JPH0324878B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a reel-type game machine typified by a slot machine. More specifically, the present invention relates to a reel-type game machine that allows you to play more interestingly.

[Prior Art] A reel-type game machine such as a slot machine usually uses three symbol reels each having a large number of symbols on its circumferential surface, and rotates them so that one symbol is placed on each symbol reel.
When the player presses the stop button provided individually, each symbol reel is stopped at random, winnings are determined according to the combination of symbols on the predetermined winning line, and if a prize is won, This is a game machine that pays out a predetermined number of medals.

19 and 20 show a schematic front view of such a conventional reel-type game machine Z, and the state of the winning line on the front panel 21 and the pattern drum as seen from the see-through window.

The reel-type game machine Z, also called a slot machine, has a box-shaped housing, and inside it there are three picture reels 1,
2 and 3, and a motor and other control equipment for rotating them. On the outer peripheral surface of each of the symbol reels 1, 2, and 3, for example, 21 symbols of seven types are displayed in a random arrangement order. Also, the front panel 21 at the top of the front
includes a reel window 22 for the player to see through the symbols on the symbol reels 1, 2, and 3;
3, a stop button 11, 12, 13 for individually stopping the rotation of each symbol reel 1, 2, 3, a medal slot 9, and the position and number of winning lines. A line indicator lamp 23 and the like are provided for this purpose.

In such a game machine Z, the winning line is in the reel window 2.
5 symbols are prepared corresponding to the 3 rows of symbols on each symbol reel 1, 2, and 3 that appear in 2, and from among them, the winning line at a predetermined position and number is automatically selected depending on the number of medals inserted. It is becoming more and more common. In other words, if the number of medals that the player has inserted into the medal slot 9 is one, only the center line will be displayed, and if the number of medals that the player has inserted into the medal slot 9 is two, then there will be three lines in which the upper and lower lines a and b are added to the center line. , in the case of three lines, the five lines to which diagonal lines a and b are added are set in advance so that each line becomes a winning line.

When playing a game on such a conventional game machine Z, a line indication lamp 23 is activated to indicate one, three, or five winning lines depending on the number of coins that the player has inserted into the coin slot 9. It lights up and the player is informed of the position and number of winning lines. Then, when the player presses the start switch 10 to rotate each symbol reel 1, 2, and 3, and then presses the stop buttons 11, 12, and 13 in any order, each symbol reel 1, 2, and 3 rotates. Stop rotation. Winning is determined based on the combination of symbols on the winning line when the machine stops, and in the case of winning, a predetermined number of medals are paid out.

By the way, the rotational speed of each of the pattern reels 1, 2, and 3 is such that it is difficult to read the patterns on the outer peripheral surface, and in most cases, the player has no choice but to press the stop buttons 11, 12, and 13 at random. , the combinations of symbols that appear on the reel window 22 are controlled almost by chance. Therefore, such a reel-type game machine Z is a game machine that appropriately stimulates the player's shooting spirit and allows him to play interesting games.

In addition to the conventional game machine Z, in order to further increase the fun of the game, in addition to the usual game using combinations of stopped symbols on the three symbol reels 1, 2, and 3 (hereinafter referred to as the "normal game"), ,1
It is now possible to play a series of yakuza games using book pattern reels. The continuous yakuza game is generally called a bonus game, in which the symbol reels are rotated and the symbol reels are stopped one by one, and if one symbol reel stops at the symbol for the continuous yakuza, then This is a game in which a predetermined number of medals are paid out.

Such a continuous accessory game can be played by operating a built-in consecutive accessory device when a specific winning combination (hereinafter referred to as "continuous accessory combination") is reached among the winning combinations of the normal game. Furthermore, some machines are equipped with a continuous accessory increasing device that increases the number of games of the consecutive accessory game itself, and are designed to further arouse interest in the game.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The conventional game machine Z has a combination of elements of chance and elements of technique that require the player's skill to press the stop button, making it a very enjoyable game. It is widely used as a machine.

However, the inventors of the present invention have been conducting intensive research on game machines that can play even more interesting games, and have noticed the following.

