gaming machines

Abstract

To provide a game machine that can realize various game properties by performing control related to an instruction function.SOLUTION: Operation modes of multiple stop buttons include a first operation mode and a second operation mode different from the first operation mode. In an AT shift winning assistance, an operation mode suggesting the first operation mode and the second operation mode is notified. When the AT shift winning assistance is executed and the multiple stop buttons are operated in the first operation mode (YES in steps S6, S8), it is possible to shift to an AT state. When the AT shift winning assistance is executed and the multiple stop buttons are operated in the second operation mode (YES in step S6, NO in step S8), it is possible to impart AT points different from the shift to an AT state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, gaming machines (slot machines) equipped with multiple reels with symbols arranged on their outer peripheries have been known. These types of gaming machines assign a certain gaming value to gaming media such as medals or pachinko balls, and players play to acquire these gaming media. Furthermore, these types of gaming machines perform an internal lottery and start the rotation of the multiple reels when the player initiates a spin operation, and stop the multiple reels in a manner corresponding to the results of the internal lottery when the player initiates a stop operation. The game result is determined by the symbol combination displayed on a winning determination line when the multiple reels are stopped, and medals or other items are paid out according to the game result.

[0003] In the gaming machine described above, a configuration is known in which the probability of winning a winning role can be changed by transitioning to an assist time state, which is a presentation state that executes a winning assistance presentation that assists in the winning of a winning role, thereby making it easier to acquire gaming value (for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-245157 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In recent years, there has been a demand for gaming machines to provide a variety of playability using control related to instruction functions, including assist time states, in order to increase players' interest in the game and improve the marketability of the gaming machine.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that can realize a variety of gameplay features through control related to instruction functions. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention relates to a reel system including: Multiple stop buttons and an internal lottery means for performing an internal lottery; an operation notification means for notifying an operation mode of the plurality of stop buttons, In the internal lottery, the success or failure of multiple winning patterns is determined, The plurality of winning modes includes a plurality of specific winning modes, The specific winning mode is associated with a double win of a small win of a first payout and a small win of a second payout, The first payout is set to a payout higher than the second payout, the operation modes of the plurality of stop buttons include a first operation mode and a second operation mode different from the first operation mode, The plurality of specific winning modes include a first specific winning mode and a second specific winning mode, When the first specific winning mode is won, if the plurality of stop buttons are operated in the first operation mode, a small win of the first payout can be won, and if the plurality of stop buttons are operated in the second operation mode, a small win of the second payout can be won; When the second specific winning mode is won, if the plurality of stop buttons are operated in the second operation mode, the small combination of the first payout can be won, and if the plurality of stop buttons are operated in the first operation mode, the small combination of the second payout can be won, The operation notification means If you win one of the multiple specific winning modes, A specific operation notification can be executed, In the specific operation notification, the first operation mode The first stop button to operate in and the second operation mode. The first stop button to operate in An operation mode suggesting the above is notified, When the specific operation notification is executed and the plurality of stop buttons are operated in the first operation mode, a first specific benefit related to an instruction function can be granted; When the specific operation notification is executed and the plurality of stop buttons are operated in the second operation manner, a second specific benefit related to an instruction function different from the first specific benefit can be granted. the law of nature , When the specific operation notification is executed and a stop button different from the stop button suggested in the specific operation notification is operated first, the granting of a benefit related to an instruction function based on an operation on a stop button different from the stop button suggested in the specific operation notification is not executed. It is characterized by: [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a gaming machine that can realize a variety of gameplay features by controlling the instruction function. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view showing the external configuration of a gaming machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram illustrating the functional blocks of a gaming machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing winning areas that can be won by internal lottery in the gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention, winning roles included in each winning area, and whether or not a favorable zone lottery will be held. [Figure 4] (A) is a state transition diagram of the game state in the gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention, and (B) is a transition diagram relating to the normal area and advantageous area controlled by the AT control means, and the presentation state during the advantageous area. [Figure 5] This figure shows the winning combinations that can be won in each batting order when winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" and winning area "Replay 3" are won in the gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is a flowchart showing AT preparation state processing in a gaming machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] A figure showing the display mode of winning assistance when AT transition winning assistance is executed in the gaming machine of the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart showing AT preparation state processing in a gaming machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 9 is a flowchart showing a process relating to the AT state transition executed in the AT preparation state process shown in FIG. 8. [Figure 10] (A) is a diagram showing the display mode of the winning assistance when the AT transition winning assistance is executed in the AT preparation state transitioned from the AT state in the gaming machine of the second embodiment of the present invention, and (B) is a diagram showing the display mode when a game is executed in accordance with the AT transition winning assistance. [Figure 11](A) is a figure showing the display mode of the winning assistance when the AT transition winning assistance is executed in the AT preparation state transitioned from the CZ state in the gaming machine of the second embodiment of the present invention, and (B) is a figure showing the display mode when play is executed in accordance with the AT transition winning assistance. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] [First embodiment] A first embodiment will be described below. Note that the first embodiment described below does not unduly limit the content of the present invention described in the claims. Furthermore, not all of the configurations described in the first embodiment are necessarily essential components of the present invention.

[0011] 1. Overview of the gaming machine configuration 1 is a front view showing the external configuration of a slot machine 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The slot machine 1 according to the first embodiment is a so-called reel-type gaming machine, which is a gaming machine of the type in which games are played using medals as gaming media.

[0012] The slot machine 1 of the first embodiment accommodates a reel unit 310 (see FIG. 2) consisting of a plurality of reels, left reel R1 to right reel R3, in a box-shaped cabinet made up of a cabinet BX, an upper front door UD, and a lower front door DD. A hopper unit 320 (see FIG. 2) serving as a medal dispensing device is also accommodated below the reel unit 310 in the cabinet. The cabinet of the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment also accommodates a control board equipped with a CPU, ROM (an example of an information storage medium), RAM, etc., for controlling the operation of the slot machine 1.

[0013] The outer periphery of each of the left reel R1 to right reel R3 shown in Figure 1 is divided into 20 areas (hereinafter, each area will be referred to as a "frame") at regular intervals, and one of several types of patterns is arranged in each frame.

[0014] The upper front door UD and the lower front door DD are provided so that they can be opened and closed separately. The upper front door UD is provided with a display device 330 as a display means for displaying effects consisting of various videos and images to assist and enhance the game. The display device 330 has a display area 330a for displaying images, and a specific area 330b facing the left reels R1 to R3 is made up of a transparent liquid crystal display, so that the spinning and stopped states of the left reels R1 to R3 can be observed through the display device 330. When the left reels R1 to R3 are stopped, three consecutive symbols (top, middle, and bottom symbols) among the multiple types of symbols arranged at regular intervals on the outer periphery of each of the left reels R1 to R3 can be observed from the front of the slot machine 1 through the display device 330.

[0015] In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, each reel is provided with an upper, middle, and lower display positions for observing symbols through the display device 330, and an activated line L1 is set for an activated line formed by a combination of the display positions of each reel. In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the number of medals required for one game, the so-called specified insertion number, is set to three in any game state, and when medals equivalent to the specified insertion number are inserted, the activated line L1 formed by the lower row of the left reel R1, the middle row of the center reel R2, and the upper row of the right reel R3 is activated.

[0016] The game result is determined by the symbol combination that stops and is displayed on the valid line L1 (valid line), and if the symbol combination on the valid line L1 is a symbol combination that corresponds to a predetermined role, that role is considered to have won and medals are paid out from the hopper unit 320.

[0017] The upper front door UD is provided with a main control display device DS consisting of a 7-segment display. The main control display device DS displays various game information such as the number of medal credits, the number of medals paid out or won in one game, the total number of medals paid out or won in bonus mode, information on the winning combination in the current game, and information (alert display) suggesting how to press stop buttons B1, B2, and B3 related to medal payout. The alert display shown on the main control display device DS corresponds to a winning combination command, which is a control signal created based on winning information, which is information on the winning combination in the current game, when the specified number of medals are inserted and the start lever SL is operated.

[0018] The front lower door DD is provided with various operating means, such as a max bet button MB for inserting a specified number of medals as inserting operation means for inserting credited (stored) medals, a start lever SL for starting a game as a game start operation means for allowing a player to perform a start operation that triggers the spinning of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 to start a game, stop buttons B1 to B3 for stopping the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 that are driven to rotate by a stepping motor as a stop operation means for allowing a player to perform a stop operation that triggers the stop of each of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3, and a settlement button BS for settling credited medals.

[0019] In addition, the front lower door DD is provided with a plurality of sound devices 340 for producing sound effects. The sound devices 340 output various sounds to assist and liven up the game.

[0020] In addition, a medal payout outlet MO and a medal tray MP are provided at the bottom of the front lower door DD, and medals in a number corresponding to the results of a game are paid out from the medal payout outlet MO to the medal tray MP. In addition, when the settlement button BS is pressed while credited medals are stored in the gaming machine, pressing the settlement button BS executes a settlement process in which medals in a number corresponding to the number of credits (number of credited medals) are paid out from the hopper unit 320, and the medals are paid out from the medal payout outlet MO to the medal tray MP.

[0021] 2 is a functional block diagram of the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment. The slot machine 1 of the first embodiment is controlled by game control means 10 as a control board. The game control means 10 receives input signals from input means such as a medal insertion switch 210, a bet switch 220, a start switch 230, a stop switch 240, a setting change switch 250, and a reset switch 260 as a plurality of operation detection means, performs various calculations for executing a game, and controls the operation of output means such as the performance device 300, the reel unit 310, the hopper unit 320, and the main control display device DS based on the calculation results.

[0022] The game control means 10 also includes setting change means 100, input acceptance means 105, random number generation means 110, internal lottery means 120, reel control means 130, winning determination means 140, payout control means 150, replay processing means 160, game state transition control means 170, presentation control means 180, storage means 190, and assist time control means (AT control means) 200. Each means constituting the game control means 10 reads out and executes each control program pre-stored in the storage means 190 when executing each control process.

[0023] The setting change means 100 controls (controls setting change) changing the setting values ​​stored in the setting value storage means 191 of the storage means 190. When the setting change switch 250 is in the ON state and setting change is permitted, the setting change means 100 cyclically changes the setting value in the order of Setting 1 → Setting 2 → . . . → Setting 6 → Setting 1 → . . . each time it receives an input signal output from a reset switch 260 provided in the power supply device, and determines the setting value when it receives a start signal output from the start switch 230 in response to operation of the start lever SL. In the slot machine 1, the winning probability of some of the winning areas among the winning areas that can be won in the internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120 is changed according to the setting value determined in the setting value storage means 191. In other words, the setting change means 100 is configured to be able to change the setting value, which is a value that can change the winning probability of a winning combination in the internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120.

[0024] In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, when the setting change control is executed by the setting change means 100, the control relating to the game state executed by the game state transition control means 170 and the control relating to the advantageous zone executed by the AT control means 200 are configured to be initialized, the game state is set to a non-replay time (hereinafter, replay time is also referred to as "RT") state described later, and the control relating to the auxiliary game executed by the AT control means 200 before the setting change is also initialized and a normal zone is set. On the other hand, in the slot machine 1, when the supply of power to the game control means 10 is cut off (power interruption) and then the supply of power is resumed, the control relating to the game state executed by the game state transition control means 170 and the control relating to the advantageous zone executed by the AT control means 200 are configured to be resumed from the state before the power interruption, and the control relating to the auxiliary game executed by the AT control means 200 before the power interruption is also configured to be maintained in the state before the power interruption.

[0025] When a medal is inserted into the medal insertion slot MI (see Figure 1) and the medal insertion switch 210 is activated during the insertion acceptance period for accepting the insertion of medals, the insertion acceptance means 105 sets the inserted medal to an inserted state, and when the bet switch 220 is activated, in which a bet operation is performed by pressing the max bet button MB when the medals are credited, the insertion acceptance means 105 sets the credited medals to an inserted state up to the specified insertion number (3 medals), and performs processing to enable the game start operation on the start lever SL based on the fact that medals equivalent to the specified insertion number have been set to the inserted state.

[0026] In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the first pressing of the start lever SL, which is activated based on the insertion of the specified number of medals, is accepted as the player's operation to start the game, and serves as an opportunity to start the rotation of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3, as well as an opportunity for the internal lottery means 120, which will be described later, to execute an internal lottery.

[0027] The random number generation means 110 is a means for generating random numbers for lotteries. In the first embodiment, the term "random number" includes not only values ​​that are generated randomly in a mathematical sense, but also values ​​that may be generated regularly but whose acquisition timing is irregular, and therefore may function as random numbers.

[0028] The internal lottery means 120 is a means for conducting an internal lottery to determine whether a winning combination will be achieved based on the start signal output when the player performs a start operation on the start lever SL and the start switch 230 detects the start operation, and performs lottery table selection processing, random number determination processing, lottery flag setting processing, etc.

[0029] In the lottery table selection process, an internal lottery table to be used for the internal lottery is selected based on the current game state from among the multiple internal lottery tables stored in the internal lottery table storage means 192 of the storage means 190. In each internal lottery table, various roles such as replay, small role, and bonus, and non-win (loss) are associated with each of multiple random numbers (for example, 65,536 random numbers from 0 to 65,535).

[0030] In the following description, a bonus means a role that activates a reel or a reel continuous operation device when won, a bonus being activated means that a bonus is won and activates a reel or a reel continuous operation device, and a bonus state means that the reel or reel continuous operation device is activated.

[0031] In the random number determination process, a random number (random number for lottery) generated by the random number generation means 110 is obtained for each game based on the start signal output from the start switch 230, and the obtained random number is compared with the internal lottery table selected in the lottery table selection process, and it is determined based on the comparison result whether or not a winning combination has been achieved.

[0032] In the lottery flag setting process, based on the result of the random number determination process, the lottery flag corresponding to the winning combination is set from a non-established state (first flag state, OFF state) to a established state (second flag state, ON state). In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, when two or more types of combinations are simultaneously won, the lottery flags corresponding to the two or more types of combinations are set to an established state. Note that the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment provides a lottery flag (carry-over flag) whose established state can be carried over to the next game or thereafter until a prize is won, and a lottery flag (non-carry-over flag) that is reset to an unestablished state without carrying over to the next game or thereafter regardless of whether a prize is won. In addition, the setting information of the lottery flag is stored in the lottery flag storage means 193 of the storage means 190.

[0033] The reel control means 130 executes reel rotation control, which starts the rotation of the left reels R1 to R3 and controls the rotation patterns of the left reels R1 to R3, based on a start signal output from the start switch 230, which is activated when the player performs a start operation on the start lever SL. Furthermore, when the left reels R1 to R3 are rotating at a steady speed at a predetermined speed (e.g., approximately 80 rpm), the reel control means 130 executes control to validate a stop operation detected by the stop switch 240 when the stop button B1 to B3 corresponding to each reel is pressed. When a reel stop signal is output from the stop switch 240 that detected the stop operation, the reel control means 130 executes control to stop each of the left reels R1 to R3 corresponding to the stop switch 240 that detected the stop operation (reel stop control).

[0034] In the following description, when the reel control means 130 starts the rotation of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 and the player presses each of the active stop buttons B1 to B3, the first press operation will be referred to as the first stop operation, the second press operation will be referred to as the second stop operation, and the third press operation will be referred to as the third stop operation.

[0035] In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, for the left reel R1 to the right reel R3, the reel that is rotating corresponding to the pressed stop button B1 to B3 is stopped within a predetermined period of 190 ms from the time when the stop button B1 to B3 is pressed (the time when the stop switch 240 detects the stop operation). Here, when the rotating reel is stopped within 190 ms from the time when the stop button is pressed, the stop position of each rotating reel is configured to be able to rotate a maximum of four frames from the time when the stop button is pressed until the reel stops, depending on the diameter and rotation speed of each reel.

[0036] Therefore, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, for the left reel R1 to the right reel R3, a total of five frames, from the frame displayed on the active line L1 at the time the stop button is pressed until four frames have rotated, constitutes the range (pull-in range) in which the pattern can be pulled onto the active line L1.

[0037] When executing reel stop control, the reel control means 130 performs a logic calculation process to determine the stop position of the spinning reel based on a predetermined priority by logic calculation including a pull-in process to stop the spinning reel so that a combination with a lottery flag set to a hit state can be won as much as possible, and a kick-off process to stop the spinning reel so that a combination with a lottery flag set to a non-hit state cannot be won, and a table reference process to determine the stop position of the spinning reel by referring to the stop control table stored in the reel control data storage means 194 of the storage means 190, thereby stopping the spinning reel and displaying a pattern on the pay line L1 (hereinafter, stopping the spinning reel by reel stop control and displaying a pattern on the pay line L1 is also referred to as "stop display").

[0038] In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, when multiple types of small winning combinations are won in the internal lottery, there are two methods for determining the priority of the candidate stop positions: a method for determining the priority according to the number of symbol combinations that can be displayed on the activated line L1 (number priority control), and a method for determining the priority according to the number of medals to be paid out based on the payout predetermined for the small winning combination (number priority control). However, when the number priority control is executed, if multiple small winning combinations with the same payout are won, the priority of the candidate stop positions that can win each small winning combination is treated as being the same.

[0039] The winning determination means 140 performs a winning determination process to determine whether or not a winning combination has been achieved based on the stopping state of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3. Specifically, by referring to the winning determination table stored in the winning determination table storage means 195 of the storage means 190, it is determined whether or not the symbol combination displayed on the pay line L1 when all of the left reel R1 to the right reel R3 have stopped is a winning form for each predetermined winning combination. The winning determination table is prepared so that the presence or absence of a bonus, replay, or small winning combination can be determined (hereinafter referred to as "winning determination") based on the symbol combination displayed on the pay line L1 when each reel has stopped. In the following description, the symbol combination that indicates the winning form of a winning combination will also be referred to as the "winning symbol combination."

[0040] In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, each process is executed based on the determination result of the winning determination process by the winning determination means 140. As the processes executed based on the determination result of the winning combination, for example, when a small combination is won, a process is performed in which the payout control means 150 determines the number of medals to be paid out, when a replay is won, a process is performed in which the replay processing means 160 executes a process in which the next game is played without consuming medals, and when a combination that triggers a transition of the game state, such as a bonus, is won, a process is performed in which the game state transition control means 170 transitions the game state.

