US20070021180A1

US20070021180A1 - Gaming machine

Info

Publication number: US20070021180A1
Application number: US11/491,234
Authority: US
Inventors: Akira Osawa
Original assignee: Aruze Corp
Current assignee: Universal Entertainment Corp
Priority date: 2005-05-31
Filing date: 2006-07-24
Publication date: 2007-01-25
Also published as: JP2006333927A

Abstract

A plurality of reels which variably display a plurality of types of symbols when a base game is started are provided. The symbols to be stopped in the base game are decided, and it is decided for each of a plurality of the reels whether or not a feature game is to be generated. Based on a result of the decision, the varying and displaying of the reels are sequentially stopped while differentiating a stopping time of each thereof from the others. At this time, in a case of determining that the feature game is decided to be generated for the reel in which the varying and displaying are stopped previously, a CPU starts the feature game while continuing the varying and displaying of the other reels.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-159193, filed on May 31, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a slot machine, and particularly, to a gaming machine which executes a feature game as well as a base game.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, for example, there has been a slot machine as a gaming machine. A game of the slot machine is started in such a manner that coins are inserted into the slot machine or the coins are bet on the slot machine within a range of the credited number of coins, and that a player operates a start lever, a spin button, and the like. When the game is started in the slot machine, a plurality of reels in each of which a plurality of symbols are drawn on a surface start to be rotated, and thereafter, the reels are stopped in a predetermined order. A slot machine has been known, which, if feature games are acquired at this time, subsequently makes a shift to the feature games, and executes the variety of feature games (Patent document: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2005-081015).
However, even if a trigger symbol of such a feature game appears on the reel of which rotation is stopped, when other reels are under varying and displaying, the related gaming machine described above cannot shift to the feature game concerned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention is summarized to be a gaming machine which includes: a plurality of variable display units (for example, a first reel 22-1, a second reel 22-2, a third reel 22-3); a stopping symbol decision unit (for example, a CPU 50, S53); a stopping control unit (for example, the CPU 50, S4, S5, S6); and a second game generating unit (for example, the CPU 50, S21, S31, S41). The above-described plurality of variable display units variably display a plurality of types of symbols when a first game (for example, a base game) is started. The above-described stopping symbol decision unit decides the symbols to be stopped in the first game, and decides for each of the variable display units whether or not a second game (for example, a feature game) is to be generated. The above-described stopping control unit stops varying and displaying of the above-described respective variable display units based on a result of the decision by the above-described stopping symbol decision unit. The above-described second game generating unit starts the second game for the variable display unit while continuing the varying and displaying of the other variable display units, when determining that the second game is decided to be generated, by the stopping symbol decision unit, for the variable display unit of which varying and displaying are stopped.
Moreover, the gaming machine may further include: a selection object display unit (for example, the CPU 50, S22, s33, S34, S43, S45, S46) which, when the second game is started, displays a plurality of selection objects (for example, invasion ports) to be selected by the player on a region that is not overlapped with the above-described variable display units under the varying and displaying.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a slot machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is longitudinal cross sectional views of a lower liquid crystal display and a reel according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 3(a) to (j) are exploded perspective views of the lower liquid crystal display according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing a control system of the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing a liquid crystal driving circuit of the lower liquid crystal display of the slot machine shown in FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is explanatory views schematically showing background images displayed on an upper liquid crystal display and the lower liquid crystal display in a case of playing a first mission game according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is explanatory views schematically showing background images displayed on the upper liquid crystal display and the lower liquid crystal display in a case of playing a second mission game according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is explanatory views schematically showing background images displayed on the upper liquid crystal display and the lower liquid crystal display in a case of playing a final mission game according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a game control performed in the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a sortition process according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart regarding determination of a feature game of a first reel according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart regarding determination of a feature game of a second reel according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart regarding determination of a feature game of a third reel according to the embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A description will be made below in detail of a gaming machine according to the present invention based on an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a slot machine while referring to the drawings.
A description will be made of a schematic construction of the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention based on FIG. 1 to FIG. 5. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the slot machine.
In FIG. 1, a slot machine 1 includes a cabinet 2 which forms the entirety thereof. On a front upper portion of the cabinet 2, an upper liquid crystal display 3 is provided. On a front center portion of the cabinet 2, a lower liquid crystal display 4 is provided. The upper liquid crystal display 3 is composed of a generally used liquid crystal display. The lower liquid crystal display 4 is composed of a so-called liquid crystal transparent display. A detailed structure of the lower liquid crystal display 4 will be described later.
Under the lower liquid crystal display 4, an operation table 5 which protrudes frontward is provided. On the operation table 5, from the most left side thereof, there are arranged a CHANGE button 6, a CASH-OUT button 7, and a HELP button 8. A coin insertion portion 9 and a bill insertion portion 10 are provided on the right side of the HELP button 8. On the front side of the operation table 5, from the left side thereof, there are arranged a 1-BET button 11, a SPIN/REPEAT-BET button (hereinafter, referred to as a “SPIN button”) 12, a 3-BET button 13, and a 5-BET button 14.
A coin payout port 15 and a coin receiving portion 16 which receives coins paid out from the coin payout port 15 are provided on a lower portion of the cabinet 2. The CHANGE button 6 is a button depressed in the case of changing, into coins, a bill inserted into the bill insertion portion 10. The changed coins are paid out from the coin payout port 15 to the coin receiving portion 16. A CHANGE switch 62 to be described later is additionally provided to the CHANGE button 6, and a switching signal is outputted from the CHANGE switch 62 to a CPU 50 based on the depression of the CHANGE button 6.
The CASH-OUT button 7 is a button depressed when a base game is ended. When the CASH-OUT button 7 is depressed, coins acquired in the game are paid back from the coin payout port 15 to the coin receiving portion 16. A CASH-OUT switch 63 to be described later is additionally provided to the CASH-OUT button 7, and a switching signal is outputted from the CASH-OUT switch 63 to the CPU 50 based on the depression of the CASH-OUT button 7.
