JPH0454982A - Pinball machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attract player's interest sufficiently to the variable display of a picture by providing a display control means for controlling the display of a picture display device on the basis of a selected picture pattern. CONSTITUTION:A dot matrix panel 13 indicatively driven on the basis of the output signal from a CPU 31 is composed of three panels having vertical eight and horizontal eight LED elements arranged, respectively. Respective display sections 13a-13c composed of these three panels are indicatively controlled to endlessly variably display a plurality of pictures included in selected picture patterns. When a predetermined picture pattern is selected by a selection button switch 14, the CPU 31 displays data from an address storing the picture pattern on the panel 13. If the picture displayed on the panel 13 coincides with a predetermined specified picture, a big winning mode is provided. Thus, the variable display of different kinds of picture patterns can be enjoyed with a single picture display device.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention provides a symbol display device capable of variably displaying a plurality of symbols, and a combination of a predetermined specific symbol as a result of the variable display of the symbol display device. The present invention relates to a pachinko machine equipped with a variable winning device that is sometimes driven in a predetermined manner.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, a symbol display device is provided with a plurality of display sections (generally three display sections) capable of variably displaying a plurality of symbols,
When the combination of symbols when the symbol display device is stopped becomes a combination consisting only of predetermined specific symbols, the variable winning device is driven in a predetermined manner to accept a batted ball,
As a result, many pachinko machines have been proposed that generate a large number of winning balls in a short period of time. In such pachinko machines, there is only one type of symbol pattern displayed on the symbol display device, and for example, a pattern consisting of symbols on the + side of numbers "1" to "O" is displayed on each display section. It was displayed. And one of the designs, for example, "
7" is displayed on each display section, the variable prize winning device is driven in a predetermined manner as a jackpot state.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] For this reason, the combination of symbols that results in a jackpot is always the same combination of symbols, and when the game continues for a long time, the fluctuating display of symbols loses its freshness, causing players to get bored. The problem was that it was easy to get caught.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a pachinko machine that can sufficiently attract players' interest in the fluctuating display of symbols.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a pachinko machine according to the present invention includes a symbol pattern storage means for storing a plurality of types of symbol patterns, and a device for selecting one type of symbol pattern. The present invention is characterized by comprising: symbol pattern selection means; and display control means for controlling the display of the symbol display device based on the selected symbol pattern.

[Function] One type of symbol pattern selected from a plurality of types of symbol patterns by the symbol pattern selection means is variably displayed or displayed on the symbol display device. Then, when a predetermined combination of specific symbols is achieved, the variable winning device is driven in a predetermined manner. In other words, in the present invention, a plurality of types of symbol patterns are prepared to be displayed on the symbol display device, and a game can be played with a symbol pattern selected from among them, so that different types of symbol patterns can be displayed on a single symbol display device. The player can enjoy the fluctuating display of the symbols, and the fluctuating display of the symbols gives a sense of freshness and attracts the player's interest.

[Embodiments] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, a pachinko machine to which the embodiment is applied will be described with reference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a front view of the pachinko machine. In the figure, a metal frame 3 is provided around the opening of a front frame 2 formed in the shape of a frame of a pachinko machine 1. and,
The metal frame 3 has a glass #4 and a front door 5.
is provided so that it can be opened and closed freely. A game board 9 is disposed behind the glass door 4, and an upper tray 6 is fixed to the surface of the front surface r#5 for storing batted balls and supplying the batted balls to a batted ball firing position (not shown). Furthermore, below the front frame 2,
The operating handle 7, which is a part of the ball launcher, and the upper plate 6
A lower tray 8 or the like is provided for storing prize balls that cannot be stored in the lower tray.

The game board 9 has a substantially square shape, and has the following on its surface:
A game area 11 is defined by guide rails 10. A symbol display device 12 equipped with a dot matrix panel 13 consisting of a plurality of display sections 13a to 13C (see FIG. 3A) is provided approximately in the center of the gaming area 11, and a solenoid is installed below the symbol display device 12. 19(
A variable prize winning device 17 having a pair of opening/closing members 18a and 18b (not shown; however, shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1) is provided. Design display device 12
In this case, a batted ball wins a prize in the starting winning openings 15a to 15c provided below and diagonally downward to the right and left of the symbol display device 12, and starting winning detection switch 16 (not shown) attached to the starting winning openings 15a to 15C (not shown) However, by turning on the switch (shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1), the display is made to fluctuate, and the fluctuating display is stopped when a predetermined period of time has elapsed. Then, the display mode displayed on each display section 13a to 13c of the symbol display device 12 when stopped is a predetermined specific symbol (in this embodiment, as will be described later, the arithmetic numeral "7" or the Chinese numeral When it is a combination of "7" or the Roman numeral "■", it is determined to be a jackpot and the opening/closing members 18a, 18b of the variable prize winning device 17 are held for a certain period of time (for example, 30 seconds) or for a predetermined number of prizes (for example, 10 pieces). It will remain open until a winning prize is won. In addition, the winning prize that is guided by the opening/closing members 18a and 18b of the variable winning device 17 enters the V winning opening 20 formed therein, and the winning detection switch is attached to the V winning opening 20. 21 (not shown; however, shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1) is ONt, the variable prize winning device 1 is turned on again.
The opening/closing members 18a and 18b of No. 7 open under the above conditions,
Such an open state continues for a maximum of 10 times as long as a ball hits the V winning hole 20.

