gaming machines

Abstract

To provide a game machine capable of easily recognizing cancellation and occurrence of a complete error while equipping a complete function.SOLUTION: Display control means performs predetermined restrictions to display of a base value when a specific error state is set, displays the base value without performing predetermined restrictions from first timing after cancellation timing of a specific error state when the specific error state is canceled later, or disables display of the base value when the specific error state is set, and displays the base value from the first timing later than the cancellation timing of the specific error state when the specific error state is canceled later.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 15

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a pachinko machine. Gaming machines such as Regarding. [Background technology]

[0002] Gaming machines, such as pachinko machines, are configured to be able to shoot game balls, and when the shot game balls enter a prize slot, a number of game balls (prize balls) corresponding to the prize slot are awarded. For example, see Patent Document 1. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-128601 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In order to curb gambling, such gaming machines are now required to have a function (a so-called complete function) that stops play when the difference in the number of balls reaches or exceeds a predetermined threshold. However, such a complete function is a function that has not been provided in the past, and it is necessary to make it easier to recognize the release and occurrence of the game stop state (complete error) caused by the complete function.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and provides a gaming machine that has a complete function but also makes it easy to recognize the release or occurrence of a complete error. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to the present invention, a gaming machine has a display monitor that displays values ​​relating to increases and decreases in gaming media, and puts the gaming machine into a gaming stop state when the MY value, which is the increase in gaming media from the point when the gaming media was most decreased, reaches or exceeds a specific threshold, and the gaming stop state is configured to be releasable by operation. Based on the MY value being equal to or greater than the specific threshold value, When the game stop state is set, a predetermined restriction is imposed on the display of the value, and then The relevant When the game stop state is released, the value can be displayed without the predetermined restriction from a predetermined timing after the release timing of the game stop state, play When the MY value is equal to or greater than the specific threshold value due to the granting of skill media, the number of granting game media is reflected in the derivation of the value, In the game stop state relating to the specific time, the value is not derived, At the specified time , this Before the value reflecting the number of game media awarded at the specific time is displayed, the predetermined restriction may be imposed on the display of the value. 、 A gaming machine characterized by the above is provided. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, a gaming machine is provided that has a complete function and yet makes it easy to recognize the release or occurrence of a complete error. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of the gaming machine. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a pattern display device disposed in the area II shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a bird's-eye view showing the operation buttons and their surroundings arranged in the area III shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a gaming board installed in the gaming machine. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a rear view of the gaming machine. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the gaming machine. [Figure 7]FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the gaming machine. [Figure 8] Figure 8(a) is a diagram schematically showing a lottery table for determining whether a special symbol is a hit or not, Figure 8(b) is a diagram schematically showing a lottery table for drawing the stopping symbols used when a big hit is derived in the determination of whether a special symbol is a hit or not related to special symbol 1, Figure 8(c) is a diagram schematically showing a lottery table for drawing the stopping symbols used when a small hit is derived in the determination of whether a special symbol is a hit or not related to special symbol 2, and Figure 8(d) is a diagram schematically showing a lottery table for drawing the stopping symbols used when a big hit is derived in the determination of whether a special symbol is a hit or not related to special symbol 2. [Figure 9] Figure 9(a) is a diagram schematically showing a special chart variation pattern lottery table used in the pattern variation related to special chart 1 when in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, and Figure 9(b) is a diagram schematically showing a special chart variation pattern lottery table used when special chart variation pattern HNP is determined in the pattern variation related to special chart 1 when in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA. [Figure 10] FIG. 10(a) is a state transition diagram showing the transition of the special chart variation pattern derivation state, and FIG. 10(b) is a diagram showing the relationship between the average variation time for each special chart variation pattern derivation state. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 shows a flow of a game stop flag setting process related to the complete function. This process is executed when a game stop flag (described later) is OFF, but is not executed when the game stop flag is ON. [Figure 12] Figure 12 shows the flow of the complete error setting process, which is executed regardless of the state of the game stop flag, and when the game stop flag setting process related to the complete function is executed, it is executed continuously from that process. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the display modes of the main control board monitor for each state. [Figure 14]Figure 14(a) is a diagram showing the transition in the display mode of the main control board monitor when an error other than a complete error occurs while the base value is being displayed, and Figure 14(b) is a diagram showing the transition in the display mode of the main control board monitor when a complete error occurs while the base value is being displayed. [Figure 15] Figure 15(a) is a diagram showing the transition in the display mode of the main control board monitor when an error other than a complete error is cleared, and Figure 15(b) is a diagram showing the transition in the display mode of the main control board monitor when a complete error is cleared. [Figure 16] Figure 16(a) is a diagram showing the flow of switching related to base values ​​for each interval, Figure 16(b) is a diagram showing the transition in the display mode of the main control board monitor when an error occurs during a non-interval period (when the base value is displayed), and Figure 16(c) is a diagram showing the transition in the display mode of the main control board monitor when an error occurs during an interval period (when the base value is not displayed). [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a flow chart showing the execution timing of the base value update process in the process related to the main control board. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In all drawings, similar components are designated by the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted where appropriate. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the terms "front," "rear," "left," "right," "upper," and "lower" refer to the gaming machine 10 as viewed from the front side (player side) as shown in FIG. 1. In the following explanation, "advantage (degree of advantage)" refers to an advantage for the player, and further, unless otherwise specified, refers to an advantage in terms of the amount of prize balls (gaming media) obtained (including not only the payout of gaming balls but also the payout of medals), excluding aspects of presentation such as so-called premium images.

[0010] <Features of the present invention> Before describing the details of the gaming machine 10 in this embodiment, the features of the invention (present invention) described in this embodiment will be described. In addition, when explaining the features, the configuration in parentheses is an example of the configuration of this embodiment corresponding to the immediately preceding configuration, and the configuration may be described in parentheses for the same purpose in the explanation of the gaming machine 10 that follows this explanation.

[0011] The present invention provides A gaming machine in which game balls can be used by firing them, and when a game ball enters a prize opening, a number of game balls corresponding to the prize opening are awarded, As game states in which pattern variation can be performed, there are a first game state (special pattern variation pattern derivation state PA) and a second game state (special pattern variation pattern derivation state PB, special pattern variation pattern derivation state PC) which is more advantageous than the first game state. A base value deriving means (base value update process) for deriving a base value which is the ratio of safe balls, which are the number of awarded game balls relating to the winning, to out balls, which are the number of game balls used in the first game state; A complete function control means (190) for setting a specific error state (complete error) based on the difference in the number of balls derived using the out balls and the safe balls being equal to or greater than a specific threshold value; A display monitor (main control board monitor 97) visible from the back of the gaming machine; A display control means (main control board 100) for controlling the display monitor; Equipped with The specific error state can be cleared by operation (such as the power switch or RAM clear switch), The display control means The base value can be displayed on the display monitor; Regarding the display of the above base values, When the specific error state is set, a predetermined restriction is imposed on the display of the base value, and when the specific error state is subsequently released, the base value is displayed without the predetermined restriction from a first timing (when a time t1 has elapsed) that is after the release timing of the specific error state. Alternatively, when the specific error state is set, the base value is hidden, and when the specific error state is subsequently released, the base value is displayed from a first timing that is later than the timing at which the specific error state is released. This is a gaming machine characterized by the above.

[0012] According to the present invention, by starting to display the base value at a timing later than the timing at which the specific error state is released, it is possible to make it easier for a person who is concentrating on the operation related to releasing the specific error state to recognize that the specific error state has been released.

[0013] It should be noted that "not displaying the base value" includes not only simply not displaying the base value, but also switching to another display in place of the base value.

[0014] Furthermore, the above-mentioned specified restriction may be any method that makes the base value difficult to recognize (including impossible to recognize) compared to the base value display when there is no error state (when no error has occurred), such as hiding part of the base value or replacing part of the display period of the base value (including the interval period described below) with a different display (error code display).

[0015] The gaming machine 10 having the above-mentioned features will be specifically described based on the following embodiment.

[0016] <Structure of the gaming machine 10> First, the structure of the gaming machine 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. Figure 1 is a front view of the gaming machine 10, Figure 2 is a diagram showing a pattern display device 90 arranged in area II shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a bird's-eye view showing a group of operation buttons arranged in area III shown in Figure 1 and their surroundings, Figure 4 is a diagram showing a gaming board 50 installed within the gaming machine 10, and Figure 5 is a rear view of the gaming machine 10. 1 to 5 are merely those necessary for explaining the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment, and configurations and functions not shown here may be added to the gaming machine 10. Furthermore, the gaming machine 10 does not necessarily have to include all of the configurations shown here, and some configurations or functions may be omitted as long as the effects of the present invention are not impaired.

[0017] The gaming machine 10 of this embodiment is a so-called pachinko machine, in which gaming balls are shot into a front area (hereinafter referred to as "gaming area 50a") of a gaming board 50 on which a large number of gaming nails (not shown) are erected, and a prize ball is obtained when the gaming ball enters a prize opening (for example, a big prize opening 55, etc.). In the following description, the entry of a gaming ball into a prize opening may be simply expressed as "entering (a prize opening)."

[0018] The gaming machine 10 comprises a rectangular outer frame 15 that opens at the front and rear, a middle frame 17 that detachably holds a gaming board 50 on the front side of the opening of the outer frame 15, and a front frame 20 that is configured to cover the front side of the gaming board 50.

[0019] The middle frame 17 is supported so as to be rotatable about its left end by a hinge mechanism (not shown) on the same side as the hinge mechanism 21, and can be opened and closed in front of the outer frame 15. The middle frame 17 can be locked and unlocked by a cylinder lock 23 (by inserting a door key into the cylinder lock 23 and turning the door key in the direction opposite to the unlocking direction of the front frame 20 (to the right in this embodiment)).

[0020] The front frame 20 is supported by a hinge mechanism 21 so as to be rotatable around its left end, and can be opened and closed relative to the middle frame 17. The front frame 20 can be locked and unlocked by a cylinder lock 23 (by inserting a door key into the cylinder lock 23 and turning the door key in the direction opposite to the unlocking direction of the middle frame 17 (left in this embodiment)). The front frame 20 also includes a transparent member 25 arranged to cover the play area 50a, and the transparent member 25 protects the play area 50a and the play board 50 from view. The front frame 20 also includes an upper ball tray 27 and a lower ball tray 29 for storing game balls, and the upper ball tray 27 and the lower ball tray 29 are spaced apart vertically and are integral with the front frame 20. In this embodiment, a full-tank detection sensor (not shown) for detecting when the lower ball tray 29 is full with discharged game balls is provided upstream of the lower discharge port 30 that discharges game balls into the lower ball tray 29. In addition, the front frame 20 is provided with an operating handle 31 on the right side of the lower ball tray 29, and by rotating the operating handle 31, the game balls stored in the upper ball tray 27 are launched toward the game area 50a.

[0021] 1 to 5, the middle frame 17 has a middle frame open door sensor 76 that detects whether the middle frame 17 is in an open state or a closed state relative to the outer frame 15, and a front frame open door sensor 77 that detects whether the front frame 20 is in an open state or a closed state relative to the middle frame 17. In this embodiment, both of these door open sensors are ON in the open state and OFF in the closed state. However, these door open sensors may also be configured to be OFF in the open state and ON in the closed state. This allows the gaming machine 10 to detect both the open / closed state of the middle frame 17 relative to the outer frame 15 and the open / closed state of the front frame 20 relative to the middle frame 17.

[0022] 3, a group of operation buttons operated by the player is disposed on the upper surface of the upper ball tray 27. This group of operation buttons includes a main operation unit 39 electrically connected to the main control board 100 (described later), which includes a ball loan button 39a and a return button 39b for accepting a prepaid card return operation. The operation unit electrically connected to the first sub-control board 200 (described later) includes an effect button 37 for accepting a player's operation to switch effects occurring during play or to obtain various information related to the gaming machine 10, and cursor buttons 38 (up cursor button 38a, down cursor button 38b, left cursor button 38c, right cursor button 38d, and center cursor button 38e) for instructing operations up, down, left, and right. Each operation unit is provided with a sensor for detecting the operation, and the connected control board detects the operation of each operation unit by a change in the detection state of the sensor. Furthermore, a movable decorative body 22 that is operated by an actuator such as a motor (not shown) is provided on the side of the upper ball tray 27.

[0023] A ball ejection mechanism 36 is provided below the lower ball tray 29 to eject the game balls stored in the lower ball tray 29 downward. By operating this ball ejection mechanism 36, a bottom opening (not shown) formed on the bottom surface of the lower ball tray 29 opens, and the game balls fall naturally through the bottom opening and are ejected. Although not shown in the figure, the upper ball tray 27 is provided with a mechanism that, similar to the ball removal mechanism 36, can be operated to move the stored balls to the lower ball tray 29, and by operating both this mechanism and the ball removal mechanism 36, it is possible to discharge the stored balls.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 1, a pair of speakers 33 (33a, 33b) are disposed on the left and right sides of the upper frame portion 32 of the front frame 20. The upper frame portion 32 and the left and right side frame portions 34a, 34b of the front frame 20 are formed with light-transmitting covers, inside which are disposed frame lamps 35 (35a, 35b, 35c). The speaker 33 and the frame lamp 35 can emit sounds or turn on or off in conjunction with effects that occur during play, error notifications, and the like.

[0025] The effect display device 80 is composed of a main display unit 81 disposed approximately in the center of the game board 50, and a sub-display unit 82 disposed around the main display unit 81. The sub-display unit 82 further includes an upper sub-display unit 82a disposed above the main display unit 81, a left sub-display unit 82b disposed on the left side of the main display unit 81, and a right sub-display unit 82c disposed on the right side of the main display unit 81. Here, the main display unit 81 is a fixed liquid crystal display device, and the upper sub-display unit 82a, the left sub-display unit 82b, and the right sub-display unit 82c are movable liquid crystal display devices operated by actuators such as motors (not shown).