The HELP button 8 is a button depressed when an operation method and the like of the game are unknown. When the HELP button 8 is depressed, various pieces of help information are displayed on the upper liquid crystal display 3 and the lower liquid crystal display 4. A HELP switch 64 to be described later is additionally provided to the HELP button 8, and a switching signal is outputted from the HELP switch 64 to the CPU 50 based on the depression of the HELP button 8.
A coin sensor 65 to be descried later is disposed in the coin insertion portion 9. When the coins are inserted into the coin insertion portion 9, a coin detection signal is outputted to the CPU 50 through the coin sensor 65. A bill sensor 66 is disposed in the bill insertion portion 10. When the bill is inserted into the bill insertion portion 10, a bill detection signal is outputted to the CPU 50 through the bill sensor 66.
The 1-BET button 11 is a button in which a bet is made one by one every depression thereof, and the maximum number of depressions thereof for the bet is three. A 1-BET switch 59 to be described later is additionally provided to the 1-BET button 11. When the 1-BET button 11 is depressed, a switching signal is outputted from the 1-BET switch 59 to the CPU 50 based on the depression thereof.
The SPIN button 12 is a button for starting rotations of reels 22 to be described later based on depression thereof in order to start the game with a current number of bets or a previous number of bets. A SPIN switch 58 to be described later is additionally provided to the SPIN button 12. When the SPIN button 12 is depressed, a switching signal is outputted form the SPIN switch 58 to the CPU 50 based on the depression thereof. With regard to the number of bets capable of being bet by the depression of the SPIN button, 1, 2, 3 and 5 bets can exist.
The 3-BET button 13 is a button for starting the game on a 3-bet basis based on depression thereof. A 3-BET switch 60 to be described later is additionally provided to the 3-BET button 13. When the 3-BET switch 60 is depressed, a switching signal is outputted therefrom to the CPU 50. The 5-BET button 14 is a button depressed in the case of starting the game on a 5-bet basis based on depression thereof and the case of starting a bonus game to be described later based on depression thereof. A 5-BET switch 61 to be described later is additionally provided to the 5-BET button 14, and based on depression thereof, a switching signal is outputted from the 5-BET switch 61 to the CPU 50.
In an inside of the coin payout port 15, a coin detecting unit 73 composed of a sensor and the like is disposed. The coin detecting unit 73 detects the number of coins paid out from the coin payout port 15.
Onto a side surface (right side surface in FIG. 1) of the cabinet 2, a start lever 17 is attached freely rotatably within a predetermined angle range. A start switch 57 is additionally provided to the start lever 17. When the start lever 17 is rotated, a switching signal is emitted from the start switch 57, and outputted to the CPU 50.
A description will be made of the reel freely rotatably provided on a back surface side of the lower liquid crystal display 4 in an inside of the cabinet 2 and a detailed structure of the lower liquid crystal display 4 based on FIG. 2 and FIGS. 3(a) to (j). FIG. 2 is longitudinal cross-sectional views of the lower liquid crystal display 4 and the reel 22, and FIGS. 3(a) to (j) are exploded perspective views of the lower liquid crystal display 4.
In FIG. 2 and FIGS. 3(a) to (j), a transparent touch panel 30 (hereinafter, referred to as a “touch panel 30”) is disposed on a front surface side (left side in FIG. 2) of the lower liquid crystal display 4. An instrument front panel 20 is provided on the front center portion of the cabinet 2 (refer to FIG. 1), and the instrument front panel 20 includes a display window portion 21. The lower liquid crystal display 4 is disposed in an inside of the display window portion 21 together with the touch panel 30. On the back surface side (right side in FIG. 2) of the lower liquid crystal display 4, the three reels 22 (only one thereof is shown in FIG. 2) are supported in a parallel-arrayed state so as to be freely rotatable independently of one another. In the following description, 22 is used as reference numeral when the three reels are not distinguished from one another, and when the three reels are distinguished, 22-1 is used as reference numeral of the first reel, 22-2 is used as reference numeral of the second reel, and 22-3 is used as reference numeral of the third reel.
A description will be made of the respective reels 22. Among the three reels 22, the left reel 22-1 viewed from the front surface of the slot machine 1 is opposed to a left display window 23 (refer to FIG. 1) formed on the lower liquid crystal display 4. In a similar way, the second reel 22-2 is opposed to a center display window 24 (refer to FIG. 1) formed on the lower liquid crystal display 4. In a similar way, the third reel 22-3 is opposed to a right display window 25 (refer to FIG. 1) formed on the lower liquid crystal display 4. Constructions of the respective display windows 23, 24 and 25 will be described later.
A variety of symbols are formed on a circumferential surface of each of the reels 22. Specifically, a WILD symbol, a 3 BAR symbol, a trigger symbol, a RED 7 symbol, a 2 BAR symbol, and a 1 BAR symbol are used as the symbols formed on the circumferential surface of each reel 22 in association with contents of the game played in the slot machine 1. On the circumferential surface of each reel 22, these six types of symbols and blanks (regions where the symbols are not present) are combined based on a predetermined combination, and totally 22 symbols and blanks are formed.
A variety of winning combinations are preset based on a plurality of types of combinations of the respective symbols. When a combination of the symbols, which corresponds to one of the winning combinations, is stopped on an activated payline L (refer to FIG. 1), coins are paid out from the coin payout port 15 in response to the winning combination. In this point, the slot machine 1 according to this embodiment is similar to the related slot machine, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted here. With regard to the formation of the variety of symbols on the circumferential surface of each reel 22, a method is common, in which 11 symbols are printed in advance on a long seal which coincides with each reel 22 in width and circumferential length, and such a seal is pasted on the circumference of each reel 22. However, as a matter of course, it is also possible to form the symbols by methods other than the above.
In the embodiment of the present invention, the activated payline L is only set on a centerline. When the game is played by rotating and stopping the respective reels 22 based on the depressions of the SPIN button 12, the 3-BET button 13, and the 5-BET button 14 or on the rotational movement of the start lever 17, such an activated payline L is displayed on the lower liquid crystal display 4. Meanwhile, in the case where the bonus game is played based on the depression of the 5-BET button 14 at the time when a variety of feature games to be described later are acquired, display of such an activated payline L is erased from the lower liquid crystal display 4.
The above-described trigger symbol is the one which acts as a trigger for acquiring the variety of feature games. In the embodiment of the present invention, one trigger symbol is provided for each of the first reel 22-1, the second reel 22-2, and the third reel 22-3 so that it can be possible to generate the feature game in each of the reels. In the embodiment of the present invention, symbols including characters of “YOU'VE GOT BONUS”, which are shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 are set as the trigger symbols. The variety of feature games can be acquired based on that the trigger symbols present on the circumferential surfaces of the reels 22 are stopped on the activated payline.