In other words, in the conventional game machine Z, although the position and number of winning lines change depending on the number of medals inserted, they are essentially fixed, and the player inserts the medals into the medal slot 9. This means that at the stage when you enter , one of the three cases will be automatically determined.

The inventors paid attention to this situation and found that if a certain degree of chance and skill were incorporated into the determination of winning lines, an even more interesting game could be created.

The present invention aims to provide a drum-type game machine that has been completed based on this new perspective.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The reel type game machine of the present invention will be explained based on FIG. 1.

The present invention comprises (a) three pattern reels 1, 2, and 3 on which an appropriate number of different types of symbols are displayed on the circumferential surface, and (b) an appropriate number of marks indicating winning lines on the circumferential surface. (c) the displayed line instruction reel 4; (c) rotation drive devices 5, 6, 7, 8, such as stepping motors, provided on each of the symbol reels 1, 2, 3 and the line instruction reel 4; d) the rotational drive device 5;
(e) an input means 10 for giving a start signal to the rotation drive means 5, 6, 8 by human operation;
Stop means 11, 12, 13, 14 for individually giving a stop signal to each of 7 and 8 by manual operation
and (f) position detection means 15, 16, 17, 18 for detecting the stop position of each of the symbol reels 1, 2, 3 and line instruction reel 4 when the rotation is stopped.
and (g) a winning line determining means 31 that determines a winning line based on the detection signal of the position detecting means 18;
(h) a stopped symbol determining means 32 which determines the symbol when each symbol reel 1, 2, 3 is stopped based on the detection signals of the position detecting means 15, 16, 17; and (i) determined by the entered prize line determining means 31. The present invention is characterized by comprising a winning determining means 33 that compares the winning winning line with the arrangement of symbols determined by the stopped symbol determining means 32 and determines whether or not there is a winning.

The winning line indicating marks displayed on the outer peripheral surface of the line indicating reel 4 may be displayed according to a certain regularity or may be displayed at random. Furthermore, the designated number of winning lines can also be set arbitrarily. For example, one that selectively displays one or two winning lines,
Of the winning lines, only one is fixed so that it can always be won, and the second or more winning lines are specified, or any number of winning lines between 0 and 5 are randomly specified. You can freely set the settings.

[Operation] The game according to the present invention is played as follows.

When the input means 10 is manually operated, a start signal is generated from the input means, and the three pattern reels 1, 2, 3 and the line instruction reel 4 are activated by the driving means 5, 6, 7, 8 such as stepping motors. Start rotating. After that, stopping means 11, 12, 13, 14
When is manually operated, the three pattern reels 1, 2, and 3 and the line instruction reel 4 stop at the rotational position corresponding to the time of the operation. The stopping means 11,1
The operations 2 and 13 may be completely random. It is preferable that the line instruction reel 4 is stopped by operating the stopping means 14 before the three symbol reels 1, 2, and 3 are stopped, but it may be stopped after that.

When the line instruction reel 4 stops rotating, a winning line is indicated by a mark displayed on its outer circumferential surface. The designated winning line is controlled by the coincidence of the rotational position at which the line indicating reel 4 stops, so depending on the number and pattern of marks displayed, there may be zero winning lines, or there may be zero winning lines. In some cases, there is only one. 2 more, 3
In some cases, you can get four or even five books. Note that FIG. 1 shows, as an example, a state in which two winning lines are designated. Of course, the more winning lines there are, the greater the chance of winning. As a player, line instruction reel 4
At the step of stopping the game, the player becomes excited about winning and the number of medals that will be paid out, and becomes even more interested.

the line instruction reel 4 and the symbol reel 1;
The rotation stop position when the rotations 2 and 3 are stopped is detected by each position detection means 15, 16, 17, and 18, respectively. The winning line determining means 31 determines the winning line indicated by the line indication reel 4 for the winning determining means 33 based on the detection signal from the position detecting means 18. Further, the stopped symbol determining means 32 determines what symbol is on each symbol reel 1, 2, 3 based on the detection signals from the position detecting means 15, 16, 17. The prize determining means 33 compares the winning line determined by the entered prize line determining means 31 with the arrangement of symbols determined by the stopped symbol determining means 32 to determine whether or not a prize has been won. Of course, at this stage, the player can enjoy the normal game just like the conventional game machine Z, and depending on the winning combination, he can also enjoy the continuous yakuza game.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to enjoy the excitement that arouses the desire to play not only at the stage of determining the stopped symbols but also at the stage of determining the winning line for each game. It's twice as much fun to play.

