JP2024116446A - Gaming Machines - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a gaming machine with improved control when not connected to a card unit. [Solution] In a non-game state where a unit game is not being played, a performance setting screen can be displayed based on a player's operation, and in a non-game state where a unit game is not being played, the machine can be controlled to a performance setting state where the performance settings can be changed based on a performance setting start operation by a gaming store clerk, and when the connection between the unit and the gaming machine is cut off in a non-game state, the performance setting screen is displayed based on a player's operation, and when the connection between the unit and the gaming machine is cut off in a non-game state, the machine is not controlled to the performance setting state even if a performance setting start operation is performed. [Selected Figure] Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a gaming machine capable of playing games.

Among gaming machines, there are slot machines and the like that can be connected to a card unit that manages gaming value owned by a player. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-187772 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 1) describes a counting process that transfers gaming value (number of credits) stored in a slot machine to a card unit.

The gaming machine described in Patent Document 1 performs counting processing only when it is connected to a card unit.

JP 2019-187772 A

In the gaming machine of Patent Document 1, there was room for improvement in terms of control when the machine was not connected to a card unit.

The present invention was conceived in light of this situation, and its purpose is to provide a gaming machine with improved control when not connected to a card unit.

In a gaming machine (for example, S machine 2 in FIG. 1),
A game control means (for example, the main control board 16 in FIG. 2) for controlling the progress of the game;
A value storage means capable of storing game value owned by a player (for example, the RAM 171c of the medal count control board 17 in FIG. 2 );
A unit capable of storing game value owned by a player (e.g., CU3 in FIG. 1 ), and value control means for transferring game value between the value storage means (e.g., CPU 171 a of the medal count control board 17 in FIG. 2 ),
A performance control means (for example, the performance control board 15 of FIG. 2) for controlling the performance,
The performance control means includes:
In a non-play state where a unit game is not being played (for example, the state of FIG. 80(A)), a performance setting screen (for example, the menu screen 360 of FIG. 80(B)) can be displayed based on the player's operation.
In a non-game state in which a unit game is not being played, the game can be controlled to a performance setting state in which the performance setting can be changed based on a performance setting start operation (for example, a setting confirmation start operation in FIG. 77) by a staff member of the game establishment (for example, a state in which the display area 354 of the setting confirmation screen in FIG. 77(B) is displayed),
In the non-play state, when the connection between the unit and the gaming machine is cut off, the effect setting screen is displayed when a player operates the unit (for example, as shown in FIG. 81, a menu screen 360 is displayed in FIG. 81(C)),
In the non-play state, if the connection between the unit and the gaming machine is disconnected, even if the performance setting start operation is performed, control will not be given to the performance setting state (for example, the setting confirmation screen will not be displayed as shown in Figure 79 (E)).

FIG. 2 is a front view of the card unit and the slot machine. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the card unit and the slot machine. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the arrangement of symbols on the reels. 13 is a diagram for explaining the transition of the game state. FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the types of winning combinations, the symbol combinations of winning combinations, and the awarding of prizes when winning. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the types of winning combinations, the symbol combinations of winning combinations, and the awarding of prizes when winning. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the types of winning combinations, the symbol combinations of winning combinations, and the awarding of prizes when winning. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the types of winning combinations, the symbol combinations of winning combinations, and the awarding of prizes when winning. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining combinations of winning roles that are read out as lottery target roles for each gaming state. This is a diagram to explain reel control when the push order role is won. A diagram showing the game start command that the main control unit sends to the performance control unit when the start switch is operated. 13 shows a game end command that the main control unit sends to the performance control unit at the time of the third stop. A diagram showing the types of commands that the main control board sends to the medal count control board. FIG. 13 is a diagram explaining a gaming machine installation information command. A diagram showing details of gaming machine characteristics. A diagram showing the structure of a reel information command. A diagram showing details of the reel operation information. A diagram showing the structure of a favorable zone information command. A diagram showing details of advantageous area information. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the structure of an input command. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the structure of a settlement command. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the configuration of a start command. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the structure of a termination command. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the configuration of a dispensing pulse command. A diagram showing the structure of a jackpot command. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing details of a hall computer signal. A diagram showing the structure of the gaming machine fraud 1 command. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing details of setting information. A diagram showing the structure of the gaming machine fraud 2 command. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing details of door information. A diagram showing the structure of the gaming machine fraud 3 command. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the configuration of a main control state command. A diagram showing the configuration of a main control board error command. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a list of main control board errors. A diagram showing the structure of a gaming machine performance information (preliminary) command. A diagram showing a list of commands from the medal count control board to the main control board. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the structure of a response command. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the configuration of a frame side information command. A diagram showing an example of communication between the main control board and the medal count control board. 13 is a diagram for explaining communication of a frame side information command. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing performed when the main control board receives a command. This is a diagram showing the flow of communication between the main control board and the medal count control board from when the power is turned on. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of communication when the serial number is normal. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of communication when a serial number mismatch error occurs. A figure showing an example of communication when an error occurs regarding a gaming medal. A figure showing an example of communication occurring before the transmission and reception of a gaming machine installation information command. FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a timeout upon power-on. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a bet amount setting operation and a settlement operation. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example in which a new bet amount setting operation is performed before a response command is received after a bet amount setting operation. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example in which a new payment operation is performed after a payment operation and before a response command is received. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example in which a new settlement operation is performed after a bet amount setting operation and before a response command is received. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example in which a new bet amount setting operation is performed after a settlement operation and before a response command is received. 13 is a diagram illustrating a serial number error during a bet amount setting operation. FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a serial number error during a settlement operation. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating display control of the number of dispensed coins. A diagram showing a role ratio monitor. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the display of a role ratio monitor. A diagram to explain the initialization process of role ratio information. A figure showing a first example of processing when a connection with a CU is disconnected. A figure showing a second example of processing when a connection with a CU is disconnected. A figure showing a third example of processing when a connection with a CU is disconnected. A figure showing a fourth example of processing when a connection with a CU is disconnected. A diagram for explaining a specific performance aspect. 3 is an address map of a memory area used by the main control unit. 2 is a diagram for explaining a register bank included in a CPU of a main control unit. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a startup process of a main control unit. 11 is a diagram illustrating an initial setting process performed by the main control board. FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the control contents of the main processing performed by the main control board. 13 is a diagram explaining the control contents of the RT information output processing performed by the main control board. FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the control contents of safety device-related processing performed by the main control board. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a single-number counting operation. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a batch counting operation. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the state of each component when batch counting operations are performed successively. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining an update display. A diagram showing an example of the state of each component when the connection to the CU is disconnected while batch counting operations are being performed continuously. 13 is a flowchart for explaining a credit indicator update process. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a display example of a setting confirmation screen. 13 is a diagram for explaining the processing that is performed when the connection with the CU is disconnected while the setting confirmation screen is being displayed. FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the processing that is performed when the connection with the CU is disconnected while the setting confirmation screen is being displayed. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display example of a menu screen. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the processing to be performed when the connection with the CU is disconnected while the menu screen is being displayed. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a display example of a setting change screen. 13 is a diagram for explaining the processing that is performed when the connection with the CU is disconnected while the setting change screen is being displayed. FIG.

The following describes an embodiment of a slot machine, which is an example of a gaming machine according to the present invention.

Embodiment 1.
[Slot Machine Configuration]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a card unit and a slot machine.

Referring to FIG. 1, each of the gaming islands (not shown) arranged in a game center (hall) is provided with a slot machine (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as S-machine) 2, and a card unit (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as CU) 3, which is an example of a gaming device, is installed in one-to-one correspondence with the S-machine 2 at a lateral position on a predetermined side of the S-machine 2. The card unit is also referred to as a "game medal lending device."

The S-machine 2 is a gaming machine in which the player does not pick up medals and insert them into an insertion slot, and medals are not paid out to the player. Therefore, gaming value is added directly to credits (gaming points that can be used in games (hereinafter referred to as "gaming medals" or simply "medals")) depending on the lending operation, etc.

In addition, unlike conventional slot machines, not only does it not have a medal insertion port or payout port, but it also does not require a medal selector, hopper, or other device for controlling inserted medals. Such slot machines that do not require any medals are called "controlled gaming machines" or "medalless slot machines."

Figure 1 shows S-stand 2 as viewed from the front (front) side. Inside S-stand 2, reels 2L, 2C, and 2R (hereinafter also referred to as the left reel, center reel, and right reel) with multiple types of symbols arranged around the periphery are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction, and three consecutive symbols among the symbols arranged on reels 2L, 2C, and 2R are arranged so that they can be seen through transparent window 3W.

Each of the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R is rotated by a corresponding reel motor 32L, 32C, and 32R, as shown in FIG. 2. This causes the symbols on each of the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R to be displayed in a continuously changing manner in the transparent window 3W. In addition, by stopping the rotation of each of the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R, three consecutive symbols are derived and displayed in the transparent window 3W as a display result.

Reel LEDs 55, as shown in FIG. 2, are provided inside reels 2L, 2C, and 2R. Reel LEDs 55 illuminate reels 2L, 2C, and 2R, as shown in FIG. 1, from behind. Reel LEDs 55 are made up of 12 LEDs corresponding to the three consecutive symbols on reels 2L, 2C, and 2R, and can illuminate each symbol independently.

A display area of a liquid crystal display 51 is located in front of each of the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R (on the player's side). The liquid crystal display 51 is designed so that each of the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R can be seen from the player's side through the transparent area corresponding to the transparent window 3W of the display area and the transparent window 3W.

Figure 3 shows the arrangement of symbols on the reels. As shown in Figure 3, each reel has multiple identifiable symbols ("Character", "Black 7", "White 7", "BAR", "Replay", "Plum", "Cherry", "Watermelon", "Moon", and "Orange") arranged in a specific order.

The protruding portion 94 protrudes toward the front side of the S-stand 2. By protruding the protruding portion 94 toward the front side of the S-stand 2, an upper surface 95 is formed on the protruding portion 94. On the upper surface 95 of the protruding portion 94, a game information display unit 90, a bet number clear switch 21, a 1-bet switch 20, a MAX-bet switch 6, a performance switch 56, a credit display 11, and a counting button 10 are provided. In addition, a start switch 7 and stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R are provided on the front side of the protruding portion 94. The upper surface 95 may be an inclined surface that gently slopes from the back to the front from a position below the transparent window 3W.

The start switch 7 is a switch for starting the reels to spin after the bet amount has been set. The stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R are switches for stopping the reels while they are spinning, with 8L corresponding to the left reel, 8C corresponding to the middle reel, and 8R corresponding to the right reel. The count button 10 is a switch that is operated when counting the number of credits (number of game medals) and converting them into the number of medals held. Specifically, when the count button 10 is pressed, the credits managed by the S machine 2 are converted into medals held by the CU 3.

The door open detection switch 25 shown in FIG. 2 is provided on the inside of the front door of the S-machine 2. The door open detection switch 25 detects the open state of the front door. Furthermore, a power supply box is provided inside the housing. The setting key switch 37 and the reset/setting switch 38 shown in FIG. 2 are provided on the front of the power supply box. The setting key switch 37 switches between the setting change state and the setting confirmation state. In the setting change state, the setting change screen is displayed, and in the setting confirmation state, the setting confirmation screen is displayed. The reset/setting switch 38 normally functions as a reset switch for canceling an error state or a play stop state, and in the setting change state, functions as a setting switch for changing the set value of the winning probability (ball payout rate) of the internal lottery.

In this embodiment, the first of the three reels 2L, 2C, and 2R to stop after they have started spinning is called the first stopped reel, and its stop is called the first stop. Similarly, the second reel to stop is called the second stopped reel, and its stop is called the second stop, and the third reel to stop is called the third stopped reel, and its stop is called the third stop, final stop, or all reels stop.

Next, the flow of the game on S-machine 2 will be explained. When playing a game on S-machine 2, first, a lending operation is performed on CU3 to secure credits (game medals). This lending operation corresponds to the two-step operation of "lend medal operation" and "manually inserting the lent medal into the insertion slot" in a conventional slot machine that uses a medal payout method.

When the MAX BET switch 6 is operated while credits are present, the bet amount is set to the maximum amount within the credit range, and the amount of credits is reduced by the additional amount. Once the bet amount is set, the pay line determined according to the bet amount and game status among the pay lines L1 to L5 becomes valid, and operation of the start switch 7 becomes valid, i.e., the game can be started.

Here, the winning lines are lines that are set to determine whether the combination of symbols displayed in the transparent window 3W of each reel 2L, 2C, and 2R is a winning combination. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, five types of winning lines are defined: winning line L1 set across the symbols arranged in the middle row of each reel 2L, 2C, and 2R, winning line L2 set across the symbols arranged in the upper row of each reel 2L, 2C, and 2R, winning line L3 set across the symbols arranged in the lower row of each reel 2L, 2C, and 2R, winning line L4 set across the symbols arranged in the upper row of reel 2L, the middle row of reel 2C, and the lower row of reel 2R, i.e., the symbols arranged downward to the right, and winning line L5 set across the symbols arranged in the lower row of reel 2L, the middle row of reel 2C, and the upper row of reel 2R, i.e., the symbols arranged upward to the right.

When the start switch 7 is operated in a state where the game can be started, the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R will spin, and the symbols on each of the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R will change continuously. When any of the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R are operated in this state, the rotation of the corresponding reel 2L, 2C, and 2R will stop, and the display result will be derived and displayed in the transparent window 3W.

One game ends when all reels 2L, 2C, and 2R come to a stop, and a win occurs when a predetermined combination of symbols stops on any of the activated winning lines L1-L5 as the display result of each reel 2L, 2C, and 2R. When a win occurs, the player is awarded a number of points determined according to the win. These points are added to the credits.

As described above, credits are counted and converted into owned medals by operating the count button 10. By converting them into owned medals, the player can record those owned medals on a card when the game ends.

In this embodiment, when the count button 10 is pressed once, the number of credits counted varies depending on the time the count button 10 is pressed. More specifically, for example, if the pressed state continues for 500 ms (0.5 seconds) or more, 50 credits are counted. On the other hand, for example, if the pressed state is less than 500 ms (0.5 seconds), one credit is counted. A counting operation in which 50 credits are counted is called a "collective counting operation," and a counting operation in which one credit is counted is called a "single counting operation." The collective counting operation and the single counting operation will be described in detail later. The threshold for distinguishing between the "collective counting operation" and the "single counting operation" processes may be a time other than 500 ms (0.5 seconds), and may be, for example, 300 ms (0.3 seconds), 700 ms (0.7 seconds), etc.

A credit display segment 7S and speakers 53, 54 are provided at the top of the LCD display 51. The credit display segment 7S is made up of five 7-segment segments and displays the number of credits held by the player. By providing the credit display segment 7S at the top of the S-machine 2, it is possible to display the number of credits stored in the S-machine 2 to players other than the player playing on the S-machine 2 or to store staff. The speakers 53, 54 emit sound effects that match the presentation.

As described above, the MAXBET switch 6 is a switch used to maximize the number of bets. In other words, the MAXBET switch 6 is used to progress the game. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the MAXBET switch 6 is also used for presentation purposes. In other words, when the same operation is performed on the MAXBET switch 6, the process executed is different depending on whether the operation is a valid operation or an invalid operation. In this way, the MAXBET switch 6 is used both for the progress of the game and for presentation purposes.

The valid and invalid operations of the MAXBET switch 6 will be described below. The valid operation of the MAXBET switch 6 is an operation performed on the MAXBET switch 6 in a bet setting status in which the bet number can be set. The bet setting status is, for example, a period in which a bet number can be accepted, and is a "status in which one or more credits remain and a bet number of less than three coins is set" or a "status in which one or more credits remain and a bet number is not set". When the MAXBET switch is operated in a "status in which one or more credits remain and a bet number of less than three coins is set in the BET counter", the bet number is set to the remaining credits, with a maximum of three coins. When the MAXBET switch is operated in a "status in which one or more credits remain and a bet number is not set", the bet number is set to the remaining credits, with a maximum of three coins. In this way, the MAXBET switch 6 is used as a switch for proceeding with the game, in which a bet number is set by performing a valid operation in a bet setting status.

On the other hand, the invalid operation of the MAXBET switch 6 is an operation performed on the MAXBET switch 6 in a bet number setting impossible situation where it is not possible to set a bet number. The bet number setting impossible situation includes "the period from the start to the end of the game". In other words, during the period when the reels are rotating and the game is being played, the operation on the MAXBET switch 6 is an invalid operation. In this embodiment, in the S-machine 2, an operation prompting an invalid operation of the MAXBET switch 6 may be displayed during the period when the reels are rotating. At this time, when the player performs an invalid operation of the MAXBET switch 6, a performance is performed to display an image suggesting an advantageous degree. In this way, the MAXBET switch 6 in this embodiment is used as a trigger for displaying a performance image by performing an invalid operation in a bet number setting impossible situation. In other words, the MAXBET switch 6 is used for the progress of the game during the period when valid operations are accepted, and is used for performance during the period when invalid operations are accepted. The effect of displaying an image or the like indicating the degree of advantage may be performed by accepting the effect switch 56 rather than by accepting an invalid operation of the MAXBET switch 6, or may be performed by accepting either an invalid operation of the MAXBET switch 6 or the effect switch 56.

