JP2009202000A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

Game properties are improved by stopping a reel rotating in a required internal state in one of two or more stop modes.
In a gaming machine such as a slot machine, when a bonus game is hit (required internal state), a rotating reel is controlled by either a first reel control or a second reel control (two or more stop modes). It is stopped by the reel control (stop mode) {steps S72, S74, S76}. In addition, when the “removal” (required internal state) is reached, the rotating reel is stopped by the reel control of either the third reel control or the fourth reel control {steps S82, S84, S86}. Therefore, the internal state and the reel control do not correspond to each other and an unexpected phenomenon occurs, so that the fun of operating the stop button (second operation unit) increases. Therefore, gameability can be improved.
[Selection] Figure 9

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine provided with a plurality of reels, rotation control means, first operation section, state determination means, second operation section, and game control means.

  A conventional general slot machine includes three reels, and a plurality of (for example, 21) symbols are drawn on the outer peripheral surface of each reel. In addition, by providing a lamp that can irradiate the outer peripheral surface of the reel on the inner side, the symbols can be easily recognized. Here, the game in the slot machine is performed as follows. That is, when the player inserts the game medium into the insertion slot and operates the start lever, the three reels start to rotate. As the game medium, medals, coins, tokens, and the like are applicable. In this specification, an example using medals will be described. When the player operates the stop button after starting the rotation, the reel corresponding to the stop button stops rotating. When the rotation of all reels is stopped, the combination of symbols is displayed on the display window. If a predetermined symbol combination (for example, “7”, “7”, “7”) is displayed on the active line, the player may play a bonus game (such as a big bonus game or a regular bonus game) as a privilege. Get paid out game media.

  Whether or not to play the bonus game is normally determined when the start lever is operated. For example, when a bonus game flag (hereinafter simply referred to as “game flag”) is turned on as an internal state of the slot machine, the game flag is maintained until the bonus game is actually ended. When the stop button is operated after the game flag is turned on in this way, a stop mode (retraction control) is performed in which the rotating reel is controlled to stop at one of one or more specific symbols. On the other hand, when the stop button is operated after the game flag is turned off, a stop mode (outage control) is performed in which the rotating reel is controlled to stop at a symbol (out of symbol) other than the specific symbol. Further, according to the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-51433, the state of the game flag is notified by a sound produced when the start lever is operated. Therefore, since the player who has listened to the sound can recognize the state of the game flag, it can be inferred in which stop mode the reel that is rotating subsequently stops.

  As described above, in the conventional slot machine, the content of the game flag and the stop mode correspond to each other. In particular, in the case of a skilled player, when the stop button is operated, the stop mode (no control) of stopping the rotating reel without performing any control is more interesting because the player can try his / her skill. . The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and improves the gameability by stopping the reel rotating in a required internal state in one of two or more stop modes. The purpose is to provide a game machine.

(Means 1 for solving the problem)
Means 1 for solving the problem is as described in claim 1. Here, the terms described in claim 1 are interpreted as follows. The same applies to the other claims and the detailed description of the invention.
(1) “Design” includes characters (alphanumeric characters, kanji characters, etc.), symbols, codes, figures (characters, etc.), and the like.
(2) “Stop” includes not only complete stop but also temporary stop. The “stop” state includes not only the case of being stationary, but also the case of moving (rotating) in an arbitrary distance range in an arbitrary direction around the reference position.
(3) “Rotation” includes not only rotation in one direction but also arbitrary rotation in forward and reverse directions.
(4) “Internal state” means an index indicating the directionality of a game in a gaming machine, and usually there are a plurality of internal states. Therefore, the “required internal state” means a specific internal state among a plurality of internal states, for example, a state where a game flag is turned on, a state where a random number is a big hit, and the like.
(5) The “first operation unit” and the “second operation unit” can be operated by the player, and correspond to operation members such as at least one lever, button, switch, and the like. The “first operation unit” and the “second operation unit” may be composed of the same operation member or different operation members.
(6) “Required display mode” includes not only single symbols but also combinations of symbols such as jackpot symbols.
(7) “Bonus” means an advantageous gaming state given to a player. For the slot machine, for example, a big bonus game, a regular bonus game, a challenge time, a payout of game media, and the like are applicable.

