Ball game machine

Abstract

To increase interest in a time-saving game by prioritizing a ceiling time-saving game.SOLUTION: Even if a specific lose symbol is selected, a ceiling time-saving game continuation process is made (step S1119), if a ceiling time-saving game is being performed (negative determination of step S1114). This is a process of giving priority to the ceiling time-saving game being executed over a specific time-saving game. At this time, after displaying the specific lose symbol, it is notified a player that the ceiling time-saving game is to be continued. When a lose variation number of times HN reaches a predetermined upper limit number MHN (negative determination of step S1111), after a specific time-saving end process (step S1121) is executed if the specific time-saving game is being executed, a ceiling time-saving start process (step S1122) is executed without performing the specific time-saving end process if the specific time-saving game is not being executed. In the specific time-saving end process, a specific time-saving flag and the number of time-savings are cleared (initialized) and it is notified a player that the specific time-saving game is ended once.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 31

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Typically, a pinball game machine has a pattern display device, a big prize opening, and one or more start openings including a variable start opening in the game area, and executes a "win / lose judgment on special patterns" based on a game ball flowing down the game area winning (entering) a start opening. Then, when this win / lose judgment is executed, the pattern display device executes a variable display of special patterns for a certain period of time, and then displays a fixed stopped pattern indicating the result of the win / lose judgment. Furthermore, if the fixed stopped pattern is a big prize pattern indicating that the result of the "win / lose judgment on special patterns" is a big prize, a big prize game is executed in which the big prize opening is opened in a predetermined opening / closing pattern.

[0003] As this type of pinball game machine, there are some that give a predetermined bonus in addition to the big win game when a predetermined opportunity is established. For example, there are pinball game machines that give a bonus (a bonus called probability fluctuation) that increases the probability that the result of the hit / miss judgment will be a big win, as well as a bonus (a bonus called time-saving mode) that shortens the fluctuation time of special patterns or extends the opening time of the opening / closing start gate (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2001-137462 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Incidentally, in conventional pinball game machines, winning a jackpot is a prerequisite for the time-saving mode (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "jackpot time-saving"). This has been considered to be a problem that makes the game less interesting. In order to solve this problem, it is also possible to execute the time-saving mode (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "ceiling time-saving") according to the number of times the special symbol changes in the losing state (also called the number of times the losing lottery is drawn). Also, if the special symbol that indicates a losing state when the winning / losing result is not a jackpot is a predetermined symbol (a specific symbol (also called a "time-saving symbol")), it is also possible to execute the time-saving mode (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "specific time-saving"). These time-saving games are expected to increase the interest in games, but there is room for improvement in the interrelationships between the time-saving games.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above points. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The technology disclosed in this specification can be realized in the following forms. A pinball game machine in which a starting port 1 is a normal ball entry port that does not open, an operation detection unit provided on the game board detects a game ball and determines whether a normal pattern is a hit or miss, and a variable ball entry port 2 is a variable ball entry port that can change from a closed state in which it is difficult for the game ball to enter to an open state in which it is easy to enter based on the result of the hit or miss determination being a hit, a lottery is held based on the game ball entering the starting port 1 or the starting port 2, and a pattern showing the result of the lottery is variably displayed, and a winning pattern is displayed to notify the player that the lottery has been won, and then a winning game is executed, A losing variation counting means for counting the number of losing variations that notifies the user that the lottery has not been won; a ceiling time-saving execution means for executing a time-saving game for a time-saving number of times by extending the open state of the variable ball entrance longer than usual when the number of times of the miss fluctuation counted by the miss fluctuation counting means reaches a predetermined number; A specific time-saving execution means for executing a time-saving game for extending the open state of the variable ball entrance more than usual for two times when a specific losing symbol is selected when the lottery is not won; The present invention is characterized in that it is equipped with a time-shortening switching means which switches to time-shortening game by the ceiling time-shortening execution means when the number of miss fluctuations reaches the predetermined number during time-shortening game by the specific time-shortening execution means, prohibits execution of time-shortening game by the specific time-shortening execution means during time-shortening game by the ceiling time-shortening execution means, and starts a new time-shortening game by the specific time-shortening execution means if the specific miss pattern is selected during time-shortening game by the specific time-shortening execution means (first feature).

[0008] The miss variation counting means may be a means for counting the number of miss variations that notify that the jackpot lottery will not be won, and is preferably a means for counting the number of miss variations that do not consecutively win the jackpot lottery, but may also be a means for counting the number of so-called small win lotteries, or may be a means for counting the miss variations that display a specific miss pattern that causes the open state of the variable ball entrance to transition to an open extension state that is longer than normal. The number of miss variations that notify that the jackpot lottery will not be won is the number of times that the miss pattern that notifies that the jackpot lottery will not be won is displayed in a variable and static manner, and corresponds to the number of times that the jackpot lottery will not be won. In addition, the miss variation counting means is preferably configured to count the number of miss variations in which the jackpot lottery is not won during the period when the game state is in the open extended state by the open extended state transition means, but is preferably configured not to count the number of miss variations in which the jackpot lottery is not won during the so-called high probability state in which the winning probability of the jackpot lottery is increased. The high probability state is generally entered after the jackpot game is over, and the player has gained a profit or has not suffered a large loss. However, the miss variation during the high probability state may also be counted. In this case, it is preferable to count the number of misses during the high probability state (so-called "sudden high probability"), which is entered not after the jackpot game is over, but after the jackpot game is obtained. The number of times of loss fluctuation is initialized at least when a jackpot lottery is won. Furthermore, it may be initialized when a transition to an extended open state is made by an extended open state transition means. If the number of times of loss fluctuation is not initialized, when a player is replaced, the number of times of loss fluctuation of the previous player is carried over to the new player.

[0009] The time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means and the specific time-saving execution means may be a means for shifting the open state of the variable ball entrance into an extended open state longer than normal, and may simultaneously shorten the variable time of the normal symbols, shorten the variable time of the special symbols that notify the result of a jackpot lottery or the like, and may also increase the probability that the result of the hit / miss judgment regarding the normal symbols will be a hit. When the open state of the variable ball entrance is shifted into the extended open state, usually at least one of the variable times of the normal symbols or the special symbols is made shorter than during normal play, and is therefore called a time-saving game. The variable ball entry opening should make it easier to score a ball when it is open than when it is closed, and it may be possible or impossible to score a ball when it is closed. The extended opening state refers to the time from when the result of the win / loss judgment regarding the normal pattern is a win to when the variable ball entrance is opened, the opening time or opening pattern of the variable ball entrance, etc., and may also be referred to as the extended opening mode. The time-saving times indicated by the time-saving times 1 and the time-saving times 2 may correspond to the number of jackpot draws during the time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means and the specific time-saving execution means. Since it may correspond to the number of jackpot draws, the time-saving times may be the number of jackpot draws during the time-saving game itself, the number of openings of the variable ball entrance during the time-saving game, the number of hit / miss judgments regarding the normal pattern during the time-saving game, or the number of changes in the normal pattern. Therefore, if the time-saving times 1 is the number of jackpot draws, the time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means ends when the number of hit / miss judgments regarding the normal pattern reaches the number 1 during the time-saving game, if the time-saving times 1 is the number of openings of the variable ball entrance, the time-saving game ends when the number of openings of the variable ball entrance reaches the number 1 during the time-saving game, and if the time-saving times 1 is the number of hit / miss judgments regarding the normal pattern, the time-saving game ends when the number of hit / miss judgments regarding the normal pattern reaches the number 1 during the time-saving game. In addition, if the opening pattern of the variable ball inlet involves multiple opening operations with short closures in between, it is preferable to count this as one opening operation. The time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means ends when the predetermined number of time-saving times reaches 1, and the time-saving game by the specific time-saving execution means ends when the predetermined number of time-saving times reaches 2, and also ends when a big win lottery is won during the time-saving game. Also, the game may be forcibly terminated when a predetermined specific pattern (forced termination pattern) other than the specific losing pattern is selected. In addition, the winning of the lottery based on the game ball entering the starting hole 1 or the starting hole 2 may include winning of a small prize in addition to winning of a big prize. The winning game of a small prize may be configured to open the large prize opening etc. a smaller number of times (for example, 1 to 2 times) than the winning game of a big prize. The winning game of a small prize may be configured to play the same winning game as the winning game of a big prize if the game ball passes through a specific area in the large prize opening during this opening period. This is also true for the pinball game machines with other features described below.

[0010] The time-saving switching means may be a means for switching to time-saving play by the ceiling time-saving execution means when the number of miss fluctuations reaches a predetermined number during time-saving play by the specific time-saving execution means, forbidding execution of time-saving play by the specific time-saving execution means during time-saving play by the ceiling time-saving execution means, and for starting a new time-saving game by the specific time-saving execution means when a specific miss pattern is selected during time-saving play by the specific time-saving execution means. Switching to time-shortened play by the ceiling time-shortened execution means when the number of miss fluctuations reaches a predetermined number during time-shortened play by the specific time-shortened execution means means terminating the time-shortened play by the specific time-shortened execution means when the number of miss fluctuations reaches a predetermined number during play in which the time-shortened play by the specific time-shortened execution means does not reach the time-shortened number 2, and then executing the time-shortened play by the ceiling time-shortened execution means. Prohibiting the execution of the time-saving game by the specific time-saving execution means during the time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means means prohibiting the time-saving game by the specific time-saving execution means during the game where the time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means does not reach one time-saving number, and continuing the time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means. In this case, even if a specific loss symbol is selected during the time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means, it is possible to replace the specific loss symbol with another loss symbol and display it. If it is not replaced with another loss symbol, it is possible to notify that the specific loss symbol has been selected but the time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means will continue. Alternatively, it is possible to configure the specific loss symbol not to be selected or to not be able to select the specific loss symbol during the time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means. "When a specific losing symbol is selected during a time-saving game by a specific time-saving execution means, a new time-saving game by a specific time-saving execution means is started" means that when a specific losing symbol is selected again during a game in which the time-saving game by the specific time-saving execution means has not yet reached two times of time-saving, a new time-saving game by the specific time-saving execution means for two times of time-saving is started from that point on. In addition, when there are two or more types of specific losing patterns, and when one specific losing pattern is selected during a time-saving game in which the other specific losing pattern is selected, if the remaining number of time-saving times is greater than the number of time-saving times with the other specific losing pattern, the time-saving game with the other specific losing pattern may not be started, and the time-saving game with one specific losing pattern may be continued.

[0011] In a pinball gaming machine having a first feature, when the number of miss fluctuations reaches a predetermined number during time-shortening play by the specific time-shortening execution means, the time-shortening play by the specific time-shortening execution means is terminated and time-shortening play by the ceiling time-shortening execution means is started, and during the time-shortening play by the ceiling time-shortening execution means, the time-shortening play by the specific time-shortening execution means is prohibited and the time-shortening game by the ceiling time-shortening execution means is continued. As a result, the pinball game machine of the first feature can provide a game in which the time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means is prioritized. Since the time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means is prioritized, it has the effect of making it possible to rescue the player when there are many consecutive losing lotteries. On the other hand, when a specific losing symbol is selected during the time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means, the time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means continues even if the time-saving game by the specific time-saving execution means is not performed, so the effect of rescuing the player is not lost. Furthermore, in the pinball game machine of the first characteristic, if a specific losing symbol is selected during time-saving play by the specific time-saving execution means, a new time-saving game with two time-saving cycles is started by the specific time-saving execution means. Therefore, since the number of time-saving cycles of the time-saving game by the specific time-saving execution means becomes two or more, the expectation of winning is further increased, which has the effect of increasing interest in the game.

[0012] A second feature of the pinball game machine is that the performance of the time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means is more advantageous to the player than the performance of the time-saving game by the specific time-saving execution means.

[0013] The performance of time-shortened game using the ceiling time-shortened execution means is more advantageous to the player than the performance of time-shortened game using the specific time-shortened execution means that, when the number of time-shortened times in the time-shortened game and the opening time of the variable ball entrance port as the starting port 2 due to the opening extension are judged comprehensively, the time-shortened game using the ceiling time-shortened execution means is more advantageous to the player than the time-shortened game using the specific time-shortened execution means. For example, cases are conceivable in which the number of time-saving times 1 by the ceiling time-saving execution means is made greater than the number of time-saving times 2 by the specific time-saving execution means and the opening time due to opening extension is longer in time-saving play by the ceiling time-saving execution means than in time-saving play by the specific time-saving execution means, the number of time-saving times 1 by the ceiling time-saving execution means is made greater than the number of time-saving times 2 by the specific time-saving execution means and the opening time due to opening extension is made approximately the same for time-saving play by the ceiling time-saving execution means and time-saving play by the specific time-saving execution means, the number of time-saving times 1 by the ceiling time-saving execution means and the number of time-saving times 2 by the specific time-saving execution means are made approximately the same and the opening time due to opening extension is made longer in time-saving play by the ceiling time-saving execution means than in time-saving play by the specific time-saving execution means, or the number of time-saving times 1 by the ceiling time-saving execution means is less than the number of time-saving times 2 by the specific time-saving execution means but the opening time due to opening extension is longer in time-saving play by the ceiling time-saving execution means than in time-saving play by the specific time-saving execution means, so that time-saving play by the ceiling time-saving execution means is substantially more advantageous than time-saving play by the specific time-saving execution means.

[0014] In the pinball game machine of the second feature, the performance of the time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means is more advantageous to the player than the performance of the time-saving game by the specific time-saving execution means, so if the number of miss fluctuations during the time-saving game by the specific time-saving execution means reaches a predetermined number, the probability of winning increases and the expectation of winning increases further. On the other hand, even if the time-saving game by the specific time-saving execution means is prohibited during the time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means and the time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means is continued, the performance of the time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means is advantageous to the player, so there is an effect that the advantageous game continues or the loss is small.

[0015] A third feature of the pinball gaming machine is that the time period over which the patterns indicating the results of a lottery during time-saving play by a specific time-saving execution means is changed is shorter than the time period over which the patterns indicating the results of a lottery during time-saving play by a ceiling time-saving execution means.

[0016] The time period during which the symbols indicating the results of the lottery during time-saving play refers to the time period during which the special symbols indicating the results of the big win lottery, etc. The third feature of the pinball game machine is that the time period during which the special symbols change during time-saving play by the specific time-saving execution means is shorter than that during time-saving play by the ceiling time-saving execution means. It is preferable to shorten the time period during which the normal symbols change together with the time period during which the special symbols change. In the pinball game machine of the third feature, the time for which the symbols showing the lottery results change during the time-saving game by the specific time-saving execution means is shorter than during the time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means. This makes it possible to shorten the time for the specific time-saving execution means to execute (consume) the time-saving game of the time-saving number 2, and even if a jackpot game cannot be generated during the time-saving game by the specific time-saving execution means, it is possible to shorten the time until the number of miss changes reaches a predetermined number. As a result, the effect of being able to provide a game in which the time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means is prioritized can be made even more remarkable. On the other hand, if a jackpot game can be generated during the time-saving game by the specific time-saving execution means, it has the effect of giving the player an early profit. The pinball game machine according to the first to third features has been explained above. The following describes related inventions of the present invention.

[0017] [Fourth feature of pinball game machine] A pinball game machine in which a starting port 1 is a normal ball entry port that does not open, an operation detection unit provided on the game board detects a game ball and determines whether a normal pattern is a hit or miss, and a variable ball entry port 2 is a variable ball entry port that can change from a closed state in which it is difficult for the game ball to enter to an open state in which it is easy to enter based on the result of the hit or miss determination being a hit, a lottery is held based on the game ball entering the starting port 1 or the starting port 2, and a pattern showing the result of the lottery is variably displayed, and a winning pattern is displayed to notify the player that the lottery has been won, and then a winning game is executed, A losing variation counting means for counting the number of losing variations that notifies the user that the lottery has not been won; a ceiling time-saving execution means for executing a time-saving game for a time-saving number of times by extending the open state of the variable ball entrance longer than usual when the number of times of the miss fluctuation counted by the miss fluctuation counting means reaches a predetermined number; A specific time-saving execution means for executing a time-saving game for extending the open state of the variable ball entrance more than usual for two times when a specific losing symbol is selected when the lottery is not won; The game machine is characterized in that it is provided with a time-saving switching means which switches to time-saving play by the ceiling time-saving execution means when the number of miss fluctuations reaches the predetermined number during time-saving play by the specific time-saving execution means, and does not switch to time-saving play by the specific time-saving execution means even if the specific miss pattern is selected during time-saving play by the ceiling time-saving execution means.