[Card unit configuration]
The configuration of the CU 3 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. This CU 3 accepts visitor cards (also called general cards) with a prepaid function, which are gaming storage media issued to general players who are not registered as members, and member cards, which are gaming storage media issued to member players who are registered as members of the gaming facility. The visitor cards and member cards are composed of IC cards.

CU3, which accepts these cards, has the function of converting the gaming value owned by the player, which is specified by the information stored in the card (for example, the prepaid balance, the number of balls held, or the number of saved balls, the number of medals held, or the number of saved medals, etc.), into the number of credits (the number of gaming balls or the number of gaming medals).

The front side of CU3 is provided with a bill insertion slot 302 for inserting bills, a protruding portion 305 formed to protrude forward from the front of the device, and a card insertion/ejection slot 309 for inserting a member card or visitor card. A member card or visitor card inserted into this card insertion/ejection slot 309 is received by a card reader/writer (not shown), and the information recorded on the card is read.

In the aforementioned extension 305, the surface facing the player is provided with a display 312, a replay button 319 for executing a replay game using the membership card ID (also simply called the card ID or C-ID) recorded on the membership card when a membership card is accepted, and the number of medals (number of balls) specified by the membership card ID, and an IR photosensitive unit 320 that receives an infrared signal from a remote control (not shown) held by an attendant at the game center, converts it into an electronic signal, and outputs it.

The display 312 can display the prepaid balance (also called the card balance or simply the balance) recorded on the inserted gaming recording medium (card), the number of medals held, the number of credits (number of gaming medals), and various other information, and its surface is made up of a transparent touch panel. It is configured so that various operations can be input by touching with a finger the various display items displayed on the display section of the display 312.

When the medals owned button 324 is operated, a portion of the number of medals owned recorded on the inserted card is withdrawn and converted into the number of credits (number of game medals). When the replay button 319 is operated, if the number of medals owned by the player is recorded on the inserted card, a portion of the number of medals owned is withdrawn and converted into credits, and it becomes possible to play on S machine 2 based on the converted credits. Hereinafter, the operation of the medals owned button 324 and the operation of the replay button 319 are referred to as "loan operations".

On the other hand, if the inserted card is a membership card and the number of medals held is not stored, and the saved medals are stored in the hall's management computer, etc., some of the saved medals are withdrawn and converted into credits, making it possible to play on S machine 2. In other words, if both saved medals and saved medals are stored in association with the inserted card, the saved medals are withdrawn first. Note that a dedicated medal payout button for withdrawing saved medals may be provided in addition to the replay button 319, and the replay button 319 may be a dedicated button for withdrawing saved medals.

The "number of credits (number of game medals)" is data that can be used to set the bet amount and can also be converted into the "number of medals held." The "number of credits" is generated in exchange for withdrawing the balance on a prepaid card, the number of medals held, or the number of medals saved.

The "number of medals held" is a numerical conversion of the number of credits (number of game medals) that a player owns as a result of playing a game on a gaming machine. This "number of medals held" is stored in a manner that allows it to be identified by the player's card. The number of medals held may be managed by a management device for managing the number of medals held that is set up in the gaming facility.

"Number of saved medals (number of saved balls)" refers to the number of medals that have been deposited at the amusement facility. The number of medals that a player has won while playing is managed as the number of saved medals during the day, but from the day after they were won, it is managed as the "number of saved medals." In other words, the number of credits (number of game medals) that a player has won and counted at the amusement facility on the day is called "points," and the number of medals that a player has won and deposited at the amusement facility on the previous day or earlier is called the "number of saved medals." This "number of saved medals" is generally managed by a hall management computer or other management computer installed at the amusement facility.

If we use arrows to show the direction in which each of the above data items - "Balance," "Number of saved medals (number of saved balls)," "Number of medals held," and "Number of credits (number of game medals)" can be converted, it goes as follows: "Balance, number of saved medals, number of medals held" → "Number of credits" → "Number of medals held" → "Number of saved medals."

In this embodiment, the medal count data is not recorded directly on the member card, but is stored in a higher-level server such as a hall management computer in association with the member card number, so that the corresponding medal count can be searched for based on the member card number. On the other hand, the number of medals held is recorded directly on the card.

However, both may be stored in the upper server in association with the card number. In the case of a visitor card, the number of medals held is also recorded directly on the visitor card. However, the number of medals held may also be stored in the upper server in association with the card number. When storing in this upper server in association with the card number, data that can identify the time when it was stored in the upper server may be written to the card (member card, visitor card) and discharged. Also, the prepaid balance is written directly to the card (member card, visitor card) and discharged.

The number of medals held is stored on the card (membership card, visitor card) or in the upper server, for example, when the counting button 10 is operated to perform the counting process. However, instead of this, the number of medals held may be stored all at once when the card is returned.

In addition, when a player finishes playing and returns the card from CU3, the medals stored in CU3 are temporarily stored in the hall server as saved balls, and when the player inserts the card back into the same or a different CU3 on the same day that the player receives the card back, only the medals for that day that were temporarily stored as saved balls are stored again in that CU3, and credits can be added within the range of the medals held, allowing the player to play.

Bills inserted into the bill insertion slot 302 are taken in by a currency validator (not shown) and their authenticity and bill type are identified.

The front side of the CU3 is further provided with a card return button 322. The card return button 322 is an operation button that is operated when the player ends the game, and causes the inserted card to store the confirmed number of medals held at the end of the game (number of medals held when the card is inserted - number of medals converted to credits + number counted by the counting operation) and then eject the card.

As explained above, with the S machine 2 according to this embodiment, the number of medals held, as specified by the card, is converted into the number of credits (number of game medals), and the number of credits can be used to set the bet amount. This makes it possible to provide a new slot machine (managed game machine) that does not use medals for play, without confusing players who are accustomed to conventional slot machines in which medals are loaned out, credits are secured by inserting the medals, and the bet amount is set using the credits.

[Internal configuration of card unit and slot machine]
2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the card unit and the slot machine 1. The control circuits of the CU 3 and the S-stand 2 will be outlined with reference to FIG.

CU3 is provided with a CU control board 32, which is provided with a CU control unit 323 composed of a microcomputer and the like. This CU control unit 323 is the main control function unit of CU3, and is provided with a CPU as the control center, a ROM that stores programs and control data for the CPU to operate, a RAM that functions as the CPU's work area, an input/output interface to maintain signal consistency with peripheral devices, and the like.

The CU control unit 323 is provided with an external output terminal (not shown) for communicating with the hall management computer and the hall server that performs security management. The CU 3 transmits the status of the CU 3 and the gaming machine status information received from the S-unit 2 to the outside, such as the hall management computer (hall computer) and the hall server that performs security management, via the external output terminal. The CU control unit 323 communicates with the medal count control board 17 and the main control board 16 of the S-unit 2 via the communication control IC 325. The communication between the communication control IC 325 and the medal count control board 17 is performed by asynchronous serial communication via the connection terminal board 1000. Similarly, the communication between the communication control IC 325 and the main control board 16 is performed by asynchronous serial communication via the connection terminal board 1000.

The main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17 each determine that the S stand 2 and the CU 3 are connected by receiving a signal from the CU control board 32. In addition, when the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17 do not receive a signal from the CU control board 32 for a predetermined period of time, they each determine that the S stand 2 and the CU 3 are not connected. Hereinafter, the state in which the S stand 2 and the CU 3 are not connected may be referred to as the "unconnected state." In this way, the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17 each receive a signal that can determine the connection state of the S stand 2 and the CU 3. As a result, in this embodiment, both the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17 can quickly detect that the CU 3 is not connected to the S stand 2.

The communication between the CU control unit 323 and the medal count control board 17 is two-way for loan information (information about the operation to withdraw the balance stored in the inserted card and use it for playing on the S-machine 2) and loan response information (response information to the loan information), while other counting information (information about the counting process from credit to held medals) and gaming machine information are communicated one-way from the medal count control board 17 to the CU control unit 323. Therefore, the S-machine 2 side does not recognize whether or not the CU3 has received the counting information and gaming machine information. The CU3 has a connection part to the S-machine 2 side, and the S-machine 2 has a connection part to the CU3 side. These connections are composed of connectors, for example.

The CU control unit 323 manages and stores the medals held by the player while the player is playing. The display unit 312 displays an image corresponding to data such as the balance or number of medals held output from the CU control unit 323. In addition, when the player operates the touch panel provided on the surface of the display unit 312, the operation signal is input to the CU control unit 323. When the player performs a lending operation, the operation signal is input to the CU control unit 323. When the player operates the card return button 322, the operation signal is input to the CU control unit 323.

The S-stand 2 is equipped with a main control board 16 that controls the progress of the game on the S-stand 2, a medal count control board 17 that controls the credits owned by the player, a presentation control board 15 that controls presentations according to the game status, and a power supply board 101. The power supply board 101 generates the power to drive the electrical components that make up the S-stand 2, and supplies it to each part.

The power supply board 101 is supplied with an external 100V AC power source, and this 100V AC power source generates the DC voltage required to drive the electrical components that make up the S-stand 2, which is then supplied to the main control board 16, the medal count control board 17, and the performance control board 15.

The medal count control board 17 is equipped with a microcomputer for payout control, which is the medal count control unit 171. The medal count control unit 171 is provided with a CPU 171a as the control center, a ROM 171b that stores programs and control data for the operation of the CPU 171a, a RAM 171c that functions as a work area for the CPU 171a, and an input/output interface for maintaining signal consistency with peripheral devices.

The medal count control board 17 is connected to a RAM clear switch 293 for erasing information stored in the RAM 171c, and a door open detection switch 25, and receives detection signals from these connected switches. In addition, the medal count control board 17 is connected to the count button 10, and receives a detection signal from the count button 10.

In this embodiment, the count button 10 is configured so that, when the CU 3 and the S-stand 2 are not connected, even if the player operates the count button 10, no signal is output to the medal count control board 17. The hardware configuration of the count button 10 is configured so that power can be supplied from the power supply board 101 only when the CU 3 and the S-stand 2 are connected. More specifically, for example, power is supplied to the count button 10 only when an appropriate terminal is connected to a connector provided on the S-stand 2 for connecting to the CU 3 and signals are being exchanged. As a result, in this embodiment, when the CU 3 and the S-stand 2 are not connected, the count button 10 can be quickly disabled. In other words, when the CU 3 and the S-stand 2 are not connected, it is possible to prevent, from a hardware perspective, the operation of the count button 10 being accepted and erroneous counting processing being performed when the count button 10 is not connected.

The medal count control board 17 is connected to a role ratio monitor 89, and the display is controlled by a medal count control unit 171. In addition, a backup memory 294 is connected to the medal count control board 17, and the medal count control board 17 backs up the role ratio information to be displayed on the role ratio monitor 89.

The role ratio monitor 89 normally displays a numerical value indicating the performance of the slot machine (hereinafter also referred to as "role ratio information"). The numerical values indicating the performance of the slot machine are, for example, the commanded role payout ratio to the total cumulative payout number, the consecutive role payout ratio for the past 6000 games, the role payout ratio for the past 6000 games, the consecutive role payout ratio to the total cumulative payout number, the role payout ratio to the total cumulative payout number, and the role etc. state ratio to the total cumulative payout number. Details of this information will be explained later.

The main control board 16 is equipped with a game control microcomputer that serves as the main control unit 161. The main control unit 161 is provided with a CPU 161a as the control center, a ROM 161b that stores programs and control data for the operation of the CPU 161a, a RAM 161c that functions as a work area for the CPU 161a, and an input/output interface for maintaining signal consistency with peripheral devices.

Reel motors 32L, 32C, and 32R are connected to the main control board 16, and are driven under the control of the main control unit 161. A setting key switch 37, a reset/setting switch 38, and a start switch 7 are also connected to the main control board 16, and detection signals from these connected switches are input. A game support display 12 is also connected to the main control board 16, and the display is controlled by the main control unit 161.

The bet number clear switch 21, 1BET switch 20, stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R, MAXBET switch 6, and door open detection switch 25 are also connected to the main control board 16 via the relay board 1100, and detection signals of these connected switches are input. The 1-3BET LEDs 14-16 are also connected to the main control board 16 via the relay board 1100, and the display is controlled by the main control unit 161. If the main control unit 161 detects that the MAXBET switch 6 has been operated during the period in which the invalid operation of the MAXBET switch 6 is accepted, it sends an operation command indicating that the MAXBET switch 6 has been invalidated to the performance control unit 151.

The performance control board 15 is equipped with a performance control microcomputer, which is the performance control unit 151. The performance control unit 151 is provided with a CPU 151a as a control center, a ROM 151b that stores programs and control data for the operation of the CPU 151a, a RAM 151c that functions as a work area for the CPU 151a, and an input/output interface for maintaining signal consistency with peripheral devices.

The performance control board 15 is connected to a performance switch 56, and a detection signal from the performance switch 56 is input. In addition, the performance control board 15 is connected to performance devices such as a liquid crystal display 51, a performance effect LED 52, speakers 53 and 54, a reel LED 55, and a credit display segment 7S, and these performance devices are driven based on the control of the performance control unit 151.

In addition, a light intensity/volume adjustment board 111 is connected to the performance control board 15. Switches for adjusting the light intensity and volume are connected to the light intensity/volume adjustment board 111, and detection signals from these switches are input to the performance control board 15 via the light intensity/volume adjustment board 111.

The main control unit 161 transmits various commands to the performance control unit 151. Commands transmitted from the main control unit 161 to the performance control unit 151 are sent in only one direction; no commands are transmitted from the performance control unit 151 to the main control unit 161. The performance control unit 151 receives commands transmitted from the main control unit 161 and performs various controls for producing the performance.

The medal count control unit 171 transmits various commands to the main control unit 161. The main control unit 161 also transmits various commands to the medal count control unit 171. In other words, communication between the medal count control unit 171 and the main control unit 161 is two-way communication. In addition, backup power is supplied to the main control board 16 from the medal count control board 17.

The medal count control unit 171 stores credits in a predetermined area of the RAM 171c. Specifically, the number of credits is stored in a credit counter. The medal count control unit 171 updates the credits stored in the predetermined area of the RAM 171c during the credit addition process or credit subtraction process.

The set bet amount is stored in a specified area of the RAM 161c. Specifically, the set bet amount is stored as a BET counter. When the value stored in the BET counter is "3", the game can be started. Below, the value stored in the BET counter may be simply referred to as the "bet amount".

As explained above, medalless slot machines that do not require medals are provided with a medal count control board 17. Functions related to the insertion and dispensing of medals in conventional slot machines are concentrated in the medal count control board 17. Furthermore, conventional slot machines that require medals must be provided with devices related to the insertion and dispensing of medals, such as a medal selector and hopper, but medalless slot machines do not require such devices.

In addition, by configuring a medal-less slot machine as in this embodiment, it is possible to share parts with conventional slot machines. Specifically, since the function of updating credits (functions related to medal insertion and payout) is concentrated in the medal count control board 17, a conventional slot machine can be configured by replacing the medal count control board 17 of the medal-less slot machine. When configuring a conventional slot machine, it is sufficient to provide the medal count control board 17 with functions related to medal insertion and payout, and then connect devices related to medal insertion and payout such as a medal selector and hopper to the medal count control board 17. With this configuration, it is possible to have compatibility with conventional slot machines, and by sharing parts, it is possible to reduce costs in designing and manufacturing the slot machine.

When a detection signal is input from the start switch 7, the main control unit 161 drives the reel motors 32L, 32C, and 32R to rotate, and draws for winning combinations.

The type of winning combination is determined according to the game state, but can be broadly divided into special combinations that transition to a big bonus (BB) or regular bonus (RB), small combinations that pay out medals, and replay combinations that allow you to start the next game without having to set a bet amount.

The main control unit 161 draws winning combinations, drives the reels to spin, and then waits for the player to stop the reels. When any of the stop switches 8L, 8C, or 8R is operated, the main control unit 161 stops the rotation of the reel corresponding to that stop switch 8L, 8C, or 8R. The main control unit 161 stops the three symbols and executes a winning determination process to determine whether or not a winning combination has been achieved. If a winning combination is determined to have been achieved, the player is awarded a number of credits according to the type of winning combination. A power-on switch 102 is connected to the power supply board 101, and a detection signal from the power-on switch 102 is input.

In this embodiment, a "game" refers to the period from when the start switch 7 is operated until the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R stop. The period from when the start switch 7 is operated until the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R stop may be referred to as a "unit game" or "one game." When playing a game, the number of bets is set before the start switch 7 is operated, and medals are paid out and the game state is changed after the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R stop, so these incidental processes are also included in the "game" in a broad sense.

