gaming machines

Abstract

To solve the problem that there is still room for improvement to set a state appropriately when a non-advantageous section is shifted to an advantageous section.SOLUTION: Regarding "BE2" to be a winning combination group of lower order to trigger advantageous section transition, it is always won together with "BNS" to be a bonus role and not won alone. Moreover, regarding "BE2", it becomes an object of advantageous section transition when won in RT0, whereas it does not become an object of advantageous section transition in RBBF, so that an initial condition is determined in the case that a lower order winning combination group is "BE2" even when the state of a first game during an advantageous section is RBBF and "Reset" to be a lottery mode determination table corresponding to the initial condition is selected.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a gaming machine capable of playing a game. [Background technology]

[0002] One example of a gaming machine is a slot machine that has multiple reels on which multiple types of symbols are arranged, and when a start switch is operated with a bet number set using medals or the like, a lottery for winning combinations is performed and the reels start spinning, and the reels stop spinning based on the result of the lottery and the operation mode of the stop switch (push order, operation timing, etc.), and can award medal payouts or the like according to the combination of symbols on the winning line when all reels have stopped. Among such gaming machines, there is a slot machine that provides advantageous and non-advantageous zones in which an AT can be executed, and creates an advantageous state when transitioning from the non-advantageous zone to the advantageous zone (see Patent Document 1), and a slot machine that allows transition to the advantageous zone in multiple states including a bonus role carryover state and a non-carryover state, and provides a special game state that is initially easier to transition to than the bonus role carryover state in order to prevent an excessively advantageous state from being awarded when transitioning to the advantageous zone from the bonus role non-carryover state and the non-advantageous zone that occurs in the initial state due to a setting change or the like. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-75130 A (see abstract) [Patent Document 2] JP 2021-7541 A (see abstract and paragraph 0012) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In contrast to Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2 provides a special game state to prevent an excessively advantageous state from being awarded from the initial state, but as the number of game states increases, control becomes more complex, and if a bonus role is won before transitioning to the special game state, an excessively advantageous state ends up being awarded, so there is still room for improvement.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a gaming machine that can more appropriately set the state when transitioning from a non-advantageous zone to an advantageous zone. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention is a gaming machine capable of playing games, comprising: a symbol display means having a plurality of variable display columns that variably display a plurality of types of symbols; a stop operation means for stopping the variable display of each of the variable display columns; an awarding means for awarding a game value according to a symbol combination that has stopped on an active line when all of the variable display columns have stopped; a role selection means for selecting a role from a plurality of roles including a bonus role and a general role; a zone control means for controlling the transition between an advantageous zone and a non-advantageous zone; a game state control means that can be controlled to a plurality of game states; and a game state control means for controlling a game state in the advantageous zone by selecting a game state in the advantageous zone. The invention is provided with a notification means capable of notifying the operation mode when the lottery result of the recording lottery is a specific lottery result in which the degree of advantage changes depending on the operation mode of the stop operation means, and a state control means capable of controlling the advantageous zone to one of a plurality of states with different degrees of advantage, and the game states include a bonus state which is started based on the symbol combination constituting the bonus role stopping on an active line, a first game state in which the bonus role is carried over, and a second game state in which the bonus role is not carried over, and the zone control means is The control is performed so that a transition from the non-advantageous zone to the advantageous zone is possible in both the first gaming state and the second gaming state, and in the role drawing in the second gaming state, the bonus role is won simultaneously with a first general role among the general roles, and is not won simultaneously with a second general role different from the first general role, and when in the non-advantageous zone, the transition patterns for transitioning to the advantageous zone without starting the bonus state include a first transition pattern for transitioning when the first general role and the bonus role are won simultaneously in the second gaming state, a second transition pattern for transitioning when the second general role is won in the second gaming state, and a third transition pattern for transitioning to the advantageous zone when the second general role is won in the first gaming state, and when in the non-advantageous zone in the first gaming state, if the first general role is won, there is no transition to the advantageous zone, and when the transition of the advantageous zone is the first transition pattern or the second transition pattern, the state controlled by the state control means is more likely to be a less advantageous state than when it is the third transition pattern.

[0007] With this configuration, it is possible to appropriately set the state by using the results of the lottery used in normal games without the need to newly set up a special game state. In other words, by devising the lottery, it is possible to easily determine the state by not granting an excessively advantageous state when transitioning from a non-advantageous zone to an advantageous zone in a game state in which a bonus role that may occur in the initial state due to a setting change, etc., is not carried over.

[0008] To explain in more detail, in the role lottery, the bonus role is won simultaneously with the first general role, but is not won with the second general role, which is a general role different from the first general role, and when the second general role is won in a non-advantageous zone, the game moves to an advantageous zone regardless of the bonus role carryover state, while when the first general role is won, if it is won simultaneously with the bonus role when the bonus role is not in a carryover state, the game moves to an advantageous zone, but if the bonus role is in a carryover state, the game does not move to an advantageous zone.By doing this, it is possible to reliably determine whether the transition to the advantageous zone is a transition to a game state where the bonus role is not in a carryover state, which may be the initial state, depending on the result of the role lottery and whether or not the bonus role is in a carryover state, without creating a new game state, and it is easy to avoid an overly advantageous state when there is a possibility of the initial state.

[0009] To explain further, since the second general role is not won simultaneously with the bonus role, the presence or absence of the bonus role carryover state does not change before or after the second general role is won. Therefore, if the gaming state is in the bonus role carryover state when the advantageous zone shifts, the bonus role carryover state has been in place since before the shift to the advantageous zone, so there is no possibility of it being in the initial state, and if the bonus role is not in the carryover state, there is a possibility of it being in the initial state, so the state controlled by the state control means when the bonus role is not in the carryover state is made more likely to be unfavorable. Furthermore, with regard to the first general role, if it is won simultaneously with the bonus role when the bonus role is not in the carryover state, it shifts to the advantageous zone, but if the bonus role is in the carryover state, it does not shift to the advantageous zone. Therefore, even if the gaming state becomes a bonus role carryover state due to simultaneous win of a bonus role when transitioning to the advantageous zone, the result of the role lottery at the time of transitioning to the advantageous zone is determined to be the first general role rather than the second general role. If it is determined to be the first general role, there is a possibility that the initial state will be reached if the bonus role is not carried over. Therefore, the state controlled by the state control means when the bonus role is not carried over is likely to be disadvantageous. As a result, without creating a new gaming state, it is possible to reliably determine the possibility of the initial state based on the result of the role lottery and whether or not the bonus role is carried over, and to easily prevent an overly advantageous state. Furthermore, since the second general role that is not simultaneously won with the bonus role transitions to the advantageous zone regardless of whether or not the bonus role is carried over, transitioning from the non-advantageous zone to the advantageous zone can be achieved with fewer games than if only the lottery result of the first general role that is simultaneously won with the bonus role was used to transition to the advantageous zone.

[0010] Furthermore, the maximum game value that can be awarded in a game in which the first general role is won is less than the maximum game value that can be awarded in a game in which at least a second predetermined general role, which is a part of the second general role, is won.

[0011] According to this configuration, the maximum game value that can be awarded in a game in which the first general role is won is less than the maximum game value that can be awarded in a game in which the second general role is won. Therefore, since there is not much game value awarded to the player for a role in which the transition to an advantageous zone changes depending on whether or not the bonus role is carried over, the player does not focus on the winning of the first general role due to the game value awarded, and as a result of the player paying more attention to the winning of the first general role due to the large game value, it is possible to prevent the player from becoming more aware of the fact that they will not transition to an advantageous zone when the bonus role is carried over and becoming disappointed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view of a slot machine as an example of a gaming machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the arrangement of symbols on the reels. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the slot machine of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing functions of the main control board and the sub-control board of FIG. 3. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the transition of game states. [Figure 6] A diagram showing the relationship between winning role groups, whether or not there is a target that can move to a favorable zone, and the number of coins paid out depending on the stopping pattern. [Figure 7] This figure shows the relationship between the winning role group of lower numbers that triggered the transition to the advantageous zone and the lottery mode determination table selected based on the state of the first game. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0014] (composition) A slot machine 1, which is an example of a gaming machine according to this embodiment, is configured as shown in FIG. 1, in which a single game is started when a specified number of gaming media such as medals (for example, 3 or 2) are inserted in one of a plurality of pre-set gaming states and a start switch 19, which will be described later, is operated.

