BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention:
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The present invention relates to a game machine in which
prize mode is determined by random number lottery and a special
game prize mode is produced.
2. Description of the Related Art:
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Conventionally, there has been, for example, a slot
machine as a game machine of this kind. In a general slot
machine, three reels are parallelly installed in three columns
on the rear side of a front panel. Various patterns are
illustrated on outer peripheries of the respective reels and
the patterns are illuminated from the rear side by built-in
light sources (back lights) installed at the respective reels
and observed via respective windows formed at the front panel.
Five prize lines are described at the windows and the slot
machine is played by to which prize line a predetermined
combination of patterns is set.
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A game is started by inserting a coin into a slot by a
player and when a start lever is operated by the player, the
respective reels start to rotate simultaneously. When the
respective reels reach a constant speed, operation of
respective stop buttons installed in correspondence with the
respective reels becomes effective. The player operates the
respective stop buttons while observing moving patterns, stops
rotation of the respective reels and tries to stop and display
predetermined patterns on any of the prize line. The respective
reels stop rotating in accordance with operational timings of
stop buttons. When a predetermined combination of patterns is
displayed on any of the prize lines in stopping the reels, a
prize in accordance with the combination of patterns is awarded.
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There are a big hit prize, a medium hit prize, a small hit
prize and so on in the prize modes. The big hit prize and the
medium hit prize constitute special game prize modes which are
caused when a predetermined number of patterns "7" or special
character patterns are set on the prize line. In the case of
the big hit prize, a special game referred to as big bonus game
(BB game) can be carried out and in the case of the medium hit
prize, a special game referred to as regular bonus game (RB
game) can be carried out by which a large number of coins can
be acquired. Further, the small hit prize is caused when three
of patterns such as "cherry" or "bell" are set on the prize
line and in the case of the small hit, several coins can be
acquired.
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Such a prize mode is determined by random number lottery
which is executed immediately after operating the start lever
and has been already determined before the player operates to
stop the respective reels. The random number lottery is
executed by prize mode determining means constituted at inside
of the game machine. When the big hit prize is determined by
the random number lottery, a lamp installed at a front panel of
the machine is lighted on and the player is informed of the
fact that the big hit prize has been caused by inner lottery of
the machine. Thereafter, when rotation of the respective reels
are controlled to stop in response to operation of the stop
buttons by the player and a prize combination of patterns which
has been determined by the random number lottery is stopped and
displayed on the prize line, the prize can be experienced
actually.
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However, according to the above-described conventional
game machine, an occurrence frequency of the big hit per se is
small from the start, occurrence of the big hit prize is
informed simply by lighting on the lamp and therefore, no
interest of game is produced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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The present invention has been carried out in order to
resolve such problems and according to an aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a game machine comprising prize
mode determining means for determining a prize mode of game by
random number lottery, a plurality of rotating reels outer
peripheries of which are illustrated with various patterns for
stopping and displaying a combination of the patterns in
accordance with the prize mode determined by the prize mode
determining means, and a plurality of light sources installed
to the respective rotating reels for illuminating the patterns
stopped and displayed by the respective rotating reels from a
rear side, further comprising informing means for informing a
player that the prize mode of a special game is determined by
the prize mode determining means by light-on control of the
respective light sources in a predetermined display mode under
a condition of stopping all of the respective rotating reels.
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According to the constitution, the respective light
sources installed on the rear sides of the rotating reels are
light-on controlled in a predetermined display mode by the
informing means and the special game prize is informed to the
player.
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Therefore, the special game prize is informed with
ornamental performance higher than that in the conventional
case. Further, the light-on control is carried out in a wide
area using all of reel windows in front of the player and
therefore, the special game prize is caught by visual sense of
a player with strong impact and the player can further strongly
taste actual feeling of pleasure of the special game prize.
Also, the player expects at each game that the light-on control
which is visually pleasant emerges after stopping all of the
rotating reels. As a result, the tastefulness of game is
enhanced.
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Further, according to another aspect of the present
invention, the informing means informs the player at a
predetermined probability that the prize mode of the special
game is determined by the prize mode determining means. Further,
according to another aspect of the present invention, the
informing means informs the special game prize to the player at
a predetermined probability also when a prize mode other than
the special game mode is determined by the prize mode
determining means.
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According to the constitution, the special game prize may
be informed to the player or may not be informed thereto.
Further, even when a prize mode other than the special game
prize is determined by the prize mode determining means, the
special game prize is informed at a predetermined probability.