In addition, in this embodiment, the operation of the MAXBET switch 6 and the operation of the 1BET switch 20 may be referred to as a "bet setting operation", the operation of the start switch 7 may be referred to as a "unit game start operation", the operation of the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R may be referred to as a "stop operation", the operation of the counting button 10 may be referred to as a "counting operation", the operation of the held medal button 324 and the operation of the replay button 319 may be referred to as a "loan operation", and the operation of the card return button 322 may be referred to as a "return operation".

The S machine 2 is also configured so that the medal payout rate changes according to the set value. More specifically, the medal payout rate is changed by using the winning probability according to the set value in a lottery that affects the player's advantage, such as an internal lottery. The set values have six levels, from 1 to 6, with 6 being the highest payout rate, and the payout rate decreasing as the value decreases in the order of 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1. In other words, when the set value is set to 6, the player has the highest advantage, and the advantage decreases stepwise as the value decreases in the order of 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1.

To change the set value, it is necessary to turn on the power of the S-unit 2 after turning on the setting key switch 37. When the power is turned on with the setting key switch 37 in the ON state, the set value read from the RAM 161c is displayed as the display value on the setting value display, and the state transitions to a setting change state in which the set value can be changed by operating the reset/setting switch 38. When the reset/setting switch 38 is operated in the setting change state, the display value displayed on the setting value display is updated by one (when the switch is operated again from the set value 6, the display value returns to the set value 1). When the start switch 7 is operated, the display value is confirmed as the set value. When the setting key switch 37 is turned OFF, the confirmed display value (set value) is stored in the RAM 161c of the main control unit 161, and the state transitions to a state in which the game can proceed. When the setting key switch 37 is set to a specific state, the state transitions to a setting confirmation state in which the set value can be confirmed.

[state transition]
4 is a diagram for explaining the transition of the game state. As shown in FIG. 4, the states managed by the main control unit 161 include game states related to the payout rate.

Game play states include not inside, inside, and BB. Inside is a state in which play can proceed and the medal payout rate is guaranteed based on a pre-determined design value. Note that in the S-machine 2 of this embodiment, most games are played by the player inside.

On the other hand, during the non-internal period, the player does not play, or if they do, the time spent playing is extremely short. During the non-internal period, if a BB is won and the BB does not win, the game state transitions to the internal period from the next game. In other words, during the internal period, the BB win is carried over.

In both non-internal and internal play, a game in which BB can be won (hereinafter also referred to as a "BB winning game") may be played. Specifically, in non-internal play, if the BB symbol combination can be derived in response to the operation of stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R in a game in which BB has been won, BB will be won. In this case, the game state will be controlled to BB from the next game. In other words, in non-internal play, the game in which BB has been won will be a BB winning game.

Inside, the BB win is carried over. Here, when the BB and the small role are won at the same time, the reel control is performed so that the symbol combination of the small role is preferentially derived. Furthermore, if the small role is a role with no misses, in a game in which the BB and the small role are won at the same time, the small role will always win regardless of the operation of the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R, and the BB cannot win. Similarly, when the BB and the replay role are won at the same time, the replay role is controlled so that the symbol combination of the replay role is preferentially derived. Since the replay role is generally a role with no misses, in a game in which the BB and the replay role are won at the same time, the replay role will always win regardless of the operation of the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R, and the BB cannot win. Therefore, during the internal process, if the BB symbol combination can be derived by operating the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R only in a game that is a loss in the internal lottery (a game that does not win any prize), the BB will be won. In this case, the game state will be controlled to BB from the next game. In other words, during the internal process, a game that is a loss in the internal lottery becomes a game in which the BB can be won.

During a BB, the BB game is played for a specified number of games (for example, 60G), but because the payout rate during a BB is approximately 101%, the net increase in number of coins hardly increases at all. Therefore, for the player, a BB is merely a state in which a specified number of games (for example, 60G) is played. When the BB ends, the game state transitions back to non-internal.

The internal states include normal zones and advantageous zones. Normal zones are states in which navigation is not executed, and are non-announcement states in which navigation information cannot be notified. Advantageous zones are states in which navigation can be executed, and are announcement states in which navigation information can be notified. In this embodiment, among the advantageous zones, navigation is not executed in the normal advantageous zone, but navigation can be executed in the high probability state, AT1 state, AT2 state, and ending state. Note that navigation may also be executed in the normal advantageous zone, but in the high probability state, AT1 state, AT2 state, and ending state, the probability of executing navigation to make the main role win when the push order role is won is higher than in the normal advantageous zone. In this way, navigation is executed with a higher probability in the high probability state, AT1 state, AT2 state, and ending state than in the normal advantageous zone.

In the normal zone, when the lottery for transition to the advantageous zone is won (winning the advantageous zone), the state is controlled to the advantageous zone. Note that in this embodiment, the condition for winning the advantageous zone is the winning of most of the roles that can be won during normal play, so the duration of play during normal play is approximately 1G. Note that the condition for winning the advantageous zone may be met when any of the roles that can be won during normal play is won.

During the normal period, navigation is not performed in the game in which the push order role is won, so the net increase in the number of coins a player can win per game will be 0 or a negative number, taking into account the number of medals used to set the bet amount. Note that the net increase in the number of coins per game is the number of medals paid out per game minus the number of medals used to set the bet amount per game. In this embodiment, the normal payout rate is set to 40%. Thus, normally, the payout rate is 1 or less (100% or less) or less than 1 (less than 100%).

The advantageous zone includes the normal advantageous zone, the high probability state, the AT1 state, the AT2 state, and the ending state. In the normal advantageous zone, navigation is not executed in the game in which the push order role is won, so the net increase in the number of coins that the player can win per game will be 0 or negative, taking into account the number of medals used to set the bet amount. In this embodiment, the payout rate in the normal advantageous zone is set to 40%. Thus, in the normal advantageous zone, the payout rate is 1 or less (100% or less) or less than 1 (less than 100%).

In this embodiment, the AT1 state ends when a predetermined number of games have been played. That is, as shown in the figure, a transition occurs to the normal section. The predetermined number of games in the AT1 state can be increased by winning a specific symbol (e.g., watermelon, strong cherry). That is, in this embodiment, winning a specific symbol (watermelon, strong cherry) increases the player's advantage.

In the normal advantageous zone, processing such as a lottery related to control to the high probability state and AT1 state is performed. In the normal advantageous zone, the main control unit 161 performs a lottery to switch to the AT1 state by a point acquisition lottery. The points updated by the point acquisition lottery are managed by the main control unit 161. The main control unit 161 has a point counter (not shown) for counting points inside. In addition, when the value of the point counter reaches a specified value, the main control unit 161 performs an AT lottery to select whether or not to control to the AT1 state. In addition, the main control unit 161 may perform an AT lottery based on the fact that a specific pattern (watermelon, strong cherry) is won without using points. The high probability state is a state in which the number of points awarded is greater than in the normal advantageous zone. In other words, the high probability state is a state in which it is easier to transition to the AT1 state than in the normal advantageous zone.

Control to the AT2 state can be performed when in the normal advantageous zone or high probability state. The AT2 state is a so-called pseudo bonus that can increase the net increase in coins that a player can win by following the navigation. A win that is controlled directly to the AT2 state from the normal advantageous zone or high probability state without going through the AT1 state is also called a "direct pseudo bonus win." A win that is controlled from the AT1 state to the AT2 state is also called a "pseudo bonus win." In a pseudo bonus, navigation is performed in the game in which the push order role is won, so the net increase in coins that a player can win per game is positive, even when taking into account the number of medals used to set the bet amount.

In the advantageous zone, when the number of medals acquired during the advantageous zone reaches a predetermined ED transition number, control is given to the ending state. The number of medals acquired is the number of medals awarded to the player during the advantageous zone minus the number of medals used by the player. In this embodiment, the number of medals acquired is counted using a difference count value, which will be described in detail later. The number of medals acquired during the advantageous zone is the value obtained by subtracting the number of medals used by the player from the number of medals awarded to the player by winning after control to the advantageous zone has started. The ending state is a state in which it is determined that control to the advantageous zone will continue until the total number of medals acquired during the advantageous zone reaches an upper limit (for example, 2,400 medals).

The ED transition number is set when transitioning from the normal zone to the favorable zone. The ED transition number may be determined by lottery or may be set in advance. The ED transition number is managed by the main control unit 161. In other words, the RAM 161c of the main control unit 161 stores the ED transition number. The main control unit 161 cumulatively counts the ED transition number and ends the favorable zone in accordance with the counting process.

When the limiter condition is met in the advantageous zone, control is exercised from the advantageous zone to the normal zone. More specifically, when the number of medals acquired during the advantageous zone reaches 2,400, the advantageous zone ends and control is exercised back to the normal zone. The number of medals acquired during the advantageous zone is counted by a counter stored in RAM 161c. When the number of medals acquired during the advantageous zone reaches the upper limit, it is said that the "limiter condition" is met.

In this way, the advantageous zone includes an ending state that is advantageous to the player, and the main control unit 161 controls the state to the ending state when it determines that the number of medals acquired is greater than 2,300. This makes it easier to continue the advantageous zone when the number of medals acquired is greater than 2,300.

When the game is controlled from the advantageous zone to the normal zone, the number of medals acquired during the advantageous zone that was counted in the advantageous zone, as well as the points that can be acquired during play, are also initialized. The number of medals acquired during the advantageous zone is updated not only during the advantageous zone but also during BB, but is not updated in the normal zone.

In this embodiment, the S machine 2 changes the medal payout rate according to a set value. In more detail, the medal payout rate is changed by varying the probability of winning a specified lottery, such as a point acquisition lottery, according to the set value (for example, 1, 2, 4, 5, 6). A staff member at the game facility can change this set value by changing the setting.

In this way, the conditions for transitioning from the advantageous zone to the normal zone include limiter conditions and optional ending conditions that are met based on the progress of the game, as well as a condition for a setting change.

In addition, in the S-machine 2 of this embodiment, an upper limit of the number of games is set in the normal advantageous zone. When the upper limit of the number of games set in advance is reached in the normal advantageous zone, an AT right is granted to forcibly transition to the AT1 state regardless of the reached points. The upper limit of the number of games in the normal advantageous zone is, for example, 1280 games. The upper limit of the number of games is called the "ceiling". The main control unit 161 has a lottery counter in the RAM 161c to determine whether the ceiling has been reached. That is, the main control unit 161 stores the number of games played in the normal advantageous zone in the lottery counter in the RAM 161c. The main control unit 161 adds the value of the lottery counter each time a game is played in the normal advantageous zone. For example, if the upper limit of the number of games in the normal advantageous zone is set to 700 games, when the value of the lottery counter reaches 700, the main control unit 161 grants the AT right. The upper limit of the number of games in the normal advantageous zone is not limited to 700 games, and may be, for example, 1280 games.

[Winning Role]
5 to 8 are diagrams for explaining the types of winning combinations, winning combinations, and the awarding of prizes. The name column of each of the winning combinations shows the name of the winning combination, and the combination of symbols that will win the winning combination is shown in the symbol combination column. The award column also shows the value (number of medals paid out, replay award, etc.) that will be awarded when the winning combination is won.

As shown in FIG. 5, the replay roles are Lip 1 to Lip 6. As shown in FIG. 6, the special role is BB. As shown in FIG. 6 to FIG. 8, the minor roles are Plum 1 to 6, watermelon, and 1-coin role 1 to 33. Plum 1 to 6 are main roles that can be won when the push order role is won, and when they are won, 9 medals are paid out, which is more than the number of medals used in the bet (3 medals). Plum 1 to 6 are also collectively referred to as "Plum role". 1-coin role 1 to 33 are sub roles that can be won when the push order role is won, and when they are won, 1 medal is paid out, which is less than the number of medals used in the bet (3 medals). 1-coin role 1 to 33 are also collectively referred to as "1-coin role". As shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 8, the maximum number of medals awarded when winning is 8 medals, but it may be other numbers such as 15 medals.

As shown in FIG. 7, among the symbol combinations that will result in a 1-coin winning combination 22, when "Character-Character-Black 7" is derived on reels 2L, 2C, and 2R, three character symbols are arranged in a row on the reels. Specifically, character symbols are derived on the bottom row of the left reel 2L, the middle row of the middle reel 2C, and the top row of the right reel 2R, and the character symbols are arranged in a row going up to the right. The arrangement of character symbols in a row is also referred to as "character alignment."

As shown in FIG. 8, among the symbol combinations that will result in a 1-coin winning combination 23, when "Chara-Chara-Plum" or "Chara-Plum-Plum" is derived on reels 2L, 2C, and 2R, three 7 symbols are arranged in a row on the reels. Specifically, when a 7 symbol is derived on the top row of the left reel 2L, the top row of the middle reel 2C, and the top row of the right reel 2R, three 7 symbols are arranged in a row on the top row. Note that the arrangement of 7 symbols in a row is also referred to as "7-match."

[Role to be selected]
9 is a diagram for explaining the combination of winning roles read out as the lottery target roles for each game state. The role number column in FIG. 9 shows the role number determined for each lottery target role, the flag category column shows the flag category assigned to each type of lottery target role, the lottery target role column shows the name, the game state column shows that the lottery target role is a lottery target role with a circle for each game state, and the advantageous zone winning column shows whether or not the advantageous zone has been won. Also, the winning role combination column in FIG. 9 shows the combination of winning roles included in each lottery target role.

As shown in FIG. 9, BB is provided as a special role that can be selected. The roles that can be selected for the replay role are normal lip, 7-match lip, 7-mismatch lip, character match lip, and character mismatch lip. The roles that can be selected for the minor role are common plum, 213-choice role A-D, 231-choice role A-D, 312-choice role A-D, 321-choice role A-D, watermelon, 7-match 1, 2, character match 1, weak cherry, strong cherry, and chance eye A, B. The minor roles in BB are BB medium small role and BB medium 1. The 213-choice roles A-D, 231-choice roles A-D, 312-choice roles A-D, and 321-choice roles A-D are roles that can execute navigation when won, and are therefore types of push order roles. The 213-choice roles A-D, 231-choice roles A-D, 312-choice roles A-D, and 321-choice roles A-D are collectively referred to as "push order bells." Additionally, 7-matching 1-1 and 2-1 are collectively referred to as "7-matching 1-1."

When not inside the draw, all roles except for BB small/medium and 1 BB can be won, but when inside the draw, the BB win has already been carried over, so BB, BB small/medium and 1 BB cannot be won.

Each role is assigned a common flag category for non-internal, internal, and BB. Also, while role numbers are determined for each role to be drawn, flag categories are assigned for each type of role to be drawn. For this reason, the number of flag categories is smaller than the number of role numbers. Also, the point acquisition lottery in the normal advantageous zone and the bonus lottery in the advantageous zone (hereinafter collectively referred to as "lotteries related to AT control") are both conducted based on the flag category. For this reason, the processing burden can be reduced compared to conducting lotteries related to the control of these AT states based on role numbers.

In this embodiment, flag categories are also assigned to misses and BBs, and BBs are assigned FC1, the same as other roles such as regular replies. Common plums are assigned FC4, the same as watermelons.

[Reel control of push order role]
10 is a diagram for explaining reel control when the push order role is won. As described above, in this embodiment, in a game in which the push order role is won in an advantageous zone, navigation is executed and the correct procedure is notified to the player. The player can win a winning role (main role) that is advantageous to the player by operating the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R in the correct procedure according to the navigation.

For example, as shown in FIG. 10, in a game in which any of the 213-choice roles A-D, 231-choice roles A-D, 312-choice roles A-D, and 321-choice roles A-D is won, the main role of plum is won when the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R are operated in the correct sequence, while the secondary role of 1 coin is won when the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R are operated in the incorrect sequence. Note that if the secondary role of 1 coin is not won when the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R are operated in the incorrect sequence, no win may occur.

The "normal procedure" is not set as the "correct procedure", while the "irregular procedure" can be set as the "correct procedure". In other words, in a game in which a player wins any of the 213-choice roles A-D, 231-choice roles A-D, 312-choice roles A-D, and 321-choice roles A-D, as long as the player operates the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R in the normal procedure, the main role of the plum cannot be won. This may be a factor that induces the player to operate the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R in the irregular procedure, but in this embodiment, if the player operates the stop switches in the irregular procedure in a game in which navigation is not executed, a penalty that is disadvantageous to the player is imposed on the player. Therefore, the player is encouraged to operate the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R in the normal procedure in a game in which navigation is not executed.

Figure 11 is a diagram showing game start commands that the main control unit 161 sends to the performance control unit 151 when the start switch 7 is operated. When the start switch 7 is operated (start operation), the main control unit 161 executes an internal lottery process, and sends a group of commands including predetermined information to the performance control unit 151 depending on the result of the internal lottery process. Hereinafter, the group of commands No. 1 to No. 13 shown in Figure 11 will be simply referred to as "game start commands". The main control unit 161 sends each command in the order of No. 1 to No. 13 as a game start command. Each command is assigned a serial number as a "setting serial number" with the same number as the number. Each command stores various information managed by the main control unit 161.