  According to the means 1, a plurality of reels each having a symbol group consisting of two or more symbols, a rotation control means capable of rotating for each reel in accordance with the internal state and controlling the stop in a required stop mode, A first operation unit capable of starting rotation, a state determination means for determining an internal state when the first operation unit is operated, a second operation unit capable of stopping the rotating reel, and a rotation And a game control means for giving a privilege when the reel is stopped in a required display mode. Of these, the rotation control means stops the rotating reel in any one of two or more stop modes when the required internal state is reached. Therefore, since an internal state and a stop mode do not respond | correspond and an unexpectedness arises, the interest which operates a 2nd operation part increases. Therefore, gameability can be improved.

(Means 2 for solving the problem)
Means 2 for solving the problem is as described in claim 2. Here, the term “notification” of the term described in claim 2 includes a notice, an auditory notification mode such as making or changing sound (music, sound effects, voice, etc.), a display body (display unit or It includes a mode of visually informing other displays, indicator lights, etc.) by a display such as changing the size of the symbol, and a mode of tactile notification through a member attached to the gaming machine such as a handle or a chair. The same applies to the other claims and the detailed description of the invention.

  According to the said means 2, the 1st alerting | reporting means which alert | reports the required internal state which the state determination means determined is provided. Further, the rotation control means determines one of the two or more stop modes according to whether or not the first notification unit has notified. Since the stop mode can be estimated based on whether or not the notification is made, it is possible to increase the expectation of the player who wants to stop the reel with the target symbol.

(Means 3 for solving the problem)
Means 3 for solving the problem is as described in claim 3. According to the means 3, since the second notification means notifies the stop mode determined by the rotation control unit, it is possible to recognize in which stop mode the reel is stopped. Therefore, even an unfamiliar player can know the difficulty level of symbol stop.

(Means 4 for solving the problem)
The means 4 for solving the problem is as described in claim 4. According to the means 4, the rotation control means stops each reel in any one of two or more stop modes. Since the stop mode differs depending on each reel, the fun of operating the second operation unit is further increased, and the gameability can be further improved.

(Means 5 for solving the problem)
The means 5 for solving the problem is as described in claim 5. According to the means 5, the two or more stop modes include a first stop mode that stops the rotating reel with a specific symbol regardless of the timing at which the second operation unit is operated, and a second operation unit. It includes at least one of a second stop mode in which a rotating reel is stopped at a symbol other than the specific symbol regardless of the operated timing. In the case of the first stop mode, there is an increased possibility of stopping at a specific symbol without operating the second operation unit at such a timing. On the other hand, in the case of the second stop mode, skill is required to stop at a specific symbol. Therefore, the fun of operating the second operation unit is increased.

  According to the present invention, when the required internal state is reached, the rotating reel is stopped in any one of the two or more stop modes, so that the stop mode is unexpected. Therefore, the fun of operating the second operation unit is increased, and the gameability can be improved.

It is a front view showing the appearance of the slot machine. It is a figure which shows the internal structure in the state which opened the front door. It is a figure which shows the structure of a reel. It is a figure which shows the structure of a reel. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a control part typically. It is a flowchart which shows a normal game process. It is a flowchart which shows the normal game process following FIG. It is a flowchart which shows a rotation stop process. It is a flowchart which shows a reel control determination process. It is a figure which shows the example displayed on a display window or a symbol display.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to a slot machine, which is one of gaming machines, and will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 1 shows an external view of the slot machine in a front view. FIG. 2 shows the internal structure with the front door opened. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the reel. FIG. 4 shows a configuration of a lamp provided in the reel. FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the control unit. 6 and 7 are flowcharts of the normal game process, FIG. 8 is a rotation stop process, and FIG. 9 is a reel control determination process. FIG. 10 shows a display example of a display window or a symbol display.

  First, on the front door 64 of the slot machine 10 shown in FIG. 1, a guide unit 12 for explaining a game method and the like, a symbol display unit 14 for displaying symbols, buttons necessary for performing operations at the time of gaming, etc. are arranged. The operation unit 42 and the like. The guidance unit 12 displays, for example, a game procedure (how to play), a combination of symbols for performing a specific game such as a bonus game, a combination of symbols for paying out medals, the number of payouts, and the like.