[0018] The pinball gaming machine of the fourth characteristic does not have the invention-specific feature of the pinball gaming machine of the first characteristic, "even if the specific losing symbol is selected during time-shortened play by the ceiling time-shortened execution means, the game does not switch to time-shortened play by the specific time-shortened execution means," but the effect of being able to provide a game in which time-shortened play by the ceiling time-shortened execution means takes priority is similar to that of the pinball gaming machine of the first characteristic. In addition, in the pinball game machine of the fourth feature, even if the specific losing symbol is selected during the time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means, the time-saving switching means does not switch to the time-saving game by the specific time-saving execution means, so there is a possibility that the specific losing symbol will be selected during the time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means. Even if the specific losing symbol is selected and displayed, the time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means continues, so that the player can easily understand that the time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means is given priority.

[0019] [Fifth feature of pinball game machine] A pinball game machine in which a starting port 1 is a normal ball entry port that does not open, an operation detection unit provided on the game board detects a game ball and determines whether a normal pattern is a hit or miss, and a variable ball entry port 2 is a variable ball entry port that can change from a closed state in which it is difficult for the game ball to enter to an open state in which it is easy to enter based on the result of the hit or miss determination being a hit, a lottery is held based on the game ball entering the starting port 1 or the starting port 2, and a pattern showing the result of the lottery is variably displayed, and a winning pattern is displayed to notify the player that the lottery has been won, and then a winning game is executed, A losing variation counting means for counting the number of losing variations that notifies the user that the lottery has not been won; a ceiling time-saving execution means for executing a time-saving game for a time-saving number of times by extending the open state of the variable ball entrance longer than usual when the number of times of the miss fluctuation counted by the miss fluctuation counting means reaches a predetermined number; A specific time-saving execution means for executing a time-saving game for extending the open state of the variable ball entrance more than usual for two times when a specific losing symbol is selected when the lottery is not won; The pinball game machine is characterized by comprising: a time-saving switching means for switching to a time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means when the number of miss fluctuations reaches the predetermined number during the time-saving game by the specific time-saving execution means, and for not selecting the specific miss pattern during the time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means.

[0020] The pinball game machine of the fifth characteristic has the invention specific matter "the specific losing symbol is not selected during time-saving play by the ceiling time-saving execution means", and therefore has the effect of being able to omit the process performed by the pinball game machine of the fourth characteristic when the specific losing symbol is selected during time-saving play by the ceiling time-saving execution means. Note that the effect of being able to provide a game in which time-saving play by the ceiling time-saving execution means takes priority is the same as that of the pinball game machine of the first characteristic.

[0021] [Sixth feature of pinball game machine] A pinball game machine in which a starting port 1 is a normal ball entry port that does not open, an operation detection unit provided on the game board detects a game ball and determines whether a normal pattern is a hit or miss, and a variable ball entry port 2 is a variable ball entry port that can change from a closed state in which it is difficult for the game ball to enter to an open state in which it is easy to enter based on the result of the hit or miss determination being a hit, a lottery is held based on the game ball entering the starting port 1 or the starting port 2, and a pattern showing the result of the lottery is variably displayed, and a winning pattern is displayed to notify the player that the lottery has been won, and then a winning game is executed, A losing variation counting means for counting the number of losing variations that notifies the user that the lottery has not been won; a ceiling time-saving execution means for executing a time-saving game for a time-saving number of times by extending the open state of the variable ball entrance longer than usual when the number of times of the miss fluctuation counted by the miss fluctuation counting means reaches a predetermined number; A specific time-saving execution means for executing a time-saving game for extending the open state of the variable ball entrance more than usual for two times when a specific losing symbol is selected when the lottery is not won; a time-saving switching means for switching to a time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means when the number of times of loss fluctuations reaches the predetermined number during the time-saving game by the specific time-saving execution means, and for starting a new time-saving game by the specific time-saving execution means if the specific loss symbol is selected during the time-saving game by the specific time-saving execution means, and for not selecting the specific loss symbol during the time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means.

[0022] [Seventh feature of pinball game machine] A pinball game machine in which a starting port 1 is a normal ball entry port that does not open, an operation detection unit provided on the game board detects a game ball and determines whether a normal pattern is a hit or miss, and a variable ball entry port 2 is a variable ball entry port that can change from a closed state in which it is difficult for the game ball to enter to an open state in which it is easy to enter based on the result of the hit or miss determination being a hit, a lottery is held based on the game ball entering the starting port 1 or the starting port 2, and a pattern showing the result of the lottery is variably displayed, and a winning pattern is displayed to notify the player that the lottery has been won, and then a winning game is executed, A losing variation counting means for counting the number of losing variations that notifies the user that the lottery has not been won; a ceiling time-saving execution means for executing a time-saving game for a time-saving number of times by extending the open state of the variable ball entrance longer than usual when the number of times of the miss fluctuation counted by the miss fluctuation counting means reaches a predetermined number; A specific time-saving execution means for executing a time-saving game for extending the open state of the variable ball entrance more than usual for two times when a specific losing symbol is selected when the lottery is not won; a time-saving switching means for switching to a time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means when the miss fluctuation number of times reaches the predetermined number during the time-saving game by the specific time-saving execution means, and forbidding the time-saving game by the specific time-saving execution means during the time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means; The number of time-saving times 2 is set to be less than the number of time-saving times 1, thereby increasing the probability of selecting the specific losing symbol.

[0023] A specific number for increasing the probability of selecting a specific losing symbol can be set to 10 times or more and 20 times or less than the probability of winning a jackpot game by lottery. For example, if the probability of winning a jackpot game by lottery is set to a range of 1 / 300 to 1 / 200, the probability of selecting a specific losing symbol can be set to a range of 1 / 30 to 1 / 10. In addition, it is possible to set the time-saving number 2 within the range of 1 / 50 to 1 / 10 of the time-saving number 1. For example, if the time-saving number 1 is set within the range of 100 to 700 times, it is possible to set the time-saving number 2 within the range of 2 to 70 times. The seventh feature of the pinball game machine is that the probability of selecting a specific losing symbol is high, so that the time-saving game can be frequently generated by the specific time-saving execution means, but the number of time-saving times is small, so that the time required for the number of times of losing fluctuation to reach a predetermined number can be shortened while preventing the adverse effects of frequently winning the jackpot game. As a result, the effect of being able to provide a game in which the time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means is prioritized can be made even more remarkable. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view showing the configuration of a pachinko machine connected to a card unit. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the configuration of the card unit. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a front view showing the configuration of a pachinko machine. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the configuration of the pachinko machine. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the configuration of the game board. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine. [Figure 8]4 is a flowchart showing a "main routine" executed by the main control device. [Figure 9] This is a flowchart showing the "start winning processing" executed by the main control unit. [Figure 10] This is a flowchart showing the "special drawing correctness determination process" executed by the main control unit. [Figure 11] This is a flowchart showing the "special drawing correctness determination process" executed by the main control unit. [Figure 12] This is a flowchart showing the "special drawing correctness determination process" executed by the main control unit. [Figure 13] This is a flowchart showing the "special drawing correctness determination process" executed by the main control unit. [Figure 14] 13 is a flowchart showing the "special game processing" executed by the main control device. [Figure 15] 13 is a flowchart showing the "special game processing" executed by the main control device. [Figure 16] 13 is a flowchart showing the "special game processing" executed by the main control device. [Figure 17] 13 is a flowchart showing the "prize winning confirmation process" executed by the main control unit. [Figure 18] 4 is a flowchart showing "each output process" executed by the main control device. [Figure 19] 13 is a flowchart showing the "ball management process" executed by the frame control device. [Figure 20] 13 is a flowchart showing the "information output process" executed by the frame control device. [Figure 21] 13 is a flowchart showing the "ball holding display process" executed by the sub-integrated control device. [Figure 22] An explanatory diagram showing a screen showing an example of a display in a performance pattern display device. [Figure 23] 13 is a flowchart showing a "frame side error notification process" executed by the sub integrated control device. [Figure 24] An explanatory diagram showing a screen showing an example of a display in a performance pattern display device. [Diagram 25] 13 is a flowchart showing a "card notification process" executed by the sub integrated control device. [Figure 26] An explanatory diagram showing a screen showing an example of a display in a performance pattern display device. [Figure 27] 13 is a chart showing the operation details such as the number of time-saving times. [Figure 28] 13 is a chart showing the pattern selection rate. [Figure 29] 13 is a chart showing the pattern change time and operation time, etc. [Diagram 30] 13 is a flowchart showing the "off fluctuation number HN counting process" executed by the main control device. [Diagram 31] 13 is a flowchart showing the "ceiling time reduction priority processing" executed by the main control device. [Diagram 32] 13 is a table showing the number of time reductions etc. in the second embodiment. [Diagram 33] This is a flowchart showing the "jackpot time-saving priority processing", which is a variation of the "ceiling time-saving priority processing" shown in Figure 31. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] [First embodiment] [Overall Overview] FIG. 1 is a front view showing the configuration of a pachinko machine 10 connected to a card unit 80. The pachinko machine 10 is an enclosed pinball game machine that circulates game balls enclosed inside and is used for play. The pachinko machine 10 is configured to be able to realize a game using game balls by cooperating with the card unit 80. The pachinko machine 10 is equipped with a firing strength fixing function (handle lock function) that fixes the firing strength of the game balls.

[0026] The card unit 80 is a lending unit that controls the lending of game balls. The card unit 80 is configured to be able to lend game balls that can be used for playing on the pachinko machine 10 based on the bills received from the player or information read from a recording card that is a recording medium. When the player finishes playing with balls that are game balls that can be used for playing remaining, the card unit 80 returns to the player a recording card that records information indicating the number of balls that the player has.

[0027] The card unit 80 includes a user interface 810, a card insertion slot 820, and a bill insertion slot 830. The user interface 810 exchanges information related to the lending of game balls with the player. The card insertion slot 820 of the card unit 80 is configured to be capable of receiving and returning a record card from the player. The bill insertion slot 830 of the card unit 80 is configured to be capable of receiving bills from the player.

[0028] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the configuration of the card unit 80. In this embodiment, the user interface 810 is a touch panel. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the user interface 810 includes a balance display unit 811, a ball lending button 812, a return button 813, and a handle lock display unit 816. The balance display unit 811 displays the balance of game balls that can be lent to a player based on bills and a record card. The ball lending button 812 accepts an operation instruction from a player to lend game balls. The return button 813 accepts an operation instruction from a player to return to the player a record card that records the balance of game balls. The handle lock display unit 816 displays the operating status of the handle lock function. In the example of FIG. 2, the handle lock display unit 816 displays a status in which the handle lock function is operating.

[0029] Fig. 3 is a front view showing the configuration of the pachinko machine 10. Fig. 4 is a rear view showing the configuration of the pachinko machine 10. The pachinko machine 10 comprises an outer frame 110, an inner frame 120, a front frame 140, and a handle 150.

[0030] The outer frame 110 of the pachinko machine 10 has a vertically long rectangular shape. The outer frame 110 is fixed to the equipment on which the pachinko machine 10 is installed. The outer frame 110 includes a pair of hinges 115 that support the inner frame 120 so that the inner frame 120 can be opened and closed.

[0031] The inner frame 120 of the pachinko machine 10 has a rectangular shape that fits inside the outer frame 110. The inner frame 120 holds the various components of the pachinko machine 10, including the game board 200. The inner frame 120 includes a pair of hinges 145 that support the front frame 140 so that it can be opened and closed.

[0032] A counting switch 162 and a ball count display device 164 are provided below the front frame 140 in front of the inner frame 120. The counting switch 162 receives an operation input from the player to transfer information about the balls held managed by the pachinko machine 10 to a recording card in the card unit 80. The ball count display device 164 displays the number of balls held managed by the pachinko machine 10.

[0033] The front frame 140 of the pachinko machine 10 is configured to be openable and closable in front of the game board 200. The front frame 140 includes a transparent plate 143 located in front of the game board 200. This allows the player to view the game board 200 through the transparent plate 143. In this embodiment, the transparent plate 143 is glass, and the front frame 140 is also called a glass frame. In this embodiment, the front frame 140 includes a speaker 142 that outputs sound in accordance with the progress of the game, a light-emitting section 144 that emits light in accordance with the progress of the game, and an effect button 146 that receives a player's operation input for the simulated effect.

[0034] The handle 150 of the pachinko machine 10 is a firing operation unit that receives operation input from a player to fire a game ball. The handle 150 is provided on the lower right of the front frame 140 in front of the inner frame 120. In this embodiment, the handle 150 includes a rotating portion 152 and a fixed button 154.

[0035] The rotating part 152 of the handle 150 is a firing intensity adjustment means for adjusting the firing intensity of the game balls by the launching device 310 from the initial intensity to a desired intensity based on the operation by the player. The rotating part 152 accepts an operation input from the player by a rotational operation to adjust the firing intensity of the game balls. In this embodiment, the rotating part 152 is pressed in a direction returning to the initial position by a well-known spring structure. As a result, when the player releases the rotating part 152 without operating the locking button 154, the rotating part 152 returns to the initial position. In this embodiment, when the rotating part 152 is in the initial position, the firing intensity (initial intensity) of the game balls is an intensity at which the game balls are not fired to the game board 200. In this embodiment, the spring structure (not shown) of the rotating part 152 functions as an initial setting means for setting the firing intensity to the initial intensity in response to the release of the firing intensity by the lock release means. The firing intensity adjustment means may be configured to allow the strength of the firing to be adjusted by the player's operation, and the strength may be adjusted by the amount of operation, time of operation, and direction of operation of the device that adjusts the firing intensity. For example, the strength may be adjusted according to the amount of rotation (direction of rotation) of the handle, the number of times a button is pressed, the amount of rotation (direction of rotation) of the dial, the time of operation (direction of operation) of the lever, or the amount of sliding (direction of sliding) of a sliding switch.

[0036] The fixing button 154 of the handle 150 accepts an operation input from the player to fix the firing intensity adjusted by the rotating unit 152. In this embodiment, when the fixing button 154 is pressed, the fixing button 154 engages with the rotating unit 152 inside the handle 150, thereby fixing the rotating unit 152 to the rotation position at the time when the fixing button 154 was pressed. When the fixing button 154 is pressed again in a state in which the rotating unit 152 is fixed by the fixing button 154, the engagement between the rotating unit 152 and the fixing button 154 is released, and the rotating unit 152 returns to its initial position. The fixing button 154 functions as a firing intensity fixing means for fixing the firing intensity adjusted by the firing intensity adjustment means, and also functions as a fixing release means for releasing the fixing of the firing intensity by the firing intensity fixing means. The firing intensity fixing means is not limited to a configuration for mechanically fixing the firing intensity, and may be a configuration for electrically fixing the firing intensity.

[0037] The handle 150 is equipped with a touch switch 186 (FIG. 7) which will be described later. The touch switch 186 detects the touch of the player on the handle 150. While the touch switch 186 detects the touch of the player, the launching device 310 executes the launching operation of the game ball with the launch strength adjusted in the handle 150. When the touch switch 186 does not detect the touch of the player, the launching device 310 does not execute the launching operation even if the launch strength is adjusted in the handle 150. When the touch switch 186 does not detect the touch of the player, the launching device 310 does not execute the launching operation even if the launch strength is fixed by the launch strength fixing means in the handle 150.

[0038] [Game board] FIG. 5 is a front view showing the configuration of the game board 200. The game board 200 forms a game area 210 where a game is played using game balls. The game area 210 is substantially circular. The game area 210 is provided with a plurality of game nails (not shown). The game board 200 includes an introduction port 214 for introducing game balls launched from the launching device 310 into the game area 210, and a recovery port 218 for recovering the game balls from the game area 210. In this embodiment, the introduction port 214 is located on the upper left side of the game area 210, and the recovery port 218 is located on the lower center side of the game area 210.