[0041] The payout control means 150 performs a payout process for paying out medals according to the game results. Specifically, when a small winning combination is achieved, the payout control means 150 determines the number of medals to be paid out in the game based on the payout amount predetermined for each combination, and controls the hopper unit 320 as a payout device to pay out medals corresponding to the determined number of medals to be paid out.

[0042] The hopper unit 320 performs an operation of paying out the number of medals to be paid out instructed by the payout control means 150. The hopper unit 320 is provided with a payout medal detection switch 325 that is activated each time a medal is paid out. The payout control means 150 is configured to be able to manage the number of medals actually paid out from the hopper unit 320 based on an input signal from the payout medal detection switch 325. Note that when medal credit is permitted, instead of actually paying out medals using the hopper unit 320, a credit addition process is performed in which the payout number is added to the number of credits (number of credited medals) stored in a credit storage area (not shown) of the storage means 190, and medals are virtually paid out.

[0043] When the winning determination means 140 determines that a symbol combination indicating a winning replay among a plurality of types of replay roles described later has been stopped and displayed on the pay line L1, and the replay wins, the replay processing means 160 performs replay processing (replay processing) to set the machine to a ready state in which the next game can be played without inserting medals. That is, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, when the replay wins, an automatic insertion process is performed to automatically insert a specified number of medals without using medals (including credit medals) held by the player, and the machine waits for the start operation of the start lever SL to start the next game, with the same pay line L1 as in the previous game set.

[0044] The game state transition control means 170 performs a process for transitioning game states between multiple game states and a process for activation and termination of bonuses. Here, the transition condition for each game state may be one condition or multiple conditions. When multiple conditions are defined, the game state can be transitioned to another game state when any one of the multiple predetermined conditions is met, or when all of the multiple predetermined conditions are met.

[0045] The presentation control means 180 is capable of receiving various information including commands from each means other than the presentation control means 180 constituting the game control means 10 (setting change means 100, deposit acceptance means 105, random number generation means 110, internal lottery means 120, reel control means 130, winning determination means 140, payout control means 150, replay processing means 160, game state transition control means 170, AT control means 200), and is communicatively connected to enable one-way communication so as to be unable to transmit information to each means other than the presentation control means 180 constituting the game control means 10.Based on the various information (signals, commands) transmitted from each means other than the presentation control means 180 constituting the game control means 10, the presentation control means 180 performs various calculations to execute presentations using the presentation data stored in the presentation control data storage means 196 of the storage means 190, and controls the operation of output means such as the display device 330 and the presentation device 300 including the sound device 340 based on the calculation results.

[0046] The effect control means 180 controls effects related to the game, such as image and video effects using the display device 330 and sound effects using the sound device 340. Specifically, when a player operates each component of the slot machine 1, such as inserting a medal, operating the max bet button MB, the start lever SL, or the stop buttons B1 to B3, or when a game event such as a change in the game state occurs, the effect control means 180 controls the execution of effects to liven up the game or to assist the game by executing effects such as lighting or blinking of lamps and LEDs and sound output from the sound device 340. In addition, the effect control means 180 causes each component of the effect device 300 to execute effects based on each effect state.

[0047] The AT control means 200 uses data stored in the AT control data storage means 197 to control the transition between an advantageous zone (advantageous period), which is a zone (period) during which control related to instruction functions including auxiliary games that display notifications on the main control display device DS to assist in the winning of specific roles, and a normal zone (non-advantageous period), which is a zone (period) during which control related to auxiliary games (control related to instruction functions) based on the results of internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120 cannot be executed, and constitutes an auxiliary game control means that performs control related to the normal zone, advantageous zone, and auxiliary games.

[0048] The AT control data storage means 197 stores data (various flags, counters, etc. that are set to ON or OFF by a specified control process) used in various controls related to multiple types of presentation states, including the AT state (assist time state) and normal state, executed within the advantageous zone.

[0049] The AT control means 200 performs an operation notification to assist in winning a specific role by displaying information (an example of operation instruction information) corresponding to the operation mode of the stop buttons B1 to B3 that makes it possible to win a specific role that has been won on the main control display device DS consisting of a 7-segment display under predetermined conditions in the advantageous zone. Also, in the slot machine 1, when an operation notification is executed by the AT control means 200, a navigation effect is executed by the effect control means 180, which will be described later, to display an indicator corresponding to the operation notification on the display device 330. In the slot machine 1, the operation mode of the stop buttons B1 to B3 is notified by the operation notification and the winning assistance of the navigation effect, so that an auxiliary game (AT game, notification game) that is advantageous to the player is executed.

[0050] More specifically, when a predetermined termination condition for terminating the advantageous zone, which will be described later, is met, the AT control means 200 executes a predetermined termination process that terminates the advantageous zone and starts the normal zone from the next game, and a predetermined initialization process that initializes information related to the advantageous zone, such as various flags and numerical values ​​set within the advantageous zone.

[0051] The AT control means 200 executes a game number update process in which, in a game that has started an advantageous zone, the value "1", which is a value corresponding to one game, is added to the value (stored value) stored in the first advantageous zone counter 197a each time a game is played, and cumulatively increments and updates the stored value of the first advantageous zone counter 197a. Also, the AT control means 200 executes a difference number update process in which the difference value (difference number of medals) obtained by subtracting the number of medals inserted from the number of medals paid out from the game that has started an advantageous zone is cumulatively recorded in the second advantageous zone counter 197b.

[0052] When the AT control means 200 of the first embodiment is controlled to be in a favorable zone, regardless of the game state, it executes a game number update process that cumulatively adds (updates) the value "1", which corresponds to one game, to the stored value of the first favorable zone counter 197a each time a game is played, and a difference number update process that cumulatively updates the stored value of the second favorable zone counter 197b with a value corresponding to the difference in the number of medals.

[0053] Here, in the difference number update process for updating the stored value of the second advantageous zone counter 197b, if the stored value of the second advantageous zone counter 197b becomes less than the value "0" when the stored value of the second advantageous zone counter 197b is subtracted because the number of medals paid out in the game is less than the specified number of medals inserted, the AT control means 200 sets the stored value of the second advantageous zone counter 197b to the value "0." This allows the AT control means 200 to fix the value when the stored value of the second advantageous zone counter 197b is at its lowest point to the value "0," so that in the control process using the stored value of the second advantageous zone counter 197b, it is not necessary to vary the value that serves as the judgment threshold depending on the specific numerical value at the lowest point, and the load of the control process using the stored value of the second advantageous zone counter 197b can be reduced.

[0054] When 4000 games have been played, that is, when the stored value of the first advantageous zone counter 197a reaches the value "4000", or when the player has acquired more than 2400 medals from the point at which the most medals were consumed in the advantageous zone, that is, when the stored value of the second advantageous zone counter 197b reaches the value "2401" from the point at which it was the lowest value (lowest point), the AT control means 200 determines that a specific termination condition has been met as a predetermined termination condition for terminating the advantageous zone, and executes a predetermined termination process that ends the advantageous zone and starts the normal zone from the next game.

[0055] In a predetermined initialization process, the AT control means 200 initializes all information used in various control processes in the advantageous zone, such as each flag set to ON in the advantageous zone and values ​​set in the advantageous zone. Note that the AT control means 200 can also end the advantageous zone when a predetermined end condition (normal end condition) other than the specific end condition is met, and also executes the predetermined initialization process and predetermined end process when the normal end condition is met. Details of the normal end condition set by the AT control means 200 in the first embodiment will be described later.

[0056] 2. Configuration of the gaming machine in the first embodiment Next, with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7, details of each component included in the slot machine 1 according to the first embodiment will be described.

[0057] <Winning areas subject to internal lottery> 3 is a diagram showing winning areas that are the subject of an internal lottery in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, winning numbers and winning roles associated with each winning area, winning areas that are winnable in each game state, and winning areas for which an advantageous zone lottery, described below, is executed by the AT control means 200 if the internal lottery is won. In Fig. 3, winning areas that are winnable in each game state and for which an advantageous zone lottery is executed if the internal lottery is won are indicated by "◯", and winning areas that are winnable in each game state and for which an advantageous zone lottery is not executed if the internal lottery is won are indicated by "●".

[0058] In addition, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment has, as a bonus, a regular big bonus (hereinafter, the regular big bonus is also referred to as "RBB") as a device for continuously operating a special feature related to a first-class special feature. In addition, the slot machine 1 has, as game states controlled by the game state transition control means 170, a non-RT state as a normal state in which the RBB is not set to an established state and the RBB is not operating, a bonus established state as a bonus internal state (internal state) to which the state is transitioned when the RBB is set to an established state and in which the established state of the RBB is maintained until the RBB operates, and a bonus state as a bonus operating state (operating) to which the state is transitioned when the RBB operates and in which the RBB is operating.

[0059] 3, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the winning areas that are the subject of the internal lottery include the winning area "all small roles", the winning area "all 1-coin roles", the winning area "replay 1" to the winning area "replay 3", the winning area "batting order bell 1" to the winning area "batting order bell 8", the winning area "common bell", the winning area "rare role", the winning area "RBB & 1-coin role", and the winning area "RBB", and the winning numbers 1 to 17 are associated with these areas, respectively. In addition, in the slot machine 1, the winning number 0 is associated with a non-winning (losing) result of the internal lottery.

[0060] Here, "batting order" refers to the order in which stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed. In the following description, the timing at which stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed will also be referred to as "press timing."

[0061] In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the batting order, which is the order in which the three stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed, is configured to six types of batting orders, batting order 1 to batting order 6. Batting order 1 is a batting order in which the stop operation is executed in the order of stop button B1 → stop button B2 → stop button B3, which is called a "sequential pressing" batting order. Batting order 2 is a batting order in which the stop operation is executed in the order of stop button B1 → stop button B3 → stop button B2, which is called a "scissors hitting" batting order. Batting order 3 is a batting order in which the stop operation is executed in the order of stop button B2 → stop button B1 → stop button B3. Batting order 4 is a batting order in which the stop operation is executed in the order of stop button B2 → stop button B3 → stop button B1. Batting order 5 is a batting order in which the stop operation is executed in the order of stop button B3 → stop button B1 → stop button B2. Batting order 6 is a batting order called reverse pressing, in which the stop operation is executed in the order of stop button B3 → stop button B2 → stop button B1.

[0062] In the random number determination process, the internal lottery means 120 determines whether the winning areas set as the subject of the lottery in each game state are winners or losers in the order from the winning area corresponding to the winning number 17 to the non-winning area corresponding to the winning number 0.

[0063] In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the small roles that can be won when the internal lottery is won include Bell A to Bell D, 1-coin roles A to 1-coin roles C, and rare roles, and the replays that can be won when the internal lottery is won include Replay A to Replay C. Each small role and each replay is associated with each winning area in the combination shown in FIG.

[0064] Also, as shown in FIG. 3, in the slot machine 1, a winning area "RBB & 1 coin role" is set as a winning area including a bonus and a small role, and a winning area "RBB" is set as a winning area including only a bonus.

[0065] The winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" are winning areas in which Bell A to Bell D can be won by operating Stop Button B1 to Stop Button B3 in the correct batting order set for each of the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" when the gaming state is in a bonus established state. Details of the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" will be described later.

[0066] The winning area "common bell" is a winning area where Bell A to Bell D are multiple wins. In the slot machine 1, when the winning area "common bell" is won, any of Bell A to Bell D will be won regardless of the operation mode of the stop buttons B1 to B3.

[0067] The winning area "Rare Role" is a winning area where a rare role is won alone, and is set to have a lower probability of winning than other winning areas including minor roles (winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8", winning area "Common Bell", winning area "RBB & 1-piece role"). In addition, the winning symbol combination for a rare role is made up of symbols that can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 when the stop button B1 is operated at the timing when 5 of the 20 symbols on the left reel R1 are displayed in rotation on the active line L1, and the symbols on the middle reel R2 and the right reel R3 are made up of symbols that can be stopped and displayed on the active line L1 regardless of the timing of operation of the stop button B2 and stop button B3.

[0068] The winning area "Replay 1" is a winning area where Replay A is the only winning prize, and Replay A will win regardless of the operation mode of Stop Buttons B1 to B3. The winning area "Replay 2" is a winning area where Replay A and Replay B will win simultaneously, and Replay A will win regardless of the operation mode of Stop Buttons B1 to B3. The winning area "Replay 3" is a winning area where Replay A and Replay C will win simultaneously, and Replay C will win if Stop Buttons B1 to B3 are operated in a preset operation mode, and Replay A will win if Stop Buttons B1 to B3 are operated in an operation mode different from the preset operation mode. Details of the winning area "Replay 3" will be described later.

[0069] Here, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the role associated with the carryover flag is RBB, and the small role and replay are associated with the non-carryover flag. That is, in the lottery flag setting process, when a winning area including RBB is won in the internal lottery, a process is performed to carry over the established state of the lottery flag of the winning RBB until the RBB is won. At this time, the internal lottery means 120 performs an internal lottery to determine whether the small role and replay will be won or not, even in a game in which the established state of the lottery flag of RBB is carried over. That is, in the lottery flag setting process, when a small role or replay is won in a game in which the established state of the lottery flag of RBB is carried over, lottery flags corresponding to two or more roles consisting of the lottery flag of the already-won RBB and the lottery flag of the small role or replay won in the internal lottery are set to an established state.

[0070] <Internal lottery table> The slot machine 1 of the first embodiment stores, as internal lottery tables used in the internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120, an internal lottery table used in the non-RT state (normal state) (hereinafter referred to as internal lottery table A), an internal lottery table used in the bonus establishment state (internal state) (hereinafter referred to as internal lottery table B), and an internal lottery table used in the bonus state (in operation) (hereinafter referred to as internal lottery table C) in the internal lottery table storage means 192. In each of the internal lottery tables A to C, a lottery value number is associated with each winning area that is the subject of the lottery.

[0071] As shown in Figure 3, in internal lottery table A, which is referenced when the gaming state is in a non-RT state, lottery value numbers are associated with winning areas corresponding to winning numbers 3 to 17, while in internal lottery table B, which is referenced when the gaming state is in a bonus established state, lottery value numbers are associated with winning areas corresponding to winning numbers 3 to 16, and in internal lottery table C, which is referenced when the gaming state is in a bonus state, lottery value numbers are associated with winning areas corresponding to winning numbers 0 to 2.

[0072] In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, when the gaming state is in the non-RT state, one of the winning areas associated with winning numbers 3 to 17 is won by the internal lottery, and when the gaming state is in the bonus established state, one of the winning areas associated with winning numbers 3 to 16 is won by the internal lottery. Also, in the slot machine 1, when the gaming state is in the bonus state, if neither of the winning areas associated with winning numbers 1 nor 2 is won, it is a non-win (loss).

[0073] <Random number determination process> In the random number determination process, the internal lottery means 120 of the first embodiment sequentially subtracts the random number acquired from the random number generation means 110 by the lottery value numbers associated with each winning area in the internal lottery table acquired from the internal lottery table storage means 192, and when the result of the subtraction is a negative value, determines that the winning area corresponding to the subtracted lottery value number has been won. Also, when the result of the subtraction is a positive value after completing the subtraction of all the lottery value numbers stored in the internal lottery table, determines that the player has not won any role (missed). The random number generation means 110 of the first embodiment is configured to be able to generate a total of 65,536 random numbers from 0 to 65,535 as random numbers to be used in the internal lottery.

[0074] <Bonus winning determination process> As described above, in the internal lottery table B of this embodiment, in the bonus formation state, a lottery value number is set in the winning area "RBB & 1 piece role." In the internal lottery when the gaming state is the bonus formation state, there is a possibility that the RBB will be won again when the RBB has already been set to the formation state. Therefore, in order not to set the newly won RBB to the formation state, the internal lottery means 120 is configured to execute a bonus win determination process that determines whether the win area determined by the random number determination process is a win area including a bonus.

[0075] In the bonus win determination process, when the random number determination process determines that the winning area including the bonus is the target for determining whether it is a win or a loss, if the winning area including the bonus is won and the gaming state is a bonus establishment state, the internal lottery means 120 executes a process to skip the process of setting the bonus to an establishment state. In this way, the slot machine 1 prevents a new RBB from being set to an establishment state when an RBB is already set to an establishment state.

[0076] <Reel control means> In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, in any game state, the priority order of the winning combinations to be stopped on the pay line L1 in the reel stop control is determined in the order of "replay > small combination > bonus." In other words, when a bonus and a small combination or a bonus and a replay are both won, the reel control means 130 executes stop control to give priority to the bonus and win the small combination or replay.

[0077] <Small win payout> In the first embodiment, the payouts for Bell A to Bell D are set to a payout number (8 coins) that is greater than the specified input number (3 coins). Also, the payouts for rare combinations are set to a payout number (3 coins) that is the same as the specified input number. And the payouts for 1-coin combinations A to C are set to a payout number (1 coin) that is less than the specified input number.

[0078] <Game state transition control means> FIG. 4(A) is a state transition diagram showing game states to which transition can be made from each game state in the control relating to transition of game states executed by the game state transition control means 170 of the first embodiment.

[0079] As shown in Figure 4 (A), the non-RT state is a gaming state (initial gaming state, normal gaming state) that corresponds to the initial state among multiple gaming states, and is a non-bonus state in which a bonus is not activated or established. In the non-RT state, the gaming state transition control means 170 causes the internal lottery means 120 to execute an internal lottery using internal lottery table A in which the winning probability of a replay is set to 8978 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 7.3).

[0080] The bonus formation state is a gaming state to which the slot machine 1 transitions when either the winning area "RBB" or the winning area "RBB & 1-coin combination" is won in the internal lottery in the non-RT state, and the RBB is set to the formation state. In the bonus formation state, the gaming state transition control means 170 causes the internal lottery means 120 to execute an internal lottery using the internal lottery table B. In the internal lottery table B, the value "4," which is the lottery value number associated with the winning area "RBB" in the internal lottery table A, is associated with the winning area "Replay 1." Therefore, the winning probability of a replay is 4 / 65536 higher than that in the internal lottery table A. With this configuration, in the slot machine 1, the winning probability of a replay in the bonus formation state in which the internal lottery table B is used in the internal lottery is set to 8982 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 7.3).