For example, the command No. 2 "instruction number" stores information related to navigation. That is, the command No. 2 stores information that can identify the order in which to press the start switch 7 in a game in which the start switch 7 is operated. Specifically, the command "instruction number" stores information that indicates the order in which to press the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R. When the performance control unit 151 receives the command No. 2 "instruction number", it executes a navigation performance on the liquid crystal display 51 based on the operation procedure that can be identified from the command "instruction number". The performance control unit 151 also causes the speaker 53 to output a sound that notifies the player of the operation procedure based on the operation procedure that can be identified from the command "instruction number".

For example, the command "small role type" of No. 3 stores information that can specify whether the role won by the internal lottery is a small role, a replay role, or a special role. Also, the command "section state" of No. 6 stores information that can specify which of the internal states shown in FIG. 4 the game in which the start switch 7 is operated is in. Specifically, the command "section state" of No. 6 stores information indicating whether the currently controlled state is a normal section, an advantageous section, and further whether the advantageous section is a normal advantageous section, a high probability state, an AT1 state or an AT2 state, or an ending state. The performance control unit 151 can specify which section state the game in which the start switch 7 is operated is in based on receiving the command "section state" of No. 6. Also, the command "ball output state" of No. 4 can store information that can specify the game state of the game in which the start switch 7 is operated. Command No. 9 "ART Premonition G Count" stores the number of games in the AT consecutive performance. Command No. 10 "Points" in the game start command stores the number of points acquired in the previous game. Additionally, command No. 11 "Winning Number" stores information that can identify the role number of the role that was won by the internal lottery.

When the main control unit 161 transmits a game start command, it stores information indicating that a medal has been bet in the command No. 12 "insert medal". When information indicating that a medal has been bet is stored in the command No. 12 "insert medal", the performance control unit 151 can determine that the game start command has been received.

Figure 12 shows game end commands sent by the main control unit 161 to the performance control unit 151 at the third stop. The main control unit 161 sends the command group No. 1 to No. 13 to the performance control unit 151 in the order of No. 1 to No. 13 not only when the start switch 7 is operated, but also at the third stop of the stop switch. Hereinafter, the command group No. 1 to No. 13 shown in Figure 12 will be simply referred to as "game end commands". Note that, among the commands sent at the third stop, command No. 11 is different from command No. 11 sent when the start switch 7 is operated. No. 11 is a command that stores information about winning. In other words, at the third stop, the main control unit 161 sends information about winning, not information about the winning number.

In the command "points" of No. 10 in the game end command, the number of points acquired in the point acquisition lottery process at the third stop, which will be described later, is stored. In addition, when the main control unit 161 transmits a game end command, it stores information indicating that the reel is stopped in the command "stop reel" of No. 13. When information indicating that the reel is stopped is stored in the command "stop reel" of No. 13, the performance control unit 151 can determine that the game end command has been received. That is, the performance control unit 151 determines whether the received command group is a game start command or a game end command based on the command "insert medal" of No. 12 and the command "stop reel" of No. 13. When the main control unit 161 transmits a game start command, it does not have to transmit the command "stop reel" of No. 13, and when it transmits a game end command, it does not have to transmit the command "insert medal" of No. 12.

[Transmission and reception between the main control board and the medal count control board]
The following describes the transmission and reception between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17. Communication is performed between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17 using commands. The main control board 16 transmits a predetermined command to the medal count control board 17 every time an event occurs. Events include pressing the start switch 7, pressing the 1BET switch 20 or the MAXBET switch 6, stopping all reels, etc.

When the specified command sent from the main control board 16 is a command that requires a predetermined response, the medal count control board 17 sends a response command to the main control board 16. For example, when the power is turned on while the S-machine 2 is installed in the game center and electrically connected, the main control board 16 sends a gaming machine installation information command including the main chip ID (main control chip ID) to the medal count control board 17. Even when the power is turned on thereafter, the main control board 16 sends gaming machine installation information including the main chip ID (main control chip ID) to the medal count control board 17. In other words, when the power is turned on for the S-machine 2, the main control board 16 sends a gaming machine installation information command that can identify the main chip ID, which is unique information held by the main control board 16, to the medal count control board 17.

Both the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17 assign a "serial number" to the command before sending it. In addition, both the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17 store the received "serial number." By assigning a "serial number" to the command, the S-stand 2 prevents a person who is trying to obtain medals fraudulently (hereinafter referred to as an illegal person) from manipulating the S-stand 2 fraudulently. An illegal operation refers to, for example, an operation in which the command transmitted and received between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17 is altered, or an operation in which an illegal person controls the main control board 16 or the medal count control board 17. An illegal person performs illegal operations, for example, by connecting a device that performs illegal operations (hereinafter referred to as an illegal device) to the main control board 16 or the medal count control board 17.

The initial value and the additional value of the "serial number" are determined by the medal count control board 17 and the main control board 16, respectively. The medal count control board 17 determines the initial value and the additional value of the "serial number" based on the gaming machine installation information command received from the main control board 16. The main chip ID included in the gaming machine installation information command includes a 4-byte chip-specific number register. A chip-specific hexadecimal value is stored in each byte of the main chip ID. The medal count control board 17 calculates a total value by adding the hexadecimal values stored in each byte of the main chip ID. The medal count control board 17 converts the value indicated by the lowest 2 bytes of the calculated total value into a decimal number and determines the value as the initial value for the "serial number".

For example, if the total value is "189h" (the "h" at the end indicates that "189" is a hexadecimal number), the initial value for the serial number will be the decimal representation of "89h". In other words, the initial value for the "serial number" will be "137".

Furthermore, the medal count control board 17 divides the initial value by a predetermined number. If the predetermined number is, for example, "5", the remainder calculated as a result of the division will be one of four types: "0", "1", "2", "3", and "4". The medal count control board 17 predetermines and stores an additional value corresponding to the four types of remainder. For example, the medal count control board 17 stores "7" corresponding to "0", "11" corresponding to "1", "13" corresponding to "2", "19" corresponding to "3", and "23" corresponding to "4". After dividing the initial value by a predetermined number, the medal count control board 17 sets the value stored corresponding to the remainder of the division result as the additional value.

As an example, when the initial value "137" is divided by 5, the remainder is "2". As described above, the medal count control board 17 stores "13" in correspondence with the remainder "2" of the division. Therefore, the medal count control board 17 determines the additional value in the serial number as "13". In this way, based on the main chip ID identified from the gaming machine installation information command, the medal count control board 17 generates an initial value and additional value for the serial number to determine whether the command sent from the main control board 16 is normal. The main control board 16 also performs a similar calculation to generate the initial value and additional value. As a result, the same initial value and additional value are stored in both the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17.

As described above, in this embodiment, the occurrence of an event causes the main control board 16 to send a specified command to the medal count control board 17. The main control board 16 assigns a serial number to the specified command. For example, we will explain an example in which a gaming machine installation information command is sent to the medal count control board 17, and after both the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17 have determined the initial value and the additional value for the serial number, a specified event A occurs.

When a specific event A occurs, the main control board 16 transmits command A to the medal count control board 17. At this time, the main control board 16 assigns an initial serial number to the command A that is transmitted for the first time after transmitting the gaming machine installation command. In other words, the main control board 16 assigns the serial number "137" to the command A and transmits it.

The medal count control board 17 stores "137" as an initial value, and since the serial number assigned to the first command A received after receiving the gaming machine installation command is "137", it is determined that communication is normal.

Next, when a new event B occurs, the main control board 16 transmits command B to the medal count control board 17. At this time, the main control board 16 transmits command B with a value obtained by adding an additional value to the value of the previously transmitted serial number. In other words, the main control board 16 transmits command B with the value "150", which is the previously transmitted value of "137" plus the additional value "13". Before receiving command B, the medal count control board 17 calculates in advance that the serial number to be assigned to the next command to be transmitted will be "150". The medal count control board 17 determines that communication with the main control board 16 is normal because the serial number assigned to the received command B is "150", which matches the serial number calculated in advance.

In other words, each time the main control board 16 sends a command, it assigns a serial number that is the result of adding an additional value to the previously sent serial number. The medal count control board 17 also stores the initial value and the additional value, so it can calculate in advance the value of the serial number to be assigned to the next command it receives, and can determine whether the serial number is normal each time it receives a command. If the serial number assigned to the received command does not match the calculated serial number value, the medal count control board 17 determines that a communication abnormality has occurred between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17.

If the value obtained by adding the additional value to the previously transmitted serial number exceeds 255, the main control board 16 will transmit the serial number minus 255. If the main control board 16 receives a response command from the medal count control board 17 indicating that an error has occurred, it will not add the additional value to the serial number of the command to be transmitted after the response command, but will transmit the same serial number again.

[Commands sent from the main control board to the medal count control board]
13 is a diagram showing the types of commands that the main control board 16 transmits to the medal count control board 17. In this embodiment, the main control board 16 transmits, as shown in the command name column in FIG. 13, a gaming machine installation information command, a role information command, an advantageous zone information command, an input command, a settlement command, an end command, a start command, a payout pulse command, a big win command, a gaming machine fraud 1 command, a gaming machine fraud 2 command, a gaming machine fraud 3 command, a main control status command, a main control board error command, and a gaming machine performance information (preliminary) command to the medal count control board 17. In addition, the number column shows the command number that is preset for each command. Furthermore, the message length column shows the message length, i.e., the byte length, of each command.

The two-way column indicates whether or not the medal count control board 17 needs to send a response command after the main control board 16 sends a command. For example, when the medal count control board 17 receives a start command from the main control board 16, it does not send a response command in response to the start command. In other words, the main control board 16 controls the reel drums and the like without waiting to receive a response command from the medal count control board 17.

On the other hand, when the medal count control board 17 receives an insertion command, a settlement command, or an end command from the main control board 16, it transmits a response command to the main control board 16 in response to receiving these commands. The insertion command, settlement command, and end command are commands that directly affect the number of credits managed by the medal count control board 17. Therefore, after transmitting the insertion command, settlement command, or end command, the main control board 16 performs the next control on the condition that it has received a response command from the medal count control board 17. Below, the commands transmitted from the main control board 16 to the medal count control board 17 are explained using Figures 14 to 35.

Figure 14 is a diagram explaining the gaming machine installation information command. As shown in Figure 14, the gaming machine installation information command is a command having a length of 22 bytes. The first byte stores the message length of the gaming machine installation information command. The second byte transmits the serial number. The gaming machine installation information command is a command that is transmitted after the power is turned on and before the medal count control board 17 determines the initial value and the additional value of the serial number, so the serial number is fixed to the value "0". The third to sixth bytes store values indicating the command number, gaming machine characteristics, gaming machine type, and identification code, respectively. The seventh to tenth bytes store the values of the first to fourth bytes of the unique number register of the main chip ID. The medal count control board 17 uses the values of the main chip ID in the seventh to tenth bytes to determine the initial value and the additional value of the serial number.

Bytes 11 to 13 store the manufacturer code. Bytes 14 to 21 store the product code. Byte 22 stores a checksum to determine whether or not there was an error in the information sent in bytes 1 to 21.

Figure 15 is a diagram showing the details of the gaming machine characteristics. The following describes the details of the gaming machine characteristics indicated in the 4th byte of the gaming installation information command. The gaming machine characteristics are 1 byte of data from bit 0 to bit 7. Bit 0 indicates whether S machine 2 is equipped with an RB (regular bonus). If S machine 2 is equipped with an RB, bit 0 will be "1", and if S machine 2 is not equipped with an RB, bit 0 will be "0".

The first bit indicates whether S machine 2 is equipped with BB (Big Bonus). If S machine 2 is equipped with BB, the first bit will be "1", and if S machine 2 is not equipped with BB, the first bit will be "0". The second bit indicates whether S machine 2 is equipped with CT (Challenge Time). If S machine 2 is equipped with CT, the second bit will be "1", and if S machine 2 is not equipped with CT, the second bit will be "0". The third bit indicates whether S machine 2 is equipped with CB (Challenge Bonus). If S machine 2 is equipped with CB, the third bit will be "1", and if S machine 2 is not equipped with CB, the third bit will be "0".

The fourth bit indicates whether S-stand 2 is equipped with SB (single bonus). If S-stand 2 is equipped with SB, the fourth bit will be "1", and if S-stand 2 is not equipped with SB, the fourth bit will be "0". The fifth bit indicates whether S-stand 2 is equipped with an instruction function. If S-stand 2 is equipped with an instruction function, the fifth bit will be "1", and if S-stand 2 is not equipped with an instruction function, the fifth bit will be "0". The sixth bit indicates the instruction type of S-stand 2. If the instruction type of S-stand 2 is 7P type, the sixth bit will be "1", and if the instruction type of S-stand 2 is 7U type, the sixth bit will be "0". The seventh bit is unused and "0" is stored.

Figure 16 shows the structure of the reel information command. The reel information command is a command for the medal count control board 17 to update the gaming machine performance information and the reel ratio monitor information. The reel information command is sent to the medal count control board 17 after the end command is sent.

The reel information command consists of 5 bytes of data. The first byte stores the message length of the reel information command. The second byte stores a serial number. The third byte stores a value indicating the command number. As shown in Figure 13, the command number of the reel information command is "1".

The fourth byte stores reel operation information. The reel operation information stores information indicating whether or not a bonus has been won. The fifth byte stores a checksum to determine whether or not there was an error in the information sent in the first through fourth bytes.

Figure 17 is a diagram showing details of the reel operation information. The reel operation information is data stored in the 4th byte of the reel information command. The reel operation information is composed of 1 byte of data from the 0th to 7th bits. The 0th bit stores "Type 1" information indicating whether the RB is in operation. The 1st bit stores "Type 1 consecutive" information indicating whether the BB is in operation. The 2nd bit stores "Type 2" information indicating whether the CT is in operation. The 3rd bit stores "Type 2 consecutive" information indicating whether the CB is in operation. The 5th bit stores "Normal reel" information indicating whether the SB is in operation. The 4th, 6th, and 7th bits are not used and store "0".

Figure 18 shows the configuration of the advantageous zone information command. The advantageous zone information command is a command that the medal count control board 17 uses to update the gaming machine performance information and the role ratio monitor information. The advantageous zone information command is sent after the end command is sent.

The advantageous zone information command is composed of 5 bytes of data. The first byte stores the message length of the reel information command. The second byte stores a serial number. The third byte stores a value indicating the command number. As shown in Figure 13, the command number of the advantageous zone information command is "2".

The fourth byte stores advantageous zone information. The advantageous zone information is data regarding replay and instruction information in the advantageous zone. The fifth byte stores a checksum to determine whether or not there was an error in the information sent in the first through fourth bytes.

Figure 19 shows details of advantageous zone information. The advantageous zone information is data stored in the fourth byte of the advantageous zone information command, and is data that indicates information about the game that was played before the advantageous zone information command was sent.

The advantageous zone information is composed of one byte of data from bit 0 to bit 7. Bit 0 stores information indicating whether or not the game played before the advantageous zone information command was sent was in an advantageous zone. If it was in an advantageous zone, bit 0 stores "1". Bit 1 stores information indicating whether or not instruction information was present in the game played before the advantageous zone information command was sent. If instruction information was present, bit 1 stores "1". Bit 4 stores information indicating whether or not a replay symbol combination was displayed in the game played before the advantageous zone information command was sent. If a replay symbol combination was displayed, bit 4 stores "1". Bits 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 are not used and store "0".

Figure 20 is a diagram showing the configuration of an insert command. The insert command is sent from the main control board 16 to the medal count control board 17 when the 1BET switch 20 is pressed or when the MAXBET switch 6 is pressed. That is, the main control board 16 sends the insert command to the medal count control board 17 when it receives a bet number setting operation for setting the bet number for starting one game. Also, referring to Figure 13, since the insert command is a bidirectional command, when the medal count control board 17 receives the insert command, it sends a response command in response to the insert command to the main control board 16. The insert command is composed of 5 bytes of data. The first byte stores the message length of the insert command. The second byte stores the serial number. The third byte stores a value indicating the command number. As shown in Figure 13, the command number of the insert command is "3".

The fourth byte stores the number of medals inserted. When the 1BET switch 20 is pressed with the bet number being 0, 1, or 2, the number of medals inserted is 1. When the MAXBET switch 6 is pressed with the bet number being 0, the number of medals inserted is 3, when the MAXBET switch 6 is pressed with the bet number being 1, the number of medals inserted is 2, and when the MAXBET switch 6 is pressed with the bet number being 2, the number of medals inserted is 1. When the 1BET switch 20 or the MAXBET switch 6 is pressed and an insert command is sent during the replay operation state, no data is stored in the number of medals inserted. The fifth byte stores a checksum to determine whether or not an error has occurred in the information sent in the first to fourth bytes. The "replay operation state" refers to the state after the replay role has won.