[0026] The main display unit 81 can display a changing display of a pattern row that is performed in conjunction with the changing display in the first special pattern display device 91 or the second special pattern display device 92 described below, and can also display various other effects. In the variable display of the symbol rows (decorative symbols) displayed on the main display unit 81, the displayed decorative symbols form three symbol rows. In this embodiment, the variable display direction of each symbol row is downward, but the direction is not particularly limited. For example, it may be upward, left / right, depthwise, or a combination of these (diagonal direction). Here, the depth direction refers to the virtual direction perceived by the player in a display mode that uses a method (for example, perspective) that makes the player perceive the pattern row as if it is changing from the back of the main display unit 81 to the front or vice versa, even though it is actually a flat changing display on the display screen of the main display unit 81. In addition, the decorative symbols in this embodiment include a "1 symbol" imitating the number "1," a "2 symbol" imitating the number "2," a "3 symbol" imitating the number "3," a "4 symbol" imitating the number "4," a "5 symbol" imitating the number "5," a "6 symbol" imitating the number "6," a "7 symbol" imitating the number "7," an "8 symbol" imitating the number "8," and a "9 symbol" imitating the number "9," and these symbols are provided in each symbol row. In the following description, the "1 symbol," "3 symbol," "5 symbol," "7 symbol," and "9 symbol" may be collectively referred to as "odd number symbols," and the "2 symbol," "4 symbol," "6 symbol," and "8 symbol" may be collectively referred to as "even number symbols."

[0027] Each of the sub-display units 82 is not only provided to mainly display effect images related to the effects, but is also configured to be movable. The initial positions of the upper sub-display unit 82a are on the upper side relative to the main display unit 81, the left sub-display unit 82b are on the left side relative to the main display unit 81, and the right sub-display unit 82c are on the right side relative to the main display unit 81, and each of the sub-display units 82 is configured to be movable from these initial positions to a position where the entire display area of ​​the sub-display unit 82 overlaps the display area of ​​the main display unit 81. However, even when the sub-display units 82 (particularly the left sub-display unit 82b and right sub-display unit 82c) are in the initial position shown in FIG. 4, approximately the upper half of the display area (a left display area 821 and a right display area 822, which will be described later) is visible to the player.

[0028] A plurality of light emitting diodes (hereinafter referred to as "LEDs") are arranged on the lower right side of the main display unit 81, and these LEDs form the display area of ​​the pattern display device 90, which displays special patterns and normal patterns. In addition, the symbol display device 90 is disposed in a position that is more difficult for the player to see than the main display unit 81, and the display area of ​​the symbol display device 90 is smaller than the display area of ​​the main display unit 81. In addition, the arrangement and number of LEDs for the pattern display device 90 in this embodiment are as shown in Figure 2, but this is just one example, and the arrangement and number of LEDs for the pattern display device 90 are not limited to this example.

[0029] The special symbols are symbols that are stopped and displayed as a result of a symbol change that determines whether or not to activate a special electric device (for example, special electric device 65). The special symbols in this embodiment include a first special symbol displayed on first special symbol display device 91 and a second special symbol displayed on second special symbol display device 92. The special design may be abbreviated as "Special Design", the first special design as "Special Design 1", and the second special design as "Special Design 2".

[0030] The normal symbol is a symbol that is stopped and displayed as a result of a symbol change that determines whether or not to activate a normal electric device (for example, normal electric device 61). The normal symbol in this embodiment is displayed on the normal symbol display device 93. In addition, normal patterns are sometimes abbreviated as "Fuzu", and normal electric devices are sometimes called "Denchu".

[0031] In addition to the above-mentioned display devices, the symbol display device 90 is provided with a first special symbol reservation lamp 94, a second special symbol reservation lamp 95, and a normal symbol reservation lamp 96. The first special pattern reserve lamp 94 makes it possible to identify the number of pattern variations relating to reserved special pattern 1, the second special pattern reserve lamp 95 makes it possible to identify the number of pattern variations relating to reserved special pattern 2, and the normal pattern reserve lamp 96 makes it possible to identify the number of pattern variations of reserved normal patterns, and in all cases the number of corresponding pattern variations can be identified by the lighting state of the two LEDs (in this embodiment, right always lit only = 1, left and right always lit = 2, right flashing + left always lit = 3, left and right flashing = 4).

[0032] In the following explanation, the pattern change in which the special pattern is displayed in a variable manner on the first special pattern display device 91 or the second special pattern display device 92 and then the special pattern is displayed in a stationary manner will be referred to as the "pattern change of the special pattern," and in the following explanation, the pattern change in which the normal pattern is displayed in a stationary manner on the normal pattern display device 93 and then the normal pattern is displayed in a variable manner will be referred to as the "pattern change of the normal pattern." In addition, in the following explanation, the display of the change in the pattern sequence (decorative pattern) displayed on the main display unit 81 described above may be referred to as "pattern change of decorative pattern" to distinguish it from "pattern change of special pattern" and "pattern change of normal pattern." In the following explanation, when simply referring to "pattern change," it means the pattern change of the special design unless otherwise specified.

[0033] As shown in Figure 4, obstacles such as numerous game pegs (not shown), windmills 52, and decorative elements are placed on the front of the game board 50, thereby defining a game area 50a in which the game balls that are shot out roll. Additionally, curved outer rail 51 and inner rail 53 are arranged on the left and upper sides of play area 50a to guide game balls launched by rotating operating handle 31 to the top of play area 50a. Outer rail 51 is located outside inner rail 53 with respect to the center of play area 50a. Here, windmill 52 is a nail-shaped mechanism for changing the direction in which game balls fall.

[0034] The gaming machine 10 is capable of varying the strength of the game ball's launch depending on the amount of rotation (e.g., rotation angle) of the operating handle 31, and various obstacles are arranged in the gaming area 50a to make the game ball roll along either the first flow path X (so-called left-hand hit), in which a game ball that is launched more weakly rolls, or the second flow path Y (so-called right-hand hit), in which a game ball that is launched more strongly rolls.

[0035] Figure 4 shows the main prize winning openings as the large prize winning opening 55, the first starting opening 57, the second starting opening 59, the gate 63, and the general prize winning opening 67, but the prize winning openings shown are examples, and their number and arrangement may be changed as appropriate.

[0036] The large prize opening 55 is located in the lower right corner of the game area 50a. A large prize opening sensor 72 is attached to the large prize opening 55, and a prize ball is determined to have been won in the large prize opening 55 based on the detection result of the large prize opening sensor 72, and the number of prize balls associated with the large prize opening 55 (15 in this embodiment) is paid out (awarded). In this embodiment, the obstacles are arranged so that more game balls roll toward the big prize opening 55 when rolling from the second flow path Y compared to when rolling from the first flow path X.

[0037] A special electric device 65 is disposed above the large prize opening 55. The special electric device 65 is a member that can be switched between an open state, which makes it easy to win a prize in the large prize opening 55, and a closed state, which makes it difficult to win a prize, and is switched to either the open state or the closed state by a special electric device solenoid 66. More specifically, the special electric device 65 is in an open state during a portion of a jackpot game that starts when a jackpot is determined by the special symbol hit determination described below, or during a portion of a small jackpot game that starts when a small jackpot is determined by the special symbol hit determination, and thus entry into the large prize winning slot 55 is permitted. In this way, when the special electric device 65 is in an open state, entry into the large prize winning slot 55 becomes easier, so it can be said that jackpot games and small jackpot games, in which the chances of winning prize balls are significantly increased, are in an advantageous gaming state. Also, as will be described in detail later, the small jackpot game in this embodiment can give rise to a jackpot game. In a jackpot game, the special electric device 65 is alternately set to an open state and a closed state, and one open state (sometimes referred to as a "round game," and the total number of round games that occur in one jackpot may be referred to as the "number of rounds") ends when a predetermined number (10 in this embodiment) of game balls have entered the large prize opening 55, and the special electric device 65 enters a closed state. Furthermore, one open state in a jackpot game also ends when a sufficient time (30 seconds in this embodiment) has elapsed for the predetermined number of game balls to enter the large prize opening 55. On the other hand, in the small win game, the game ends when the special electric device 65 is in an open state for 1.8 seconds or when 10 game balls enter the large prize opening 55. Therefore, in the small win game, it is more difficult for game balls to enter the large prize opening 55 than in the large win game.

[0038] The first starting hole 57 is located at the bottom center of the game area 50a. A first starting hole sensor 70 is attached to the first starting hole 57, and the detection result of the first starting hole sensor 70 determines whether a ball has entered the first starting hole 57, and the number of prize balls associated with the first starting hole 57 (4 in this embodiment) is awarded. In at least some cases where a ball has entered the first starting hole 57, a pattern change related to special image 1 is performed. In addition, in the game area 50a of this embodiment, obstacles such as game nails are arranged so that more game balls roll toward the first starting hole 57 when rolling from the first flow path X than when rolling from the second flow path Y.

[0039] The second starting hole 59 is located in the lower right of the play area 50a. A second starting hole sensor 71 is attached to the second starting hole 59, and the detection result of the second starting hole sensor 71 determines whether a ball has entered the second starting hole 59, and the number of prize balls associated with the second starting hole 59 (1 in this embodiment) is awarded. In at least some cases where a winning entry into the second starting port 59 is determined, a pattern change related to special chart 2 is performed. In addition, in the game area 50a of this embodiment, obstacles such as game nails are arranged so that more game balls roll toward the second starting hole 59 when rolling from the second flow path Y than when rolling from the first flow path X.

[0040] A normal electric device 61 is disposed in the flow path connected to the second starting port 59. The normal electric device 61 is a member that can be switched between an open state, which makes it easy for a game ball to enter the second starting port 59, and a closed state, which makes it difficult for the ball to enter, and is switched to either the open state or the closed state by a normal electric device solenoid 62. More specifically, the normal electric device 61 opens when the result of the normal winning / losing judgment described later is a normal winning (hereinafter, sometimes simply referred to as a "normal winning"), and thus entry into the second starting hole 59 is permitted. In this way, when the normal electric device 61 is in the open state, entry into the second starting hole 59 is possible, so that the chances of the pattern variation relating to the special drawing 2 being executed can be greatly increased while suppressing the decrease in game balls due to the prize balls.

[0041] Gate 63 is located in the right center of game area 50a. Gate 63 is equipped with a gate sensor 74, and the winning of gate 63 is determined based on the detection result of gate sensor 74. In at least some cases where winning of gate 63 is determined, the normal symbol pattern is changed.

[0042] The general winning openings 67 are composed of a left general winning opening 67a and a right general winning opening 67b. The left general winning opening 67a is located at the lower left of the play area 50a, and the right general winning opening 67b is located at the lower right of the play area 50a. A general winning opening sensor 73 is attached to each general winning opening 67. A winning ball at the general winning opening 67 is determined based on the detection result of the general winning opening sensor 73, and the number of prize balls associated with the general winning opening 67 (four in this embodiment) is awarded. Furthermore, due to their arrangement, winning balls at the left general winning opening 67a are more likely to occur during normal low probability games (except during jackpot games), as described below, and winning balls at the right general winning opening 67b are more likely to occur during jackpot games and normal high probability games. These winning balls can also turn on the game stop flag, as described below.

[0043] The outlet 69 is located at the bottom of the game area 50a. Game balls that are shot into the game area 50a and do not enter any of the winning holes fall into the outlet 69 and are treated as out balls (out balls).

[0044] In this embodiment, an out ball sensor is provided to detect out balls that enter the winning hole and the out hole 69, and the number of out balls counted using the detection results of the sensor is used to derive the base value and the difference in the number of balls. Here, the base value is a value (rounded to the first decimal place) derived by dividing the number of safe balls (safe balls) equivalent to the number of winning balls in the most unfavorable state among the playable states described below (special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, where the probability of a special chart is low and the probability of a normal chart is low, as described below) by the number of out balls x 100, and the base value is displayed on the main control board monitor 97 described below during the period when an error code (details will be described later) is not displayed. More specifically, the main control board monitor 97 derives base values ​​in intervals of 60,000 balls out from the time the power is first turned on (including when the area related to the base value in RAM 103 is cleared), and sequentially switches between and displays the base value being derived (being derived) in the current interval, the base value derived in the previous interval, the base value derived in the interval before that, and the base value derived in the interval before that, in that order, with an interval period in between. Furthermore, the safe ball used to derive the base value may be a game ball that is scheduled to be awarded, regardless of whether a game ball has actually been awarded.

[0045] In addition to the sensors mentioned above, the game board 50 is also provided with a magnetic detection sensor for detecting magnetism and a radio wave detection sensor for detecting radio waves (both not shown) to prevent fraudulent acts such as receiving prize balls illegally.

[0046] As shown in Figure 5, the back of the game board 50 is equipped with a main control board case 109 housing the main control board 100, a first sub-control board case 209 housing the first sub-control board 200, a second sub-control board case 309 housing the second sub-control board 300, a power supply control board case 509 housing the power supply control board 500, and a payout control board case 409 housing the payout control board 400, and in addition to the back of the first sub-control board case 209 and the second sub-control board case 309, an open / close cover 45 covering part of the back of the main control board case 109 is attached in a removable manner. The main control board 100 is provided with a RAM clear switch 43. Furthermore, the substrate cases and covers that cover the respective substrates are made of transparent materials, so that the corresponding substrates can be seen through the respective cases and covers.

[0047] Furthermore, the main control board 100 is provided with a main control board monitor 97 that displays not only the base value described above but also an error code (details of which will be described later) that can identify the type of error that has occurred, and this monitor is visible from the back of the gaming board 50. The display on this monitor is controlled by the main control board 100.

[0048] Additionally, on the back of the gaming board 50, above the opening / closing cover 45, there is disposed a gaming ball tank 46 for storing gaming balls supplied from the ball supply equipment of the gaming island. The gaming ball tank 46 is further connected to a payout passage 49 leading to the upper ball tray 27 via a tank rail 47 and a payout unit 48, and the balls paid out by the payout unit 48 are paid out through the payout passage 49 to the upper ball tray 27.

[0049] So far, the structure of the gaming machine 10 in this embodiment has been described, but this is only one specific example, and the present invention can also be implemented with other configurations.

[0050] <Regarding the control configuration of the gaming machine 10> Next, a control configuration of the gaming machine 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing the control configuration of the gaming machine 10. Note that the control configuration shown in Fig. 6 is necessary for explaining the gaming machine 10 according to this embodiment, and the gaming machine 10 may also have a control configuration not shown in Fig. 6.

[0051] The main control board 100 is equipped with a CPU 101 that performs various calculations related to the game, a ROM 102 that stores data such as control programs and various lottery tables, a RAM 103 that functions as a work area and buffer memory that serves as a temporary storage area, an I / O port 104 that inputs and outputs signals between peripheral boards and each device, and a random number circuit 105 that operates in a system separate from the program processing by the CPU 101 and generates random numbers (hard random numbers), and these are connected to each other via an internal bus.

[0052] The CPU 101 reads out various control programs stored in the ROM 102 and performs arithmetic processing to execute various processes related to the main control of the game.

