions even during such preview effect or message display. Furthermore, when the player performs a predetermined operation, it is desirable to display the volume setting image 117a or the light intensity setting image 117b in a position that does not overlap with the preview effect or message display.

[0335] In a preview effect in which a predetermined transformation process is performed, the predetermined image that has undergone the predetermined transformation process may be changed to a new predetermined image and displayed. Specifically, when the background image 160 is transformed by the predetermined transformation process, the background image 160 is displayed in a reduced size at the same time as the transformation, so that it fades out from the LCD. At the same time, the new background image 160 is displayed in an enlarged size while being transformed, so that it fades in on the LCD. In this way, a background change effect in which the background image 160 is changed by performing the predetermined transformation process may be performed. Even in this case, it is desirable to display displayed objects that do not undergo the aforementioned transformation process without performing the transformation process.

[0336] When a background change effect is performed by executing a predetermined transformation process to change the background image 160, it may be configured so that not only the background image 160 but also other predetermined images are changed in the same way. For example, if the display mode of the reserved image differs for each background, it may be configured so that the reserved image is changed as well as the background image 160. Furthermore, even if there is no need to change the display, it may be configured so that the background image 160 is faded out once and then faded in again with a new background image 160.

[0337] In addition to the background change effect, a predetermined transformation process may be executed to change the displayed object before and after the predetermined transformation process. By using the predetermined transformation process to change / update the displayed object in this way, the effect can be made more interesting than simply changing / updating the displayed object by fading it out / in.

[0338] When a predetermined transformation process is executed to execute a change effect, the display mode of the reserved display may be changed, for example. Specifically, if the reserved display mode before the predetermined transformation process is executed is blue, the reserved display mode after the predetermined transformation process is executed may be displayed in red. In this way, in a reserved change effect that changes the display mode of the reserved, the interest of the reserved change effect can be increased by utilizing the predetermined transformation process.

[0339] When a predetermined transformation process is executed to execute a change effect, for example, the SU stage of the step-up effect (e.g., SU1 → SU2) may be changed. Specifically, if the stage before the predetermined transformation process is executed is a step-up image SU1, the stage after the predetermined transformation process is executed may be displayed as a step-up image SU2. In this way, in a step-up notice in which the SU stage is updated, the interest of the step-up effect can be increased by utilizing the predetermined transformation process.

[0340] When a predetermined transformation process is executed to perform a change effect, for example, the button image, gauge image, or operation guide image 166 of the button effect may be changed. Specifically, if the button image before the predetermined transformation process is executed is a first button image, the button image after the predetermined transformation process is executed may be displayed as a second button image. In this way, in button effects using an operating means, the interest of the button effects can be increased by utilizing the predetermined transformation process.

[0341] In addition, the button effect may be valid for operation even during the predetermined transformation process. If a player performs an operation during the predetermined transformation process, the predetermined transformation process may be interrupted and the operation effect may be executed. In addition, the operation effect may be executed after the predetermined transformation process has ended.

[0342] Furthermore, the operation of the button effect may be invalidated during the predetermined transformation process. The operation valid period may be configured to start after the predetermined transformation process is executed.

[0343] The button effect is preferably composed of a fade-in period in which a button-like image or button image is faded in, an operation period in which the button image, gauge image, and operation guide image 166 are displayed and the operation valid period begins, a fade-out period in which the button-like image or button image is faded out after the operation period ends, and an operation effect period that is executed thereafter. When a predetermined transformation process is executed in the button effect, the predetermined transformation process may be executed during all periods, at least one period, or multiple periods.

[0344] It may be configured to execute a predetermined effect accompanied by a predetermined transformation process while a vibration effect is being executed by a vibration means provided on the operation means or the like (or may be provided outside the operation means). As described above, when a predetermined transformation process is executed in various effects, a vibration effect may be executed during the predetermined transformation process. By configuring in this way, it is possible to notify the player that the predetermined transformation process is in progress via a vibration effect.

[0345] The effect involving the predetermined transformation processing may be configured to be more likely to be executed during the reach fluctuation period after the symbol has reached the reach state than during the normal fluctuation period before the symbol reaches the reach state. The effect in which the predetermined transformation processing is executed during the normal fluctuation period and the effect in which the predetermined transformation processing is executed during the reach fluctuation period may be different effects, or they may be the same effect. Also, the effect may be configured so that no effect in which the predetermined transformation processing is executed is executed during the normal fluctuation period, but there is a possibility that an effect in which the predetermined transformation processing is executed is executed during the reach fluctuation period. In any case, the effect may be configured so that it is more likely to be executed during the reach fluctuation period by differentiating the appearance rate of the effect in which the predetermined transformation processing is executed between the normal fluctuation period and the reach fluctuation period.

[0346] In a reach variation period, when multiple reach effects can be executed, the system may be configured to have reach effects in which a predetermined transformation process is executed and reach effects in which a predetermined transformation process is not executed depending on the type of reach. Also, the reach effects in which a predetermined transformation process is executed and the reach effects in which a predetermined transformation process is not executed may be different reach effects, or may be a common reach effect. Furthermore, in cases where an executing reach effect develops and a post-development reach effect is executed, the reach effects may be the reach effects before the development and the reach effects after the development. Also, the reach effects may be low-reliability reach effects and high-reliability reach effects. In any case, the system may be configured to vary the probability of executing the predetermined transformation effect by varying the possibility of executing the predetermined transformation process depending on the type of reach effect.

[0347] As described above, predetermined transformation processing may be performed in various effects, but more optimally, predetermined lamp effects may be performed during the execution of the predetermined transformation processing. In this case, a lamp effect corresponding to the image display subjected to the predetermined transformation processing is performed. Specifically, when the image transformed by the predetermined transformation processing rotates counterclockwise, it is desirable to perform a lamp effect in which the light-emitting means arranged on the board or frame are turned on / off counterclockwise. Furthermore, when the image rotates clockwise, a lamp effect is performed in which the light-emitting means are turned on / off clockwise, and when enlargement / reduction is involved, each light-emitting means may be configured to flash.