Therefore, information of the special game prize is expected by
the player. That is, by constructing a constitution in which
the special game prize is informed at a predetermined
probability, when the special game prize is informed, the
pleasure is enhanced and the tastefulness of the game is
further promoted.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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- Fig. 1 is a front view showing an outlook of a slot
machine according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
- Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a rotating reel unit
of the slot machine shown in Fig. 1;
- Figs. 3A and 3B are perspective views showing a structure
of rotating reels constituting the rotating reel unit
illustrated in Fig. 2;
- Figs. 4A, 4B and 4C are views showing a state in which
prize lines described on display windows of the slot machine
illustrated in Fig. 1 are successively made effective;
- Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing a principal control
circuit constitution of the slot machine illustrated in Fig. 1;
- Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a prize probability table used
in game processing of the slot machine according to the
embodiment;
- Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a symbol table used in the
game processing of the slot machine according to the
embodiment;
- Fig. 8 is a first flowchart showing the game processing of
the slot machine according to the embodiment;
- Fig. 9 is a second flowchart showing the game processing
of the slot machine according to the embodiment;
- Figs. 10A through 10K are timing charts indicating timings
of respective portions of circuit in the game processing of the
slot machine according to the embodiment;
- Figs. 11A through 11F are views showing a display mode of
reel back lamps which are light-on controlled by informing
means when a prediction of a "BB" flag is informed in the game
processing of the slot machine according to the embodiment;
- Figs. 12A through 12E are views showing a display mode of
reel back lamps which are light-on controlled by informing
means when a prediction of an "RB" flag is informed in the game
processing of the slot machine according to the embodiment;
- Figs. 13A through 13E are views showing other example of
the display mode informing the prediction of the "BB" flag
illustrated in Figs. 11A through 11F;
- Figs. 14A through 14E are views showing a former half of
other example of the display mode of informing the prediction
of the "RB" flag illustrated in Figs. 12A through 12E;
- Figs. 15F through 15I are views showing a latter half of
the other example of the display mode of informing the
prediction of the "RB" flag illustrated in Figs. 12A through
12E;
- Fig. 16 is a diagram showing a prize mode informing
selection lottery table used in game processing of a slot
machine according to a second embodiment; and
- Fig. 17 is a flowchart showing the game processing of the
slot machine according to the second embodiment of the present
invention.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
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Next, an explanation will be given of a first embodiment
in which a game machine according to the present invention is
applied to a slot machine.
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Fig. 1 is a front view of a slot machine 1 according to
the embodiment.
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Three reels 3, 4 and 5 constituting a variable display
device are rotatably installed on the rear side of a front
panel 2 of a slot machine 1. Outer peripheral faces of the
respective reels 3, 4 and 5 are illustrated with columns of
symbols each comprising a plurality of kinds of patterns
(hereinafter, referred to as symbols). Three of the symbols are
observed via each of display windows 6, 7 and 8 at a front face
of the slot machine 1. Further, a slot 9 into which a player
inserts coins is installed on the lower right side of the
display windows 6, 7 and 8.
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The respective reels 3 through 5 constitute a rotating
reel unit shown in Fig. 2 and are attached to a frame 51 via
brackets 52. The respective reels 3 through 5 are constituted
by pasting reel bands 54 on outer peripheries of reel drums 53.
The above-described symbol columns are illustrated on outer
peripheral faces of the reel bands 54. Further, the respective
brackets 52 are installed with stepping motors 55 and the
respective reels 3 through 5 are rotated by being driven by the
motors 55.
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Fig. 3A shows the structure of each of the reels 3 through
5. Further, portions in Fig. 3A the same as those in Fig. 2 are
attached with the same notations and an explanation thereof
will be omitted. A lamp case 56 is installed at inside of the
reel drum 53 on the rear side of the reel band 54 and back
lamps 57a, 57b and 57c are respectively installed in three
respective chambers of the lamp case 56. As shown in Fig. 3B,
the back lamps 57a, 57b and 57c are mounted on a board 58 and
the board 58 is attached to the rear side of the lamp case 56.
Further, a photosensor 59 is attached to the bracket 52. The
photosensor 59 detects a shield plate 60 installed to the reel
lamp 53 passing through the photosensor 59 in accordance with
rotation of the reel drum 53.
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The respective back lamps 57a, 57b and 57c are light-on
controlled individually by a lamp drive circuit 48, mentioned
later. By lighting on the respective back lamps 57a, 57b and
57c, three of the symbols disposed in front of the respective
back lamps 57a, 57b and 57c are individually lighted on from
the rear sides in the symbols illustrated on the reel bands 54
and the three symbols are projected on each of the display
windows 6 through 8.
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Further, the display windows 6 through 8 shown in Fig. 1
are inscribed with prize lines of horizontal three lines (a
central line L1, a top line L2A and a bottom line L2B) and
diagonal two lines (a negative slope line L3A, a positive slope
line L3B). Before starting the game, when a player inserts one
sheet of coin to the coin slot 9, only the central prize line
L1 inscribed above the reels 3 through 5 is made effective as
shown in Fig. 4A. Further, when two sheets of coins are
inserted into the slot 9, the top and bottom prize lines L2A
and L2B are made effective in addition to the central line and
the three horizontal prize lines L1, L2A and L2B are made
effective as shown in Fig. 4B. Further, when three sheets of
coins are inserted into the slot 9, all of the prize lines L1,
L2A, L2B, L3A and L3B are made effective as shown in Fig. 4C.