Figure 21 is a diagram showing the configuration of the settlement command. The settlement command is sent from the main control board 16 to the medal count control board 17 when the bet number clear switch 21 is pressed. That is, the main control board 16 sends the settlement command to the medal count control board 17 when it accepts a settlement operation to cancel the bet number for starting one game. Also, referring to Figure 13, since the settlement command is a bidirectional command, when the medal count control board 17 receives the settlement command, it sends a response command in response to the settlement command to the main control board 16. The settlement command is composed of 5 bytes of data. The first byte stores the message length of the settlement command. The second byte stores the serial number. The third byte stores a value indicating the command number. As shown in Figure 13, the command number of the settlement command is "4".

The fourth byte stores the number of settled medals. If the bet number clear switch 21 is pressed when the bet number is one, the number of settled medals will be one when the bet number is two, the number of settled medals will be two when the bet number is two, and the number of settled medals will be three when the bet number is three. The fifth byte stores a checksum to determine whether or not there was an error in the information sent in the first through fourth bytes.

Figure 22 is a diagram showing the configuration of the start command. The start command is sent from the main control board 16 to the medal count control board 17 when the start switch 7 is pressed. That is, the main control board 16 sends the start command to the medal count control board 17 when starting a game. The start command is sent even when the start switch 7 is pressed in the replay operation state. The start command is a command that does not directly affect the number of credits managed by the medal count control board 17. Therefore, when the medal count control board 17 receives the start command, it does not send a response command to the start command to the main control board 16, but performs control according to the start command. The control according to the start command corresponds to, for example, a process of controlling to a state of waiting for the end of the game or a preparation process for receiving the end command. After sending the start command, the main control board 16 performs the next control without waiting for a response from the medal count control board 17. The next control is, for example, a control to drive the reels.

The start command consists of 5 bytes of data. The first byte stores the message length of the start command. The second byte stores a sequence number. The third byte stores a value indicating the command number. As shown in Figure 13, the command number of the start command is "6".

The fourth byte stores the number of input pulses (1 to 3) to be sent to the hall computer. Even in the replay operation state, the specified number of input pulses is sent. The fifth byte stores a checksum to determine whether or not there was an error in the information sent in the first through fourth bytes.

Figure 23 is a diagram showing the configuration of the end command. The end command is sent from the main control board 16 to the medal count control board 17 when all the reels have stopped, that is, when the third stop is reached. In other words, the main control board 16 sends the end command to the medal count control board 17 when one game ends. The end command includes the number of medals to be paid out, which is determined according to the combination of the derived symbols. When medals are paid out to the player, the number of credits increases. Therefore, the end command is a command that directly affects the number of credits managed by the medal count control board 17. Therefore, when the medal count control board 17 receives the end command, it sends a response command to the main control board 16. After sending the end command, the main control board 16 performs the next control on the condition that the response command is received. The next control corresponds to a process of updating the data displayed on the game support display 12, etc.

In other words, when the medal count control board 17 receives an end command, it sends a response command in response to the end command to the main control board 16, and performs control according to the end command. The control according to the end command is, for example, control to add the number of medals paid out to the number of credits.

The termination command consists of 5 bytes of data. The first byte stores the message length of the termination command. The second byte stores a serial number. The third byte stores a value indicating the command number. As shown in Figure 13, the command number of the termination command is "5".

The fourth byte stores the number of medals paid out. The maximum number of medals paid out is eight medals. If a replay symbol combination is derived, or if there are no medals paid out, a "0" is stored in the fourth byte. In other words, the end command is a command that can specify the game value that is awarded to a player according to the result of a game when that game ends. The fifth byte stores a checksum to determine whether or not there was an error in the information sent in the first through fourth bytes.

Figure 24 shows the configuration of the payout pulse command. The payout pulse command is sent from the main control board 16 to the medal count control board 17 when all reels have stopped, i.e., when the third stop has been reached. The payout pulse command is a pulse signal for sending the number of medals awarded to the player in response to winning to a hall computer (not shown) connected to the medal count control board 17. After receiving the payout pulse command, the medal count control board 17 sends a payout pulse signal to the hall computer (not shown). This allows the hall computer to store the number of medals paid out at S-machine 2. The payout pulse command is sent to the medal count control board 17 even when the replay operation is in progress. After sending the payout pulse command, the main control board 16 performs the next control without waiting for a response from the medal count control board 17.

The payout pulse command consists of 5 bytes of data. The first byte stores the message length of the payout pulse command. The second byte stores a serial number. The third byte stores a value indicating the command number. As shown in Figure 13, the command number of the payout pulse command is "7".

The fourth byte stores the number of payout pulses to be sent to the hall computer. The maximum number of payout pulses is 15. If a replay symbol combination is derived, or if there are no medals to be paid out, a "0" is stored in the fourth byte. The fifth byte stores a checksum to determine whether or not there was an error in the information sent in the first through fourth bytes.

Figure 25 shows the configuration of the jackpot command. The jackpot command is sent from the main control board 16 to the medal count control board 17 at the start and end of the jackpot. The jackpot command is also sent from the main control board 16 to the medal count control board 17 when the machine is in a hot start state when the power is turned on. This allows the hall computer signal to be restored in S-machine 2 without having to back up the hall computer signal.

The jackpot command consists of 5 bytes of data. The first byte stores the message length of the jackpot command. The second byte stores the serial number. The third byte stores a value indicating the command number. As shown in Figure 13, the command number of the jackpot command is "8".

The fourth byte stores the hall computer signal. The hall computer signal is a signal for notifying the hall computer of the jackpot information for S-machine 2. The jackpot type, such as RB, BB, or AT, is stored. The fifth byte stores a checksum to determine whether there was an error in the information sent in the first through fourth bytes.

Figure 26 is a diagram showing the details of the hall computer signal. The hall computer signal is data stored in the fourth byte of the jackpot command. The hall computer signal is composed of one byte of data from bit 0 to bit 7. Bit 0 stores information indicating that the jackpot type is RB. Bit 1 stores information indicating that the jackpot type is BB. Bit 2 stores information indicating that the jackpot type is AT. Bits 3 to 7 are not used and store "0".

Figure 27 shows the configuration of the gaming machine fraud 1 command. The gaming machine fraud 1 command is sent from the main control board 16 to the medal count control board 17 when a setting change or setting confirmation is started or ended.

The gaming machine fraud 1 command is composed of 5 bytes of data. The first byte stores the message length of the gaming machine fraud 1 command. The second byte stores a serial number. The third byte stores a value indicating the command number. As shown in FIG. 13, the command number of the gaming machine fraud 1 command is "9."

The fourth byte stores the setting information. This setting information is information used when changing or checking settings, and indicates whether any fraud was detected during that process. The fifth byte stores a checksum used to determine whether any errors were detected in the information sent in the first through fourth bytes.

Figure 28 is a diagram showing details of the setting information. The setting information is data stored in the 4th byte of the gaming machine fraud 1 command. The setting information is composed of 1 byte of data from the 0th to 7th bits. The 0th bit stores data indicating whether or not the setting is being changed. The 1st bit stores data indicating whether or not the setting is being confirmed. The 2nd to 4th bits store data indicating whether or not a manufacturer-defined fraud has been detected. The 6th and 7th bits are unused and store "0".

Figure 29 is a diagram showing the structure of the gaming machine fraud 2 command. The gaming machine fraud 2 command is an unused command in S machine 2. In S machine 2, the door open detection switch 25 is connected to the medal count control board 17. Therefore, the main control board 16 does not need to send door information to the medal count control board 17. Therefore, "0" is stored in the fourth byte.

Figure 30 shows the details of the door information. Since the medal count control board 17 detects whether the door is open or closed, all bits contained in the door information are not used and "0" is stored.

Figure 31 shows the configuration of the gaming machine fraud 3 command. The gaming machine fraud 3 command is an unused command in S-machine 2. The gaming machine fraud 3 command is an expansion command, and will be used in the future when it becomes necessary to send a new command from the main control board 16 to the medal count control board 17.

Figure 32 shows the structure of a main control status command. A main control status command is a command that indicates the status of the main control board 16. The main control status command is sent from the main control board 16 to the medal count control board 17 at a predetermined timing. By receiving the main control status command, the medal count control board 17 can obtain the status of the main control board 16 or the S-stand 2.

The main control status command consists of 5 bytes of data. The first byte stores the message length of the main control status command. The second byte stores a serial number. The third byte stores a value indicating the command number. As shown in FIG. 13, the command number of the main control status command is "12". The fourth byte stores the gaming machine status signal. The fifth byte stores a checksum to determine whether or not there was an error in the information sent in the first through fourth bytes.

Figure 33 is a diagram showing the configuration of a main control board error command. The main control board error command is a command that indicates the type of error that has occurred on the main control board 16. The main control board error command is sent from the main control board 16 to the medal count control board 17 when an error occurs on the main control board 16 and when the error that has occurred is resolved.

The main control board error command consists of 5 bytes of data. The first byte stores the message length of the main control status command. The second byte stores a serial number. The third byte stores a value indicating the command number. As shown in FIG. 13, the command number of the main control board error command is "13". The fourth byte stores an error number. The error number is a number that indicates the type of error that has occurred in the main control board 16. The fifth byte stores a checksum to determine whether or not an error has occurred in the information sent in the first through fourth bytes.

Figure 34 is a diagram showing a list of main control board errors. The error numbers shown in Figure 34 are the error numbers stored in the fourth byte of the main control board error command. E6 is an error number indicating a reel rotation error. The main control board 16 determines that a reel rotation error has occurred if it is unable to detect input from the origin sensor three consecutive times. When a reel rotation error occurs, the main control board 16 transmits the value of the fourth byte of the main control board error command as "E6". The main control board 16 determines that the error has been resolved when an error release switch (not shown) is pressed. Even when the error has been resolved, the main control board 16 transmits a main control board error command.

E7 is an error number indicating a medal count overflow error. The main control board 16 determines that a medal count overflow error has occurred when the medal count exceeds 16,383. When a medal count overflow error occurs, the main control board 16 sends the fourth byte of the main control board error command as "E7". The main control board 16 determines that the error has been resolved when an error release switch (not shown) is pressed. Even when the error has been resolved, the main control board 16 sends the main control board error command.

E8 is an error number indicating a backup error. When the main control board 16 checks the RAM after power is turned on and finds that the value does not match the RAM value backed up before the power was cut off, it determines that a backup error has occurred. When a backup error occurs, the main control board 16 sends the fourth byte of the main control board error command as "E8". The main control board 16 determines that the error has been resolved when the power to S-unit 2 is turned off and the settings are changed again. Even when the error has been resolved, the main control board 16 sends the main control board error command.

E9 is an error number indicating a communication abnormality error. If the main control board 16 does not receive a response command before 40 ms has elapsed after sending a command requiring a response command to the medal count control board 17, it will determine that a communication abnormality error has occurred. 1 ms means 0.001 seconds. When a communication abnormality error occurs, the main control board 16 will send the fourth byte of the main control board error command as "E9". When an error release switch (not shown) is pressed, the main control board 16 will determine that the error has been resolved. Even when the error has been resolved, the main control board 16 will send a main control board error command.

Figure 35 shows the structure of the gaming machine performance information (preliminary) command. Gaming machine performance information is information intended to compile performance information. Gaming machine performance information is used to output results calculated based on play.

The gaming machine performance information (preliminary) command is composed of 28 bytes of data. The first byte stores the message length of the gaming machine performance information (preliminary) command. The second byte stores a serial number. The third byte stores a value indicating the command number. As shown in FIG. 13, the command number of the gaming machine performance information (preliminary) command is "14". Gaming machine performance information may be stored in bytes 4 to 27. In this embodiment, "0" is stored in the preliminary area. The 28th byte stores a checksum for determining whether an error has occurred in the information sent in bytes 1 to 27.

Figure 36 shows a list of commands sent from the medal count control board 17 to the main control board 16. The medal count control board 17 sends two types of commands to the main control board 16.

A response command is a command for responding to a command received from the main control board 16. For example, when the medal count control board 17 receives an end command, it sends a response command because the end command affects the number of credits. In other words, a response command is a bidirectional command, as it responds in response to receiving it. A command number between 3 and 5 can be set for the response command. The message length of the response command is 4 bytes.

The frame side information command is a command that transmits system information including connection information between the medal count control board 17 and the CU3. The medal count control board 17 transmits the frame side information command to the main control board 16 every 300 ms (0.3 seconds). The specified period for transmitting the frame side information command may be other than 300 ms. The main control board 16 does not respond even if it receives a frame side information command. Therefore, the frame side information command is a command that continues to be transmitted unidirectionally from the medal count control board 17 to the main control board 16, and does not have bidirectionality. The command number of the frame side information command is "81h", and the message length is 4 bytes.

Figure 37 is a diagram showing the structure of a response command. A response command is composed of 4 bytes of data. The first byte stores the message length of the response command. The second byte stores a value indicating the command number. The command number in the response command stores the command number of the received command to which the response is made. When sending a response command in response to an input command, the medal count control board 17 stores "3" as the command number. When sending a response command in response to a settlement command, the medal count control board 17 stores "4" as the command number. When sending a response command in response to a termination command, the medal count control board 17 stores "5" as the command number.

The third byte stores information indicating the result of receiving the response command. The third byte includes a data area of 1 to 4 bits. If the 0th bit in the data area of the third byte is "1", the response command indicates "received OK". "Received OK" indicates that the received command received by the medal count control board 17 is normal. In the following, a response command in which the 0th bit in the data area of the third byte is "1" may be referred to as a "response command indicating received OK". In other words, the response command is a command that notifies the main control board 16 that the received command has been received normally. The received command is a command sent from the main control board 16 that is the target of the response command. If the 1st bit in the data area of the third byte is "1", the response command indicates "serial number mismatch". "Serial number mismatch" indicates that the received command received by the medal count control board 17 is not normal. In the following, a response command in which the 1st bit in the data area of the third byte is "1" may be referred to as a "response command indicating serial number mismatch". In other words, the response command indicates that the serial number of the received command that was the subject of the response did not match the serial number calculated by the medal count control board 17.

If the second bit in the data area of the third byte is "1", the response command indicates that there is an "insufficient number of game medals". When the medal count control board 17 receives an insertion command as a received command and is requested to subtract credits, but there is an insufficient number of credits, a response command with "1" stored in the second bit is sent.

If the third bit in the data area of the third byte is "1", the response command indicates "game medal count overflow". When the medal count control board 17 receives a settlement command as a received command and the number of credits (game medal count) is at the upper limit, a response command with "1" stored in the third bit is sent. The fourth byte stores a checksum to determine whether or not there was an error in the information sent in the first through third bytes.

Figure 38 shows the structure of a frame side information command. As mentioned above, the frame side information command is sent from the medal count control board 17 to the main control board 16 every 300 ms (0.3 seconds).

The frame side information command is composed of 4 bytes of data. The first byte stores the message length of the frame side information command. The second byte stores the command number. The command number of the frame side information command is "81h". The third byte stores information indicating the system status of the medal count control board 17. The system status of the medal count control board 17 includes information on whether the count button has been pressed and whether the CU 3 and medal count control board 17 are normally connected. The fourth byte stores a checksum to determine whether an error has occurred in the information sent in the first to third bytes.

[Communication between the main control board and the medal count control board]
Fig. 39 is a diagram showing an example of communication between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17. Serial communication is adopted for communication between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17. As shown in Fig. 39, the main control board 16 transmits an input command when a bet number setting operation is performed. The bet number setting operation includes pressing the 1BET switch 20 or the MAXBET switch 6.

When the medal count control board 17 receives a command from the main control board 16, it uses a counter to measure the elapsed time. If reception of the command is not completed within 10 ms from when the command was received from the main control board 16, the medal count control board 17 determines that a timeout error has occurred in the communication between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17. In the example of Figure 39, the medal count control board 17 has completed reception of the insertion command before 10 ms has elapsed since receiving it, so no timeout error has occurred.

The medal count control board 17 transmits a response command in response to receiving the insertion command. When the main control board 16 receives a command from the medal count control board 17, it uses a counter to measure the elapsed time. If reception of the command is not completed within 2.24 ms from when the command was received from the medal count control board 17, the main control board 16 determines that a timeout error has occurred in the communication between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17. In the example of FIG. 39, reception of the response command is completed before 2.24 ms has elapsed since it was received by the main control board 16, so no timeout error occurs.

In addition, when the main control board 16 transmits a command that requires a response command from the medal count control board 17, such as a deposit command, the main control board 16 uses a counter to measure the elapsed time from the bet number setting operation that triggered the transmission of the deposit command.

If the reception of the response command from the medal count control board 17 is not completed within 40 ms from the occurrence of an event such as a bet number setting operation, the main control board 16 determines that a timeout error has occurred in the communication between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17. In the example of FIG. 39, the reception of the response command is completed before 40 ms has elapsed since the bet number setting operation, so a timeout error does not occur.

After receiving the response command to the input command, the main control board 16 starts control corresponding to the bet number setting operation.

Then, the start switch 7 of S-machine 2 is pressed by the player. In response to the start switch 7 being pressed, the main control board 16 sends a start command to the medal count control board 17. As mentioned above, the start command is a command that does not require a response command from the medal count control board 17. Therefore, the medal count control board 17 does not send a response command.