[0348] When the predetermined transformation process is executed in various effects as described above, the reliability of the lottery result of the variable display may be configured to be different between the case where the predetermined transformation process is not performed and the case where the predetermined transformation process is performed in the same preview effect. In other words, the preview effect may be configured to show a higher reliability when the predetermined transformation process is performed than when it is not performed.

[0349] 61 to 89 illustrate a third embodiment. In Fig. 61 and Fig. 62, a gaming machine main body 300 includes an outer frame (first support frame) 301 and a front frame (second support frame) 302 arranged in front of the outer frame 301. The front frame 302 is pivotally attached to the outer frame 301 via a pair of upper and lower first hinges 303 arranged on the left end side so as to be openable, closable, and detachable, and can be locked in a closed state relative to the outer frame 301 by a locking means 304 provided on the right end side opposite the first hinge 303 in the left-right direction.

[0350] The front frame 302 includes a main body frame 305 and a glass door 306 arranged in front of the main body frame 305. The glass door 306 is pivotally attached to the main body frame 305 via a pair of upper and lower second hinges 307 arranged on the left end side so as to be openable, closable, and detachable, and can be locked in the closed state relative to the main body frame 305 by a locking means 304. The first hinge 303 and the second hinge 307 are arranged so as to be coaxial.

[0351] As shown in Figure 62, the outer frame 301 is formed into a rectangular shape by a pair of left and right vertical frame members 308 and a pair of upper and lower horizontal frame members 309. A front cover member 310 made of synthetic resin is attached to the lower horizontal frame member 309 to cover the horizontal frame member 309 from the front side and connect the front lower parts of the left and right vertical frame members 308. The front cover member 310 protrudes further forward than the left and right vertical frame members 308, and the main body frame 305 is disposed above it.

[0352] The main body frame 305 is made of synthetic resin and is configured in a rectangular shape that can abut the front edge of the outer frame 301 on the upper side of the front cover member 310, and is integrally provided with a game board mounting portion 311 in the shape of a rectangular opening on the upper side and a lower mounting portion 312 provided below this game board mounting portion 311.

[0353] 65 to 68, the game board mounting portion 311 allows the game board 313 to be attached and detached from the front side, and this game board mounting portion 311 is provided with an abutment portion 314 against which the game board 313 abuts from the front side, an engagement portion 315 that engages with the game board 313 when one of the left and right ends of the game board 313 is inserted into the game board mounting portion 311, and a fixing means 316 for detachably fixing the other end of the game board 313 in the game board mounting portion 311 to the main body frame 305. Note that the game board mounting portion 311 may allow the game board 313 to be attached and detached from the back side.

[0354] When the game board 313 is attached to the game board attachment portion 311, one end of the game board 313 is inserted from the front side of the game board attachment portion 311 between the abutment portion 314 and the engagement portion 315 of the game board attachment portion 311, as shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 65. Next, when the other end of the game board 313 is pressed into the main body frame 305, the game board 313 rotates rearward in the direction indicated by arrow 313A in Fig. 65 with the engagement portion 315 side or the intermediate side between the abutment portion 314 and the engagement portion 315 as the rotation center O. Therefore, the game board 313 can be pushed into the game board attachment portion 311 as shown by the solid line in Fig. 65 against sliding resistance between the game board 313 and the game board attachment portion 311.

[0355] Once the game board 313 is inserted into the game board mounting portion 311, the other end of the game board 313 is fastened and fixed to the game board mounting portion 311 by a pair of upper and lower fixing means 316. This makes it possible to easily mount the game board 313. To remove the game board 313, simply place your fingers on an appropriate part of the game board 313 and rotate it around the rotation center O in the direction opposite to the arrow 313A in the reverse order.

[0356] As shown in Figures 62 to 68, the main body frame 305 is provided with a surrounding wall 317, either integrally or separately, that protrudes rearward from the outer periphery of the game board mounting portion 311. The surrounding wall 317 surrounds and protects the backside mechanism of the game board 313 mounted on the game board mounting portion 311 from the outer periphery, and is equipped with an upper wall portion 318 that protrudes rearward from the top of the game board mounting portion 311, a pair of left and right side wall portions 319 that protrude rearward from both the left and right sides of the game board mounting portion 311, and a bottom wall portion 320 that protrudes rearward from the bottom of the game board mounting portion 311.

[0357] The top wall 318 and the bottom wall 320 are arranged in the left-right direction on both the top and bottom sides of the game board mounting part 311, and the side wall 319 is arranged in the up-down direction on both the left and right sides of the rear side of the game board mounting part 311. The bottom wall 320 is provided with a discharge port 321 that discharges game balls that have passed through the back side of the game board 313 downward.

[0358] As shown in Figures 61 and 62, the glass door 306 has a door base 322 made of synthetic resin and formed in a rectangular shape corresponding to the front side of the main body frame 305. This door base 322 has a window hole 324 formed in it corresponding to the front side of the playing area 323 formed on the playing board 313, and a plurality of speakers 325 are arranged at predetermined locations around the window hole 324, such as above, below, left, and right, with decorative covers 326 attached that substantially cover each speaker 325 from the front.

[0359] Also, as shown in Figure 61, on the lower front side of the door base 322, there are arranged an upper tray (launched ball storage tray) 328 that stores game balls and supplies them to the launching means 327, a lower tray (surplus ball receiving tray) 329 that stores surplus balls that overflow from the upper tray 328 when the upper tray 328 is full of game balls, and a launch handle 330 that is operated to activate the launching means 327, and further, a lower decorative cover 331 is attached that roughly covers the upper tray 328, lower tray 329, etc. from the front.

[0360] The lower decorative cover 331 is formed in a forward-facing bulge, and on its upper side are provided operation means such as an effect button 332 that can be pressed by the player, and a cross operation means 333. The cross operation means 333 has four operation parts 334: an up key on the rear side, a down key on the front side, a left key on the left side, and a right key on the right side.