  The symbol display unit 14 has a specific symbol corresponding to each of the display windows 16, 20, and 24, and a plurality of (for example, five) active lines 34 that can recognize three symbols in the vertical direction while the reel is stationary. An effective line lamp 32 showing an effective line capable of forming a combination of the above, a symbol display 28 capable of displaying at least symbols symbolically related to symbols on the reel, and the like. For example, a liquid crystal display is used as the symbol display 28, but other types of displays such as a 7-segment LED and a plasma display may be used. The reel 18 can be seen from the display window 16, and the reels 22 and 26 can be seen from the display windows 20 and 24, respectively. The reels 18, 22, and 26 are made of a material that can transmit light (for example, white plastic), and patterns are provided on the outer peripheral surfaces 18c, 22c, and 26c by printing or sticking. A configuration for operating the reels 18, 22, and 26 to rotate or stop will be described later.

  In the operation unit 42, bet buttons 36, 38, and 40 (BET buttons) for setting the number of medals to be multiplied in one slot game (hereinafter simply referred to as “multiply number”) and credits (reserved) are stored. The storage and settlement button 44 that requests the return of medals, the start lever 46 that starts rotating the reels 18, 22, and 26, the stop buttons 48, 50, and 52 that individually stop the rotating reels 18, 22, and 26, and the medal The charging port 30 is provided. The bet buttons 36, 38, 40 and the insertion port 30 are provided in the pedestal 54. Depending on the slot machine 10, the buttons, levers, switches, etc. may be used in different types. The bet button 40 has, for example, one multiplication and the effective line 34 is only one middle line, and the bet button 38 has, for example, two multiplications and the effective line 34 has three horizontal lines. For example, the number of multiplication is 3 and the effective lines 34 are all 5 lines.

  Below the operation unit 42, an ashtray 56 for putting cigarette butts, a built-in speaker 58 for producing sound (music, sound effects, voice, etc.), and a tray 62 for temporarily storing medals are provided. A medal to be paid out when the rotating reel stops with a specific symbol combination comes out from the payout opening 60.

  Next, the internal structure of the slot machine 10 that can be seen when the front door 64 is opened will be described with reference to FIG. First, a portion corresponding to the back side of the guide unit 12 includes a main control board 100 that controls a game by the slot machine 10, a display control board 200 that controls a symbol displayed on the symbol display 28, and the like. Configuration examples of these substrates will be described later. In a portion corresponding to the back side of the symbol display unit 14, the reels 18, 22, and 26 are arranged in a horizontal row, and a symbol indicator 28 is provided on the mounting base 70. Below the mounting base 70, a hopper 72 that temporarily stores medals inserted from the insertion slot 30, a power supply box 74 that supplies power to the main control board 100, the display control board 200, and the like are provided. The medals stored in the hopper 72 are discharged from the medal passage 76 by the payer 78 and a predetermined number of medals are discharged to the tray 62 through the payout port 60.

  Next, the configuration of the reels 18, 22, and 26 will be described with reference to FIGS. The position detection sensors 18g and 22g and the markers 18h and 22h are not shown because they are hidden by the reels. In the reel 18 shown in FIG. 3, a motor 18a for rotating the reel 18, a lamp box 18b provided at a position corresponding to the display window 16 shown in FIG. 1, and a position detection sensor for detecting a marker 18h provided on the reel 18. Fix 18g etc. Similarly, in the reels 22 and 26, motors 22a and 26a for rotating the reels 22 and 26, lamp boxes 22b and 26b provided at positions corresponding to the display windows 20 and 24, and markers 22h provided on the reels 22 and 26, respectively. , 26h, position detection sensors 22g, 26g, etc. are fixed. For example, a pulse motor is used as the motors 18a, 22a, and 26a, but other types of motors such as a servo motor may be used. The markers 18h, 22h, and 26h may be of any kind and material as long as they can detect the rotational position of the reel, such as those marked on the reel by printing or sticking, or bars formed of a predetermined material (for example, metal). It doesn't matter.