[0081] The bonus state is a gaming state to which the game is transitioned when an RBB is won and the RBB is activated. In the bonus state, the gaming state transition control means 170 determines whether the termination condition of the activated RBB is met based on the total number of medals paid out, and when the number of medals paid out exceeds a predetermined payout number (for example, 100 medals), it terminates the operation of the RBB, thereby terminating the bonus state and transitioning the gaming state to a non-RT state, which is a non-bonus state. In the bonus state, the gaming state transition control means 170 causes the internal lottery means 120 to execute an internal lottery using an internal lottery table C.

[0082] As shown in Figure 3, in the internal lottery table C, random numbers are associated with the winning area "All Small Roles" which wins all small roles from Bell A to Bell D, rare roles, and 1-coin roles A to C, and the winning area "All 1-Coin Roles" which wins all small roles from 1-coin roles A to C where the payout is set to 1.

[0083] The bonus state will be described in detail with reference to Figure 3. In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the probability of winning the winning area "all small roles" or the winning area "all 1-coin roles" in the bonus state in which the internal lottery table C is selected is set to be higher than the probability of winning any of the winning areas including a small role in the internal lottery table A and the internal lottery table B. In other words, the probability of winning a small role in the bonus state is set to be higher than the probability of winning any of the small roles in a game state other than the bonus state. Also, the probability of winning the winning area "all small roles" in the internal lottery table C is set to be the same as the sum of the probabilities of winning any two of the winning areas "batting order bell 1" to "batting order bell 8" and the winning area "common bell" in the internal lottery table A and the internal lottery table B.

[0084] Due to this configuration, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment is configured so that in the bonus state, the probability of winning all small prizes is higher than in the non-RT state when the bonus is not activated or in the bonus formation state, and the probability of winning any of the small prizes is the same or higher.

[0085] In addition, the slot machine 1 is configured so that in the bonus state, the probability of winning the winning area "All Small Features" is lower than the probability of winning any of the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" and the winning area "Common Bell" (the winning probability obtained by combining the winning probabilities of the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" and the winning area "Common Bell").

[0086] In this way, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment has multiple types of first winning modes (winning area "Batting Order Bell 1" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 8", winning area "Common Bell") in which multiple types of specific roles (Bell A to Bell D) set to payouts greater than the amount of game value inserted required to start playing do not overlap with each other but overlap with other small roles, and a second winning mode (winning area "All Small Roles") in which multiple types of specific roles overlap and are won, and the internal lottery means 120 is configured to conduct an internal lottery so that multiple types of first winning modes exist in the normal game state (non-RT state) and bonus establishment state, and to conduct an internal lottery so that the second winning mode exists in the bonus state. In addition, in the slot machine 1, the probability of winning the second winning mode in the internal lottery in the bonus state is lower than the probability of winning one of the multiple types of first winning modes in the internal lottery in the normal game state and the bonus establishment state, and the winning probability of each of all small roles in the internal lottery in the bonus state is configured to be equal to or higher than the winning probability of each of all small roles in the internal lottery in the normal game state and the bonus establishment state.

[0087] Therefore, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the expected rate of medal acquisition is less than 100% in the bonus state.

[0088] Here, in the bonus formation state, as will be described in more detail later, when the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" are won, the player cannot win unless he operates stop buttons B1 to B3 in the correct batting order consisting of batting orders 3 to 6, so the probability of any of Bells A to D winning is limited to when he operates stop buttons B1 to B3 in the correct batting order from the four possible batting orders. On the other hand, when an auxiliary game in which the winning assistance described below is executed is executed, the correct batting order is announced by the winning assistance when the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" are won, so the probability of any of Bells A to D winning when the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" are won can be increased by up to eight times compared to when the winning assistance is not executed.

[0089] As described above, in the first embodiment, four types of winning bells, Bell A to Bell D, are set as winning roles (specific roles) that pay out more medals than the specified number of inserted medals when stopping the operation in the correct batting order. And the probability of obtaining a winning combination including a specific role in the bonus state is compressed to about 1 / 4 of the probability of obtaining a winning combination including a specific role in a game state other than the bonus state. By configuring in this way, an internal lottery is performed by providing a mode in which N types of specific roles are won without overlapping each other in a game state other than the bonus state, and an internal lottery is performed by providing a mode in which N types of specific roles are won overlappingly in the bonus state. Thus, the probability of obtaining a winning combination including a specific role in the bonus state can be compressed to about 1 / N of the probability of obtaining a winning combination including a specific role in a game state other than the bonus state. Thereby, since the lower limit of the expected value of the medal acquisition rate in the bonus state can be lowered to less than 100% and then the medal acquisition performance regarding the auxiliary game can be designed, the degree of freedom in designing the slot machine 1 equipped with the AT function can be dramatically improved.

[0090] <AT control means> FIG. 4(B) is a state transition diagram showing details of a normal section and an advantageous section controlled by the AT control means 200 of the first embodiment, and a production state controlled during the advantageous section.

[0091] As described above, the normal section is a period in which control regarding the auxiliary game based on the result of the internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120 is not executed. The AT control means 200 executes an advantageous section lottery, which is a lottery for determining whether to end the normal section and start the advantageous section based on the winning area won in the internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120 in the game within the normal section.

[0092] In the advantageous zone lottery, the AT control means 200 first acquires an advantageous zone transition lottery table, which is a data table in which "start of advantageous zone" and "no win (miss)" are associated with each of a plurality of random numbers, from the AT control data storage means 197. Then, the AT control means 200 acquires a random number from the random number generation means 110, compares the acquired random number with the advantageous zone transition lottery table, and determines whether or not to start an advantageous zone based on the comparison result.

[0093] The AT control means 200 executes the advantageous zone lottery so that the probability obtained by multiplying the winning probability of the winning area selected in the internal lottery by the winning probability of the "start of the advantageous zone" in the advantageous zone lottery is 1 / 17500 or more.

[0094] As shown in FIG. 3, the AT control means 200 of the first embodiment is configured to execute a lottery for a favorable zone with a probability of winning the "start of the favorable zone" with approximately 1 / 1.5 when the winning area "Replay 2", winning area "Replay 3", winning area "Batting Order Bell 1" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 8", winning area "Common Bell", winning area "Rare Role", winning area "RBB & 1-piece Role", winning area "RBB" is won in the internal lottery when the gaming state is in a non-RT state, and when the winning area "Replay 2", winning area "Replay 3", winning area "Batting Order Bell 1" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 8", winning area "Common Bell", winning area "Rare Role" is won in the internal lottery when the gaming state is in a bonus formation state.

[0095] In addition, the AT control means 200 is configured not to execute the lottery for the advantageous zone when the winning area "Replay 1" is won in the internal lottery in the non-RT state, when the winning area "Replay 1" or the winning area "RBB & 1-coin role" is won in the internal lottery in the bonus formation state, or when the winning area "All small roles" or the winning area "All 1-coin role" is won in the internal lottery in the bonus state. Details of the playability by the lottery for the advantageous zone when each winning area is won will be described later.

[0096] In the advantageous zone, the AT control means 200 has the following states (presentation states) related to the instruction function: a first start state, a second start state, a normal state, a CZ state, an AT preparation state, an AT state, a CZ state during AT, and an added-on special state. Also, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment is configured so that the proportion of players staying in the advantageous zone during the entire game can be 70% or more.

[0097] In the first embodiment, when the winning area "Replay 3" is won in the internal lottery, the AT control means 200 executes a replay notification lottery to determine whether or not to notify an operation mode that makes Replay A winnable. When the AT control means 200 determines not to notify an operation mode in the replay notification lottery, it executes a lottery related to an instruction function according to the presentation state in which the game is being executed. More details will be described later.

[0098] Furthermore, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment is configured such that when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting orders 3 to 6 in the advantageous zone and when the notification of the operation mode is not executed, the control related to the instruction function by the AT control means 200 is not executed. In other words, the slot machine 1 is configured such that when the notification of the operation mode is not executed, a game in which the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting orders 1 and 2 is recommended.

[0099] The first start state is a presentation state that is set when the game state is a non-RT state and in a normal zone, the internal lottery sets the area to be the target of the advantageous zone lottery for the winning area "RBB" or the winning area "RBB & 1 piece role", and the game transitions from the normal zone to the advantageous zone in the advantageous zone lottery based on winning the winning area including RBB. In the first start state, the AT control means 200 ends the first start state and transitions the presentation state to the normal state when one game is played.

[0100] The second start state is a presentation state that is set when the game state is in a non-RT state or a bonus established state, and is in the normal zone, and is set by an internal lottery to be the subject of a favorable zone lottery for the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8", the winning area "Common Bell", the winning area "Rare Role", the winning area "Replay 2", and the winning area "Replay 3", and when a transition is made from the normal zone to the favorable zone lottery based on winning a winning area that does not include RBB.

[0101] In the second start state, the AT control means 200 refers to the game state at the time the second start state is started. If the game state at the time the second start state is started is a non-RT state, the AT control means 200 ends the second start state after one game is played and transitions the presentation state to a normal state. Also, if the game state at the time the second start state is started is a bonus establishment state, the AT control means 200 ends the second start state after one game is played and transitions the presentation state to a CZ state.

[0102] With this configuration, in the slot machine 1, when a transition occurs from the normal zone to the advantageous zone during play in the normal zone (first game), the presentation state is set to the first start state or the second start state by a control process for setting the presentation state by the AT control means 200 during the first game. Next, in the slot machine 1, in a game following the first game (second game), a game is executed with the presentation state set to the first start state or the second start state, and if the presentation state is the first start state, the presentation state is transitioned to the normal state, and if the presentation state is the second start state, the presentation state is transitioned to the normal state or the CZ state depending on the game state in the second game.

[0103] The normal state is a presentation state (normal presentation state) that corresponds to the normal state among multiple types of presentation states, and is set when there is no transition to another presentation state. When the presentation state transitions to the normal state, the AT control means 200 executes an incremental update to add a value "1" corresponding to one game to the stored value of a normal game number counter (not shown), which counts the number of games played in the normal state, each time a game is played. In addition, the AT control means 200 executes an advantageous zone end lottery to determine whether or not to end the advantageous zone when the winning area "rare role" is won in the internal lottery, or when the winning area "replay 3" is won in the internal lottery and it is determined not to notify the operation mode in the replay notification lottery.

[0104] When the stored value of the normal game number counter reaches the value "700" or when the "end of advantageous zone" is won in the advantageous zone lottery, the AT control means 200 determines that the normal end condition among the conditions for ending the advantageous zone has been met, and executes a predetermined initialization process which initializes information related to the advantageous zone upon the end of the normal state, and a predetermined termination process which ends the advantageous zone and starts the normal zone from the next game.

[0105] The CZ state is configured to be able to execute control for transitioning the presentation state to the AT preparation state as a control related to auxiliary games, and is a presentation state that is more advantageous to the player than the normal state. At the start of the CZ state, the AT control means 200 sets a value corresponding to a predetermined number of games (for example, 10 games) to the CZ game number counter (not shown) of the AT control data storage means 197, and executes a decrement update each time a game is executed, subtracting the value stored in the CZ game number counter by the value "1" corresponding to one game.

[0106] The AT control means 200 is configured to execute a CZ AT lottery for each game played in the CZ state, which determines whether or not to transition to the AT preparation state. If the "transition to the AT preparation state" is won in the CZ AT lottery, the AT control means 200 transitions the presentation state from the CZ state to the winning presentation state after 10 games have been played since the start of the CZ state.

[0107] The AT control means 200 executes a CZ AT game number addition lottery to determine whether to add (add) the number of times the AT state is executed when the AT state transitions from the AT preparation state, which is transitioned to after the CZ state ends, is changed to the AT state during play until the CZ state ends after the ``transition to AT preparation state'' is won in the AT lottery during the CZ and the game is played until the CZ state ends.

[0108] On the other hand, if 10 games are played in the CZ state without winning the "transition to AT preparation state" in the AT lottery during the CZ, the AT control means 200 ends the CZ state. If the CZ state is ended without the AT transition condition being met, the AT control means 200 transitions the presentation state from the CZ state to the normal state.

[0109] The AT control means 200 is configured to execute lotteries related to auxiliary games executed in the CZ state (AT lottery during CZ, AT game number addition lottery during CZ) regardless of the result of the internal lottery. Also, the AT control means 200 is configured so that, for lotteries related to auxiliary games executed in the CZ state, when the winning area "Rare Role" is won in the internal lottery, or when the winning area "Replay 3" is won in the internal lottery and it is decided not to notify the operation mode in the replay notification lottery, the probability of "not winning (missing)" is lower than when other winning areas are won, and the probability of a result advantageous to the player ("transition to AT preparation state" in the case of an AT lottery during CZ) is higher.

[0110] In the AT preparation state, whether or not to execute the prize assistance for Bells A to D when the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" are won is determined by lottery, and therefore this is a presentation state that is more advantageous to the player than the normal state in which the prize assistance for Bells A to D is not executed when the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" are won. The AT preparation state in the first embodiment is configured to be able to transition in a situation where a transition to the AT preparation state is decided in the CZ state, and in a situation where 300 or more games have been played since transitioning from the AT preparation state to the AT state described below.

[0111] The AT control means 200 of the first embodiment is configured to be able to execute either a normal winning assistance that notifies the player of the correct batting order of Bells A to D when the player wins in the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" in an internal lottery while the game state is in a bonus establishment state and the presentation state is in an AT preparation state, or an AT transition winning assistance as a specific winning assistance that suggests an operation mode including the correct batting order by indicating that the stop button operated in the first stop operation is not stop button B1, and that determines a transition to the AT state when the first stop operation matches the correct batting order.

[0112] The AT control means 200 executes a winning assistance lottery to determine whether or not to execute a winning assistance when the winning areas "batting order bell 1" to "batting order bell 8" are won in an internal lottery while the gaming state is in a bonus established state and the presentation state is in an AT preparation state. In the winning assistance lottery, the AT control means 200 executes a lottery to determine either "execution of normal winning assistance," "execution of AT transition winning assistance," or "no winning (miss)."

[0113] In slot machine 1, in the prize assistance lottery, there is a predetermined probability of winning "execution of normal prize assistance," and by executing a game according to the normal prize assistance, it becomes possible to win Bell A to Bell D, which are set to a payout of 8 coins, so when the AT transition prize assistance is executed, a game is executed in which the stop button B1 is operated, and even if a game in which 1 coin role A, which is set to a payout of 1 coin, is won and the AT preparation state continues is executed for a long period of time, the payout rate, which is the ratio of the total number of medals paid out to the total number of medals inserted when a predetermined number of games are executed, is configured not to fall below 60%.

[0114] In addition, in the slot machine 1, when the normal winning assistance is executed in the AT preparation state, a game according to the winning assistance is executed, and when the AT transition winning assistance is executed, a game not according to the winning assistance is executed, so that even if the AT preparation state continues for a long period of time, the slot machine 1 is designed so that the payout rate in the AT preparation state does not exceed 100%. With this configuration, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, when the AT transition winning assistance is executed in the AT preparation state, even if the AT preparation state continues by executing a game that ignores the operation mode suggested by the AT transition winning assistance, it is not advantageous for the player, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a strategy by intentionally continuing the AT preparation state.

[0115] In the AT preparation state, the AT control means 200 performs an incremental update by adding a value "1" corresponding to one game to the stored value of the AT preparation state counter 197c of the AT control data storage means 197 each time a game is played.

[0116] The AT control means 200 of the first embodiment determines that the condition for starting the AT state (AT start condition) is met when the AT transition winning assistance is executed and the first stop operation matches the correct batting order, and when 1650 games are played in the AT preparation state and the stored value of the AT preparation state counter 197c becomes the value "1650". The AT control means 200 is configured to transition the presentation state from the AT preparation state to the AT state, and to continue the AT preparation state until the AT start condition is met.

[0117] In other words, when the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 8" is won and the AT transition winning assistance is executed, if the first stop operation matches the correct batting order, the AT control means 200 is configured to transition the presentation state to the AT state as a bonus, and if the first stop operation does not match the correct batting order, to continue the AT preparation state without transitioning the presentation state to the AT state.

[0118] With this configuration, when the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment is in the AT preparation state and the AT transition winning assistance is executed, even if the game is played ignoring the operation mode suggested by the AT transition winning assistance, the slot machine 1 will not transition to the AT state, which is a special benefit for the player, and this prevents the player from intentionally continuing the AT preparation state and reduces the marketability of the gaming machine.In addition, even if the stop buttons B1 to B3 are accidentally operated in an operation mode different from the operation mode suggested by the AT transition winning assistance, the AT preparation state will continue as long as the stored value of the AT preparation state counter 197c is not the value "1650", thereby preventing the player's interest in the game from decreasing.

[0119] Furthermore, the AT control means 200 of the first embodiment performs an incremental update to add a value of "1" to the stored value of the AT winning assistance execution count counter 197d in the AT control data storage means 197 when the "AT transition winning assistance execution" is won in the winning assistance lottery. When the AT control means 200 executes the winning assistance lottery in the AT preparation state, it acquires a lottery table according to the stored value of the AT winning assistance execution count counter 197d. The lottery table used in the winning assistance lottery is configured so that the probability of winning "AT transition winning assistance execution" increases as the stored value of the AT winning assistance execution count counter 197d increases.

[0120] With this configuration, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, when the AT transition winning assistance is executed in the AT preparation state and the first stop operation does not match the correct hitting order and the AT preparation state continues, the longer the AT preparation state continues, the more frequently the AT transition winning assistance is executed, and the higher the probability of being able to transition from the AT preparation state to the AT state.Therefore, even if the player operates stop button B1 to stop button B3 in accordance with the operation mode suggested by the AT transition winning assistance and the first stop operation does not match the correct hitting order, the frequency of AT transition winning assistance in subsequent games can be increased, giving the player a quick opportunity to transition to the AT state again, and preventing a decline in interest in the game for players who were unable to transition to the AT state.

[0121] Furthermore, when the "execution of AT transition winning assistance" is won in the winning assistance lottery and the first stop operation is an operation mode in accordance with the AT transition winning assistance, the AT control means 200 of the first embodiment executes an incremental update to add a value of "10" to the stored value of the AT point counter 197e of the AT control data storage means 197 as a process for awarding AT points. When the stored value of the AT point counter 197e becomes a value of "100" or more, that is, when the awarded AT points become 100 points or more, the AT control means 200 awards a privilege related to an instruction function advantageous to the player in the AT state transitioned from the AT preparation state, in which a replay notification lottery executed when the winning area "Replay 3" is won in the internal lottery determines that the operation mode will not be notified with a higher probability than in the AT state where the AT points are less than 100 points.