[Example] Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is a functional explanatory diagram of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of a reel-type game machine A according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the symbol reel and line instruction reel. , Fig. 4 is an electric circuit diagram of the reel-type game machine A, Fig. 5 is a developed view showing the marks displayed on the line instruction reel, and Figs. 6 and 7 are the a and a of the marks shown in Fig. 5. An explanatory diagram of the winning line indicated by part b, Figures 8 to 10 are explanatory diagrams showing display patterns of other marks, and Figure 11 is an illustration of the winning line indicated by part e of the mark shown in Figure 10. FIGS. 12 to 15 are explanatory diagrams showing other mark display patterns, and FIGS. 16 to 18 are flowcharts showing how to play the game in slot machine A.

In Figure 2, A is a slot machine;
A front panel 21 is attached to the upper front of the main body 20. The front panel 21 is provided with four reel windows 22 through which the player can view the symbol reels 1, 2, 3 and the line instruction reel 4.
The patterns and marks on the lines can be seen with the naked eye. A line indicator 23 is provided on the left side of the line indication reel 4 to indicate the position and number of winning lines.

At the bottom of the front panel 21, there are a medal slot 9 into which a predetermined number of medals are inserted for each game, a start switch 10 for starting each symbol reel 1, 2, 3 and a line instruction reel 4, and each symbol. Stop buttons 11, 12, 1 for stopping operations associated with reels 1, 2, and 3, respectively
3. A stop button 14 associated with the line instruction reel 4 is provided. In addition, the payout indicator 24 that displays the number of medals to be paid out and the symbol reels 1, 2, and 3 are lit when they are rotating, but are turned off when the stop buttons 11, 12, and 13 are pressed. A stop lamp 25 or the like is provided at an appropriate location. Further, at the lowest part of the main body 20, there is provided a tray 26 for receiving the dispensed medals.

Inside the main body 20, driving means for the pattern reels 1, 2, 3 and the line instruction reel 4, various control devices, a hopper, etc. are built-in. Their details will be explained based on FIGS. 3 and 4.

In FIG. 3, 1a, 2a, 3a, and 4a are reel drums. 1b, 2b, 3b, and 4b are band-shaped reel tapes, which are fixed to the outer periphery of the reel drums 1a, 2a, 3a, and 4a to form pattern reels 1, 2, and 3 and a line instruction reel 4. The reel drums 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a are rotatably supported by frames 1c, 2c, 3c, 4c, and a stepping motor 5, which constitutes a rotational drive means, is attached to the support shaft (not shown).
6, 7, and 8 are attached. Since the stepping motors 5, 6, 7, and 8 can obtain a rotation amount corresponding to the number of pulses of the input signal, the pattern reels 1, 2, and 3 and the line instruction reel 4 can rotate with high response to the control signal. start and stop.

There are 7 types of symbols on each reel, and 21 symbols are displayed at equal pitches on the symbol reels 1, 2, and 3. The mark for indicating the winning line on the line indicating reel 4 will be described later.

The picture reels 1, 2, and 3 as described above and the line instruction reel 4 are mounted inside the main body 20 so that three lines of pictures and marks can be seen through the reel window 22.