A description will be made of the structure of the lower liquid crystal display 4 based on FIG. 2 and FIGS. 3(a) to (j). In FIG. 2 and FIGS. 3(a) to (j), the lower liquid crystal display 4 is composed by arranging, from a front surface side of the slot machine 1, the touch panel 30, a reel glass base 31, a bezel metal frame 32, a liquid crystal panel 33, a liquid crystal holder 34, a diffusion sheet 35, a light guide plate 36, a white reflector 37, a rear holder 38, and an antistatic sheet 39. In the diffusion sheet 35, opening portions 35A, 35B and 35C are formed. In a similar way, in the light guide plate 36, the reflector 37, and the rear holder 38, opening portions 36A, 36B and 36C, opening portions 37A, 37B and 37C, and opening portions 38A, 38B and 38C are formed, respectively, so as to coincide with the opening portions 35A to 35C. The respective opening portions 35A to 38A are superposed on one another so as to coincide with one another, thereby constructing the left display window 23 (refer to FIG. 1). In a similar way, the respective opening portions 35B to 38B construct the center display window 24 (refer to FIG. 1). In a similar way, the respective openings 35C to 38C construct the right display window 25 (refer to FIG. 1).
The opening portions 35A to 35C of the diffusion sheet 35 and the opening portions 36A to 36C of the light guide plate 36 construct transparent regions which ensure visibility of variable displays on the respective reels 22.
As shown in FIG. 2, the lower liquid crystal display 4 is attached onto the display window portion 21 of the instrument front panel 20. The attachment is performed by screwing the respective brackets 40 to a back surface of the instrument front panel 20 by screws 41. The respective brackets 40 are provided on the reel glass base 31 in a manner of protruding vertically therefrom.
On upper and lower ends of the light guide plate 36, a pair of cold cathode tubes 42 are provided as light sources of the liquid crystal panel 33. On upper and lower portions on a back surface side of the respective opening portions 38A to 38C of the rear holder 38, a pair of cold cathode tubes 43 which illuminate the symbols formed on the outer circumferential surfaces of the respective reels 22 are provided.
The liquid crystal panel 33 is a transparent electrical display panel made of ITO or the like, which is disposed on front surfaces of the respective reels 22, and through which the respective reels are seen. A back surface side of a periphery of a display portion of the liquid crystal panel 33 is held by the liquid crystal holder 34. The light guide plate 36 is formed of a light transmitting resin panel. On the light guide plate 36, lens cut which guides light emitted from the cold cathode tubes 42 located on the side portions thereof to the back surface side of the liquid crystal panel 33 is formed. The diffusion sheet 35 is formed of a light transmitting resin sheet. The diffusion sheet 35 diffuses the light guided by the light guide plate 36, and uniforms the light irradiated onto the liquid crystal panel 33. The diffusion sheet 35, the light guide plate 36, and the liquid crystal holder 34 which holds the liquid crystal panel 33 are integrated together, and peripheries thereof are inserted into the bezel metal frame 32. By such insertion, the front surface side of the display portion on the liquid crystal panel 33 is held by the bezel metal frame 32.
With regard to the liquid crystal holder 34, the diffusion sheet 35, and the light guide plate 36, which are fitted to the bezel metal frame 32 and are integrated together, the peripheries thereof are further inserted into the reel glass base 31, and are held by the reel glass base 31 in a state where a front display surface of the liquid crystal panel 33 is opened. The reel glass base 31 is attached onto the instrument front panel 20 through the screws 41. Thus, the touch panel 30 is brought into pressure contact with a front surface of the reel glass base 31, and is superposed on the front surface of the display portion of the liquid crystal panel 33.
The rear holder 38 is composed of a white resin plate, and holds the bezel metal frame 32 supported by the reel glass base 31, the liquid crystal holder 34 supported by the liquid crystal panel 33, the diffusion sheet 35, and the light guide plate 36 from back sides thereof. The rear holder 38 also functions as a light reflector which reflects, to the liquid crystal panel 33 side, the light emitted from the cold cathode tubes 42 to the light guide plate 36. The antistatic sheet 39 is transparent, is adhered to a back surface of the rear holder 38 by a double-faced tape, and covers back surfaces of the respective opening portions 38A to 38C formed in the rear holder 38.
A description will be made of a construction regarding a control system of the slot machine 1 based on FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing the control system of the slot machine 1.
In FIG. 4, the control system of the slot machine 1 is basically composed while taking the CPU 50 as a main component. A ROM 51 and a RAM 52 are connected to the CPU 50. The ROM 51 stores a game control program to be described later, a variety of effect programs for performing a variety of effects on the upper liquid crystal display 3 and the lower liquid crystal display 4 as the game is going on, a sortition table for drawing the variety of winning combinations, other various programs, data tables and the like, which are necessary to control the slot machine 1. The RAM 52 is a memory which temporarily stores various data arithmetically operated by the CPU 50.
A clock pulse generating circuit 53 which generates a reference clock pulse and a frequency divider 54 are connected to the CPU 50. Moreover, a random number generator 55 which generates random numbers and a random number sampling circuit 56 are connected to the CPU 50. The random numbers sampled by the random number sampling circuit 56 are used for various sortitions for the winning combination, the effect, and the like. To the CPU 50, there are individually connected the start switch 57 additionally provided to the start lever 17, the SPIN switch 58 additionally provided to the SPIN button 12, the 1-BET switch 59 additionally provided to the 1-BET button 11, the 3-BET switch 60 additionally provided to the 3-BET switch 13, the 5-BET switch 61 additionally provided to the 5-BET switch 14, the CHANGE switch 62 additionally provided to the CHANGE button 6, the CASH-OUT switch 62 additionally provided to the CASH-OUT button 7, and the HELP switch 64 additionally provided to the HELP button 8. The CPU 50 performs controls based on the switching signals outputted from the respective switches by the depressions thereof in order to execute a variety of operations corresponding to the respective buttons.
To the CPU 50, there are individually connected the coin sensor 65 disposed in the coin insertion portion 9, and the bill sensor 66 disposed in the bill insertion portion 10. The coin sensor 65 detects the coins inserted from the coin insertion portion 9, and outputs a coin detection signal. The CPU 50 arithmetically operates the number of inserted coins based on the coin detection signal outputted from the coin sensor 65. The bill sensor 66 detects a type and amount of the bill inserted from the bill insertion portion 10, and outputs a bill detection signal. The CPU 50 arithmetically operates the number of coins equivalent to the amount of bill based on the bill detection signal outputted from the bill sensor 66.
To the CPU 50, a plurality (in this example, three) of stepping motors 68 which rotate the respective reels 22 through a motor driving circuit 67 are connected. When a motor driving signal (command pulse) is outputted from the CPU 50 to the motor driving circuit 67, the respective stepping motors 68 are rotationally driven by excitation signals outputted from the motor driving circuit 67 to perform rotations of the respective reels 22. The CPU 50 counts the number of driving pulses supplied to the respective stepping motors 68. The CPU 50 grasps rotational positions of the symbols on the respective reels 22 based on the counted number of driving pulses, and performs a control for stopped positions thereof, and the like.