[0122] As described above, the AT transition winning assistance is a notification mode that suggests that the stop button operated in the first stop operation is not stop button B1, and therefore, the winning assistance includes an operation mode in which the first stop operation matches the correct hitting order and an operation mode in which the first stop operation does not match the correct hitting order. For this reason, in the slot machine 1, even when the AT transition winning assistance is executed and the first stop operation is an operation mode in accordance with the AT transition winning assistance, the operation mode becomes an operation mode in which the first stop operation does not match the correct hitting order, and there is a configuration in which the slot machine does not transition from the AT preparation state to the AT state.

[0123] Due to this configuration, the AT control means 200 of the first embodiment executes AT transition winning assistance in the AT preparation state, and when the first stop operation is an operation mode in accordance with the AT transition winning assistance, it executes processing related to the awarding of AT points, which grants the player benefits related to instruction functions that are advantageous to the player by transitioning to the AT state when the awarded points reach 100 points or more.

[0124] With this configuration, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the AT transition winning assistance is executed in the AT preparation state, and the first stop operation is an operation mode in accordance with the AT transition winning assistance, so that if the AT preparation state continues without transitioning to the AT state even when stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in an operation mode in accordance with the AT transition winning assistance, AT points are awarded that will lead to the awarding of benefits related to instruction functions that are advantageous to the player when the AT state is transitioned to, thereby reducing the sense of loss felt by the player when the AT transition winning assistance is executed and the first stop operation is an operation mode in accordance with the AT transition winning assistance but the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated and the AT preparation state continues, thereby reducing the sense of loss felt by the player when the AT state cannot be transitioned to, and preventing a decline in the player's interest in the game.

[0125] In addition, if the AT points are less than 100 points, the probability of executing the replay notification lottery in the AT state does not change based on the AT points. Therefore, in the first embodiment, the control related to the instruction function that transitions from the AT preparation state, which is surely executed, to the AT state is configured as a control that is more advantageous to the player than the awarding of AT points.

[0126] The AT state is a more advantageous presentation state for the player than the normal state and the AT preparation state, as winning assistance with Bells A to D is executed each time a winning area from "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" is won.

[0127] If the stored value of the AT game number counter 197f in the AT control data storage means 197 at the start of the AT state is the value "0", the AT control means 200 sets an initial value (40 games) corresponding to a predetermined number of games. Also, when the AT state starts, the AT control means 200 adds a value "10" to the stored value of the AT game number counter 197f. Each time a game is played in the AT state, the AT control means 200 executes a decrement update, subtracting the value "1" corresponding to one game from the stored value of the AT game number counter 197f.

[0128] The AT control means 200 executes an AT CZ lottery to determine whether to transition to the AT CZ state when the winning area "Rare Role" is won in the internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120, or when the winning area "Replay 3" is won in the internal lottery and it is decided not to notify the operation mode in the replay notification lottery.

[0129] When the stored value of the AT game number counter 197f becomes the value "0", the AT control means 200 determines that the normal termination condition among the termination conditions of the advantageous zone has been met based on the fact that the termination condition of the AT state (AT termination condition) has been met, and executes a predetermined initialization process which initializes information about the advantageous zone upon the end of the AT state, and a predetermined termination process which ends the advantageous zone and starts the normal zone from the next game.

[0130] Furthermore, even when the presentation state transitions from the AT preparation state to the AT state, the AT control means 200 of the first embodiment executes an incremental update to add a value "1" corresponding to one game to the stored value of the AT preparation state counter 197c each time a game is played. When 2000 games have been played since the game that started the AT preparation state and the stored value of the AT preparation state counter 197c reaches the value "2000", the AT control means 200 determines that the normal termination condition among the termination conditions of the advantageous zone has been met, regardless of the stored value of the AT game number counter, and executes a predetermined initialization process which is a process of terminating the AT state and initializing information related to the advantageous zone, and a predetermined termination process which terminates the advantageous zone and starts the normal zone from the next game.

[0131] Here, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment is configured so that when a game is executed in accordance with the winning assistance in the AT preparation state, that is, when the AT transition winning assistance is executed and a game is executed in which the stop button B1 to the stop button B3 are operated in any of the batting orders 3 to 6, the slot machine 1 can transition to the AT state within several to several tens of games. Also, the slot machine 1 is configured so that the payout rate in the AT state in which the winning assistance is executed when the winning areas "batting order bell 1" to "batting order bell 8" are won is approximately 200%.

[0132] Due to this configuration, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, when a game is played in accordance with the winning assistance, the stored value of the second advantageous zone counter 197b reaches the value "2400" when approximately 1200 games have been played in the AT state, the specific ending condition of the advantageous zone is met and the advantageous zone ends, so that the advantageous zone will not end based on the stored value of the AT preparation state counter 197c reaching the value "2000", except in the case where a game that does not follow the AT transition winning assistance is played in the AT preparation state and the machine remains in the AT preparation state for a long period of time.

[0133] With this configuration, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, when the AT transition winning assistance is executed in the AT preparation state, even if the AT state is started after the AT preparation state continues by playing a game that ignores the batting order notified by the AT transition winning assistance, even if the AT state continues, only about 700 medals can be won, which is not sufficiently advantageous for the player, and it is possible to prevent the emergence of a strategy by intentionally continuing the AT preparation state.

[0134] At the start of the AT state, the AT control means 200 sets the AT duration counter 197g of the AT control data storage means 197 to an initial value (300 games) corresponding to the number of games to continue the AT state, and performs a decrement update each time a game is played in the AT state, the CZ state during AT, or the added-on specialized state, by subtracting the value "1" corresponding to one game from the stored value of the AT duration counter 197g.

[0135] The AT control means 200 stops decrementing when the stored value of the AT duration counter 197g becomes the value "0". Also, when the stored value of the AT duration counter 197g becomes the value "0", if the presentation state is an AT state, the AT control means 200 suspends the AT state regardless of the stored value of the AT game number counter 197f, and transitions from the AT state to an AT preparation state. On the other hand, when the stored value of the AT duration counter 197g becomes the value "0", if the presentation state is an AT CZ state or an add-on specialized state, after the presentation state transitions to the AT state, the AT control means 200 suspends the AT state regardless of the stored value of the AT game number counter 197f, and transitions from the AT state to an AT preparation state.

[0136] With this configuration, even if the AT state continues for a long period of time, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment transitions from an AT state in which the payout rate is set to approximately 200% to an AT preparation state in which the payout rate does not exceed 100% each time approximately 300 games are played, thereby preventing excessive medal payouts in continuous AT states and a decline in the marketability of the gaming machine.

[0137] In the CZ state during AT, winning assistance is provided for Bells A to D each time the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" are won, and in the replay notification lottery that is carried out when the winning area "Replay 3" is won in the internal lottery, it is determined that the operation mode will not be notified with a higher probability than in the normal state, CZ state, AT preparation state, and AT state, making this a presentation state that is more advantageous to the player than the normal state, CZ state, AT preparation state, and AT state.

[0138] The AT control means 200 sets an initial value (10 games) corresponding to a predetermined number of games to the AT CZ game number counter (not shown) in the AT control data storage means 197 at the start of the AT CZ state, and performs a decrement update each time a game is played, subtracting the stored value of the AT CZ game number counter by the value "1" corresponding to one game.

[0139] The AT control means 200 executes an add-on lottery to determine the value to be added (added) to the AT game number counter 197f, and an add-on specialized lottery to determine whether or not to transition to an add-on specialized state after the CZ state during the AT ends, when the winning area "Rare Role" is won in the internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120, and when the winning area "Replay 3" is won in the internal lottery and it is decided not to notify the operation mode in the replay notification lottery.

[0140] If the "transition to the added-on specialized state" is won in the add-on specialized lottery, the AT control means 200 will transition the presentation state from the AT CZ state to the add-on specialized state after 10 games have been played since the start of the AT CZ state. On the other hand, if 10 games have been played in the AT CZ state without winning the "transition to the added-on specialized state" in the add-on specialized lottery, the AT control means 200 will end the AT CZ state and transition the presentation state to the AT state.

[0141] In the CZ state during AT, winning assistance is provided for Bells A to D each time the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" are won, and in the replay notification lottery that is carried out when the winning area "Replay 3" is won in the internal lottery, it is determined that the operation mode will not be notified with a higher probability than in the normal state, CZ state, AT preparation state, and AT state, making this a presentation state that is more advantageous to the player than the normal state, CZ state, AT preparation state, and AT state.

[0142] The AT control means 200 sets an initial value (10 games) corresponding to a predetermined number of games to the AT CZ game number counter (not shown) in the AT control data storage means 197 at the start of the AT state, and performs a decrement update each time a game is played, subtracting the stored value of the AT CZ game number counter by the value "1" corresponding to one game.

[0143] The AT control means 200 executes an add-on lottery to determine the value to be added (added) to the AT game number counter 197f, and an add-on specialized lottery to determine whether or not to transition to an add-on specialized state after the CZ state during the AT ends, when the winning area "Rare Role" is won in the internal lottery by the internal lottery means 120, and when the winning area "Replay 3" is won in the internal lottery and it is decided not to notify the operation mode in the replay notification lottery.

[0144] If the "transition to the added-on specialized state" is won in the add-on specialized lottery, the AT control means 200 will transition the presentation state from the AT CZ state to the add-on specialized state after 10 games have been played since the start of the AT CZ state. On the other hand, if 10 games have been played in the AT CZ state without winning the "transition to the added-on specialized state" in the add-on specialized lottery, the AT control means 200 will end the AT CZ state and transition the presentation state to the AT state.

[0145] In the add-on specialized state, winning assistance for Bell A to Bell D is executed each time the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" are won, and in the replay notification lottery that is executed when the winning area "Replay 3" is won in the internal lottery, it is determined with a higher probability that the operation mode will not be notified than in the normal state, CZ state, AT preparation state, and AT state, and an add-on lottery is executed in each game to determine the value to be added (added) to the AT game number counter 197f, making this a presentation state that is more advantageous to the player than other presentation states.

[0146] The AT control means 200 sets an initial value (30 games) corresponding to a predetermined number of games to the add-on specialized game number counter (not shown) of the AT control data storage means 197 at the start of the add-on specialized state, and performs a decrement update each time a game is played, subtracting the stored value of the add-on specialized game number counter by the value "1" corresponding to one game.

[0147] The AT control means 200 is configured to execute the add-on lottery in the add-on specialized state regardless of the result of the internal lottery. In addition, the AT control means 200 is configured so that, for the add-on lottery in the add-on specialized state, if the winning area "rare role" is won in the internal lottery, and if the winning area "replay 3" is won in the internal lottery and it is decided not to notify the operation mode in the replay notification lottery, the probability that the value added will be larger than in the case of winning other winning areas is higher, thereby increasing the probability of a result advantageous to the player (for example, in the add-on lottery in cases other than the case of winning the winning area "rare role" and the case of winning the winning area "replay 3" and the case where the operation mode is not notified, values ​​in the range of "10" to "30" are set as the subject of the lottery, and in the case of winning the winning area "rare role" and the case where the winning area "replay 3" is won and the case where the operation mode is not notified, values ​​in the range of "30" to "100" are set as the subject of the lottery).

[0148] When the stored value of the add-on specialized game number counter becomes the value "0", the AT control means 200 determines that the termination condition of the add-on specialized state (add-on specialized termination condition) has been met, terminates the add-on specialized state, and transitions the presentation state to the AT state.

[0149] 3. Details of gameplay regarding transition to advantageous zones Next, details of the gameplay regarding the transition to the advantageous zone in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment will be described.

[0150] <Details of control using the first and second start states> As described above, the reel control means 130 of the first embodiment is configured to stop and display the winning symbol combination of a small role or a replay on the activated line L1 in priority to a bonus. Also, the reel control means 130 is configured to execute reel stop control so that a symbol combination different from the winning symbol combination of any role is stopped and displayed on the activated line L1, resulting in a missed win (non-winning), in the following cases: when the winning areas "batting order bell 1" to "batting order bell 8" are won in the internal lottery, and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed in an incorrect batting order, and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are pressed at an operation timing that prevents the winning 1-piece role A to 1-piece role C from winning; and when the winning area "rare role" is won in the internal lottery and the stop button B1 is operated at an operation timing that prevents the winning rare role from winning.

[0151] For this reason, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, when the gaming state is in a bonus established state, the player wins either a small prize or a replay in an internal lottery, so the winning RBB symbol combination is not displayed stopped on the activated line L1, and the bonus established state is maintained.

[0152] In other words, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, once the gaming state is set to the bonus establishment state, the game continues in the bonus establishment state thereafter, so when the advantageous zone ends and the normal zone starts based on the establishment of a normal end condition or a specific end condition in the advantageous zone, the gaming state becomes the bonus establishment state and is controlled to the normal zone. Therefore, in the slot machine 1, after the gaming state transitions from the advantageous zone to the normal zone while the bonus establishment state is in the bonus establishment state, if the "transition to the advantageous zone" is won in the advantageous zone lottery and the game transitions to the advantageous zone, the presentation state is set to the second start state, and since the gaming state at the start of the second start state is the bonus establishment state, the presentation state transitions to the CZ state after one game is executed in the second start state.

[0153] In a slot machine 1 having such playability, as described above, when setting change control is executed by the setting change means 100, the control relating to the game state and the control relating to the advantageous zone are initialized, and the game state is set to a non-RT state and to a normal zone.

[0154] Therefore, if the slot machine 1 is configured to always set the presentation state to the CZ state when transitioning from the normal zone to the advantageous zone, there is a risk that the normal zone will be set by initialization when setting change control is executed by the setting change means 100, which will make the probability of transitioning to the CZ state immediately after setting change control extremely high.

[0155] In such a configuration, in the slot machine 1, in the CZ state that is initiated based on the transition to the advantageous zone immediately after the setting change control is executed, the presentation control means 180 executes a presentation (specific presentation) in the normal state, which makes it possible for the player to not see that the current presentation state is the CZ state; however, data and programs related to the specific presentation that are exclusive to the CZ state immediately after the setting change are required, which increases the program capacity related to the presentation.

[0156] Furthermore, in a slot machine 1 configured in this manner, although it is possible to make the CZ state immediately after a setting change invisible through a specific presentation, the CZ state is executed under control by the AT control means 200, and there is a possibility of transitioning to the AT state, which creates a strategy in which it is easy to transition to the AT state immediately after a setting change, making it easy to win medals.

[0157] On the other hand, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, when transitioning from the normal zone to the advantageous zone, the AT control means 200 is configured to refer to the winning area won in the internal lottery and determine whether the presentation state to be set at the start of the advantageous zone will be the first start state or the second start state.

[0158] When the AT control means 200 starts an advantageous zone based on winning the winning area "RBB" or the winning area "RBB & 1 piece role", which are winning areas that can only be won by internal lottery in the non-RT state, it sets the presentation state at the start of the advantageous zone to the first start state. As described above, the first start state is a presentation state that transitions to the normal state after one game is executed.

[0159] Therefore, in slot machine 1, even if the game state at the start of the advantageous zone is a bonus establishment state, when setting change control is executed and the game state in the normal zone transitions from a non-RT state to an advantageous zone, the presentation state can be set to the normal state via the first start state.

[0160] Furthermore, when the AT control means 200 starts an advantageous zone based on winning the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8", the winning area "Common Bell", the winning area "Rare Role", the winning area "Replay 2", and the winning area "Replay 3", which are winning areas that can be won even in the non-RT state and the bonus establishment state, it sets the presentation state at the start of the advantageous zone to the second start state. The AT control means 200 is configured to refer to the game state when the game is played in the second start state, and to determine the presentation state to transition to after one game is played in the second start state.

[0161] Specifically, if the game state when playing in the second starting state is a non-RT state, the AT control means 200 determines the presentation state to be transitioned to after one game is played in the second starting state to be the normal state, and if the game state when playing in the second starting state is a bonus establishment state, the AT control means 200 determines the presentation state to be transitioned to after one game is played in the second starting state to be the CZ state.

[0162] Here, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the game state when playing in the second starting state becomes a non-RT state only when a favorable zone is started based on winning the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8", the winning area "Common Bell", the winning area "Rare Role", the winning area "Replay 2", and the winning area "Replay 3" in an internal lottery in the non-RT state.

[0163] In addition, the AT control means 200 of the first embodiment is configured not to execute a lottery for a favorable zone when the winning area "RBB & 1 piece role", which is a winning area that can be won by internal lottery in a bonus formation state, which is a gaming state that is set when RBB is carried over to the formation state, is won.

[0164] Therefore, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the game state when playing in the second starting state becomes a bonus establishment state only when an advantageous zone is started based on winning the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8", the winning area "Common Bell", the winning area "Rare Role", the winning area "Replay 2", and the winning area "Replay 3" in an internal lottery in the bonus establishment state.

[0165] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment is configured so that setting change control is executed by the setting change means 100, the game state is set to a non-RT state, and the game state is set to the normal zone, but when transitioning from the normal zone to the advantageous zone immediately after the setting change control, the game state is set to the normal state based on the start of the advantageous zone, and when transitioning from the normal zone to the advantageous zone when the game state is in a bonus formation state, the game state is set to the CZ state based on the start of the advantageous zone, thereby realizing gameplay that allows for improved product value while having an advantageous zone.

[0166] Furthermore, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment can prevent the occurrence of overly advantageous strategies immediately after the setting change control is initiated, and with the transition to an advantageous zone immediately after the setting change control is executed, data and programs for executing presentations different from the presentation state that is set are no longer required, thereby preventing an increase in the program capacity related to the presentations.

[0167] <Lottery for the advantageous zone when winning the winning area "RBB" and the winning area "Replay 1"> As described above, the winning area "Replay 1" in the first embodiment is configured so that Replay A is the sole winning, and the winning area "Replay 2" is configured so that Replay A and Replay B are both winning, and each is configured as a different winning area. In the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, Replay A is configured to win in both the winning area "Replay 1" and the winning area "Replay 2."

[0168] For this reason, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, in a game in which Replay A is won, the player is not able to tell whether the winning area "Replay 1" or the winning area "Replay 2" is won.