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Further, circle marks in Figs. 4A, 4B and 4C represent
symbols illustrated on the respective reels 3 through 5. The
effectiveness of the prize lines are displayed to a player by
lighting on effective line display lamps 23 arranged at end
portions of the respective prize lines (refer to Fig. 1).
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Further, a 1BET switch 10, a 2BET switch 11 and a maxBET
switch 12 are installed on the lower left side of the display
windows 6 through 8. When coins are deposited to display at a
credit number display portion 13, instead of inserting coins
into the coin slot 9, one sheet, two sheets and three sheets of
coins are betted in one game by respective button depressing
operation of the 1BET switch 10, the 2BET switch 11 and the
maxBET switch 12. The credit number display portion 13 is
constituted by 7-segment LEDs (Light Emitting Diode) having a
number in accordance with a number of digits of displayed
numerical values and displays a number of coins deposited
currently.
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A credit/payment changeover switch (C/P switch) 14 and a
start lever 15 are installed on the lower side of the BET
switches 10 through 12 and stop buttons 16, 17 and 18 are
installed at a central portion of the machine on the right side
of the start lever 15. By button depressing operation of the
C/P switch 14, credit/payment of coins can be switched.
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By operating the start lever 15, rotation of the reels 3,
4 and 5 is simultaneously started. The stop buttons 16, 17 and
18 are arranged in correspondence with the respective reels 3,
4 and 5. When the rotational speed of the respective reels 3
through 5 reaches a constant speed, operation of the respective
stop buttons 16 through 18 is made effective and rotation of
the respective reels 3 through 5 is stopped in accordance with
button depressing operation of the player.
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Further, sound emitting holes 19 and a coin tray 20 are
installed at the lower portion of the front face of the slot
machine 1. The sound emitting holes 19 are for emitting sound
generated from a speaker contained at inside of the machine to
outside. The coin tray 20 is for storing coins paid back from a
coin payment outlet 21. Further, a prize display unit 22
indicating how much coins are to be paid back in respect of
each prize is installed at the upper portion of the front face
of the slot machine 1.
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Further, a liquid crystal display unit 24 is installed at
the front panel 2 on the right side of the respective reels 3,
4 and 5. The liquid crystal display unit 24 is a display device
for displaying rotation of the reels 3, 4 and 5, displaying
game history or carrying out a production in a special game.
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Fig. 5 shows a circuit constitution including a control
unit for controlling operation of game processing in the slot
machine 1 of the embodiment and peripheral devices (actuators)
electrically connected thereto.
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The control unit is constituted by a microcomputer 30 as a
main constituent element and circuits for random number
sampling added thereto. The microcomputer 30 is constituted to
include CPU 31 for carrying out control operation in accordance
with previously set programs, ROM 32 and RAM 33 which are
storing means. CPU 31 is connected with a clock pulse
generating circuit 34 and a frequency divider 35 for generating
reference clock pulses, a random number generator 36 which is
random number generating means for generating random numbers in
constant ranges and a random number sampling circuit 37 which
is random number sampling means for sampling an arbitrary
random number from generated random numbers.
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As main actuators the operation of which is controlled by
control signals from the microcomputer 30, there are the
respective stepping motors 55 for driving to rotate the reels 3,
4 and 5, a hopper 38 for storing coins, the liquid crystal
display unit 24, a speaker 39 and the back lamps 57a, 57b and
57c. These are respectively driven by a motor drive circuit 40,
a hopper drive circuit 41, a display drive circuit 42, a
speaker drive circuit 43 and the lamp drive circuit 48. The
drive circuits 40 through 43 and 48 are connected to CPU 31 via
I/O ports of the microcomputer 30. The respective stepping
motors 55 are excited in one or two phases thereof by the motor
drive circuit 40 and are respectively rotated by one rotation
when drive signals having 400 pulses are supplied.
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Further, as input signal generating means for generating
input signals necessary for the microcomputer 30 to generate
control signals, there are a start switch 15S for detecting
operation of the start lever 15, an inserted coin sensor 9S for
detecting coins inserted from the coin slot 9 and the C/P
switch 14 mentioned above. Further, there also are provided the
photosensor 59 and a reel position detecting circuit 44 for
detecting rotational positions of the respective reels 3, 4 and
5 by receiving output pulse signals from the photosensor 59.
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The photosensor 59 generates a reset pulse by detecting
the shield plate 60 at every rotation of each of the reels 3, 4
and 5. The reset pulse is inputted to CPU 31 via the reel
position detecting circuit 44. RAM 33 is stored with count
values in correspondence with rotational positions of the
respective reels 3 through 5 in a range of one rotation and
when CPU 31 receives the reset pulses, the count values formed
in RAM 33 are cleared to "0". By the clearing operation, a
shift caused between display of movement of respective symbols
and rotation of the respective stepping motors 55 is nullified
at each rotation.
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Further, as input signal generating means mentioned above,
there are a reel stop signal circuit 45 and a pay completion
signal generating circuit 46. The reel stop signal circuit 45
generates signals for stopping corresponding ones of the reels
3, 4 and 5 when the stop buttons 16, 17 and 18 are depressed.