[0361] As shown in Figure 62, a glass unit 340 is removably attached to the back side of the door base 322 so as to roughly cover the window hole 324 from the rear side, and a reinforcing metal plate 335 arranged in the vertical direction along the edge on the first and second hinges 303, 307 side, a reinforcing metal plate 336 arranged in the vertical direction along the edge on the opening and closing end side, and a reinforcing metal plate 337 arranged in the horizontal direction below the window hole 324 are removably fixed by screws or the like.

[0362] A ball feeding means 338, a ball guiding means 339, etc. are attached to the back side of the reinforcing sheet metal 337. The ball feeding means 338 is for supplying the game balls in the upper tray 328 one by one to the launching means 327, and is arranged corresponding to the front side of the launching means 327. The ball guiding means 339 is for guiding surplus balls that overflow from the upper tray 328 when the upper tray 328 is full of game balls, and foul balls that return without reaching the playing area 323, to the lower tray 329, and is arranged adjacent to the ball feeding means 338 on the side of the first and second hinges 303, 307 thereof.

[0363] As shown in Figures 62 to 69, a game board 313 is detachably mounted in a game board mounting portion 311 of the main body frame 305, and a performance control board 345, a power supply module board 346, and a main control board 354 are arranged on the back side of the game board 313. Also, on the back side of the main body frame 305, a ball tank 347, a ball guide rail 348, and an external information retrieval means 349 are arranged at the upper end, and on one side in the left-right direction, a ball payout means 350, a ball guide means 351, and a relay board 352 are arranged vertically, and on the other side in the left-right direction, an LED connection board 353 is arranged vertically. Furthermore, on the back side of the main body frame 305, a payout board 355 and a ball lending board 356 are arranged on the left and right below the main control board 354.

[0364] As shown in Figures 63 and 64, the ball tank 347, ball guide rail 348, and external information retrieval means 349 are arranged in the left-right direction along the upper side of the upper wall portion 318 of the surrounding wall 317. The ball tank 347 is used to store game balls for prize balls and rental balls, and is configured as a rectangle long in the left-right direction in a plan view, and is detachably fixed in contact with a step portion 318a of the upper wall portion 318 of the surrounding wall 317. The ball tank 347 is open at the top so as to receive game balls replenished from the replenishment means 357 on the island side.

[0365] Ball guide rail 348 is used to guide game balls from ball tank 347 to ball dispensing means 350, and is arranged at an angle in the left-right direction from the bottom of ball tank 347 to the top of ball dispensing means 350, and is detachably attached to the back side of main body frame 305. A ball crushing mechanism 358 is provided midway along ball guide rail 348 as needed. External information retrieval means 349 is used to retrieve various types of game information to the outside, and is equipped with a plurality of retrieval terminals 359 arranged in a row in the left-right direction, and is arranged above ball guide rail 348.

[0366] Of the left and right side wall portions 319 of the surrounding wall 317, the side wall portion 319 on the side of the first and second hinges 303, 307 has an integral rear mounting base 360 ​​that bends inward in the left-right direction from its rear end, as shown in Figures 63 to 68, and on the back side of this rear mounting base 360, a ball dispensing means 350 and a ball guiding means 351 are arranged in a vertical row and are removably attached.

[0367] The ball dispensing means 350 is for dispensing game balls in the ball tank 347 based on a prize ball dispensing command from a dispensing board 355 and a ball lending command from a ball lending board 356. As shown in FIG. 64, this ball dispensing means 350 comprises a dispensing case 362 formed in a vertically elongated rectangle that is flat in the front-to-rear direction, a storage passage 363 provided in a zigzag pattern within the dispensing case 362, a rotor 364 that dispenses game balls from the storage passage 363, and a drive motor (not shown) that drives the rotor 364, and is detachably mounted on the back side of the rear mounting base 360. The game balls dispensed from the ball dispensing means 350 are guided to the upper tray 328 via a ball guide means 351.

[0368] As shown in Figure 64, the ball guiding means 351 has a payout passage 366 and an extraction passage 367. When the ball payout means 350 pays out a game ball, the game ball from the ball payout means 350 is guided to the upper tray 328 via the payout passage 366, and when a game ball is extracted from the ball tank 347 to the ball payout means 350, the game ball can be extracted from the extraction passage 367 to the outside of the machine via an extraction port (not shown). A relay board 352 is provided on the back side of the ball guiding means 351.

[0369] Of the left and right side wall portions 319 of the surrounding wall 317, the side wall portion 319 located opposite the rotation center O when the game board 313 is attached or detached is provided with a side wall reinforcing member 368 made of sheet metal that reinforces the side wall portion 319 from the outside, as shown in Figures 64 to 68, and further, a frame side joint portion 369 is provided that is L-shaped in a front view from the side wall portion 319 along the bottom wall portion 320. The side wall reinforcing member 368 has the function of protecting the side wall portion 319 and the backside mechanism of the game board 313 from being damaged by contact with other members when the front frame 302 is opened or closed.

[0370] As shown in Figures 66 and 69, the frame-side joint portion 369 is arranged in front-to-back correspondence with the board-side joint portion 370 on the back side of the game board 313, and is designed to be electrically detachably connected to the board-side joint portion 370 when the game board 313 is attached to or detached from the game board mounting portion 311.

[0371] As shown in Figure 62, a firing means 327, a lower speaker 325a, etc. are arranged on the front side of the lower mounting part 312. Also, as shown in Figures 63 and 64, a first board mounting base 371 is attached to the back side of the lower mounting part 312 so as to cover the back side of the backside mechanism of the lower mounting part 312, and a payout board 355 housed in a payout board case 372 and a ball lending board 356 housed in a ball lending board case 373 are arranged on the left and right sides on the back side of this first board mounting base 371.