[0015] The front of the cabinet 3 is closed by a front door 5 that can be opened and closed freely, and an operation panel 7 is disposed at approximately the center height of the front door 5. A front panel 9 is disposed above the operation panel 7. A horizontally long rectangular display window 11 is provided on the front panel 9. Inside the display window 11, left, center, and right reels 13L, 13M, and 13R are disposed, which variably display a plurality of types of symbols in a predetermined order. As shown in FIG. 2 , the left, center, and right reels 13L, 13M, and 13R are provided with a total of 20 types of symbols (in this embodiment, "R7 (red 7)," "B7 (blue 7)," "BR (bar)," "T1 (tomato 1)," "T2 (tomato 2)," "AP (apple)," "C1 (cherry 1)," "C2 (cherry 2)," "LM (bell)," and "RP (replay)") in a predetermined arrangement.

[0016] Each symbol is assigned a frame number in order from 0 to 19. In this case, for example, a reel tape on which symbols numbered 0 to 19 are printed is attached to the periphery of each of the reels 13L, 13M, and 13R. When each of the reels 13L, 13M, and 13R rotates, a plurality of symbols are displayed in a predetermined order in the display window 11, with frame numbers 19, 18, ..., 0, 19, .... When each of the reels 13L, 13M, and 13R stops rotating, three symbols are visible in the display window 11, one in the upper row, one in the middle row, and one in the lower row. That is, when all three reels 13L, 13M, and 13R stop rotating, a total of nine symbols arranged in three columns and three rows are displayed in the display window 11. In this embodiment, the winning lines (corresponding to the activated lines in the claims) in the display window 11 used to determine whether a win has been won are configured from the top row of the left reel 13L, the top row of the center reel 13M, and the middle row of the right reel 13R.

[0017] Furthermore, reel motors 14L, 14M, and 14R (see FIG. 3), which are stepping motors, are connected to the reels 13L, 13M, and 13R, respectively, so that the reels 13L, 13M, and 13R can be rotated independently. The display means of the slot machine 1 is configured by reel units (not shown) each consisting of the reels 13L, 13M, and 13R and the reel motors 14L, 14M, and 14R.

[0018] Furthermore, the operation panel 7 is provided with a bet switch 15 for instructing the insertion of one medal at a time from the credit medals stored therein, a maximum bet switch 17 for instructing the insertion of the maximum number of medals to be inserted per game (set to three or two in this case), an effect button 42, a lever-shaped start switch 19 for rotating the reels 13L, 13M, and 13R to start the variable display of each symbol, left, center, and right stop switches 21L, 21M, and 21R (stop operation means) for stopping the rotation of the left, center, and right reels 13L, 13M, and 13R, respectively, to stop the variable display of each symbol, an adjustment switch 23 for paying out credit medals, and a medal insertion slot 25. In this embodiment, the number of medals required to be inserted (prescribed number) per game is set to three. In addition, a plurality of variable display columns that variably display a plurality of types of symbols are formed by each of the reels 13L, 13M, and 13R, and each of the stop switches 21L, 21M, and 21R is provided corresponding to each of the reels 13L, 13M, and 13R.

[0019] A liquid crystal display (LCD) 27 is provided at approximately the center of the upper portion of the front panel 9 to display moving images and other information to inform the player of wins and prizes, and to notify the player of the operation of each stop switch 21L, 21M, and 21R. An explanation panel 29 displaying various winning symbols is provided immediately above the LCD display 27. Speakers 31L and 31R are provided on the left and right sides of the LCD display 27 and the explanation panel 29, respectively, to provide musical and audio effects. A central lamp unit 33M is provided on the upper edges of the explanation panel 29 and the speakers 31L and 31R, and left and right lamp units 33L and 33R are provided on the left and right sides of the central lamp unit 33M. Each lamp unit 33M, 33L, and 33R is equipped with a light source such as a light-emitting diode. These lamp units 33M, 33L, and 33R are integrally formed to form an upper lamp unit 33, which provides effects such as informing the player of wins and prizes.

[0020] A lower panel 35 displaying decorative pictures or the like is provided below the operation panel 7. Lower lamp units 37L and 37R, each having a plurality of light sources arranged, for example, in two rows, are provided on the left and right sides of the lower panel 35. A medal payout outlet 39 and a medal receiver 41 for receiving medals paid out from the medal payout outlet 39 are provided below the lower panel 35. A winning line is depicted on the front panel 9, and in the lower left corner of the front panel 9, a credit indicator 45 for displaying the number of stored credit medals and a payout indicator 46 for displaying the number of paid out medals are provided under display control of the CPU 61 mounted on the main control board 63 shown in FIG. 3. The credit indicator 45 is, for example, composed of two 7-segment displays and is capable of displaying a two-digit number of stored medals (up to a maximum of 50). The payout indicator 46 is, for example, composed of two 7-segment displays and is capable of displaying a two-digit number of paid out medals. The seven-segment display is formed in a rod shape and has a total of eight segments, consisting of seven segments arranged in the shape of an "8" and one small round segment (DP) that serves as a decimal point, and each segment is made up of a light-emitting diode. The dispensing indicator 46 is also used to display an error code corresponding to an error that has occurred.

[0021] The advantageous zone is a zone in which it is permitted to notify the pressing order (correct pressing order) that will give a favorable payout when the winning role group "ATA_CL1" (lower number 04) to "ATB_RC2" (lower number 19) (see Figure 6, corresponding to the second predetermined general role in the claims) described below is won. In this embodiment, no corresponding advantageous zone lamp is provided during the advantageous zone, but it may be provided.

[0022] A support frame that supports each of the reels 13L, 13M, and 13R is fixed to the rear wall inside the cabinet 3. A hopper unit 43 (see FIG. 3) for discharging medals to the medal payout outlet 39 is disposed below the support frame inside the cabinet 3. A medal selector 48 (see FIG. 3) is disposed on the back side near the medal insertion slot 25 to determine whether medals inserted into the medal insertion slot 25 are genuine or not, and guides only genuine medals to the hopper unit 43.

[0023] Next, the electrical configuration of the slot machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 3, an insertion sensor 53 is provided in the medal selector 48 near the medal insertion slot 25 inside the cabinet 3 and detects each medal inserted into the medal insertion slot 25. A payout sensor 54 is provided at the outlet of the hopper unit 43 and detects each medal paid out to the medal payout outlet 39. Also, on the left side of the hopper unit 43 when viewed from the front of the slot machine 1, an operation box 49 (see FIG. 3) is fixed to the left wall inside the cabinet 3. This operation box 49 is provided with a power switch 50 (see FIG. 3) for turning the power on and off, a change process start switch 56 (see FIG. 3) consisting of a key cylinder for setting change processing, and a reset switch 52 (see FIG. 3) used to switch setting values ​​when changing settings. The reset switch 52 is also used as a switch for resetting an error when an error occurs.

[0025] The left, center, and right position sensors 55L, 55M, and 55R detect the rotational positions of the left, center, and right reels 13L, 13M, and 13R, respectively, and are composed of, for example, photointerrupters that detect protrusions provided on the left, center, and right reels 13L, 13M, and 13R, respectively, and as the left, center, and right reels 13L, 13M, and 13R rotate, they detect the protrusions for each revolution and output the detection signal to the main control board 63. In this embodiment, for example, when the left, center, and right position sensors 55L, 55M, and 55R detect the protrusions, the symbol with frame number 19 is positioned in the middle of the display window 11.

[0026] The hopper motor 57 is disposed in the hopper unit 43 and is driven to dispense medals toward the medal dispensing opening 39 .

[0027] The slot machine 1 is also provided with a main control board 63 on which a main CPU 61 that controls the progress of the game is mounted, and a sub-control board 73 on which a sub-CPU 71 that controls presentations in accordance with the progress of the game based on information transmitted from the main control board 63, and various data is transmitted unidirectionally from the main control board 63 to the sub-control board 73. The main control board 63 is tightly sealed in a board case to prevent unauthorized access from the outside. The board case is also provided with various measures to ensure that unauthorized release can be visually confirmed.