[0039] The game board 200 is provided with a center case 220, a performance symbol display device 230, a first start opening 241, a second start opening 242, a normal symbol operation gate 243, a normal electric role device 245, a normal winning hole 246, and a large winning hole 248 as structures provided in the game area 210. The game board 200 is provided with a first special symbol display device 251, a second special symbol display device 252, a normal symbol display device 253, a first special symbol reserved number display device 261, a second special symbol reserved number display device 262, a normal symbol reserved number display device 263, and a prize ball number display device 286 as display units that display information related to the game.

[0040] The center case 220 is provided in the center of the game area 210 and forms a passage for game balls. The effect pattern display device 230 is provided in the center of the center case 220 and displays pseudo effects according to the progress of the game, including effect patterns. The effect pattern display device 230 is a user interface that provides information to the player by characters and figures.

[0041] The first starting hole 241 is configured to be able to receive game balls. Based on the ball entering the first starting hole 241, a variable display of the first special symbol is performed on the first special symbol display device 251. Based on the ball entering the first starting hole 241, the number of balls held by the player is added up.

[0042] The second starting hole 242 is configured to be able to receive game balls. Based on the ball entering the second starting hole 242, a variable display of the second special symbol is performed on the second special symbol display device 252. Based on the ball entering the second starting hole 242, the number of balls held by the player is added up. The rate of balls entering the second starting hole 242 changes depending on the operating state of the normal electric device 245.

[0043] The normal symbol operation gate 243 is configured to allow the game ball to pass through, and based on the game ball passing through the normal symbol operation gate 243, a variable display of a normal symbol is performed on the normal symbol display device 253.

[0044] The normal electric device 245 is provided with an opening / closing member configured to be able to open and close the passage of the game ball leading to the second starting hole 242. The normal electric device 245 is in an open state for a predetermined time only when the lottery based on the normal symbol is a winning combination, and forms a passage of the game ball leading to the second starting hole 242. In this embodiment, the normal electric device 245 is a so-called tulip-type normal electric device.

[0045] The normal winning opening 246 is a winning opening configured to be able to receive game balls. The number of balls held by the player is added based on the balls entering the normal winning opening 246. In this embodiment, the game area 210 is provided with four normal winning openings 246.

[0046] The big prize opening 248 is an opening configured to receive game balls in a big win game state that is more advantageous to the player than the normal game state. The number of balls held by the player is added based on the balls that enter the big prize opening 248. The big prize opening 248 is configured to be able to be opened and closed by a plate-shaped member. The big prize opening 248 opens in a predetermined operation pattern when a big win is won in the drawing based on the first special symbol and when a big win is won in the drawing based on the second special symbol.

[0047] The first special symbol reserved number display device 261 displays the number of reserved memories related to the first special symbol. The second special symbol reserved number display device 262 displays the number of reserved memories related to the second special symbol. The regular symbol reserved number display device 263 displays the number of reserved memories related to the regular symbol. The prize ball number display device 286 displays the number of prize balls that are added to the number of balls owned depending on the winning.

[0048] In this embodiment, the game area 210 includes a first game area 211 and a second game area 212. The first game area 211 is where game balls launched at less than a predetermined launch intensity mainly roll. The second game area 212 is different from the first game area 211 in that game balls launched at a predetermined launch intensity or higher mainly roll. The first game area 211 occupies the left side of the game area 210 including the inside of the center case 220, and the second game area 212 occupies the right side of the game area 210 mainly including the right side of the center case 220. In this embodiment, the first game area 211 is located with a first start opening 241 and a normal winning opening 246, and the second game area 212 is located with a second start opening 242, a normal symbol activation gate 243, and a large winning opening 248.

[0049] As shown in Fig. 4, the pachinko machine 10 includes a launching device 310, a grinding device 320, and a lifting device 330, which are provided on the back of the pachinko machine 10. The launching device 310 launches game balls into the play area 210 based on an operation by a player. The launching device 310 launches game balls into the play area 210 based on a signal from a handle 150. The grinding device 320 grinds game balls collected from the play area 210. The lifting device 330 transports the game balls ground by the grinding device 320 to the launching device 310.

[0050] [Electrical configuration] The pachinko machine 10 is equipped with a main control device 510, a sub integrated control device 520, a performance symbol control device 530, and a frame control device 560 as control devices that control each part. These control devices are provided on the back of the pachinko machine 10. These control devices are computers equipped with a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc., and execute various control processes based on computer programs.

[0051] The main control device 510 controls the progress of the game using game balls. The sub integrated control device 520 controls each performance device according to the progress of the game. The performance pattern control device 530 controls the display of pseudo performances, including the variable display of performance patterns on the performance pattern display device 230. The frame control device 560 manages the number of balls, which are game balls that the player can use for the game, based on information about the game transmitted from the main control device 510. In addition to managing the balls, the frame control device 560 controls the handle 150, the launch device 310, the grinding device 320, and the lifting device 330. In this embodiment, the launching device 310 is provided at the top, and the lifting device 330 transports the game balls to the launching device 310, but the launching device 310 may be provided at the bottom as in the conventional case. In this case, the game balls launched by the launching device 310 at the bottom flow down along the guide rail to the play area 210 and are collected by the collection port 218, etc., so the lifting device 330 is not necessary.

[0052] 6 and 7 are block diagrams showing the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 10. The pachinko machine 10 is equipped with an inner frame opening switch 121 and a front frame opening switch 141. The inner frame opening switch 121 detects the open state of the inner frame 120, and outputs a detection signal to the main control device 510. The front frame opening switch 141 detects the open state of the front frame 140, and outputs a detection signal to the main control device 510.

[0053] The pachinko machine 10 includes a symbol display device relay terminal board 250 and a game board relay terminal board 270 as circuit boards relaying between the main control device 510 and the game board 200. The pachinko machine 10 includes a first start hole switch 271, a second start hole switch 272, a normal symbol operation switch 273, a left winning hole switch 274, a count switch 276, a magnet sensor 277, and a radio wave sensor 278 as electrical components that output signals to the main control device 510 via the game board relay terminal board 270. The pachinko machine 10 includes a large winning hole solenoid 282, a normal electric device solenoid 284, and a prize ball number display device 286 as electrical components that operate based on signals from the main control device 510 via the game board relay terminal board 270. The pachinko machine 10 is equipped with an electrical configuration which operates based on a signal from the main control unit 510 via the pattern display device relay terminal board 250, including a first special pattern display device 251, a second special pattern display device 252, a first special pattern reserved number display device 261, a second special pattern reserved number display device 262, a normal pattern display device 253, and a normal pattern reserved number display device 263.

[0054] The first start gate switch 271 detects a ball entering the first start gate 241 and outputs a detection signal. The second start gate switch 272 detects a ball entering the second start gate 242 and outputs a detection signal. The normal symbol operation switch 273 detects the passage of a game ball through the normal symbol operation gate 243 and outputs a detection signal. The left prize gate switch 274 detects a ball entering the normal prize gate 246 and outputs a detection signal. The count switch 276 detects a ball entering the big prize gate 248 and outputs a detection signal. The magnet sensor 277 detects fraudulent acts using magnets against the pachinko machine 10 and outputs a detection signal. The radio wave sensor 278 detects fraudulent acts using radio waves against the pachinko machine 10 and outputs a detection signal.

[0055] The large prize opening solenoid 282 opens and closes the large prize opening 248 based on a control signal from the main control device 510. The normal electric device solenoid 284 opens and closes the normal electric device 245 based on a control signal from the main control device 510. The prize ball number display device 286 displays the number of prize balls to be added to the number of balls held based on a control signal from the main control device 510.

[0056] The first special symbol display device 251 displays the first special symbol based on a control signal from the main control device 510. The second special symbol display device 252 displays the second special symbol based on a control signal from the main control device 510. The first special symbol reserved number display device 261 displays the number of reserved memories related to the first special symbol based on a control signal from the main control device 510. The second special symbol reserved number display device 262 displays the number of reserved memories related to the second special symbol based on a control signal from the main control device 510. The normal symbol display device 253 displays normal symbols based on a control signal from the main control device 510. The normal symbol reserved number display device 263 displays the number of reserved memories related to normal symbols based on a control signal from the main control device 510.

[0057] The sub-integrated control device 520 is configured to be able to communicate with the main control device 510 in one direction from the main control device 510. The sub-integrated control device 520 controls various performance devices according to the progress of the game based on a control signal from the main control device 510. The speaker 142 is a user interface that outputs sound based on a control signal from the sub-integrated control device 520. In this embodiment, the sub-integrated control device 520 includes a volume adjustment switch 522 that is configured to adjust the volume output from the speaker 142. The light-emitting unit 144 is a user interface that emits light based on a control signal from the sub-integrated control device 520. The performance button 146 is a user interface that detects the player's operation input for the pseudo performance, and outputs the detection signal to the sub-integrated control device 520. The sub-integrated control device 520 is a user interface control device that controls the user interface (the speaker 142, the light-emitting unit 144, the performance button 146, and the performance pattern display device 230) based on information related to the game received from the main control device 510. The sub-integrated control device 520 is further configured to be capable of communicating with the frame control device 560 in one direction from the frame control device 560, and controls the user interface (the speaker 142, the light emitting unit 144, the performance button 146, and the performance pattern display device 230) based on information received from the frame control device 560.

[0058] The performance pattern control device 530 is configured to be able to communicate bidirectionally with the sub-integrated control device 520. The performance pattern control device 530 controls the display of pseudo performances, including the display of the change in the performance pattern in the performance pattern display device 230, based on a control signal from the sub-integrated control device 520. The performance pattern display device 230 executes the display of pseudo performances, including the display of the change in the performance pattern, based on data and commands received from the performance pattern control device 530.

[0059] 7, the frame control device 560 is configured to be able to communicate with the main control device 510 in one direction from the main control device 510. The frame control device 560 manages the number of balls that a player has available for playing a game, based on information about the game transmitted from the main control device 510. In addition to managing the balls, the frame control device 560 manages the processes related to the launch, collection, and circulation of the game balls. The main control device 510 and the frame control device 560 may be configured to be able to communicate in two directions.

[0060] The card unit 80 is configured to be able to communicate bidirectionally with the frame control device 560. The card unit 80 includes a user interface 810, a game ball etc. lending device 850, and a CR unit 860. The game ball etc. lending device 850 is configured to be able to communicate bidirectionally with the frame control device 560 and the CR unit 860. The game ball etc. lending device 850 processes the lending of game balls to players in cooperation with the frame control device 560 based on the information on the balls held recorded in the memory card in the card insertion port 820 and the information on the lending of game balls from the CR unit 860. The CR unit 860 controls the lending of game balls based on the bills inserted into the bill insertion port 830. The CR unit 860 is configured to be able to communicate bidirectionally with the hall computer 90 that manages the pachinko machine 10. The hall computer 90 is configured to be able to receive information relating to games played on the pachinko machine 10 from the main control device 510 via the frame control device 560 and the card unit 80.

[0061] The pachinko machine 10 includes an operation unit relay terminal board 160, a firing operation unit relay terminal board 180, a firing unit relay terminal board 312, a grinding unit relay terminal board 322, a lifting relay terminal board 332, and an inner frame relay terminal board 342 as circuit boards relaying between the frame control device 560 and the inner frame 120. The pachinko machine 10 includes a counting switch 162 and a ball holding number display device 164 as electrical components for exchanging signals with the frame control device 560 via the operation unit relay terminal board 160.

[0062] The pachinko machine 10 includes an unlocking solenoid 182, a firing intensity fixing switch 184, a handle volume 185, a touch switch 186, and a firing stop switch 187 as electrical components that exchange signals with the frame control device 560 via the firing operation unit relay terminal board 180. The pachinko machine 10 includes a ball sending sensor 314, a firing entrance sensor 315, a firing motor 316, and a ball sending solenoid 317 as electrical components that exchange signals with the frame control device 560 via the firing device relay terminal board 312.

[0063] The pachinko machine 10 includes a cassette switch 324, a grinding motor sensor 325, a cassette motor 326, and a grinding motor 327 as electrical components that exchange signals via the grinding device relay terminal board 322. The pachinko machine 10 includes a lifting motor 334, a lifting inlet sensor 336, and a lifting motor monitoring sensor 338 as electrical components that exchange signals with the frame control device 560 via the lifting relay terminal board 332.

[0064] The pachinko machine 10 includes an winning ball sensor 344, an out ball sensor 345, an appropriate amount sensor 346, a full tank sensor 347, and a nighttime monitoring device 352 as electrical components that output signals to the frame control device 560 via the inner frame relay terminal board 342. The pachinko machine 10 includes an alarm speaker 354 as electrical components that operate based on signals from the frame control device 560 via the inner frame relay terminal board 342.

[0065] The counting switch 162 detects the player's operation input to transfer the information about the balls held managed by the pachinko machine 10 to the recording card of the card unit 80, and outputs the detection signal to the frame control device 560. The ball count display device 164 displays the number of balls held managed by the frame control device 560 based on a control signal from the frame control device 560.

[0066] The lock release solenoid 182 is configured to be able to release the lock of the rotating part 152 by the lock button 154 on the handle 150, based on a control signal from the frame control device 560. In this embodiment, the lock release solenoid 182 is configured to be able to release the engagement of the lock button 154 with the rotating part 152 by pressing an engagement portion of the lock button 154 that engages with the rotating part 152. The lock release solenoid 182 functions as a lock release means that releases the lock of the emission intensity by the emission intensity locking means.

[0067] The firing intensity fixing switch 184 detects the fixing of the rotating part 152 by the fixing button 154 on the handle 150, and outputs the detection signal to the frame control device 560. The handle volume 185 detects the rotational position of the rotating part 152 on the handle 150 as the firing intensity, and outputs the detection signal to the frame control device 560. The touch switch 186 detects the touch of the player on the handle 150, and outputs the detection signal to the frame control device 560. The firing stop switch 187 detects the operation input by the player to stop the firing of the game ball, and outputs the detection signal to the frame control device 560.

[0068] The ball sending sensor 314 detects a game ball sent to the launching device 310 and outputs a detection signal to the frame control device 560. The launch entrance sensor 315 detects a game ball launched from the launching device 310 and passing through the introduction port 214 and outputs a detection signal to the frame control device 560. The launching motor 316 launches the game ball based on a control signal from the frame control device 560. The ball sending solenoid 317 sends the game ball to a position where it can be launched based on a control signal from the frame control device 560.

[0069] The cassette switch 324 detects that a polishing cloth cassette (not shown) that contains a polishing cloth for polishing game balls is installed in the polishing device 320, and outputs the detection signal to the frame control device 560. The polishing motor sensor 325 detects the operation of the polishing motor 327, and outputs the detection signal to the frame control device 560. The cassette motor 326 winds up the polishing cloth in the polishing cloth cassette (not shown) based on a control signal from the frame control device 560. The polishing motor 327 polishes the game ball by pressing the game ball against the polishing cloth based on a control signal from the frame control device 560.

[0070] The lift motor 334 sends out game balls from the lift device 330 to the launch device 310 based on a control signal from the frame control device 560. The lift inlet sensor 336 detects game balls sent from the grinding device 320 to the lift device 330, and outputs the detection signal to the frame control device 560. The lift motor monitoring sensor 338 detects the operation of the lift motor 334, and outputs the detection signal to the frame control device 560.