A reel position detecting circuit 69 is connected to the CPU 50. The reel position detecting circuit 69 detects changes of the stopped positions of the respective reels 22 after being controlled to be stopped by the motor driving circuit 67. For example, the reel position detecting circuit 69 detects such changes of the stopped positions of the reels 22 in such a case where the stopped positions are forcibly changed by a player so as to bring a combination of the stopping symbols, which becomes the winning combination, though the actual combination of the stopped symbols is not the combination of the stopped symbols, which becomes the winning combination. The reel position detecting circuit 69 is composed so as to be capable of detecting the changes of the stopped positions of the reels 22, for example, by detecting fins attached to inner portions of the reels 22 at a predetermined interval.
A hopper 71 is connected to the CPU 50 through a hopper driving circuit 70. When a driving signal is outputted from the CPU 50 to the hopper driving circuit 70, the hopper 71 pays out a predetermined number of the coins from the coin payout port 15.
The coin detecting unit 73 is connected to the CPU 50 through a payout complete signal circuit 72. The coin detecting unit 73 is disposed in an inside of the coin payout port 15. When the coin detecting unit 73 detects that the predetermined number of coins are paid out from the coin payout port 15, a coin payout detection signal is outputted from the coin detecting unit 73 to the payout complete signal circuit 72. Based on the coin payout detection signal, the payout complete signal circuit 72 outputs a payout complete signal to the CPU 50.
The upper liquid crystal display 3 and the lower liquid crystal display 4 are connected to the CPU 50 through a liquid crystal driving circuit 74. The upper liquid crystal display 3 and the lower liquid crystal display 4 are controlled by the CPU 50. As shown in FIG. 5, the liquid crystal driving circuit 74 is composed of a program ROM 81, an image ROM 82, an image control CPU 83, a work RAM 84, a video display processor (VDP) 85, a video RAM 86, and the like.
In FIG. 5, in the program ROM 81, an image control program and a variety of selection tables, which relate to the displays on the upper liquid crystal display 3 and the lower liquid crystal display 4, are stored. In the image ROM 82, for example, dot data and the like for forming images on the upper liquid crystal display 3 and the lower liquid crystal display 4 are stored. The image control CPU 83 decides the images to be displayed on the upper liquid crystal display 3 and the lower liquid crystal display 4 among the dot data prestored in the image ROM 82. The image control CPU 83 performs such a storing action based on a parameter set by the CPU 50 in accordance with the image control program prestored in the program ROM 81. The work RAM 84 is a temporal storage unit when the image control program is executed in the image control CPU 83. The VDP 85 generates image data corresponding to display contents decided by the image control CPU 83, and outputs the generated image data to the upper liquid crystal display 3 and the lower liquid crystal display 4. The video RAM 86 is a temporal storage unit when the image is generated in the VDP 85.
The touch panel 30 is connected to the CPU 50 through a touch panel driving circuit 76.
An LED 78 is connected to the CPU 50 through an LED driving circuit 77. The LED 78 is the one which is controlled to be turned on by the LED driving circuit 77 based on a drive signal from the CPU 50 when a large number thereof is arrayed on the front face of the slot machine 1 and performs the variety of effects. A sound output circuit 79 and a speaker 80 are connected to the CPU 50. The speaker 80 is the one which generates a variety of sound effects in the case of performing the variety of effects based on an output signal from the sound output circuit 79.
In the embodiment of the present invention, the CPU 50 decides a generation of the feature game (winning of the combination) for each of the reels 22-1, 22-2 and 22-3, and is composed so as to be capable of generating the feature game in each of the three reels 22-1, 22-2 and 22-3. Hence, three feature games to the maximum can be generated before the base game is ended. It is possible to increase and decrease the generated number of feature games in response to the number of reels.
In the case of determining that the feature game is won for the reel 22 (for example, the reel 22-1) in which the varying and the displaying are stopped, the CPU 50 starts the won feature game while the other reels (for example, the reels 22-2 and 22-3) are under the varying and displaying and before the base game is ended.
In the embodiment of the present invention, three feature games are generated to the maximum. Progressive narrativity may be given to the respective feature games by giving relativity to the contents of effects thereof. Alternatively, the contents of the effects may be independent of one another free from the relativity of the contents of the effects among the feature games. In the embodiment of the present invention, the relativity is given to the contents of the effects of the three feature games. As an example, a description will be made below of a royal museum game in which three stages of a first mission, a second mission, and a final mission are prepared.
A description will be made of the contents of the effects of the royal museum game with reference to FIG. 6 to FIG. 8. FIG. 6 to FIG. 8 are explanatory views schematically showing background images displayed on the upper liquid crystal display 3 and the lower liquid crystal display 4 in the case of playing a ROYAL-MUSEUM-BONUS game. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view schematically showing background images displayed on the upper liquid crystal display 3 and the lower liquid crystal display 4 in the case of playing the first mission of the ROYAL-MUSEUM-BONUS game. FIG. 7 is an explanatory view schematically showing background images displayed on the upper liquid crystal display 3 and the lower liquid crystal display 4 in the case of playing the second mission of the ROYAL-MUSEUM-BONUS game. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view schematically showing background images displayed on the upper liquid crystal display 3 and the lower liquid crystal display 4 in the case of playing the final mission of the ROYAL-MUSEUM-BONUS game.
FIG. 6 illustrates a state where the trigger symbol of the feature game appears on the first reel 22-1 in which the varying and the displaying are first stopped and the contents of the effect relating to the first mission are displayed on the upper liquid crystal display 3 and the lower liquid crystal display 4. In this case, the second reel 22-2 and the third reel 22-3 are under the varying and the displaying. The entirety of the royal museum is displayed on the upper liquid crystal display 3, and the player is notified that the feature game of the first mission is acquired. On the lower liquid crystal display 4, three invasion ports for invading the royal museum are displayed. The player selects any of a CHIMNEY, a MAIN ENTRANCE, and a BACK DOOR, which are the three invasion ports. When the invasion port selected by the player through the touch panel 30 is a predetermined invasion port predecided by a sortition, an effect (not shown) where the player succeeds in the invasion is displayed on the upper liquid crystal display 3, and the player is awarded with a predecided premium (for example, a predecided number of coins). When the other invasion ports than the invasion port predecided by the sortition are selected, an effect (not shown) where the player fails in the invasion is displayed on the upper liquid crystal display 3.
FIG. 7 illustrates a state where the contents of the effect relating to the second mission are displayed on the upper liquid crystal display 3 and the lower liquid crystal display 4. Here, a setting is provided, where the first reel 22-1 has already been stopped, the third reel 22-3 is under the varying and the displaying, and the trigger symbol appears on the second reel 22-2 statically displayed this time. On the upper liquid crystal display 3, a policeman standing on a corridor of the royal museum is displayed, and the player is notified that the feature game of the second mission is acquired. On the lower liquid crystal display 4, three items for making an escape from the policeman are displayed. The player selects any of an ESCAPE ROPE, a PICTURE FRAME, and a SLING SHOT, which are the three items. When the item selected by the player through the touch panel 30 is a predetermined item predecided by a sortition, an effect (not shown) where the player succeeds in the escape from the policeman is displayed on the upper liquid crystal display 3, and the player is awarded with a predecided premium (for example, a predecided number of coins). When the other items than the item predecided by the sortition are selected, an effect (not shown) where the player is arrested by the policeman is displayed on the upper liquid crystal display 3.