  Here, examples of symbols provided on the outer peripheral surfaces 18c, 22c, and 26c for the reel 18 (left reel), the reel 22 (middle reel), and the reel 26 (right reel) are shown in Table 1 by name. The first table shown in Table 1 is stored in advance in a ROM 112 or the like which will be described later. In the table, control α, β, γ, and δ are all examples of reel control performed on the reel 26 (right reel). Symbols that can be stopped are indicated by “◯” and symbols that cannot be stopped are “x”. Shown with a mark. If the stop button 48, 50, 52 is operated at the timing of the “x” mark, the stop button 48, 50, 52 is rotated (moved) to the symbol with the “◯” mark and then stopped. Similar reel control is performed for the reel 18 and the reel 22 as well. In the reel control, which symbol is used to stop / not stop is arbitrary, and may be changed at an arbitrary timing during the game.

  According to Table 1 above, the control α, which is also called “pull-in control”, performs reel control so that it stops at one or more specific symbols, so even an unfamiliar player stops the reel at a specific symbol targeted It is easy to make. Since the control β, which is also called “no control”, stops at all symbols, it is difficult for non-skilled players to stop the reel at the target symbol. The control γ is also a kind of “no control”, but since the reel control is performed so that only a specific symbol (for example, a red symbol “7”) is not stopped, even a skilled player can perform the specific symbol. It cannot be stopped with. The control δ, which is also referred to as “out of control”, performs reel control so as not to stop at a special symbol (red symbol “7” in the example of Table 1), so any player becomes “out of”.

  The lamp box 26b shown in FIG. 4 includes lamps 26d, 26e, and 26f that can be turned on / off independently of each other. These lamps 26d, 26e, and 26f use miniature bulbs, LEDs, and the like, and irradiate the symbols at corresponding positions from the back side when the reel 26 is stationary. The lamp box 26b is provided with a partition between the lamps in order to prevent irradiation of symbols other than the symbols at predetermined positions. The same applies to the lamps 18d, 18e, 18f, 26d, 26e, and 26f provided in the lamp boxes 18b and 22b.

  Next, a main control board 100 (main control board) that realizes slot games by the slot machine 10 and a display control board 200 that receives a display command sent from the main control board 100 and displays the symbols on the symbol display 28. Will be described with reference to FIG. The main control board 100 shown in FIG. 5 is configured around a CPU (processor) 110. The main control board 100 receives signals sent from various input devices such as a ROM 112 that stores a game control program and required data (for example, a winning value), a RAM 114 that stores data such as various random numbers and signals, and the like. An input processing circuit 102 that converts the data into a data format that can be processed in the control board 100; a display control circuit 104 that receives display data sent from the CPU 110 and controls display (including lighting and blinking) as appropriate; An output processing circuit 106 that operates various output devices in response to operation data sent from the CPU 110, a communication control circuit 116 that sends a required signal to the display control board 200, the dispenser 78, and the like. These components are all coupled to the bus 118.

  The CPU 110 executes a game control program stored in the ROM 112 to realize a game by the slot machine 10, and the game control program includes a program for realizing procedures such as a normal game process and a rotation stop process which will be described later. An EPROM is used for the ROM 112 and a DRAM is used for the RAM 114, but other types of memories (for example, EEPROM, SRAM, flash memory, etc.) may be used arbitrarily. As input devices for the input processing circuit 102 to receive detection signals and the like, for example, position detection sensors 18g, 22g, 26g, bet buttons 36, 38, 40, storage settlement button 44, start lever 46, stop buttons 48, 50, 52, etc. Is applicable. Examples of output devices from which the output processing circuit 106 outputs signals include motors 18a, 22a, and 26a. For example, lamps 26d, 26e, and 26f correspond to the light emitters that are controlled by the display control circuit 104. The communication control circuit 116 may send necessary data to a hall computer (not shown) as necessary.

  Similar to the main control board 100, the display control board 200 is mainly composed of a CPU 210, and a ROM 202 for storing a display control program and required display data (for example, display information corresponding to a display command, various variation patterns, etc.), a display RAM 204 for storing data such as commands and display information and input / output signals, communication control circuit 206 for receiving data sent from the main control board 100 and sending it to the CPU 210, RAM 204, etc. A character generator 212 is generated when receiving a command or the like, and a VDP (Video Display Processor) 214 is displayed on the symbol display 28 for receiving and processing the display information sent from the CPU 210. All of these components are coupled to each other on bus 208.