[0071] The winning ball sensor 344 detects a game ball that wins a prize on the game board 200 and is then collected from the game board 200 to the grinding device 320, and outputs a detection signal. The out ball sensor 345 detects a game ball that passes through the collection port 218 on the game board 200 and is then collected from the game board 200 to the grinding device 320, and outputs a detection signal. The proper amount sensor 346 detects that the game balls transferred from the lifting device 330 to the launching device 310 are the proper amount, and outputs a detection signal. The full tank sensor 347 detects that the game balls transferred from the lifting device 330 to the launching device 310 are excessive, and outputs a detection signal. The nighttime monitoring device 352 is configured to be operable by a backup power source outside the operating hours (nighttime) of the pachinko machine 10, detects the opening of the inner frame 120, and outputs a detection signal. Nighttime monitoring switch The nighttime monitoring device 352 may detect the opening of the inner frame 120 based on the output signal from the inner frame opening switch 121 and the front frame opening switch 141, or may detect the opening of the inner frame 120 based on a signal from a switch other than the inner frame opening switch 121 and the front frame opening switch 141. In this embodiment, the frame control device 560 is configured to be able to output information indicating the number of times the inner frame 120 has been opened based on the detection signal from the nighttime monitoring device 352 to the hall computer 90 when the power of the pachinko machine 10 is turned on. The alarm speaker 354 outputs sound based on a control signal from the frame control device 560. In this embodiment, the frame control device 560 executes a control process to output an alarm from the alarm speaker 354 when the opening of the inner frame 120 is detected by the nighttime monitoring device 352.

[0072] The pachinko machine 10 judges whether the normal symbol is a winning symbol or not based on the ball entering the normal symbol activation gate 243. The pachinko machine 10 performs a variable display using the normal symbol on the normal symbol display device 253 based on the result of the judgment of whether the normal symbol is a winning symbol. If the judgment of whether the normal symbol is a winning symbol or not is a winning symbol, the pachinko machine 10 displays the normal symbol, which is the winning symbol, on the normal symbol display device 253 and opens the normal electric role device 245 for a predetermined period of time. This makes it possible to win the second starting hole 242.

[0073] The pachinko machine 10 performs a hit / miss judgment regarding the first special symbol based on the ball entering the first starting hole 241. The pachinko machine 10 performs a variable display using the first special symbol on the first special symbol display device 251 based on the hit / miss judgment result regarding the first special symbol. The pachinko machine 10 performs a pseudo performance using a performance pattern on the performance pattern display device 230 in accordance with the variable display using the first special symbol on the first special symbol display device 251. If the hit / miss judgment result regarding the first special symbol is a big hit, the pachinko machine 10 displays the first special symbol, which is a big hit symbol, on the first special symbol display device 251, and then transitions to a big hit game state (special game state) in which the big win hole 248 is opened in a predetermined operation pattern. This makes it possible to win a prize in the big win hole 248. The main control device 510 functions as a hit / miss determination means for determining whether or not a big hit game state is executed upon the entry of a game ball into the first starting hole 241.

[0074] The pachinko machine 10 performs a win / loss judgment regarding the second special symbol based on the ball entering the second starting hole 242. The pachinko machine 10 performs a variable display using the second special symbol on the second special symbol display device 252 based on the result of the win / loss judgment regarding the second special symbol. The pachinko machine 10 performs a pseudo performance using a performance pattern on the performance pattern display device 230 in accordance with the variable display using the second special symbol on the second special symbol display device 252. If the result of the win / loss judgment regarding the second special symbol is a jackpot, the pachinko machine 10 displays the second special symbol, which is a jackpot symbol, on the second special symbol display device 252, and then transitions to a jackpot game state. This makes it possible to win a prize in the jackpot winning hole 248. The main control device 510 functions as a win / loss judgment means for judging whether or not a jackpot game state is executed due to the game ball entering the second starting hole 242.

[0075] The pachinko machine 10 stops judging whether the first special symbol and the second special symbol are hit or not while the jackpot game is being played. When there are reserved memories for both the first special symbol and the second special symbol, the pachinko machine 10 prioritizes judging whether the reserved memories for the second special symbol are hit or not. After the jackpot game state ends, the pachinko machine 10 transitions to one of the following states according to a predetermined condition: a normal game state, a time-saving game state, or a time-saving game state with a certain probability of winning. The normal game state is a game state in which a judgment is made on whether the normal symbol, the first special symbol, and the second special symbol are hit or not with a normal probability of winning. The time-saving game state is a game state in which the time for which the first special symbol, the second special symbol, and the normal symbol are displayed in a variable manner is shortened from that of the normal game state, and the average opening time of the normal electric device 245 is extended from that of the normal game state. The time-saving probability game state is a game state in which, in addition to the operation of the time-saving game state, a winning / losing judgment of the first special symbol and the second special symbol is performed with a higher winning probability than in the normal game state. When a predetermined condition (for example, a winning with a predetermined jackpot symbol) is satisfied, the main control device 510 operates as an opening extension execution means for executing an opening extension state (time-saving game state and time-saving probability game state) in which the opening time per one time of the normal electric role device 245 is extended more than in the normal game state after the jackpot game state ends.

[0076] In this embodiment, the variation time of the special symbol is 10 to 120 seconds during normal play when the time is not shortened, an average of 5 seconds during time shortening, and an average of 30 seconds during reach. The probability of winning the normal symbol is 1 / 6 during time shortening, and 5 / 6 during time shortening. The variation time of the normal symbol is 5 seconds during time shortening, and 1 second during time shortening. In addition, the opening time of the normal electric role 245 is 0.3 seconds during time shortening, and 1.5 seconds during time shortening. These values ​​are one example and can be changed as appropriate. The control of lengthening the opening time of the normal electric role 245 and shortening the variation time of the normal symbol is also simply called time shortening control. The time-saving control ends when a jackpot game occurs due to a hit / miss judgment regarding the first or second special symbol during the time-saving game, or when the first or second special symbol changes a predetermined number of times during the time-saving game. This predetermined number of times is also called the time-saving number of times.

[0077] In the normal game state, since the first start hole 241 is located in the first game area 211, it is recommended to launch the game ball into the first game area 211 to play the game (so-called "left hit"). In the big win game state, since the big prize hole 248 is located in the second game area 212, it is recommended to launch the game ball into the second game area 212 to play the game (so-called "right hit"). In the time-saving game state and the time-saving game state with a certain probability of winning, since the normal symbol operation gate 243 and the second start hole 242 are located in the second game area 212, it is recommended to launch the game ball into the second game area 212 to play the game (right hit).

[0078] The pachinko machine 10 of this embodiment is provided with a power supply board (not shown), and the power supply is switched ON or OFF by a power supply SW (not shown). 6, the main control device 510 is provided with an RWM clear switch 290 and a setting key switch 291. The RWM clear switch 290 is mainly operated when clearing game information and the like stored in the RWM (RAM) built into the main control device 510. The RWM clear switch 290 may be provided in the frame control device 560 or the power supply board. The setting key switch 291 is a key switch mechanism that is turned on by turning a key inserted in a keyhole in one direction. The pachinko machine 10 is a gaming machine with a setting function that allows the setting of the jackpot probability to be changed by the operation of a hall employee, etc., and the hall employee, etc. can change and check the setting of the jackpot probability by turning on the power with the setting key switch 291 turned on. The RWM clear switch 290 is also operated when changing the setting of the jackpot probability. The power supply board is also equipped with a backup power supply consisting of a capacitor and the like, and stores power in the backup power supply while power is being supplied from the AC power supply. As a result, during a power outage, power is supplied to the main control device 510 and the like (for example, the RAM of the main control device 510, etc.), and data in the RAM of the main control device 510 is retained for a certain period of time even after the power supply from the AC power supply is stopped. The backup power supply may be provided in the main control device 510, or in a device other than the power supply board. In this case, the power supply board outputs a supply signal to a device equipped with a backup power supply while power is being supplied from the AC power supply, and outputs a power outage signal to the device equipped with a backup power supply while the power supply is stopped.

[0079] The pachinko machine 10 sets stage setting values ​​1 to 6 divided into six stages according to the probability of winning in the hit / miss judgment in the stage setting value storage area of ​​the RWM of the main control device 510. Then, the main control device 510 determines the hit / miss judgment table to be used in the hit / miss judgment of the first special symbol or the second special symbol based on the stage setting values ​​stored in the stage setting value storage area. In this embodiment, when the stage setting value stored in the stage setting value storage area is "1", the jackpot probability in the normal state is set to 1 / 300, and the jackpot probability in the high probability state is set to 1 / 30. When the stage setting value in the stage setting value storage area is "2", the jackpot probability in the normal state is set to 1 / 290, and the jackpot probability in the high probability state is set to 1 / 29. When the stage setting value in the stage setting value storage area is "3", the jackpot probability in the normal state is set to 1 / 280, and the jackpot probability in the high probability state is set to 1 / 28. Similarly, when the stage setting value is set to "4", the probability of a jackpot in the normal state is set to 1 / 270, and the probability of a jackpot in the special state is set to 1 / 27; when the stage setting value is set to "5", the probability of a jackpot in the normal state is set to 1 / 260, and the probability of a jackpot in the special state is set to 1 / 26; and when the stage setting value is set to "6", the probability of a jackpot in the normal state is set to 1 / 250, and the probability of a jackpot in the special state is set to 1 / 25.

[0080] In this embodiment, the stage setting value is linked to the jackpot probability in the normal state and the jackpot probability in the high probability state, but is not limited to this. For example, the pachinko machine 10 may be configured such that either the jackpot probability in the normal state or the jackpot probability in the high probability state is constant regardless of the stage setting value, while only the other is changed according to the stage setting value. Also, when the stage setting value is changed, the pachinko machine 10 may increase either the jackpot probability in the normal state or the jackpot probability in the high probability state, while decreasing the other.

[0081] [Main routine] Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing a "main routine" executed by main control device 510. Main control device 510 starts the main routine of Fig. 8 based on an interrupt signal with a period of 2 ms (milliseconds). The period of the interrupt signal may be 4 ms or another period.

[0082] After starting the main routine, the main control device 510 judges whether the current interrupt signal is a normal interrupt signal (step S100). If the current interrupt signal is not a normal interrupt (step S100: "NO"), the main control device 510 executes an initial setting process (step S115) to set various control variables to initial values. Thereafter, the main control device 510 repeatedly executes an initial value random number update process to update various random numbers until the next interrupt signal is received (step S111).

[0083] If the current interrupt signal is a normal interrupt signal (step S100: "YES"), the main control device 510 executes an initial value random number update process to update various random numbers (step S101). After that, the main control device 510 updates the random number for determining a jackpot, which is a random number used to determine whether or not a win is won for the first special symbol and the second special symbol (step S102). After that, the main control device 510 updates the random number for determining a jackpot pattern, which is a random number used to determine whether or not a win is won for the first special symbol and the second special symbol (step S103). After that, the main control device 510 updates the random number for determining a win, which is a random number used to determine whether or not a win is won for the normal symbol (step S104). After that, the main control device 510 updates the random number for determining the reach, which is a random number used to determine whether or not a win is won for the normal symbol, and the random number for determining a variation pattern, which is a random number used to determine whether or not a win is won for the normal symbol (step S105, S106).

[0084] After updating the random number (steps S101 to S106), the main control device 510 executes a winning confirmation process (step S107) for confirming the detection of a gaming ball by each switch connected to the main control device 510. After that, the main control device 510 executes a winning / losing determination process (step S108) for determining whether or not a winning / losing is performed for the normal symbol, the first special symbol, and the second special symbol. In the winning / losing determination process (step S108), the main control device 510 operates as a winning / losing determination means for determining whether or not a jackpot gaming state is to be executed due to the entry of a gaming ball into the first start hole 241 and the second start hole 242.

[0085] After executing the winning / losing judgment process (step S108), the main control device 510 executes each output process (step S109) to output signals to each part of the pachinko machine 10. In each output process (step S109), the main control device 510 outputs various signals to the sub-integrated control device 520, the frame control device 560, the large winning port solenoid 282, etc., and to the hall computer 90 via the frame control device 560 and the card unit 80, depending on the progress of the game, the detection state of the fraudulent activity based on the magnet sensor 277 and the radio wave sensor 278, and the opening state based on the inner frame opening switch 121 and the front frame opening switch 141. Thereafter, the main control device 510 executes a fraud monitoring process (step S110) to monitor the fraudulent activity against the pachinko machine 10. Thereafter, the main control device 510 repeatedly executes an initial value random number update process to update various random numbers until the next interrupt signal is received (step S111).

[0086] [Start-up winning process] 9 is a flowchart showing the "start winning process" executed by main control device 510. The start winning process of FIG. 9 is a subroutine included in the winning confirmation process (step S107) of FIG.

[0087] After starting the start winning process, the main control device 510 judges whether or not a ball has entered the first start hole 241 based on a detection signal from the first start hole switch 271 (step S200). When a ball has entered the first start hole 241 (step S200: "YES"), the main control device 510 judges whether or not the reserved memory for the first special symbol is less than the upper limit number (four in this embodiment) (step S201). When the reserved memory for the first special symbol is less than the upper limit number, the random number for determining a jackpot, the random number for determining a jackpot symbol, the random number for reaching a reach, and the random number for determining a variation pattern, which are extracted in response to the ball entering the first start hole 241, are stored as reserved memories for the first special symbol, and the first reserved memory counter indicating the number of reserved memories for the first special symbol is incremented (step S202). After that, the main control device 510 executes a look-ahead judgment process (step S203) for looking ahead to the contents of the reserved memory for the first special symbol. Thereafter, the main control device 510 transmits a first pre-reading judgment command indicating the judgment result of the pre-reading judgment process (step S203) to the sub-integrated control device 520 (step S204). Thereafter, the main control device 510 transmits a first reserved number instruction command indicating the value of the first reserved memory counter to the sub-integrated control device 520 (step S205). The sub-integrated control device 520 controls the pseudo-effect displayed on the performance pattern display device 230 based on the first pre-reading judgment command and the first reserved number instruction command. Specifically, the sub-integrated control device 520 increases the display number of the first reserved pattern indicating the number of reserved memories related to the first special pattern displayed on the performance pattern display device 230 based on the first reserved number instruction command, and changes the first reserved pattern to a state according to the expectation of a jackpot based on the first pre-reading judgment command.

[0088] After completing the process for the first start hole 241 (step S200: "NO", step S201: "NO", step S205), the main control device 510 judges whether or not a ball has entered the second start hole 242 based on the detection signal from the second start hole switch 272 (step S206). When a ball has entered the second start hole 242 (step S206: "YES"), the main control device 510 judges whether or not the reserved memory for the second special symbol is less than the upper limit number (four in this embodiment) (step S207). When the reserved memory for the second special symbol is less than the upper limit number, the random number for determining a jackpot, the random number for determining a jackpot symbol, the random number for reaching a reach, and the random number for determining a variation pattern, which are extracted in response to the ball entering the second start hole 242, are stored as reserved memories for the second special symbol, and the second reserved memory counter indicating the number of reserved memories for the second special symbol is incremented (step S208). Then, the main control device 510 executes a look-ahead judgment process (step S209) for reading ahead the contents of the reserved memory related to the second special symbol. Then, the main control device 510 transmits a second look-ahead judgment command indicating the judgment result of the look-ahead judgment process (step S209) to the sub-integrated control device 520 (step S210). Then, the main control device 510 transmits a second reserved number instruction command indicating the value of the second reserved memory counter to the sub-integrated control device 520 (step S211). The sub-integrated control device 520 controls the pseudo performance displayed on the performance pattern display device 230 based on the second look-ahead judgment command and the second reserved number instruction command. Specifically, the sub-integrated control device 520 increases the display number of the second reserved pattern indicating the number of reserved memories related to the second special symbol displayed on the performance pattern display device 230 based on the second reserved number instruction command, and changes the second reserved pattern to a state according to the jackpot expectation based on the second look-ahead judgment command. The main control unit 510 may send a single command to the sub-integrated control unit 520 that is a combination of the first look-ahead determination command and the first hold number instruction command, or may send a single command to the sub-integrated control unit 520 that is a combination of the second look-ahead determination command and the second hold number instruction command.The main control device 510 may transmit to the sub integrated control device 520 a single command that combines the first look-ahead determination command, the second look-ahead determination command, the first hold number instruction command, and the second hold number instruction command.