[0372] As shown in Figure 69, the launching means 327 comprises a sheet metal support plate 374, a launching rail 375 attached to the front of the support plate 374, a ball holding section 376 attached to the front of the support plate 374 and holding the game ball to be launched on the launching rail 375, a striking hammer 378 supported on the front of the support plate 374 so as to be able to swing freely around a drive shaft 377 in the front-to-back direction, and a launching drive means 379 such as a rotary solenoid attached to the back side of the support plate 374 and driving the striking hammer 378 in the impact direction via the drive shaft 377, and when the launch handle 330 is rotated, the launching drive means 379 drives the striking hammer 378 in the impact direction (clockwise) in accordance with the amount of rotation, so that the game ball on the launching rail 375 is launched toward the game board 313.

[0373] The payout board 355 is for controlling the ball payout means 350 in accordance with a payout command. The payout board case 372 that houses this payout board 355 is detachably fixed to the first board mounting base 371 by engagement means 380 on one of the left and right ends and a fastener 381 on the other end, as shown in Figures 63 and 64. The fastener 381 has a knob 382 that can be rotated around a front-to-back axis on the first board mounting base 371, and the knob 382 is used to tighten the payout board case 372 to the first board mounting base 371.

[0374] As shown in Figures 63 and 64, ball lending board 356 controls ball dispensing means 350 in accordance with ball lending commands from a ball lending button or the like. Ball lending board case 373, which houses ball lending board 356, is pivotally mounted on one of the left and right ends by pivot means 383 so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis, and is removably fixed to first board mounting base 371 by locking means 384 on the other end. Locking means 384 has a locking button 385 that can be operated in the forward and backward directions, and when locking button 385 is pressed forward, ball lending board case 373 is locked to first board mounting base 371, and when locking button 385 is pulled rearward, the lock is released.

[0375] The game board 313 is configured in a substantially rectangular shape from a non-transparent material such as plywood or a transparent material such as synthetic resin. As shown in Figure 70, the front side of this game board 313 is provided with a game area 323, a guide rail 387 that guides game balls launched from the launching means 327 to the upper side of the game area 323, and a central display frame (center case) 388 that is located approximately in the center and detachably attached to the front side of the game board 313. In addition, a front decorative member 389 is provided on the outer periphery of the game area 323 on the front side of the game board 313.

[0376] 65 to 68 and 71 to 75, a mounting frame 391 and a second board mounting base 392 are attached to the back side of the game board 313 so as to cover the lower side of the mounting frame 391. Attached to the mounting frame 391 are image display means 393 such as a liquid crystal type that is arranged on the back side of the game board 313 corresponding to the central display frame 388, first to fourth movable effect means 394 to 397 that are arranged between the central display frame 388 and the image display means 393, an LED connection board 353 to which LEDs for light-emitting effect on the front side of the front frame 302 are connected, and a harness receiving base 399 that receives a harness that is arranged on the back side.

[0377] Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 72, a performance control board 345 and a power supply module board 346 are mounted on the back side of the image display means 393. As shown in Fig. 72, a main control board case 513 that houses the main control board 354 and a board-side joint part 370 that is electrically attached and detached to and from the frame-side joint part 369 when the game board 313 is attached and detached are provided on the back side of the second board mounting base 392.

[0378] The mounting frame 391 is a rectangular cylinder that is short in the front-to-rear direction, and is detachably attached to the back side of the game board 313. The first to fourth movable performance means 394 to 397 are incorporated into the mounting frame 391 as shown in Figures 70 and 73 to 75, and by attaching and detaching the mounting frame 391 to and from the game board 313, they can be attached and detached from the back side of the game board 313 integrally with the mounting frame 391.

[0379] 70, a central display frame 388 is disposed approximately in the center of the game area 323, and a left flow-down path 401 and a right flow-down path 402 are formed on both the left and right sides of the central display frame 388. A start winning means 403 is disposed approximately in the center of the lower side of the central display frame 388, and a big winning means 404 and a normal winning means 405 are disposed on both the left and right sides of this start winning means 403. Various display means including a normal symbol display means 406, a normal reserved number display means 407, a first special symbol display means 408, and a second special symbol display means 409 are disposed in appropriate positions on the front side of the central display frame 388.

[0380] The guide rail 387 is arranged on the front side of the game board 313 so as to surround the outer periphery of the game area 323, and guides the game balls launched from the launching means 327 to the upper side of the game area 323 via a guide path 411. A large number of game pegs (not shown) are arranged in the game area 323, and the game balls that are shot into the upper part of the game area 323 via the guide rail 387 are sorted by the central display frame 388 etc. into either a left flow path 401 or a right flow path 402 and flow down while colliding with the game pegs.

[0381] As shown in FIG. 70 and other figures, the game board 313 has a plurality of mounting holes 413-415 for mounting a central display frame 388, a start winning means 403, a special winning means 404, a normal winning means 405, and an outlet 416, which are formed to penetrate the game board in the front-to-rear direction. The mounting hole 413 is for mounting the central display frame 388, and is provided in approximately the center of the game area 323. The mounting hole 414 is for mounting the start winning means 403, and the mounting hole 415 is for mounting the normal winning means 405, and both are provided below the mounting hole 413. The outlet 416 is located at the bottom of the game area 323.

[0382] As shown in Figures 76 to 80, the central display frame 388 covers the outer periphery of the image display means 393 from the front side and forms a display window 418 corresponding to the image display means 393 on the inside. This central display frame 388 is divided into two circumferentially into a first display frame 419 and a second display frame 420 so as to surround the display window 418, and is detachably attached to the front of the game board 313 with screws or the like so that the outer periphery of the display window 418 is positioned within the mounting hole 413. Note that although the central display frame 388 is divided into two circumferentially into the first display frame 419 and the second display frame 420, the entire frame may be divided into three or more parts, or may be divided into multiple parts in the front-to-rear direction, as necessary.