FIG. 8 illustrates a state where the contents of the effect relating to the final mission are displayed on the upper liquid crystal display 3 and the lower liquid crystal display 4. A setting is provided, where the first reel 22-1 and the second reel 22-2 have already been stopped and the first mission game and the second mission game have been played, and the trigger symbol of the feature game appears also on the third reel 22-3 by this stop of the varying and displaying of the third reel 22-3. On the upper liquid crystal display 3, a crown housed in a case is displayed, and the player is notified that the feature game of the final mission is acquired. On the lower liquid crystal display 4, a first key (SPADE), a second key (DIAMOND), and a third key (HEART), which have mutually different shapes, are displayed as three items for acquiring the crown, are displayed. When one of the keys, which is selected by the player through the touch panel 30, is a predetermined key predecided by a sortition, an effect (not shown) where the player succeeds in opening the case by the key and acquiring the crown is displayed on the upper liquid crystal display 3, and the player is awarded with a predecided premium (for example, a predetermined number of coins). When the other keys than the key predecided by the sortition are selected, an effect (not shown) where the player cannot open the case by the key and gives up acquiring the crown is displayed on the upper liquid crystal display 3.
Here, with regard to the premium given when the invasion is successful in the first mission, the premium given when the escape is successful in the second mission, and the premium given when the crown is acquired in the final mission, the payouts thereof are set to be gradually higher in this order. In such a way, expectations of the player can be increased.
When the player fails in the invasion in the first mission game, the first mission game may also be executed again in the next feature game. Specifically, a stage of the mission game may be raised under a condition where the selection object predecided by the sortition is selected.
A description will be made of a procedure of a game control performed in the slot machine 1 constructed as described above based on FIG. 9 to FIG. 13.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the game control performed in the slot machine 1. Upon starting a main process, the slot machine 1 (more specifically, the CPU 50) first executes a start receiving process (Step (hereinafter, abbreviated as “S”) 1). This process is a process of receiving the switching signal outputted from the SPIN switch 58, the 1-BET switch 59, the 3-BET switch 60, or the 5-BET switch 61 based on the operation of the SPIN button 12, the operation of the 1-BET button 11, the operation of the 3-BET button 13, or the operation of the 5-BET button 14. Upon the receipt of the switching signal outputted from each switch, the game is started.
Next, in the slot machine 1, a sortition process regarding the base game is performed (S2). As shown in FIG. 10, in the sortition process, the CPU 50 first performs a random number sampling process (S51). This random number sampling process is a process where the CPU 50 samples a random number through the random number sampling circuit 56. Subsequently to the random number sampling process, the CPU 50 executes a combination determination process (S52). This combination determination process is a process of comparing the random number sampled as described above with the previously prepared sortition table which describes correspondence relationships between the random numbers and the combinations (including a losing), thereby deciding a combination corresponding to the sampled random number.
For example, this sortition table is a table which describes the following correspondence relationships. Specifically, random number values 1 to 10 correspond to a combination “FEATURE GAME” for the first reel 22-1. Random number values 11 to 20 correspond to a combination “FEATURE GAME” for the second reel 22-2. Random number values 21 to 30 correspond to a combination “FEATURE GAME” for the third reel 22-3. Random number values 31 to 40 correspond to a combination “ALL SEVEN”. In a similar way to the above, the other random number values correspond to the other combinations, and finally, random number values 341 to 1024 correspond to the combination “LOSING”. The above-described combination “ALL SEVEN” corresponds to the case where the symbols stopped on the activated payline L are entirely the symbols “SEVEN”.
Here, at the same time when the “FEATURE GAME” is drawn by the random number value, the premium for each selection object (three types of invasion ports, three type of escape items, or three types of keys) is adapted to be decided by the random number value concerned. For example, in the above-described example, if the random number is any of 1 to 10, then the combination “FEATURE GAME” for the first reel 22-1 is won, and the following setting is provided in this case. Specifically, if the random number value is within a range of 1 to 3 among 1 to 10, then the premium (payout owing to the mission success) is given to CHIMNEY, and no premium is given to MAIN ENTRANCE or BACK DOOR, which are the other selection objects. If the random number value is within a range of 4 to 6 among 1 to 10, then a setting is provided, in which the premium (payout owing to the mission success) is given to MAIN ENTRANCE, and no premium is given to the other selection objects. If the random number value is within a range of 7 to 10 among 1 to 10, then a setting is provided, in which the premium (payout owing to the mission success) is given to BACK DOOR, and no premium is given to the other selection objects. In a similar way to the above, also with regard to the “FEATURE GAMES” of the second reel 22-2 and the third reel 22-3, the premiums are decided for the respective selection objects (ESCAPE ROPE, PICTURE FRAME, SLING SHOT, first key (SPADE), second key (DIAMOND), and third key (HEART)).
Subsequently to the combination determination process (S52), the CPU 50 executes a stopping symbol decision process (S53). This stopping symbol decision process is a process of deciding the symbols to be statically displayed on the activated payline L for each of the reels 22-1 to 22-3. Specifically, the CPU 50 decides code numbers of the stopping symbols for the respective reels 22-1 to 22-3 so that the combination of the symbols, which corresponds to the decided combination, can be established on the active payline L. After the stopping symbol decision process (S53) is ended, the CPU 50 returns to the main process shown in FIG. 9, and then proceeds to abase game process.
In FIG. 9, S3 to S9 show process contents of the base game process. First, the CPU 50 executes a rotation process of starting the rotations of the first reel 22-1, the second reel 22-2, and the third reel 22-3 in the cabinet 2 based on the switching signal outputted from the SPIN switch 58, the 1-BET switch 59, the 3-BET switch 60, or the 5-BET switch 61 (S3). In this case, the switching signal is received in the above-described start receiving process (S1). By the rotation process, the varying and displaying of the respective symbols are performed on the respective display windows 23, 24 and 25.
Next, the CPU 50 executes a stopping control process of sequentially stopping the rotations of the three reels 22-1, 22-2 and 22-3 in the cabinet 2 while differentiating a stopping time of each thereof from the others (S4, S5, S6). This stopping control process is performed so as to stop, on the activated payline L, the stopping symbols decided in the above-described sortition process (S2), and more specifically, in the stopping symbol decision process (S53).