[0053] The RAM 103 is backed up by a backup power supply generated in a backup power supply circuit, which will be described later. Specifically, among the information stored in the RAM 103, various information is backed up so that when power is restored (when the power is turned on) after a power outage, the data can be used to restore the gaming machine 10 to the state it was in immediately before the power outage. For example, in addition to data such as a stack pointer and various registers that were held when the power outage occurred, information related to gaming, such as the state of the gaming machine 10 at that time (a game-stopped state or a playable state) and the current general lottery state, is backed up. In particular, in this embodiment, in addition to the area in which such information related to the game is stored (the area related to the game in RAM 103), the area in which the base value is stored (the area related to the base value in RAM 103), the area in which the complement of the checksum and the backup flag related to the area related to the game in RAM 103 are stored (the backup information area related to the game in RAM 103), and the area in which the complement of the checksum and the backup flag related to the area related to the base value in RAM 103 are stored (the backup information area related to the base value in RAM 103) are backed up. Then, when power is restored, the gaming machine 10 recovers using the various pieces of information stored in the backed-up area related to the game in RAM 103, the area related to the base value in RAM 103, the backup information area related to the game in RAM 103, and the backup information area related to the base value in RAM 103. Note that the game-related areas of this information (the game-related area of ​​RAM 103, the game-related backup information area of ​​RAM 103) are cleared (initialized) by the RAM clear process. Therefore, after the RAM is cleared, the special symbol variation pattern derivation state PA (low probability of normal symbol variation) described later is newly set. Furthermore, when the RAM clear process is executed, the symbol string related to the decorative symbol is in a state in which the initial symbol combination is displayed frozen, and even if the RAM clear process was not executed when the power was turned on and the symbol variation was not being executed at the time of the previous power outage, the initial symbol combination is displayed frozen. Furthermore, this initial symbol combination is displayed frozen only when the power is turned on, and is not displayed frozen due to the execution of the symbol variation. On the other hand, the areas related to the base value (the base value area of ​​RAM 103, the base value backup information area of ​​RAM 103) are not cleared and are maintained even when the RAM clear process is executed.

[0054] In this embodiment, at least an area in which such information related to the game is stored (sometimes referred to as the game-related area of ​​RAM 103) is backed up, as well as an area in which the complement of a checksum and a backup flag related to the game-related area of ​​RAM 103 are stored (sometimes referred to as the game-related backup information area of ​​RAM 103). Then, when power is restored, the gaming machine 10 recovers using the various pieces of information stored in the backed-up game-related area of ​​RAM 103 and the game-related backup information area of ​​RAM 103. Note that the specific method of backup in this embodiment is not limited in any way. For example, the area of ​​RAM 103 to be backed up may be configured to be able to retain data in a non-volatile manner even in a power outage. As another example, within RAM 103, different hardware may be provided for a first memory configured to retain data in a non-volatile manner even in a power outage and a second memory referenced during operation of the gaming machine 10. In this case, the gaming machine 10 may save the information to be backed up from the second memory to the first memory when power is lost, and then recover the saved information from the first memory to the second memory when power is restored.

[0055] Furthermore, the main control board 100 is electrically connected to the first start gate sensor 70, the second start gate sensor 71, the special prize gate sensor 72, the general prize gate sensor 73, the gate sensor 74, the out ball sensor 75, the middle frame open door sensor 76, the front frame open door sensor 77, etc., and is configured to be able to input detection signals from these sensors to the CPU 101 via the I / O port 104. Although not shown in the figure, in addition to these sensors, the main control board 100 is also electrically connected to a full tank detection sensor, a magnetic detection sensor, and a radio wave detection sensor, and is configured to be able to input detection signals from these sensors to the CPU 101 via the I / O port 104.

[0056] In addition, the main control board 100 is electrically connected to the first special pattern display device 91, the second special pattern display device 92, the normal pattern display device 93, the first special pattern hold lamp 94, the second special pattern hold lamp 95, the normal pattern hold lamp 96, the main control board monitor 97, the normal electric role solenoid 62 and the special electric role solenoid 66, and is configured to be able to control these via the I / O port 104. Similarly, the main control board 100 is electrically connected to the main operation unit 39 and the RAM clear switch 43, and is configured to be able to detect the operation of the main operation unit 39.

[0057] The main control board 100 and the first sub-control board 200 are connected by eight parallel signal lines and one strobe line, and are connected so that communication is possible in only one direction, from the main control board 100 to the first sub-control board 200, and various performance control commands are sent from the main control board 100 to the first sub-control board 200. Furthermore, the first sub-control board 200 is configured so that data cannot be transmitted from the main control board 100, and the first sub-control board 200 is configured so that it cannot request the main control board 100 to transmit data. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a parallel transmission method is used for transmitting data from the main control board 100 to the first sub-control board 200, but a serial transmission method may also be used.

[0058] The first sub-control board 200 comprises a CPU 201 that performs various arithmetic processing related to game presentation based on presentation control commands from the main control board 100, a ROM 202 that stores data such as presentation control programs and various lottery tables, a RAM 203 that functions as a work area or buffer memory that serves as a temporary storage area, and an I / O port 204 that inputs and outputs signals between peripheral boards and each device, and these are connected to each other via an internal bus, and the CPU 201 is configured to execute main control related to game presentation in accordance with the control program stored in ROM 202. The first sub-control board 200 is electrically connected to the effect button 37 and the cursor button 38, and is configured to be able to detect the operation of these operation units.

[0059] In addition, the first sub-control board 200 generates, through performance control processing based on performance control commands from the main control board 100, image control commands that instruct the image to be displayed on the second sub-control board 300, audio control commands that instruct the audio to be output to the audio control board 310, lamp control data for controlling the lighting of various lamps such as the frame lamp 35, and movement control data for controlling the movement of the movable decorative body 22 and the sub-display unit 82, etc. Here, the first sub-control board 200 is connected to the second sub-control board 300 and the audio control board 310 to enable two-way communication, and each control command (image control command, audio control command) is sent from the first sub-control board 200 to the second sub-control board 300 or the audio control board 310, while in response, a response command (ACK command) indicating that the control command was successfully received is sent from each control board (second sub-control board 300, audio control board 310) to the first sub-control board 200.

[0060] The first sub-control board 200 is also electrically connected to the frame lamp 35, and transmits lamp control data via the I / O port 204. The frame lamp 35 is configured so that its illumination is controlled by the lamp control data transmitted from the first sub-control board 200. Furthermore, the first sub-control board 200 is electrically connected to the movable decorative body 22 and the sub-display unit 82, and transmits movement control data via the I / O port 204. The movable decorative body 22 and the sub-display unit 82 are configured so that their movement is controlled by the movement control data transmitted from the first sub-control board 200.

[0061] The second sub-control board 300, although not shown in the figure, is equipped with a CPU that performs various arithmetic processing related to image presentation based on image control commands from the first sub-control board 200, a ROM that stores image control programs and various data, a RAM that functions as a work area and buffer memory that serves as a temporary storage area, and an I / O port that inputs and outputs signals between peripheral boards and each device, and the CPU is configured to execute main control related to image presentation in accordance with the control program stored in the ROM 302. Furthermore, the second sub-control board 300 is equipped with a VDP that generates image data according to the content of the effect determined by the effect content determination means 225 (described later) based on a control signal received from the CPU, and a sound source IC that generates sound data according to the content of the effect based on a control signal received from the CPU. The VDP is a so-called image processor that reads image data stored in an image ROM in response to instructions from the CPU, processes the image data, and sends the generated image data to the main display unit 81 and the sub-display unit 82. Also connected to this VDP is a high-speed VRAM that is used to expand and process the image data read from the image ROM.

[0062] The audio control board 310 is equipped with a CPU 311 that performs various arithmetic processing related to audio performance based on audio control commands from the first sub-control board 200, a ROM 312 that stores audio control programs, audio data, etc., a RAM 313 that functions as a work area or buffer memory that serves as a temporary storage area, and an I / O port 314 that inputs and outputs signals to and from peripheral boards and each device, and is configured so that the CPU 311 executes main control related to audio performance in accordance with the control program stored in ROM 312. Therefore, the audio control board 310 reads audio data stored in ROM 312 in accordance with audio control commands received from the first sub-control board 200, synthesizes the read audio data, and transmits the final synthesized audio data to the speaker 33 via an amplifier, causing the speaker 33 to output audio.

[0063] The dispensing control board 400 is mainly composed of a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM (all not shown). In addition, the payout control board 400 is connected to the main control board 100 so as to be able to communicate in both directions, and performs control to drive the payout unit 48 to pay out game balls based on a payout control command from the main control board 100, and also controls the launch of game balls by synchronously driving the ball feeding mechanism and the launching mechanism based on the amount of operation of the operating handle 31.

[0064] The power supply control board 500 is composed of a normal power supply circuit 501 that generates normal power to be supplied to electronic and electrical components such as the control board mentioned above based on the primary power supply supplied from the power supply equipment of the game island, a backup power supply circuit 502 that generates backup power, and a power interruption detection circuit 503 that detects power interruption (when the voltage supplied by the normal power supply drops to a specified voltage). In addition, a power switch 40 is connected to the power supply control board 500, and assuming that primary power is supplied from the amusement island's power supply equipment, when the power switch 40 is turned ON, normal power is generated in the normal power supply circuit 501 of the power supply control board 500, and power is supplied to electronic and electrical components including the above-mentioned control boards (main control board 100, first sub-control board 200, second sub-control board 300, and payout control board 400). In addition, when a power interruption is detected by the power interruption detection circuit 503, the power supply control board 500 sends a power interruption signal (NMI signal) to each of the main control board 100, the first sub-control board 200, and the dispensing control board 400. In addition, the backup power supply circuit 502 is configured to be charged when power is supplied to the gaming machine 10 from the power supply equipment of the gaming island. In addition, the backup power supply circuit 502 may be provided on the dispensing control board 400, and the power interruption detection circuit 503 may not be provided on the power supply control board 500, but may be provided on each of the main control board 100, the first sub-control board 200, and the dispensing control board 400.

[0065] <Functional Configuration of Gaming Machine 10> Next, the functional configuration of the gaming machine 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the gaming machine 10. Note that the functional configuration shown in Fig. 7 is necessary for explaining the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment, and the gaming machine 10 may also have functional configurations that are not shown in Fig. 7. Furthermore, when explaining the functional configuration, Figs. 8 to 10 will be referred to as necessary.

[0066] As shown in Figure 7, the main control board 100 is equipped with a ball entry determination means 110, a main random number generation means 115, a main hold control means 120, a pre-determination means 125, a special symbol lottery means 130, a normal symbol lottery means 135, a jackpot game control means 140, a pattern display control means 145, an electric device control means 150, a game status control means 155, a main information storage means 160, a main error control means 165, a main command management means 170, a power restoration processing execution means 175, a power cut processing execution means 180, and a complete function control means 190. These means are functional representations of what is realized by each control configuration on the main control board 100 described using Figure 6.

[0067] First, the main information storage means 160 is a means for temporarily storing data read by the means provided in the main control board 100, data derived by calculations in the means, etc. in the corresponding storage areas. In particular, the data (performance control commands) stored in the transmission command storage area of ​​the main information storage means 160 is transmitted by the command transmission means to the sub-command management means 270 of the first sub-control board 200, which will be described later, after being stored.

[0068] The ball entry determination means 110 determines whether a ball has entered each winning hole based on the detection results of the sensors provided at each winning hole. In addition, when the ball entry determination means 110 determines that a game ball has entered a prize hole using a sensor installed in the prize hole, such as the large prize hole sensor 72, it generates a presentation control command (prize entry command) that includes information that can identify the type of sensor related to the prize, and stores the command in the transmission command storage area of ​​the main information storage means 160.

[0069] The main random number generating means 115 can generate multiple types of random numbers with different update ranges depending on the random number circuit 105, and when a win is determined to have been made at a winning slot, it acquires (latches) one or more random numbers corresponding to that winning slot from the random number circuit 105. More specifically, when it is determined that a prize has been won at the first start gate 57 or the second start gate 59, the main random number generating means 115 acquires a random number for determining whether a special symbol has been won, a random number for drawing a special symbol stop symbol pattern, and a random number for drawing a special symbol change pattern, which will be described later. When it is determined that a prize has been won at gate 63, the main random number generating means 115 stores the random number for determining whether a normal symbol has been won, a random number for drawing a normal symbol stop symbol pattern, and a random number for drawing a normal symbol change pattern, which will be described later, in the corresponding storage areas of the main information storage means 160. The random number circuit 105 monitors whether the multiple types of random numbers it updates are being updated normally, and if an update abnormality occurs in which the random numbers are not updated normally, information indicating the occurrence of the abnormality is written to a specific storage area of ​​the random number circuit 105. Therefore, the CPU 101 can recognize that an update abnormality has occurred in the random number circuit 105.

[0070] The main reserve control means 120 controls the reservation of the pattern variation of the special chart and the reservation of the pattern variation of the normal chart. Regarding the special chart 1, the random number for determining whether the special chart is a hit or not, the random number for drawing the special chart stop pattern, and the random number for drawing the special chart variation pattern, which are acquired upon winning the first starting port 57, are reserved (stored) as operation reservation information for the special chart 1. More specifically, the main hold control means 120 is provided with a hold counter (hereinafter referred to as the "special chart 1 hold counter") that is incremented by 1 each time the activation hold information of special chart 1 is held and decremented by 1 each time the activation hold information of special chart 1 is used (used in the lottery by the special chart lottery means 130), and stores the activation hold information in a storage area corresponding to the current special chart 1 hold counter of the main information storage means 160 until the value of the special chart 1 hold counter reaches an upper limit value (4 in this embodiment), and clears the used activation hold information each time the activation hold information is used, and controls the remaining activation hold information to be moved (shifted) from the current storage area to a storage area corresponding to a special chart 1 hold counter that is 1 less than the current special chart 1 hold counter, in order from the smallest special chart 1 hold counter. In addition, the main hold control means 120 performs the same control as described above for special drawing 2 and regular drawing separately from special drawing 1, and the hold counter for special drawing 2 is called the special drawing 2 hold counter, and the upper limit value of the special drawing 2 hold counter in this embodiment is 4. In addition, in the following explanation, "holding of operation hold information" may be expressed as "holding of pattern change" or simply as "holding." In addition, when the main hold control means 120 updates (adds or subtracts) the operation hold information (hold counter) of special chart 1 or special chart 2, it generates a performance control command (hold command) including the special chart 1 hold counter and the special chart 2 hold counter, and stores the command in the transmission command storage area of ​​the main information storage means 160. In this embodiment, when both the activation pending information corresponding to special chart 1 and the activation pending information corresponding to special chart 2 are reserved, a priority variation is performed in which the activation pending information corresponding to special chart 2 is used preferentially. However, instead of this priority variation, a winning order variation in which the activation pending information is used in the order in which it is reserved, regardless of whether it corresponds to special chart 1 or special chart 2, or a simultaneous variation in which the activation pending information corresponding to special chart 1 and the activation pending information corresponding to special chart 2 are simultaneously used when both the activation pending information corresponding to special chart 1 and the activation pending information corresponding to special chart 2 are reserved may be adopted.