  The CPU 210 executes the display control program stored in the ROM 202 and displays the symbols on the symbol display 28. The ROM 202 uses an EPROM, and the RAM 204 uses a DRAM, but other types of memory may be used. The symbol data generated by the character generator 212 includes, for example, characters (alphanumeric characters, kanji characters, etc.), symbols (specific symbols, etc.), still images, moving images (animation, etc.), videos, and the like. The VDP 214 having a VRAM, a palette RAM, etc. receives the display information, reads the design data generated by the character generator 212, performs image editing such as coloration designation and sprite processing, and develops the design data in the VRAM and palette RAM. Finally, a video signal, a synchronization signal, and the like are output to the symbol display 28. The sprite function realized by executing the sprite processing can easily change or stop the symbol group. It should be noted that the dispenser 78 that receives the payout signal sent from the main control board 100 and pays out medals, the sound control board 300 that receives the sound signal sent from the main control board 100 and emits sound from the speaker 58, and the like. Since the substrate and the like are not related to the gist of the present invention, the illustration and explanation of specific configurations are omitted.

  Next, a procedure for realizing the present invention in the slot machine 10 configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. The procedures shown in these figures are realized by the CPU 110 executing the game control program stored in the ROM 112 in the main control board 100 shown in FIG. Note that the processing continues between FIGS. 6 and 7 via connectors A and B, respectively. Further, steps S18, S20, and S22 in FIG. 6 and steps S26, S28, and S40 in FIG. 7 are examples in which the state determining unit is embodied. Further, step S30 in FIG. 7 is an example in which the notification means is embodied.

  First, a normal game as a game excluding a bonus game or the like will be described with reference to FIGS. In this normal game, first, start processing is performed to set an effective line, operate a bet button, detect inserted medals, and count the number of credits while the reels 18, 22, and 26 are not rotating. Step S10]. In this start-up process, a start flag, which will be described later, is set, but the details of the specific procedure are well known and will not be described and illustrated.

  When the start process is finished, it is checked with a start flag whether or not the start lever 46 is operated when the start lever 46 is enabled [step S12]. If the start flag is on (YES), the start flag is turned off in preparation for the next time that the valid start lever 46 is operated (step S14), and the current gaming state is grasped by the game flag [step] S16]. On the other hand, if the start flag is off (NO in step S12), since the activated start lever 46 is not operated, the normal game process is terminated without doing anything.

  If the game flag is off (YES in step S16), it is determined whether or not a required display mode is to be set, that is, whether or not a transition to a bonus game is possible. Specifically, the winning determination random number is read [step S18], and it is determined whether or not the bonus game is won based on the random number value of the winning determination random number [step S20]. Specifically, the determination is made based on whether or not the read random number value matches the winning value. Only in the case of winning in step S20 (YES), the game flag is turned on so that it is possible to shift to the bonus game [step S22], the medal number counter is reset to a predetermined value (for example, 0) [step S24], and step S26 described later is performed. Proceed to On the other hand, if the game flag is turned on in step S16 (NO), or if it is “disconnected” in step S20 (NO), the process proceeds to step S26 as it is.

  Moving to FIG. 7, a random number for notification is read [step S26], and it is determined whether or not a notification condition for notifying (notifying) a change in reel control is satisfied [step S28]. For example, it is determined whether or not the random number for notification read in step S26 matches a predetermined value (or whether it is even or odd). Only when the notification condition is satisfied in step S28 (YES), the symbol established as the internal state, the type of reel control, and the like are notified [step S30]. The notification is performed using one or more notification means. For example, a sound produced from the speaker 58 or a symbol displayed on the symbol display 28 is performed. When the notification in step S30 is completed (or in parallel with the notification), a rotation stop process for performing control from when the reels 18, 22, and 26 are actually started to being stopped is performed [step S32]. A specific procedure of the rotation stop process will be described with reference to FIG. In the rotation stop process, the CPU 110 shown in FIG. 5 outputs a drive signal to the motors 18a, 22a, and 26a via the output processing circuit 106, thereby controlling the rotation / stop of the reels 18, 22, and 26.