Here, a description will be made on the assumption that the first reel 22-1, the second reel 22-2, and the third reel 22-3 are stopped in this order. After the rotations of the reels are started, first, the rotation of the first reel 22-1 is stopped under the control of the CPU 50 through the motor driving circuit 67, the stepping motor 68, and the reel position detecting circuit 69 (S4). Note that the stopping control may also be performed so as to sequentially stop the reels 22 from one thereof in which the feature game is generated in the sortition process (S2). When the first reel is stopped, the feature game is generated. Accordingly, by performing the stopping control as described above, such expectations can be given to the player, that the feature games will be generated in the reel subsequent to the first reel and further in the reel subsequent thereto, and that the game will progress to feature games with higher payouts. For example, when it is determined that the feature game is generated only in the third reel 22-3, the third reel is first controlled to be stopped, and thereafter, the first reel 22-1 and the second reel 22-2 are controlled to be stopped in this order while differentiating the stopping time of each thereof from the other.
When the first reel 22-1 is stopped, the CPU 50 shifts to a determination of the feature game in the first reel 22-1, which is shown in FIG. 11, while maintaining the rotations of the second reel 22-2 and the third reel 22-3. The CPU 50 determines whether or not a decision is made so as to stop the trigger symbol serving as a transition trigger to the feature game on the display window 23 of the first reel 22-1 in the steps of S2 and S53 described above (S21). In the case of determining that the trigger symbol is decided to appear, that is, the feature game as a bonus is decided to be generated, the CPU 50 executes the first mission game as the first stage of the ROYAL-MUSEUM-BONUS game, which shows the contents of the effects shown in FIG. 6, while maintaining the rotations of the second reel 22-2 and the third reel 22-3 (S22).
The CPU 50 reads out, from the ROM 51, the image data for displaying the effects of the first mission game, controls the liquid crystal driving circuit 74 to display the image data for the effects, thereby displaying the effects on the upper liquid crystal display 3 and the lower liquid crystal display 4. In the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6, the three invasion ports serving as the selection objects are displayed on the lower liquid crystal display 4 so as not to be overlapped with the display windows 23, 24 and 25 which statically or variably display the symbols of the respective reels 22. When the player selects an arbitrary invasion port through the touch panel 30, the CPU 50 determines the selected invasion port based on the input signal from the touch panel driving circuit 76, and progresses the next effect display. Specifically, when the predetermined invasion port predecided by the sortition process of S2 described above is selected, the CPU 50 reads out, from the ROM 51, image data of the contents of the effect where the player succeeds in the invasion on the upper liquid crystal display 3, and displays the read image data on the upper liquid crystal display 3. When the invasion port other than the invasion port predecided by the sortition process is selected, the CPU 50 reads out, from the ROM 51, image data of the contents of the effect where the player fails in the invasion on the upper liquid crystal display 3, and displays the read image data on the upper liquid crystal display 3.
The CPU 50 determines whether or not the player has selected the predecided invasion port in the first mission game (S23). In the case of determining that the player has selected the predecided invasion port, the CPU 50 adds, to the RAM 52, a payout amount (for example, the number of coins) imparted to the invasion port concerned (S24). When the player has succeeded in the invasion in the above-described first mission game, the CPU 50 raises a flag indicating that the first mission game is completed, and ends the feature game concerned.
Then, as shown in FIG. 9, after an elapse of a predetermined time after the first reel 22-1 is stopped, the CPU 50 stops the second reel 22-2 (S5). After stopping the second reel 22-2, the CPU 50 shifts to a determination of the feature game for the second reel 22-2, which is shown in FIG. 12, while maintaining the rotation of the third reel 22-3. Then, the CPU 50 determines whether or not the feature game is decided to be generated for the second reel 22-2 in the above-described S2 and S33 (S31). When the CPU 50 determines that the feature game is generated for the second reel 22-2, the trigger symbol serving as the transition trigger to the feature game appears on the display window 24 of the second reel 22-2. In the case of determining that the feature game as a bonus is decided to be generated on the second reel 22-2, the CPU 50 starts the ROYAL-MUSEUM-BONUS game while maintaining the rotation of the third reel 22-3. First, the CPU 50 determines which stage of the ROYAL-MUSEUM-BONUS game is to be executed (S32). Specifically, if the flag indicating that the first mission game is completed is not raised, then the CPU 50 executes the first mission game (S33). When the flag is raised, the CPU 50 executes the second mission game (S34).
In the case of determining that the flag indicating that the first mission game is completed is raised, the CPU 50 reads out, from the ROM 51, the image data for displaying the effects of the second mission game, controls the liquid crystal driving circuit 74 to display the image data concerned as the effects concerned, thereby displaying the effects on the upper liquid crystal display 3 and the lower liquid crystal display 4. In the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 7, the three items serving as the selection objects are displayed on the lower liquid crystal display 4 so as not to be overlapped with the display windows 23, 24 and 25 which statically or variably display the symbols of the respective reels 22. When the player selects an arbitrary escape item through the touch panel 30, the CPU 50 determines the selected item based on the input signal from the touch panel driving circuit 76, and progresses the next effect display. Specifically, when the predetermined item predecided by the sortition process of S2 described above is selected, the CPU 50 reads out, from the ROM 51, image data of the contents of the effect where the player can escape from the policeman without being caught thereby on the upper liquid crystal display 3, and displays the read image data on the upper liquid crystal display 3. When the item other than the predecided item is selected, the CPU 50 reads out, from the ROM 51, image data of the contents of the effect where the player is caught by the policeman on the upper liquid crystal display 3, and displays the read image data on the upper liquid crystal display 3.
In the case of determining that the player has selected the predecided item in the second mission game (S35), the CPU 50 adds, to the RAM 52, a payout amount (for example, the number of coins) imparted to the item concerned (S36). When the player has succeeded in the mission in the above-described second mission game, the CPU 50 raises a flag indicating that the second mission game is completed, and ends the feature game concerned.
Then, as shown in FIG. 9, after an elapse of a predetermined time after the second reel 22-2 is stopped, the CPU 50 stops the third reel 22-3 (S6). After stopping the third reel 22-3, the CPU 50 shifts to a determination of the feature game for the third reel 22-3, which is shown in FIG. 13. Then, the CPU 50 determines whether or not the feature game is decided to be generated for the third reel 22-3 in the above-described S2 and S33 (S41). When the third reel 22-3 wins the feature game, the trigger symbol serving as the transition trigger to the feature game appears on the display window 25 of the third reel 22-3. In the case of determining that the feature game as a bonus is decided to be generated on the third reel 22-3, the CPU 50 starts the ROYAL-MUSEUM-BONUS game. First, the CPU 50 determines which stage of the ROYAL-MUSEUM-BONUS game is to be executed (S42, S44). Specifically, in the case of determining that the flag indicating that the first mission game is completed is not raised, the CPU 50 shifts to S43, and executes the first mission game (S43). Meanwhile, in the case of determining that the flag indicating that the first mission game is completed is raised, the CPU 50 further determines whether or not the flag indicating that the second mission game is completed is raised (S44). In the case of determining that the flag indicating that the second mission game is completed is not raised, the CPU 50 shifts to S45, and executes the second mission game (S45). Meanwhile, in the case of determining that the flag indicating that the second mission game is completed is raised, the CPU 50 shifts to S46, and executes the final mission game (S46).