[0028] 3, the RAM 65 of the main control board 63 is a storage capacity within the main CPU 61, and temporarily stores data relating to games such as the game status of the slot machine 1, and is formed with storage areas constituting a role lottery result storage area 651, a flag storage area 652, a number of advantageous zone games counter 653, and a number of special role wins counter 654, all of which are shown in FIG. 4. Also, as shown in FIG. 3, the ROM 67 of the main control board 63 is a storage capacity within the main CPU 61, and stores a program for the slot machine 1 (a gaming machine program) including a role lottery table 671, a stop table 672, and the like, which are pre-set data shown in FIG. 4. The flag storage area 652 stores various flags, such as an advantageous zone flag, an AT flag, and a CZ flag, which will be described later.

[0029] The main CPU 61 of the main control board 63 has an interrupt function such as a timer interrupt, and performs processing related to the progress of the game by executing a game machine program stored in the ROM 67. This main CPU 61 transmits various data, such as data related to the result of the role selection process by the role selection means 103 (described later) and data related to the operation of the operating devices operated by the player, such as the stop switches 21L, 21M, 21R and the start switch 19, to the sub-control board 73 (sub-CPU 71) in a predetermined command format.

[0030] The memory 75 of the sub-control board 73 includes a RAM section for temporarily storing various data and a ROM section for storing various programs for effects. The sub-CPU 71 of the sub-control board 73 has an interrupt function such as a timer interrupt, and executes a program stored in the memory 75 based on various data related to the slot machine 1 transmitted from the main CPU 61 (such as the result of the role lottery performed in the role lottery process by the role lottery means 103, which will be described later, and data related to whether the operation devices such as the stop switches 21L, 21M, and 21R and the start switch 19 have been operated), and determines the content of the effects related to the game for the player. Based on the determined content of the effects, the sub-CPU 71 of the sub-control board 73 controls the LCD display 27, speakers 31L and 31R, and other effect devices via the I / O port of the sub-control board 73.

[0031] (Main control board) Next, the main control board 63 will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 4. As shown in Fig. 4, the main control board 63 has various functions that are realized by executing programs stored in the ROM 67 and various functions that are realized by controlling hardware.

[0032] (1) Game Control Means 100 The game control means 100 in FIG. 4 controls the game of the slot machine 1 in one of a plurality of pre-set game states. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the game control means 100 is configured to have an initial state (hereinafter also referred to as RT0, corresponding to the second game state in the claims) which is a bonus lottery state, an internal bonus state (hereinafter also referred to as RBBF, corresponding to the first game state in the claims) which is a bonus carryover state, and a bonus state (hereinafter also referred to as RBB) in which a bonus is being played. In this embodiment, except when an initial condition such as a setting change is met and the state becomes RT0, the game is configured to stay in RBBF as a general game state, as will be described later. Note that in the bonus carryover state, no new bonus combinations are won.

[0033] In addition, there is an AT game (special game) in which when the result of the role lottery by the role lottery means 103 described later is a specific role winning result in which a specific role (winning role group "ATA_CL1 to ATB_RC2" see Figure 6) with different degrees of advantage is given to the player depending on the operation procedure of each stop switch 21L, 21M, 21R is won, and the operation procedure of each advantageous stop switch 21L, 21M, 21R corresponding to the specific role is identifiably notified.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 4, the game control means 100 includes an operation mode determination means 100a and a game state setting means 100b.

[0035] (1-1) Operation mode determination means 100a The operation mode determination means 100a determines the mode of operation of the player on the slot machine 1. Specifically, it determines the mode of operation of the player on the slot machine 1, such as the mode of operation of the various switches provided in the slot machine 1, such as the bet switches 15 and 17, the start switch 19, and the stop switches 21L, 21M, and 21R, and the mode of operation of inserting medals into the medal insertion slot 25.

[0036] (1-2) Game status setting means 100b The game state setting means 100b sets the game state of the slot machine 1 to one of a plurality of pre-set game states based on the result of the role lottery process by the role lottery means 103 and the result of the determination by the pattern determination means 112 of the pattern combinations on the winning lines, which are the upper row of the left reel 13L, the upper row of the middle reel 13M, and the middle row of the right reel 13R.

[0037] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, this embodiment includes three game states: RT0, RBBF, and RBB. Here, RT0 is entered when an initial condition, such as a setting change, is met. If a bonus is won but not awarded, the bonus is carried over to RBBF. In this embodiment, in most cases where a bonus is won in RT0, it is won simultaneously with "BE2" (subordinate number 21 in FIG. 6, corresponding to the first general role in the claims). In this case, regardless of the operation mode of each stop switch 21L, 21M, and 21R, the winning of "BE2" takes priority, and the game transitions to RBBF without winning a bonus. Note that in RBBF, all winning groups except for the "ALL1" winning group (subordinate number 25 in FIG. 6), which has an extremely low probability of winning, will not award a bonus regardless of the operation mode of each stop switch 21L, 21M, and 21R. Therefore, the general game state is always RBBF. In addition, it is also possible to configure the game so that there is no winning combination group such as "ALL1" and once the game has shifted to RBBF, it is not possible to shift to RT0 in the normal course of play.

[0038] Also, as shown in Figure 5, when a bonus is won, the game transitions to RBB. If a payout exceeds a predetermined number during RBB, the bonus ends and the game transitions to RT0. As mentioned above, the game will not transition to RBB except in a very few cases.

[0039] (1-3) Overview of the game Next, an outline of the game executed in the slot machine 1 will be described.

[0040] The slot machine 1 is configured so that one game (play) is played when three medals are inserted, and when the insertion sensor 53, the bet switch 15, or the max bet switch 17 detects that three medals have been inserted into the slot machine 1, the pay lines in the display window 11 become active. When the start switch 19 is operated, one of the pre-set winning combination results is selected by lottery processing using random numbers by the winning combination selection means 103. In addition, when the left, center, and right reels 13L, 13M, and 13R all start to spin, the determination of the symbols on each of the reels 13L, 13M, and 13R displayed in the display window 11 begins based on the rotation angle of each of the reels 13L, 13M, and 13R.

[0041] After that, the left, center, and right reels 13L, 13M, and 13R accelerate, and operation of all stop switches 21L, 21M, and 21R becomes effective. After operation of all stop switches 21L, 21M, and 21R becomes effective, if operation of the left stop switch 21L is detected, the left reel 13L is stopped, if operation of the center stop switch 21M is detected, the center reel 13M is stopped, and if operation of the right stop switch 21R is detected, the right reel 13R is stopped. In this way, operation of each stop switch 21L, 21M, and 21R stops the rotation of the left, center, and right reels 13L, 13M, and 13R corresponding to each stop switch 21L, 21M, and 21R.

[0042] When all three left, center, and right stop switches 21L, 21M, and 21R are operated, the left, center, and right reels 13L, 13M, and 13R stop spinning. At this time, if a predetermined symbol stops at a predetermined position on the winning line in the display window 11, i.e., if the symbols on each reel 13L, 13M, and 13R are displayed in the display window 11 in a winning combination, a win occurs, and a number of medals corresponding to the winning combination are credited or paid out from the medal payout opening 39. Note that a predetermined benefit (benefit) may be awarded to the player instead of or in addition to the medal payout. Examples of such a predetermined benefit include a transition to RBB due to a bonus win or an automatically set bet amount for a next game without inserting new medals due to a replay win (described below).

[0043] Bonus roles and general roles (replay roles, small roles) are preset as types of roles. Bonus roles are roles that transition to RBB. Replay roles (hereinafter sometimes referred to as replay) are roles that, when won, allow players to play the next game with the same number of bets as in the winning game without inserting new medals. Small roles are roles that, when won, provide a predetermined payout (amount of payout). Figure 6 shows a list of role lottery groups. Note that in role lottery groups, the higher numbers are assigned types of bonus roles, and the lower numbers are assigned types of replay roles and small roles, which will be described later.

[0044] Bonus Role The bonus role is "BNS", which is the top number 01 in the role lottery group, and when any of the predetermined pattern combinations for "BNS" stops on the winning line, it is configured to transition to RBB.