[0169] In addition, in the internal lottery table A, the winning area "Replay 1" and the winning area "RBB" are each associated with a value of "4" as the number of lottery values, so the winning probabilities of the winning areas "Replay 1" and "RBB" are 4 / 65536 (1 / 16384). In addition, in the internal lottery table A, the winning area "Replay 2" is associated with a value of "8718" as the number of lottery values, so the winning probability of the winning area "Replay 2" is 8718 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 7.5). In addition, in the internal lottery table A, the winning area "Replay 3" is associated with a value of "256" as the number of lottery values, so the winning probability of the winning area "Replay 3" is 256 / 65536 (1 / 256).

[0170] Therefore, in the non-RT state where the internal lottery is executed using the internal lottery table A, the probability of winning one of the winning areas "Replay 1" to "Replay 3" is 8978 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 7.3).

[0171] Furthermore, as described above, in the internal lottery table B, the number of lottery values ​​associated with the winning area "RBB" is associated with the winning area "Replay 1", and therefore the value "8" is associated with the winning area "Replay 1" as the number of lottery values, so the winning probability of the winning area "Replay 1" is 8 / 65536 (1 / 8192). In the internal lottery table B, the number of lottery values ​​associated with the winning area "Replay 2" and the number of lottery values ​​associated with the winning area "Replay 3" are the same as those in the internal lottery table A.

[0172] Therefore, when a bonus is formed and an internal lottery is executed using internal lottery table B, the probability of winning one of the winning areas "Replay 1" to "Replay 3" is 8982 / 65536 (approximately 1 / 7.3).

[0173] 3, the AT control means 200 executes a lottery for a favorable zone when the winning area "RBB" is won in a non-RT state, and when the winning area "Replay 2" is won in a non-RT state or a bonus establishment state. As described above, the winning area "Replay 1" is a replay (a lottery in which the replay probability varies) with a different winning probability in a non-RT state and a bonus establishment state. Therefore, when the winning area "Replay 1" is won, the AT control means 200 cannot execute a predetermined process one-to-one for each winning area depending on the game state (because the winning probability of the winning area "Replay 1" varies depending on the game state, if the winning area "Replay 1" is won, the probability of winning the winning area "Replay 1" and moving to the favorable zone also changes and it is no longer one-to-one). Therefore, in order to maintain fairness in the game, the AT control means 200 does not execute a lottery for a favorable zone.

[0174] The AT control means 200 is configured to be able to execute a lottery related to the instruction function according to the presentation state in any of the following cases when an advantageous zone has started: when the winning area "RBB" has been won in a non-RT state, when the winning area "Replay 1" has been won in a non-RT state or a bonus formation state, and when the winning area "Replay 2" has been won in a non-RT state or a bonus formation state. The AT control means 200 is also configured to execute the same lottery as a lottery related to the instruction function according to the presentation state in any of the following cases when an advantageous zone has started: when the winning area "Replay 1" has been won in a non-RT state or a bonus formation state, and when the winning area "Replay 2" has been won in a non-RT state or a bonus formation state.

[0175] In other words, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment is equipped with an auxiliary game control means that controls the normal zone and the advantageous zone and controls the auxiliary game in the advantageous zone, and has a first winning mode, a second winning mode, and a third winning mode as multiple types of winning modes, and the first winning mode is a mode in which a bonus is won alone, and the second winning mode and the third winning mode include a specific replay, and in both cases in which the second winning mode is won and the third winning mode is won, the slot machine has a normal gaming mode, a bonus formation state to which the machine transitions when a bonus is won in the normal gaming mode, and a bonus state to which the machine transitions when a bonus is won, and in the internal lottery table used in the internal lottery in the bonus formation state, a bonus state is associated with the first winning mode in the internal lottery used in the internal lottery in the normal gaming mode. The number of lottery values ​​obtained is associated with the second winning mode, and the auxiliary game control means executes a favorable zone lottery to determine whether to move to a favorable zone when the first winning mode is won in the internal lottery and when the third winning mode is won in the internal lottery in the normal zone, and the auxiliary game control means does not execute a favorable zone lottery when the third winning mode is won in the internal lottery in the normal zone, and the auxiliary game control means is capable of executing a lottery related to an instruction function based on winning in any of the cases when the first winning mode is won in the internal lottery, when the second winning mode is won in the internal lottery, and when the third winning mode is won in the internal lottery in the favorable zone, and the auxiliary game control means is capable of executing a common lottery for the lottery related to the instruction function based on winning the second winning mode in the internal lottery and the lottery related to the instruction function based on winning the third winning mode in the internal lottery.

[0176] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment executes the advantageous zone lottery when the winning area "RBB" is won and when the winning area "Replay 2" is won, but does not execute the lottery when the winning area "Replay 1" is won, which is a winning area where the winning probability of a replay changes between the non-RT state and the bonus establishment state. Therefore, although there is a difference in the control content related to the start of the advantageous zone between the winning area "RBB" and the winning area "Replay 2" and the winning area "Replay 1", when the advantageous zone starts, In the case where the winning area "Replay A" is won, a lottery related to the instruction function can be executed regardless of whether the winning area "Replay A" is won, the winning area "Replay 1" or the winning area "Replay 2" is won, and in the case where the winning area "Replay 1" is won, which has restrictions associated with maintaining fairness in the game in the control related to the transition to the advantageous zone, and in the case where the winning area "Replay 2" is won, a common lottery can be executed in the lottery related to the instruction function based on winning the winning area in which Replay A is won, so it is possible to prevent the player from feeling a loss due to restrictions associated with maintaining fairness in the game.

[0177] This AT control means 200 constitutes the auxiliary game control means in the first embodiment, the winning area "RBB" constitutes the first winning mode in the first embodiment, the winning area "Replay 1" constitutes the second winning mode in the first embodiment, the winning area "Replay 2" constitutes the third winning mode in the first embodiment, and Replay A constitutes the specific replay in the first embodiment. Also, the non-RT state constitutes the normal gaming state.

[0178] 4. Details of stop control when winning the winning area including small winnings As described above, when executing reel stop control, the reel control means 130 of the first embodiment performs a logic calculation process to determine the stop position of the spinning reel based on a priority order set in advance by logic calculation, and a table reference process to determine the stop position of the spinning reel by referring to the stop control table stored in the reel control data storage means 194 of the storage means 190, and determines the pattern to be displayed on the activated line L1 when the spinning reel is stopped.

[0179] In the logic calculation process, priorities are determined for five candidate stop positions within a range of 0 to 4 frames from the press detection position, which is the position of the reel at the time when the press operation of the stop button is detected, according to priority data defined for each winning combination. Here, the reel control means 130 acquires the rotation state of the reel at the time when it receives a reel stop signal from the stop switch 240 using a reel index, which is information indicating that the reel has made one rotation, output when a photosensor provided on the reel unit 310 detects a reel position detection section provided on each reel, and the rotation angle from the reference position of the reel at which the reel index is detected (calculated from the number of drive pulses supplied to the stepping motor). Then, the candidate stop position with the highest priority among the priorities of the candidate stop positions is determined as the actual stop position.

[0180] In the logic calculation process, when the lottery flags for two or more types of winning combinations are set to the winning state, the priority is determined according to the priority associated with each combination so that the candidate stop positions including the symbols constituting the winning combination of a combination with a higher priority are given a higher priority than the candidate stop positions including the symbols constituting the winning combination of a combination with a lower priority.

[0181] Furthermore, as described above, there are two ways to determine the priority of candidate stop positions in the logic calculation process when multiple types of small winning combinations are won in the internal lottery: number priority control and number priority control. In number priority control, which determines the priority of candidate stop positions according to the number of medals paid out, the priority of each candidate stop position is determined so that the higher the priority is for a stop position that will pay out a larger number of medals based on the payout of the small winning combination corresponding to the pattern displayed at the display position on the activated line L1, that is, the higher the priority is for a stop position that can win a small winning combination with a larger payout.

[0182] Here, in the number priority control, when small winning combinations with the same payout are won multiple times, the priority of the candidate stop positions that can win each small winning combination is treated as being the same.

[0183] Due to this configuration, when the reel control means 130 of the first embodiment wins in an internal lottery in the winning area "common bell" where Bells A to D, which are set to a payout of 8 coins, are multiple wins, the priority of the candidate stop positions that can win each of Bells A to D in the number priority control becomes the same, and there is no difference in priority, so the reel control means 130 executes stop control using the stop control table stored in the reel control data storage means 194.

[0184] When the winning area "common bell" is won, the reel control means 130 executes stop control using a specific stop control table 194a, which is a stop control table stored in advance in the reel control data storage means 194 and is set to stop the symbols that make up the winning symbol combination of bell A, thereby causing the symbols that make up the winning symbol combination of bell A to be stopped and displayed on the activated line L1 regardless of the operation mode of stop buttons B1 to B3.

[0185] Also, as shown in Figure 3, in the slot machine 1, Bell A to Bell D can be won in the winning area "All Small Wins" that can be won in the bonus state, so the priority of the candidate stopping positions that can win each of Bell A to Bell D in the number priority control is the same, and there is no difference in priority.

[0186] As described above, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the game state transitions to the bonus state only when the winning area "RBB" is won in the internal lottery in the non-RT state and the RBB is won in the game in which the winning area "RBB" is won, and if the RBB is not won in the game in which the winning area "RBB" is won, the game state transitions to the bonus formation state.

[0187] In addition, in the slot machine 1, the priority order of roles to be stopped on the valid line L1 in the reel stop control is configured to stop minor roles before bonuses, and when the winning area "RBB & 1-coin role" is won, stop control is executed to make it possible to win any of 1-coin roles A to 1-coin roles C, and since the configuration is such that RBB will not be won, when the winning area "RBB & 1-coin role" is won in the non-RT state, the game state is configured to transition to a bonus formation state.

[0188] In the slot machine 1, in the internal lottery when a bonus is formed, the player is guaranteed to win a winning area including a small win or a replay, and if the small win is not won, the player misses out (no win) and the reel stop control is executed so that the bonus is not won.

[0189] For this reason, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment is configured so that once it shifts to the bonus establishment state, it will not shift to the bonus state in subsequent games until initialization is performed and it shifts to the non-RT state. Also, since the probability of winning the winning area "RBB" in the slot machine 1 is low at 4 / 65536 (1 / 16394), the probability of shifting from the non-RT state to the bonus state is also extremely low.

[0190] Due to this configuration, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the chances of winning the "all minor winning" winning area that can be won in the bonus state are extremely limited.

[0191] As described above, when the slot machine 1 wins the "all minor prizes" winning area where Bells A to D can be won multiple times, the priority of the candidate stop positions that can win each of Bells A to D in the number priority control is the same, and there is no difference in priority, so the slot machine is configured to perform stop control using a stop control table.

[0192] For this reason, if the slot machine 1 were configured to store in advance in the reel control data storage means 194 a stop control table that is used only when the winning area "all small winnings" with extremely limited chances of winning, the data capacity would be constrained by the stop control table that is used with limited chances.

[0193] As a result, the reel control means 130 of the first embodiment is configured to execute stop control using the specific stop control table 194a used when the winning area "common bell" is won when the winning area "all small roles" is won, thereby executing stop control in which bell A is won regardless of the operation mode of stop buttons B1 to B3, just as in the case of winning the winning area "common bell".

[0194] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment shares the stop control table used when winning in the winning area "all minor roles", where the chances of winning are extremely limited and reel stop control is executed using a stop control table stored in advance in the reel control data storage means 194, with the specific stop control table 194a used when winning in the winning area "common bell", thereby eliminating the need to provide a separate stop control table for the winning area "all minor roles", and reducing the data volume stored in the storage means 190.

[0195] Furthermore, since slot machine 1 can only win when in the bonus state, by making the stop control table used when winning in the "all small symbols" winning area, which has an extremely limited chance of winning, common to the "common bell" winning area, it is possible to limit the impact of the small symbols that can be won being biased towards Bell A, and suppress the impact on playability that comes with reducing data capacity.

[0196] This non-RT state and bonus establishment state constitute the first game state in the first embodiment, the bonus state constitutes the second game state in the first embodiment, the winning area "common bell" that wins Bell A as a specific small role constitutes the first small role winning mode in the first embodiment, the winning area "all small roles" that wins all small roles including Bell A constitutes the second small role winning mode in the first embodiment, and the specific stop control table 194a constitutes the specific stop control data in the first embodiment.

[0197] 5. Details of gameplay in AT preparation state Next, the details of the gameplay in the AT preparation state will be explained with reference to FIGS.

[0198] <Small wins that can be won for each batting order when the batting order winning pattern is won> Figure 5 is a diagram showing the winning roles that can be won depending on the batting order of stop button B1 to stop button B3 when winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" (small role batting order winning mode) and winning area "Replay 3" are different winning areas (batting order winning mode) in which the small roles that can be won depending on the batting order of stop button B1 to stop button B3 are won.

[0199] As shown in Figure 5, in slot machine 1, a batting order (correct batting order) is set for each winning area, which will allow Bells A to D, each with a payout of 8 coins, to be won if the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 8" are selected in the internal lottery. These batting orders are set to batting orders 3 to 6, i.e., the batting order in which stop button B2 or stop button B3 is operated to stop first.

[0200] In the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8," if stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in a batting order that is different from the correct batting order (incorrect batting order) and stop button B1 is operated for the first stop, a 1-piece role A with a 1 / 1 payout will be won. Also, in the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 5" to "Batting Order Bell 8," if stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in a batting order that is incorrect and stop button B2 or stop button B3 is operated for the first stop, a 1-piece role A with a 1 / 1 payout will be won.

[0201] In addition, in the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 4," when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in the batting order in which the stop button B2 or stop button B3 is the first stop operation among the incorrect batting orders, the small roles that can be won at the time of the first stop operation are limited to 1-piece role B and 1-piece role C, which are set to a payout of 1 piece each, and the small roles that can be won at the time of the second stop operation are limited to either 1-piece role B or 1-piece role C, and can be won at the third stop operation. If the stop button is pressed at a timing that allows a small winning combination to win (a timing when the patterns of 10 out of 20 frames are displayed in rotation on the valid line L1 and when there is no overlap between 1-piece role B and 1-piece role C), the small winning combination that can win will win, and if the stop button is pressed at a timing that does not allow a small winning combination that can win in the third stop operation to win, a pattern combination different from the winning form of either role will be displayed stopped on the valid line L1, resulting in a missed win.

[0202] The winning area "Replay 3" is configured so that the batting order that allows Replay C to win is set to batting order 1 or batting order 2, i.e., the batting order in which stop button B1 is operated for the first stop, and if stop button B1 to stop button B3 are operated in the batting order in which stop button B2 or stop button B3 is operated for the first stop, Replay A will win with a 1 / 1 probability.

[0203] As described above, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment is configured to recommend a game in which the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting order 1 and batting order 2 when the notification of the operation mode is not executed. In addition, when the winning area "Replay 3" is won in the internal lottery in the advantageous zone and it is determined not to notify the operation mode in the replay notification lottery, the AT control means 200 is configured to execute a lottery relating to an instruction function according to the presentation state in which the game is being executed, and to execute control relating to an instruction function that is advantageous to the player.

[0204] That is, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, when winning the winning area "Replay 3" and when the notification of the operation mode is not executed in the replay notification lottery, it is possible to execute control related to an advantageous instruction function for the player. Also, when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting order 1 or batting order 2, which is a game method recommended based on the fact that the notification of the operation mode is not executed, the replay C wins.

[0205] With such a configuration, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment can suggest that there is a possibility that control related to an advantageous instruction function for the player is executed by winning the replay C, and since the winning probability of the replay C when winning the winning area "Replay 3" can be changed by the probability of the operation notification in the replay notification lottery, the frequency of suggesting that there is a possibility that control related to an advantageous instruction function for the player is executed by changing the winning probability of the replay C according to the production state can be set for each production state, and the interest of the player in the game can be improved by the game property using the winning of the replay C set according to the production state.

[0206] <Control in the AT Preparation State> FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the AT preparation state process, which is control related to an instruction function executed by the AT control means 200 of the first embodiment in the AT preparation state.

[0207] As shown in FIG. 6, since one game is executed in the AT preparation state, the AT control means 200 first adds the value "1" to the AT preparation state counter 197c (S1). Next, the AT control means 200 determines whether or not it has won in the internal lottery in the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" (S2). In this process, the AT control means 200 determines whether or not the result of the internal lottery is in the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8", which are the winning areas that trigger the execution of control for transitioning to the AT state using the winning assistance.

[0208] In the processing of step S2, if it is determined that the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1" to the winning area "Batting Order Bell 8" have been won (YES), the AT control means 200 executes a winning assistance lottery (S3). In this processing, the AT control means 200 executes a lottery to determine either "execution of normal winning assistance," "execution of AT transition winning assistance," or "no winning (miss)."

[0209] Next, the AT control means 200 determines whether or not the "AT transition winning assistance execution" has been won in the winning assistance lottery (S4). In this process, if it is determined that the "AT transition winning assistance execution" has been won (YES), the AT control means 200 adds 1 to the number of times the AT transition winning assistance has been executed (S5). In the processing of step S5, since the AT transition winning assistance will be executed in this game, the AT control means 200 adds a value "1" corresponding to 1 time to the AT winning assistance execution count counter 197d.

[0210] Next, the AT control means 200 determines whether the first stop operation is in accordance with the AT transition winning assistance (S6). In this process, the AT control means 200 determines whether the first stop operation is performed on the stop button B1, which is not suggested to be the first stop operation in the AT transition winning assistance, thereby determining whether the first stop operation is performed in accordance with the AT transition winning assistance.

[0211] In the processing of step S6, if it is determined that the stop button B1 has not been operated to perform the first stop, that is, that the stop button B2 or the stop button B3 has been operated to perform the first stop in accordance with the AT transition winning assistance (YES), the AT control means 200 adds a value of "10" to the AT point counter 197e (S7). In this processing, since a game has been played in accordance with the AT transition winning assistance, the AT control means 200 adds a value of "10" equivalent to 10 points to the AT point counter 197e.

[0212] Next, the AT control means 200 determines whether or not the first stop operation matches the correct batting order (S8). In this process, the AT control means 200 determines whether or not the AT start condition is satisfied by determining whether or not the first stop operation matches the correct batting order.