In FIG. 4, numeral 30 is a microcomputer that controls the entire slot machine A, including a CPU (central processing unit) that performs various calculations and processes, and processes input and output signals, a control program, and a picture reel 1. , 2, 3 and the rotation stop position of the line instruction reel 4.
Only Memory), RAM (Random
Access Memory), an input port 36, and output ports 35 and 37. Stepping motors 5, 6, 7, and 8 are connected to the output port 35 via a drive circuit 38.
While pulsed drive signals are being sent from the CPU,
An electric signal is sent from the drive circuit 38 to rotate the stepping motors 5, 6, 7, and 8. A start switch 10 is connected to the input port 36.
and each stop button 11, 12, 13, 14 are connected. When the start switch 10 is pressed, the drive signal is emitted from the CPU, and each stop button 11, 12, 1 is pressed.
When buttons 3 and 14 are pressed, the transmission of the drive signals to the stepping motors 5, 6, 7, and 8 associated with the respective stop buttons 11, 12, 13, and 14 is stopped. There is. With the above configuration, the player can switch the start switch 10.
When the player presses the stop buttons 11, 12, 13, and 14, the symbol reels 1, 2, and 3 and the line instruction reel 4 begin to rotate all at once, and when the player presses the stop buttons 11, 12, 13, and 14, the symbols reels 1, 2, 3 and the line instruction reel 4 start rotating in the order in which they were pressed or at the time when they were pressed. Then, each symbol reel 1, 2, 3 and line instruction reel 4 stop. Of course, the player can press any stop button 1.
The time interval for pressing the buttons 1, 12, 13, and 14 in sequence, or the time interval for pressing the keys further, is completely free, and there is room for the player's skill to play. In any case, the player can play the game by simply pressing the start switch 10 and the stop buttons 11, 12, 13, and 14.

The input port 36 also includes a position detection sensor 15,
16, 17, and 18 are connected. The position detection sensors 15, 16, 17, and 18 are used to determine the symbols and marks that appear on the reel window 22 when the symbol reels 1, 2, and 3 and the line instruction reel 4 stop rotating. For example, a device configured as follows can be used. A reset signal section is provided at one location on the circumference of each of the reels, and the reset signal section is detected once every rotation by, for example, a photo sensor.
The number of drive signal pulses required to rotate one frame of the symbols and marks appearing on the circumference of each reel 1, 2, 3, and 4 is known in advance, so after a reset pulse is generated by the CPU, Each reel 1,
By counting the number of pulses sent until 2, 3, and 4 stop, it is configured to determine what the symbols and marks appearing on the reel window 22 are.

41 is a medal detector for detecting the number of inserted medals, and for example, a micro switch or a photo sensor is used. This medal detector is also connected to the input port 36. The number of medals required to start one game can be set arbitrarily. Normally, the game is started by inserting one medal, but in that case, the activation signal from the start switch 10 may be activated by inputting the detection signal once. In addition, when starting the game by inserting two or more medals, when the detection signal of two or more degrees is input, the start switch 1
What is necessary is to enable the activation signal from 0.

The output port 37 includes a hopper 42 that pays out a predetermined number of medals (for example, 2, 5, 8, 10, 15) when a prize is won, and a speaker 4 that plays a melody with a different tone while the reels are rotating or when a prize is won.
3. Line indication A line indicator 23 that indicates the position and number of winning lines when the rotation of the reel 4 is stopped is connected via respective drive circuits 44, 45, and 46.

Now, regarding mark M on line instruction reel 4,
This will be explained based on FIGS. 5 to 15. The mark itself on the line indication reel 4 may be of any kind as long as it can inform the player of the winning line, for example, an arrow, horizontal bar, circle, or other appropriate figure or symbol may be used.

The pitch P at which the mark M is displayed on the outer peripheral surface of the reel must be equal to the pitch of the pattern arrangement of pattern reels 1, 2, and 3. However, if the mark M is displayed on all the frames, the line instruction reel 4
Since there is no point in randomly changing the winning line, some pieces that do not indicate the winning line must also be included. The number of M marks displayed is an important factor that affects interest in the game, but if there are many M marks, there will be more chances of winning, and if there are fewer, there will be fewer chances of winning. It can be determined by

Figure 5 shows, as an example, a line instruction in which a mark M and a frame without a mark (marked with a circle M ₁ on the drawing for ease of understanding) appear alternately in each frame. Reels 4 are shown in an expanded state.