Further, a coin detecting unit 47 counts a number of coins paid
back from the hopper 38 and the pay completion signal
generating circuit 46 outputs a signal informing completion of
coin payment to CPU 31 when a counted number of actually paid
coins which is inputted from the coin detecting unit 47 reaches
predetermined prize number data.
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ROM 32 is stored with a procedure of game processing
executed in the slot machine 1 as a sequential program as well
as a prize probability table, a symbol table, a prize symbol
combination table and so on which are respectively classified.
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The prize probability table constitutes random number
classifying means for classifying random numbers sampled by the
sampling circuit 37 to respective prize modes and stores data
for classifying random numbers in constant ranges generated by
the random number generator 36 in respective prize modes. Such
a prize probability table is constituted as shown in, for
example, Fig. 6. a1, a2 and a3, b1, b2 and b3, c1, c2 and c3,
d1, d2 and d3, e1, e2 and e3, f1, f2 and f3 and g1, g2 and g3
in Fig. 6 are previously set numerical data and are used in
classifying random numbers sampled by the sampling circuit 37
in respective prize modes. Combinations of respective numerical
values are used in the data such as "a1, b1, c1, d1, e1, f1 and
g1" when a number of inserting coins is 1, "a2, b2, c2, d2, e2,
f2 and g2" when it is 2 and "a3, b3, c3, d3, e3, f3 and g3"
when it is 3.
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The numerical values are normally set in a large or small
relationship of "a<b<c<d<e<f<g" and when a sampled random
number value is less than a, a big hit prize (big hit) is
constituted and a "BB" hit flag is erected. Further, when the
sample random number value is equal to or larger than a and
less than b, a medium hit prize (medium hit) is constituted and
an "RB" hit flag is erected. Further, when a sampled random
number values is equal to or larger than b and less than f, a
small hit prize (small hit) is constituted. In this case, when
it is equal to or larger than b and less than c, a "watermelon"
hit flag is erected, when it is equal to or larger than c and
less than d, a "bell" hit flag is erected, when it is equal to
or larger than d and less than e, a "4 cherry" hit flag is
erected and when it is equal to or larger than e and less than
f, a "2 cherry" hit flag is erected. Further, when a sampled
random number value is equal to or larger than f and less than
g, a "replay" hit flag is erected and when it is equal to or
larger than g, a "blank" hit flag having no prize is erected.
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That is, the prize modes are determined by to which
numerical value range a sampled random number value belongs and
are represented by a total of 8 kinds of hit flags including
"blank" and "replay". In this case, the random number generator
36, the sampling circuit 37, the prize probability table and
the microcomputer 30 constitute prize mode determining means.
The various hits occur under probabilities in accordance with
set data of such a prize probability table and accordingly, a
total coin payment rate in, for example, business hours of one
day is maintained substantially constant without being
extremely controlled by the skill of the player.
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Further, Fig. 7 conceptually shows a symbol table. The
symbol table corresponds rotational positions of the respective
reels 3 through 5 and symbols and represents columns of symbols
by notations. The symbol table stores symbol codes in
correspondence with code numbers for each of the reels 3
through 5. The code numbers are successively provided at
respective constant rotational pitches of the reels 3 through 5
with rotational positions generating reset pulses mentioned
above as references. The symbol codes designate symbols
provided in correspondence with the respective code numbers.
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Further, the prize symbol combination table stores symbol
codes for combinations of respective prize symbols indicated at
the prize display unit 22, symbol codes for combinations of
symbols constituting "reach spot" indicating the player that a
flag of causing a special game is established, prize
determining codes representing respective prizes, a number of
sheets of coins for prize and so on. The prize symbol
combination table is referred in controlling to stop the first
reel 3, the second reel 4 and the third reel 5 and in
confirming prize after stopping all of the reels.
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Next, an explanation will be given of the operation of the
game machine controlled by the microcomputer 30 according to
the embodiment.
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Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 are flowcharts showing an outline of
game processing.
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First, whether coin BET is carried out is determined by
CPU 31 (refer to step 101 of Fig. 8). The determination is
"YES" when a coin is inserted into the coin slot 9 and a
detection signal is inputted from the coin sensor 95 or when a
signal is inputted from either of the BET switches 10, 11 and
12. In that case, next, whether a start signal is inputted from
the start switch 15S by operating the start lever 15 is
determined (step 102).
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When the determination is "YES", prize determination
(probability lottery processing) is carried out by the prize
mode determining means mentioned above (step 103). The timing
of carrying out the prize determination is shown by a timing
chart of Fig. 10K and the prize determination is carried out
when the start lever 15 is operated shown in Fig. 10J. As
mentioned above, the prize is determined by to which prize
group in the prize probability table a random number value
generated by the random number generator 36 and specified by
the sampling circuit 37 belongs.