[0213] In the process of step S2, if it is determined that the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" are not won (NO), in the process of step S4, if it is determined that "Execution of AT Transition Prize Assistance" is not won (NO), in the process of step S6, if it is determined that the first stop operation does not follow the AT transition prize assistance (NO), or in the process of step S8, if it is determined that the first stop operation does not match the correct batting order (NO), the AT control means 200 determines whether or not the stored value of the AT preparation state counter 197c is the value "1650" (S9). In this process, the AT control means 200 determines whether or not the AT start condition is satisfied by executing 1650 games in the AT preparation state, and if it is determined that the stored value of the AT preparation state counter 197c is not the value "1650" (NO), the AT preparation state process ends while maintaining the production state in the AT preparation state.

[0214] In the process of step S8, if it is determined that the first stop operation matches the correct batting order (YES) or in the process of step S9, if it is determined that the stored value of the AT preparation state counter 197c is the value "1650" (YES), the AT control means 200 determines that the AT start condition is satisfied, changes the production state to the AT state (S10), and ends the AT preparation state process.

[0215] <Details of AT Transition Prize Assistance> 7 shows the display mode of the display device 330 and the display mode of the main control display device DS when the AT transition winning assistance is executed. As shown in FIG. 7, the slot machine 1 displays a status display 331a indicating that the AT is in preparation by displaying "AT preparation," a no-operation indicator 331b indicating that the first stop operation is not the stop button B1, a first stop operation suggestion indicator 331c indicating that the first stop operation is the stop button B2 or the stop button B3, and an AT start condition display 331d indicating that the AT state will start if the first stop operation matches the correct batting order, that is, if either the correct stop button B2 or the stop button B3 is operated. The main control display device DS displays a unique display ("07" in the first embodiment) different from the display specifying the correct batting order as a correct operation notification indicating that the batting order in which the stop button B2 or the stop button B3 is first operated is the correct batting order.

[0216] In this way, in the slot machine 1, the operation modes suggested by the navigation effects of the no-operation instruction indicator 331b and the first stop operation suggestion indicator 331c, and the notification of the correct hitting order of "07", which assist in transitioning to AT, are configured so as not to include the operation mode in which the stop button B1 is operated first.

[0217] By implementing the navigation effects of the no-operation instruction indicator 331b and the first stop operation suggestion indicator 331c and the notification of the correct hitting order of "07", the slot machine 1 executes a game in which the stop button B2 or the stop button B3 is operated when a game is executed in accordance with the winning assistance, and executes a game in which the stop button B1 is operated when a game is executed that does not follow the winning assistance.

[0218] As shown in Figure 5, the correct batting order for the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" is set to one of batting orders 3 to 6, respectively, and the first stop button to be operated that matches the correct batting order is configured to be either stop button B2 or stop button B3.

[0219] With this configuration, when the slot machine 1 executes the AT transition winning assistance and the game is played in accordance with the AT transition winning assistance, there is a 1 / 2 probability that the AT state will start and a 1 / 2 probability that the AT preparation state will continue.

[0220] Also, as shown in FIG. 5, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment is configured such that when the stop button B1 is operated to the first stop in a state where the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" are won, Bells A to D, which are set to a payout of 8 coins, do not win, but 1-coin role A, which is set to a payout of 1 coin, wins, and when the stop button B2 or stop button B3 is operated to the first stop, Bells A to D, which are set to a payout of 8 coins, can win. Therefore, the payout rate of the operation mode in which the stop button B1 is operated to the first stop is lower than the payout rate of the operation mode in which a stop button other than stop button B1 (stop button B2, stop button B3) is operated to the first stop.

[0221] Due to this configuration, when the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment wins in the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" in the AT preparation state, it executes an AT transition winning assistance that suggests operating stop button B2 or stop button B3 as the first stop operation as a winning assistance that does not put the player at a disadvantage by executing play in accordance with the winning assistance.By doing so, it is possible to maintain fairness in the game by determining whether or not the AT state, which is a benefit, will begin based on the player's operating style in order to realize diverse gameplay, while at the same time maintaining fairness in the game by the AT transition winning assistance, which is a control that does not put the player at a disadvantage.

[0222] In addition, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, when the AT transition winning assistance is executed and a game is played in accordance with the AT transition winning assistance, the AT preparation state continues with a probability of 1 / 2, but AT points are awarded at the time when a game is played in accordance with the AT transition winning assistance. As described above, in the slot machine 1, when the awarded AT points reach 100 points or more, a benefit related to an instruction function that is advantageous to the player is awarded in the AT state to which the AT preparation state is transitioned.

[0223] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment executes AT transition winning assistance in the AT preparation state, and even if the player plays in accordance with the AT transition winning assistance but does not transition to the AT state because the first stop operation does not match the correct hitting order, when the points awarded reach 100 points or more and the game transitions to the AT state, it executes processing related to the awarding of AT points, which awards a bonus related to the instruction function that is advantageous to the player.By doing so, the AT transition winning assistance as a control related to the instruction function can realize diverse gameplay, reduce the player's sense of loss, and prevent the player's interest in the game from decreasing.

[0224] Furthermore, in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, when the AT transition winning assistance is executed and a game that does not comply with the AT transition winning assistance is executed, AT points are not awarded.

[0225] In other words, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment does not award the second benefit when a specific operation notification is executed and an operation mode not suggested by the specific operation notification is performed.

[0226] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment executes AT transition winning assistance in the AT preparation state, and if the player performs a game that does not follow the AT transition winning assistance, the process of awarding AT points, which will grant a bonus related to an instruction function that is advantageous to the player when the player transitions to the AT state if the awarded points reach 100 points or more, is not executed, thereby preventing the occurrence of strategy by intentionally continuing the AT preparation state and preventing a decline in the marketability of the gaming machine.

[0227] The left reel R1 constitutes the first reel in the first embodiment, the center reel R2 constitutes the second reel in the first embodiment, and the right reel R3 constitutes the third reel in the first embodiment. Also, the stop button B1 constitutes the first stop button in the first embodiment, the stop button B2 constitutes the second stop button in the first embodiment, and the stop button B3 constitutes the third stop button in the first embodiment. Also, the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" constitute specific winning modes in the first embodiment, Bell A to Bell D constitute the first winning combination in the first embodiment, 1-coin combination A to 1-coin combination C constitute the second winning combination in the first embodiment, and the correct batting order that allows Bell A to Bell D to win when the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" are won constitutes the specific operation mode in the first embodiment. In addition, the AT control means 200 and the performance control means 180 that execute the AT transition winning assistance constitute the winning assistance control means and operation notification means in the first embodiment.

[0228] Furthermore, the AT transition winning assistance constitutes the specific operation notification in the first embodiment. Furthermore, an operation mode in which the first stop operation matches the correct batting order set in the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" constitutes the first operation mode suggested by the AT transition winning assistance in the first embodiment, and an operation mode in which the first stop operation does not match the correct batting order set in the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" and the first stop operation is performed on stop button B2 or stop button B3 constitutes the second operation mode suggested by the AT transition winning assistance in the first embodiment. Furthermore, the AT state to which the player transitions by operating stop button B1 to stop button B3 in the first operation mode constitutes the first specific benefit related to the instruction function in the first embodiment, and constitutes the first specific benefit more advantageous than the second specific benefit related to the instruction function, and the AT points awarded by operating stop button B1 to stop button B3 in the second operation mode constitute the second specific benefit related to the instruction function in the first embodiment.

[0229] 6. Summary of the First Embodiment As described above, the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment executes AT transition winning assistance in the AT preparation state, and even if the player plays in accordance with the AT transition winning assistance but does not transition to the AT state because the first stop operation does not match the correct hitting order, when the points awarded reach 100 points or more and the game transitions to the AT state, it executes processing related to the awarding of AT points, which awards a bonus related to the instruction function that is advantageous to the player.By doing so, the AT transition winning assistance as control related to the instruction function can realize diverse gameplay, reduce the player's sense of loss, and prevent the player's interest in the game from decreasing.

[0230] [Second embodiment] Next, a slot machine 1 of a second embodiment, which is a partial modification of the first embodiment, will be described. The slot machine 1 of the second embodiment is configured such that the control configuration related to the instruction function executed in the AT preparation state is different from that of the first embodiment. As the other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are used to designate components that are common to the first embodiment, and their description will be omitted.

[0231] 1. Configuration of the gaming machine in the second embodiment In the AT preparation state, when the winning areas "batting order bell 1" to "batting order bell 8" are won, whether or not to execute the winning assistance for bells A to D is determined by lottery, and therefore this is a presentation state that is more advantageous to the player than the normal state in which the winning assistance for bells A to D is not executed when the winning areas "batting order bell 1" to "batting order bell 8" are won. The AT control means 200 of the second embodiment is configured to be able to execute either the normal winning assistance or the AT transition winning assistance as a specific winning assistance when the winning areas "batting order bell 1" to "batting order bell 8" are won by an internal lottery when the gaming state is a bonus formation state and the presentation state is an AT preparation state, and executes a winning assistance lottery to determine either "execute normal winning assistance," "execute AT transition winning assistance," or "no winning (miss)."

[0232] With this configuration, the AT preparation state of the second embodiment, like the AT preparation state of the first embodiment, is designed so that the payout rate, which is the ratio of the total number of medals paid out to the total number of medals inserted when a predetermined number of games are played, does not fall below 60% and does not exceed 100%, by playing games in accordance with normal winning assistance and AT transition winning assistance.

[0233] In the AT preparation state, the AT control means 200 performs an incremental update by adding a value "1" corresponding to one game to the stored value of the AT preparation state counter 197c of the AT control data storage means 197 each time a game is played.

[0234] The AT control means 200 of the second embodiment determines that the AT start condition is met when the AT transition winning assistance is executed and the first stop operation is an operation mode in accordance with the AT transition winning assistance, and when 1650 games are played in the AT preparation state and the stored value of the AT preparation state counter 197c becomes the value "1650". The AT control means 200 is configured to transition the presentation state from the AT preparation state to the AT state, and to continue the AT preparation state until the condition for starting the AT state (AT start condition) is met.

[0235] As in the first embodiment, the AT transition winning assistance is a winning assistance suggested by the AT control means 200 and the presentation control means 180 when the first stop operation is not the stop button B1 and when the first stop operation is the stop button B2 or the stop button B3. In other words, the AT control means 200 of the second embodiment executes the AT transition winning assistance and when the first stop operation is the stop button B2 or the stop button B3, it determines that the AT start condition is met even if the first stop operation does not match the correct batting order.

[0236] With this configuration, when the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment is in the AT preparation state and the AT transition winning assistance is executed, even if the game is played ignoring the operation mode suggested by the AT transition winning assistance, the slot machine 1 will not transition to the AT state, which is a special benefit for the player, and this prevents the player from intentionally continuing the AT preparation state and reduces the marketability of the gaming machine.In addition, even if the stop buttons B1 to B3 are accidentally operated in an operation mode different from the operation mode suggested by the AT transition winning assistance, the AT preparation state can be continued as long as the stored value of the AT preparation state counter 197c is not the value "1650", thereby preventing the player's interest in the game from decreasing.

[0237] Furthermore, the AT control means 200 of the second embodiment performs an incremental update to add a value of "1" to the stored value of the AT winning assistance execution count counter 197d in the AT control data storage means 197 when the "AT transition winning assistance execution" is won in the winning assistance lottery. When the AT control means 200 executes the winning assistance lottery in the AT preparation state, it acquires a lottery table according to the stored value of the AT winning assistance execution count counter 197d. The lottery table used in the winning assistance lottery is configured so that the larger the stored value of the AT winning assistance execution count counter 197d, the higher the probability of winning the "AT transition winning assistance execution".

[0238] With this configuration, in the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment, when the AT transition winning assistance is executed in the AT preparation state and the first stop operation is executed on the stop button B1 and the AT preparation state continues, the longer the AT preparation state continues, the more frequently the AT transition winning assistance is executed, and the higher the probability of transitioning from the AT preparation state to the AT state.Therefore, the more the player continues playing without following the operation mode suggested by the AT transition winning assistance, the more frequently the AT transition winning assistance is executed, and the player can be encouraged to play in accordance with the operation mode suggested by the AT transition winning assistance and quickly transition to the AT state.

[0239] In addition, the AT control means 200 of the second embodiment executes a start-up addition process that adds (adds) 10 games to the number of games that can be played in the AT state to which the player transitions from the AT preparation state when the "Execution of AT transition winning assistance" is won in the winning assistance lottery and the first stop operation is an operation mode in accordance with the AT transition winning assistance.

[0240] In addition, the AT control means 200 of the second embodiment executes an AT CZ lottery to determine whether to transition to the AT CZ state when the "Execution of AT transition winning assistance" is won in the winning assistance lottery and the operation mode of the stop buttons B1 to B3 matches the correct hitting order. When the "Transition to AT CZ state" is won in the AT CZ lottery, the AT control means 200 transitions the presentation state from the AT state to the AT CZ state after a predetermined number of games (for example, 5 games) have been played in the AT state to which the AT preparation state is transitioned.

[0241] As described above, the AT transition winning assistance is a notification mode that suggests that the stop button operated in the first stop operation is not stop button B1, and therefore is a winning assistance that includes an operation mode in which the first stop operation matches the correct batting order and an operation mode in which the first stop operation does not match the correct batting order. Also, since the AT transition winning assistance does not notify about the operation modes of the second stop operation and onwards, there is a configuration in which stop buttons B1 to B3 may be operated in an operation mode that does not match the correct batting order in the second stop operation, even if the first stop operation matches the correct batting order.

[0242] Due to this configuration, the AT control means 200 of the second embodiment executes AT transition winning assistance in the AT preparation state, and when the operation mode of stop buttons B1 to B3 matches the correct hitting order, executes an AT CZ lottery that enables transition to the AT CZ state as a benefit related to an instruction function that is advantageous to the player.

[0243] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment suggests that the first stop operation that matches the correct batting order is the stop button B2 or the stop button B3 in the AT preparation state, and does not suggest the AT transition winning assistance after the second stop operation. When the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in the correct batting order, in order to execute the CZ lottery during AT as a privilege related to an advantageous instruction function for the player, it is possible to improve the player's interest in the game who can operate the stop buttons B1 to B3 in an operation mode that matches the correct batting order.

[0244] 2. Details of the game performance in the AT preparation state Next, details of the game performance in the AT preparation state of the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment will be described.

[0245] <Control in the AT preparation state> FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an AT preparation state process which is control related to an instruction function executed by the AT control means 200 of the second embodiment in the AT preparation state.

[0246] For the processes that are executed substantially in the same manner between the AT preparation state process executed in the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment and the AT preparation state process executed in the slot machine 1 of the first embodiment, the same step numbers are assigned and the description is omitted.

[0247] In the process of step S6, when it is determined that the stop button B1 has not been first stopped, that is, when it is determined that the stop button B2 or the stop button B3 has been first stopped according to the AT transition winning assistance (YES), the AT control means 200 determines whether the operation modes of the stop buttons B1 to B3 match the correct batting order (S21). In this process, the AT control means 200 determines whether all of the stop operations from the first stop operation to the third stop operation match the correct batting order set in the winning areas "batting order bell 1" to "batting order bell 8" that have been won.

[0248] In the processing of step S21, if it is determined that the operation mode of the stop buttons B1 to B3 matches the correct batting order (YES), the AT control means 200 executes the AT CZ lottery (S22). Next, the AT control means 200 determines whether or not the "transition to AT CZ state" has been won in the AT CZ lottery (S23). In this processing, if it is determined that the "transition to AT CZ state" has been won (YES), the AT control means 200 decides to transition to the AT CZ state (S24). In this processing, since the "transition to AT CZ state" has been won in the AT CZ lottery, the AT control means 200 transitions to the AT state, and after a predetermined number of games (for example, 5 games) have been played in the transitioned AT state, the presentation state transitions from the AT state to the AT CZ state.

[0249] In the processing of step S2, if it is determined that the winning areas "batting order bell 1" to "batting order bell 8" have not been won (NO), if it is determined in the processing of step S4 that the "execution of AT transition winning assistance" has not been won (NO), or if it is determined in the processing of step S6 that the first stop operation has not been performed in accordance with the AT transition winning assistance (NO), the AT control means 200 determines whether the stored value of the AT preparation state counter 197c is the value "1650" (S9). In this processing, the AT control means 200 determines whether the AT start condition has been met by the execution of 1650 games in the AT preparation state, and if it is determined that the stored value of the AT preparation state counter 197c is not the value "1650" (NO), it ends the AT preparation state processing while maintaining the presentation state in the AT preparation state.

[0250] After executing the process of step S24, in the process of step S21, if it is determined that the operation modes of the stop buttons B1 to B3 do not match the correct order of strikes (NO), in the process of step S23, if it is not selected to "transition to the CZ state during AT" (NO), or in the process of step S9, if it is determined that the stored value of the AT preparation state counter 197c is the value "1650" (YES), the AT control means 200 determines that the AT start condition is satisfied, and executes the process related to the AT state transition for transitioning the production state to the AT state (S25), and ends the AT preparation state process.

[0251] <Process related to AT state transition> FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the process related to the AT state transition executed in the process of step S25 of the AT preparation state process.

[0252] In the process related to the AT state transition, first, the AT control means 200 determines whether it has transitioned from the CZ state to the AT preparation state (S31). In this process, the AT control means 200 determines whether the production state before transitioning to the current AT preparation state was the CZ state, thereby determining whether the AT state to be transitioned to is the first AT state in the current advantageous section.

[0253] In the process of step S31, if it is determined that it has transitioned from the CZ state to the AT preparation state (YES), the AT control means 200 sets the initial value of the value "40" because the AT state to be transitioned to is the first AT state in the current advantageous section and the stored value of the AT game number counter 197f is the value "0" (S32).

[0254] After executing the process of step S32 or when it is determined in the process of step S31 that the transition has been made from the AT state to the AT standby state (NO), based on the privilege resulting from the establishment of the AT start condition, the AT control means 200 adds the value "10" to the AT game number counter 197f (S33). After executing the process of step S33, the AT control means 200 changes the production state to the AT state (S34) and ends the process related to the AT state transition.

[0255] <Summary of the case of transitioning from the AT standby state to the AT state> As described above, in the AT transition winning assistance of the second embodiment, the AT control means 200 suggests that the first stop operation is not the stop button B1, thereby suggesting an operation mode including the correct batting order. When the first stop operation is executed on the stop button B2 or the stop button B3 according to the AT transition winning assistance, it is configured to end the AT standby state and transition to the AT state.