[0071] The advance judgment means 125 executes advance judgment for a pre-reading performance targeting the pending activation information in at least some cases where the pending activation information of a special chart is pending at a predetermined advance judgment timing. More specifically, the preliminary judgment means 125 reads out each random number of the operation pending information that has been reserved this time, and performs preliminary judgment for each of the special symbol hit / miss judgment, special symbol stop symbol lottery, and special symbol change pattern lottery, which will be described later. In each preliminary judgment, a lottery table (not shown) that is the same as or equivalent to the lottery table used in the lottery corresponding to each preliminary judgment is used. Therefore, the results of these preliminary judgments will be the same as the results of the lottery that will be executed later. Furthermore, the pre-determination means 125 generates a performance control command (pre-determination command) including the result of the derived pre-determination, and stores the command in a transmission command storage area of ​​the main information storage means 160. The pre-determination command is transmitted (generated and stored in the transmission command storage area of ​​the main information storage means 160) at least part of the timing of the predetermined pre-determination, and therefore is transmitted following the above-mentioned hold command. Here, the predetermined timing of the pre-determination is, for example, the timing when the activation hold information of the special pattern is held. In this embodiment, if the activation hold information of special pattern 1 is held during the high probability of the normal pattern described below, the pre-determination is restricted, and therefore the transmission of the pre-determination command corresponding to that pre-determination is also restricted. On the other hand, if the activation hold information of special pattern 2 is held during the low probability of the normal pattern described below, the pre-determination may or may not be restricted.

[0072] The special chart lottery means 130 includes a special chart win / loss determination means 131, a special chart stop pattern lottery means 132, and a special chart change pattern derivation means 133, and executes processing by each means in the order of the special chart win / loss determination means 131, the special chart stop pattern lottery means 132, and the special chart change pattern derivation means 133. When the special chart change start condition is satisfied, the special chart lottery means 130 reads out the earliest activation pending information among the activation pending information reserved in the main information storage means 160. In addition, "the conditions for starting the change of the special chart are satisfied" means, for example, that all of the following conditions are satisfied: the player is not in the middle of a jackpot game, neither Special Chart 1 nor Special Chart 2 is currently changing the pattern (including when the pattern change related to Special Chart 1 or Special Chart 2 is stopped and displayed), and there is pending activation information on at least one of Special Chart 1 and Special Chart 2.

[0073] Here, FIGS. 8 to 10 are diagrams that schematically show lottery tables used in the main control board 100, and will be referred to as necessary in the following description. In a lottery using a lottery table, including other lottery tables, the lottery values ​​stored in the lottery table are sequentially added to the read random number in a predetermined order (if there is only one target lottery value, the addition is performed once), and the result corresponding to the lottery value that has generated a carry (overflow) is derived as the result of the lottery. Similarly, in the explanation of the lottery tables, names are given to the lottery tables for convenience of explanation. However, as long as the data, such as the lottery values, contained in the lottery table corresponding to the names are identifiable and stored in each ROM, these names do not specify the area in which the data is stored. In the illustrated lottery tables, items listed for convenience of explanation or lottery values ​​such as "-" or "0" are listed, but these do not necessarily indicate the data stored in each ROM. Furthermore, results with lottery values ​​of "-" or "0" will not result in a win. Furthermore, if the lottery table contains a lottery value identical to the random number range used in the lottery (the number of random numbers that can be obtained within that range), the result will be derived 100%, so a lottery is not necessarily required. Furthermore, if the total value of the lottery values ​​used in one lottery matches the random number range used in the lottery, a carry will always occur when adding the last lottery value, so the addition does not need to be performed, and in that case the lottery values ​​used in the addition themselves become unnecessary.

[0074] The special symbol hit / miss judgment means 131 reads out a random number for the special symbol hit / miss judgment for each symbol change, and executes a special symbol hit / miss judgment to judge by lottery whether the winning will be a big hit, a small hit, or a miss, using the read-out random number and a lottery table for the special symbol hit / miss judgment. Figure 8(a) is a diagram showing a schematic drawing of a lottery table for determining whether a special drawing is a hit or a miss. The lottery table differs between special drawing 1 and special drawing 2, and the range of random numbers used in these determinations is 0 to 65535. Therefore, in determining whether a special drawing is a hit or a miss in special drawing 1, a big hit is derived with a probability of 205 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 320), and any other result is a miss, and no small hit is derived. On the other hand, in determining whether a special drawing is a hit or a miss in special drawing 2, a big hit is derived with a probability of 205 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 320), and a small hit is derived with a probability of 1820 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 36.0), and any other result is a miss. In this embodiment, as will be described later, a jackpot game can occur via a small jackpot, so the probability of a jackpot being derived in the special chart hit / miss determination is set to the single probability described above.

[0075] When the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment is a big hit or a small hit, the special chart stopping pattern lottery means 132 determines the special chart stopping pattern by lottery using a random number for special chart stopping pattern lottery (in this embodiment, in the range of 0 to 999) and a lottery table for special chart stopping pattern lottery. Specifically, as shown in Figure 8(b), which is a diagram that schematically illustrates the lottery table for lottery of stopping symbols used when a jackpot is derived in the judgment of whether the special symbol is a hit or miss related to special symbol 1, when a jackpot is derived in the judgment of whether the special symbol is a hit or miss related to special symbol 1, symbol A is determined as the stopping symbol with a probability of 100 / 1000 (1 / 10), and symbol B is determined with a probability of 900 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 1.11). Here, whether symbol A or symbol B is selected, the game will enter a normal high probability state after the jackpot game corresponding to these stopped symbols ends, as described below. However, the number of symbol changes during which the normal high probability state continues (hereinafter referred to as the "prescribed number of times related to normal high probability") will be 80 times after the jackpot game ends when symbol A is selected, and 40 times after the jackpot game ends when symbol B is selected. Also, the number of rounds of the jackpot game corresponding to symbol A is 10, while the number of rounds of the jackpot game corresponding to symbol B is 4. Therefore, it can be said that symbol A is more advantageous than symbol B in terms of both the number of rounds and the prescribed number of times related to normal high probability.

[0076] As shown in Figure 8(c), which is a diagram that schematically shows the lottery table for drawing the stopping pattern used when a small win is derived in the judgment of whether the special pattern is a hit or miss for special pattern 2, if a small win is derived in the judgment of whether the special pattern is a hit or miss for special pattern 2, pattern a will be determined as the stopping pattern with a probability of 700 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 1.43), and pattern b will be determined with a probability of 300 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 3.33). Here, pattern a is a stopping pattern that causes the number of rounds of jackpot play that occurs in the small jackpot play related to that pattern to be 10, and after the jackpot play ends, the specified number of times for that high normal probability is 80. On the other hand, pattern b is a stopping pattern that causes the number of rounds of jackpot play that occurs in the small jackpot play related to that pattern to be 4, and after the jackpot play ends, the specified number of times for that high normal probability is 80. Therefore, it can be said that pattern a is more advantageous than pattern b in terms of the number of rounds. In addition, when a jackpot game occurs in a small hit game, the number of rounds in that jackpot game is the number calculated by counting that small hit game as one round. Furthermore, in the following explanation, a jackpot game that occurs in a small hit game related to symbol a will be referred to as a "jackpot game related to symbol a," and a jackpot game that occurs in a small hit game related to symbol b will be referred to as a "jackpot game related to symbol b."

[0077] As shown in Figure 8(d), which is a diagram schematically illustrating a lottery table for drawing the stopping symbols used when a jackpot is determined in the special symbol hit / miss judgment related to special symbol 2, when a jackpot is determined in the special symbol hit / miss judgment related to special symbol 2, symbol c is determined as the stopping symbol with a probability of 1000 / 1000 (1 / 1). In particular, symbol c is a stopping symbol for which the number of rounds of the jackpot game corresponding to the stopping symbol is 10, and which becomes a normal symbol with high probability after the jackpot game ends, and the specified number of times for the normal symbol with high probability is 80.

[0078] In addition, the special chart stop pattern lottery means 132 determines pattern C as the stop pattern when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment for special chart 1 is a miss, and determines pattern d as the stop pattern when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment for special chart 2 is a miss.

[0079] In this way, in the above-described embodiment, the jackpot game that occurs in the pattern variation related to special chart 2 tends to be more advantageous than the jackpot game that occurs in the pattern variation related to special chart 1. Therefore, the transition from the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA to another special chart variation pattern derivation state, which will be described later, can further increase the interest in the game.

[0080] The special pattern variation pattern derivation means 133 has a plurality of types of special pattern variation pattern lottery tables to be referenced when determining the special pattern variation pattern, and selects one special pattern variation pattern lottery table for determining the current special pattern variation pattern based on the current special pattern variation pattern derivation state and the result of the current special pattern success / failure judgment, determines one special pattern variation pattern using the selected special pattern variation pattern lottery table and a random number for special pattern variation pattern lottery, and determines the variation time based on the determined special pattern variation pattern. Here, the variation time refers to the time from when the pattern variation related to the special pattern (special pattern 1 or special pattern 2) starts to when the pattern variation ends. Details of the transition conditions will be described later, but in this embodiment, there are three special pattern variation pattern derivation states: special pattern variation pattern derivation state PA, special pattern variation pattern derivation state PB, and special pattern variation pattern derivation state PC. The above-mentioned method of determining the special pattern variation pattern is adopted in the pattern variation related to special pattern 1 in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PA, and in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PB and the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PC, it is adopted in the pattern variation related to special pattern 2. On the other hand, in the pattern change related to the other special pattern (the special pattern for which the above-mentioned method for determining the special pattern change pattern is adopted) in each special pattern change pattern derivation state, a predetermined special pattern change is determined according to the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment. In particular, in this embodiment, in the pattern change related to the special pattern 2 in the special pattern change pattern derivation state PA, if the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment of the pattern change is miss, a change pattern with a change time of 1000 ms is determined, and if the result of the special pattern hit / miss judgment of the pattern change is other than miss, a change pattern with a change time of 2000 ms is determined.

[0081] Figure 9(a) is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of a special chart variation pattern lottery table used for the pattern variation related to special chart 1 during the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, and the range of random numbers used in the lottery is 0 to 999. As shown in FIG. 9(a), in the pattern variation related to the special chart 1 in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, special chart variation patterns HNP to ASP-C can be determined. Specifically, if the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in the pattern change related to special chart 1 during the special chart change pattern derivation state PA is a miss, the special chart change pattern HNP occurs with a probability of 900 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 1.11), the special chart change pattern HRP occurs with a probability of 52 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 19.2), the special chart change pattern HSP1-A occurs with a probability of 13 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 76.9), and the special chart change pattern HS occurs with a probability of 11 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 90.9). P1-B, special chart fluctuation pattern HSP2-A with a probability of 9 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 111), special chart fluctuation pattern HSP2-B with a probability of 7 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 143), special chart fluctuation pattern HSP3-A with a probability of 5 / 1000 (1 / 200), special chart fluctuation pattern HSP3-B with a probability of 3 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 333) are determined, and in this case, special chart fluctuation pattern ASP1-A to special chart fluctuation pattern ASP-C are not determined. Details will be described later using Figure 9 (b), but when special chart fluctuation pattern HNP is determined, the special chart fluctuation pattern is further specified using the value of the special chart 1 pending counter at the start of this pattern fluctuation. On the other hand, if the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in the pattern fluctuation related to special chart 1 during the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PA is a jackpot, the probability of special chart fluctuation pattern ASP1-A is 90 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 11.1), the probability of special chart fluctuation pattern ASP1-B is 110 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 9.09), the probability of special chart fluctuation pattern ASP2-A is 135 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 7.41), the probability of special chart fluctuation pattern ASP2-B is 165 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 6 Special chart fluctuation pattern ASP2-B is determined with a probability of 1 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 5.56), special chart fluctuation pattern ASP3-A with a probability of 180 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 5.56), special chart fluctuation pattern ASP3-B with a probability of 220 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 4.56), and special chart fluctuation pattern ASP-C with a probability of 100 / 1000 (1 / 10), and in such cases, special chart fluctuation pattern HNP to special chart fluctuation pattern HSP3-B will not be determined. In this way, in this embodiment, when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in the pattern fluctuation related to the special chart 1 in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PA is a miss, any one of the special chart fluctuation patterns HRP to HSP3-B is determined at a rate of 100 / 1000 (1 / 10), and the special chart fluctuation pattern HNP is determined at a rate of 900 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 1.11). Furthermore, when the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment in the pattern fluctuation related to the special chart 1 in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PA is a jackpot, any one of the special chart fluctuation patterns ASP1-A to ASP-C is determined at a rate of 1000 / 1000 (1 / 1). Here, in the explanation of the special chart fluctuation pattern of this embodiment, when two special chart fluctuation patterns are described with "~" in between, the description of the special chart fluctuation pattern that exists between the special chart fluctuation pattern described earlier and the special chart fluctuation pattern described later is omitted in accordance with the order described in the drawing related to the special chart fluctuation pattern lottery table for each special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state. Also, in the explanation of the special chart fluctuation pattern of this embodiment, regardless of whether the corresponding fluctuation time is described, if the names of the special chart fluctuation patterns are different, it means that the different special chart fluctuation patterns are different.