[0089] In the look-ahead judgment process (steps S203, S209), the main control device 510 checks whether the value of the random number for determining a jackpot for the first special symbol and the second special symbol is a value (jackpot value) that causes a jackpot, and if it is a jackpot value, checks the type of the jackpot symbol. If the value of the random number for determining a jackpot is a miss value different from the jackpot value, the main control device 510 checks whether the fluctuation pattern associated with the miss value is a fluctuation pattern that makes the player expect a jackpot. The look-ahead judgment process may be a process of directly reading out the random number value stored in the reserved memory area and executing a judgment, or a process of reading out the random number value stored in a memory area for look-ahead judgment different from the reserved memory area and executing a judgment. The look-ahead judgment process may be executed in parallel with the process of storing the random number for determining a jackpot in the reserved memory area after obtaining the random number for determining a jackpot, or may be executed prior to the process of storing the random number for determining a jackpot in the reserved memory area. Regardless of the method of pre-reading judgment processing, the contents of the reserved memory can be grasped prior to the correct / incorrect judgment processing (step S108).

[0090] After completing the process related to the second starting hole 242 (step S206: "NO", step S207: "NO", step S211), the main control device 510 judges whether or not a ball has entered the normal symbol operation gate 243 based on the detection signal from the normal symbol operation switch 273 (step S212). When a ball has entered the normal symbol operation gate 243 (step S212: "YES"), the main control device 510 judges whether or not the reserved memory for the normal symbol is less than the upper limit number (four in this embodiment) (step S213). When the reserved memory for the normal symbol is less than the upper limit number, the winning determination random number extracted in response to the ball entering the normal symbol operation gate 243 is stored as a normal symbol reserved memory, and the normal symbol reserved memory counter indicating the number of reserved memories for the normal symbol is incremented (step S214). Then, the main control device 510 transmits a normal reserved number instruction command indicating the value of the normal reserved memory counter to the sub-integrated control device 520 (step S211). Then, the main control device 510 returns. The sub-integrated control device 520 may control the pseudo-effect displayed on the effect pattern display device 230 based on the normal reserved number instruction command.

[0091] [Special drawing validity determination process] 10, 11, 12, and 13 are flowcharts showing the "special drawing hit / miss judgment process" executed by the main control device 510. This special drawing hit / miss judgment process is a subroutine corresponding to the hit / miss judgment process (step S107) in FIG.

[0092] As shown in FIG. 10, after starting the special symbol hit / miss judgment process, the main control device 510 judges whether the condition device is not yet activated based on the big win flag (step S300). The big win flag is a flag that is activated when the hit / miss judgment regarding the first special symbol and the second special symbol is a big win, and when the big win flag is activated, the condition device is activated. If the condition device is activated (step S300: "NO"), the main control device 510 moves to the special game process that controls the big win game state. If the condition device is not activated (step S300: "YES"), the main control device 510 judges whether it is a special symbol change stop period that stops the change display of the first special symbol and the second special symbol (step S301). If it is a special pattern variation stop period (step S301: "YES"), the main control device 510 judges whether it is a fixed pattern non-display period in which the fixed patterns of the first special pattern and the second special pattern are not displayed (step S302).

[0093] 11, if it is the fixed symbol non-display period (step S302 in FIG. 10: "YES"), the main control device 510 judges whether or not there is a reserved memory for the second special symbol (step S310). If there is no reserved memory for the second special symbol (step S310: "NO"), the main control device 510 judges whether or not there is a reserved memory for the first special symbol (step S311).

[0094] If there is a reserved memory for the first special symbol or the second special symbol (step S310: "YES", step S311: "YES"), the main control device 510 reads out the oldest reserved memory from the reserved memory for the target special symbol to be processed among the first special symbol and the second special symbol, and decrements the reserved memory counter for the target special symbol (step S312). After that, the main control device 510 transmits a reserved number instruction command indicating the value of the reserved memory counter for the target special symbol to the sub integrated control device 520 (step S313).

[0095] After that, the main control device 510 compares the random number for determining a jackpot read as a reserved memory for the target special symbol with the judgment table for determining a jackpot (step S314). In this embodiment, the judgment table for determining a jackpot includes a normal probability table in which the jackpot probability is set to a low probability (for example, 1 / 300 when the stage setting value is "1") and a high probability table in which the jackpot probability is set to a high probability (for example, 1 / 30 when the stage setting value is "1"). The main control device 510 uses the normal probability table in the normal game state and the time-saving game state, and uses the high probability table in the time-saving game state with a certain probability change. The main control device 510 judges whether the target special symbol is a jackpot or not based on the comparison between the random number for determining a jackpot and the judgment table for determining a jackpot (step S314) (step S315).

[0096] If the target special symbol is a jackpot (step S315: "YES"), the main control device 510 determines the jackpot symbol based on the random number for determining the jackpot symbol read as a reserved memory for the target special symbol (step S316). After that, the main control device 510 sets various conditions (performance time, performance pattern, etc.) for the jackpot game state (step S317). After that, the main control device 510 selects a variation pattern based on the random number for determining the variation pattern read as a reserved memory for the target special symbol (step S318). After that, the main control device 510 transmits a variation instruction command indicating the jackpot symbol and the variation pattern, etc. to the sub-integrated control device 520 (step S320). As a result, the sub-integrated control device 520 controls the pseudo-performance displayed on the performance pattern display device 230 based on the variation instruction command. In addition, in conjunction with sending a variation instruction command to the sub integrated control device 520, the main control device 510 outputs a control signal to the first special chart display device 251 or the second special chart display device 252 to instruct them to perform a variation display.

[0097] If the target special symbol is a miss (step S315: "NO"), the main control device 510 determines the miss symbol based on the random number read as the reserved memory for the target special symbol (step S319). After that, the main control device 510 selects a variation pattern based on the random number read as the reserved memory for the target special symbol (step S318). After that, the main control device 510 transmits a variation instruction command indicating the miss symbol and the variation pattern to the sub-integrated control device 520 (step S320). As a result, the sub-integrated control device 520 controls the pseudo-performance displayed on the performance pattern display device 230 based on the variation instruction command. In addition, the main control device 510 outputs a control signal to the first special symbol display device 251 or the second special symbol display device 252 to instruct the variation display in accordance with the transmission of the variation instruction command to the sub-integrated control device 520. In this embodiment, a process of counting the number of deviation fluctuations HN is executed in the process of step 319. This process will be described later.

[0098] If there is no reserved memory for the first special pattern and the second special pattern (step S310: "NO", step S311: "NO"), and after sending a change instruction command to the sub-integrated control device 520 (step S320), the main control device 510 transitions to special game processing that controls the jackpot game state.

[0099] 12, if it is not the special symbol variation stop period (step S301 in FIG. 10: "NO"), in other words, if the first special symbol or the second special symbol is varying, the main control device 510 judges whether the variation time set based on the variation pattern related to the target special symbol that is varying has elapsed (step S330). If the variation time has not elapsed (step S330: "NO"), the main control device 510 moves to the special game processing that controls the jackpot game state. If the variation time has elapsed (step S330: "YES"), the main control device 510 outputs a control signal to the first special symbol display device 251 or the second special symbol display device 252 to display the jackpot symbol or the losing symbol, and transmits a symbol stop command to the sub-integrated control device 520 to display the jackpot symbol or the losing symbol (step S331).

[0100] When the jackpot pattern is to be displayed as a confirmed winning symbol (step S332: "YES"), the main control device 510 sets the time for displaying the jackpot pattern as a confirmed winning symbol (step S333) and activates the condition device by setting the jackpot flag to a valid value (step S334). After that, the main control device 510 resets the probability variable flag and the time-saving flag to invalid values, and resets the probability variable counter and the time-saving counter to invalid values ​​(step S335). The probability variable flag is a flag that sets whether or not a winning judgment of the first special pattern and the second special pattern is performed with a winning probability higher than that of the normal game state. The time-saving flag is a flag that sets whether or not a time-saving game state is performed. The probability variable counter is a counter that sets the number of times that a winning judgment of the first special pattern and the second special pattern is performed with a winning probability higher than that of the normal game state. The time-saving counter is a counter that sets the number of times that a time-saving game state is performed. After resetting various counters (step S335), the main control unit 510 transmits a state designation command indicating the game state after the determined pattern display to the sub-integrated control unit 520 and the frame control unit 560, and then transitions to special game processing that controls the jackpot game state.

[0101] When the losing symbol is to be displayed as a confirmed symbol (step S332: "NO"), the main control device 510 sets the time for the losing symbol to be displayed as a confirmed symbol (step S337). After that, if the probability variable flag is a valid value "1" (step S338: "YES"), the main control device 510 decrements the probability variable counter (step S339). After that, if the probability variable counter is "0" (step S340: "YES"), the main control device 510 sets the probability variable flag to an invalid value "0" (step S341).

[0102] After completing the processing related to the probability change flag and probability change counter (step S338: "NO", step S340: "NO", step S341), if the time-saving flag is a valid value "1" (step S342: "YES"), the main control device 510 decrements the time-saving counter (step S343). After that, if the time-saving counter is "0" (step S344: "YES"), the main control device 510 sets the time-saving flag to an invalid value "0" (step S345). After completing the processing related to the time-saving flag and the time-saving counter (step S342: "NO", step S344: "NO", step S345), the main control device 510 transmits a state designation command indicating the game state after the pattern determination display to the sub-integrated control device 520 and the frame control device 560, and then transitions to a special game process that controls the big win game state.

[0103] 13, if it is not the fixed pattern non-display period in which the fixed patterns of the first special pattern and the second special pattern are not displayed (step S302 in FIG. 10: "NO"), in other words, if the first special pattern or the second special pattern is displayed as fixed, the main control device 510 judges whether the fixed display time set based on the variable pattern related to the target special pattern displayed as fixed has elapsed (step S350). If the fixed display time has not elapsed (step S350: "NO"), the main control device 510 moves to the special game processing for controlling the big win game state. If the fixed display time has elapsed (step S350: "YES"), the main control device 510 outputs a control signal for terminating the fixed display to the first special pattern display device 251 or the second special pattern display device 252, and transmits a command for terminating the fixed display by the performance pattern to the sub integrated control device 520 (step S351). Thereafter, the main control device 510 transitions to a special game process for controlling the big win game state.

[0104] [Special Game Processing] 14, 15 and 16 are flow charts showing the "special game processing" executed by the main control device 510. This special game processing is a subroutine that controls the big win game state. As shown in FIG. 14, after starting the special game processing, the main control device 510 judges whether or not the condition device is operating based on the big win flag (step S400). If the condition device is not operating (step S400: "NO"), the main control device 510 returns to the main routine.

[0105] When the condition device is operating (step S400: "YES"), the main control device 510 judges whether the big prize opening 248 is closed (step S401). When the big prize opening 248 is closed (step S401: "YES"), the main control device 510 judges whether the big prize start performance prior to the big prize game state is being performed (step S402). When the big prize start performance is being performed (step S402: "YES"), the main control device 510 judges whether it is time to end the big prize start performance (step S403). When it is time to end the big prize start performance (step S403: "YES"), the main control device 510 executes the big prize opening opening opening process (step S404) to open the big prize opening 248. If it is not time to end the big win start performance (step S403: "NO"), and after executing the big win opening process (step S404), the main control device 510 returns to the main routine.

[0106] If the big win start performance is not being performed (step S402: "NO"), the main control device 510 judges whether or not it is during an interval, which is a period during which the big win opening 248 is temporarily closed between the previous opening period and the next opening period (step S405). If it is during an interval (step S405: "YES"), the main control device 510 judges whether or not it is time to end the interval (step S406). If it is time to end the interval (step S406: "YES"), the main control device 510 executes a big win opening opening process (step S408) that opens the big win opening 248. If it is not time to end the interval (step S406: "NO"), and after executing the big win opening opening process (step S408), the main control device 510 returns to the main routine.

[0107] If it is not during an interval (step S405: "NO"), the main control device 510 judges whether or not the big win end presentation is in progress (step S411). If it is not during the big win end presentation (step S411: "YES"), the main control device 510 executes a big win start presentation process (step S412) that transmits a command instructing the sub integrated control device 520 to start a big win presentation. If it is during the big win end presentation (step S411: "NO") and after executing the big win start presentation process (step S412), the main control device 510 returns to the main routine.

[0108] 15, when the large prize opening 248 is not closed (step S401 in FIG. 14: "NO"), in other words, when the large prize opening 248 is open, the main control device 510 judges whether the number of winnings in the large prize opening 248 that is open is less than a prescribed number (for example, 9) (step S430). When the number of winnings in the large prize opening 248 that is open is less than a prescribed number (step S430: "YES"), the main control device 510 judges whether the opening time for opening the large prize opening 248 has elapsed (step S431). When the opening time for opening the large prize opening 248 has not elapsed (step S431: "NO"), the main control device 510 returns to the main routine.

[0109] If the number of winnings in the open big prize opening 248 exceeds the specified number (step S430: "NO"), or if the opening time for opening the big prize opening 248 has elapsed (step S431: "YES"), the main control device 510 executes a big prize opening closing process (step S432) to close the big prize opening 248. After that, the main control device 510 judges whether the round of the big prize game that ended in the previous big prize opening closing process (step S432) is the final round (for example, the 13th round) (step S433). If it is not the final round (step S433: "NO"), the main control device 510 executes an interval to temporarily close the big prize opening 248 between the previous opening period and the next opening period (step S438). After that, the main control device 510 returns to the main routine.

[0110] If the round of the jackpot game that ended in the previous jackpot opening closing process (step S432) is the final round (step S433: "YES"), the main control device 510 transmits a command to the sub-integrated control device 520 to instruct a jackpot end performance that indicates the end of the jackpot game state (step S436). After that, the main control device 510 executes a condition device stop process (step S437) that stops the condition device.

[0111] 16, after executing the condition device stop process (step S437 in FIG. 15), the main control device 510 judges whether the bonus flag is a valid value "1" or not (step S440). In this embodiment, the main control device 510 sets the bonus flag to a valid value "1" according to the type of the jackpot pattern. In another embodiment, when a game ball enters a special bonus hole (not shown) provided inside the big prize hole 248 in the final round of the jackpot game, the main control device 510 may set the bonus flag to a valid value "1".

[0112] If the bonus flag is a valid value "1" (step S440: "YES"), the main control device 510 sets the high probability flag to a valid value "1" (step S441) and sets the high probability counter to a value "160" (step S442). After that, the main control device 510 sets the time-saving flag to a valid value "1" (step S443) and sets the time-saving counter to a value "160" (step S444). Note that the value of the high probability counter and the value of the time-saving counter in this case may be different.

[0113] If the bonus flag is not a valid value "1" (step S440: "NO"), in other words, if the bonus flag is an invalid value "0", the main control device 510 sets the probability variable flag to an invalid value "0" (step S451) and sets the probability variable counter to a value "0" (step S452). After that, the main control device 510 sets the time-saving flag to a valid value "1" (step S453) and sets the time-saving counter to a value "100" (step S454).

[0114] After setting the time-saving counter (steps S444, S454), the main control device 510 resets the privilege flag to an invalid value "0" (step S445). After that, the main control device 510 transmits a command to the sub-integrated control device 520 to notify the game state after the big win game, which is set based on the probability change flag and the time-saving flag (step S446). After that, the main control device 510 transmits a command to the sub-integrated control device 520 and the frame control device 560 to indicate the game state after the big win game, which is set based on the probability change flag and the time-saving flag (step S447). After that, the main control device 510 returns to the main routine.

[0115] [Winning confirmation process] Fig. 17 is a flow chart showing the "winning confirmation process" executed by the main control device 510. This winning confirmation process is a subroutine included in the winning confirmation process (step S107) of Fig. 8. After starting the winning confirmation process, the main control device 510 judges whether or not a winning has been detected (step S512). The main control device 510 judges whether or not a winning has been detected based on detection signals from the first start port switch 271, the second start port switch 272, the left winning port switch 274, and the count switch 276.