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The prize mode determined by the prize mode determining
means is represented by a kind of a hit flag. According to the
kind of the hit flag, there are 8 kinds of flags such as
"blank", "2 cherry", "4 cherry", "bell", "watermelon", "replay",
"RB" and "BB". Among the hit flags, respective flags of "2
cherry", "4 cherry", "bell" and "watermelon" are erected when a
small hit prize is hit as a result of inner lottery. Further,
"RB" flag is erected when a medium hit prize is hit as a result
of the inner lottery and "BB" flag is erected when a big hit
prize is hit as a result of the inner lottery.
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Next, a processing of rotating the reels 3, 4 and 5 is
carried out (step 104) and the respective reels 3 through 5
starts to rotate simultaneously in response to an operational
timing of the start lever 15 in Fig. 10J as shown in Fig. 10A,
Fig. 10B and Fig. 10C. Successively, the reels 3, 4 and 5 are
controlled to stop (step 105) and the first reel stop button 16,
the second reel stop button 17 and the third reel stop button
18 are operated in this order as shown in Fig. 10D, Fig. 10E
and Fig. F, the first reel 3, the second reel 4 and the third
reel 5 are stopped at timings shown in Fig. 10A, Fig. 10B and
Fig. 10C in response to timings of operating the respective
stop buttons.
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Further, in reel stop control explained in the embodiment,
for convenience, an explanation has been given of a case in
which the first reel stop button 16, the second reel stop
button 17 and the third reel stop button 18 are operated in
this order and the respective reels 3 through 5 are stopped in
the order of the first reel 3, the second reel 4 and the third
reel 5. However, the order of stopping the respective reels 3
through 5 is not limited thereto but, for example, the reels
may be stopped by a random operational order as in the first
reel stop button 16, the third reel stop button 18 and the
second reel stop button 17.
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The reel stop control is carried out in accordance with
the kind of a hit flag which has been set as a result of the
prize determination. That is, when the hit flag is "blank", the
motor drive circuit 40 is controlled by CPU 31, and the
respective reels 3 through 5 are controlled to stop such that
no prize combination of symbols is set on any of the effective
prize lines.
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Further, when the hit flag is "2 cherry", the motor drive
circuit 40 is controlled by CPU 31 and the respective reels 3
through 5 are controlled to stop such that a combination of
symbols of "cherry" is set on any of the effective prize lines.
Further, when the hit flag is "4 cherry", a combination of
symbols of "cherry" is set respectively on two of the effective
prize lines. Further, when the hit flag is "bell" or
"watermelon", the respective reels 3 through 5 are controlled
to stop such that a combination of symbols "bell" or
"watermelon" is set on any of the effective prize lines.
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Further, when the hit flag is "RB" or "BB", the respective
reels 3 through 5 are controlled to stop such that a
combination of symbols of "7" or predetermined character
symbols is set on any of the effective prize lines.
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Next, whether a special game prize hit flag, that is, "RB"
hit flag or "BB" hit flag is erected as a result of the
probability lottery processing at step 103 is determined (step
106). When the special game prize hit flag is erected,
successively, a processing of controlling to wink reel lamps
(step 107) is carried out. Further, when the special game hit
prize flag is not erected, the processing proceeds to step 108
mentioned later. In the reel lamp winking control processing at
step 107, the lamp drive circuit 48 is controlled by CPU 31 and
the respective back lamps 57a, 57b and 57c of the respective
reels 3 through 5 are light-on controlled such that the
respective back lamps are made to wink in a predetermined
display mode. In this case, the lamp drive circuit 48, the
respective back lamps 57a, 57b and 57c and the microcomputer 30
constitute informing means for informing a prediction of the
special game prize.
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For example, when the special game prize hit flag is "BB"
hit flag, the respective back lamps 57a, 57b and 57c are light-on
controlled by a display mode shown in Figs. 11A through 11F
at timings shown in Figs. 10G through 10I.
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That is, the back lamp 57a at the upper column of the
second reel 4 is lighted on as shown in Fig. 11A at a timing of
stopping the third reel 5 shown in Fig. 10C where all of the
reels 3 through 5 are stopped. Thereafter, as shown in Fig. 11B,
the back lamp 57b at the middle column of the second reel 4 is
lighted on and as shown in Fig. 11C, the back lamp 57c at the
lower column of the second reel 4 is lighted on. Timings of
lighting on the lamps until the current time are shown by "a",
"b" and "c" in Fig. 10H. Successively, as shown in Fig. 11D,
the respective back lamps 57c at the respective lower columns
at the first reel 3 and the third reel 5 are lighted on and as
shown in Fig. 11E, the respective back lamps 57b at the
respective middle columns of the first reel 3 and the third
reel 5 are lighted on. Finally, as shown in Fig. 11F, the
respective back lamps 57a of the respective upper columns of
the first reel 3 and the third reel 5 are lighted on. The
timings of lighting on these are respectively shown by "c", "b"
and "a" of Fig. 10G and Fig. 10I.
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Further, when the special game prize hit flag is "RB" hit
flag, the respective back lamps 57a, 57b and 57c are light-on
controlled by a display mode shown in Figs. 12A through 12E.