[0045] ·Replay role In the role lottery group for replay roles, multiple types of "RP1", "RP2", and "CH" are provided, which are the lower numbers 01 to 03. When any of the symbol combinations included in these role lottery groups stops on the winning line, the next game can be played under the same conditions (number of bets) as the game in which the winning occurred.

[0046] Minor roles There are several types of minor winning combinations, including "ATA_CL1" to "ATB_RC2," "BE1," "BE2," "PZ," "SCH," "SSP," "TMT," "ALL1," "ALL2," and "ALL3," with lower numbers 04 to 30. When any of the symbol combinations included in these winning combinations stops on a winning line, a payout corresponding to the winning combination is obtained. The symbol combinations included in the winning combinations are either a payout of 1 coin, a payout of 3 coins, or a payout of 8 coins. Of these, the lower numbers 04 to 19, "ATA_CL1" to "ATB_RC2," are winning combinations that include at least a payout of 1 coin and a payout of 8 coins in any winning combination group. Depending on the operation mode, a symbol combination corresponding to a payout of 8 coins or a symbol combination corresponding to a payout of 1 coin stops on a winning line, forming a so-called AT combination.

[0047] The "BE1" and "BE2" symbols with lower numbers 20 and 21 are winning combinations that include at least three payouts. Regardless of the operation mode, the symbol combination corresponding to the three payouts stops on the winning line, and a total of nine symbols arranged in three columns and three rows are displayed in the display window 11, forming a stop pattern called a "bell combination." Because the stop pattern is the same, the player cannot tell whether "BE1" or "BE2" has won from the stop pattern. Note that "BE2" always wins together with the bonus role "BNS" and never wins alone. In Figure 6, the bonus role "BNS" has not won and "BE2" wins only if the RBBF state has already been reached (i.e., the bonus role is already carried over, and as mentioned above, there is no new bonus role to be won). Therefore, in the column of possible targets for moving to the advantageous zone in Figure 6, the winning role groups of the higher number 00 and the lower number 21, which indicate that they are not won at the same time as "BNS", are displayed as "-" because they do not occur in RT0, and the winning role groups of the higher number 01 and the lower number 21, which indicate that they are won at the same time as "BNS", are displayed as "-" because they do not occur in RBBF.

[0048] The "PZ" symbol in the lower number 22 is a winning combination that includes symbol combinations with at least one payout and eight payouts. The "SCH," "SSP," "APL1," "APL2," and "TMT" symbols in the lower numbers 23-27 are winning combinations with symbol combinations with at least three payouts. Regardless of the operation mode, symbol combinations corresponding to three payouts stop on the winning line. The "ALL1" and "ALL2" symbols in the lower numbers 28-30 are winning combinations with symbol combinations with at least one payout. The "ALL3" symbol in the lower number 30 is winning combinations with symbol combinations with at least eight payouts. "SCH," "SSP," "APL1," "APL2," and "TMT" are so-called rare or chance symbols, and when they are won, they trigger pseudo-bonus lotteries and CZ lotteries. The pseudo-bonus mode corresponds to the automatic time (AT) state. Furthermore, "ALL1" is a symbol combination that may result in a bonus if won during RBBF, depending on the operation mode, but the probability of winning is extremely low. In addition, "ALL2" and "ALL3" can only be won if the lottery is RBB, and are not eligible for transfer to the advantageous zone. "HZ" indicates a loss, and both the upper and lower numbers are set to 00.

[0049] (2) Setting control means 101 The setting control means 101 in Figure 4 sets one setting value from a plurality of setting values ​​(setting 1 to setting 6) with different ball output rates (payout rates). This setting value is used to select a role selection table 671 that is selected by the table selection means 102 described later, and one of the setting values ​​is associated with each of the plurality of role selection tables 671 stored in the ROM 67. The setting control means 101 then determines whether the change process start switch 56 is on or off when the power is turned on, and starts a predetermined setting change process when the power is turned on with the change process start switch 56 on. The payout rate can be calculated by the formula: total number of payout coins / total number of inserted coins x 100 [%].

[0050] Here, the winning probability in the lottery for regular games is set to multiple stages distinguished by multiple types of setting values ​​(six types in this case), and each of the multiple setting values ​​is associated with a role selection table 671 (lottery table for regular games) shown in Fig. 4. Then, when the setting change process is started, the manager of the pachinko parlor where the slot machine 1 is installed can change this setting value.

[0051] (3) Table selection means 102 The table selection means 102 in Fig. 4 selects one lottery table from a plurality of role selection tables 671 shown in Fig. 4 based on the type of game (RT0, RBBF, etc.) controlled by the game control means 100 in the main control board 63 and the setting value (setting 1 to setting 6) set by the setting control means 101. That is, for example, in a general game, the table selection means 102 selects the role selection table 671 (general game lottery table) as the role selection table according to the setting value (setting 1 to setting 6) of the winning probability.

[0052] (4) Role selection means 103 The role selection means 103 in Fig. 4 performs a role selection lottery to determine which of a plurality of roles (winning role group: see Fig. 6) including a plurality of general roles (small roles, replay roles) and a bonus role has been won, based on a lottery value generated based on the start of a game, at the timing when the start switch 19 is operated to start a game. The role selection means 103 includes a lottery value generation means 103a and a lottery value judgment determination means 103b.

[0053] (4-1) Lottery value generating means 103a The lottery value generating means 103a generates a lottery value to be used for the lottery, etc., by extracting a random number for lottery generated within a predetermined range (e.g., 0 to 65535 in decimal notation) by a random number generating means configured with an oscillator circuit and a counter circuit that counts the clock signal generated by the oscillator circuit at the timing when the start switch 19 is operated. Note that, since the random number generating means is configured with a counter circuit, etc., the numbers generated by the random number generating means are not strictly random numbers. However, since the timing when the start switch 19 is operated is considered to be random, the lottery value generated by the lottery value generating means 103a can be treated as a random number in practice. Note that the lottery value generating means 103a may generate a lottery value using a random number generated by a random number generator or a software random number generator. Alternatively, the lottery value generating means 103a may generate a lottery value by performing a predetermined calculation on the extracted random number value or the generated random number value.

[0054] (4-2) Lottery value determination means 103b The lottery value judgment and determination means 103b judges the lottery value generated by the lottery value generation means 103a, thereby determining which of the multiple roles (winning role group) has been won.

[0055] Specifically, the role lottery table 671 has preset correspondences between the lottery values ​​and winning role groups for determining which of the plurality of winning role groups shown in Figures 8 to 10 the lottery value will be won for, or whether it will be a loss, for each lottery value within the range generated by the random number generating means. The lottery value judgment determination means 103b refers to the role lottery table 671 selected by the table selecting means 102, and determines whether the lottery value generated by the lottery value generating means 103a is set to a win for which winning role group, or whether it is set to a loss, thereby determining which of the plurality of winning role groups the lottery value will be won for.

[0056] In addition, in the role lottery table 671, since it is set so that a plurality of roles overlap and win for some lottery values, when the lottery value judgment determination means 103b judges the entire range of the lottery values ​​generated by the lottery value generation means 103a, that is, as the role lottery result of the role lottery means 103, the winning role groups shown in Figures 8 to 10 are configured. Note that, for the winning role groups shown in Figures 8 to 10 that are configured by a plurality of roles, when an internal win occurs, it becomes a state in which it is permitted for the symbol combinations related to all roles that configure the winning role group to align on the winning line.

[0057] Furthermore, the lottery value judgment determination means 103b stores, as the result of the role lottery, information that can specify whether or not a bonus role has been won in a first data area of ​​the role lottery result storage area 651, and stores information that can specify whether or not a general role has been won in a manner that also specifies the type of role that has been won in a second data area of ​​the role lottery result storage area 651. A state in which the first data area stores a state in which a bonus has been won is a bonus carryover state.

[0058] (5) Reel detection means 104 4 detects the rotational positions of the left, center, and right reels 13L, 13M, and 13R based on the detection signals of the left, center, and right position sensors 55L, 55M, and 55R and the number of pulses supplied to the reel motors 14L, 14M, and 14R that drive the left, center, and right reels 13L, 13M, and 13R. In this case, the reel detection means 104 detects the frame numbers corresponding to the symbols located at predetermined reference positions (for example, the middle row of the display window 11 in this embodiment) while the left, center, and right reels 13L, 13M, and 13R are rotating and when they stop rotating.