[0116] When a winning is detected (step S512: "YES"), the main control device 510 judges the number of prize balls to be added to the player's balls (step S514). When the detection signal is from the left winning hole switch 274 that detects a winning in the normal winning hole 246, the main control device 510 judges that the number of prize balls is 10. When the detection signal is from the first start hole switch 271 that detects a winning in the first start hole 241, and when the detection signal is from the second start hole switch 272 that detects a winning in the second start hole 242, the main control device 510 judges that the number of prize balls is 3. When the detection signal is from the count switch 276 that detects a winning in the large winning hole 248, the main control device 510 judges that the number of prize balls is 13. The number of prize balls corresponding to each winning hole can be set appropriately.

[0117] After determining the number of winning balls (step S514), and if no winning is detected (step S512: "NO"), the main control unit 510 instructs the prize ball number display device 286 to display the number of winning balls (step S516). As a result, the prize ball number display device 286 displays the number of winning balls for each winning slot. If no winning is detected, the prize ball number display device 286 displays the number "0" indicating that no winning has occurred. After instructing the display of the number of winning balls (step S516), the main control unit 510 completes the winning confirmation process of FIG. 17 and returns to the main routine.

[0118] [Each output process] FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing each output process executed by the main control device 510. Each output process is a subroutine corresponding to each output process (step S109) of FIG. 8. In each output process, the main control device 510 transmits prize ball information indicating the number of prize balls based on the winning confirmation process of FIG. 17 to the frame control device 560 by one-way communication from the main control device 510 (step S522). After that, the main control device 510 transmits prize ball information indicating the number of prize balls based on the winning confirmation process of FIG. 17 to the main control device 510 by one-way communication from the main control device 510 (step S524). In each output process, the main control device 510 outputs various information to the frame control device 560 and the main control device 510 in addition to the prize ball information. After outputting various information, the main control device 510 ends each output process of FIG. 18 and returns to the main routine.

[0119] The main control device 510 transmits the following information as game status information indicating the game status of the pachinko machine 10 from the frame control device 560 to the hall computer 90 via the card unit 80. <Name of information: Content of information> Information A1: Jackpot Information A2~A8: Spare Information A9: During the jackpot and time reduction Information A10: During the special period Information A11: Time-saving Information A12: Pattern changing Information A13: Detection of fraudulent activity by radio wave sensor (error) Information A14: Detection of fraudulent activity using magnet sensor (error) Information A15: Detection of fraudulent winnings (error)

[0120] The main control device 510 transmits the following information to the frame control device 560 as game status information indicating the game status of the pachinko machine 10. This information is not transmitted to the hall computer 90. <Name of information: Content of information> Information B1: Start of jackpot game Information B2: Interval between rounds in jackpot games Information B3: End of jackpot game Information B4: Number of rounds of jackpot play Information B5: Pattern change pattern Information B6~B10: Spare Information B11: There is a special chance (with time reduction) Information B12: There is a chance of winning (no time reduction) Information B13: No special bonus (time-saving) Information B14: No special rate (no time reduction) Information B15: Start of standby mode (power saving mode) Information B16: Exiting standby mode Information B17: Winning count for the main prize slot Information B18: Number of winnings for normal electric gadgets Information B19: Number of reserved items in the first reserved memory Information B20: Number of reserved items in the second reserved memory Information B21: Number of reserved memories Information B22: Winning at the general prize slot

[0121] Regarding the start of the standby mode of information B15, the main control device 510 starts the standby mode when a predetermined time has passed since the end of all the pattern variations in a state where there is no reserved memory of the normal pattern, the first special pattern, or the second special pattern. Regarding the end of the standby mode of information B16, the main control device 510 ends the standby mode when any of the reserved memory of the normal pattern, the first special pattern, or the second special pattern is stored during execution of the standby mode.

[0122] [Ball management processing] FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the "balls in hand management process" executed by the frame control device 560. This balls in hand management process is a process for managing the number of balls in hand. The frame control device 560 repeatedly executes the balls in hand management process at a predetermined timing. After starting the balls in hand management process, the frame control device 560 judges whether or not it has received lending information from the card unit 80 (step S612). The lending information from the card unit 80 indicates the number of game balls to be lent to the player based on the bill received from the player or the information read from the recording card, which is a recording medium. When the lending information is received (step S612: "YES"), the frame control device 560 adds the number of game balls based on the lending information to the number of balls in hand managed by the frame control device 560 (step S614).

[0123] After adding the number of balls held based on the rental information (step S614), and when rental information has not been received (step S612: "NO"), the frame control device 560 judges whether or not a launched ball, which is a game ball launched from the launch device 310 to the game area 210, has been detected (step S622). The frame control device 560 judges the detection of a launched ball based on a detection signal from the launch entrance sensor 315. When a launched ball is detected (step S622: "YES"), the frame control device 560 subtracts the number of launched balls from the number of balls held managed by the frame control device 560 (step S624).

[0124] After subtracting the number of balls held based on the shot ball (step S624), and when the shot ball is not detected (step S622: "NO"), the frame control device 560 judges whether or not prize ball information indicating the number of prize balls has been received from the main control device 510 (step S632). When the prize ball information has been received (step S632: "YES"), the frame control device 560 adds the number of prize balls based on the prize ball information to the number of balls held managed by the frame control device 560 (step S634).

[0125] After adding the number of balls held based on the prize ball information (step S634), and if the prize ball information has not been received (step S632: "NO"), the frame control device 560 instructs the ball number display device 164 to display the number of balls held managed by the frame control device 560 (step S642). After that, the frame control device 560 ends the ball holding management process of FIG.

[0126] [Information output processing] FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the "information output process" executed by the frame control device 560. This information output process is a process for outputting various information to the sub-integrated control device 520. The frame control device 560 repeatedly executes the information output process at a predetermined timing. In the information output process, the frame control device 560 transmits ball information indicating the number of balls held based on the ball management process of FIG. 19 to the sub-integrated control device 520 by one-way communication from the frame control device 560 (step S644). In the information output process, the frame control device 560 transmits the following information to the sub-integrated control device 520 in addition to the ball information by one-way communication from the frame control device 560. Information C1: Winning ball detection information Information C2: Out ball detection information Information C3: Frame side error information Information C4: Nighttime surveillance information Information C5: Card notification information

[0127] The winning ball detection information (information C1) is information indicating the number of winning balls based on the detection signal from the winning ball sensor 344. The out ball detection information (information C2) is information indicating the number of out balls based on the detection signal from the out ball sensor 345. The frame side error information (information C3) is information indicating an abnormality in the devices such as the launching device 310, the grinding device 320, and the lifting device 330 managed by the frame control device 560. The night monitoring information (information C4) is information indicating an abnormality based on the detection signal from the night monitoring device 352. The card notification information (information C5) is information indicating that the recording card is to be returned in the card unit 80. When the sub-integrated control device 520 receives an operation input to the counting switch 162, the sub-integrated control device 520 transmits the interval period until the next game state after the end of the big win game and the card notification information (information C5) to the sub-integrated control device 520 when the sub-integrated control device 520 receives an operation input to the return button 813.

[0128] [Ball display processing] FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the "ball display process" executed by the sub-integrated control device 520. This ball display process is a process for displaying the number of balls held on the performance pattern display device 230. The sub-integrated control device 520 repeatedly executes the ball display process at a predetermined timing. After starting the ball display process, the sub-integrated control device 520 receives ball information indicating the number of balls held based on the ball management process of FIG. 19 from the frame control device 560 by one-way communication from the frame control device 560 (step S712). After that, the sub-integrated control device 520 instructs the performance pattern display device 230 to display the number of balls held based on the ball information from the frame control device 560 via the performance pattern control device 530 (step S714). After that, the sub-integrated control device 520 ends the ball display process. The sub-integrated control device 520 may receive ball information indicating the number of balls held from the frame control device 560 each time the number of balls held managed in the frame control device 560 changes by a predetermined number (for example, 10), or may receive ball information indicating the number of balls held from the frame control device 560 each time the number of balls held managed in the frame control device 560 changes. The sub-integrated control device 520 may calculate the number of balls held based on information different from the ball information transmitted from the frame control device 560, and instruct the performance pattern display device 230 via the performance pattern control device 530 to display the calculated number of balls held.

[0129] FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen 401 showing an example of a display in the performance pattern display device 230. The screen 401 includes performance pattern display areas 411, 412, and 413, a display area 422, and a display area 424. The performance pattern display area 411 is an area for performing variable display and fixed display of the performance pattern located on the left side. The performance pattern display area 412 is an area for performing variable display and fixed display of the performance pattern located in the center. The performance pattern display area 413 is an area for performing variable display and fixed display of the performance pattern located on the right side. The display area 422 is an area for displaying the number of prize balls based on the prize ball information from the main control device 510. The display area 424 is an area for displaying the number of balls held based on the ball information from the frame control device 560. In addition, if the main control device 510 and the frame control device 560 are configured to be capable of two-way communication, data indicating the number of balls held managed by the frame control device 560 can be output to the main control device 510, and the main control device 510 can output data indicating the number of balls held to the sub-integrated control device 520, and the number of balls held can be displayed in the display area 424.

[0130] [Frame side error notification process] 23 is a flowchart showing the "frame side error notification process" executed by the sub-integrated control device 520. This frame side error notification process is a process for notifying the effect pattern display device 230 of an abnormality in the device managed by the frame control device 560. The sub-integrated control device 520 repeatedly executes the frame side error notification process at a predetermined timing. After starting the frame side error notification process, the sub-integrated control device 520 judges whether or not it has received frame side error information (information C3) from the frame control device 560 (step S732). If frame side error information (information C3) is received (step S732: "YES (abnormal)"), the sub-integrated control device 520 instructs the performance pattern display device 230 to notify the frame side error information (information C3) via the performance pattern control device 530 (step S734). When notifying the frame side error information (information C3), the sub-integrated control device 520 may instruct the notification by the speaker 142 emitting light and the light-emitting unit 144 outputting sound, in addition to the notification by the performance pattern display device 230. After instructing the notification of the frame side error information (information C3) (step S734), and if the frame side error information (information C3) has not been received (step S732: "NO (normal)"), the sub-integrated control device 520 terminates the frame side error notification process.

[0131] When the frame side error information (information C3) is notified (step S734), sound output from the alarm speaker 354 may be performed under the control of the frame control device 560. When the frame side error information (information C3) is notified, the launching of game balls by the launching device 310 may be stopped under the control of the frame control device 560, making play impossible. In this case, the frame control device 560 may notify the sub-integrated control device 520 of the stop of launching of game balls, and the sub-integrated control device 520 may instruct the performance symbol display device 230 to notify the same.

[0132] FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen 403 showing an example of a display in the effect symbol display device 230. The screen 403 is an example of a screen displayed when the sub-integrated control device 520 instructs to notify the frame side error information (information C3). The screen 403 includes effect symbol display areas 411, 412, 413, a display area 422, and a display area 424, similar to the screen 401 in FIG. 22. The screen 403 further includes a display area 432. The display area 432 is an area for displaying the contents of the frame side error information (information C3). In the example of FIG. 26, the display area 432 displays the characters "Ball Circulation Error" indicating an abnormality in the circulation system of the game ball.

[0133] [Card Notification Processing] FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing the "card notification process" executed by the sub-integrated control device 520. This card notification process is a process for notifying the effect pattern display device 230 that the recording card is to be returned in the card unit 80. The sub-integrated control device 520 repeatedly executes the card notification process at a predetermined timing. After starting the card notification process, the sub-integrated control device 520 judges whether or not it has received card notification information (information C5) from the frame control device 560 (step S752). In a situation where an operation input is made to the return button 813, a jackpot game is ended, or an operation input is made to the counting switch 162, the frame control device 560 transmits the card notification information (information C5) to the sub-integrated control device 520. If card notification information (information C5) is received (step S752: "YES"), the sub-integrated control device 520 instructs the performance pattern display device 230 via the performance pattern control device 530 to notify the card unit 80 that the recording card will be returned (step S754). After instructing the card unit 80 to notify the card unit 80 that the recording card will be returned (step S754), and if card notification information (information C5) has not been received (step S752: "NO"), the sub-integrated control device 520 terminates the card notification process.

[0134] When notifying the user that the recording card will be returned after the end of the jackpot, the sub-integrated control board 520 can notify the user that the recording card will be returned based on information from the main control board 510, and therefore may notify the user that the recording card will be returned without receiving card notification information from the frame control board 560. When notifying the user that the recording card will be returned after each jackpot, the sub-integrated control board 520 may notify the user that the recording card will be returned after the end of the jackpot only when the jackpot game state from the normal game state ends, in order to avoid notifying the user multiple times even though the recording card has been removed. The same applies when the frame control device 560 transmits card notification information.

[0135] Fig. 26 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen 405 showing an example of a display in the performance symbol display device 230. The screen 405 is an example of a screen displayed when a notification to the effect that the recording card is to be returned in the card unit 80 is instructed by the sub-integrated control device 520. The screen 405 has a display area 452. The display area 452 is an area that displays the effect that the recording card is to be returned in the card unit 80. In the example of Fig. 26, the display area 442 displays characters indicating that the recording card is to be returned in the card unit 80.

[0136] [Other time-saving controls] In the process shown in Fig. 16, when the bonus flag is a valid value "1", the values ​​of the probability variable flag and time-saving flag are set to "1" (hereinafter, also referred to as "setting the flag") (steps S441, S443), and the probability variable counter and time-saving counter are set to the value "160" (steps S442, S444), and when the bonus flag is a value "0", only the time-saving flag is set and the time-saving counter is set to the value "100" (steps S451 to S454). The time-saving control executed by this process is executed after the big win game ends (hereinafter, also referred to as "big win time-saving"). In this embodiment, in addition to the jackpot time reduction executed after the jackpot game ends, the time reduction control is also executed when a specific losing symbol is selected in the process of step S319 shown in Fig. 11 (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "specific time reduction"). Details will be described later. Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the number of miss fluctuations executed after it is determined to be a miss in step S315 shown in Fig. 11 reaches a predetermined number, the time-saving control is also executed (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "ceiling time-saving"). This will also be described in detail later. Here, first, the relationship between the number of times of each time-saving among the jackpot time-saving, the specific time-saving and the ceiling time-saving will be described with reference to Figs. 27 to 29.

[0137] As shown in Figures 27 and 28, the probability of a jackpot from the first special chart and the second special chart is 1 / 300 when the stage setting value is 1 (the number in parentheses is the probability of a jackpot in the high probability state). When the first special chart is hit, the number of rounds is 4R in 80% of cases, and 6R in 20% of cases. When the special flag is not set, the time-saving play with 100 rounds is selected, and when the special flag is set, the time-saving play with 160 rounds is selected (Figure 16). When the jackpot is hit on the second special chart, the number of rounds is 6R at a 20% rate, and 10R at an 80% rate. When the bonus flag is not set, the time-saving play with 100 times the time-saving number is selected, and when the bonus flag is set, the time-saving play with 160 times the time-saving number is selected. In this embodiment, the number of time-saving periods awarded after a jackpot game is the same regardless of the difference between the first special chart and the second special chart, but a configuration in which a different number of time-saving periods is awarded depending on the difference between the first special chart and the second special chart is also possible.

[0138] In this embodiment, there is one type of specific loss symbol for generating a specific time reduction, and when the specific loss symbol (time reduction symbol) is selected, the specific loss symbol is displayed and then a time reduction game is executed for 50 time reductions. In this embodiment, the probability (selection rate) of the specific loss symbol being selected is the same for the first special symbol and the second special symbol. In addition, the specific loss symbol may be selected with different probabilities for the first special symbol and the second special symbol. Also, the specific loss symbol may be of two types, and the number of time-saving times may be different according to the type of the specific loss symbol.