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That is, at the timing of stopping all the reels 3 through
5, all the back lamps 57a, 57b and 57c of the respective reels
3 through 5 are lighted as shown in Fig. 12A. Successively, the
back lamp 57b at the middle column of the first reel 3 is
extinguished as shown in Fig. 12B. Thereafter, as shown in Fig.
12C, the back lamp 57b at the middle column of the second reel
4 is extinguished and successively, the back lamp 57b at the
middle column of the third reel 5 is extinguished as shown in
Fig. 12D. Finally, as shown in Fig. 12E, all the back lamps 57a,
57b and 57c of the respective reels 3 through 5 are lighted on.
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The reel stop control at step 105 of Fig. 8 is not totally
carried out by the machine but timings of operating the
respective stop buttons 16 through 18 by the player matter.
That is, even when a prize hit flag is erected as a result of
inner lottery, unless the stop buttons 16 through 18 are
operated by the player, a prize combination of symbols is not
set on the effective prize line and prize is not awarded.
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Therefore, successively, whether display in stopping the
reels constitutes a predetermined prize combination of symbols
is determined in reference to the prize symbol combination
table (step 108). When the prize is not obtained, the
determination is "NO" and the processing returns to the initial
step 101. Further, when replay game (replay) is constituted as
a result of determination of prize, the processing returns to a
processing awaiting for operation of the start lever 15 at step
102 (step 109). In the case of a prize which is not replay game,
the hopper drive circuit 41 is controlled by CPU 31 and a
predetermined number of coins are paid back to the coin tray 20
(step 111 of Fig. 9).
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For example, in the case of the small hit prize of "2
cherry", 2 coins are paid back and in the case of the small hit
prize of "4 cherry", 4 coins are paid back. Further, in the
case of the small hit prize of "bell", 6 coins are paid back
and in the case of the small hit prize of "watermelon", 8 coins
are paid back. Further, in the case of the big hit prize of
"BB" or "RB", 15 coins are paid back, respectively.
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Next, whether BB game occurs is determined (step 112) and
when the BB game occurs, the BB game is executed (step 113).
According to the BB game, a set of general game and bonus game
can be carried out by a plurality of times. In the general game
in BB game, the small hit prize is awarded at a high
probability. Further, a bonus game is a game comprising a set
of high prize games at a plurality of times. When BB game is
not caused, successively, whether RB game is caused is
determined (step 114) and when RB game occurs, the RB game is
executed (step 115). According to the RB game, the above-described
bonus game can be carried out by once.
-
Thereafter, the slot machine game is carried out by
repeating the above-described processings.
-
According to the embodiment, the respective back lamps 57a,
57b and 57c installed on the rear side of the respective
rotating reels 3 through 5 are light-on controlled in a
predetermined display mode by informing means after stopping
all the reels 3 through 5 and the special game prize is
informed to the player. For example, winning of the "BB" hit
flag is informed to the player by light-on control of the
respective back lamps 57a, 57b and 57c in the display mode
shown in Figs. 11A through 11F and winning of the "RB" hit flag
is informed to the player by light-on control of the respective
back lamps 57a, 57b and 57c by the display mode shown in Figs.
12A through 12E. Therefore, different from the conventional
slot machine in which the special game prize mode is informed
by simply lighting on lamps installed at the front panel, the
special game prize is informed with ornamental performance
higher than that in the conventional case.
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Further, the light-on control is carried out in a wide
area using all of the reel windows 6 through 8 in front of the
player and therefore, the special game prize is caught by
visual sense of the player with strong impact and the player
can taste further strongly actual feeling of pleasure of the
special game prize. Further, the player expects that the light-on
control which is visually pleasant emerges after stopping
all the rotating reels at each game. As a result, the
tastefulness of the slot machine game is enhanced.
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Further, although in the above-described embodiment, the
respective back lamps 57a, 57b and 57c are light-on controlled
by the display modes shown in Figs. 11A through 11F and Figs.
12A through 12E and winning of the respective hit flags of "BB"
and "RB" is informed to the player, the back lamps 57a, 57b and
57c may be light-on controlled by display modes shown in Figs.
13A through 13E, Figs. 14A through 14E and Figs. 15F through
15I and the special game prize may be informed to the player.
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That is, when the special game prize hit flag is the "BB"
hit flag, the respective back lamps 57a, 57b and 57c are light-on
controlled by a display mode shown in Figs. 13A through 13E.
First, at a timing at which all the reels 3 through 5 are
stopped, the back lamps 57a and 57c at the upper column and the
lower column of the second reel 4 are lighted on as shown in
Fig. 13A. Thereafter, as shown in Fig. 13B, the back lamp 57a
at the upper column of the first reel 3 and the back lamp 57c
at the lower column of the third reel 5 are lighted on,
successively, as shown in Fig. 13C, the respective back lamps
57b at the middle columns of the first reel 3 and the third
reel 5 are lighted on. Successively, as shown in Fig. 13D, the
back lamp 57c at the lower column of the first reel 3 and the
back lamp 57a at the upper column of the third reel 5 are
lighted on and finally, as shown in Fig. 13E, the back lamps
57a and 57c at the upper column and the lower column of the
second reel 4 are lighted on.