Finally, when the player performs the third stop operation, all the reels stop. Based on the fact that all the reels have stopped, the main control board 16 sends an end command to the medal count control board 17. In this example, even though the end command requires a response command, the medal count control board 17 does not send the response command. Therefore, the main control board 16 does not receive a response command until 40 ms has elapsed since all the reels stopped, and determines that a timeout error has occurred.

Figure 40 is a diagram for explaining the communication of frame side information commands. As shown in Figure 40, the medal count control board 17 sends a frame side information command to the main control board 16 every 300 ms. If a period of more than 2.24 ms has passed since the start of reception of the frame side information command until the reception is completed, the main control board 16 determines that a timeout error has occurred.

Figure 41 is a flowchart showing the processing when the main control board 16 receives a command. As shown in Figure 36, the medal count control board 17 sends two types of commands to the main control board 16: a response command or a frame side information command.

Referring to FIG. 41, the main control board 16 receives a command from the medal count control board 17 (step S10). The main control board 16 judges whether the received command is a frame side information command (step S11). If the received command is a frame side information command (YES in step S11), the main control board 16 checks whether the frame side information command contains error information (step S12). The error information is information indicating whether the CU 3 is normally connected to the S-stand 2. If the frame side information command contains error information (YES in step S12), the main control board 16 transmits the error information to the performance control board 15 and ends the process. This allows the performance control board 15 to display on the liquid crystal display 51 that an error has occurred in which the CU 3 is not connected to the S-stand 2. If the frame side information command does not contain error information (NO in step S12), the process ends.

If the received command is not a frame side information command (NO in step S11), that is, if the received command is a response command, the main control board 16 executes processing according to the response command and ends the process.

Figure 42 is a diagram showing the flow of communication between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17 after the power is turned on. When the power-on switch 102 is pressed and the power is turned on to the main control board 16, the main control board 16 transmits a gaming machine installation information command. After that, when the bet number setting operation is performed, the main control board 16 transmits an insertion command. Since the insertion command requires a response command, the medal count control board 17 transmits a response command to the main control board 16 based on receiving the insertion command. For example, if there is a surplus of game medals, the medal count control board 17 sets the 0th bit in the 3rd byte of the response command to "1" (received OK), if the serial numbers do not match, the 1st bit in the 3rd byte of the response command to "1" (serial number mismatch), and if the number of game medals is insufficient, the 2nd bit in the 3rd byte of the response command to "1" (insufficient number of game medals).

Then, the main control board 16 transmits a settlement command to the medal count control board 17 based on the settlement operation being performed. The settlement operation is an operation indicating that the bet clear switch 21 has been pressed. This executes a process of returning the bet to the credit amount. Since the settlement command is a command that requires a response command, the medal count control board 17 transmits a response command to the main control board 16 based on receiving the settlement command. For example, if there is a margin of game medal count, the medal count control board 17 sets the 0th bit in the 3rd byte of the response command to "1" (received OK), if the serial numbers do not match, the 1st bit in the 3rd byte of the response command to "1" (serial number mismatch), and if the game medal count overflows, the 3rd bit in the 3rd byte of the response command to "1" (game medal count overflow).

In FIG. 42, the bet number is set again, and communication is performed based on the bet number setting operation. Next, when the start switch 7 is pressed, the main control board 16 sends a start command to the medal count control board 17. After sending the start command, the main control board 16 performs control to progress the game, such as control to drive the reels, without waiting for a response from the medal count control board 17. When the medal count control board 17 receives the start command from the main control board 16, it controls the game to wait for the end of the game as a control in response to the start command. Since the start command is a command that does not require a response command, the medal count control board 17 does not send a response command.

When all reels have stopped, the main control board 16 sends an end command to the medal count control board 17. When the medal count control board 17 receives the end command, it sends a response command to the main control board 16. For example, if the end command is normal, the medal count control board 17 sets the 0th bit in the 3rd byte of the response command to "1" (received OK), and if the serial numbers do not match, it sets the 1st bit in the 3rd byte of the response command to "1" (serial numbers do not match). Next, the main control board 16 sends the role information command, advantageous zone command, and payout pulse command to the medal count control board 17 in that order.

In this way, when the main control board 16 starts a game, it sends a start command and executes the next control without waiting for a response from the medal count control board 17, since this does not affect the number of credits, and when ending a game, it sends an end command and executes the next control on the condition that it has received a response command sent from the medal count control board 17, since this may affect the number of credits. In this way, by improving the communication between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17, the main control board 16 can progress through the game while checking the status of the medal count control board 17.

[Example of processing for serial numbers]
As described above, the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17 communicate using serial numbers. That is, the medal count control board 17 executes a process to check whether the serial numbers match in order to determine whether the command sent from the main control board 16 is normal. An example of the process for the serial numbers will be explained below with reference to Figures 43 to 45. Figure 43 is a diagram showing an example of communication when the serial number is normal.

When the power is turned on, the main control board 16 sends a gaming machine installation information command to the medal count control board 17. As explained above, the serial number assigned to the gaming machine installation information command is "0". The medal count control board 17 determines the initial value and the additional value of the serial number based on the main chip ID included in the gaming machine installation information command. In the example of FIG. 43, the medal count control board 17 determines the initial value of the serial number to be "137" and the additional value to be "13". Using a similar calculation method, the main control board 16 determines the initial value of the serial number to be "137" and the additional value to be "13" based on the main chip ID.

After the gaming machine installation information command is sent, the bet number is set, and the main control board 16 sends a deposit command. This deposit command is the first command sent to the medal count control board 17 after the gaming machine installation information command is sent. Therefore, the main control board 16 assigns the initial value "137" as a serial number to this deposit command and sends it. The medal count control board 17 sends a response command to this deposit command. At this time, since the communication was normal, the medal count control board 17 sends a response command indicating that the medal count control board 17 has received the medal count to the main control board 16. In other words, when the medal count control board 17 determines that the deposit command sent from the main control board 16 is normal by checking whether the serial numbers match, it responds to the deposit command by sending a response command to the main control board 16 indicating that the deposit command is normal.

Next, when the start switch 7 is pressed, the main control board 16 sends a start command. At this time, the main control board 16 adds an additional value of "13" to the previously sent serial number value of "137" and sends it. In other words, the main control board 16 sends the start command with a serial number of "150".

When the medal count control board 17 receives an input command with a serial number of "137", it calculates that the serial number of the next command to be received will be "150" based on the added value. When the medal count control board 17 receives a start command, it executes a process to check whether the serial number value calculated before reception matches the serial number value assigned to the start command actually received. Because the serial numbers match, the medal count control board 17 determines that communication is normal.

Figure 44 is a diagram showing an example of communication when a serial number mismatch error occurs. The process up until the main control board 16 receives a response command corresponding to the bet number setting operation is the same as in Figure 42, so the explanation will not be repeated. As described above, when the medal count control board 17 receives the insertion command, it calculates that the serial number assigned to the next command to be received is "150".

In the example of FIG. 44, after the bet number setting operation, an illegal operation is performed. As described above, an illegal operation refers to, for example, an operation in which the command transmitted and received between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17 is altered, or an operation in which a fraudster controls the main control board 16 or the medal count control board 17. In FIG. 44, the main control board 16 is controlled by a fraudster, so that the main control board 16 transmits an end command even though all the reels have not stopped. That is, in FIG. 44, an illegal operation is performed with the aim of making the medal count control board 17 execute a payout process even though no winning has occurred. However, since the fraudster cannot obtain the initial value and the added value of the serial number determined based on the main chip ID of the main control board 16, and further the number of times the command has been transmitted and received, he cannot know the value of the serial number to be assigned to the next command. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 44, the fraudster sends the end command with the serial number "78", but the medal count control board 17 determines that a serial number mismatch error has occurred because the calculated serial number "150" does not match the actually received serial number "78", and sends a response command indicating that the serial numbers do not match to the main control board 16. That is, when the medal count control board 17 determines that the end command sent from the main control board 16 is not normal by the process of checking whether the serial numbers match, it responds to the end command by sending a response command to the main control board 16 indicating that the end command is not normal. The main control board 16, which receives the response command indicating that the serial numbers do not match, does not execute the payout control that is performed after the end command. This makes it possible to prevent fraudulent operations.

Illegal operations include not only those that cause the main control board 16 to send an end command even though no winning has occurred, as shown in Figure 44, but also the following types of illegal operations.

For example, one possible fraudulent operation would be to have the main control board 16 send a bet cancellation command even though the bet amount set in the BET counter of RAM 161c in the main control board 16 is 0. This would allow the fraudster to increase the number of credits stored in the medal count control board 17 even though no bet amount has been set.

Another possible fraudulent operation would be altering the response command sent by the medal count control board 17 in response to the insertion command sent by the main control board 16. For example, a fraudster could make the medal count control board 17 send a response command indicating receipt OK to the main control board 16 even though the number of credits is "0". This would allow the fraudster to set the bet amount even though the number of credits is "0".

Thus, possible types of fraudulent operations include forging commands sent by the main control board 16, and forging commands sent by the medal count control board 17. In the S-machine 2 of this embodiment, the use of a "serial number" makes it possible to prevent all of the fraudulent operations described above.

Next, a start command with the serial number "150" attached is sent to the medal count control board 17. The serial number "150" attached to the start command matches the serial number calculated in advance by the medal count control board 17. Because they match, the medal count control board 17 determines that the serial number mismatch error has been resolved, and sends a response command indicating receipt OK to the main control board 16. In this way, S-stand 2 can easily determine that the medal count control board 17 has resolved the serial number mismatch error.

As shown in Figures 43 and 44, when the medal count control board 17 receives a command sent from the main control board 16, it uses the initial value of the serial number and the additional value to determine whether the command sent from the main control board 16 is normal or not. In other words, when the medal count control board 17 receives a command that requires a response, it sends a response command, and further, the response command is provided with information indicating whether the communication is normal or not, so that the main control board 16 can proceed with the game while checking the status of the medal count control board 17.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 44, if the serial numbers do not match, it is possible to determine that tampering may have occurred, thereby increasing security regarding communication between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17.

Figure 45 is a diagram showing an example of communication when an error related to game medals occurs. The processing up until the medal count control board 17 receives the start command is the same as in Figure 42, so the explanation will not be repeated. After sending the start command, the main control board 16 sends an end command with the serial number "163" attached based on the fact that all reels have stopped. At this time, the end command is attached with the number of medals to be paid out, but since the number of credits is the upper limit, an error related to game medals occurs. Therefore, the medal count control board 17 sends a response command indicating a game medal count overflow to the main control board 16. As a result, the main control board 16 does not execute the processing related to payout.

Then, the number of credits is subtracted based on whether the counting button 10 has been operated, etc., and the medal count control board 17 is now in a state where it can accept medals for payment. In other words, the error related to the game medals is resolved. After that, the main control board 16 again sends an end command with the serial number "163" to the medal count control board 17. In response, the medal count control board 17 sends a response command indicating that the medals have been received, since no error related to the game medals has occurred.

[Communication before transmission/reception of gaming machine installation information command]
46 is a diagram showing an example of communication occurring before the transmission and reception of the gaming machine installation information command. As described above, the main control board 16 transmits the gaming machine installation information command to the medal count control board 17 after the power is turned on.

In the example of FIG. 46, the main control board 16 transmits an end command to the medal count control board 17 after power is turned on and before transmitting the gaming machine installation information command. If the medal count control board 17 receives a command from the main control board 16 before receiving the gaming machine installation information command, it discards the command regardless of the type of command or the assigned serial number. In other words, the medal count control board 17 does not execute processing in response to commands other than the gaming machine installation information command from the main control board 16 until it receives at least the gaming machine installation information command.

As a result, the medal count control board 17 does not communicate with the main control board 16 when communication with the main control board 16 has not been established based on the gaming machine installation information command, thereby improving security regarding communication between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17. In other words, it is possible to prevent unauthorized operations that are performed before the gaming machine installation information command is received.

In the example of FIG. 46, after the end command is discarded, when the power is turned on, a gaming machine installation information command A is sent to the medal count control board 17. The medal count control board 17 determines the initial value and the additional value for the serial number based on receiving the gaming machine installation information command A.

Next, in FIG. 46, the medal count control board 17 receives gaming machine installation information command B from the main control board 16. At this time, since the medal count control board 17 has already received gaming machine installation information command A, it does not update the initial value and the additional value of the serial number based on gaming machine installation information command B. In other words, even if the gaming machine installation information command is sent again from the main control board 16 after receiving the gaming machine installation information command, the medal count control board 17 does not execute processing according to the gaming machine installation information command.

This allows the medal count control board 17 to prevent, for example, impersonation of the main control board 16 by an unauthorized board other than the main control board 16 connected to the medal count control board 17. In other words, it is possible to prevent the initial value and the additional value of the serial number from being illegally rewritten.

[Power-on timeout]
47 is a diagram showing an example of a timeout when the power is turned on. The main control board 16 transmits a gaming machine installation information command when the power is turned on. The main control board 16 measures the elapsed time from when the power is turned on using a counter.

If the main control board 16 does not complete transmission of the gaming machine installation information command by the time 5000 ms has elapsed since the main control board 16 was powered on, the main control board 16 determines that an error has occurred in the communication between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17. In other words, the medal count control board 17 controls to an abnormal state when it is unable to receive the gaming machine installation information command within 5000 ms after the power of S-stand 2 is turned on. In the example of FIG. 47, since the gaming machine installation information command has not been transmitted by the time 5000 ms has elapsed since the power of the main control board 16 was turned on, the medal count control board 17 determines that a communication error has occurred. The medal count control board 17 displays the occurrence of a communication error on the display 312 of the CU 3.

As a result, if communication cannot be established with the medal count control board 17 based on the gaming machine installation information command after the power to S-unit 2 is turned on, the medal count control board 17 can notify the outside that there is a communication abnormality.

The medal count control board 17 is connected to the CU control board 32. Even if a communication error occurs in the main control board 16, the medal count control board 17 can communicate with the CU control board 32.

The communication error that occurred in the main control board 16 is resolved when the power is turned back on, the gaming machine installation information command is sent successfully within 5000 ms from when the main control board 16 is turned on, and a response command indicating receipt is OK is sent from the medal count control board 17.

[About bet setting and settlement operations]
48 is a diagram for explaining the bet number setting operation and the settlement operation. As described above, the main control board 16 transmits an insertion command to the medal number control board 17 based on the bet number setting operation in which the 1BET switch 20 or the MAXBET switch 6 is pressed. In addition, the main control board 16 transmits a settlement command to the medal number control board 17 based on the settlement operation in which the bet number clear switch 21 is pressed.

As shown in FIG. 48, the main control board 16 transmits an insertion command to the medal count control board 17 based on the bet number setting operation being performed. The insertion command is a command that includes the number of inserted medals. The medal count control board 17 reads the number of inserted medals included in the received insertion command and performs the bet number setting process. Specifically, it subtracts the number of inserted medals from the number of credits managed by the medal count control board 17 and adds the number of inserted medals to the bet number. For example, if the number of bets before the bet number setting process is performed is 0 and the MAXBET switch 6 is validly operated as the bet number setting operation, the medal count control board 17 subtracts 3 from the number of credits and adds 3 to the bet number. The medal count control board 17 transmits a response command to the main control board 16 based on receiving the insertion command.

Then, the main control board 16 transmits a settlement command to the medal count control board 17 based on the settlement operation being performed. The settlement command is a command that includes the settlement medal count. The medal count control board 17 reads the settlement medal count included in the received settlement command and performs bet number cancellation processing. Specifically, it subtracts the settlement medal count from the bet number managed by the medal count control board 17 and adds the settlement medal count to the credit number. For example, if the number of bets before the bet number cancellation processing is executed is three and the bet number clear switch 21 is pressed, the medal count control board 17 subtracts three from the bet number and adds three to the credit number. The medal count control board 17 transmits a response command to the main control board 16 based on receiving the settlement command.

Here, the medal count control board 17 transmits a common response command to the insertion command and the settlement command. That is, the medal count control board 17 transmits a common response command to the main control board 16 when it receives an insertion command and when it receives a settlement command. Specifically, the medal count control board 17 transmits a response command to the main control board 16 when it receives an insertion command and when it receives a settlement command. Here, when the medal count control board 17 receives an insertion command, it does not execute the process of adding the number of credits (number of game medals), so game medal number overflow cannot occur. Therefore, the medal count control board 17 does not store "1" in the third bit of the third byte of the response command to the insertion command and transmit it.

In addition, when the medal count control board 17 receives a settlement command, it does not execute the process of subtracting the number of credits, so a shortage of game medals cannot occur. Therefore, the medal count control board 17 does not store "1" in the second bit of the third byte of the response command to the input command and transmit it.

In this way, the medal count control board 17 notifies the main control board 16 of a medal shortage or medal overflow by differently using the data stored in the third byte when an insertion command is received and when a settlement command is received. This allows the medal count control board 17 to use a common response command when a bet number setting operation is performed and when a bet number cancellation operation is performed, thereby reducing the processing burden.