[0139] On the other hand, the ceiling time reduction is performed by controlling the time reduction by 300 times when the number of misses of the first special chart reaches 500 times, or the number of misses of the second special chart reaches 400 times, or the total number of misses of the first special chart and the second special chart reaches 600 times. When the ceiling time reduction is performed, the time reduction flag is set and the time reduction counter is set to 300, as in the case of the jackpot time reduction described above. In this embodiment, the time reduction control is performed by controlling the time reduction by 300 times when the number of misses of the first special chart reaches 500 times, or the number of misses of the second special chart reaches 400 times, or the total number of misses of the first special chart and the second special chart reaches 600 times. However, it is also possible to configure the time reduction control to be performed simply when the total number of misses reaches a predetermined number, and it is also possible to configure the time reduction control to be performed when the number of misses of the first special chart or the second special chart alone reaches a predetermined number. The probability of winning the first and second special charts in the specific time-saving and ceiling time-saving is 1 / 300. The time-saving flags set when the jackpot time-saving, specific time-saving, and ceiling time-saving are executed may be the same flag because different types of time-saving controls are not executed simultaneously, but it is preferable to set them to different flags in order to determine which type of time-saving the number of times belongs to.

[0140] As mentioned above, the variation time of the special symbol in the jackpot time reduction is 10 seconds to 120 seconds during normal play, which is not time reduction, and is 5 seconds on average during time reduction and 30 seconds on average during reach. The winning probability of the normal symbol is 1 / 6 during non-time reduction and 5 / 6 during time reduction. The variation time of the normal symbol is 5 seconds during non-time reduction and 1 second during time reduction. In addition, the opening time of the normal electric role 245 is 0.3 seconds during non-time reduction and 1.5 seconds during time reduction. In this embodiment, the winning probability of the normal symbol is set to a high probability of 5 / 6 only during the jackpot time reduction, and the low probability is maintained during the ceiling time reduction or specific time reduction. Even during the jackpot time reduction, when the probability variable flag is not set (the value of the probability variable flag is "0"), the winning probability of the normal symbol may be set to 1 / 6. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 29, except for the opening time of the normal electric device 245 during time-saving play, the fluctuation time and winning probability are the same regardless of whether the time-saving play is for a jackpot, a specific time-saving play, or a ceiling time-saving play. On the other hand, the opening time of the normal electric device 245 during time-saving play is set to 1.5 seconds for the big win time-saving, 1.2 seconds for the specific time-saving, and 1.7 seconds for the ceiling time-saving. Of course, the variable time or winning probability may be different depending on the type of time-saving. Also, the time until the normal electric device is released after the winning is notified by the normal pattern may be different or the same depending on the type of time-saving.

[0141] [Counting the number of deviations HN] Here, the process of counting the number of miss variations (also called the number of miss lottery draws) HN in step 319 of FIG. 11 in the special drawing win / loss determination process described above will be described with reference to FIG. The number of times of loss fluctuation HN indicates the number of times the random number for determining a big win read as a reserved memory for the special symbol in step 314 is compared with the judgment table for determining a big win, and the comparison result is notified by the special symbol. Therefore, in other words, the number of times of loss lottery indicates the number of times the lottery result is notified by the special symbol, and does not include the lottery when a big win notice is given. In the "miss variation count HN count process" shown in Fig. 30, first, it is determined whether or not the current pachinko machine 10 is in a high probability state of winning, that is, in a state where the machine is not in a high probability game (step S1000). If the determination in step S1000 is affirmative, a process of incrementing the miss variation count HN is performed (step S1001). After the process in step S1001 is performed, or if the determination in step S1000 is negative, the process is returned to the process in step S319 in Fig. 11. In this embodiment, when the probability of winning is high, the miss variation count HN is not incremented, so in the probability variable time-saving game state, the miss variation count HN is not incremented. However, in the normal time-saving game state, the miss variation count HN is incremented.

[0142] The process shown in FIG. 30 shows the number of miss variations HN when the result of the first hit / miss judgment, which compares the random number for determining a big win read as a reserved memory for the first special symbol in the steps S314-S315 with the judgment table for determining a big win, and the second hit / miss judgment, which compares the random number for determining a big win read as a reserved memory for the second special symbol with the judgment table for determining a big win, is not a big win. The number of miss variations HN shows the sum of the number of miss variations HN1 in the first hit / miss judgment and the number of miss variations HN2 in the second hit / miss judgment. That is, when the number of miss variations HN is incremented, either the number of miss variations HN1 in the first hit / miss judgment or the number of miss variations HN2 in the second hit / miss judgment is incremented. The miss fluctuation count HN, the miss fluctuation count HN1, and the miss fluctuation count HN2 are initialized when a positive determination is made in step S315 of Fig. 11, that is, when a big win occurs. They can also be initialized when the RAM clear switch 290 or the like is operated to initialize the stored data, when the setting key switch 291 or the like is operated to change the value of the step setting value, etc.

[0143] In this embodiment, when the probability of winning a jackpot is in a high probability state, the miss variation count HN is not incremented, but it may be configured to be incremented. For example, in the case of a configuration in which the big prize winning port 14 is not opened continuously and the state transitions to a high probability state without winning many prize balls due to small wins, etc. (so-called sudden probability function), the miss variation count HN may be incremented even in the high probability state. This is because when the state transitions to a high probability state due to the sudden probability function, the player does not gain any profit from playing a jackpot. If the number of miss variations HN is incremented when the probability of a sudden change to a high probability state is reached, the player can be rescued by time-saving control if a jackpot does not occur in the high probability state. On the other hand, if the probability of a sudden change to a high probability state is reached and a jackpot occurs, the number of miss variations HN is initialized, so that the player is not given an excessive advantage.

[0144] [Display process for number of deviations HN] The miss variation count HN is displayed on the screen 401 of the performance symbol display device 230 together with the upper limit count (also called the ceiling count) MHN. The display area 424 of the screen 401 displays the number of balls held based on the ball information from the frame control device 560 as described above, but the miss variation count HN is displayed in the display area 450, and the upper limit count MHN is displayed in the display area 451. The difference between the upper limit number MHN and the loss variation number HN, i.e., the number of times the loss variation number HN needs to reach the upper limit number MHN, may be displayed in the display area 450. Of course, it is also possible to display the loss variation number HN together with the number of times the loss variation number HN needs to reach the upper limit number MHN in the display area 450. In short, the display mode is not important as long as the player knows the number of losses required for the time-saving control based on the loss variation number HN to be executed. Also, the number of times of loss fluctuations HN may be displayed all the time or at a fixed timing. Also, after the start of a game, the number of times of loss fluctuations due to the game after the start of the game may be displayed, and the number of times of loss fluctuations added to the number of times of loss fluctuations due to the previous player (the cumulative number of times of loss fluctuations) may be displayed after a fixed time has passed. In this embodiment, the system is configured to display the number of times of loss fluctuation HN when the cumulative number of times of loss fluctuation HN is equal to or greater than a predetermined percentage (e.g., 50%) of the upper limit number of times MHN and after a predetermined time (e.g., 10 minutes) has elapsed since the start of the game. The number of times of loss fluctuation due to the game after the player is changed is displayed separately immediately after the start of the game. In this embodiment, the miss variation count HN displayed in the display area 450 is the cumulative miss variation count.

[0145] [Initialization process for number of deviations HN] The miss variation count HN is initialized at least when a big win game occurs, but it may be initialized when a condition other than the occurrence of a big win game is met. For example, it may be initialized in the step S1006. Alternatively, it may be initialized after a certain time (for example, 1 to 2 hours) has passed after it is determined that the player has finished playing. The miss variation count HN is stored for a certain period of time by the backup power supply even during a power outage, but it may be initialized under other conditions than those mentioned above. For example, it may be initialized when the RWM clear switch 290 or the like is operated to initialize the data stored in the RAM, or when the setting key switch 291 or the like is operated to change the setting of the jackpot probability. In addition, when a jackpot game occurs, the time-saving flag and the time-saving counter of the ceiling time-saving are also initialized. In addition, when the value of the time-saving counter becomes zero, that is, when a jackpot game does not occur during the time-saving game, the time-saving flag is also initialized. The same applies to the specific time-saving.

[0146] [Ceiling time reduction and specific time reduction execution processing] The aforementioned jackpot time reduction is executed after the jackpot game is played, but the ceiling time reduction and specific time reduction are executed by the "ceiling time reduction priority processing" shown in Figure 31. This process is executed after it is determined that the winning combination is lost in step S315 shown in Fig. 11 (positive determination in step S1110). It is determined whether the number of times the winning combination has changed HN, which has been updated in the process shown in Fig. 30 described above, has reached a predetermined upper limit number MHN (step S1111). If it is determined that the number has not reached a predetermined upper limit number MHN, it is determined whether the winning combination selected in the process of step S319 shown in Fig. 11 is a specific winning combination (time-saving combination) (step S1112). If it is a specific missing symbol, it is determined whether the jackpot time-saving game is not in progress (step S1113) depending on whether the jackpot time-saving flag is set or not, or whether the ceiling time-saving game is not in progress (step S1114) depending on whether the ceiling time-saving flag is set or not. If it is not in the jackpot time-saving game or the ceiling time-saving game, it is determined whether the specific time-saving game is not in progress depending on whether the specific time-saving flag is set or not (step S1115). If a specific failure symbol is selected, and the game is not in a jackpot time-saving game, not in a ceiling time-saving game, and not in a specific time-saving game (steps S1112 to S1115), a specific time-saving start process is executed (step S1116). In the specific time-saving start process, a specific time-saving flag is set, the number of time-saving times is set to 50, and a process of instructing a notification of the game state and a process of sending a command instructing the game state are performed. This process is the same as the process steps S443, S444, S446, and S447 described in FIG. 16. In the process of instructing a notification of the game state, after the specific failure symbol is displayed, a notification is made to the effect that a change is made from a left hit toward the game area 211 to a right hit toward the game area 212, since a specific time-saving game is started.

[0147] If a specific losing symbol is selected, and the game is not in a jackpot time-saving game or a ceiling time-saving game, and is also in a specific time-saving game (positive judgment in step S1115), a specific time-saving update process is executed (step S1117). The specific time-saving update process is a process that maintains the specific time-saving flag in an up state and sets the number of time-saving times that has decreased (consumed) to 50. At this time, after the specific miss pattern is displayed, the number of time-saving times that has been reset to 50 is displayed, and a notification is given that right-hand shots should be continued. On the other hand, even if a specific failure symbol is selected, if the jackpot time-saving game is in progress (negative judgment in step S1113), the jackpot time-saving game continuation process is performed (step S1118). This is because during the jackpot time-saving game, the winning probability of a normal symbol is 5 / 6, which is advantageous to the player, so the jackpot time-saving game continues even if a specific failure symbol is selected. At this time, after the specific failure symbol is displayed, a notification is given that the jackpot time-saving game will continue. However, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the specific failure symbol is not notified (displayed) even if it is selected, but is replaced with another failure symbol (general failure symbol) and displayed, or a configuration in which the specific failure symbol is not selected during the jackpot time-saving game. In the case of a configuration in which the specific failure symbol is not notified or a configuration in which the specific failure symbol is not selected, a negative judgment is made in step S1112 and the process exits to "return", but if the jackpot time-saving game is in progress, the process continues. Also, even if a specific loss symbol is selected, if the ceiling time-saving game is in progress (negative judgment in step S1114), the ceiling time-saving game continuation process is performed (step S1119). This is a process that prioritizes the ceiling time-saving game being executed over the specific time-saving game. At this time, after the specific loss symbol is displayed, a notification is given that the ceiling time-saving game will continue. However, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the specific loss symbol is not notified even if it is selected, but is replaced with another loss symbol (general loss symbol) and displayed, or a configuration in which the specific loss symbol is not selected during the ceiling time-saving game. In the case of a configuration in which the specific loss symbol is not notified or a configuration in which the specific loss symbol is not selected, a negative judgment is made in step S1112 and the process exits to "return", but if the ceiling time-saving game is in progress, the process is continued. In addition, a configuration in which a specific missing symbol is not selected during a jackpot time-saving play or a ceiling time-saving play means a configuration in which a specific missing symbol is not (cannot be) selected in the lottery during a jackpot time-saving play or a ceiling time-saving play, and it is possible to have a configuration in which only the general missing symbol shown in Figure 28 can be selected in the lottery during a jackpot time-saving play or a ceiling time-saving play.

[0148] In this embodiment, when the jackpot lottery is won, the miss variation count HN is initialized, the number of time-saving times due to the jackpot time-saving is less than the upper limit count MHN, and when the probability of winning the jackpot lottery is high, the miss variation count HN is not counted, so that the ceiling time-saving game is not played during the jackpot time-saving game. In this embodiment, when the miss variation count HN becomes equal to or greater than the upper limit count MHN, the miss variation count HN is also initialized, and the number of time-saving times due to the ceiling time-saving game is less than the upper limit count MHN, so that the ceiling time-saving game is not played again during the ceiling time-saving game. After the specific time-saving start process (step S1116), the specific time-saving update process (step S1117), the jackpot time-saving continuation process (step S1118) or the ceiling time-saving continuation process (step S1119) is completed, or when a jackpot lottery is won (negative judgment in step S1110), or when a specific losing symbol has not been selected (negative judgment in step S1112), the process skips to "return."

[0149] If the number of miss fluctuations HN has reached the predetermined upper limit number MHN (negative judgment in step S1111), similarly to step 1114, it is determined whether or not a specific time-saving game is in progress by checking whether or not the specific time-saving flag is set (step S1120). If the specific time-saving play is in progress, the specific time-saving end process (step S1121) is executed, and if the specific time-saving play is not in progress, the ceiling time-saving start process (step S1122) is executed without executing the specific time-saving end process, and then the process exits to "return". The specific time-saving end process is a process of clearing (initializing) the specific time-saving flag and the number of time-saving times, temporarily ending the specific time-saving game, and notifying the user of this fact. In the ceiling time-saving start process, a ceiling time-saving flag is set, the number of time-saving times is set to 300, and then a process is performed to notify the user that the ceiling time-saving game will start because the number of miss fluctuations has reached the upper limit number MHN. If the ceiling time-saving game ending process is performed, a notification is given to continue hitting to the right, and if the ceiling time-saving game ending process is not performed, a notification is given that hitting to the right is recommended.

[0150] In the above-mentioned step S1116, S1117 or S1122, the time-saving flag is set and the number of time-saving times is set, whereby the time-saving game control by the ceiling time-saving or specific time-saving is executed. As described above, the time-saving game state by the time-saving control is a game state in which the time for variably displaying the first special symbol, the second special symbol and the normal symbol is shortened from the normal game state, and the average opening time of the normal electric device 245 is extended from the normal game state. It is also possible to configure it so that the time for variably displaying the first special symbol or the second special symbol is not shortened. In the time-saving game with the ceiling time-saving or specific time-saving, similarly to the jackpot time-saving game, when a jackpot lottery is won during the time-saving game, each time-saving flag and the number of time-saving times are initialized. In this embodiment, in step S1111, it is judged whether the miss count N has reached the upper limit count MHN, but it is also possible to simultaneously judge whether the miss fluctuation count HN1 in the first hit / miss judgment has reached the predetermined upper limit count MHN1, whether the miss fluctuation count HN2 in the second hit / miss judgment has reached the predetermined upper limit count MHN2, whether the small hit count has reached the upper limit count, etc. In this case, if any one judgment is judged to be positive, the process proceeds to S1118, and if all judgments have not reached the upper limit count, the process proceeds to S1112. When the miss fluctuation count HN is initialized by setting the time-saving flag, the miss fluctuation count HN1 and the miss fluctuation count HN2 are also initialized.

[0151] According to the embodiment described above in detail, when the number of times of loss fluctuation HN reaches the upper limit number MHN, a process of switching to a ceiling time-saving game is performed even during a specific time-saving game. On the other hand, even if a specific loss symbol is selected during a ceiling time-saving game, the ceiling time-saving game continues. This makes it possible to provide a game in which the time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means is prioritized. Since the time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means is prioritized, it has the effect of making it possible to rescue a player when there are many consecutive loss lotteries. On the other hand, if a specific loss symbol is selected during a time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means, the time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means continues even if the time-saving game by the specific time-saving execution means is not performed, so the effect of rescuing a player is not lost. Furthermore, if a specific loss symbol is selected during a time-saving game by the specific time-saving execution means, a new specific time-saving game is performed, so that the number of times of time-saving by the specific time-saving game is substantially extended, which further increases the expectation of winning and has the effect of increasing the interest of the game. On the other hand, even if a specific losing symbol is selected during a jackpot time-saving game with the probability variable flag set, the jackpot time-saving game continues without switching to the specific time-saving game. Since the possibility of winning the jackpot lottery during a jackpot time-saving game with the probability variable flag set is extremely high, it is possible to protect the interests of the player by continuing the jackpot time-saving game. Also, since the probability of winning a normal symbol is high (5 / 6) during a jackpot time-saving game without the probability variable flag set, there are more opportunities for the jackpot lottery and the expectation of winning is high.