In addition, if the batted ball enters the V winning hole 20, ■ the winning hole 20
■Lamp 22 (not shown; however,
(shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1) lights up to notify that fact. In addition, the variable prize winning device 17 includes opening/closing members 18a, 1
A winning ball detection switch 23 (not shown;
However, there is provided a block diagram (shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1).

In addition, as a means for stopping the fluctuation of the symbol display device 12, a means for stopping the fluctuation based on the player's operation of the fluctuation time reduction button may be added.

By the way, the number of symbol patterns that can be displayed on the symbol display device 12 is not one type, but in the case of this embodiment, three types of symbol patterns are prepared.

Specifically, as shown in Figure 2, the arithmetic numbers "1" to
Design pattern r A consisting of 10 symbols up to "0"
J, a design pattern "B" consisting of 10 symbols from Kanji numerals "-" to "10", and Roman numerals "I" to "
A symbol pattern "C" consisting of ten symbols up to "x" is prepared.

Which symbol pattern to select from among these three symbol patterns is determined by operating a selection button switch 14 that can be operated by the player. The selection button switch 14 is provided below one side of the front door 5, and each time the selection button switch 14 is pressed, except when the symbol display device 12 is changing, the selection button switches from symbol pattern 'A' to symbol pattern 'B' to symbol. The patterns are selected in the order of pattern "C"→design pattern "A". After one of the symbol patterns is selected, unless the selection is changed, the variable display or display on the symbol display device 12 is performed using the selected symbol pattern.

In addition, in the winning area 11, the above-described symbol display device 12,
In addition to the variable winning device 17 and the starting winning openings 15a to 15c,
Multiple winning openings (unsigned) are set up as winning areas,
A jackpot lamp 24 is provided which is activated during a jackpot state. An operation lamp 25 that operates almost the same as this jackpot lamp 24 is provided at the upper part of the front frame 2. Further, at the lowest part of the game area 11, an out hole 26 is also formed, into which a batted ball that has not been won by any of the winning holes enters. Further, on the lower back side of the front frame 2, a speaker 27 is also provided that generates sound effects corresponding to the game state.

The pachinko machine 1 configured as described above is controlled by a control circuit 30 shown in FIG. FIG. 1 shows the control circuit 30 in block configuration.
It has a CPU 31 as a control center, and the CPU 31 includes:
External ROM 32 and external RAM 33 are connected. The external ROM 32 stores a program that controls the overall gaming operation, and the CPU 31 executes various processes based on the program. Further, the external ROM 32 stores a plurality of types of symbol patterns, that is, the symbol pattern "A".
”, symbol pattern “B”, and symbol pattern “C”. The CPU 31 also includes a flip-flop to prevent chattering of input signals from the various detectors described above, namely, the start winning detection switch 16, the number of winning balls detection switch 23, the winning detection switch 21, and the selection button switch 14. The signal is input manually via a waveform shaping circuit 34 consisting of.

Further, the CPU 31 outputs a display drive signal to the dot matrix panel 13 of the symbol display device 12 via the dot matrix drive circuit 35, and the PSG 36
A drive signal is output to the speaker 27 via the sound generator, and further, a drive signal is output to the solenoid 19, jackpot lamp 24, ■ lamp 22, and operation lamp 25 via the driver 37. Also, CP, U
A clock generation circuit 39 is connected to 31 , and the clock generation circuit 39 outputs an external interrupt signal to the CPU 31 via a frequency divider 38 . An interrupt routine (not shown) including the subroutine shown in FIG. 4 is executed in synchronization with the external interrupt signal. Note that the CPU 31 includes a reset signal generation circuit 40 that generates a reset signal when the power is turned on.
, and a power supply circuit 41 for supplying power to the CPU 31
are connected to each other.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 3A, the dot matrix panel 13 (hereinafter referred to as panel 13), which is driven for display based on the output signal from the CPU 31, has eight vertical panels,
It consists of three dot matrix panels with eight LED elements arranged horizontally. These three panels constitute display sections 13a to 13c, respectively.

In this embodiment, each display section 13a to 13c is controlled to display a plurality of symbols included in the selected symbol pattern in an endlessly variable manner, and specifically, lighting patterns for displaying the symbols are controlled. - By applying data to each display section 13a to 13c while shifting it from the bottom to the top, the symbols are displayed variably while being scrolled.