  The rotation stop process shown in FIG. 8 is a procedure that embodies the rotation control means. First, a reel control determination process is executed to determine which reel control is used to rotate / stop the reels 18, 22, and 26 [step S50]. A specific procedure of the reel control determination process will be described with reference to FIG.

  The reel control determination process shown in FIG. 9 is a procedure that embodies the rotation control means, and determines the reel control to be performed for each of the reels 18, 22, and 26. First, if it is determined in the same manner as in step S20 in FIG. 6 and a bonus game is won (YES in step S70), it is determined in the same manner as in step S28 in FIG. S72], either the first reel control (for example, pull-in control) or the second reel control (for example, no control) is determined and notified as necessary [Steps S74, S76]. For example, the second reel control is determined when the notification condition is satisfied, and the first reel control is determined when the notification condition is not satisfied. The notification of which reel control is performed is performed in the same manner as in step S30, for example.

  Second, in the case of “out of” (YES in step S80), the third reel control (for example, no control) or the fourth reel control (for example, out of control) depending on whether the notification condition is satisfied or not (step S82). And notify if necessary [steps S84 and S86]. For example, the third reel control is determined when the notification condition is satisfied, and the fourth reel control is determined when the notification condition is not satisfied. Third, when the bonus game is neither winning nor "out of game" (NO in step S80), for example, when a predetermined number (8, 15, etc.) is hit, the required reel control (for example, required symbols) [Step S90]. When one of the plurality of reel controls is determined in this way, the reel control determination process is terminated.

  When the reel control determination process is completed, the process returns to FIG. 8, and after starting to rotate the reels 18, 22, and 26 [Step S52], the functions of the stop buttons 48, 50, and 52 are enabled [Step S54]. Wait until the stop buttons 48, 50, 52 are operated [step S56]. When the player operates one of the stop buttons 48, 50, 52 (YES in step S56), the reel corresponding to the stop button is stopped by the reel control determined in step S50 [step S58]. The reel stop by the reel control is repeatedly executed until all the reels stop [step S60]. When all the reels are stopped (YES in step S60), the functions of the stop buttons 48, 50, and 52 are disabled [step S62], and the rotation stop process is terminated. Thus, the functions of the stop buttons 48, 50 and 52 are enabled only during the above steps S54 to S60, the reels 18, 22, and 26 are stopped, and all others are disabled, so the reels 18, 22, and 26 are not stopped. . Therefore, it is possible to prevent the reels 18, 22, and 26 from being stopped by an unintentional operation.

  When the reels 18, 22, and 26 are stopped by the rotation stop process, the process returns to FIG. 7 to determine whether or not to execute the bonus game [step S34]. More specifically, it is determined whether or not a combination of symbols stopped and displayed on the active line 34 of the display windows 16, 20, 24 (hereinafter simply referred to as “stop symbol”) matches the bonus symbol. To do. If the stop symbol coincides with the bonus symbol (YES), the corresponding number of medals are paid out as “winning” [step S36], and bonus game processing for realizing the bonus game is executed [step S38]. For example, red symbols “7”, “7”, and “7” correspond to the bonus symbol in the middle row. The medal payout in step S36 is realized by outputting a payout signal from the CPU 110 shown in FIG. 5 to the payout machine 78 via the communication control circuit 116. This payout signal includes data for instructing payout and data on the number of payouts. Since the details of the specific procedure of the bonus game process executed in step S38 are well known, the description and illustration thereof will be omitted.

  When the bonus game process is completed, the game flag is turned off in preparation for the next process [step S40], and the normal game process is terminated. On the other hand, if it does not coincide with the bonus symbol in step S34 (NO), it is determined whether or not the bonus symbol is matched [step S42]. If the stop symbol matches the small role symbol (YES), the corresponding number of medals are paid out (step S44), and the normal game process is terminated. If the stop symbol does not match the small role symbol (NO), the normal game process is terminated as it is. Thereafter, the normal game is started again by executing again from step S10 shown in FIG.