[0082] Figure 9(b) is a diagram schematically showing a special chart variation pattern lottery table used when a special chart variation pattern HNP is determined in the pattern variation related to special chart 1 during the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, and the range of the random numbers used in this lottery (different from the random numbers used in the lottery related to the special chart variation pattern lottery table shown in Figure 9(a)) is 0 to 999. As shown in Figure 9(b), the special chart fluctuation patterns HNP that can be determined in the pattern fluctuation related to special chart 1 during the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PA include special chart fluctuation pattern HNP-A with a fluctuation time of 3200 ms (milliseconds), special chart fluctuation pattern HNP-B with a fluctuation time of 5600 ms, special chart fluctuation pattern HNP-C with a fluctuation time of 8000 ms, and special chart fluctuation pattern HNP-D with a fluctuation time of 11200 ms, in that order of increasing fluctuation time. Specifically, if the special chart 1 reserved counter is 3 at the start of this pattern change, the special chart change pattern HNP-A will be determined with a probability of 1000 / 1000 (1 / 1). Similarly, if the special chart 1 reserved counter is 2 at the start of this pattern change, the special chart change pattern HNP-A will be determined with a probability of 150 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 6.67), and the special chart change pattern HNP-B will be determined with a probability of 850 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 1.18). If the special chart 1 reserved counter is 1 at the start of this pattern change, the special chart change pattern HNP-A will be determined with a probability of 50 / 1000 (1 / 20), and the special chart change pattern HNP-B will be determined with a probability of 150 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 6.67). The special pattern variation pattern HNP-B is determined with a probability of 800 / 1000 (1 / 1.25), and the special pattern variation pattern HNP-C is determined with a probability of 800 / 1000 (1 / 1.25). If the special pattern 1 reserved counter = 0 at the start of this pattern variation, the special pattern variation pattern HNP-B is determined with a probability of 50 / 1000 (1 / 20), the special pattern variation pattern HNP-C is determined with a probability of 100 / 1000 (1 / 10), and the special pattern variation pattern HNP-D is determined with a probability of 850 / 1000 (approximately 1 / 1.18). In the following explanation, if the value of the referenced special pattern reserved counter is 3, it will be referred to as "protected 3", if the value of the special pattern reserved counter is 2, it will be referred to as "protected 2", if the value of the special pattern reserved counter is 1, it will be referred to as "protected 1", and if the value of the special pattern reserved counter is 0, it will be referred to as "protected 0". In this way, when the special pattern variation pattern HNP is determined in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PA, the special pattern variation pattern (variation time) that is likely to be determined depends on the value of the special pattern 1 reserved counter at the start of the current pattern variation. More specifically, the smaller the value of the special pattern 1 reserved counter at the start of the current pattern variation, the more likely it is that a long pattern variation will be determined (the larger the value of the special pattern 1 reserved counter at the start of the current pattern variation, the more likely it is that a short variation time will be determined). In addition, such special chart variation pattern HNP (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "basic special chart variation pattern") also exists in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB and the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC, and in these special chart variation pattern derivation states, the reserved counter referenced is different from that in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, and in both cases the value of the special chart 2 reserved counter is referenced.

[0083] In addition, at the start of the pattern change, the special chart change pattern derivation means 133 generates a performance control command (change start command) including the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment, the determined special chart stop pattern, and the determined special chart change pattern, and stores the command in the transmission command storage area of ​​the main information storage means 160.

[0084] The regular map lottery means 135, like the special map lottery means 130, reads out the earliest pending activation information from the pending activation information stored in the main information storage means 160 when the regular map pattern is not changing, and uses the read random number to perform a regular map validity judgment to determine whether the regular map is valid or invalid, and determines various parameters related to the regular map (regular map change time, regular map stop display time, etc.) based on the result of the regular map validity judgment and information such as the current special map change pattern derivation state. In determining whether a regular drawing is a hit or miss, there are two states where the regular drawing lottery state is a high probability state (sometimes abbreviated as "regular drawing high probability") and a low probability state (sometimes abbreviated as "regular drawing low probability"). An illustration of the lottery table is omitted, but in this embodiment, in a regular drawing high probability state, the probability of a regular drawing being a hit is 65535 / 65536, and the remaining probability of a miss is 1 / 65536, while in a regular drawing low probability state, the probability of a regular drawing being a hit is 1 / 65536, and the remaining probability of a miss is 65535 / 65536. Note that in a regular drawing low probability state, it may be configured so that the regular drawing does not win (65536 / 65536 is a miss).

[0085] The jackpot game control means 140 controls the progress of the jackpot game. Specifically, it manages the jackpot start demo period, which is established at the start of the jackpot game and ends after a certain time has elapsed, and the jackpot end demo period, which is established just before the end of the jackpot game and ends after a certain time has elapsed, as well as the progress of the round period during which the above-mentioned round game is executed between these periods. In particular, at the start of the jackpot game (at the start of the jackpot start demo period), the jackpot game control means 140 generates a presentation control command including the number of rounds of the jackpot game and the subsequent special symbol variation pattern derivation state, and stores the command in the transmission command storage area of ​​the main information storage means 160. Furthermore, the jackpot game control means 140 also generates corresponding presentation control commands at the start of the round period, the end of the round period (at the start of the jackpot end demo period), and the end of the jackpot game (at the end of the jackpot end demo period), and stores the corresponding presentation control commands in the transmission command storage area of ​​the main information storage means 160. As a result, in this embodiment, the first sub-control board 200 is able to recognize the progress of the big win game.

[0086] In addition, the jackpot game control means 140 starts a small jackpot game if the result of the special symbol hit / miss determination is a small jackpot, and if the game ball passes through the V winning area (not shown) provided in the large winning port 55 during the small jackpot game, the jackpot game corresponding to the small jackpot can be started after the small jackpot game ends. Therefore, in this embodiment, the small jackpot game functions as a trigger for the jackpot game. Note that if the game ball does not pass through the V winning area during the small jackpot game, the jackpot game does not start after the small jackpot game ends.

[0087] The pattern display control means 145 causes the first special pattern display device 91 to variably display the special pattern 1 in accordance with the variation time corresponding to the determined special pattern variation pattern of the special pattern 1, and causes the special pattern 1 to be stopped and displayed with the stop pattern determined by the special pattern stop pattern lottery after the variation time has elapsed. Similarly, the second special pattern display device 92 causes the special pattern 2 to variably display in accordance with the variation time corresponding to the determined special pattern variation pattern of the special pattern 2, and causes the special pattern 2 to be stopped and displayed with the stop pattern determined by the special pattern stop pattern lottery after the variation time has elapsed. Here, the stop display time of the pattern change related to the special chart refers to the time from when the special chart is stopped and displayed until the pattern change of the next special chart can start (if the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment is a miss), or the time from when the pattern change of the special chart ends until the big hit game or small hit game starts (if the result of the normal chart hit / miss judgment is a normal hit), and in this embodiment the stop display time of the pattern change related to the special chart is a uniform 300 ms regardless of the type of special chart or the result of the special chart hit / miss judgment. In addition, the pattern display control means 145 has a special pattern game timer for managing the time (variation time, stop display time) related to the display of special pattern 1 and special pattern 2, and when the special pattern is stopped for display (at the timing when the value of the special pattern game timer becomes "0"), it generates a presentation control command (variation stop command) for requesting the fixed stop display of the decorative pattern, and stores the command in the transmission command storage area of ​​the main information storage means 160. Here, the term "confirmed stop display of decorative symbols" refers to the final stop display of decorative symbols in the pattern change, and is different from the provisional stop display of decorative symbols that may occur during the pattern change. In the provisional stop display of decorative symbols, for example, the stopped decorative symbols are accompanied by a small up and down swaying motion (so-called swaying fluctuation), while in the confirmed stop display of decorative symbols, the stopped decorative symbols are not accompanied by a swaying fluctuation. Even when the same decorative symbols are stopped and displayed, the stop display mode of the confirmed and provisionally displayed decorative symbols is different. Therefore, the player can recognize whether the stopped display of the decorative symbols is a confirmed stop display or a provisional stop display.

[0088] Furthermore, the pattern display control means 145 causes the normal map to be displayed on the normal pattern display device 93 in a variable manner according to a variable time corresponding to the determined normal map variable pattern, and after the variable time has elapsed, causes the normal map to be displayed in a stopped state with the determined stopping pattern. In addition, the symbol display control means 145 has a regular symbol game timer for managing the time related to the regular symbol (regular symbol fluctuation time, regular symbol stop display time, etc.).

[0089] In the above-mentioned big win game or small win game, the electric device control means 150 outputs a control signal to the special electric device solenoid 66, and opens the special electric device 65 according to an opening pattern corresponding to the stopping pattern of the special chart.

[0090] The game state control means 155 controls the normal symbol lottery state. Specifically, the game state control means 155 sets the normal symbol to low probability at the start of a jackpot game regardless of the stopped symbol of the special symbol related to the jackpot game, and when a specified condition such as the end of the jackpot game is met, sets the normal symbol to high probability until the specified number of symbol changes related to the high normal symbol probability are performed, and sets the normal symbol to low probability when the specified number of symbol changes related to the high normal symbol probability are completed. Here, as will be described later, in this embodiment, the number of symbol changes used to determine whether the specified number of symbol changes related to the high normal symbol probability has been reached is the number of symbol changes related to special symbol 2, but the number of symbol changes used to determine this may be the number of symbol changes related to special symbol 2 plus the number of symbol changes related to special symbol 1. In addition, in this embodiment, during a small win game, the normal symbol lottery state is maintained in the symbol variation that caused the small win game.

[0091] Such a regular drawing state changes in conjunction with the above-mentioned special drawing variation pattern derivation state, and the transition of the special drawing variation pattern derivation state is managed by the game state control means 155. The transition of the special drawing variation pattern derivation state will be explained below with reference to Figures 10(a) and 10(b). Figure 10(a) is a state transition diagram showing the transition of the special drawing variation pattern derivation state, and Figure 10(b) is a diagram showing the relationship between the average variation time for each special drawing variation pattern derivation state. As shown in Figure 10(a), in the special chart variation pattern derivation state, there is a special chart variation pattern derivation state PA as a special chart variation pattern derivation state corresponding to a normal chart low probability, and there are a special chart variation pattern derivation state PB and a special chart variation pattern derivation state PC as special chart variation pattern derivation states corresponding to a normal chart high probability, and one of these special chart variation pattern derivation states is set except during a jackpot game. The transition conditions between the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA and the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC include transition conditions (i) to (v).

[0092] Specifically, transition condition (i) is the end of jackpot play related to pattern B, transition condition (ii) is the end of jackpot play related to pattern A, transition condition (iii) is the end of jackpot play related to pattern a, pattern b, or pattern c, transition condition (iv) is the end of pattern change related to special pattern 2 executed without jackpot play in normal high probability state by 40 times (the specified number of times related to normal high probability state in special pattern change pattern derivation state PB), and transition condition (v) is the end of pattern change related to special pattern 2 executed without jackpot play in normal high probability state by 80 times (the specified number of times related to normal high probability state in special pattern change pattern derivation state PC). In addition, if a jackpot game occurs in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC, the state transitions to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC again after the jackpot game ends, and the number of pattern variations related to special chart 2 that can be executed up to the specified number of times related to the normal chart high probability in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC is reset. Also, although not shown, if a jackpot game does not occur in a small jackpot game that occurred in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC, and if a jackpot game does not occur in a small jackpot game related to transition condition (iii), the end of the small jackpot game triggers the current special chart variation pattern derivation state to end and transition to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA.

[0093] As shown in Figure 10(b), the average fluctuation time for the special symbol fluctuation pattern derivation state PA, the special symbol fluctuation pattern derivation state PB, and the special symbol fluctuation pattern derivation state PC decreases in the following order: special symbol fluctuation pattern derivation state PA, special symbol fluctuation pattern derivation state PB, special symbol fluctuation pattern derivation state PC. This is due to the length of the fluctuation time for the basic special symbol fluctuation pattern that is most likely to be determined in each special symbol fluctuation pattern derivation state. Here, the average fluctuation time refers to the sum of the fluctuation times derived by multiplying the occurrence rate (the probability that a special symbol fluctuation pattern can occur in any pattern fluctuation, derived by multiplying the probability of the special symbol success / failure judgment result being derived by the probability of the special symbol fluctuation pattern being successful) for each fluctuation time for the special symbol fluctuation pattern that can be selected in a certain special symbol fluctuation pattern derivation state. However, in this embodiment, if there is only one special symbol fluctuation pattern that can be selected in that certain special symbol fluctuation pattern derivation state, the fluctuation time for that special symbol fluctuation pattern is treated as the average fluctuation time.

[0094] In addition, when a transition occurs between the normal drawing state and the special drawing pattern derivation state, the game state control means 155 generates a presentation control command (game state designation command) including the state after the transition, and stores the command in the transmission command storage area of ​​the main information storage means 160. Furthermore, the game state control means 155 counts the number of times that a pattern change related to a transition to another special pattern change pattern derivation state is executed in each special pattern change pattern derivation state, and generates a performance control command including the number of times that the pattern change is counted each time a pattern change is started, and stores the command in a transmission command area of ​​the main information storage means 160. Note that the information included in the performance control command may be included in the above-mentioned change start command.

[0095] As described above, the main information storage means 160 is a means for temporarily storing data read by each means and data derived by calculations or the like by each means in the corresponding storage areas.

[0096] The main error control means 165 monitors the input information of the I / O port 104 and determines whether or not the gaming machine 10 is in an error state. If it is determined that the gaming machine 10 is in an error state, it stores a performance control command (error command) including information that can identify the error state in a transmission command storage area of ​​the main information storage means 160. In this embodiment, the error states determined by the main error control means 165 include a door open error that occurs when the middle frame open door sensor 76 detects the opening of the middle frame 17 or the front frame open door sensor 77 detects the opening of the front frame 20, a remaining prize ball error that occurs when there are remaining prize balls (prize balls that have not yet been awarded), a complete error as described below, an abnormal prize entry error that occurs when a game ball is detected by the large prize entry port sensor 72 when the large prize entry port 55 is in a closed state (excluding the period up to a predetermined time after the large prize entry port 55 changes from an open state to a closed state, taking into account the occurrence of so-called over-entry), a radio wave error that occurs due to radio wave detection by the radio wave detection sensor, a magnetic error that occurs due to magnetic detection by the magnetic detection sensor, a main board error that occurs due to the occurrence of the above-mentioned update abnormality, and a RAM error that occurs due to a RAM abnormality as described below.

[0097] The door open error ends (is cleared) when detected by the sensor that triggered the door open error (middle frame door open sensor 76, front frame door open sensor 77), the remaining prize ball error ends when there are no more prize balls remaining, and the abnormal winning error ends when time has passed (in this embodiment, after 30,000 ms has passed). In addition, radio wave errors and magnetic errors are terminated by power outage and restoration (regardless of whether RAM clear processing is performed or not), and complete errors, main board errors, and RAM errors are terminated by power outage and restoration accompanied by RAM clear processing. In addition, the abnormal winning error can also be ended by a power outage and restoration (regardless of whether the RAM clear process is performed or not), and the remaining prize ball error can also be ended by a power outage and restoration accompanied by the execution of the RAM clear process.