[0383] As shown in Figures 73, 76 to 80, the first display frame 419 comprises a plate-shaped or other front mounting portion 421 that is arranged along the front surface of the game board 313 outside the mounting hole 413 and through which game balls can pass in front of it, a decorative front frame portion 422 that is arranged in a roughly gate-like shape in front of the front mounting portion 421 from the top side to both the left and right sides when viewed from the front and protrudes forward from the inner periphery of the front mounting portion 421, a window frame portion 423 that bends rearward from the inner periphery of the front frame portion 422 and is arranged within the mounting hole 413 and surrounds the display window 418 from the outer periphery, and left and right decorative members 424 that are arranged vertically behind the window frame portion 423 on both the left and right sides of the display window 418, and is removably attached to the front of the game board 313.

[0384] The decorative members 424 are plate-shaped or have other shapes, and as shown in Figures 73, 76, and 77, are arranged to protrude toward the display window 418 beyond the inner periphery of the window frame portion 423. Of the left and right decorative members 424, one decorative member 424 is fixed to the front frame portion 422 or the like via an attachment portion 424a, and the other decorative member 424 is fixed to the window frame portion 423 or the like via an attachment portion 424a.

[0385] The front mounting portion 421, the front frame portion 422, and the window frame portion 423 constitute a front member 426 that defines the game area 323 on the outer periphery of the central display frame 388, and the decorative member 424 constitutes a rear member 427 that is located behind the front member 426 and on the outer periphery of the image display means 393. On the front side of the first display frame 419, various display means such as a normal symbol display means 406, a normal reserved number display means 407, a first special symbol display means 408, and a second special symbol display means 409 are arranged at appropriate positions.

[0386] The second display frame 420 is provided with a stage 429 that drops the game ball from the front side of the game board 313 to the starting winning means 403, and a warp port 430 that guides the game ball flowing down the left flow path 401 to the stage 429.

[0387] This second display frame 420 is arranged between the left and right lower ends of the window frame portion 423 etc. of the first display frame 419, and is equipped with a front mounting member 432 such as a plate that abuts against the front of the game board 313 at the lower side of the mounting hole 413, a stage 429 arranged above the front mounting member 432, and an intrusion prevention member 431 arranged from the top to the rear of the stage 429, and both left and right ends are detachably connected to the left and right lower ends of the first display frame 419 with screws etc.

[0388] The front mounting member 432 is integrally provided with a reinforcing peripheral wall portion 433 that is disposed on the inner periphery of the mounting hole 413, and that extends over substantially the entire length of the rear side in the left-right direction. As shown in Figures 76 to 80, this front mounting member 432 is formed with a warp port 430 that opens to the left flow-down path 401 side, and a guide passage 434 that guides game balls from this warp port 430 toward the stage 429 side. The guide passage 434 is connected to a guide passage 435 formed in the intrusion prevention member 431 on the rear side, and is configured to guide and direct game balls that enter the warp port 430 while flowing down the left flow-down path 401 from this guide passage 434 through the guide passage 435 to one end of the stage 429.

[0389] The warp opening 430 is provided on the front side of the front mounting member 432. The front mounting member 432 has an opening 437 on the front side of the warp opening 430, and a passage wall 438 for a guide passage 434 that protrudes forward in a U-shape is provided integrally on the downstream side of the warp opening 430. The rear side of the guide passage 434 communicates with a guide passage 435 via a connection hole 439. The guide passage 435 is formed between the front mounting member 432 and a passage wall 440 that is provided on the intrusion prevention member 431 and has a U-shaped cross section.

[0390] By providing the warp opening 430 and guide passage 434 of this structure in the front mounting member 432, it is possible to mold the warp opening 430 and guide passage 434 integrally with the front mounting member 432 using a mold divided into two parts, front and rear.Compared to when a warp opening member including the warp opening 430 and guide passage 434 is provided on the front mounting member 432 so that it can be attached and detached from the front, the number of parts in the second display frame 420 can be reduced, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

[0391] It is also possible to configure the rear sides of both the warp port 430 and the guide passage 434 to be open, and to block the open side except for the connection hole 439 with the guide passage 435 with other members such as the game board 313, the stage 429 or the entry prevention member 431. In short, it is sufficient that the front attachment member 432 including the warp port 430 and the guide passage 434 can be molded as a single unit using a mold divided into two parts for the front and rear.

[0392] The stage 429 has a generally arcuate shape in front view, with higher left and right sides, and has a central drop section 450 located approximately in the center in the left-right direction, and left and right drop sections 451 located on both left and right sides of the central drop section 450. A game ball guided from the warp port 430 rolls freely in the left-right direction, and then falls from either the central drop section 450 or the left and right drop section 451 to the front side of the game board 313. The central drop section 450 is located approximately directly above the start winning means 403, and when a game ball falls from this central drop section 450, there is a high possibility that the game ball will win in the start winning means 403.

[0393] In addition to the guide passage 435, the intrusion prevention member 431 integrally comprises a rear intrusion prevention plate 443 that is provided approximately parallel to the game board 313 so as to cover the stage 429 from the rear side, and an upper intrusion prevention plate 444 that bends forward from the upper end of the rear intrusion prevention plate 443 and covers the stage 429 from above, and these intrusion prevention plates 443, 444 are configured to prevent game balls flowing down each flow path 401, 402 or game balls that have bounced off the stage 429 from entering the rear side. Note that the intrusion prevention member 431 is made of a transparent synthetic resin, and the display image displayed on the image display means 393 can be seen from the front side through this intrusion prevention member 431.

[0394] 71 to 75, 81 to 83, etc., the mounting frame 391 integrally comprises a rear wall 446 formed approximately parallel to the gaming board 313 and having a rectangular opening 455 formed approximately in the center thereof, a peripheral wall 447 extending forward from the outer edge of the rear wall 446 to the back surface of the gaming board 313, and a fixing portion 448 bent outward from the front edge of the peripheral wall 447 along the gaming board 313 and fixed to the gaming board 313 by fixing screws or the like. The top, bottom, left, and right wall portions of the peripheral wall 447 are arranged close to the top wall 318, side wall 319, and bottom wall 320 of the outer surrounding wall 317.