[0256] Further, when the AT control means 200 executes the AT transition winning assistance and the first stop operation is executed on the stop button B1, if the stored value of the AT standby state counter 197c that manages the length of the period during which the AT standby state continues by the number of games played does not reach the value "1650" as a predetermined value (is less than the predetermined value), the AT standby state continues.

[0257] Then, in the game in which the stored value of the AT standby state counter 197c reaches the value "1650", even when the AT transition winning assistance is executed in the game and the stop button B1 is the first stop operation, it is configured to end the AT standby state and transition to the AT state.

[0258] With this configuration, when the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment is in the AT preparation state and the AT transition winning assistance is executed, even if the game is played ignoring the operation mode suggested by the AT transition winning assistance, the slot machine 1 will not transition to the AT state, which is a special benefit for the player, and this prevents the player from intentionally continuing the AT preparation state and reduces the marketability of the gaming machine.In addition, even if the stop buttons B1 to B3 are accidentally operated in an operation mode different from the operation mode suggested by the AT transition winning assistance, the AT preparation state can be continued as long as the stored value of the AT preparation state counter 197c is not the value "1650", thereby preventing the player's interest in the game from decreasing.

[0259] Furthermore, when the AT transition winning assistance is executed in the AT preparation state, even if play continues ignoring the operation mode suggested by the AT transition winning assistance, 1650 games will be played in the AT preparation state, and if the stored value of the AT preparation state counter 197c reaches the value "1650", the AT preparation state will end and the game will transition to the AT state even if play is played in the operation mode of performing the first stop operation on the stop button B1, which is the operation mode suggested by the AT transition winning assistance not to transition to the AT state, so it is possible to prevent the AT preparation state from continuing until the end of the advantageous zone, resulting in gameplay that was not intended by the designer of the gaming machine and a decline in the marketability of the gaming machine.

[0260] In addition, the AT control means 200 of the second embodiment is configured to execute the AT transition winning assistance, and when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in the correct hitting order among the multiple operation modes suggested by the AT transition winning assistance, execute the AT CZ lottery. The AT control means 200 is configured not to execute the AT CZ lottery when the AT transition winning assistance is executed and the first stop operation is executed by the stop button B1, even if the stored value of the AT preparation state counter 197c reaches the value "1650" in the game and the AT preparation state is ended and the transition to the AT state is made.

[0261] With this configuration, in the AT standby state, the AT transition winning assist of the second embodiment is executed. When the operation mode suggested by the AT transition winning assist is executed, even when transitioning to the AT state, the AT mid-CZ lottery, which is a privilege related to the instruction function not granted, can be executed. When a game not following the AT transition winning assist is executed, even when transitioning to the AT state because the stored value of the AT standby state counter 197c becomes the value "1650", the AT mid-CZ lottery is not executed. Thus, it is possible to give the player an incentive to play a game according to the AT transition winning assist provided to realize various game characteristics using the control related to the instruction function, and improve the player's interest in the game.

[0262] <Details of the effect when transitioning to the AT state> FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a case where in the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment, a game is executed in the AT transition state transitioned from the AT state, the AT transition winning assist is executed, and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in an operation mode according to the AT transition winning assist. FIG. 10(A) is a diagram showing the display mode of the display device 330 and the display mode of the main control display device DS when the AT transition winning assist is executed. FIG. 10(B) is a diagram showing the display mode of the display device 330 when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in an operation mode according to the AT transition winning assist and transitioning to the AT state.

[0263] 10(A), the slot machine 1 displays a status indicator 331a indicating that the AT is in preparation by displaying "AT preparation," a no-operation indicator 331b indicating that the first stop operation is not the stop button B1, a first stop operation suggestion indicator 331c indicating that the first stop operation is the stop button B2 or the stop button B3, and an AT start condition indicator 331e indicating that the AT state will start when the first stop operation according to the AT transition winning assistance is executed, that is, when the stop button B2 or the stop button B3 is operated. Then, the main control display device DS displays a unique display ("07" in the second embodiment) different from the display specifying the correct batting order as a correct operation notification indicating that the batting order in which the stop button B2 or the stop button B3 is first stopped is the correct batting order.

[0264] In this way, in the slot machine 1, the operation modes notified by the AT transition winning assistance, such as the navigation effects of the no-operation instruction indicator 331b and the first stop operation suggestion indicator 331c and the notification of the correct hitting order of "07", are configured not to include the operation mode in which the stop button B1 is operated first.

[0265] By implementing the navigation effects of the no-operation instruction indicator 331b and the first stop operation suggestion indicator 331c and the notification of the correct hitting order of "07", the slot machine 1 executes a game in which the stop button B2 or the stop button B3 is operated when a game is executed in accordance with the winning assistance, and executes a game in which the stop button B1 is operated when a game is executed that does not follow the winning assistance.

[0266] As described above, the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment is configured so that when the AT transition winning assistance is executed and the stop button B2 or stop button B3 is operated to perform the first stop operation in accordance with the AT transition winning assistance, the AT state is initiated even if the first stop operation is a stop operation different from the first stop operation set in the correct batting order of the winning areas ``Batting Order Bell 1'' to ``Batting Order Bell 8'' that have been won in the game.

[0267] With this configuration, in the slot machine 1, when the AT transition winning assistance is executed and a game is played in accordance with the AT transition winning assistance, the AT state is initiated with a probability of 1 / 1.

[0268] Furthermore, in the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment, when the stop button B1 is operated to the first stop in a state where the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" are won, Bells A to D, which are set to a payout of 8 coins, will not win, and 1-coin role A, which is set to a payout of 1 coin, will win, and when the stop button B2 or stop button B3 is operated to the first stop, Bells A to D, which are set to a payout of 8 coins, will be able to win. Therefore, the payout rate for the operation mode in which stop button B1 is operated to the first stop is configured to be lower than the payout rate for the operation mode in which a stop button other than stop button B1 (stop button B2, stop button B3) is operated to the first stop.

[0269] Due to this configuration, when the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment wins in the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" in the AT preparation state, it executes an AT transition winning assistance that suggests operating stop button B2 or stop button B3 as the first stop operation as a winning assistance that does not put the player at a disadvantage by executing play in accordance with the winning assistance.By doing so, it is possible to maintain fairness in the game by determining whether or not the AT state, which is a benefit, will begin based on the player's operating style in order to realize diverse gameplay, while at the same time maintaining fairness in the game by the AT transition winning assistance, which is a control that does not put the player at a disadvantage.

[0270] As shown in Figure 10 (B), the slot machine 1 displays a status display 331f that indicates that the AT preparation state has ended and the AT state will begin by displaying "AT Start!", and an additional display 331g that indicates that it has been decided that an additional 10 games will be added when the AT state begins by displaying "+10G!".

[0271] 11A and 11B are diagrams showing a case in which, in the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment, an AT transition winning assistance is executed in the AT transition state transitioned from the CZ state, and a game is executed in which the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in an operation manner in accordance with the AT transition winning assistance, and FIG. 11A is a diagram showing the display mode of the display device 330 and the display mode of the main control display device DS when the AT transition winning assistance is executed, and FIG. 11B is a diagram showing the display mode of the display device 330 when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in an operation manner in accordance with the AT transition winning assistance and transition is made to the AT state. Note that the contents shown in FIG. 11A are substantially the same as those shown in FIG. 10A, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0272] As shown in Figure 11 (B), the slot machine 1 displays a status display 331f that indicates that the AT preparation state has ended and the AT state has begun by displaying "AT Start!", and an additional display 331h that notifies the player that when the AT state begins, 40 games, which are set as the initial value, and 10 additional games have been decided to be awarded as the initial number of games by displaying "+50G!".

[0273] As described above, the AT control means 200 of the second embodiment transitions from the AT preparation state to the AT state when the AT transition winning assistance is executed in the AT preparation state transitioned from the CZ state, and the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in an operation manner according to the AT transition winning assistance. At this time, as shown in Figure 9, the AT control means 200 is configured to set the value "40" to the AT game number counter 197f in the processing of step S32, and then add the value "10" to the AT game number counter 197f in the processing of step S33.

[0274] In other words, in the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment, when transitioning from the AT preparation state transitioned from the CZ state to the AT state, the AT control means 200 executes processing steps S32 and S33 related to the AT state transition, causing the AT game number counter 197f to reach the value "50" and starting the AT state.

[0275] Due to this configuration, the presentation control means 180 of the second embodiment is configured so that the value "40" is set to the stored value of the AT game number counter 197f by the AT control means 200 and then the value "10" is added, but is also configured to execute an additional display 331h to notify that the final result, the value "50", has been reached.

[0276] In this way, in the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment, when the AT preparation state entered from the AT state ends and the state transitions to the AT state, the addition display 331g is displayed on the display device 330 to notify that a value of "10" will be added (topped up) to the stored value of the AT game number counter 197f, and when the AT preparation state ends from the CZ state and the state transitions to the AT state, the addition display 331h is displayed on the display device 330 to notify that the stored value of the AT game number counter 197f has become "50", which is the result of the value "40" being set and then the value "10" being added (topped up), in other words, the value "50", which is the number of games combined, the initial value of "40" and the added value of "10", will be awarded.

[0277] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment displays the final result on the display device 330 even if the AT control means 200 adds multiple values ​​to the AT game number counter 197f when the AT state is initiated, thereby preventing the notification mode displayed on the display device 330 from becoming cumbersome, reducing the risk of the displayed notification mode causing discomfort to the player, and preventing a decrease in the player's interest in the game.

[0278] In addition, in the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment, when the AT preparation state transitioned from the AT state ends and the transition to the AT state occurs, an addition display 331g is displayed on the display device 330 to notify that a value of "10" will be added (topped up) to the stored value of the AT game number counter 197f, and when the AT preparation state ends from the CZ state and the transition to the AT state occurs, the stored value of the AT game number counter 197f becomes "50", which is the result of the value "40" being set and then the value "10" being added (topped up), in other words, the addition of the value "10" that was given based on the transition to the AT state after the value "40" was set as the initial value is not notified.

[0279] With this configuration, the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment is configured to add 10 games in both cases, when the AT preparation state entered from the AT state ends and the AT state begins, and when the AT preparation state entered from the CZ state ends and the AT state begins. However, when the AT preparation state entered from the CZ state ends and the AT state begins, the AT state has not started before the AT preparation state is entered, and the first AT state in this advantageous zone, the AT state which is the so-called first hit, begins. Therefore, if the display mode is such that the initial value "40" is set in the AT game number counter 197f before the AT state begins and then the value "10" is added, it becomes difficult to understand the initial number of games in the AT state. Therefore, by not notifying the fact that the value "10" has been added, the notification mode displayed on the display device 330 does not become complicated, the risk of the player being annoyed by the displayed notification mode is reduced, and it is possible to prevent the player's interest in the game from decreasing.

[0280] In addition, in the case of transitioning from the AT preparation state to the AT state, the AT control means 200 of the second embodiment executes the processing related to the AT state transition shown in Fig. 9 to transition the presentation state to the AT state. As shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, the AT control means 200 is configured to execute the processing related to the AT state transition that is common in the case of transitioning from the AT preparation state transitioned from the AT state to the AT state, and in the case of transitioning from the AT preparation state transitioned from the CZ state to the AT state, in either case of transitioning from the AT preparation state transitioned from the AT state to the AT state, or in the case of transitioning from the AT preparation state transitioned from the CZ state to the AT state, it is configured to execute the processing of step S33 of adding (adding) the value "10" to the AT game number counter 197f.

[0281] In other words, the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment can execute a common first benefit awarding process when awarding the first benefit in a specific state transitioned from the first situation and when awarding the first benefit in a specific state transitioned from the second situation.

[0282] With this configuration, the AT control means 200 of the second embodiment executes the processing of step S33 in the processing related to the common AT state transition when the AT preparation state transitioned from the CZ state ends and the first AT state in this advantageous zone, the AT state which is the so-called first hit, begins, and when the AT preparation state transitioned from the AT state ends and the AT state resumes.Therefore, it is possible to grant an additional 10 games in the AT state regardless of the situation in which the AT preparation state started without increasing the data capacity of the program, and it is possible to execute notifications related to the granting of benefits executed in conjunction with the start of the AT state in different notification modes depending on the situation in which the AT preparation state started, thereby increasing the player's interest in the presentation.

[0283] The presentation control means 180 that executes the additional displays 331g and 331h constitutes the bonus notification means in the second embodiment, the AT preparation state constitutes the specific state in the second embodiment, the situation in which 300 or more games have been played in the AT state transitioned from the AT preparation state constitutes the first situation in the second embodiment, and the situation in which transition to the AT preparation state is determined in the CZ state constitutes the second situation in the second embodiment. Also, the addition of the value "10" to the AT game number counter 197f granted upon transitioning from the AT preparation state to the AT state, i.e., the addition of 10 games to the number of games in which the AT state can be executed, constitutes the first bonus in the second embodiment, and the setting of the value "40" to the AT game number counter 197f granted upon transitioning from the AT preparation state transitioned from the CZ state to the AT state, i.e., the setting of 40 games as the number of games in which the AT state can be executed, constitutes the second bonus in the second embodiment. In addition, the notification mode that notifies that an additional 10 games have been added by displaying the additional display 331g constitutes the first notification mode in the second embodiment, the notification mode that notifies that an initial number of 50 games has been added by displaying the additional display 331h constitutes the second notification mode in the second embodiment, and the processing of step S33 of the processing related to the transition to the AT state constitutes the first bonus awarding processing.

[0284] 3. Summary of the Second Embodiment As described above, in the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment, when the AT transition winning assistance is executed in the AT preparation state, even if the game is played ignoring the operation mode suggested by the AT transition winning assistance, the game will not transition to the AT state, which is a special benefit for the player, and this prevents the player from intentionally continuing the AT preparation state and reduces the marketability of the gaming machine.In addition, even if the stop buttons B1 to B3 are accidentally operated in an operation mode different from the operation mode suggested by the AT transition winning assistance, the AT preparation state can be continued as long as the stored value of the AT preparation state counter 197c is not the value "1650", thereby preventing the player's interest in the game from decreasing.

[0285] Furthermore, in the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment, when the AT transition winning assistance is executed in the AT preparation state, even if the game continues ignoring the operation mode suggested by the AT transition winning assistance, 1650 games will be played in the AT preparation state, and if the stored value of the AT preparation state counter 197c reaches the value "1650", the AT preparation state will end and the game will transition to the AT state even if the game is played in the operation mode of performing the first stop operation on the stop button B1, which is the operation mode suggested by the AT transition winning assistance not to transition to the AT state, so it is possible to prevent the AT preparation state from continuing until the end of the advantageous zone, resulting in gameplay that is not intended by the designer of the gaming machine and a decline in the marketability of the gaming machine.

[0286] Furthermore, the slot machine 1 of the second embodiment is configured to add 10 games in both cases, when the AT preparation state entered from the AT state ends and the AT state begins, and when the AT preparation state entered from the CZ state ends and the AT state begins. However, when the AT preparation state entered from the CZ state ends and the AT state begins, the AT state has not started before the AT preparation state is entered and the first AT state in this advantageous zone, the AT state which is the so-called first hit, begins. Therefore, if the display mode is such that the initial value "40" is set in the AT game number counter 197f before the AT state begins and then the value "10" is added, it becomes difficult to understand the initial number of games in the AT state. Therefore, by not notifying the fact that the value "10" has been added, the notification mode displayed on the display device 330 does not become complicated, the risk of the player being annoyed by the displayed notification mode is reduced, and it is possible to prevent the player's interest in the game from decreasing.

[0287] [Other embodiments] In the first and second embodiments, the slot machine 1 has winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" as winning modes in which any one of Bell A to Bell D set to a payout of 8 coins as the first role and at least one of 1-coin roles A to C set to a payout of 1 coin as the second role are overlappingly won, but is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may be configured to have a winning mode in which different minor roles set to the same payout for the first role and the second role are overlappingly won, for example, or may be configured to have a winning mode in which different replays for the first role and the second role are overlappingly won.

[0288] In the case of such a configuration, the slot machine 1 may be configured to execute only the navigation effect by the effect control means 180 without notifying the correct operation using the main control display device DS by the AT control means 200 for the specific winning assistance. In this case, the effect control means 180 constitutes the winning assistance control means and the operation notification means.

[0289] In the first and second embodiments, the correct batting orders set for the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" in the slot machine 1 are configured as batting orders 3 to 6, but are not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may be configured to have the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 12" as specific winning modes, and to set any of the batting orders 1 to 6 as the correct batting orders for the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 12", respectively.

[0290] When configured in this manner, the slot machine 1 may be configured such that the winning symbol combination for the rare role that wins in the winning area "rare role" is composed of symbols that will win only when the symbols on any of the left reel R1 to right reel R3 are operated at the appropriate timing (for example, the winning symbol combination is composed of cherry symbols arranged in one frame on the left reel R1, replay symbols arranged at intervals of no more than four frames on the middle reel R2, and bell symbols arranged at intervals of no more than four frames on the right reel R3), so that the payout rate when stop button B1 is operated for the first stop is lower than the payout rate when a stop button other than stop button B1 is operated for the first stop.

[0291] Furthermore, when configured in this manner, the AT control means 200 may be configured to execute normal winning assistance when batting order 1 or batting order 2 wins in a winning area set in the correct batting order out of the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 12", and execute AT transition winning assistance when batting order 3 to batting order 6 wins in a winning area set in the correct batting order out of the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 12", so that when batting order 1 or batting order 2 wins in a winning area set in the correct batting order, no transition from the AT ready state to the AT state is made regardless of the operation mode of stop buttons B1 to B3, but to transition from the AT ready state to the AT state when batting order 3 to batting order 6 wins in a winning area set in the correct batting order and the AT transition winning assistance is executed and a first stop operation that matches the correct batting order is executed.

[0292] In the first and second embodiments, the slot machine 1 is configured so that the payout rate when the stop button B1 is operated to the first stop is lower than the payout rate when a stop button other than the stop button B1 is operated to the first stop, but is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may be configured so that the payout rate when the stop button B2 is operated to the first stop is lower than the payout rate when a stop button other than the stop button B2 is operated to the first stop, or so that the payout rate when the stop button B3 is operated to the first stop is lower than the payout rate when a stop button other than the stop button B3 is operated to the first stop.