  Next, an example in which the respective processes shown in FIGS. 6 to 9 are executed and displayed on the display windows 16, 20, 24 and the symbol display 28 will be schematically described with reference to FIG. In this example, the internal state of the slot machine 10 is an example of winning in a bonus game, and examples such as “missing” that occur frequently are well known and will be omitted. When the player inserts a medal into the insertion slot 30 and operates the start lever 46 (step S10 in FIG. 6), a sound corresponding to the reel control is emitted from the speaker 58, and the internal state as shown in FIG. 10 (A). Control is started to display the symbol 28a established as follows. Further, the player is notified of the reel control type 28b and the like (step S30 in FIG. 7). In the example of FIG. 10A, the symbols 28a are stopped at the red symbols “7”, “7”, “7”, and “retraction control (first reel control)” as the reel control type 28b is displayed. Information is displayed on the display 28 for notification. By this notification, the player can determine what kind of reel control is performed. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 10B, the reels 18, 22, and 26 start to rotate in the display windows 16, 20, and 24 (step S52 in FIG. 8), and the player operates the stop buttons 48, 50, and 52. (Step S54 in FIG. 8).

  When the player operates the stop buttons 48 and 50, for example, as shown in FIG. 10C, red symbols “7” are displayed side by side in the middle horizontal direction of the display windows 16 and 20. At this time, when the player operates the stop button 52 in an attempt to press the red symbol “7”, the reel 26 is stopped by the first reel control (for example, pull-in control) (step S58 in FIG. 8). In particular, when the reels 26 are stopped by the first reel control, it is easy to align the red symbols “7”, “7”, “7” on the active line 34 in the middle horizontal row. If the second reel control (for example, no control) is notified as the reel control type 28b, the reel 26 is stopped by the second reel control. In this case, when the stop button 52 is operated, the reel 26 is immediately stopped, so that it is difficult to stop the red symbol “7”.

According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) When the main control board 100 (rotation control means) hits in a bonus game (required internal state), the reel 26 that is rotating is controlled in the first reel or the second reel (two or more stop modes). (See steps S72, S74, and S76 in FIG. 9). Further, when it becomes “disengagement” (required internal state), the rotating reel 26 is stopped by the reel control of either the third reel control or the fourth reel control {steps S82, S84, FIG. See S86}. Therefore, since the internal state does not correspond to the reel control and unexpectedness occurs, the fun of operating the stop buttons 48, 50, 52 (second operation unit) is increased. Therefore, gameability can be improved.
(2) Informs whether or not the main control board 100 (state determining means) has hit or “disconnected” (required internal state) in the bonus game {see step S30 in FIG. 7, FIG. 10A; First notification means}. Also, one of the reel control among the first reel control, the second reel control, the third reel control, and the fourth reel control (two or more stop modes) is determined depending on whether the notification is made or not {FIG. 9 Steps S74, S76, S84, and S86 in FIG. Since the reel control can be estimated based on whether or not the notification is made, the player's expectation to stop the reel with the target symbol can be enhanced.

(3) The main control board 100 notifies the determined reel control {see steps S74, S76, S84, S86 in FIG. 9}. In this way, it is possible to recognize which reel control is used to stop the reel, so even an inexperienced player can determine the difficulty level with which the reel is stopped with the target pattern.
(4) Each of the reels 18, 22, and 26 is configured to be stopped by any one of two or more reel controls (see step S58 in FIG. 8, Table 1). Since the reel control differs depending on the reel, the fun of operating the stop buttons 48, 50, 52 is further increased, and the gameability can be further improved.
(5) For two or more reel controls, a first reel control (for example, pull-in control, first stop) that stops the rotating reel with a specific symbol regardless of the timing when the stop buttons 48, 50, 52 are operated. Mode) and fourth reel control (for example, detachment control, second stop mode) that stops the rotating reel at a symbol other than a specific symbol regardless of the timing at which the stop buttons 48, 50, 52 are operated. {See steps S74 and S86 in FIG. 9}. In the case of the first reel control, there is an increased possibility of stopping at a specific symbol without operating the stop buttons 48, 50 and 52 at such a timing. On the other hand, in the case of the second reel control, skill is required to stop at a specific symbol. Therefore, the fun of operating the stop buttons 48, 50, 52 is increased.