Figure 49 shows an example in which a new bet number setting operation is performed after a bet number setting operation and before a response command is received. As shown in Figure 49, the main control board 16 sends a deposit command based on bet number setting operation A. The main control board 16 controls the deposit command so that it is completed before 40 ms has elapsed since the start of transmission, so as to prevent a timeout error. The medal count control board 17 sends a response command in response to receiving the deposit command.

In the example of FIG. 49, after accepting bet number setting operation A and before receiving a response command to the input command based on bet number setting operation A, a new bet number setting operation B is performed. The main control board 16 does not accept bet number setting operation B. In other words, after sending an input command to the medal count control board 17, the main control board 16 does not accept a new bet number setting operation until it receives a response command from the medal count control board 17. This makes it possible to prevent a new bet number setting operation B from being accepted in a situation where the processing according to bet number setting operation A has not been confirmed in the medal count control board 17.

Figure 50 shows an example in which a new settlement operation is performed after a settlement operation and before a response command is received. As shown in Figure 50, the main control board 16 sends a settlement command based on settlement operation A. The main control board 16 controls the transmission of the settlement command so that it is completed before 40 ms has elapsed since the start of transmission, so that a timeout error does not occur. The medal count control board 17 sends a response command in response to receiving the settlement command.

In the example of FIG. 50, after settlement operation A is accepted, a new settlement operation B is performed before a response command to the input command based on settlement operation A is received. The main control board 16 does not accept settlement operation B. In other words, after the main control board 16 sends a settlement command to the medal count control board 17, it does not accept a new settlement operation until it receives a response command from the medal count control board 17. This makes it possible to prevent a new settlement operation B from being accepted in a situation where the processing according to settlement operation A has not been confirmed in the medal count control board 17.

Figure 51 shows an example in which a new settlement operation is performed after the bet amount setting operation and before the response command is received. As shown in Figure 51, the main control board 16 transmits a deposit command based on the bet amount setting operation. The medal count control board 17 transmits a response command in response to receiving the deposit command.

In the example of FIG. 51, after the bet number setting operation is accepted, a new settlement operation is performed before the response command to the input command based on the bet number setting operation is received. The main control board 16 does not accept this settlement operation. In other words, after the main control board 16 sends an input command to the medal count control board 17, it does not accept a new settlement operation until it receives a response command from the medal count control board 17. This makes it possible to prevent a new settlement operation from being accepted in a situation where the processing in response to the bet number setting operation has not been confirmed in the medal count control board 17.

Figure 52 shows an example in which a new bet number setting operation is performed after a settlement operation and before a response command is received. As shown in Figure 52, the main control board 16 transmits a deposit command based on the settlement operation. The medal count control board 17 transmits a response command in response to receiving the deposit command.

In the example of FIG. 52, after a settlement operation is accepted, a new bet number setting operation is performed before a response command to the settlement command based on the settlement operation is received. The main control board 16 does not accept this bet number setting operation. In other words, after the main control board 16 sends a settlement command to the medal count control board 17, it does not accept a new bet number setting operation until it receives a response command from the medal count control board 17. This makes it possible to prevent a new bet number setting operation from being accepted in a situation where the processing according to the settlement operation has not been confirmed in the medal count control board 17.

[Bet setting operation and serial number]
53 is a diagram for explaining a serial number error in a bet number setting operation. As shown in FIG. 53, the medal number control board 17 determines the initial value of the serial number to be "137" based on receiving a gaming machine installation information command.

After that, a bet number setting operation is performed on S-machine 2. The main control board 16 sends a deposit command based on the bet number setting operation. The deposit command is assigned the serial number "78". In other words, the serial number assigned to the deposit command does not match the initial serial number value. Therefore, the medal count control board 17 sends a response command to the main control board 16 indicating that the serial numbers do not match. The main control board 16 does not accept new bet number setting operations from the time it receives the response command indicating that the serial numbers do not match. In other words, when the main control board 16 receives a response command indicating that there is an abnormality, it does not resume accepting bet number setting operations.

Figure 54 is a diagram explaining a serial number error during a settlement operation. As shown in Figure 54, the medal count control board 17 determines the initial value of the serial number to be "137" based on receiving the gaming machine installation information command.

After that, the bet number is set on S-machine 2. The main control board 16 sends a deposit command based on the bet number setting operation. The deposit command is assigned the serial number "137". In other words, the serial number assigned to the deposit command matches the initial serial number value. Therefore, the medal count control board 17 sends a response command indicating receipt OK to the main control board 16. Based on receiving the response command indicating receipt OK, the main control board 16 accepts the bet number setting operation and performs the following control.

Next, in FIG. 54, a settlement operation is performed. The main control board 16 sends a settlement command based on the settlement operation. The settlement command is assigned the serial number "78". In other words, the serial number assigned to the settlement command does not match the serial number calculated by the medal count control board 17. Therefore, the medal count control board 17 sends a response command indicating a serial number mismatch to the main control board 16. Based on receiving the response command indicating a serial number mismatch, the main control board 16 does not accept a new settlement operation. In other words, when the main control board 16 receives a response command indicating an abnormality, it does not resume accepting settlement operations.

Referring to Figures 53 and 54, the main control board 16 can prevent a new bet number setting operation or a bet number cancellation operation from being accepted when processing corresponding to the bet number setting operation or settlement operation has not been confirmed on the medal number control board 17.

[Display of payout quantity]
FIG. 55 is a diagram for explaining the display control of the payout number. After all reels are stopped, the main control board 16 transmits an end command to the medal count control board 17. The end command shown in FIG. 55 is a command involving at least one or more payout medals. The medal count control board 17 transmits a response command based on receiving the end command. In addition, the medal count control board 17 performs addition of the credit number according to the payout medal number indicated by the end command. After receiving the response command, the main control board 16 displays the payout number on the game auxiliary display 12. That is, after transmitting the end command, the main control board 16 causes the game auxiliary display 12 to display the payout medal number on the condition that the response command is received. This allows the main control board 16 to display the payout number on the game auxiliary display 12 while checking the status of the medal count control board 17.

After transmitting the response command, the main control board 16 transmits a role information command, a favorable zone command, and a payout pulse command. In other words, after transmitting the end command, the main control board 16 transmits to the medal count control board 17 a role information command and a favorable zone command that can identify whether or not the special role is controlled to a winning state, provided that the main control board 16 has received the response command. This allows the main control board 16 to inform the medal count control board 17 of whether or not it is controlled to a favorable zone, etc., while checking the status of the medal count control board 17, and therefore allows the medal count control board 17 to output the proportion of the payout number awarded in the favorable zone, etc., while checking the status of the medal count control board 17.

[About the Yakubi Monitor]
FIG. 56 is a diagram showing the role ratio monitor 89. In FIG. 56, the role ratio monitor 89 when turned off is shown. As shown in FIG. 56, the role ratio monitor 89 is composed of five role ratio information displays 50a, 50b, 50c, 50d, and 50e that can turn on/off the first segment A, the second segment B, the third segment C, the fourth segment D, the fifth segment E, the sixth segment F, the seventh segment G, and the eighth segment DP, respectively, and the medal count control board 17 is a display that can display various information by turning on or off the first to eighth segments A to DP by setting display data for each of the role ratio information displays 50a, 50b, 50c, 50d, and 50e.

Figure 57 is a diagram showing an example of the display of the role ratio monitor 89. The medal count control board 17 causes the role ratio monitor 89 to display, in the order of (1) to (6), (1) the instructed role payout ratio to the total cumulative payout number, (2) the consecutive role payout ratio for the past 6000 games, (3) the role payout ratio for the past 6000 games, (4) the consecutive role payout ratio to the total cumulative payout number, (5) the role payout ratio to the total cumulative payout number, and (6) the role etc. status ratio to the total cumulative payout number. Hereinafter, the information shown in (1) to (6) may be referred to as the display contents.

The payout ratio of the special role (BB) is the ratio of the payout number of the special role (RB) to the payout number of the specified period. The consecutive role ratio is the ratio of the payout number of the special role (RB) to the payout number of the specified period. The payout ratio of the special role including the instruction is the ratio of the payout number of the special role to the payout number of the specified period when the payout number at the time of the instruction (navigation) is included in the payout number of the special role. In other words, it is the ratio of the cumulative number of the medals paid out when the navigation notification is performed and the number of medals paid out in BB or RB to the total cumulative payout number of medals. The ratio of the special role etc. state is the ratio of the number of games played when the special role (BB, RB, CB, and SB) is won to the number of games played in a specified period. In other words, the role ratio monitor 89 outputs the ratio of the number of medals paid out when the special role is won to the total number of medals paid out. The display content shown on the role ratio monitor 89 is calculated by the medal count control board 17.

When the medal count control unit 171 switches and displays the display contents in the display order (1) to (6) shown in FIG. 57 and described above at predetermined intervals, even if the game progresses and these values can be updated to new values within a period until each display has completed a cycle, it restricts the updating to new values and cycles through the display using the original values.

In detail, if the game progresses and these values can be updated to new values within a period until these displays are completed, new values are calculated and stored in the RAM 171c, but the new values are not set in the output buffer for displaying the display contents on the role ratio monitor 89, and the original values are set, so that the display on the role ratio monitor 89 is completed using the original values set in the output buffer, and when the display of one round is completed, a new value is set in the output buffer, and the display is then performed with the new values. Also, if these values can be updated to new values within a period until these displays are completed, the calculation for obtaining new values is restricted, the display on the role ratio monitor 89 is completed, and when the display of one round is completed, a calculation for obtaining new values is performed, and then the display on the role ratio monitor 89 is performed using the new values. In this way, it is possible to prevent values calculated at different times from being mixed together during the period until the display contents on the role ratio monitor 89 are completed.

In addition, if the consecutive payout ratio of the past 6000 games and the consecutive payout ratio of the total cumulative payout number exceed a prescribed ratio (for example, 60%), the medal count control board 17 displays the consecutive payout ratio in a different display mode from the normal mode (for example, if the normal mode is always on, the top two digits of the role ratio monitor 89 flash).In addition, if the consecutive payout ratio of the past 6000 games and the consecutive payout ratio of the total cumulative payout number exceed a prescribed ratio (for example, 70%), the medal count control board 17 displays the consecutive payout ratio in a different display mode from the normal mode (for example, if the normal mode is always on, the top two digits of the role ratio monitor 89 flash).

In this way, when the consecutive feature payout ratio or feature payout ratio exceeds a prescribed ratio, it is displayed in a different way than usual, to warn that there is a possibility that the game is being controlled to a highly gambling state.

In addition, when the medal count control board 17 displays the consecutive payout ratio and payout ratio of the past 6000 games on the role ratio monitor 89, if the total number of games played since the power was turned on has not reached 6000 games, the medal count control board 17 controls the display mode to be different from the normal display mode, for example, by blinking all the digits on the role ratio monitor 89, so that it can be recognized that the tally has not reached 6000 games. That is, in the process of calculating the display contents to be displayed on the role ratio monitor 89, the medal count control board 17 blinks all the digits on the role ratio monitor 89 when the period in which 6000 games are consumed has not elapsed since the start of accumulation of data used in the process. Note that, in the process of calculating the display contents to be displayed on the role ratio monitor 89, the medal count control board 17 may blink some of the digits on the role ratio monitor 89 when the period in which 6000 games are consumed has not elapsed since the start of accumulation of data used in the process. This makes it possible to recognize the possibility that there is a bias in the displayed ratios and rates, and the medal count control board 17 can notify the outside that there may be a lack of data when displaying the continuous feature payout ratio and feature payout ratio on the feature ratio monitor 89.

In addition, the medal count control board 17 may display "00" in the lowest two digits of the role ratio monitor 89 when 6000 games have not been played, and may display the ratio or rate to be displayed in the lowest two digits of the role ratio monitor 89 after 6000 games have been played. In other words, it is preferable to configure the display mode of the lowest two digits of the role ratio monitor 89 to be different from the display mode after 6000 games when 6000 games have not been played. By configuring in this way, when 6000 games have not been played, it is possible to recognize that the tally of the consecutive role payout ratio, etc., specified by the display of the highest two digits of the role ratio monitor 89 (for example, "1C") has not reached 6000 games, and it is possible to recognize that there is a bias in the displayed ratio or rate. In addition, by configuring the lowest two digits of the role ratio monitor 89 to display "00" when 6000 games have not been played, data will always be displayed in the lowest two digits of the role ratio monitor 89 when 6000 games have not been played. For example, if no data is displayed in one of the lowest two digits of the role ratio monitor 89, an abnormality in the role ratio monitor 89 can be recognized.

In addition, when the medal count control board 17 displays the consecutive feature payout ratio to the total cumulative payout number on the feature ratio monitor 89, if the number of past games has not reached the specified number of games (e.g., 175,000 games) at which the consecutive feature payout ratio generally converges to the design value of the slot machine, the medal count control board 17 controls the display mode to be different from the normal mode, for example by blinking the top two digits of the feature ratio monitor 89, so that it is possible to recognize that the specified number of games at which the consecutive feature payout ratio generally converges to the design value of the slot machine has not been reached, and it is possible to recognize that there may be a bias in the displayed rate and ratio.

In addition, when the medal count control board 17 displays the payout ratio of the reel to the total cumulative payout number on the reel ratio monitor 89, if the number of past games has not reached the specified number of games (for example, 175,000 games) at which the payout ratio of the reel converges to the design value of the slot machine, the medal count control board 17 controls the display mode to be different from the normal mode, for example by blinking the top two digits of the reel ratio monitor 89, so that it is possible to recognize that the specified number of games at which the payout ratio of the reel converges to the design value of the slot machine has not been reached and that there may be a bias in the displayed rate and ratio.

In addition, when the medal count control board 17 displays the instruction-based payout ratio of the total cumulative payout number on the role ratio monitor 89, if the number of past games has not reached the specified number of games (for example, 175,000 games) at which the instruction-based payout ratio converges to the slot machine's design value, the medal count control board 17 controls the display mode to be different from the normal mode, for example by blinking the top two digits of the role ratio monitor 89, so that it is possible to recognize that the specified number of games at which the instruction-based payout ratio converges to the slot machine's design value has not been reached, and it is possible to recognize that there may be a bias in the displayed ratio.

The medal count control board 17 also determines whether the data used to calculate the consecutive feature payout ratio and feature payout ratio for the past 6000 games is normal, and if it is determined to be abnormal (such as when the stored value is in a certain data format (such as 01 repetition)), it initializes the data determined to be abnormal and the data related to that data, and causes the feature ratio monitor 89 to display (for example, "FFFF") that an abnormality has been detected, thereby notifying the user that the calculation of this data is not normal.

When initializing data determined to be abnormal and data related to that data, for example, if either the consecutive feature payout ratio or the feature payout ratio over the past 6,000 games is determined to be abnormal, all of the data related to this may be initialized, or only a portion of the data may be initialized.

In addition, the data used to calculate the continuous feature payout ratio, feature payout ratio, and command-included feature payout ratio for the past 6000 games or total cumulative payout coins may be judged as normal, and if an abnormality is judged, a notification to that effect may be issued, and then the data may be initialized by performing a specified operation (for example, operating switches such as start switch 7, stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R, and setting key switch 37 in a specified sequence).

In addition, when an abnormality has been detected, the notification may be given by having the role ratio monitor 89 display an abnormality (for example, "FFFF") as described above, or, when an abnormality is detected, a command that can identify the abnormality may be sent to the performance control unit 151, and the performance control unit 151 may notify the user of the abnormality using the LCD display 51 or the like.

In this embodiment, during the period from when the power is turned on until the power supply is stopped, the commanded payout ratio of the total cumulative payout number, the consecutive payout ratio of the past 6000 games, the payout ratio of the past 6000 games, the consecutive payout ratio of the total cumulative payout number, the payout ratio of the total cumulative payout number, and the ratio of the status of the game etc. to the total cumulative payout number are switched and displayed every predetermined period, but they may be displayed only when the open state of the front door 1b is detected, or only when the operation of a predetermined operation switch (for example, the reset/setting switch 38) is detected, or when not playing a game, or when the settings are changed or confirmed, or only for a predetermined period after the power is turned on. Also, instead of automatically switching every predetermined period, the display contents may be switched every time a predetermined operation is performed.

In addition, in this embodiment, the role ratio monitor 89 is used to notify the user that an abnormality has been detected in the data used to calculate the display content of the role ratio monitor 89, or that there is a period of time in which there is insufficient data to calculate the display content. However, a command that can identify this fact may be sent to the performance control unit 151, so that the information can be confirmed on the LCD display 51 or performance device controlled by the performance control unit 151.

In addition, in this embodiment, the instructed payout ratio of the device to the total cumulative payout number, the consecutive payout ratio for the past 6000 games, the payout ratio for the past 6000 games, the consecutive payout ratio for the total cumulative payout number, the payout ratio for the total cumulative payout number, and the device status ratio for the total cumulative payout number are displayed on the device ratio monitor 89. In addition to these displays, the device ratio monitor 89 may also display information that allows the user to recognize when the RAM 171c has been initialized due to a setting change, or when a break has been detected in the wiring (such as the wiring for the backup power supply) installed on the S-stand 2.