[0395] On the back side of the rear wall portion 446 of the mounting frame 391, as shown in Figures 73, 75, and 81, there are provided a display means mounting portion 453 to which the image display means 393 is mounted so that it can be inserted and removed in the vertical direction along the game board 313, bulging portions 454 which are arranged in the vertical direction on both the left and right sides of the display means mounting portion 453 and have a U-shaped cross section when viewed from above, bulging out further rearward than the image display means 393, and a harness receiving base 399 which is arranged below the bulging portions 454 and on the back side of the display means mounting portion 453.

[0396] As shown in Figures 72, 73, 75, 81, etc., each of the left and right bulging portions 454 has a plurality of openings 456 formed in the vertical direction on the outer side in the left-right direction, and the rear side of each opening 456 serves as a handle portion 457. A plurality of handle portions 457 are provided in the vertical direction on each bulging portion 454, and by hooking one of the handle portions 457 on either the left or right side with one's fingers, the game board 313 can be easily carried even with each component attached. In particular, since the mounting frame 391 has a plurality of handle portions 457 on both the left and right sides in the vertical direction, it is possible to use the handle portion 457 that is optimally positioned in terms of weight balance, taking into account the attachment status of each component to the game board 313, etc.

[0397] As shown in Figures 65, 67, 68, 73, 81 and 82, the display means mounting section 453 is provided with a receiving section 460 which is provided on the outer periphery of the opening 455 and receives the outer periphery of the front side of the image display means 393 from the front, bulging sections 454 which are provided on both the left and right sides of this receiving section 460 and guide both the left and right sides of the image display means 393 in the insertion / removal direction, and a protruding wall 461 which is provided on the underside of the receiving section 460 and against which the image display means 393 abuts on the insertion end side, and the upper side is an insertion / removal section 462 for the image display means 393.

[0398] The protruding wall 461 protrudes rearward by approximately half the height of the bulging portion 454, and bends upward from both the left and right ends of the receiving portion 460 to reach the lower side of the bulging portion 454. The upper end of the image display means 393 is detachably fixed to the upper receiving portion 460 by a plurality of fixing means 463 in the left-right direction, and the lower end of the image display means 393 is detachably fixed to the protruding wall 461 by a plurality of fixing means 464 in the left-right direction.

[0399] 65, 67, 68, 81, and 82, the insertion / removal portion 462 of the display means mounting portion 453 is provided on the upper end side of the mounting frame 391, and when the game board 313 is mounted on the game board mounting portion 311 of the front frame 302, the upper wall portion 318 of the surrounding wall 317 of the front frame 302, the ball tank 347, and other frame side members are close to the upper side of this insertion / removal portion 462, and it is covered from above by the upper wall portion 318, the ball tank 347, and other frame side members. Therefore, when the game board 313 is mounted, the image display means 393 cannot be removed from the insertion / removal portion 462.

[0400] As shown in Figure 73, the bulging portion 454 has a U-shaped cross section in a plan view with the front open, and is arranged in the vertical direction on both the left and right sides of the display means mounting portion 453, and these bulging portions 454 on both the left and right sides and the receiving portions 460 on both the left and right sides form guide rails 465 that guide the image display means 393 on both the left and right sides.

[0401] The internal space of the bulging portion 454 functions as a storage portion that stores some or all of the internal mechanism (game components) within the mounting frame 391. Of the left and right bulging portions 454, the bulging portion 454 on the ball dispensing means 350 side is disposed adjacent to the rear mounting base 360, overlapping front to back, and the bulging portion 454 on the opposite side from the ball dispensing means 350 is provided with a side board mounting base 467 that protrudes rearward beyond the image display means 393. The side board mounting base 467 has a vertically elongated rectangular shape, and its outer left and right sides are detachably fixed to the rear side of the bulging portion 454 and its lower end side to the rear side of the harness receiving base 399, respectively, by fixing devices such as screws.

[0402] One of the left and right sides of side circuit board mounting base 467 is fixed to bulging portion 454 of mounting frame 391 by a plurality of upper and lower fasteners 473, and the lower end is fixed to harness receiving base 399 by a plurality of left and right fasteners 474. Harness receiving base 399 is fixed to mounting frame 391 by fasteners 475 such as screws. Screws or the like are used as fasteners 473 to 475.

[0403] The side board mounting base 467 and the harness receiving base 399 constitute protruding members (fixing members) that protrude further rearward than the display means mounting portion 453, overlap one of the left and right sides and the bottom of the display means mounting portion 453 from the rearward, and constitute rear-side guide means that press and guide the image display means 393 from the rearward when inserting or removing the image display means 393. In addition to the rear-side guiding means, the side board mounting base 467 and the harness receiving base 399 also constitute limiting means (rear-side pressing means) that limit the movement of the image display means 393 rearward. The side board mounting base 467 and the harness receiving base 399 are adjacent to the image display means 393 with a small gap between them, but they may also be in slidable contact with the image display means 393.

[0404] As shown in Figures 71 to 73 and 82, the LED connection board 353 is detachably attached to the side board mounting base 467 without using screws or the like. LEDs (not shown) are connected to the LED connection board 353 to illuminate the front side of the front frame 302. The side board mounting base 467 has a peripheral wall portion 469 that surrounds the LED connection board 353, a board abutment portion 470 that the LED connection board 353 abuts against from the back side, a board engagement portion 471 that engages with one left and right edge of the LED connection board 353, and a board engagement claw 472 that engages with the other left and right edge of the LED connection board 353, and these are configured to detachably fix the LED connection board 353.

[0405] A plurality of board contact portions 470 are provided in the circumferential direction on the inner periphery of the peripheral wall portion 469, corresponding to the outer periphery of the LED connection board 353. A plurality of board engagement portions 471 are provided in the vertical direction on the inside of one of the left and right sides of the peripheral wall portion 469, corresponding to the middle between the board contact portions 470. A plurality of board engagement claws 472 are elastically deformable in the direction of engagement and disengagement with respect to the LED connection board 353, and are provided in the vertical direction on the other of the left and right sides of the peripheral wall portion 469.