[Other Embodiments] In the slot machine 10 (game machine) described above, the structure, shape, size, material, arrangement, operating conditions, etc. of other portions are not limited to the above embodiment. For example, each of the following embodiments to which the above embodiment is applied can be implemented.
(1) In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to the slot machine 10. Instead of this form, other gaming machines simulating slot games (for example, pachinko machines, arrange ball machines, sparrow ball game machines, video game machines, etc.), which have a plurality of reels, light emitting units, rotation control means, first The present invention can be similarly applied to a device including an operation unit, a state determination unit, a second operation unit, and a game control unit. Even in the other gaming machines, since the stop mode is unexpected, the fun of operating the second operation unit is increased, and the gaming property can be improved. In addition, when applied to a pachinko machine or the like not provided with the stop buttons 48, 50, 52, etc., it can be realized by substituting appropriate operation members (lever, button, switch, handle, etc.). When the number of operation members is insufficient, it can be realized by operating the operation members a plurality of times. In this case, however, it is necessary to determine the order in which the members and symbols corresponding to the reels 18, 22, and 26 are stopped. .

  (2) In the above embodiment, when the bonus game is won, the reel 26 is stopped by one of the two reel controls (see steps S72, S74, S76 in FIG. 9). Instead of this form, the reel may be stopped by any one of the three or more reel controls. Moreover, it is not limited to when it is won by a bonus game or when it is “out of play” (see steps S70 and S80 in FIG. 9), but in other internal states (for example, when winning with 15 payouts) Also when it becomes, the reel may be stopped by any one of the two or more reel controls. Furthermore, the number of types of reel control that can be controlled at an arbitrary timing may be changed. By doing so, the unexpectedness of the stop mode is further increased, so that the fun of operating the stop buttons 48, 50, 52 is increased, and the gameability can be further improved.

(3) In the above embodiment, the player or the like is notified by displaying the sound from the speaker 58 or displaying the symbol on the symbol display 28 {step S30 in FIG. 7 or steps S74, S76, S4, S86 in FIG. See}. Instead of (or in addition to) this form, the lamps 18d, 18e, 18f, 22d, 22e, 22f, 26d, 26e, 26f, and light bulbs such as miniature bulbs and LEDs provided in the slot machine 10 are lit / flashed. May be notified to the player or the like by vibrating a part (or the whole) of the slot machine 10 using a vibrating body. Two or more notification methods may be arbitrarily combined. Furthermore, depending on the type of reel control, etc., different sounds (voice, sound quality, loudness, pitch, sound change pattern, etc.), different display contents, different lamp lighting / flashing patterns, different vibrations, etc. If a pattern or the like is used, the player can easily guess which reel control will be performed from now on.

10 Slot machines (gaming machines)
12 Guide unit 14 Symbol display unit 16, 20, 24 Display window 18, 22, 26 Reel 18a, 22a, 26a Motor 18b, 22b, 26b Lamp box 18c, 22c, 26c Outer peripheral surface 28 Symbol display (display unit)
36, 38, 40 Bet button 42 Operation section 44 Storage settlement button 46 Start lever (first operation section)
48, 50, 52 Stop button (second operation part)
100 main control board (rotation control means, state determination means, game control means, first notification means, second notification means)
110, 210 CPU
112,202 ROM
114,204 RAM
200 Display control board (display control unit)
212 Character generator 214 VDP

Claims (5)

A plurality of reels each having a symbol group composed of two or more symbols;
Rotation control means capable of controlling the stop in a required stop mode by rotating for each reel according to the internal state
A first operation unit capable of starting rotation of the reel;
State determining means for determining the internal state when the first operation unit is operated;
A second operating portion capable of stopping the rotating reel;
In a gaming machine comprising gaming control means for giving a privilege when the rotating reel stops in a required display mode,
When the rotation control means reaches the required internal state, the rotation control means stops the rotating reel in one of two or more stop modes. The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising first notification means for notifying a required internal state determined by the state determination means,
A gaming machine in which the rotation control means determines one of two or more stop modes according to whether or not the first notification unit reports.   The gaming machine according to claim 2, further comprising a second notification unit that notifies the stop mode determined by the rotation control unit.   The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the rotation control means stops each reel in any one of two or more stopping modes. In the gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the two or more stop modes include a second stop that stops the rotating reel at a specific symbol regardless of the timing at which the second operation unit is operated. 1 stop mode;
A gaming machine including at least one of a second stop mode in which a rotating reel is stopped at a symbol other than the specific symbol regardless of the timing at which the second operation unit is operated.