Note that the above 〇 mark M ₁ is on the actual reel 4,
The eyelashes can be plain, or they can have a suitable design added to them.

For example, when the line indication reel 4 shown in FIG. 5 stops rotating at a position where the part a is visible from the reel window 22, the center winning line is specified as the winning line, as shown in FIG. Ru. Similarly, when it stops at part b, the seventh
As shown in the figure, two upper and lower winning lines a and b are designated as winning lines.

In addition to the above, the following mark display patterns can also be adopted. In Figure 8, mark M
Three lines in a row are shown. When this part C appears in the reel window 22 and stops, three winning lines, a and b, are indicated. FIG. 9 shows three pieces _M1 with no marks displayed in a row. When this part d appears in the reel window 22 and stops, there will be no winning line.

The mark for indicating the winning line is not limited to one that indicates only one winning line, but may be one that indicates two winning lines at the same time, three, four, or five lines at the same time. In FIG. 10, three types of marks M ₂ , M ₃ , and M ₇ indicating two winning lines are shown. The marks M ₂ and M ₃ may be displayed two or more frames apart, or may be displayed with a single instruction mark M in between, as shown in FIG. When the displayed portion e appears in the reel window 22 and stops, five winning lines,
a, b, a, and b will be instructed at the same time. Also, when mark M ₇ appears at the top of the reel window 22, the two winning lines a and b are
When it appears at the bottom, there are two winning lines b,
When a appears in the center, one winning line will be indicated. Also, instead of such a display, as shown in FIG.
Using one mark M ₄ that combines five arrows,
When the mark M ₄ stops at the center of the reel window 22, five winning lines, a, b,
A and b may be designated. Note that the mark _M4 is not limited to a combination of arrows, but may be a mark with a specific design, such as a crown.

13 and 14, the marks M ₁ , M ₂ ,
An example of the display of _M3 is shown in FIG. 15, and an example of the display of marks _M5 and _M6 for indicating diagonal winning lines is shown, respectively. In each of the above examples, when the part g stops in the reel window 22, four winning lines a, b, a, b are indicated, and when the part h stops in the reel window 22, the winning lines are However, when the part i stops in the reel window 22, two diagonal winning lines a and b are designated as winning lines.

Furthermore, in addition to the above, for example, the center winning line may be fixed as the winning line at all times to avoid a state where the winning line is zero. In that case, the center of the reel window 22 for the line instruction reel 4 may be closed and a specific mark displayed there, or a specific mark may be displayed next to the reel window 22. good.

Although the display pattern of the marks on the line instruction reel 4 has been described above based on the drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various forms of display patterns can be adopted as appropriate.

Next, the winning line determining means 31, the stopping symbol determining means 32, and the winning determining means 33 of the present invention will be explained. Each of these means is composed of a microcomputer 30 shown in FIG. Therefore, inside the ROM, the marks on the line instruction reel 4 and the symbols on each symbol reel 1, 2, and 3 are encoded and stored at predetermined addresses. Furthermore, combinations of winning symbols on each winning line are also coded and stored.

The winning line is determined as follows. The CPU uses the reset signal taken in from the position detection sensor 18 as a reference, and resets the line instruction reel 4.
It counts the number of pulses of the drive signal until it stops, and calls from the ROM the code at the address that corresponds to the counted number in advance. The CPU uses that code to determine which winning line is specified.

The pattern combination is determined as follows. The CPU controls each symbol reel 1, 2, 3 taken in from the position detection sensor 15, 16, 17.
Based on the reset signal of , each symbol reel 1,
The number of pulses of the drive signal until 2 and 3 stop is counted, and the code at the address previously associated with the counted number is called from the ROM. The CPU uses these codes to reel each symbol reel 1, 2, and 3 appearing on the reel window 22.
Determine what the pattern above is.