[0406] When the LED connection board 353 is attached to the side board mounting base 467, first, one end of the LED connection board 353 is inserted between the board abutment portion 470 and the board engagement portion 471. Next, when the LED connection board 353 is pressed toward the side board mounting base 467 using the board abutment portion 470 and the board engagement portion 471 as fulcrums, the board engagement claws 472 elastically deform outward, and the LED connection board 353 fits within the peripheral wall portion 469, with its outer periphery abutting against the board abutment portions 470. Then, when the LED connection board 353 passes the board engagement claws 472, the board engagement claws 472 return to their original shape by their elastic force and engage with the other side edge of the LED connection board 353.

[0407] Therefore, with this configuration, LED connection board 353 can be easily attached and detached to and from side board mounting base 467, which has the advantage that side board mounting base 467 can be removed and easily reused as synthetic resin material. Also, screws for fixing LED connection board 353 are not required, which minimizes the number of screws used.

[0408] The structure for attaching the LED connection board 353 to the side board mounting base 467 can also be used in the same way when attaching a mounting target member to another mounting base.

[0409] The image display means 393 is configured by housing a rectangular image display panel 481, such as a liquid crystal type, in a housing case 482. As shown in FIGS. 65, 67, 68, 73, 85, and 86, the image display panel 481 is vertically and removably inserted into the display means mounting portion 453 from the insertion / removal portion 462 side, and both upper and lower ends of the housing case 482 are fixed by fixing means 463, 464. The housing case 482 is flat from front to back, and the image display panel 481 is detachably housed in the housing case 482 from the front open side. The image display panel 481 is held by the housing case 482 and a retaining frame 483 disposed corresponding to the front outer periphery of the image display panel 481. The retaining frame 483 is fixed to a peripheral wall portion 484 of the housing case 482.

[0410] A plurality of sets of fixing means 463, 464 are provided in the left-right direction on both the top and bottom sides of the image display means 393. As shown in Fig. 67 , the upper fixing means 463 includes an attachment portion 485 protruding upward from the accommodating case 482, an attachment hole 486 provided in the receiving portion 460 of the display means mounting portion 453 corresponding to this attachment portion 485, and a fastener 487 such as a screw inserted from the attachment portion 485 to the attachment hole 486.

[0411] 68, the lower fixing means 464 includes an attachment portion 488 that extends downward from the storage case 482, an attachment hole 489 that is provided in the protruding wall 461 of the display means mounting portion 453 corresponding to the attachment portion 488, and a fastener 490 such as a screw that is inserted from the attachment portion 488 into the attachment hole 489. The protruding wall 461 is provided with a positioning portion 491 that positions the image display means 393 in the left-right direction relative to the attachment portion 488.

[0412] The positioning portion 491 is formed in the shape of a notch in the protruding wall 461 so that the mounting portion 488 can be inserted and removed in the vertical direction, and a mounting hole 489 is provided in the positioning portion 491. The mounting portion 488 and the positioning portion 491 constitute a positioning means for the image display means 393. The harness receiving base 399 is provided with an opening- or notch-shaped operating portion 492 facing the fixing means 464, and a tool or the like for the fixing device 490 is inserted through this operating portion 492 to perform operations such as turning the fixing device 490.

[0413] As shown in Figures 85 and 86, the storage case 482 includes a peripheral wall 484, and an upper rear wall 493 and a lower rear wall 494 that are integrally formed on the rear end of the peripheral wall 484 and abut against the back surface of the image display panel 481. The storage case 482 is deep in the front-to-rear direction on the upper rear wall 493 side, and is provided with ribs and other reinforcing parts 493a on the front side or both the front and rear sides, and protrudes slightly rearward beyond the lower rear wall 494. The performance control board 345 and power supply module board 346 are attached to the rear side of the upper rear wall 493. The lower rear wall 494 is adjacent to the back surface of the image display panel 481, and a harness receiving stand 399 is provided close to the back side of the lower rear wall 494.

[0414] The performance control board 345 has the function of controlling the various performance images displayed on the image display means 393, or the function of controlling the performance images and the function of controlling the various other movable performance means 394 to 397, and is housed in a performance control board case 495. As shown in Figure 85(a), the performance control board case 495 is configured by joining a front case 495a and a rear case 495b so that they can be opened and closed in the front-to-rear direction. An opening 498 is provided in the rear case 495b corresponding to the connector 497 on the back surface of the performance control board 345, and a harness (not shown) is connected to the connector 497 on the opening 498 side.

[0415] Performance control board case 495 is detachably attached to the back side of storage case 482 of image display means 393 by fixed engagement portion 499, abutment portion 500, fastener 501, and engagement claw 502. Fixed engagement portion 499 and abutment portion 500 protrude rearward from storage case 482 at a distance equal to the performance control board case 495, and performance control board case 495 detachably engages with fixed engagement portion 499, and abutment portion 500 sandwiches performance control board case 495 in the left-right direction between fixed engagement portion 499 and abutment portion 500.

[0416] Fastener 501 is rotatably supported on abutment portion 500 by pivot 505, and is operable around pivot 505 to fasten performance control board case 495 to storage case 482. Fastener 501 can be positioned between a fastening position and a release position on abutment portion 500. Engagement claw 502 protrudes from storage case 482 to the rear side and is positioned above abutment portion 500, and engages with performance control board case 495 in a freely detachable manner.

[0417] 89(a), the abutment portion 500, the fastener 501, and the engaging claw 502 are arranged so as not to interfere with the side board mounting base 467 when the image display means 393 is inserted into or removed from the display means mounting portion 453. On the other hand, the fixed engaging portion 499 is located on the left-right edge side of the accommodating case 482, and if an attempt is made to insert the image display means 393 into the display means mounting portion 453 with the left and right sides reversed, the fixed engaging portion 499 will interfere with the upper end of the side board mounting base 467, as shown in FIG.