In the case of determining in S44 that the flag indicating that the second mission game is completed is raised, the CPU 50 reads out, from the ROM 51, the image data for displaying the effects of the final mission game, controls the liquid crystal driving circuit 74 to display the image data concerned as the effects concerned, thereby displaying the effects on the upper liquid crystal display 3 and the lower liquid crystal display 4. In this example, as shown in FIG. 8, the three keys serving as the selection objects are displayed on the lower liquid crystal display 4 so as not to be overlapped with the display windows 23, 24 and 25 which statically or variably display the symbols of the respective reels 22. When the player selects an arbitrary key through the touch panel 30, the CPU 50 determines the selected key based on the input signal from the touch panel driving circuit 76, and progresses the next effect display. Specifically, when the predetermined key predecided by the sortition process of S2 described above is selected, the CPU 50 reads out, from the ROM 51, image data of the contents of the effect (not shown) where the case which houses the crown is opened and the player acquires the crown on the upper liquid crystal display 3, and displays the read image data on the upper liquid crystal display 3. When the key other than the key predecided by the sortition process is selected, the CPU 50 reads out, from the ROM 51, image data of the contents of the effect (not shown) where the player cannot open the case by the key and fails in acquiring the crown on the upper liquid crystal display 3, and displays the read image data on the upper liquid crystal display 3.
In the case of determining that the player has selected the key predecided by the sortition process in the final mission game, the CPU 50 decides that the bonus is to be added (S47), and adds, to the RAM 52, a payout amount (for example, the number of coins) imparted to the key concerned (S48).
Then, as shown in FIG. 9, after the third reel 22-3 is stopped, the CPU 50 determines whether or not the combination of the base game is won (S7). When the combination is won, the CPU 50 executes an addition process of temporarily adding coins equivalent to a preset payout to payout-scheduled coins in accordance with the combination of the symbols of the winning combination, which are statically displayed on the respective display windows 23 to 25 (S8). The payout-scheduled coins are stored in the RAM 52. When the combination is not won, the CPU 50 returns the process to the start receiving process (S1), and prepares for the start of the next game.
Next, the CPU 50 performs a payout process of collectively ejecting coins equivalent to the number of payouts added to the payout-scheduled coins in the addition process (S8) in the base game process and in the addition processes (S24, S36, S48) in the feature games for each of the reels or newly adding the coins equivalent to the number of payouts to the number of credits owned by the player (S9). After performing the payout process, the CPU 50 returns the process to the start receiving process (S1), and prepares for the start of the next game.
As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the feature games are drawn for each of the reels, and the feature games of which maximum number corresponds to the number of reels are made generable in one base game. Accordingly, the number of feature games acquirable in one base game can be increased, and opportunities to acquire the payouts can be offered to the player any times until one base game is ended.
If the feature game is generated on the reel stopped previously, then the feature game concerned is started even if the other reels 22 are under the varying and the displaying. Accordingly, the player can enjoy the feature game at an early stage before all the reels are stopped, thus making it possible to enhance interest of the game.
According to the embodiment of the present invention, the three invasion ports serving as the selection objects are displayed on the lower liquid crystal display 4 so as not to be overlapped with the display windows 23, 24 and 25 which statically or variably display the symbols of the respective reels 22. Accordingly, when the feature game is started after shifting to the feature game while a part of the variable display units is under the varying and displaying, the variable display units under the varying and displaying can be prevented from becoming invisible by the selection objects serving as the effects of the feature game.
The present invention is not the one limited to the above-described embodiment. For the present invention, various alterations are possible within the scope without departing from the gist thereof. Sizes and shapes of the respective constituents of the gaming machine according to the present invention are not limited to those according to the above-described embodiment, which are shown in the accompanying drawings. It is possible to appropriately change the sizes and the shapes within the scope where the effects of the present invention are exerted. In addition, it is possible to appropriately change and embody the other elements than the above within the scope without departing from the scope of the object of the present invention. A modification example of the present invention is illustrated below.
In the above-described embodiment, the description has been made of the slot machine 1, in which the three reels 22 are provided in the cabinet 2, and the activated payline L is set to be one. However, it is possible to arbitrarily set the number of reels 22 and the number of activated paylines L. In the above-described embodiment, the description has been made of the case where the stopping symbols of the left, right and center reels 22, which are three in total, are decided by one random number. However, one random number may also be sampled for each of the left, center and right reels 22, which are three. Then, it may be decided for each of the reels 22 whether or not the feature game is generated, and the stopping symbols may be decided for each of the reels 22.
Moreover, the description has been made of the above-described embodiment by using the coins as examples of the gaming media. However, the game media are not limited to the coins, and any game media can be employed as long as the player can thereby play the game in the slot machine 1. In particular, when the player receives the payout of the game media acquired by the game, the player may also receive the payout by a magnetic card which records the amount of acquired game media or a receipt on which the amount of game media concerned is printed. The amount of game media to be paid out may also be managed by a server which manages information regarding the slot machine 1.
The description has been made of the case of using the sortition table which describes the correspondence relationships between the random numbers and the respective winning combinations in the sortition (for example, the sortition performed in the sortition process) performed in the slot machine 1 according to the above-described embodiment. However, the contents of the sortition are not limited to those of the above-described sortition table. With regard to the contents registered in the sortition table, the random numbers and the winning combinations may also be associated with each other in a one-to-one relationship, or the random numbers and the winning combinations may also be associated with each other in a plurality-to-one relationship. Alternatively, not the correspondence relationships between the random numbers and the winning combinations but correspondence relationships between the random numbers and the symbols formed on the reels may also be described in advance in the sortition table, and the symbols to be stopped may be thus decided for each of the reels. In this case, it is considered to use the code number assigned to each of the symbols. The winning combinations may also be decided not by directly using the random numbers for use in the sortition but in response to results of arithmetic operations, which are obtained by performing a predetermined arithmetic operation process for the random numbers.