-
Further, when the special game prize hit flag is the "RB"
hit flag, the respective back lamps 57a, 57b and 57c are light-on
controlled by a display mode shown in Figs. 14A through 14E
and Figs. 15F through 15I. First, at a timing of stopping all
the reels 3 through 5, all the back lamps 57a, 57b and 57c of
the respective reels 3 through 5 are once lighted on as shown
in Fig. 14A. Successively, the respective back lamps 57b at the
middle columns of the first reel 3, the second reel 4 and the
third reel 5 are extinguished as shown in Fig. 14B, Fig. 14C
and Fig. 14D. Thereafter, as shown in Fig. 14E, all the back
lamps 57a, 57b and 57c of the reels 3 through 5 are lighted on.
Further, as shown in Fig. 15F, Fig. 15G and Fig. 15H, the
respective back lamps 57b at the middle columns of the first
reel 3, the second reel 4 and the third reel 5 are successively
extinguished and finally, as shown in Fig. 15I, all the back
lamps 57a, 57b and 57c of the respective reels 3 through 5 are
lighted on.
-
An effect similar to that in the above-described
embodiment can be achieved also by such display modes.
-
Next, an explanation will be given of a second embodiment
in which a game machine according to the present invention is
applied to a slot machine.
-
The constitution of the slot machine according to the
embodiment differs from the constitution of the slot machine
according to the first embodiment mentioned above in respect of
the following points and other constitution is the same as that
of the slot machine according to the above-described embodiment.
-
That is, according to the slot machine of the above-described
embodiment, when the special game prize is selected
by lottery in the probability lottery processing (step 103 of
Fig. 8), the special game prize is necessarily informed to the
player by the informing means. However, according to the slot
machine of this embodiment, even when the special game prize is
selected by lottery by the probability lottery processing, the
special game prize is not necessarily informed to the player.
Further, even when a prize mode other than the special game
prize is determined by the prize mode determining means, there
is a case in which a prediction of the special game hit is
informed.
-
A detailed description will be given of the slot machine
according to the embodiment as follows.
-
According to the slot machine of the embodiment, ROM 32 is
stored with a prize mode informing selection lottery
probability table. The prize mode informing selection lottery
probability table is referred when a prize mode determined by
the prize mode determining means is informed to the player at a
predetermined probability.
-
The prize mode informing selection lottery probability
table exemplified in Fig. 16 is shown in correspondence with
the probability table of 3 coins betting in the prize mode
probability table shown in Fig. 6. That is, at upper columns of
the prize mode informing selection lottery probability table,
respective values of the numerical data a3, b3, c3, d3, e3, f3
and g3 which are hit section data in 3 coins betting are shown.
Further, respective values of information section data in
general game of 3 coins betting are shown at lower columns
thereof. In this case, the random number generator 36 generates
random numbers in a range of 0 through 65535 (=216).
-
According to the table, when a random number in a range of
0 through 200 is sampled by the sampling circuit 37 in
determining a prize, a result of inner lottery constitutes a
big hit prize and the "BB" hit flag is erected, and when a
random number in a range of 201 through 380 is sampled by the
sampling circuit 37, a result of inner lottery constitutes a
medium hit prize and the "RB" hit flag is erected. Similarly,
when random numbers in a range of 381 through 10000 are sampled,
small prize hit flags of respective modes are erected, when a
random number in a range of 10001 through 18000 is sampled, the
"replay" hit flag is erected and when a random number in a
range of 18001 through 65535 is sampled, the "blank" hit flag
is erected.
-
Further, when a random number in a range of 0 through 150
or 20000 through 20200 is sampled by the sampling circuit 37 in
determining a prize, a prediction of the "BB" hit flag is
informed. That is, when a random number in a range of 0 through
150 is sampled and the "BB" hit flag is erected, the special
game prize mode of the "BB" hit flag is informed. Further, even
when a random number in a range of 20000 through 20200 is
sampled and the "blank" hit flag is erected, the special game
prize mode is informed. Meanwhile, even when a random number in
a range of 151 through 200 is sampled and the "BB" hit flag is
erected, the random number in this range is out of the range of
the classified informing data of the "BB" hit flag and
therefore, the special game prize mode is not informed.
-
That is, even when the special game prize mode is informed,
the "BB" hit flag or the "RB" hit flag is not necessarily
erected by the inner lottery, further, even when the special
game prize mode is not informed, it is not always established
that the "BB" hit flag or the "RB" hit flag is not erected by
inner lottery. The special game prize is informed under a
predetermined reliability and in the case of the table shown in
Fig. 16, when the "BB" hit flag is erected, the probability of
informing the prize mode is 151/352 {(151 of 0 through 150)/(a
sum of 151 of 0 through 150 and 201 of 20000 through 20200)},
or about 43 %. Further, when the "BB" hit flag is not erected,
the probability of informing the prize mode is 201/352 or about
57 %. As a result, the prize mode informing operation is missed
at the probability of about 57 %.