[0418] Therefore, the fixed engagement portion (first member) 499 and the side board mounting base (second member) 467 constitute an erroneous mounting prevention means 516 that prevents the image display means 393 from being erroneously mounted on the display means mounting portion 453.

[0419] Note that fixed engagement portion (first member) 499 constitutes a mounting fixture for detachably mounting performance control board case 495 to storage case 482, but the mounting fixture may be used to mount other components besides performance control board case 495. Also, the first member may be a protrusion provided in a protruding shape for another purpose, and is not limited to a mounting fixture.

[0420] As shown in Figure 85(b), the power supply module board 346 is housed in a power supply module board case 506 and is detachably attached to the upper side of the performance control board 345 and the back side of the upper rear wall portion 493 of the storage case 482 via engagement means 503, 504, etc.

[0421] When the image display means 393 is mounted on the mounting frame 391 on the back side of the game board 313, the image display means 393 is mounted by inserting it into the display means mounting portion 453 from the insertion / removal portion 462 side, as shown in Figure 89(a). Note that for the sake of convenience in creating the drawing, the game board 313 and the image display means 393 are shown in an upright position in Figure 89, but when mounting the image display means 393 during assembly of the game board 313, the work is performed with the game board 313 laid horizontally with the front side facing downwards, for example.

[0422] 89(a) along the guide rail 465 of the display means mounting portion 453. Then, the image display means 393 is inserted into the display means mounting portion 453 until the insertion end side of the accommodating case 482 abuts against the protruding wall 461.

[0423] When the mounting portion 485 on the insertion end side of the accommodating case 482 enters the positioning portion 491 of the protruding wall 461, the image display means 393 in the display means mounting portion 453 can be positioned at an appropriate position in the left-right direction by the positioning function of the mounting portion 485 and the positioning portion 491. Next, the image display means 393 can be fixed to the receiving portion 460 of the display means mounting portion 453 by the fixing means 463, 464 on both the upper and lower sides.

[0424] In this way, when the insertion / removal section 462 side of the display means mounting section 453 is in an open state, the image display means 393 can be attached and detached from the insertion / removal section 462 side substantially parallel to the game board 313, which has the advantage that the image display means 393 can be easily attached and detached without removing other components such as the side board mounting base 467 and the harness receiving base 399 that are present around the display means mounting section 453 so as to overlap the image display means 393. Therefore, other components can be arranged so as to overlap the back side of the image display means 393.

[0425] Furthermore, when inserting image display means 393 into display means mounting portion 453, one of the left and right ends of image display means 393 enters below side board mounting base 467, and then the lower side of image display means 393 enters below harness receiving base 399, so that side board mounting base 467 and harness receiving base 399 can be used as a kind of guide member. Therefore, even when image display means 393 is inserted or removed while game board 313 is in an upright position, there is no risk of image display means 393 falling off backward, and the insertion and removal work of image display means 393 can be performed easily and safely.

[0426] During assembly, if the image display means 393 is inserted in the direction of the arrow into the display means mounting portion 453 with the left and right sides reversed as shown in Figure 89(b), the fixing engagement portion 499 for fixing the performance control board case 495 will interfere with the side board mounting base 467 on the back side of the display means mounting portion 453, and the image display means 393 cannot be inserted into the display means mounting portion 453. Therefore, incorrect insertion or incorrect mounting of the image display means 393 can be prevented in advance.

[0427] Furthermore, the fixed engagement portion 499 and the side board mounting base 467 constitute the mis-installation prevention means 516, and since the fixed engagement portion 499 and the side board mounting base 467 serve as the mis-installation prevention means 516, the structure can be simplified compared to when a dedicated...

Claims

[Claim 1] A frame body having a viewing window through which the game area can be viewed; an image display means capable of displaying an image on a display screen; A launching means for launching a game ball toward the game area based on an operation of a launching handle; a performance execution means for executing a specific performance by performing a predetermined transformation process on the image displayed on the image display means; In a gaming machine equipped with The frame body includes a replaceable unit portion, The play area is provided on the front side of the play board attached to the frame, The game board includes a game member disposed in front of the display screen, and a movable body configured to be movable in front of the display screen and capable of stopping at a predetermined stop position including an origin position; The display screen is composed of a first display area corresponding to the rear side of the play member when viewed from the front, a second display area corresponding to the rear side of the stop position of the movable body, and a third display area which is neither the first display area nor the second display area, the second display area includes a specific second display area corresponding to a rear side of the origin position of the movable body, A notice image regarding the reliability of the occurrence of a profit state can be displayed on the display screen, The preview image is composed of a first display section indicating the reliability and a second display section indicating the reliability, The first display unit is displayable in the third display area; The second display section is capable of displaying across the specific second display area and the third display area, The image display means is capable of displaying a launch guidance image indicating whether it is more advantageous for a player to aim at a leftward flow path or a rightward flow path in the game area according to a game state; The launch guidance image includes a figure indicating one of the left flow-down path and the right flow-down path, For a specific image having transformation information indicating that a predetermined transformation process is to be performed among images not including the launch guidance image, the predetermined transformation process is performed; The predetermined transformation process is not performed on non-specific images including the launch guidance image, the effect execution means has a primary buffer area and a frame buffer area as areas for drawing the image to be displayed on the image display means, and is configured to execute a first drawing process for drawing an image to be subjected to the predetermined transformation process via the primary buffer area when the specific effect is executed, and execute a second drawing process for drawing an image not to be subjected to the predetermined transformation process when the specific effect is executed, depending on whether the predetermined transformation process is executed or not, The specific image is stored in the primary buffer area, and then the first rendering process is executed to render the specific image in the frame buffer area by performing the predetermined transformation process based on vertex coordinate information and rotation angle information when the specific performance is executed. The second drawing process is performed for drawing the non-specific image into the frame buffer area without going through the primary buffer area and without performing the predetermined transformation process when the specific performance is performed. A gaming machine characterized by:

Images