Claims

1. A gaming machine, comprising:

a plurality of variable display units configured to variably display a plurality of types of symbols when a first game is started;

a stopping symbol decision unit configured to decide the symbols to be stopped in the first game, and to decide for each of the variable display units whether or not a second game is to be generated;

a stopping control unit configured to stop varying and displaying of the variable display units based on a result of the decision by the stopping symbol decision unit; and

a second game generating unit configured to, when determining that the second game is decided to be generated by the stopping symbol decision unit for the variable display unit of which varying and displaying are stopped, start the second game for the variable display unit while continuing the varying and displaying of the other variable display units.

2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

a selection object display unit configured to, when the second game is started, display a plurality of selection objects to be selected by a player on a region that is not overlapped with the variable display units under the varying and displaying.

3. A method of controlling a gaming machine, comprising:

starting a first game, and variably displaying a plurality of types of symbols on a plurality of variable display units;

deciding the symbols to be stopped in the first game, and deciding for each of the variable display units whether or not a second game is to be generated;

stopping varying and displaying of the variable display units based on a result of the decision by the step of deciding the symbols to be stopped; and

when determining that the second game is decided to be generated, by the step of deciding the symbols to be stopped, for the variable display unit of which varying and displaying are stopped , starting the second game for the variable display unit while continuing the varying and displaying of the other variable display units.

4. The method of controlling a gaming machine according to claim 3, further comprising:

when the second game is started, displaying a plurality of selection objects to be selected by a player on a region that is not overlapped with the variable display units under the varying and displaying.