[0059] (6) Stop control means 105 The stop control means 105 controls the stops of the reels 13L, 13M, and 13R using the stop table 672 based on the operation of the stop switches 21L, 21M, and 21R by the player and the result of the role lottery by the role lottery means 103. The stop control means 105 basically controls the stops of all of the reels 13L, 13M, and 13R to stop symbols related to winning roles (see FIG. 7) on the winning line within the reel-in range in order to win a role belonging to the winning role group determined by the role lottery means 103. Note that each of the reels 13L, 13M, and 13R has a set allowable number of sliding frames (reel-in range: normally, up to four frames), so if the operation timing is not right, it may not be possible to align the symbols related to winning roles on the winning line, resulting in a missed win (non-winning). Hereinafter, the winning combinations of the winning combination groups and the symbol combinations that are preferentially stopped in the stopping states of the reels 13L, 13M, and 13R when a winning combination is achieved will be described with reference to FIG.

[0060] For the winning combinations "RP1", "RP2", and "CH", the stop control means 105 gives priority to stopping symbol combinations that correspond to replay, and for "CH" in particular, priority is given to stop patterns in which "C1 (Cherry 1)" and "C2 (Cherry 2)" are stopped on the left reel 13L in the stop patterns displayed in the display window 11. Note that "RP2" is not subject to lottery in RT0, but is only subject to lottery in RBBF.

[0061] For the winning combinations "ATA_CL1" to "ATB_RC2," the stop control means 105 changes the symbol combination that is stopped with priority depending on the operation mode of the stop switches 21L, 21M, and 21R by the player, as shown in Fig. 6. The operation mode in Fig. 6 corresponds to the operation order of the stop switches 21L, 21M, and 21R, and the symbol combination that is stopped with priority, whether it is a payout of one coin or a payout of eight coins. Here, L, M, and R described as operation modes correspond to the stop switch 21L, the stop switch 21M, and the stop switch 21R, and the operation mode "MLR" indicates that the first stop is operated by the stop switch 21M (center reel), the second stop by the stop switch 21L (left reel), and the final stop (third stop) by the stop switch 21R (right reel). A total of six symbol combinations that are stopped with priority corresponding to the operation order are described.

[0062] For example, when "ATA_CL1" is operated in the "MLR" operation mode, it will prioritize stopping a symbol combination that will result in the payout of 8 coins, and in other operation modes it will prioritize stopping a symbol combination that will result in the payout of 1 coin, and furthermore, in some operation modes, symbol combinations that result in a payout may not be stopped depending on the operation timing.

[0063] In this embodiment, in the winning groups "ATA_CL1" to "ATB_RC2", when the first stop is operated with the stop switch 21L (left reel), it is more difficult to stop a pattern combination that results in a payout of 8 coins than when the first stop is operated with the stop switch 21M (middle reel) or the stop switch 21R (right reel). (In this embodiment, when the first stop is operated with the stop switch 21L (left reel), the symbol combination that results in a payout of 8 coins will not stop in the winning role group "ATA_CL1" to "ATB_RC2.") Also, in this embodiment, in the normal game state where the operation mode is not notified when there is no pseudo bonus state, if the first stop is operated with an operation other than the stop switch 21L (left reel) in a game in which at least the winning role group "ATA_CL1" to "ATB_RC2" has been won, a penalty structure is provided that puts the player at a disadvantage, such as the pseudo bonus lottery not being held or the ceiling game number not being updated, and the player will be awarded a larger number of payout coins by winning, for example, "ATA_CL1" when there is a pseudo bonus state, and performing an operation corresponding to the operation mode in a game in which the operation mode "MLR" is notified to the player after the game has started.

[0064] The penalty specifications are not particularly limited, but for example, in a game in which at least the winning combination group "ATA_CL1" to "ATB_RC2" that are the target of the AT combination are won in the normal game state described above, the AT lottery state is temporarily shifted to a low-probability state that is disadvantageous to the player regardless of the previous state before the stop operation, and by operating the stop switch 21L (left reel) for the first stop, the low-probability state is eliminated and a specific state that is more disadvantageous to the player than the low-probability state is entered, while by operating something other than the stop switch 21L (left reel) for the first stop, the low-probability state is not released and continues. In this case, by operating the stop switch 21L (left reel) for the first stop again in a game in which the winning combination group "ATA_CL1" to "ATB_RC2" are won in the normal game state described above, the low-probability state is eliminated.

[0065] For the winning combinations "BE1" and "BE2," the stop control means 105 stops the winning combinations, which are symbol combinations that result in a payout of three coins regardless of the operation mode, so that a total of nine symbols arranged in three columns and three rows are displayed in the display window 11 in a stop pattern called a "bell combination," as described above. Because the stop patterns for "BE1" and "BE2" are the same, the player cannot tell from the stop pattern whether "BE1" or "BE2" has won. As described above, "BE2" always wins with the bonus combination "BNS" and cannot win alone. Therefore, in the column for targets for shifting to the advantageous zone described below, the winning combinations with the higher number 00 and the lower number 21, which indicate that they have not been simultaneously won with "BNS," are displayed as "-" because they do not occur in RT0. The winning combinations with the higher number 01 and the lower number 21, which indicate that they have been simultaneously won with "BNS," are displayed as "-" because they do not occur in RBBF.

[0066] For the winning combination "PZ", as with the aforementioned winning combinations "ATA_CL1" to "ATB_RC2", the stop control means 105 changes the pattern combination that is stopped preferentially depending on the operation mode, and the pattern combination that is stopped preferentially will be the payout of one coin or the payout of three coins.

[0067] For the winning combinations "SCH" to "TMT", the stop control means 105 gives priority to stopping a symbol combination that pays out three coins regardless of the operation mode, but for some winning combinations, the stop form in which a total of nine symbols arranged in three columns and three rows are stopped and displayed in the display window 11 varies mainly depending on whether the first stop is operated with the stop switch 21L (left reel). This is mainly because, in the normal game state, when the first stop is operated with the stop switch 21L (left reel), a stop form in which a total of nine symbols arranged in three columns and three rows are stopped and displayed in the display window 11 as a so-called rare combination is obtained.

[0068] For the winning combinations "ALL1" to "ALL3", the stop control means 105 prioritizes the corresponding symbol combination regardless of the operation mode. Note that "ALL2" and "ALL3" are not the subject of the lottery in RT0 and RBBF, but are the subject of the lottery only in RBB. In this embodiment, in a game where "ALL1" is won in RBBF, BNS can be won depending on some operation modes.

[0069] (7) Section transition control means 106 The zone transition control means 106 controls the transition between the non-advantageous zone, which does not allow the correct button press sequence to be announced when an AT role (winning role group "ATA_CL1" to "ATB_RC2") is won, and the advantageous zone, which allows the correct button press sequence to be announced, and is equipped with advantageous zone continued play count means 106a and increased number of coins count means 106b. The transition from the non-advantageous zone to the advantageous zone is set by RT0 and RBBF.

[0070] Specifically, as shown in Figure 6, the zone transition control means 106 can transition to a favorable zone when a winning role group that is eligible for transition to a favorable zone is won when RT0 and RBBF are in a non-favorable zone (the eligible roles for transition to a favorable zone are marked with "○" in Figure 6).

[0071] The winning role groups marked "○" as targets for transition to the advantageous zone include some of the replay roles and almost all of the small roles. Therefore, even if the zone becomes non-advantageous, transition to the advantageous zone can be achieved in a relatively short number of games (a few games at most). Here, the winning role groups that are targets for transition to the advantageous zone among the small roles include (1) "ATA_CL1" to "ATB_RC2", which are targets of AT roles, (2) "SCH" to "TMT", which are targets of rare roles, (3) "BE2", which is always won with the bonus role "BNS" and never wins alone, and (4) "BE1", which has the same stopping pattern as "BE2".

[0072] Of the above (1) to (4), the minor roles except for (3) will move to the advantageous zone whether they are in the non-advantageous zone of RT0 or RBBF, but for (3), "BE2" is an eligible candidate for the advantageous zone in RT0, which is always won at the same time as "BNS", but is not eligible for the advantageous zone in RBBF. (See Figure 6. As mentioned above, in RBBF, the new bonus role "BNS" cannot be won, so when "BE2" is won, it is "HZ" with the higher number 00, and the eligible candidate for the advantageous zone is "×".)