[0152] Here, the possible ranges of the number of time-saving games and the upper limit number MHN for each time-saving game in this embodiment will be mentioned. The number of time-saving times and the upper limit number of times MHN are determined in advance based on the performance of the gaming machine, such as the probability of a jackpot. For example, if the probability of a big win during low probability is 1 / LP, it can be considered that 2.5×LP≦MHN≦3.0×LP. In this embodiment, the probability of a big win during low probability when the stage setting value is "1" is 1 / 300, so 750≦MHN≦900. Similarly, the time-saving counter (time-saving count STN) for ceiling time-saving games is also determined in advance based on the performance of the gaming machine, such as the probability of winning. For example, if the probability of winning at low probability is 1 / LP, it can be considered that 0.4 x LP ≦ STN ≦ 3.8 x LP. If the probability of winning is 1 / 300, then 120 ≦ STN ≦ 1140. Similarly, the time-saving counter (time-saving count STN) for the specific time-saving is determined in advance based on the performance of the gaming machine, such as the probability of winning a jackpot, but it is possible to set it as 1≦STN≦3.8×LP without setting a lower limit. This is because the specific time-saving is not a process intended to compensate the player for losses, unlike the ceiling time-saving, and therefore there is little need to set a minimum number for the time-saving count. Similarly, there is little need to set the number of times for the time-saving jackpot, but it is preferable to set it to less than the upper limit number MHN of the number of times for the miss fluctuation HN. This is to prevent the ceiling time-saving game from occurring during the time-saving jackpot game. However, these values ​​can be changed as appropriate.

[0153] Second Embodiment In the second embodiment, the upper limit number MHN and the selection range of the number of time-saving times are taken into consideration, and the number of time-saving times etc. shown in Fig. 32 are set. The number of time-saving times etc. shown in Fig. 32 are obtained by partially changing the number of time-saving times etc. shown in Figs. 27 to 29. In the second embodiment, the upper limit of the number of times of miss fluctuations HN is 3.0×LP=900, the selection rate of the specific miss pattern is 20×1 / LP=1 / 15, the number of time-saving times of the ceiling time-saving is 2.5×LP=750, and the number of time-saving times of the specific time-saving is 2.5×LP×1 / 50=15. Also, as shown in the figure, the pattern fluctuation time during the specific time-saving game is shorter than the fluctuation time during the ceiling time-saving game, and the opening time of the normal electric role during the specific time-saving game is longer than the opening time during the ceiling time-saving game. In the second embodiment as well, the "ceiling time reduction priority process" shown in FIG. 31 is executed. In the second embodiment, the upper limit number MHN of the miss variation number HN of the ceiling time-saving and the number of time-saving times are set to values ​​close to the maximum within the above-mentioned selection range, so that the probability of selecting a specific miss pattern is extremely high and the number of time-saving times of the specific time-saving is extremely low. Also, the pattern variation time during the specific time-saving game is shorter than the variation time during the ceiling time-saving game, and the opening time of the normal electric role during the specific time-saving game is longer than the opening time during the ceiling time-saving game. In the second embodiment, although the number of time-saving times in the ceiling time-saving game is large, the upper limit number MHN of the miss variation number HN is close to the maximum value within the above selection range, so it takes a long time to generate the ceiling time-saving game. However, since the probability of selecting a specific miss pattern is extremely high, the time-saving game by the specific time-saving can be frequently generated, and the time it takes for the miss variation number HN to reach the upper limit number MHN can be shortened. On the other hand, since the number of time-saving times in the specific time-saving game is small, it is possible to prevent the adverse effect of frequently winning the jackpot lottery by the specific time-saving game. In addition, since the number of time-saving times in the ceiling time-saving game is large, the possibility of winning the jackpot lottery during the ceiling time-saving game is high. As a result, it has an effect of making the effect of providing a game in which the time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving game is prioritized more prominent. In addition, the symbol variation time during the specific time-saving game is shorter than the variation time during the ceiling time-saving game, and the opening time of the normal electric device during the specific time-saving game is longer than the opening time during the ceiling time-saving game, so that the speed at which the number of time-saving times is consumed during the specific time-saving game is increased, and a more dynamic game can be provided. As a result, the interest in the game can be further increased. The upper limit number of times MHN and the number of time-saving times are not limited to the values ​​shown in FIG. 32. For example, the probability of selecting a specific losing symbol may be 10 times or more and 50 times or less than the probability (LP) of winning the big win lottery. Also, the number of time-saving times of the specific time-saving times may be within a range of 1 / 100 to 1 / 10 of the number of time-saving times of the ceiling time-saving times. Therefore, the number of time-saving times of the specific time-saving times may be 1 time.

[0154] In the "ceiling time-saving priority processing" shown in FIG. 31, even if a specific losing symbol is selected, if the jackpot time-saving game is in progress (negative judgment in step S1113), the jackpot time-saving game continuation processing is performed (step S1118), but this is not limited to this. For example, when a specific losing symbol is selected during the jackpot time-saving game, if the probability variable flag is set and the probability of winning the jackpot lottery and the probability of winning the normal symbol are in a high probability state, the jackpot time-saving game continuation processing may be performed, and if the probability variable flag is not set, the jackpot time-saving game may be switched to the specific time-saving game. Also, if either the probability of winning the jackpot lottery or the probability of winning the normal symbol is in a high probability state, the jackpot time-saving game continuation processing may be performed, and if neither is in a high probability state, the jackpot time-saving game may be switched to the specific time-saving game. Alternatively, regardless of whether the high probability state is in progress or not, if a specific losing symbol is selected, the game may be forcibly switched to the specific time-saving game. Here, an example of the "jackpot time-saving priority processing" is shown in FIG. 33. This "jackpot time-saving priority processing" shows the processing after it is determined in step S1113 of FIG. 31 that the jackpot time-saving game is in progress, and the processing shown in steps S1130 to S1133 is added. Step S1118 of FIG. 33 shows the same processing as the same step in FIG. 31. In this modified example, if the probability of winning the jackpot lottery is high because the probability of winning is high, the specific time-saving game is not executed and the jackpot time-saving game being played is continued (steps S1130 to S1131, S1118), and if the probability of winning the jackpot lottery is not high, the jackpot game is ended (step S1132), and the processing is switched to the specific time-saving game (step S1133). When the probability of winning the jackpot lottery is not high, if the process of switching to the specific time-saving game is performed, if the remaining number of time-saving times of the jackpot time-saving is more than the number of time-saving times of the new specific time-saving, the jackpot time-saving game may be continued, and if it is less, the game may be switched to the new specific time-saving. On the other hand, if the probability of winning the jackpot lottery is high, it is preferable to continue the jackpot time-saving game regardless of the remaining number of time-saving times and the number of time-saving times of the specific time-saving. This is because if the remaining number of time-saving times is small and the probability of winning the jackpot lottery is high, there is a high expectation of winning.

[0155] Other Embodiments The technology disclosed in this specification is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, example, and modification, and can be realized in various configurations without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, among the technical features in the above-mentioned embodiment, example, and modification, those corresponding to the technical features in each form described in the Summary of the Invention column can be appropriately replaced and combined in order to solve some or all of the above-mentioned problems or to achieve some or all of the above-mentioned effects. In addition, technical features that are not described as essential in this specification can be appropriately deleted. The following describes inventions related to the present invention.

[0156] [Related invention 1] A pinball game machine in which a starting port 1 is a normal ball entry port that does not open, an operation detection unit provided on the game board detects a game ball and determines whether a normal pattern is a hit or miss, and a variable ball entry port 2 is a variable ball entry port that can change from a closed state in which it is difficult for the game ball to enter to an open state in which it is easy to enter based on the result of the hit or miss determination being a hit, a lottery is held based on the game ball entering the starting port 1 or the starting port 2, and a pattern showing the result of the lottery is variably displayed, and a winning pattern is displayed to notify the player that the lottery has been won, and then a winning game is executed, A specific time-saving execution means for executing a time-saving game for extending the open state of the variable ball entrance more than usual for two times when a specific losing symbol is selected when the lottery is not won; a jackpot time-saving execution means for executing a time-saving game in which the open state of the variable ball entrance is extended longer than usual three times after the winning game is executed when the lottery is won; and a time-saving switching means for continuing the time-saving game by the jackpot time-saving execution means when the specific losing symbol is selected during the time-saving game by the jackpot time-saving execution means if the probability of winning the lottery during the time-saving game by the jackpot time-saving execution means is in a high probability state, and for switching to the time-saving game by the specific time-saving execution means when the probability of winning the lottery during the time-saving game by the jackpot time-saving execution means is not in a high probability state.

[0157] [Related invention 2] In the pinball game machine described in related invention 1, the time-saving switching means, when the probability of winning the lottery during time-saving play by the jackpot time-saving execution means is in a high probability state, selects a losing pattern to be selected when the lottery is not won from among losing patterns not including the specific losing pattern, and when the probability of winning the lottery is not in a high probability state, selects a losing pattern to be selected when the lottery is not won from among losing patterns including the specific losing pattern.

[0158] [Related invention 3] A pinball game machine in which a starting port 1 is a normal ball entry port that does not open, an operation detection unit provided on the game board detects a game ball and determines whether a normal pattern is a hit or miss, and a variable ball entry port 2 is a variable ball entry port that can change from a closed state in which it is difficult for the game ball to enter to an open state in which it is easy to enter based on the result of the hit or miss determination being a hit, a lottery is held based on the game ball entering the starting port 1 or the starting port 2, and a pattern showing the result of the lottery is variably displayed, and a winning pattern is displayed to notify the player that the lottery has been won, and then a winning game is executed, A losing variation counting means for counting the number of losing variations that notifies the user that the lottery has not been won; a ceiling time-saving execution means for executing a time-saving game for a time-saving number of times by extending the open state of the variable ball entrance longer than usual when the number of times of the miss fluctuation counted by the miss fluctuation counting means reaches a predetermined number; A specific time-saving execution means for executing a time-saving game for extending the open state of the variable ball entrance more than usual for two times when a specific losing symbol is selected when the lottery is not won; a jackpot time-saving execution means for executing a time-saving game in which the open state of the variable ball entrance is extended longer than usual three times after the winning game is executed when the lottery is won; a time-shortening switching means for switching to time-shortening game by the ceiling time-shortening execution means when the number of miss fluctuations reaches the predetermined number during time-shortening game by the specific time-shortening execution means, prohibiting time-shortening game by the specific time-shortening execution means during time-shortening game by the ceiling time-shortening execution means, and, if the specific miss symbol is selected during time-shortening game by the jackpot time-shortening execution means, continuing the time-shortening game by the jackpot time-shortening execution means if the probability of winning the lottery during time-shortening game by the jackpot time-shortening execution means is in a high probability state, and switching to time-shortening game by the specific time-shortening execution means when the probability of winning the lottery is not in a high probability state.

[0159] [Related invention 4] In the pinball gaming machine described in related inventions 1 to 3, the time-saving switching means is characterized in that when the probability of winning the lottery is not high and the number of remaining time-saving times in the time-saving game by the jackpot time-saving execution means is greater than the number of time-saving times in the time-saving game by the specific time-saving execution means, the pinball gaming machine does not switch to the time-saving game by the specific time-saving execution means.

[0160] [Correspondence to claims] The correspondence between the terms used in the above description of each embodiment and the terms used in the claims will be described below. The pachinko machine 10 corresponds to an example of a pinball game machine, the normal electric device 245 corresponds to a variable ball entrance, and the "ceiling time-saving priority processing" shown in Figure 31 corresponds to an example of a time-saving switching means. [Explanation of symbols]

[0161] 10. Pachinko machine 80…Card unit 90…Hole computer 110…Outer frame 115…hinge 120…inner frame 121…Inner frame opening switch 140...Front frame 141...Front frame release switch 142…Speaker 143...Transparent plate 144…Light emitting part 145…hinge 146...Performance button 150…Handle 152...Rotating part 154…Fixed button 160...Operation unit relay terminal board 162…Counting switch 164…Pitch count display device 180...Fire control unit relay terminal board 182... Release solenoid 184…Fire strength fixed switch 185…Handle volume 186...Touch switch 187…Fire stop switch 200…Game board 210…Game area 211…First gaming area 212…Second play area 214…Entrance 218…Collection port 220…Center case 230...Performance pattern display device 241…First starting point 242…Second starting point 243...Normal pattern operation gate 245...Normal electric device 246…Regular prize slot 248…Big Winner 250...Pattern display device relay terminal board 251…1st special figure display device 252…Second special figure display device 253...Normal pattern display device 261…1st special drawing reservation number display device 262…Second special figure reservation number display device 263…Public reservation number display device 270... Game board relay terminal board 271…First start switch 272…Second start switch 273...Normal pattern operation switch 274…Left entry switch 276…Count switch 277...Magnetic sensor 278...Radio wave sensor 282...Main entry solenoid 284... General purpose solenoid 286…Prize ball count display device 290…RWM clear switch 291...Setting key switch 310... Launcher 312...Launch device relay terminal board 314...ball sending sensor 315...Launch entrance sensor 316...Launch motor 317...ball sending solenoid 320…Polishing equipment 322... Polishing device relay terminal board 324…Cassette switch 325...Polished motor sensor 326...Cassette motor 327...Polishing motor 330...Lifting device 332...Lift relay terminal board 334…Lifting motor 336...Lifting inlet sensor 338...Lifting motor monitoring sensor 342…Inner frame relay terminal board 344...winning ball sensor 345...Out ball sensor 346…Proper amount sensor 347…Full tank sensor 352…Night monitoring device 354...Alarm speaker 510...Main control device 520...Sub-integrated control device 522…Volume adjustment switch 530...Performance pattern control device 560...Frame control device 810...User interface 811…Balance display section 812...Ball loan button 813…Return button 816…Steering lock indicator 820…Card slot 830…Bill insertion slot 850...Game ball rental equipment 860…CR unit

Claims

[Claim 1] A pinball game machine in which a starting port 1 is a normal ball entry port that does not open, an operation detection unit provided on the game board detects a game ball and determines whether a normal pattern is a hit or miss, and a variable ball entry port 2 is a variable ball entry port that can change from a closed state in which it is difficult for the game ball to enter to an open state in which it is easy to enter based on the result of the hit or miss determination being a hit, a lottery is held based on the game ball entering the starting port 1 or the starting port 2, and a pattern showing the result of the lottery is variably displayed, and a winning pattern is displayed to notify the player that the lottery has been won, and then a winning game is executed, A losing variation counting means for counting the number of losing variations that notifies the user that the lottery has not been won; a ceiling time-saving execution means for executing a time-saving game for one time period in which the open state of the variable ball entrance is extended longer than usual when the number of times of the miss fluctuation counted by the miss fluctuation counting means reaches a predetermined number; A specific time-saving execution means for executing a time-saving game for a time-saving number of times, in which the open state of the variable ball entrance is extended longer than usual, on the condition that a specific losing symbol is selected when the lottery is not won; a time-saving switching means for switching to a time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means when the number of times of the miss fluctuation reaches the predetermined number during the time-saving game by the specific time-saving execution means, prohibiting the execution of the time-saving game by the specific time-saving execution means during the time-saving game by the ceiling time-saving execution means, and starting a new time-saving game by the specific time-saving execution means when the specific miss symbol is selected during the time-saving game by the specific time-saving execution means; Equipped with A pinball game machine characterized in that the time period during which the patterns indicating the results of the lottery are changed during time-saving play by the specific time-saving execution means is shorter than the time period during which the patterns indicating the results of the lottery are changed during time-saving play by the ceiling time-saving execution means.

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