[0098] In addition, in this embodiment, if any of these errors, such as a complete error, main board error, magnetic error, or radio wave error, occurs, in addition to turning on the security signal, a process to stop play, as described below, is executed until the error is resolved. Here, the security signal is a type of signal output from an external terminal board (not shown) provided on the gaming machine 10 to devices outside the gaming machine (such as a data display or hall computer). Including the following explanation, turning a security signal ON refers to starting the output of the security signal, and turning a security signal OFF refers to ending the output of the security signal. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the process of turning the security signal OFF does not take into account the time elapsed since the security signal was turned ON, but this elapsed time may be taken into account, i.e., the security signal may not be turned OFF before a certain time has elapsed since the security signal was turned ON. Also, as will be described in more detail later, in this embodiment, when these errors occur, the display of the base value on the main control board monitor 97 is restricted, and an error code that can identify the error that has occurred is displayed on the main control board monitor 97.

[0099] When a performance control command is stored in the transmission command storage area of ​​the main information storage means 160, the main command management means 170 transmits the performance control command to the first sub-control board 200. In principle, each performance control command is transmitted in the order in which it is stored in the transmission command storage area of ​​the main information storage means 160.

[0100] The power restoration process execution means 175 includes a restoration state setting means 176 and a playable state transition means 179 .

[0101] The recovery state setting means 176 executes a recovery state setting process to set a recovery state based on whether or not there is an abnormality in the RAM 103 when power is restored, the state at the time of power outage immediately before the power restoration, the state of the RAM clear switch 43 when power is restored, and the state of the inner frame door open sensor 76 when power is restored. The recovery states set by this process include a game-stopped state and a playable state (which may or may not involve the execution of a RAM clear process). Specifically, if there is an abnormality in RAM 103 when power is restored, the above-mentioned RAM error occurs and a game-stopped state is set regardless of the state of RAM clear switch 43 and the state of middle frame door open sensor 76 when power is restored. Also, if there is no abnormality in RAM 103 when power is restored and RAM clear switch 43 is ON (pressed state) when power is restored, RAM clear processing is executed and a playable state is set on the condition that middle frame door open sensor 76 is ON when power is restored (if middle frame door open sensor 76 is OFF when power is restored, the RAM clear processing is not executed and the playable state is set), and if there is no abnormality in RAM 103 when power is restored and RAM clear switch 43 is OFF (not pressed state) when power is restored, the RAM clear processing is not executed and the playable state is set. Here, the game stop state is a state in which the game cannot proceed by not executing processing according to the detection results of the sensors provided at each winning port (the detection results of the sensors themselves do not need to be looked at). Note that in the game stop state in this embodiment, the launch of game balls themselves is not restricted, but the launch of game balls themselves may be prohibited in the game stop state. On the other hand, the playable state is a restored state in which the game can be continued by executing a process according to the detection results of the sensors installed in each winning slot. In particular, if the RAM clear process is not executed when power is restored, the game will return to the playable state at the time of the previous power outage. For example, if a big win game or a small win game was being played at the time of the previous power outage, the game will return to the big win game or small win game that was being played, and if a pattern change was being played at the time of the previous power outage, the game will return to the pattern change that was being played.

[0102] In addition, whether or not there is an abnormality in RAM103 is determined by executing a RAM abnormality check (specifically, a process that determines whether or not a backup flag is stored (whether or not the backup flag is ON) in the backup information area related to the target area, and if the backup flag is stored (if the backup flag is ON), derives a checksum of the target area and the complement stored in the backup information area related to the area, and if the calculation result is 0, determines that the target area is normal, and otherwise determines that the target area is abnormal) performed on the area related to the game in RAM103.

[0103] The playable state transition means 179 executes a playable state transition process for transitioning to a playable state when the playable state is set. More specifically, in the process of transitioning to a playable state, if the security signal output is ON, a process of turning the security signal output OFF and initial setting of the device are executed. In addition, during the initial setting of the device, processes such as sending a launch permission command to the payout control board 400 to allow the launch of game balls, setting the state in which balls will be valid when they enter each winning slot, and setting data to activate the random number circuit 105 are performed.

[0104] The power cutoff process execution means 180 executes the power cutoff process based on the reception of the power cutoff signal from the power supply control board 500. Specifically, for the area of ​​RAM 103 related to gaming, the checksum of that area is derived, the complement of that checksum is stored in the backup information area of ​​RAM 103 related to gaming, and a backup flag indicating that power-off processing has been performed on that area is turned ON (the backup flag is stored in the backup information area of ​​RAM 103 related to gaming).

[0105] The complete function control means 190 derives the difference in the number of balls using the above-mentioned out balls and safe balls, and when the derived difference in the number of balls is equal to or greater than a specific threshold value (100,000 in this embodiment), it determines that a complete error has occurred (hereinafter, this function will be referred to as the "complete function"). Details of the processing executed by the complete function control means 190 will be described later.

[0106] As shown in Figure 7, the first sub-control board 200 is equipped with a sub-random number generating means 210, a normal performance control means 220, a sub-error control means 230, a lamp control means 240, a movable prop control means 245, a sub-information storage means 260, and a sub-command management means 270, and these means are functional representations of what is realized by each control configuration on the first sub-control board 200 described using Figure 6. Here, the sub-information storage means 260 is a means for temporarily storing data read by the means provided in the first sub-control board 200, data derived by calculations in the means, etc., in the corresponding storage areas. Also, the performance control command transmitted from the main command management means 170 is stored by the sub-command management means 270 in a received command storage area of ​​the sub-information storage means 260. In the following explanation, the storage of the performance control command transmitted from the main command management means 170 in the received command storage area of ​​the sub-information storage means 260 by the sub-command management means 270 may be simply referred to as "receiving a performance control command."

[0107] The sub-random number generating means 210 can generate random numbers (software random numbers) that are updated by the CPU 201 through program processing, and obtains random numbers at the timing when each lottery (details will be described later) is executed by the normal performance control means 220.

[0108] The normal presentation control means 220 includes a presentation mode control means 221, a presentation route determination means 222, a sub-hold control means 223, a pre-reading presentation control means 224, a presentation content determination means 225, a decorative pattern control means 226, and a jackpot presentation control means 227.

[0109] When the presentation mode control means 221 receives a game state designation command, it controls the transition of the presentation mode in a manner that is consistent with the special chart variation pattern derivation state managed on the main control board 100 side. The presentation modes in this embodiment are broadly divided into normal mode, challenge mode, and RUSH mode, with normal mode corresponding to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, challenge mode corresponding to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB, and RUSH mode corresponding to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC.

[0110] When receiving a preliminary determination command, the performance route determination means 222 determines (sets) a performance route corresponding to the currently reserved pattern change based on the result of the preliminary determination included in the command (in this embodiment, the special symbol change pattern). Note that if the special symbol change pattern corresponding to the pattern change is the above-mentioned special symbol change pattern HNP, the performance route determination means 222 does not determine a performance route when the preliminary determination command is transmitted, and determines a performance route based on the special symbol change pattern included in the change start command at the start of the pattern change (for example, if the special symbol change pattern derivation state PA, special symbol change pattern HNP-A to special symbol change pattern HNP-D). Here, the presentation route is the presentation from the start to the end of the pattern change, and specifies the process of the presentation that notifies the result of the special pattern judgment in the pattern change, and the content of the presentation executed in the pattern change will be determined by the presentation content determination means 225 described later in accordance with the presentation route corresponding to the pattern change.

[0111] The presentation route in this embodiment is roughly divided into a miss presentation route that notifies that the result of the special symbol hit / miss judgment in the current symbol change is a miss (the result of the special symbol hit / miss judgment in the current symbol change is neither a big hit nor a small hit), and a big hit presentation route that notifies that the result of the special symbol hit / miss judgment in the current symbol change is a big hit or a small hit. Furthermore, the miss presentation route includes a non-development miss presentation route in which the development presentation is not executed, and a development miss presentation route in which the development presentation is executed. Note that, as will be described later, when the big hit presentation route is determined, the development presentation is executed unless otherwise explained. Here, the development effect is an effect that is executed after the decorative symbols reach a reach state (a state in which all decorative symbols except for one symbol row are displayed stationary and the remaining symbol rows are displayed in a variable manner), and at the end of the effect, it is announced whether the result of the special symbol hit / miss judgment in the current symbol change is a big hit or a small hit. Therefore, in the development effect corresponding to the development miss effect route, a series of effects corresponding to the development effect is executed, and at the end of the effect, it is announced that the result of the special symbol hit / miss judgment in the current symbol change is neither a big hit nor a small hit. On the other hand, in the development effect corresponding to the big hit effect route, a series of effects corresponding to the development effect is executed, and at the end of the effect, it is announced that the result of the special symbol hit / miss judgment in the current symbol change is a big hit or a small hit. Also, as will be described later, in this embodiment, in one presentation mode, each determined special chart variation pattern corresponds to a different presentation route. Therefore, in the following description, the presentation route for the special chart variation pattern may be simply expressed as a special chart variation pattern. However, multiple presentation routes may be associated with one special chart variation pattern, and in this case, one presentation route may be determined from multiple presentation routes corresponding to the determined special chart variation pattern.

[0112] When the sub-hold control means 223 receives a hold command (hereinafter, sometimes simply referred to as the occurrence of a hold winning), it sets performance data for displaying the number of hold images corresponding to the special chart 1 hold counter and the number of hold images corresponding to the special chart 2 hold counter in the hold display area (not shown) of the main display unit 81 based on the information of the special chart 1 hold counter and the special chart 2 hold counter included in the command. The hold images are images that are the target of a hold pre-reading performance (an example of a pre-reading performance described later) that changes into various forms suggesting the degree of advantage, such as the expectation of a jackpot game occurring.

[0113] When the pre-reading effect control means 224 receives a pre-determination command, it determines the content of the so-called pre-reading effect based on the result of the pre-determination included in the command.

[0114] When the variation start command is received, the performance content determination means 225 determines the content of the performance to be executed in the current pattern variation according to the performance route already determined by the performance route determination means 222. More specifically, the effect content determination means 225 determines an effect pattern lottery table to be referenced for the content of the effect (effect pattern) for each effect execution timing in the pattern variation, based on the effect route determined by the effect route determination means 222, and determines the content of the effect by lottery using the determined effect pattern lottery table. In particular, by doing this, it is possible to change the content of the effect related to (executed according to) the determined effect route, and also to provide a connection between the effects in one pattern variation.

[0115] When the decorative pattern control means 226 receives a variation start command, it determines the final (determined stopped display) combination of decorative patterns (left pattern, center pattern, right pattern) based on the stopped pattern of the determined special pattern. Specifically, in the pattern variation related to Special Chart 1, one of the pattern alignments related to decorative patterns other than the 7 pattern is determined for Pattern A and Pattern B, and a pattern alignment related to the 7 pattern is determined for Pattern C. Therefore, in this embodiment, even if a pattern alignment related to decorative patterns other than the 7 pattern is displayed, it is not possible to accurately determine the subsequent performance mode from the displayed pattern alignment, that is, the performance mode that will be set upon the end of the jackpot game related to that pattern alignment. On the other hand, if a pattern alignment related to the 7 pattern is displayed, the player can determine that the RUSH mode will be set thereafter. In addition, in the pattern variation related to Special Chart 2, any of the pattern matching related to the decorative pattern excluding the 7 pattern is determined for the pattern a and the pattern c, and any of the pattern matching related to the decorative pattern including the 7 pattern is determined for the pattern b and the pattern d. Therefore, in this embodiment, when a pattern matching related to the decorative pattern excluding the 7 pattern is stopped and displayed, it is not possible to accurately determine the number of rounds of the jackpot game related to that pattern matching. On the other hand, when a pattern matching related to the 7 pattern is stopped and displayed, the player can determine that the number of rounds of the jackpot game related to that pattern matching is 10.

[0116] When the jackpot start command is received, the jackpot effect control means 227 determines the content of the effects during the jackpot game based on the information included in the command, etc. The effects during the jackpot game include a jackpot start effect that can identify that the jackpot start demo period is in progress, a round effect that can identify that the round period is in progress, and a jackpot end effect that can identify that the jackpot end demo period is in progress.

[0117] The normal performance control means 220 reads out performance data for each device corresponding to each performance at the execution timing of that performance, in accordance with the content of the performance determined by the above-mentioned means provided in the first sub-control board 200. If the read performance data includes performance data related to images, it generates image control commands based on that performance data and stores those commands in a transmission command storage area of ​​the sub-information storage means 260. Furthermore, if the read performance data includes performance data related to sound, it generates audio control commands related to sound based on that performance data and stores those commands in a transmission command storage area of ​​the sub-information storage means 260. Furthermore, if the restored state upon power restoration becomes a playable state following the execution of a RAM clear process, the normal presentation control means 220 reads presentation data for announcing that the playable state has been achieved following the execution of a RAM clear process, and if the restored state upon power restoration becomes a playable state without the execution of a RAM clear process, the normal presentation control means 220 reads presentation data for announcing that the playable state has been achieved without the execution of a RAM clear process. Furthermore, if the restored state upon power restoration becomes a game-stop state, the normal presentation control means 220 reads presentation data for announcing that the game has been stopped and that a RAM clear process needs to be executed. Details of these notifications are omitted, but it is preferable that they continue to be executed for a certain period of time (e.g., 30 seconds) after execution begins, and the presentation device that executes the notification does not matter.

[0118] When an error command is transmitted, the sub-error control means 230 determines an error notification pattern and reads out performance data for executing an error notification in accordance with the error notification pattern. The error notification is executed with priority over the variable effect related to the pattern variation. Here, the execution of the error notification with priority is not limited to the case where the device related to the execution of the error notification and the device related to the execution of the variable effect are the same device, and only the error notification is executed in the device (the execution of the variable effect is restricted by the execution of the error notification), but also includes the case where the error notification is executed in the device in a manner that is easier to recognize than the variable effect. In addition, the sub-error control means 230 may independently (independently of the main error control means 165) determine whether the gaming machine 10 is in an error state, and if it determines that the gaming machine 10 is in an error state, read out performance data that executes an error notification.

[0119] The lamp control means 240 holds lamp control data for controlling the lighting of various lamps such as the frame lamp 35. For example, if the performance data read by the normal performance control means 220 contains performance data corresponding to a lamp, the lamp control means 240 reads out the lamp control data based on the performance data and transmits the read lamp control data to the lamp to be executed.

[0120] When the performance data read by the normal performance control means 220 contains performance data corresponding to a movable role, the movable role control means 245 reads movement control data for controlling the movement of the movable decorative body 22 and the sub-display unit 82 from ROM 202 based on the performance data, and transmits the read movement control data to the movable decorative body 22 and the sub-display unit 82 to control the movement of the movable decorative body 22 and the sub-display unit 82.