[0073] Also, as shown in Figure 6, "BE2" can only get a maximum payout of 3 coins regardless of the operation mode, while "ATA_CL1" and the like, which are targets of AT roles included in targets for shifting to advantageous zones, can get a payout of 8 coins, more than 3, depending on the operation mode. Therefore, there is no possibility that a player will notice that they have won a target that can shift to advantageous zones because of the large number of payout coins.

[0074] Furthermore, "BE1", which has the same stopping pattern as "BE2", is also a target for transition to the advantageous zone, and since these can also be transitioned to the advantageous zone in RBBF, the player cannot immediately determine whether or not they have transitioned to the advantageous zone from the stopping pattern. Therefore, there is no loss of interest.

[0075] Furthermore, the zone transition control means 106 transitions from the advantageous zone to the non-advantageous zone when the increase in the number of medals in the advantageous zone after transitioning to the advantageous zone exceeds a specified value (for example, the difference in the number of medals from transitioning to the advantageous zone (number of medals paid out - number of medals inserted) is 2,400). It may also transition to the non-advantageous zone when a specified number of games (for example, 3,000 games) have been played after transitioning to the advantageous zone without transitioning to the non-advantageous zone. In either case, the RBBF, which remains in the normal gaming state, is maintained while transitioning to the non-advantageous zone. When transitioning to the non-advantageous zone, all information related to the AT, including the pseudo bonus and the lottery mode described below, is reset.

[0076] Furthermore, the transition to the non-favorable zone may occur depending on the initial conditions, such as setting changes. In this case, as mentioned above, the initial conditions result in RT0, so the transition to the non-favorable zone occurs at RT0.

[0077] a) Means 106a for counting the number of consecutive games in the advantageous zone The advantageous zone continuation play number counting means 106a counts the number of continued plays in the advantageous zone, and counts the number of plays from when the advantageous zone flag is set to ON until the flag is set to OFF. Specifically, the advantageous zone continuation play number counting means 106a adds +1 to the count value of the advantageous zone play number counter 653 set in the RAM 65 every time one game is played after the advantageous zone flag is set to ON. Note that, when the advantageous zone flag is set from ON to OFF, the advantageous zone continuation play number counting means 106a clears the count value of the advantageous zone play number counter 653 to 0. Note that the advantageous zone continuation play number counting means 106a does not have to be provided.

[0078] b) Increased number counting means 106b The increased number counting means 106b counts the increase in the number of medals possessed by the player since the transition to the advantageous zone. When medals are paid out, the increased number counting means 106b adds the number of medals to the increased medal number counter 658 set in the RAM 65. Furthermore, when medals are inserted, the increased number counting means 106b subtracts the number of medals from the count value of the increased medal number counter 658. Furthermore, when the count value of the increased medal number counter 658 reaches a count value that exceeds the upper limit (2400 medals) and the advantageous zone flag is set from ON to OFF, the increased number counting means 106b clears the count value of the increased medal number counter 658 to 0.

[0079] (8) CZ Transfer Lottery Method 107 In this embodiment, when the non-advantageous zone is shifted to the advantageous zone, a pseudo-bonus lottery is performed in the AT state. When this pseudo-bonus lottery shifts to the CZ, which is in a high probability state for a certain period of time due to a rare winning combination, the CZ flag is set to ON. Note that this flag is set to OFF when the CZ ends.

[0080] (9) Pseudo Bonus Lottery Method 108 In this embodiment, a pseudo bonus is provided in which, for a predetermined number of games (for example, 30 games), an operation mode with a large payout number is notified when "ATA_CL1" to "ATB_RC2," which are targets of the AT role, are won. The pseudo bonus lottery means 108 determines by lottery (pseudo bonus transition lottery) whether or not to transition to a pseudo bonus in the normal state of the advantageous zone. The probability of winning the pseudo bonus transition lottery is set, for example, according to the result of the role lottery. When the pseudo bonus transition lottery is won, the pseudo bonus lottery means 108 sets the pseudo bonus flag provided in the flag storage area 652 to ON. The flag is set to OFF when the pseudo bonus ends.

[0081] (10) Pseudo bonus forced transition control means 109 In this embodiment, there are two routes to transition to the pseudo bonus: a normal transition route, which is triggered by winning the pseudo bonus transition lottery in the normal state (advantageous zone), and a forced transition route (so-called ceiling), which is triggered by the accumulation of a predetermined transition indicator reaching a specified value in a state where the pseudo bonus transition lottery has not been won in the normal state (advantageous zone). The pseudo bonus forced transition control means 109 controls the transition to the pseudo bonus via the forced transition route.

[0082] In this embodiment, the number of games played since the end of the pseudo bonus (hereinafter also referred to as the ceiling game number) is set as the predetermined transition indicator. The lottery mode is determined when the advantageous zone transitions or the pseudo bonus ends, and the number of games played is determined by the lottery mode. The lottery modes include heaven mode, which has a ceiling game number of 32 games, pullback mode, which has a ceiling game number of 200 games, normal mode A, which has a ceiling game number of 800 games, and normal mode B, which is likely to transition to heaven mode, which also has a ceiling game number of 800 games.

[0083] (11) AT lottery means 110 The AT lottery means 110 determines whether a new pseudo bonus will be won during a pseudo bonus. If a new pseudo bonus is won during a pseudo bonus, a so-called one-game winning streak occurs, in which a new pseudo bonus is generated immediately after the pseudo bonus ends. If a new pseudo bonus is won during a pseudo bonus, the AT flag stored in the flag storage area 652 is set to ON.

[0084] (12) Notification mode determining means 111 The notification mode determination means 111 determines the notification mode of the push order to be notified by the payout display 46. The payout display 46 is composed of two 7-segment displays arranged side by side, and the lighting mode of these segments is set to a unique mode according to the type of push order, thereby notifying the operation mode in an identifiable manner.

[0085] (13) Pattern determination means 112 The pattern determination means 112 in Figure 4 determines whether the display pattern of the patterns on each of the reels 13L, 13M, and 13R that have been stopped by the stop control means 105 is a predetermined display pattern based on the rotation position of each of the reels 13L, 13M, and 13R, and determines whether the pattern combination on the winning line when the reels 13L, 13M, and 13R have stopped is a predetermined winning pattern.

[0086] (14) Dispensing control means 113 The payout control means 113 in Fig. 4 awards a predetermined benefit (profit) to the player based on the determination result by the symbol determination means 112, and when the symbol determination means 112 determines that a winning combination (winning combination group) has been achieved, if the winning combination entails a medal payout, after the number of stored credit medals reaches an upper limit (for example, 50 in this embodiment), the payout control means 113 operates the hopper unit 43 to pay out the number of medals corresponding to the winning combination, thereby awarding a profit to the player. Furthermore, until the number of stored credit medals reaches the upper limit, the payout control means 113 increases the number of credit medals by the above-mentioned payout number instead of operating the hopper unit 43 to pay out medals.

[0087] Furthermore, when the symbol determination means 112 determines that a replay role has been won, the payout control means 113 determines that a specified number of medals (3 or 2) have been inserted and activates the winning line for the next game.

[0088] (15) Medal control means 114 The medal control means 114 in FIG. 4 controls the operation of the medal selector 48 to switch between medal acceptance and non-acceptance.

[0089] (16) Command Creation Means 115 4 generates commands for transmitting various information to the sub-control board 73 (sub-CPU 71), such as information regarding the result of the role selection by the role selection means 103, information regarding the operation of the operating devices operated by the player, such as the stop switches 21L, 21M, 21R and the start switch 19, information regarding penalties, information that can identify the states of various flags, information that can identify the game state (RT0, RBBF, RBB), and information that can identify the type of notification mode determined by the notification mode determination means 111. The commands generated by the command creation means 115 are then transmitted to the sub-control board 73 by command transmission means 116, which will be described later. The sub-control board 73 selects the effect to be executed based on the command sent from the main control board 63.