Judgment of prize winning is done as follows.
The CPU calls the winning symbol combination code in the called winning line code from the ROM and compares it with the code of the actual stopped symbols. If the comparison results match, it is determined that a prize has been won, and a drive signal is issued to the hopper 42 and speaker 43 from the CPU. In the case of winning, there are some cases in which the number of medals paid out is large and some cases are small, and the number of medals paid out from the hopper 42 is changed by a corresponding drive signal. Furthermore, in the case of a specific winning combination, it is possible to proceed to a continuous game.

How to play the game in the slot machine A having the above configuration will be explained based on the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 16 to 18.

First, as shown in FIG. 16, the player inserts medals into the medal slot 9 (101). The predetermined number of coins are inserted by the detection signal of the medal detector 41.
Once confirmed by the CPU (102), the game is ready to start. The player then presses the start switch 10 (103). This causes the startup signal to
The signal is sent to each stepping motor 5, 6, 7, and 8, and the four reels 1, 2, 3, and 4 start rotating at the same time (104), and the game starts.

When the game starts, the player presses the four stop buttons 11, 1, as shown in FIG.
Press 2, 13, or 14 arbitrarily (105). The button operations are left to the player's subjective discretion as to which order to press and when to press the buttons, thereby allowing the player to experience a sense of play. Stop button 14
When the line instruction reel 4 stops due to the operation (106), many players are excited about how many winning lines will be won at which position based on the stop position mark. It turns out. Also, when symbol reels 1, 2, and 3 are stopped by operating the stop buttons 11, 12, and 13 (106), the player can visually check whether or not he or she has won a prize by checking the combination of the stopped symbols on the winning line. It can be judged based on And when the player wins a prize, he or she is satisfied with the amount of shooting.

One game is completed by the above steps. As shown in FIG. 18, during the game, the computer 30 simultaneously determines the winning line (107), the stopped symbols (108), and the winning determination (109), and in the case of winning, the game ends. At the same time, a predetermined number of medals are paid out to the tray 26, and the game is over.

[Effects of the Invention] In the present invention, it is possible to enjoy the excitement that stimulates the gambling spirit not only at the stage of determining the stopped symbols but also at the stage of determining the winning line in each game. You can have twice as much fun playing.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a functional explanatory diagram of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of a reel-type game machine A according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the symbol reel and line instruction reel. , Fig. 4 is an electric circuit diagram of the reel-type game machine A, Fig. 5 is a developed view showing the marks displayed on the line instruction reel, and Figs. 6 and 7 are the a and a of the marks shown in Fig. An explanatory diagram of the winning line indicated by the yohi b part, Figures 8 to 10 are explanatory diagrams showing display patterns of other marks, and Fig. 11 is an illustration of the winning line indicated by the mark e shown in Figure 10. Figures 12 to 15 are illustrations showing display patterns of other marks, Figures 16 to 18 are flowcharts showing how to play the game in slot machine A, and Figure 19 is a conventional slot machine. FIG. 20, a schematic front view of the game machine Z, is an explanatory view of the main part of the front panel in FIG. 19. (Main symbols on the drawing), 1, 2, 3: Picture reel,
4: Line instruction reel, 5, 6, 7, 8: Stepping motor, 10: Start switch, 11,
12, 13, 14: Stop button, 15, 16, 1
7, 18: Position detection sensor, 30: Microcomputer, 31: Winning line determining means, 32: Stop pattern determining means, 33: Winning determining means, 41: Metal detector, 42: Hopper.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. (a) Three pattern reels in which an appropriate number of different types of patterns are displayed on a circumferential surface, and (b) an appropriate number of marks indicating winning lines are displayed on a circumferential surface. (c) a rotational drive device provided on each of the symbol reels and the line instruction reel; (d) input means for manually providing a start signal to the rotational drive device; (e) (f) a position detection means for detecting the stop position of each of the symbol reels and line instruction reels when rotation is stopped; (g) winning line determining means for determining a winning line based on a detection signal from the position detecting means; (h) stopped symbol determining means for determining a symbol when each symbol reel is stopped based on a detection signal from the position detecting means; i) A reel-type game machine comprising a prize determining means for comparing the winning line determined by the entered prize line determining means with the arrangement of symbols determined by the stopping symbol determining means to determine whether or not a prize has been won.