[0121] As described above, the sub-information storage means 260 is a means for temporarily storing data read out by the means provided in the first sub-control board 200, data derived by calculations in the means, etc. in corresponding storage areas.

[0122] The sub-command management means 270 receives performance control commands transmitted from the main control board 100 and stores the received performance commands in a received command storage area of ​​the sub-information storage means 260. Furthermore, if an image control command is stored in the transmission command storage area of ​​the sub-information storage means 260, the sub-command management means 270 transmits the image control command to the second sub-control board 300. Furthermore, if an audio control command or a volume adjustment command is stored in the storage area, the sub-command management means 270 transmits these commands to the audio control board 310. Note that these commands are transmitted in the order in which they are stored in the transmission command storage area of ​​the sub-information storage means 260, as a general rule.

[0123] As described above, the gaming machine 10 according to this embodiment is configured to be able to display a base value on the main control board monitor 97, and when any of the above-mentioned errors, including a complete error, occurs, the display of the base value is restricted and an error code that can identify the error that has occurred is displayed. Here, the complete function that generates a complete error is a function that has not been installed in conventional gaming machines, and it is necessary to make it easier to cancel a complete error or to recognize that it has occurred. In contrast to this, the present invention has a function that makes it easier to recognize the release or occurrence of complete, and the details of this function will be explained below.

[0124] <Processing related to the complete function> First, using Figures 11 and 12, we will explain in detail the game stop flag setting process and complete error setting process related to the complete function, which are processes executed by the complete function control means 190 to realize the above-mentioned complete function. FIG. 11 shows a flow of a game stop flag setting process related to the complete function. This process is executed when a game stop flag (described later) is OFF, but is not executed when the game stop flag is ON. Figure 12 shows the flow of the complete error setting process, which is executed regardless of the state of the game stop flag, and when the game stop flag setting process related to the complete function is executed, it is executed continuously from that process.

[0125] As shown in FIG. 11, in step S102, which is the first step of the game stop flag setting process related to the complete function, out balls and safe balls are obtained. As mentioned above, the out balls refer to the total number of game balls detected by the out ball sensor 75, and the out balls are set to their initial value (0 in this embodiment) when power is restored after a power outage, regardless of whether the RAM clear process is performed or not. On the other hand, the safe balls refer to the total number of prize balls awarded by the game balls entering the above-mentioned winning slots, and the safe balls are set to their initial value (5,000 in this embodiment) when power is restored after a power outage, regardless of whether the RAM clearing process is performed or not.

[0126] In step S104, the difference in the number of balls is calculated using the acquired out balls and safe balls. Specifically, in this process, the difference in the number of balls is calculated by subtracting the number of out balls from the number of safe balls, and if the calculated result is negative, the difference in the number of balls becomes zero. The method of deriving the difference in the number of balls is not limited to the method described in this embodiment, and any method may be adopted as long as the derivation results are consistent.

[0127] In step S106, it is determined whether the difference in the number of balls is 100,000 or more (whether the difference in the number of balls has reached 100,000), and if this condition is met, the process proceeds to step S108, and if this condition is not met, the process proceeds to step S110.

[0128] In step S108, the game stop flag is set to ON. In this embodiment, once the game stop flag is set to ON, it is cleared (set to OFF) only by powering on with the execution of the RAM clearing process, and is not cleared by powering on without the execution of the RAM clearing process.

[0129] In step S110, preparations are made for sending a command related to the complete function, and then the game stop flag setting process related to the complete function is terminated. Specifically, in this process, a complete function-related command is stored in the transmission command storage area of ​​the main information storage means 160, and by executing this process, the complete function-related command is transmitted to the first sub-control board 200. In this embodiment, the complete function-related command includes information that can identify the number of out balls, safe balls, difference in number of balls, and the state of the game stop flag.

[0130] Next, as shown in FIG. 12, in step S202, which is the first step in the complete error setting process, it is determined whether the game stop flag is ON, and if the condition is met, the process proceeds to step S204, and if the condition is not met, the complete error setting process is terminated. In step S204, it is determined whether or not a big win game or a small win game is being played. If the condition is not met, the process proceeds to step S206, and if the condition is met, the complete error setting process is terminated. In step S206, a complete error is set. In step S208, the security signal is set to ON, and then the complete error setting process is terminated. This allows the device outside the gaming machine to determine that the game stop flag has been set to ON, i.e., that the complete function has been activated.

[0131] In this embodiment, if the difference in the number of balls derived using out balls and safe balls exceeds a specific threshold (100,000), a complete error is immediately set except during a big win or small win game. On the other hand, if the case is during a big win or small win game, a complete error is set when the win game ends. In particular, in this embodiment, there is no negative value for the difference in the number of balls, but since the initial value of the safe balls is 5000, it can be said that the difference in the number of balls can actually have a value up to minus 5000. The initial value may be set to any value (a value determined for each gaming machine) depending on the performance of the gaming machine. However, the initial value of the safe balls may be set to zero, just like the initial value of the out balls. In this way, the complete error can be set based on the increase in the number of game balls from the point when the number of game balls has decreased the most during the game (so-called MY).

[0132] <Main control board monitor display mode> Next, the display modes of main control board monitor 97 will be described with reference to Fig. 13. Fig. 13 is a diagram showing the display modes of main control board monitor 97 for different states. As shown in Figure 13, the main control board monitor 97 is composed of four 7-segment displays (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as "7-seg") arranged consecutively horizontally, and a dot-shaped LED is provided at the bottom right of each 7-segment, so that when displaying each piece of information, the information is displayed right-justified.

[0133] Specifically, an error code that identifies the error that has occurred (corresponding to the error that has occurred) is displayed using the rightmost 7-segment display and the second 7-segment display from the right. For example, when a complete error occurs, "E3" is displayed on the main control board monitor 97.

[0134] Next, the display of the base value in this embodiment is realized by displaying information such as "bL." indicating that the base value is being displayed using the leftmost 7-segment display, the second 7-segment display from the left, and a dot-shaped LED at the bottom right of the second 7-segment display from the left, and displaying the base value itself using the second 7-segment display from the right, the rightmost 7-segment display, and a dot-shaped LED at the bottom right of the rightmost 7-segment display. For example, if the base value derived for the current section is 30, "bL.30" will be displayed on the main control board monitor 97, which is a combination of "bL." indicating that it is the base value for the current section and "30" indicating the base value itself. If the display object is the base value derived in the previous interval, "b1." indicating that it is the base value related to the previous interval is displayed using the leftmost 7-segment, the second 7-segment from the left, and the dot-shaped LEDs at the bottom right of the second 7-segment from the left, if the display object is the base value derived in the interval before last, "b2." indicating that it is the base value related to the interval before last, if the display object is the base value derived in the interval before last, "b3." indicating that it is the base value related to the interval before last. Furthermore, if the base value exceeds 100 in any section, "99." is displayed using the second 7-segment display from the right, the rightmost 7-segment display, and the dot-shaped LED at the bottom right of the rightmost 7-segment display.

[0135] Also, although not shown in the figures, in this embodiment, as described above, the base value being derived (being derived) in the current section, the base value derived in the previous section, the base value derived in the section before the previous section, and the base value derived in the section before that are displayed on the main control board monitor 97 in this order, with an interval period in between, and the interval period is 500 ms.

[0136] <Display status of the main control board monitor when an error occurs> Next, the transition of the display mode of the main control board monitor 97 when an error occurs while displaying the base value will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 14(a) is a diagram showing the transition in the display mode of the main control board monitor 97 when an error other than a complete error occurs while the base value is being displayed, and Figure 14(b) is a diagram showing the transition in the display mode of the main control board monitor 97 when a complete error occurs while the base value is being displayed.

[0137] As shown in Figure 14(a), when an error other than a complete error occurs while the base value is being displayed, the base value that had been displayed up until then becomes hidden, and an error code that can identify the error that has occurred begins to be displayed.

[0138] As shown in Figure 14(b), when a complete error occurs while the base value is being displayed, the base value that had been displayed up until then becomes hidden, and an error code that can identify the error that has occurred begins to be displayed, similar to the process shown in Figure 14(a).

[0139] In this way, in this embodiment, when an error occurs while displaying the base value, regardless of the type of error, the displayed base value is hidden and an error code that can identify the error that has occurred is displayed. Although not mentioned in the above explanation, in this embodiment, there are errors other than those mentioned above that do not result in the display of an error code related to the main control board monitor 97 (for example, a right-hit error that occurs when the gate sensor 74 detects a game ball three times during normal times (low probability of special game and low probability of normal game), or a full tank error that occurs when a game ball is detected by the full tank detection sensor), and when an error that does not result in the display of an error code occurs, the display of the base value is maintained.

[0140] <Display state of the main control board monitor when an error is cleared> Next, the transition of the display mode of the main control board monitor 97 when an error is cleared will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 15(a) is a diagram showing the transition in the display mode of the main control board monitor 97 when an error other than a complete error is cleared, and Figure 15(b) is a diagram showing the transition in the display mode of the main control board monitor 97 when a complete error is cleared.

[0141] As shown in FIG. 15(a), when an error other than a complete error is resolved, the error code that can identify the error disappears and the display of the base value begins.

[0142] On the other hand, when the complete error is cleared, the error code that can identify the error is hidden, and the display of the base value begins when time t1 (15,000 ms in this embodiment) has elapsed from the time when the error code was hidden (the time when the complete error was cleared). In this embodiment, during the period from the timing when the display is turned off to time t1, all of the LEDs (including segments) that make up the main control board monitor 97 are turned off.

[0143] In this embodiment, as described above, when a complete error occurs while the base value is being displayed, the displayed base value is hidden and an error code that identifies the complete error begins to be displayed, and when the complete error is subsequently resolved, the display of the base value begins at a time later than the time when the error code became hidden. According to this, by starting to display the base value at a timing later than the timing at which the complete error is cleared, it is possible to make it easier for a person who is concentrating on an operation related to clearing the complete error (operation of the power switch 40 or RAM clear switch 43) to recognize that the complete error has been cleared. This is because the moment when the display of the base value starts is more memorable than when the display of the base value continues.

[0144] In this embodiment, the base value is hidden if a complete error occurs while the base value is being displayed. However, this is not a limitation for achieving this effect. For example, information indicating that the base value is being displayed may be displayed using the leftmost 7-segment display, the second-from-the-left 7-segment display, and a dot-shaped LED at the bottom right of the second-from-the-left 7-segment display, while an error code may be displayed using the second-from-the-right 7-segment display and the rightmost 7-segment display, thereby replacing part of the base value display with the error code. Alternatively, the interval period when switching the displayed base value range may be filled with an error code display, thereby limiting the display of the base value without hiding the base value. This also applies when an error other than a complete error occurs. Furthermore, the same applies to each of the inventions described below.

[0145] Furthermore, in this embodiment, during the period from when the error code related to the complete error is no longer displayed until time t1 has elapsed, all of the LEDs constituting the main control board monitor 97 are turned off, but this is not limited to this. That is, if the lighting pattern of the LEDs constituting the main control board monitor 97 during this period does not match any of the lighting patterns used when displaying the error code or base value, some or all of the LEDs constituting the main control board monitor 97 may be turned on during this period.

[0146] Therefore, in the gaming machine 10, the specific error state (complete error) is configured to be reversible by operation, and the display control means (main control board 100) is capable of displaying the base value on the display monitor (main control board monitor 97), and with regard to the display of the base value, when a specific error state is set (when a complete error occurs), a predetermined restriction is imposed on the display of the base value, and when the specific error state is subsequently released, the base value is displayed without the predetermined restriction from a first timing (when time t1 has elapsed) after the timing of the release of the specific error state; or, in other words, when a specific error state is set, the base value is hidden, and when the specific error state is subsequently released, the base value is displayed from a first timing after the timing of the release of the specific error state.

[0147] In particular, in this embodiment, as described above, base values ​​are derived by dividing into multiple intervals (current interval, previous interval, previous-previous interval, previous-previous interval), and the base values ​​for these intervals are displayed on the main control board monitor 97 by switching them sequentially with interval periods in between, and the length of time t1 (15,000 ms) is made longer than the length of the interval period (500 ms). This makes it easy to distinguish between the base values ​​in the multiple sections, while also making it easy to recognize that the complete error has been resolved.

[0148] Therefore, in the gaming machine 10, the specific error state (complete error) is configured to be reversible by operation, and the display control means (main control board 100) is capable of sequentially switching between multiple base values ​​derived in each of multiple derivation periods and displaying them on the display monitor (main control board monitor 97), with an interval period in between during which the base value is not displayed. With regard to the display of the base value, when a specific error state is set, a predetermined restriction is imposed on the display of the base value, and when the specific error state is subsequently released, the base value is displayed without the predetermined restriction from a predetermined timing (when time t1 has elapsed) after the timing at which the specific error state is released; alternatively, when a specific error state is set, the base value is hidden, and when the specific error state is subsequently released, the base value is displayed from a predetermined timing after the timing at which the specific error state is released, and the period from when the specific error state is resolved to the predetermined timing is longer than the interval period.

[0149] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when a complete error occurs in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, the game is stopped, and the base value is not derived. This allows for a more accurate base value to be derived.

[0150] Therefore, in the gaming machine 10, the specific error state (complete error) is configured to be reversible by operation, and the display control means (main control board 100) is capable of displaying the base value on the display monitor in a predetermined display mode, and with regard to the display of the base value, when a specific error state is set, a predetermined restriction is imposed on the display of the base value, and when the specific error state is subsequently released, the base value is displayed without the predetermined restriction from a predetermined timing (when time t1 has elapsed) after the timing of the release of the specific error state, or when a specific error state is set, the base value is hidden, and when the specific error state is subsequently released, the base value is displayed from a predetermined timing after the timing of the release of the specific error state, and in other words, when a specific error state is set in the first gaming state (special chart variation pattern derivation state PA), the base value derivation means (base value update processing described later) does not derive a base value until the specific error state is released.

[0151] Furthermore, as described above, in this embodiment, when an error other than a complete error is resolved, the error code that can identify the error is hidden and the display of the base value begins. According to this, the timing at which the display of the base value begins when a complete error is cleared is later than the timing at which the display of the base value begins when an error other than a complete error is cleared, thereby enhancing the effect of making it easier to recognize that the above-mentioned complete error has been cleared. In order to achieve this effect, the timing at which the display of the base value begins when an error other than a complete error is cleared does not matter, as long as it is earlier than the timing at which the display of the base value begins when a complete error is cleared, based on the timing at which the error is cleared. Furthermore, it is sufficient that such a timing relationship is satisfied for at least some of the errors other than the complete error.