[0090] In addition, information that can identify the type of notification mode determined by the notification mode determination means 111 is created together with information about the result of the role lottery, and this information is sent to the sub-control board 73. Therefore, the sub-CPU 71 controls the push order notification performed on the liquid crystal display 27 based on the information about the result of the role lottery (winning role command) and the information that can identify the type of notification mode.

[0091] (17) Command transmission means 116 4 transmits commands including various information created by the command creation means 115 in one direction from the main control board 63 to the sub-control board 73. In this case, commands including information representing the state of the slot machine 1 such as the game state, the result of the role lottery by the role lottery means 103, the result of the pattern determination by the pattern determination means 112, the determination result by the notification mode determination means 111, the spinning / stop state of each of the reels 13L, 13M, 13R, and the medal payout state by the payout control means 113 are transmitted to the sub-control board 73.

[0092] The command transmitting means 116 also transmits to the sub-control board 73 commands including data indicating the detection state of the inserted medal by the insertion sensor 53, the operation state of the bet switch 15 and the maximum bet switch 17, etc. The command transmitting means 116 also transmits to the sub-control board 73 commands including data indicating that various switches such as the start switch 19 and the stop switches 21L, 21M, 21R have been operated by the player.

[0093] (Sub-control board) Next, we will explain in detail the sub-control board 73. The sub-control board 73 in Fig. 4 receives commands sent from the main control board 63 and performs effects according to the operation and state of the main control board 63. The sub-control board 73 has various functions that are realized by executing programs stored in memory 75 (see Fig. 3) and various functions that are realized by controlling hardware.

[0094] (1) Command Receiving Means 200 4 receives commands including various information transmitted by the command transmission means 116 of the main control board 63. When the command reception means 200 receives a command transmitted from the main control board 63, it notifies each function of the sub-control board 73 according to the type of command.

[0095] (2) Performance content determining means 201 4 is for determining the content of the effect in accordance with the command received by the command receiving means 200. Specifically, from effect patterns set in advance in accordance with the progress of the game and the result of the role lottery by the role lottery means 103, the means determines the video to be displayed on the liquid crystal display 27, the music or sound to be played from the speakers 31L, 31R, and the effects such as blinking the light sources of the upper lamp unit 33 and the lower lamp units 37L, 37R all at once or individually.

[0096] Furthermore, when any of "ATA_CL1" to "ATB_RC2", which are targets of the AT combination, is won during the pseudo bonus, the effect content determination means 201 determines the effect content to be that information capable of identifying the operation mode displayed on the payout indicator 46 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 27. Specifically, when the winning combination group won in the pseudo bonus is "ATA_CL1", for example, "213" is displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display 27.

[0097] In addition, in the normal game state, when the push order is such that the first stopped reel is the center reel 13M or the right reel 13R, the presentation content determination means 201 uses the liquid crystal display 27 to display a presentation such as "Push left is recommended."

[0098] Then, the rendering content determining means 201 transmits a signal including data relating to the determined rendering content to the display control means 202 and the audio control means 203 .

[0099] (3) Display control means 202 The display control means 202 in Figure 4 controls the display of moving images (images) on the liquid crystal display 27 and the blinking of light sources such as the upper lamp unit 33 and the lower lamp units 37L and 37R simultaneously or individually based on the data contained in the signal transmitted from the performance content determination means 201.

[0100] (4) Voice control means 203 The audio control means 203 in FIG. 4 performs control such as playing music or outputting sound from the speakers 31L and 31R based on the data included in the signal transmitted from the performance content determination means 201.

[0101] Next, the lottery mode determination table for determining the lottery mode when transitioning to the advantageous zone in this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG.

[0102] In this embodiment, as mentioned above, the lottery mode is determined when the game moves to the advantageous zone or when the pseudo bonus ends, and as mentioned above, there are three lottery modes: heaven mode, which has a ceiling game number of 32 games; pullback mode, which has a ceiling game number of 200 games; normal mode A, which has a ceiling game number of 800 games; and normal mode B, which is likely to move to heaven mode, which has a ceiling game number of 800 games.

[0103] When you switch to Heaven Mode, the probability of winning the pseudo bonus in that mode also increases, and after 32 games you are forced to win the pseudo bonus, so you are guaranteed to win with just a few games played.

[0104] Furthermore, after the pseudo-bonus ends, there is a high probability (specifically, between 50% and 90%) of the game transitioning back to Heaven Mode. When Heaven Mode loops, the pseudo-bonus will be won consecutively, and you can expect to win medals.

[0105] Due to the loop of the Heaven mode described above, the advantageous zone ends when the increase in the number of medals during the advantageous zone reaches the aforementioned specified value, or when it reaches a specific number slightly less than the specified value (for example, a difference of 2,000 medals), thereby ending the pseudo-bonus and meeting the advantageous zone end condition.

[0106] When the advantageous zone ends, the game moves to a non-advantageous zone, and the lottery mode is cleared once. However, when the game moves to a non-advantageous zone and then back to an advantageous zone, the rate at which Heaven mode is selected as the lottery mode is higher than the rate at which Heaven mode is selected after the pseudo-bonus won in Normal Mode A or Pullback Mode ends, so that the player can look forward to winning more medals.

[0107] After moving to a non-advantageous zone, it is possible to move to an advantageous zone by winning a winning role group with a lower number shown in Figure 7 (or Figure 6). As shown in Figure 7, a lottery mode determination table for determining the lottery mode is selected based on the combination of the RT state of the first game in the advantageous zone and the winning role group with a lower number that triggered the move to the advantageous zone. Two lottery mode determination tables are provided: "reset" and "preferential." The lottery mode determination table for determining the lottery mode after the pseudo-bonus ends has three options: "for heaven mode," "for pullback mode," "for normal mode A," and "for normal mode B," depending on the state of the lottery mode when the pseudo-bonus is won.

[0108] A non-advantageous zone can be entered when the increase in medals in the advantageous zone reaches the aforementioned specified value, or when it reaches a specific number slightly less than the specified value (for example, a difference of 2,000 medals), thereby ending the pseudo-bonus. In addition to the advantageous zone ending condition being met, as mentioned above, a transition can also occur due to initial conditions such as a setting change. If the rate at which Heaven mode is selected upon transition to an advantageous zone when the initial conditions result in a non-advantageous zone being entered is set higher than the rate at which Heaven mode is selected, the expected probability of medal acquisition will be excessively increased by setting changes, etc., which will impair playability.

[0109] Therefore, it is preferable not to excessively increase the expected probability of winning medals in the non-favorable zones under the initial conditions.

[0110] However, since all information regarding the AT is reset regardless of the trigger for transitioning to the non-favorable zone, it is not possible to determine whether the non-favorable zone is due to the favorable zone end conditions or the initial conditions based on the non-favorable zone alone.

[0111] Here, in this embodiment, the winning role group of the lower number that triggered the transition to the advantageous zone and the state of the first game in the advantageous zone, whether RT0 or RBBF, are used to determine whether the transition is due to an initial condition such as a setting change or to an advantageous zone end condition.

[0112] That is, as explained above, the transition to RBB only occurs with an extremely low probability, and in normal play, the player basically stays in RBBF, so if RT0 is the first game in the advantageous zone, it can be safely determined that the initial condition has been met and that the zone is non-advantageous. Therefore, as shown in Figure 7, when RT0 is the first game in the advantageous zone, "Reset" is selected, which is the lottery mode determination table corresponding to the initial condition.

[0113] On the other hand, if the state of the first game in the advantageous zone is RBBF, as mentioned above, it is assumed that the zone has become non-advantageous due to normal game progress, such as the establishment of advantageous zone end conditions, the increase in the number of medals in the advantageous zone exceeding a specified value, or the zone having entered the advantageous zone and then played a specified number of games without moving to a non-advantageous zone. However, if a bonus is won in the first game that entered the non-advantageous zone under the initial conditions and the bonus is carried over, the zone will become RBBF, and it may be difficult to distinguish this from the state of entering a non-advantageous zone due to normal game progress, which could result in an incorrect determination.