[0293] When configured in this way, the presentation control means 180 may be configured to display one no-operation indicator indicating that the first stop operation is not the first stop button and three first stop operation suggestion indicators indicating that the first stop operation is any of the second to fourth stop buttons for the navigation presentation executed as an AT transition winning assistance, and any presentation mode may be used as long as it is composed of a navigation presentation that includes a specific operation mode and does not include an operation mode in which the first stop button is operated first. Also, the AT control means 200 may be configured to use any display mode for the correct operation notification executed in the AT transition winning assistance as long as it is configured to provide a notification consisting of a unique display by the main control display device DS.

[0294] Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments, the slot machine 1 is configured such that the AT transition winning assistance is comprised of the navigation effects of the no-operation instruction indicator 331b and the first stop operation suggestion indicator 331c, and the correct hitting order notification of "07", but it is not limited to this, and any presentation and display mode may be used as long as it allows the player to recognize that the operation mode notified by the AT transition winning assistance does not include the operation mode in which the first stop button is operated first and does not impair the fairness of the game.

[0295] Also, in the first embodiment, the AT control means 200 is configured to transition to the AT state as a first specific benefit related to the instruction function, but is not limited to this. The AT control means 200 may have, for example, as the first specific benefit, determining by lottery whether to transition from the AT preparation state to the added-on specialized state, or may have as the first specific benefit, determining by lottery the initial number of games to transition from the AT preparation state to the AT state, and the specific content is not limited to the first embodiment, and it is sufficient that it is configured to be able to grant a benefit related to the instruction function, and it does not necessarily have to be configured to grant it every time.

[0296] Also, in the first embodiment, the AT control means 200 is configured to award 10 AT points as the second specific benefit related to the instruction function, but is not limited to this. The AT control means 200 may be configured to have, for example, as the second specific benefit, a lottery to determine whether or not to increase the probability of transitioning to the CZ state during the AT in the AT state transitioned from the AT preparation state, and as long as it is configured as a benefit related to the instruction function, its specific content is not limited to that of the first embodiment, and it is sufficient that it is configured to be able to award the benefit related to the instruction function, and it does not necessarily have to be configured to be awarded every time.

[0297] In addition, in the first and second embodiments, the slot machine 1 has an AT preparation state counter 197c that manages the length of the period during which the AT preparation state continues by the number of games played, as a counter for managing the length of the period during which the AT preparation state continues, but is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may have a counter that manages the period during which the AT preparation state continues by the number of payouts, by controlling the AT preparation state to end and transition to the AT state when the number of payouts in the AT preparation state reaches a predetermined value, or may have a counter that manages the period during which the AT preparation state continues by the number of executions of the AT transition winning assistance, by controlling the AT preparation state to end and transition to the AT state when the number of executions of the AT transition winning assistance reaches a predetermined value, and the type of value counted by the counter that can manage the period during which the AT preparation state continues is not limited to the number of games played, which is the configuration of the first and second embodiments.

[0298] In the first and second embodiments, the slot machine 1 has an AT preparation state as a first state and an AT state as a second state, but is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may have an AT CZ state as a first state and an add-on specialized state as a second state. When configured in this way, the slot machine 1 may be configured to execute AT transition winning assistance in the AT CZ state, and transition to the add-on specialized state when a game is played in accordance with the AT transition winning assistance.

[0299] In addition, in the second embodiment, the AT control means 200 is configured to transition to the AT state when either the stop button B2 or the stop button B3 is operated as the first stop operation when the AT transition winning assistance is executed and the first stop operation in accordance with the AT transition winning assistance is executed, but is not limited to this. The AT control means 200 may be configured to transition to the AT state (first specific benefit) when the AT transition winning assistance is executed and the first stop operation is operated in a first operation mode among the transition operation modes in which the correct batting order and the first stop operation match, and to continue the AT preparation state and add 10 games to the number of games that the AT state continues (second specific benefit) when the AT transition winning assistance is executed and the first stop operation is operated in a second operation mode among the transition operation modes in which the correct batting order and the first stop operation do not match.

[0300] When configured in this way, the first specific benefit may be awarded by lottery when the AT transition winning assistance is executed and the first operation mode in which the correct batting order and the first stop operation match among the transition operation modes is used, or the second specific benefit may be awarded by lottery when the AT transition winning assistance is executed and the second operation mode in which the correct batting order and the first stop operation do not match among the transition operation modes.

[0301] In addition, in the second embodiment, the slot machine 1 has an AT preparation state as a specific state, a first situation in which 300 or more games have been played in the AT state transitioned from the AT preparation state, and a second situation in which a transition to the AT preparation state has been determined in the CZ state, but is not limited thereto. The slot machine 1 has, as a specific state, an end waiting state in which a game in which the correct batting order is notified when the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" are won is executed and continues until the end condition of the advantageous zone is met, and the first situation is a situation in which the stored value of the AT preparation state counter 197c has reached the value "1900", and the second situation is a situation in which the stored value of the AT preparation state counter 197c is less than the value "1900" and a transition to the end waiting state has been determined by a lottery related to an instruction function executed in the add-on specialization state.

[0302] When configured in this manner, the first benefit may consist of setting the number of games played to 100 as the period during which the end waiting state will continue, and the second benefit may consist of setting the difference value obtained by subtracting the value "1900" from the stored value of the AT preparation state counter 197c at the time when the game that transitions to the end waiting state is executed (for example, if the transition to the end waiting state is decided at a time when the stored value of the AT preparation state counter 197c is the value "1600", the difference value obtained by subtracting the value "1900" from the value "1600" is "300") as the period (number of games) during which the end waiting state will continue.

[0303] In addition, the AT control means 200 of the second embodiment is configured to execute AT transition winning assistance and, when the first stop operation is executed in accordance with the AT transition winning assistance, if the operation mode of stop buttons B1 to B3 matches the correct hitting order, add 10 games to the number of games that will continue the AT state and execute a CZ lottery during the AT, and if the operation mode is in accordance with the AT transition winning assistance but different from the correct hitting order, add 10 games to the number of games that will continue the AT state, but this is not limited to this. The AT control means 200 may be configured, for example, to execute an AT transition winning assistance and, when the first stop operation in accordance with the AT transition winning assistance is executed, if the operation mode of stop buttons B1 to B3 matches the correct hitting order, to add 30 games to the number of games during which the AT state continues and to execute a CZ lottery during the AT, and to execute an addition of 10 games to the number of games during which the AT state continues if the operation mode is in accordance with the AT transition winning assistance but different from the correct hitting order.

[0304] By being configured in this manner, the slot machine 1 executes the AT transition winning assistance in the AT preparation state, and when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in the correct hitting order among the operation modes suggested by the AT transition winning assistance, it is possible to grant a bonus related to the instruction function, which includes an addition of 30 games to the number of plays during which the AT state will continue and a CZ lottery during the AT.In addition, when the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in an operation mode other than the correct hitting order among the operation modes suggested by the AT transition winning assistance, the number of plays during which the AT state will continue will be added by 10 games.Therefore, when playing in accordance with the AT transition winning assistance provided to realize diverse playability using control related to the instruction function, a bonus is granted to the player even if the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in an operation mode that does not match the correct hitting order, thereby reducing the player's sense of loss due to the addition of 30 games to the number of plays during which the AT state will continue and the CZ lottery during the AT not being executed, and preventing the player's interest in the game from decreasing.

[0305] When configured in this manner, the AT transition winning assistance constitutes a specific operation notification, and the AT control means 200 and presentation control means 180 that execute the AT transition winning assistance constitute winning assistance control means and operation notification means. Also, the AT preparation state constitutes the first state, and the AT state constitutes the second state. Also, of the operation modes suggested by the AT transition winning assistance, the operation mode of performing the first stop operation on stop button B1 constitutes the non-transition operation mode, and the operation mode of performing the first stop operation on stop button B2 or stop button B3 constitutes the transition operation mode. Also, the AT preparation state counter 197c constitutes a counter, and the AT CZ lottery that is executed when the AT transition winning assistance is executed and stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in the correct hitting order constitutes a predetermined benefit.

[0306] Furthermore, an operation mode that matches the correct batting order set in the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" constitutes a first operation mode suggested by the AT transition winning assistance, and an operation mode that does not match the correct batting order set in the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" and in which stop button B2 or stop button B3 is operated to the first stop constitutes a second operation mode suggested by the AT transition winning assistance. Furthermore, the addition of 30 games to the number of games during which the AT state continues, which is executed by operating stop button B1 to stop button B3 in the first operation mode, and the CZ lottery during the AT, constitute a first specific benefit related to the instruction function, which is more advantageous than the second specific benefit related to the instruction function, and the addition of 10 games to the number of games during which the AT state continues, which is granted by operating stop button B1 to stop button B3 in the second operation mode, constitutes a second specific benefit related to the instruction function different from the first specific benefit.

[0307] In addition, in the second embodiment, when the slot machine 1 is in an AT preparation state transitioned from the CZ state and an AT transition winning assistance is executed, and a game is played in accordance with the AT transition winning assistance to transition to the AT state, when the stop button B1 to stop button B3 are operated to stop during the game in which the AT transition winning assistance is executed and the left reel R1 to right reel R3 stop, the display device 330 is configured to display a status display 331f that displays "AT started!" and an additional display 331h that notifies the player that the initial number of games, 40 games set as the initial value and 10 additional games, have been decided to be awarded when the AT state starts, but this is not limited to this.

[0308] For example, when the slot machine 1 is in an AT preparation state transitioned from the CZ state and an AT transition winning assistance is executed, and a game is played in accordance with the AT transition winning assistance to transition to the AT state, if the stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated to stop during the game in which the AT transition winning assistance is executed and the left reel R1 to right reel R3 stop, the slot machine 1 notifies the player that the AT state has started by outputting a sound from the sound device 340, and when the first game that starts the AT state is started by operating the start lever SL, the display device 330 displays a message indicating that the first game in the AT state is being played and a message indicating that there are 49 games remaining that can be played in the AT state.In other words, by notifying the player that the first game in the AT state has been played and that there are 49 games remaining that can be played in the AT state, and that a total of 50 games can be played in the AT state, the slot machine 1 may be configured to notify the player that the 40 games set as the initial value and the additional 10 games have been decided to be awarded.

[0309] When configured in this manner, the second notification mode is one in which, during play when the AT state has started, an indication is displayed on the display device 330 indicating that the first game of the AT state is being executed, and an indication is displayed indicating that there are 49 games remaining that can be executed in the AT state, thereby notifying that the initial number of games of 50 has been granted.

[0310] In the first and second embodiments, the slot machine 1 is configured so that, when the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" are won in the internal lottery in the non-RT state or the bonus establishment state, Bell A to Bell D can be won by operating the stop buttons B1 to B3 in the correct batting order, but this is not limited to this. For example, the slot machine 1 executes different reel stop controls for when the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" are won in the internal lottery in the non-RT state and when the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" are won in the internal lottery in the bonus establishment state, so that when the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" are won in the internal lottery in the non-RT state, the slot machine 1 executes different reel stop controls for when the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" are won in the internal lottery in the non-RT state, and when the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" are won in the internal lottery in the bonus establishment state, In other words, even if stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in the correct batting order, small roles set to a payout of 1 coin can be won, so Bell A to Bell D are not won, but if the winning area "Batting Order Bell 1" to winning area "Batting Order Bell 8" are won in the internal lottery when the bonus is formed, Bell A to Bell D can be won by operating stop buttons B1 to B3 in the correct batting order.

[0311] When configured in this manner, when the AT control means 200 is in a non-RT state and an AT preparation state, even if the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8" are won, Bells A to D will not win, and transitioning to the AT state will not be advantageous for the player. Therefore, it is preferable that the AT control means 200 is configured to control so as not to update the AT preparation state counter 197c and not to execute a winning assistance lottery based on winning the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8".

[0312] When the slot machine 1 is in a non-RT state and an AT preparation state, the AT preparation state counter 197c is controlled not to be updated, and the slot machine 1 is configured not to execute a prize-winning auxiliary lottery based on winning in the winning areas "Batting Order Bell 1" to "Batting Order Bell 8." This prevents the slot machine 1 from transitioning to the AT state in a non-RT state in which the expected value of winning medals does not increase even if auxiliary play is executed in the AT state, and prevents the player from feeling a loss.

[0313] In the first and second embodiments, the slot machine 1 has a non-RT state and a bonus establishment state as the first gaming state, and a bonus state as the second gaming state, but is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may be configured to have, for example, a non-RT state, a bonus establishment state, an RBB operation general state in which the RBB is activated, an RBB operation RB establishment state to which the slot machine shifts by winning a regular bonus (RB) as a first type special device in the RBB operation general state, and an RBB operation RB operation state to which the slot machine shifts by activating the RB, so that the slot machine 1 has the non-RT state, the bonus establishment state, the RBB operation general state, and the RBB operation RB establishment state as the first gaming state, and the RBB operation RB operation state as the second gaming state.

[0314] In the first and second embodiments, the slot machine 1 is configured to execute stop control such that, when the winning area "common bell" is won, Bell A is awarded regardless of the operation mode of stop buttons B1 to B3. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may be configured, for example, such that, when the winning area "common bell" is won and stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting order 1 and 2, Bell A is awarded, when stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting order 3 and 4, Bell B is awarded, when stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting order 5, Bell C is awarded, and when stop buttons B1 to B3 are operated in batting order 6, Bell D is awarded.

[0315] In this configuration, the slot machine 1 is configured so that even when the winning area "all small wins" is won, Bell A to Bell D can be won according to the order of hitting the stop buttons B1 to B3, just like when the winning area "common bell" is won. In this configuration, Bell A to Bell D constitute the specific small wins.

[0316] In the first and second embodiments, the slot machine 1 is configured to have a winning area "common bell" as the first small role winning mode and an "all small roles" as the second small role winning mode, but is not limited thereto. For example, the slot machine 1 may be configured to have a winning area "RBB & 1 role" including a 1 role A as a specific small role winning mode, and an "all 1 role" including all small roles set to a payout of 1, including the 1 role A, as the second small role winning mode, and the payout of the specific small role that can be won may be configured to be more than, the same as, or less than the specified number of inputs.

[0317] Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments, the slot machine 1 has a plurality of reels, namely, left reel R1 to right reel R3, and a plurality of stop buttons, namely, stop buttons B1 to B3, corresponding to the left reel R1 to right reel R3, but is not limited to this and may have, for example, a fourth reel and a stop button corresponding to the fourth reel.

[0318] Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments, the slot machine 1 has a max bet button MB for inserting a specified number of medals, but this is not limited to this, and for example, the slot machine 1 may be configured to have a single bet button for inserting one medal in addition to the max bet button MB.

[0319] In the first and second embodiments, the slot machine 1 is configured to be able to insert and pay out medals as game value, but is not limited to this. The slot machine 1 may be configured, for example, to set the game value to an inserted state based on an insertion signal output from a game value management device (dedicated unit) provided outside the slot machine 1 and configured to electromagnetically record the total number of game values ​​available for a player to use in a game, and to output a payout signal to the game value management device when paying out the game value, and the game value management device may electromagnetically record the game value corresponding to the payout signal on a predetermined recording medium. In other words, the slot machine 1 may be configured as a so-called medalless gaming machine.

[0320] When configured in this manner, the slot machine 1 is configured to have, for example, a credit number display means for displaying the number of credits corresponding to the amount of money inserted into the game value management device by the player. The slot machine 1 may also be configured to be capable of crediting game value equivalent to a maximum of 16,368 medals, and when game value exceeding 16,368 medals is credited, the game control means may be set to an error state, and game play may be disabled (a state in which the game value is not set to an inserted state and the start operation of the start lever SL is not enabled) until the number of credits becomes 16,368 medals or less by paying out the game value by a method in which the game value is electromagnetically recorded on a predetermined recording medium via the game value management device.

[0321] Furthermore, when configured in this manner, the slot machine 1 may be configured not to set an upper limit on the number of plays that can be performed in the advantageous zone, or may be configured to set only an upper limit on the difference in the number of coins for a specific ending condition of the advantageous zone.

[0322] Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments, the slot machine 1 is configured to set the stored value of each counter and memory means as an initial value, and to perform a decrement update by subtracting 1 each time a game is played, or an increment update by adding 1 each time a game is played, but this is not limited to this, and the method of updating each counter and memory means may be configured to perform multiplication, division, etc., and is not particularly limited. [Explanation of symbols]

[0323] 1. Slot machines (gaming machines) 120 Internal lottery method 130 Reel control means 170 Game state transition control means 180 Production control means (operation notification means, bonus notification means) 194a Specific stop control table (specific stop control data) 197c AT preparation status counter (counter) 200 AT control means (operation notification means) B1 Stop button B2 Stop button B3 Stop button R1 Left reel R2 middle reel R3 Right reel

Claims

[Claim 1] Multiple reels and Multiple stop buttons and an internal lottery means for performing an internal lottery; an operation notification means for notifying an operation mode of the plurality of stop buttons, In the internal lottery, the success or failure of multiple winning patterns is determined, The plurality of winning modes includes a plurality of specific winning modes, The specific winning mode is associated with a double win of a small win of a first payout and a small win of a second payout, The first payout is set to a payout higher than the second payout, the operation modes of the plurality of stop buttons include a first operation mode and a second operation mode different from the first operation mode, The plurality of specific winning modes include a first specific winning mode and a second specific winning mode, When the first specific winning mode is won, if the plurality of stop buttons are operated in the first operation mode, a small win of the first payout can be won, and if the plurality of stop buttons are operated in the second operation mode, a small win of the second payout can be won; When the second specific winning mode is won, if the plurality of stop buttons are operated in the second operation mode, a small win of the first payout can be won, and if the plurality of stop buttons are operated in the first operation mode, a small win of the second payout can be won, the operation notification means is capable of executing a specific operation notification when the plurality of types of specific winning modes are won, In the specific operation notification, an operation mode suggesting a stop button to be operated first in the first operation mode and a stop button to be operated first in the second operation mode is notified, When the specific operation notification is executed and the plurality of stop buttons are operated in the first operation mode, a first specific benefit related to an instruction function can be granted; When the specific operation notification is executed and the plurality of stop buttons are operated in the second operation mode, a second specific benefit related to an instruction function different from the first specific benefit may be awarded; When the specific operation notification is executed and a stop button different from the stop button suggested in the specific operation notification is operated first, the granting of a benefit related to an instruction function based on an operation on a stop button different from the stop button suggested in the specific operation notification is not executed. A gaming machine characterized by:

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