[0152] Therefore, in the gaming machine 10, when a predetermined error state (an error other than a complete error) different from a specific error state (a complete error) is set, the display control means (main control board 100) imposes a predetermined restriction on the display of the base value with respect to the display of the base value, and when the specific error state is subsequently released, the display of the base value is made without the predetermined restriction from the second timing, or when a specific error state is set, the display of the base value is made without the predetermined restriction from the second timing when the specific error state is subsequently released, and in other words, the second timing is a timing earlier than the first timing, based on the release of the corresponding error state from the specific error state and the predetermined error state.

[0153] In addition, the above-mentioned security signal may be turned ON for part or all of the period from the time the complete error is cleared until time t1 has elapsed.If configured in this manner, it will be possible for equipment outside the gaming machine (such as a data display or hall computer) to identify that the complete error has been cleared.

[0154] <If an error occurs during the interval period> Next, the transition of the display mode of the main control board monitor 97 when an error occurs during an interval period, that is, while the base value is not displayed, will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 16(a) is a diagram showing the flow of switching the base value for each interval, Figure 16(b) is a diagram showing the transition in the display mode of the main control board monitor 97 when an error occurs during a non-interval period (when the base value is displayed), and Figure 16(c) is a diagram showing the transition in the display mode of the main control board monitor 97 when an error occurs during an interval period (when the base value is not displayed).

[0155] As shown in FIG. 16(a), when the base value is displayed for a certain period of time (1000 ms in this embodiment), the base value for the next period is displayed after an interval period of time t2 (500 ms in this embodiment). As shown in Figure 16(b), when an error occurs during a non-interval period, i.e., a period other than the interval period where the base value is displayed, the base value that had been displayed up until then becomes hidden, and an error code that can identify the error that has occurred begins to be displayed, as explained using Figure 14.

[0156] On the other hand, if an error state occurs during the interval period, i.e., the period during which the base value is not displayed, as shown in Figure 16(c), the base value will be hidden and an error code that can identify the error that has occurred will begin to be displayed at time t3 (500 ms in this embodiment) after the end of the interval period.

[0157] In this manner, in this embodiment, when a complete error occurs during an interval period, while the base value is being displayed after the interval period has elapsed, the base value is hidden and an error code that can identify the complete error begins to be displayed. This makes it easier to distinguish between the base values ​​in multiple sections by setting an interval period, while also making it easier to recognize that a complete error has occurred when the complete error occurs during the interval period.

[0158] In order to achieve this effect, as in this embodiment, regardless of the type of error, the display may be switched from displaying the base value to displaying the error code, as shown in Figure 16(c), or this control may be limited to only when a complete error occurs. In addition, in some cases where a complete error occurs during an interval period, while the base value is being displayed after the interval period has elapsed, the base value may be hidden and an error code that can identify the complete error may be displayed.

[0159] Therefore, in the gaming machine 10, the base value derivation means (the base value update process described later) derives the base value over multiple derivation periods, and the display control means (main control board 100) can sequentially switch between and display the multiple base values ​​derived in each of the multiple derivation periods, separated by interval periods during which the base value is not displayed; in other words, when the difference in the number of balls during the interval period exceeds a specific threshold value (100,000) and a specific error state is set, a specific restriction can be imposed on the display of the base value while it is being displayed after the interval period has elapsed, or the base value can be hidden while it is being displayed after the interval period has elapsed.

[0160] <Regarding the timing of base value update processing> Next, the execution timing of the base value update process for updating (deriving) the base value will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 17 is a flow chart showing the execution timing of the base value update process in the process related to the main control board 100. Here, the base value update process is a process for updating the base value, and in this process, the base value (for the current section) is updated using the acquired out balls and safe balls when the game is playable and in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA.

[0161] 17, in the processing related to the main control board 100, the base value update processing (step S4) is executed after the game stop flag setting processing related to the above-mentioned complete function (step S1) and the complete error setting processing (step S2) have been executed. If it is determined that a complete error has occurred by the determination processing (step S3) that determines whether or not a complete error has occurred, the base value update processing (step S4) is not executed, and the processing related to the main control board 100 from step S4 onwards is executed. Therefore, if a complete error is set by the complete error setting process executed earlier, the base value is not updated. In other words, when a complete error occurs, the base value is hidden and an error code that can identify the complete error is displayed before the base value that reflects the safe ball that triggered the complete error is displayed (without the safe ball being reflected in the base value). According to this, when a complete error occurs, the base value is hidden before it is updated, making it easier to recognize that a complete error has occurred.

[0162] Therefore, in the gaming machine 10, at a specific time in the first gaming state (special chart variation pattern derivation state PA) when the difference in the number of balls due to a safe ball related to the game ball entering the winning port becomes equal to or exceeds a specific threshold value (100,000), the base value derivation means (base value update process) reflects the safe ball in the derivation of the base value, and the display control means (main control board 100) at the specific time imposes a specified restriction on the display of the base value before displaying the base value reflecting the safe ball related to the specific time, or hides the base value before displaying the base value reflecting the safe ball related to the specific time.

[0163] <Other variations> Modifications not mentioned in the above description are listed below.

[0164] First, any value may be adopted as the threshold value related to the above-described complete function and the threshold value (prescribed number) related to the acquisition notification, as long as the magnitude relationship in this embodiment is maintained.

[0165] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the complete function control means 190 that controls the complete function was a functional configuration possessed by the main control board 100, but part or all of the functional configuration that controls the complete function may be realized by a separate board (including a board that is not built into the gaming machine 10) that is provided separately from the main control board 100. In this case, information transmission from the separate board to the first sub-control board 200 may be performed by connecting the separate board to the main control board 100 so that information can be transmitted from the main control board to the first sub-control board 200, or by directly connecting the separate board to the first sub-control board 200.

[0166] In addition, the gaming machine 10 according to this embodiment employs a so-called one-type two-type hybrid machine that can derive both a big hit and a small hit that can result in a big hit game in determining whether or not the special chart has been hit, but it is not limited to this, and it is also possible to employ one that can derive only a so-called two-type hit.

[0167] In addition, in each special chart variation pattern derivation state, if the special chart variation pattern is determined using the special chart variation pattern lottery table shown in Figures 9 to 11, the special chart variation pattern may be determined using another special chart variation pattern lottery table, or the special chart variation pattern may be determined without using the special chart variation pattern lottery table (without drawing lots). However, in each special chart variation pattern derivation state, it is preferable that the special chart variation pattern is determined using the special chart variation pattern lottery table shown in Figures 9 to 11 for more than half of the period during which the special chart variation pattern derivation state continues.

[0168] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as long as the relationship between the probability, rate, frequency, and number of times is ensured, the smaller value may be 0, and the larger value may be the maximum value. In particular, as long as the phenomenon aspect is ensured, the control for realizing the rate can be any. Furthermore, each lottery value in the lottery table illustrated in this embodiment is an example, and as long as the magnitude relationship between the lottery tables is maintained, each lottery value may adopt any value within the range.

[0169] In the above explanation, the restoration state at the time of power recovery is determined by referring to the state of the RAM clear switch 43 at the time of power recovery, but it may also be determined by referring to whether the time that the RAM clear switch 43 has been in the ON state since power recovery exceeds a specified time (for example, 3 seconds). In this way, it is possible to further prevent erroneous RAM clear processing from occurring.

[0170] In addition, in the above explanation, the state of the middle frame door open sensor 76 (the open / closed state of the middle frame 17) was referenced when determining the recovery state upon power restoration, but the recovery state may be set without reference to this state. In this case, the recovery state upon power restoration may be uniformly set according to the case where the middle frame door open sensor 76 is ON (the middle frame 17 is open).

[0171] The present invention described above is not limited to the above description, and includes various modifications and improvements as long as the object of the present invention is achieved.

[0172] <Additional Notes> The present embodiment encompasses the following technical idea. (1) A gaming machine in which game balls can be used by firing them, and when a game ball enters a prize opening, a number of game balls corresponding to the prize opening are awarded, As gaming states in which a symbol variation can be performed, there are a first gaming state and a second gaming state which is more advantageous than the first gaming state, a base value deriving means for deriving a base value which is a ratio of safe balls, which are the number of awarded game balls relating to the winning, to out balls, which are the number of game balls used in the first game state; A completion means for setting a specific error state based on the difference in the number of balls derived using the out balls and the safe balls being equal to or greater than a specific threshold value; a display monitor visible from the rear of the gaming machine; a display control means for controlling the display monitor; Equipped with The specific error state is configured to be releasable by an operation, The display control means The base value can be displayed on the display monitor; Regarding the display of the base value, When the specific error state is set, a predetermined restriction is imposed on the display of the base value, and when the specific error state is subsequently released, the base value is displayed without the predetermined restriction from a first timing that is later than the timing of release of the specific error state. Alternatively, when the specific error state is set, the base value is hidden, and when the specific error state is subsequently released, the base value is displayed from a first timing that is later than the timing at which the specific error state is released. A gaming machine characterized by: (2) The gaming machine described in (1) above, The display control means Regarding the display of the base value, when a predetermined error state different from the specific error state is set, the predetermined restriction is imposed on the display of the base value, and when the specific error state is subsequently released, the base value is displayed without imposing the predetermined restriction from a second timing; Alternatively, when the specific error state is set, the base value is hidden, and when the specific error state is subsequently released, the base value is displayed from a second timing, the second timing is a timing earlier than the first timing, based on the release of the corresponding error state from the specific error state and the predetermined error state. A gaming machine characterized by: (3) The gaming machine according to (1) or (2) above, the base value derivation means derives the base value over a plurality of derivation periods; The display control means The plurality of base values ​​derived in the plurality of derivation periods can be displayed by sequentially switching the display with an interval period in between during which the base values ​​are not displayed, When the difference in the number of balls becomes equal to or greater than the specific threshold during the interval period and the specific error state is set, the predetermined restriction may be imposed on the display of the base value during the display of the base value after the lapse of the interval period; Alternatively, the base value may be hidden while the base value is being displayed after the interval period has elapsed. A gaming machine characterized by: [Explanation of symbols]

[0173] 10 Gaming machines 15 Outer Frame 17 Middle Frame 20 Front frame 21 Hinge mechanism 22 Movable Decorations 23 Cylinder lock 25 Transparent materials 27 Upper ball tray 29 Lower ball tray 31 Operating handle 32 Upper frame part 33(33a, 33b) Speaker 34a, 34b Left and right side frame parts 35(35a, 35b, 35c) Frame Lamp 36 Ball removal mechanism 37 Production button 38 Cursor Button 38a Up cursor button 38b Down cursor button 38c Left cursor button 38d Right cursor button 38e Middle cursor button 39 Main operation section 39a Ball loan button 39b Return button 40 Power switch 43 RAM clear switch 45 Opening and closing cover 46 Game Ball Tank 47 Tank rail 48 Dispensing Unit 49 Dispensing aisle 50 Game Board 50a Gaming area 51 outer rail 52 Windmill 53 Inner rail 54 Protective material 55 Grand Prize Winner 57 First starting point 59 Second starting point 61 Normal electric device 62 Ordinary electric accessory solenoid Gate 63 65 Special Electric Devices 66 Special electric accessory solenoid 67 General Prize Winning Entrance 67a Left general entrance gate 67b Right general prize entrance 69 Outlet 70 First starting port sensor 71 Second starting port sensor 72 Large prize entrance sensor 73 General prize entry sensor 74 Gate Sensor 75 Out ball sensor 76 Middle frame door open sensor 77 Front frame door open sensor 80 Performance display device 81 Main display 82 Sub display 82a Upper sub display 82b Left sub-display 82c Right sub display 90 Pattern display device 91 First special pattern display device 92 Second special pattern display device 93 Ordinary pattern display device 94 1st special pattern reserved lamp 95 2nd special pattern reserved lamp 96 Normal pattern hold lamp 97 Main control board monitor 100 Main control board 101 CPU 102 ROM 103 RAM 104 I / O ports 105 Random Number Circuit 109 Main control board case 110 Ball entrance determination method 115 Main random number generator 120 Main Hold Control Means 125 Preliminary Judgment Measures 130 Special drawing lottery method 131 Special drawing validity determination means 132 Special stop pattern lottery means 133 Special chart variation pattern derivation means 135 General lottery method 140 Jackpot game control means 145 Pattern display control means 150 Electrical equipment control means 155 Game status control means 160 Main information storage means 165 Main Error Control Measures 170 Main Command Management Method 175 Power restoration processing execution means 176 Return state setting means 179 Means for transitioning to playable state 180 Power cut processing execution means 190 Complete function control means 200 1st sub-control board 201 CPU 202 ROM 203 RAM 204 I / O ports 209 1st sub-control board case 210 Sub-random number generator 220 Normal performance control means 221 Presentation mode control means 222 Production Route Determination Method 223 Sub-hold control means 224 Predictive performance control means 225 Means for determining production content 226 Decorative pattern control means 227 Jackpot performance control means 230 Sub-error Control Measures 240 Lamp control means 245 Movable equipment control means 260 Sub-information storage means 270 Subcommand Management Method 300 Second sub-control board 301 CPU 302 ROM 303 RAM 304 I / O ports 309 Second sub-control board case 310 Voice control board 311 CPU 312 ROM 313 RAM 314 I / O ports 400 Dispensing control board 409 Dispensing control board case 500 Power Control Board 501 Normal power circuit 502 Backup power circuit 503 Power interruption detection circuit 509 Power supply control board case 811 Display area 812 Display area 813 Display area X First flow path Y Second flow path

Claims

[Claim 1] A gaming machine has a display monitor that displays values ​​relating to increases and decreases in gaming media, and stops gaming when an MY value, which is an increase in gaming media from the point at which the gaming media has decreased the most, becomes equal to or exceeds a specific threshold value, The game stop state is configured to be releasable by operation, When a gaming stop state is set based on the MY value being equal to or greater than the specific threshold value, a predetermined restriction is imposed on the display of the value, and when the gaming stop state is subsequently released, the value can be displayed without the predetermined restriction from a predetermined timing after the release timing of the gaming stop state, When the MY value is equal to or greater than the specific threshold value due to the provision of game media, the number of game media provided is reflected in the derivation of the value, and when the game is stopped at the specific time, the derivation of the value is not performed; At the specific time, before the value reflecting the number of game media awarded at the specific time is displayed, the predetermined restriction may be imposed on the display of the value. A gaming machine characterized by:

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