-
Next, an explanation will be given of the game processing
according to the embodiment in reference to a flowchart shown
in Fig. 17.
-
Steps 121 through 123 of the flowchart are the same as
steps 101 through 103 of the flowchart shown in Fig. 8
according to the first embodiment and first, presence or
absence of coin BET is determined by CPU 31 (step 121). When
coin BET is carried out, successively, whether the start lever
15 is operated is determined (step 122) and when the start
lever is operated, the prize mode is determined by the
probability lottery processing mentioned above (step 123).
-
Next, an informing selection lottery processing of the
prize mode is carried out (step 124) after carrying out the
probability lottery processing. The timing of the informing
selection lottery is set immediately after the timing of the
probability lottery exemplified in Fig. 10K. As mentioned above,
the informing selection lottery processing of the prize mode is
carried out by using the informing selection lottery
probability table exemplified in Fig. 16 and is carried out by
determining to which classification of the classified informing
data of the probability table a random number value specified
by the sampling circuit 37 in determining the prize, belongs. A
result of the informing selection lottery is also written to a
predetermined region of RAM 33 and when the prize mode is
informed as a prediction, an informing flag is set at step 124.
The set informing flag also represents a kind of the informed
prize mode.
-
Next, reel rotating processing (step 125) and reel stop
control processing (step 126) are carried out as mentioned
above.
-
Next, whether a special game prize informing flag is
erected by the informing selection lottery processing at step
124, that is, whether the sampled random value is a value
belonging to data of the special game prize informing
classification, is determined (step 127). When the sampled
random value belongs to data of the special game prize
informing classification and the special game informing flag,
that is, the informing flag of "BB" or "RB" is erected,
successively, the reel lamp winking control processing (step
128) is carried out. Further, when the special game prize
informing flag is not erected, the processing proceeds to step
129.
-
The reel lamp winking control at step 128 is carried out
similar to the reel lamp winking control in the first
embodiment and a prediction of the special game prize is
informed. Although according to the first embodiment mentioned
above, the flag which is referred when the prediction of the
special game prize is informed is the special game prize hit
flag, according to the embodiment, in informing the prediction,
the special game prize informing flag is refereed. Therefore,
as mentioned above, the special game prize is informed under a
predetermined reliability, the informing may be hit or may be
missed. Further, even when the blank prize mode is determined
by the prize mode determining means, the prediction of the
special game prize may be informed.
-
Next, whether the display in stopping the reels
constitutes a predetermined prize combination of symbols is
determined in reference to the prize symbol combination table
(step 129). When the prize is not gained, the processing
returns to the initial step 121 and when the result of prize
determination is reply game, the processing returns to the
processing of awaiting for operation of the start lever 15 at
step 122 (step 130).
-
The following processings are carried out similarly in
accordance with steps 111 through 115 of the flowchart shown in
Fig. 9 and explained in the first embodiment.
-
According to the embodiment, the special game prize is not
informed in respect of all the result of inner lottery but is
informed at a predetermined probability shown by the informing
selection lottery probability table (refer to Fig. 16).
Therefore, the special game prize may be informed to the player
or may not be informed thereto. Further, even when a prize mode
other than the special game prize is determined by the prize
mode determining means, the special game prize may be informed
at a predetermined probability. Therefore, information of the
special game prize is expected by the player and when the
special game prize is informed, the pleasure is enhanced and
the tastefulness of the game is further promoted.
-
Further, in explaining the above-described embodiment, an
explanation has been given of the constitution in which the
prediction of the special game prize mode is informed even when
the "blank" prize mode is determined by the prize mode
determining means, there may be constructed a constitution in
which when a prize mode other than the special game prize is
determined, the prediction of the special game prize mode may
not be informed and only when the special game prize mode is
determined, the prediction may be informed at a predetermined
probability.
-
Further, although in the above-described respective
embodiments, an explanation has been given of a case in which
the game machine is applied to a slot machine, the present
invention is not limited thereto but is applicable to, for
example, a pinball game machine such as a pachinko machine or
other amusement machines.
-
An effect similar to that of the above-described
respective embodiments is achieved even with such respective
constitutions.
-
When the present invention is applied to a pachinko
machine, a flow of game such as start lever operation,
operation of sampling a random number for determining a prize
mode and operation of starting to rotate the reels in the slot
machines of the above-described respective embodiments, is
replaced by a flow of game such as prize hit of pachinko balls
to a specified prize slot, operation of sampling a random
number for determining a prize mode, operation of starting to
rotate slot machine reels integrated to the pachinko machine.
Further, payment operation of coins which is carried out when
symbols of the reels are stopped and displayed by a specified
mode in the slot machines of the above-described respective
embodiments, is replaced by rewarding a special prize in
pachinko game such as opening a variable prize device of
attacker or tulip to thereby provide the player with a number
of balls in the pachinko machine.