The scroll speed of the symbols displayed on the panel 13 can be changed by changing the time required to shift the address pointer of the lighting pattern data by one address. In other words, if the time required to shift the address pointer of the lighting pattern data by one address is shortened, the symbols displayed on the panel 13 will flow faster and the scrolling speed will become faster. If the time required to shift the data address pointer by one address is increased, the symbols displayed on the panel 13 will flow more slowly and the scrolling speed will be slower. Note that if the time required to shift the address pointer of the lighting pattern data by one address is made infinitely long, the pattern displayed on the panel 13 will stop. In addition, font data corresponding to multiple designs included in one type of design pattern is
The data are stored consecutively at predetermined addresses in the external ROM. For example, the font data that constitutes 10 arithmetic numbers belonging to the design pattern rAJ is 1079 from address 1000.
10 that is stored up to the address and belongs to the design pattern "B"
The font data that makes up the 10 kanji numerals is stored at addresses 2000 to 2079, and the font data that makes up the 10 roman numerals that belong to the design pattern "C" are stored in addresses 2000 to 2079.
Stored at addresses 3000 to 3079. and,
When a predetermined symbol pattern is selected by the selection button switch 14, the CPU 31 controls the display so that data from the address where the symbol pattern is stored is displayed on the panel 13.

In the symbol display device 12 which is displayed variably as described above, the jackpot mode is entered when the symbol displayed on the panel 13 is a predetermined specific symbol as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C.

In other words, when the fluctuation display result with the symbol pattern r A J selected is the digit of the arithmetic numeral "7", the fluctuation display result with the symbol pattern rB" selected is the Chinese numeral. The jackpot mode is entered when the number zero of "seven" is the number zero, and when the variable display result with the symbol pattern "C" selected is the number zero of the Roman numeral "■". However, no matter which design pattern is selected,
The probability of being in jackpot mode is constant.

In the symbol display device 12 of the pachinko machine 1 described above, the symbol pattern selection subroutine of the interrupt processing executed based on an external interrupt signal will be explained with reference to FIG. It is determined whether or not it is within the range (step 5IO), and if it is fluctuating,
End the subroutine and return to the main routine. That is, it means that the selection of the symbol pattern is not executed when the symbol display device 12 is changing.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the symbol display device 12 is not changing and the selection button switch 14 is ONL (step 520), "+1" is added to the value of the symbol register (step 530), and then the symbol The register value is “4”
'' or more is determined (step 540). When the value of the symbol register is "4" or more, "-3" is added to the value of the symbol register (step 5SO), and then the process returns to step S40.

By the way, when it is determined that the value of the symbol register is not "4" or more, it is first determined whether the value of the symbol register is "1" (step 560), and if it is "1", The symbol pattern "A" is selected and the subroutine ends (step 570). Also, when the value of the symbol register is determined to be "2" instead of "1" (
In step 580), symbol pattern r13J is selected and the subroutine is ended (step 590).

Furthermore, when it is determined that the value of the symbol register is neither "1" nor "2", symbol pattern "C" is selected and the subroutine ends (step 5100).

The embodiment has been described above, but according to this embodiment, multiple types of symbol patterns are prepared to be displayed on the symbol display device 12, and one symbol pattern can be selected from among them. You can enjoy the fluctuating display of different types of symbol patterns on the symbol display device 12,
The fluctuating display of symbols gives a fresh feel and can attract players' interest.

In the above-described embodiment, the display section of the symbol display device 12 is a dot matrix composed of LEDs.
Although a panel 13 is shown, any display member capable of displaying a plurality of types of graphic patterns may be used, for example, an LCD or the like may be used. Further, the plurality of types of symbol patterns may be not only numbers but also symbol groups belonging to a predetermined concept consisting of letters, symbols, etc., and the number of symbols constituting the symbol pattern may be any number.

Further, although the selection button switch 14 operated by the player is illustrated as a means for selecting a symbol pattern, the selection may be made without the player's involvement. for example,
The design pattern selected at regular intervals is changed,
Any one of the symbol patterns may be randomly selected when the power is turned on.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above explanation, the pachinko machine according to the present invention has a plurality of types of symbol patterns displayed on the symbol display device, and a game is performed with a symbol pattern selected from among them. Therefore, it is possible to enjoy the fluctuating display of different types of symbol patterns on one symbol display device, and the fluctuating display of symbols can have a fresh feel and attract players' interest.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control circuit that controls the gaming operation of a pachinko machine according to an embodiment, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the variation order of multiple types of symbol patterns displayed on a symbol display device, and FIG. 3C to 3C are front views of the display section of the symbol display device showing the display mode of jackpot symbols in each symbol pattern, FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the symbol pattern selection operation, and FIG. 5 is an example of the embodiment. It is a front view showing the pachinko machine concerning this. Figure 3B Ear C, /g turn rBJ 1... Pachinko machine 12... Symbol display device 14... Selection button switch 17... Variable winning device 30... Control circuit 31... CP
U 32...ROM Figure 3C Patent applicant Sanyo Bussan Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A symbol display device capable of displaying a plurality of symbols in a variable manner, and a variable device that is driven in a predetermined manner when the variable display result of the symbol display device becomes a predetermined combination of specific symbols. A pachinko machine comprising: a winning device; a symbol pattern storage means for storing a plurality of kinds of symbol patterns; a symbol pattern selection means for selecting one of the symbol patterns; A pachinko machine comprising: a display control means for controlling the display of a symbol display device;