[0114] Therefore, as mentioned above, the winning role group "BE2" of the lower number 21 is configured to always win together with the bonus role "BNS" and not to win alone, and further, for "BE2", if it is won in RT0, it becomes a target for transition to the advantageous zone, but is not a target for transition to the advantageous zone in RBBF (see Figure 6).By doing so, even if the state of the first game in the advantageous zone is RBBF, in the case of "BE2", which is a winning role group of the lower number 21, it is determined to be the initial condition, and "reset", which is the lottery mode determination table corresponding to the initial condition, is selected (see Figure 7). In other words, it can be reliably determined to be RBBF when a bonus is won in the first game that has transitioned to a non-advantageous zone under the initial condition, and the bonus is carried over, and "reset", which is the lottery mode determination table corresponding to the initial condition, can be selected.

[0115] If the state of the first game in the advantageous zone is RBBF and the winning role group of the lower number is other than "BE2", it is determined that the advantageous zone has transitioned to a non-advantageous zone due to the advantageous zone end condition, and "Preferential Treatment", which is the lottery mode determination table corresponding to the advantageous zone end condition, is selected.

[0116] The lottery mode determination table is configured so that "reset" and "preferential treatment" make it easier for a player to select a lottery mode that is advantageous to the player.

[0117] For example, when "Reset" is selected, the ratio of selected modes is Normal Mode A: Normal Mode B: Retract Mode: Heaven Mode = 30:30:40:0, while when "Preferential Treatment" is selected, the ratio of selected modes is Normal Mode A: Normal Mode B: Retract Mode: Heaven Mode = 0:20:10:70. The ratio of selected modes is higher for "Preferential Treatment" than for "Reset".

[0118] This means that even if the advantageous zone ends due to the condition of obtaining a certain number of medals and the information about the AT is reset, the player can look forward to a loop in which the player transitions to heaven mode again when the advantageous zone transitions, thereby increasing the interest.

[0119] As a result, it is possible to set the state appropriately by using the results of the lottery used in normal games without the need to newly create a special game state. In other words, it is possible to easily determine by devising the lottery so as not to give an overly advantageous state when transitioning from a non-advantageous zone to an advantageous zone in a game state in which a bonus role that may occur in the initial state due to a setting change, etc., is not carried over.

[0120] To explain in more detail, in the role lottery, the bonus role is won simultaneously with the first general role ("BE2"), but cannot be won with a different general role, the second general role ("ATA_CL1", etc.), and when the second general role is won in a non-advantageous zone, the game moves to an advantageous zone regardless of the bonus role carryover state, while when the first general role is won, if it is won simultaneously with the bonus role when the bonus role is not in a carryover state, the game moves to an advantageous zone, but if the bonus role is in a carryover state, the game does not move to an advantageous zone.By doing this, it is possible to reliably determine whether the transition to the advantageous zone is a transition to a game state where the bonus role is not in a carryover state, which may be the initial state, depending on the result of the role lottery and whether or not the bonus role is in a carryover state, without creating a new game state, and it is easy to avoid an overly advantageous state when there is a possibility of the initial state.

[0121] To explain further, since the second general role is not won simultaneously with the bonus role, the presence or absence of the bonus role carryover state does not change before or after the second general role is won. Therefore, if the gaming state is in the bonus role carryover state when the advantageous zone shifts, the bonus role carryover state has been in place since before the shift to the advantageous zone, so there is no possibility of it being in the initial state, and if the bonus role is not in the carryover state, there is a possibility of it being in the initial state, so the state controlled by the state control means when the bonus role is not in the carryover state is made more likely to be unfavorable. Furthermore, with regard to the first general role, if it is won simultaneously with the bonus role when the bonus role is not in the carryover state, it shifts to the advantageous zone, but if the bonus role is in the carryover state, it does not shift to the advantageous zone. Therefore, even if the gaming state becomes a bonus role carryover state due to simultaneous win of a bonus role when transitioning to the advantageous zone, the result of the role lottery at the time of transitioning to the advantageous zone is determined to be the first general role rather than the second general role. If it is determined to be the first general role, there is a possibility that the initial state will be reached if the bonus role is not carried over. Therefore, the state controlled by the state control means when the bonus role is not carried over is likely to be disadvantageous. As a result, without creating a new gaming state, it is possible to reliably determine the possibility of the initial state based on the result of the role lottery and whether or not the bonus role is carried over, and to easily prevent an overly advantageous state. Furthermore, since the second general role that is not simultaneously won with the bonus role transitions to the advantageous zone regardless of whether or not the bonus role is carried over, transitioning from the non-advantageous zone to the advantageous zone can be achieved with fewer games than if only the lottery result of the first general role that is simultaneously won with the bonus role was used to transition to the advantageous zone.

[0122] Furthermore, since the maximum game value that can be awarded in a game in which the first general role is won is less than the maximum game value that can be awarded in a game in which the second general role is won, there is not much game value awarded to the player for a role in which the transition to an advantageous zone changes depending on whether or not the bonus role is carried over, so the player does not focus on the winning of the first general role due to the game value awarded, and as a result of the player paying more attention to the winning of the first general role due to the large game value, it is possible to prevent the player from becoming more aware of the fact that they will not transition to an advantageous zone when the bonus role is carried over and becoming disappointed.

[0123] In the above embodiment, a slot machine 1 was used as an example of the gaming machine of the present invention. However, the present invention may also be applied to a gaming machine known as Parrot, which is a combination of a slot machine and a pachinko machine. When applying the present invention to such a gaming machine, gaming balls (pachinko balls) may be used as gaming value. Furthermore, the gaming machine of the present invention may also be applied to a video game in which a computer program is executed. Furthermore, the display means of the present invention may be configured by using an image display device such as a liquid crystal display or a CRT, and by sequentially displaying multiple symbols on this image display device. Furthermore, the number of variable display columns may be two or more, and the optimal number of variable display columns may be configured depending on the type of game.

[0124] The present invention can be widely applied to gaming machines that include a display means having multiple variable display columns that variably display multiple types of patterns, and a stop operation means that stops the variable display of each of the variable display columns, and that award a bonus to a player depending on the pattern combination when all of the variable display columns have stopped. [Explanation of symbols]

[0125] 1... slot machine, 13L, 13M, 13R... reel, 14L, 14M, 14R... reel motor, 21L, 21M, 21R... stop switch, 31L, 31R... speaker, 103... role lottery means, 105... stop control means, 109... pseudo bonus forced transition means

Claims

[Claim 1] A gaming machine capable of playing games, a symbol display means having a plurality of variable display columns for variably displaying a plurality of types of symbols; a stop operation means for stopping the variable display of each of the variable display columns; an awarding means for awarding a game value according to a symbol combination that has stopped on an active line when all of the variable display columns have stopped; A role lottery means for lottery-selecting a role from among a plurality of roles including a bonus role and a general role; A zone control means for controlling the transition between the advantageous zone and the non-advantageous zone; A game state control means capable of controlling to a plurality of game states; In the advantageous zone, when the lottery result of the role lottery is a specific lottery result whose advantage changes depending on the operation mode of the stop operation means, a notification means capable of notifying the operation mode; A state control means capable of controlling the advantageous section to one of a plurality of states with different advantageous degrees, The game states include a bonus state that is started based on the symbol combination that constitutes the bonus role stopping on an active line, a first game state in which the bonus role is carried over, and a second game state in which the bonus role is not carried over, The zone control means controls the transition from the non-advantageous zone to the advantageous zone in both the first gaming state and the second gaming state, As the role lottery in the second gaming state, the bonus role is won simultaneously with the first general role among the general roles, and is not won simultaneously with a second general role different from the first general role, The first general role and the second general role are to be awarded the same game value regardless of the operation mode of the stop operation means, As a transition pattern in which the bonus state does not start and the game transitions to the advantageous zone when the game is in the non-advantageous zone, A first transition pattern to which the first general role and the bonus role are simultaneously won in the second gaming state; A second transition pattern to which the player transitions when the player wins the second general role in the second gaming state; A third transition pattern in which the player transitions to a favorable zone when the player wins the second general role in the first gaming state, When the first gaming state is in the non-advantageous zone and the first general role is won, the game does not move to the advantageous zone, A gaming machine characterized in that when the transition of the advantageous zone is the first transition pattern or the second transition pattern, the state controlled by the state control means is more likely to become an unfavorable state in terms of advantageous degree than when it is the third transition pattern.

Images