In particular, when settings are changed during a bonus, during an advantageous period, or while a bonus is being carried over, and the bonus or advantageous period is forcibly ended, or a carried-over bonus is cleared, or when a game is played more than the specified number of times while a bonus is being carried over, or when an operation is performed intentionally to end an advantageous period, i.e., when a game state that is relatively advantageous to the player is intentionally shifted to an unfavorable game state, or when it is detected that the game ratio monitor 89 is not properly connected due to a disconnection or the like, a notification to that effect is issued in an identifiable manner. In this way, it is possible to recognize the possibility that fraudulent operation has been performed so that correct information such as the payout ratio of reels, consecutive payout ratio of reels, and payout ratio of reels with instructions is not displayed.

In addition, in a configuration in which the total cumulative data is initialized to avoid overflow of the total cumulative number of games played or the total cumulative number of payouts, it is preferable to notify this in a manner that is identifiable and different from the case where there is a possibility of fraudulent operation so that correct information is not displayed as the aforementioned feature payout ratio, continuous feature payout ratio, and instruction-included feature payout ratio. In this way, it is possible to make it known that the total cumulative number of games played or the total cumulative number of payouts has been initialized by the process to avoid overflow, separately from initialization due to fraudulent operation to prevent correct information from being displayed as the feature payout ratio, etc.

As mentioned above, if there is a possibility of fraudulent operation so that correct information such as the payout ratio of reels, consecutive reels, or instructed reels payout ratio is not displayed, this is detected and the history of the detection is recorded on the medal count control board 17 side, and without announcing the detection, a specified operation is then performed, so that the history can be confirmed on a display provided on the medal count control board 17 side (e.g., the payout ratio monitor 89, etc.), a display provided on the performance control unit 151 side (e.g., the liquid crystal display 51, etc.), or an external display of the S-stand 2 (e.g., the display 312, etc.).

It may also be possible to confirm on a display or presentation device controlled by the presentation control unit 151 that the settings have been changed, that a disconnection has been detected, that a connection failure has occurred in the role ratio monitor 89 and the correct information may not be displayed as the role payout ratio, the continuous role payout ratio, the role payout ratio with instruction, etc., and that as described above, the role payout ratio, the continuous role payout ratio, the role payout ratio with instruction, etc. may have been improperly operated so that the correct information is not displayed. In addition, the presentation control unit 151 may record a history of detections of possible improper operations so that the correct information is not displayed as the role payout ratio, the continuous role payout ratio, the role payout ratio with instruction, etc., by changing the settings during a bonus, during a favorable zone, or while a bonus is being carried over, forcing the bonus or favorable zone to end, or clearing the carried-over bonus, and the like, and this history may be confirmed by a specified operation.

[Initialization process of role ratio information]
58 is a diagram for explaining the initialization process of the role ratio information. As shown in FIG. 58, after the power is turned on, the main control board 16 transmits the gaming machine installation information command A to the medal count control board 17. After that, the game is repeated, and the main control board 16 transmits the advantageous zone command and the payout pulse command to the medal count control board 17.

The medal count control board 17 executes a backup process to store the role ratio information in the backup memory 294 based on receiving a payout pulse command. The role ratio information is data used to calculate the data to be displayed on the role ratio monitor 89, and is included in the role information command, the advantageous zone command, and the payout pulse command. The medal count control board 17 may store the role ratio information in the backup memory 294 each time it receives a command including the role ratio information.

In the example of FIG. 58, after the backup process is executed, an illegal operation is performed on the main control board 16. As described above, the "illegal operation" refers to an operation in which the command exchanged between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17 is altered, or an operation to illegally control the main control board 16 or the medal count control board 17. In the example of FIG. 44, due to the illegal operation, the main control board 16 is controlled by an illegally connected device, and the main control board 16 transmits a gaming machine installation information command B to the medal count control board 17. At this time, the medal count control board 17 again executes backup initialization to initialize the role ratio information stored in the backup memory 294 based on the reception of the gaming machine installation information command. In other words, the medal count control board 17 initializes the data used to display the role ratio monitor 89 when the main chip ID identified from the gaming machine installation information command is different from the main chip ID identified from the gaming machine installation information command received last time.

As a result, the medal count control board 17 initializes the data used to display the role ratio information if the main control board 16 is not legitimate based on the main chip ID possessed by the main control board 16, thereby ensuring that the correct role ratio corresponding to each slot machine is output.

[Regarding each process when the connection between S-unit 2 and CU 3 is disconnected]
In the following, the processes when the connection between CU 3 and S-stand 2 is disconnected will be explained using first to fourth examples depending on the timing of the disconnection.

<First example of processing when the connection between S-unit 2 and CU 3 is disconnected>
Fig. 59 is a diagram showing a first example of processing when the connection with the CU 3 is cut off. Fig. 59 illustrates an example in which the connection between the S-machine 2 and the CU 3 is cut off in a state in which the S-machine 2 is powered on and the bet number setting operation can be accepted.

After power is turned on, the presentation control board 15, main control board 16, and medal count control board 17 start up normally. Once the main control board 16 has started up normally, it controls the state of S-stand 2 so that it can accept bet number setting operations. In other words, the main control board 16 controls the state of S-stand 2 so that the player can start a unit game. Furthermore, when power is turned on, CU 3 and S-stand 2 are connected normally. Therefore, after power is turned on, medal count control board 17 sends a frame side information command every 300 ms indicating that the connection between CU 3 and S-stand 2 is normal.

After that, the connection between S-stand 2 and CU 3 is cut off. That is, the connection state between S-stand 2 and CU 3 becomes "disconnected state". As the connection between S-stand 2 and CU 3 is cut off, signals are no longer sent from the CU control board 32 to the medal count control board 17. That is, communication between the CU control board 32 and medal count control board 17 stops. As communication stops, the medal count control board 17 determines that the connection between S-stand 2 and CU 3 has been cut off. The medal count control board 17 disables the acceptance of counting operations based on the disconnection between CU 3 and S-stand 2. That is, even if the player presses the count button 10 when the acceptance of counting operations is disabled, the medal count control board 17 does not perform counting processing.

As described in FIG. 2, the hardware configuration of the counting button 10 is configured so that power can be supplied from the power supply board 101 only when the CU 3 and S-stand 2 are connected. Therefore, when the connection between the CU 3 and S-stand 2 is cut, the acceptance of the counting operation is automatically disabled, but the medal count control board 17 may also disable the counting operation in software. In other words, when the medal count control board 17 receives a switch signal from the counting button 10 when the connection between the CU 3 and S-stand 2 is cut and the game is in a tail state, the medal count control board 17 discards the switch signal. In this way, in this embodiment, the counting operation is disabled by both the hardware function and the software function. Note that in some situations, the counting operation may be disabled by using only one of the hardware and software functions.

In addition, based on the disconnection of the connection between CU3 and S-stand 2, the medal count control board 17 sends a frame side information command to the main control board 16 indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the connection between CU3 and S-stand 2.

The main control board 16 sends an unconnected notification command to the performance control board 15 based on receiving a frame side information command from the medal count control board 17 indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the connection between CU 3 and S-stand 2. The unconnected notification command is a command sent from the main control board 16 to the performance control board 15, and is a command for notifying the performance control board 15 that CU 3 and S-stand 2 are in an unconnected state. The performance control board 15 that receives the unconnected notification command issues an unconnected notification. The unconnected notification is a process that notifies the user of an unconnected state, for example, using speakers 53, 54 or LCD display 51.

Furthermore, the main control board 16 invalidates the acceptance of bet number setting operations based on receiving from the medal count control board 17 a frame side information command indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the connection between CU3 and S-stand 2. When the acceptance of bet number setting operations is invalid, the main control board 16 will not perform the bet number setting process even if the player performs a bet number setting operation. In this way, if the connection with CU3 is cut off before a unit game is started, by not accepting the bet number setting operation, it is possible to prevent a new game from being started in a state where the connection with CU3 is cut off.

<Second example of processing when the connection between S-unit 2 and CU 3 is disconnected>
Fig. 60 is a diagram showing a second example of processing when the connection with the CU 3 is cut off. Fig. 60 illustrates an example in which the connection between the S-stand 2 and the CU 3 is cut off after the bet number setting operation is performed and before the start switch 7 is operated.

After the power is turned on, the performance control board 15, main control board 16, and medal count control board 17 start up normally, and S-stand 2 and CU 3 are also connected normally. As shown in the figure, after the bet number setting operation is performed, the connection between S-stand 2 and CU 3 is disconnected. Based on the disconnection between CU 3 and S-stand 2, the medal count control board 17 disables the acceptance of counting operations. Based on the disconnection between CU 3 and S-stand 2, the medal count control board 17 also sends a frame side information command to the main control board 16 indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the connection between CU 3 and S-stand 2.

The main control board 16 transmits a non-connection notification command to the performance control board 15 based on receiving a frame side information command from the medal count control board 17 indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the connection between the CU 3 and the S-stand 2. The main control board 16 also invalidates the acceptance of the start operation of the unit game by the start switch 7 based on receiving a frame side information command from the medal count control board 17 indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the connection between the CU 3 and the S-stand 2. Even if the player operates the start switch 7 when the acceptance of the unit game start operation is invalid, the main control board 16 does not perform the start process of the unit game. In this way, if the connection with the CU 3 is disconnected after the bet number setting operation has been performed but before the start switch 7 is operated, by not accepting the operation of the start switch 7, it is possible to prevent a new game from being started in a state where the connection with the CU 3 is disconnected.

<Third example of processing when the connection between S-unit 2 and CU 3 is disconnected>
Fig. 61 is a diagram showing a third example of processing when the connection with the CU 3 is disconnected. Fig. 61 illustrates an example in which the connection between the S-stand 2 and the CU 3 is disconnected after the start switch 7 is operated and before the stop operation is performed.

After the power is turned on, the performance control board 15, main control board 16, and medal count control board 17 start up normally, and the S stand 2 and CU 3 are also connected normally. As shown in the figure, after the start switch 7 is operated, the connection between the S stand 2 and CU 3 is disconnected. The medal count control board 17 disables the acceptance of counting operations based on the disconnection between the CU 3 and S stand 2. In addition, based on the disconnection between the CU 3 and S stand 2, the medal count control board 17 sends a frame side information command to the main control board 16 indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the connection between the CU 3 and S stand 2.

In the example shown in FIG. 61, the main control board 16 receives a frame side information command indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the connection between CU3 and S-stand 2, and then transmits an unconnected notification command to the performance control board 15 based on the fact that a stop operation has been performed. In other words, after receiving the frame side information command, the main control board 16 does not transmit an unconnected notification command until the stop operation is performed. In addition, the main control board 16 disables the acceptance of the bet number setting operation based on the fact that a stop operation has been performed.

In this way, if the connection between S-machine 2 and CU 3 is cut off after the start switch 7 is operated but before the stop operation is performed, the main control board 16 accepts the stop operation without invalidating the stop operation, and invalidates the start of the next unit game after the stop operation is performed. More specifically, if the connection between S-machine 2 and CU 3 is cut off while a unit game is being played, the main control board 16 accepts the stop operation, and invalidates the acceptance of the bet number setting operation to start the next unit game after the display result is derived by the stop operation. As a result, in this embodiment, if the connection to CU 3 is cut off while a unit game is being played, the game can continue to progress until the unit game ends, and a decrease in interest in the game can be suppressed.

Also, as shown in Figures 59 to 61, the medal count control board 17 disables the acceptance of counting operations when it determines that the connection with CU3 has been disconnected. More specifically, the medal count control board 17 disables the acceptance of counting operations when it determines that the connection with CU3 has been disconnected in any of the following states: a state in which a bet number setting operation can be accepted as shown in Figure 59, a state in which a bet number setting operation has been accepted but a unit game has not started as shown in Figure 60, and a state in which a unit game is being played as shown in Figure 61. This makes it possible in this embodiment to prevent counting operations from being performed when the connection between S-stand 2 and CU3 is disconnected.

Furthermore, as shown in Figures 59 and 60, if the connection between CU3 and S-stand 2 is cut off before the unit game starts, the main control board 16 sends an unconnected notification command to the performance control board 15 when it receives a frame side information command from the medal count control board 17 indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the connection between CU3 and S-stand 2. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 61, if the connection between CU3 and S-stand 2 is cut off during the execution of a unit game, the main control board 16 sends an unconnected notification command to the performance control board 15 based on the fact that a stop operation has been performed after receiving a frame side information command from the medal count control board 17 indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the connection between CU3 and S-stand 2.

More specifically, when the connection between S-stand 2 and CU 3 is disconnected while the bet setting operation is valid and after the bet setting operation has been accepted but the unit game has not started, the main control board 16 starts to notify the performance control board 15 that CU 3 is not connected. On the other hand, when the connection between S-stand 2 and CU 3 is disconnected while the unit game is being played, the main control board 16 starts to notify the performance control board 15 that CU 3 is not connected after the display result is derived by the stop operation. As a result, in this embodiment, if the connection between CU 3 is disconnected while the unit game is being played, the player can continue playing until the unit game ends, and can be notified that the connection is not connected at the timing when the unit game ends.

<Fourth example of processing when the connection between S-unit 2 and CU 3 is disconnected>
Fig. 62 is a diagram showing a fourth example of processing when the connection with CU3 is cut off. Fig. 62 describes an example in which the connection between S-machine 2 and CU3 is cut off when a special effect is being executed. The special effect is an effect executed during a unit game, and is an effect that prompts the player to operate the effect switch 56 after the third stop operation is performed. More specifically, in the special effect, the effect result is notified when the effect switch 56 is pressed after the third stop operation is performed. A specific example of the special effect will be described in Fig. 63.

As shown in FIG. 62, when the start switch 7 is operated and a specific performance is being performed, the connection between the S-stand 2 and the CU 3 is cut off. Based on the fact that the connection between the CU 3 and the S-stand 2 has been cut off, the medal count control board 17 sends a frame side information command to the main control board 16 indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the connection between the CU 3 and the S-stand 2.

In the example shown in FIG. 62, the main control board 16 receives a frame side information command indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the connection between CU3 and S-stand 2, and then sends an unconnected notification command to the performance control board 15 based on the fact that the stop operation has been performed and all the reels have stopped. The performance control board 15, which has received the unconnected notification command, issues an unconnected notification. In the example of FIG. 62, because a specific performance is being executed before all the reels have stopped, the performance control board 15 displays a performance switch prompting image that prompts the pressing of the performance switch 56 based on receiving an end command from the main control board 16. The performance switch prompting image is, for example, an image that includes the words "Press the performance switch" along with an image showing the performance switch 56.

When the effect switch prompting image is displayed, the player presses the effect switch 56. Based on the effect switch 56 being pressed, the effect control board 15 executes a specific effect result notification process, which is a process for notifying the result of a specific effect.

Figure 63 is a diagram for explaining the mode of a special presentation. In Figure 63 (A), a screen in a normal advantageous zone is displayed. When the player presses the start switch 7, the execution of a special presentation begins as shown in Figure 63 (B). In the special presentation, it is indicated that the character 57 will take on some kind of challenge at the same time as the unit game begins. The challenge may be, for example, whether or not the character can jump over a mountain, or whether or not the character can fight and win against an enemy character, and includes a variety of challenges.

In the example of FIG. 63, an image including the words "Challenge Start!" is displayed as shown in FIG. 63(B). After the execution of the specific performance is started and an image including the words "Challenge Start!" is displayed, the connection between the S-machine 2 and the CU 3 is cut off. After that, the main control board 16 maintains a state in which a stop operation can be accepted. As shown in FIG. 63(D), the player performs the first stop operation, the second stop operation, and the third stop operation. After the third stop operation is performed, the performance switch prompt image Hy1 is displayed as shown in FIG. 63(E). As described above, the performance switch prompt image Hy1 is displayed based on the performance control board 15 receiving the end command. Also, after the third stop operation is performed, the unconnected notification image Un1 is displayed as shown in FIG. 63(E). The unconnected notification image Un1 is displayed by the performance control board 15 based on the performance control board 15 receiving the unconnected notification command.

As shown in FIG. 63(F), when the player presses the effect switch 56, the display of the effect switch prompting image Hy1 ends and the specific effect result image Rs1 is displayed. In the example of FIG. 63(F), the specific effect result image Rs1 includes the words "Challenge successful!". The specific effect result image Rs1 may also include words such as "Victory!" or "Good job!". The specific effect result image Rs1 may also include words such as "Challenge failed," "Lose," or "Too bad."

As described in FIG. 62 and FIG. 63, even if the connection between the S-unit 2 and the CU 3 is cut during the execution of the specific performance, the specific performance result image Rs1 can be displayed without interrupting the progress of the specific performance. More specifically, the performance control board 15 can prompt the player to operate the performance switch 56 after the display result is derived by the stop operation in the unit game, and can notify the performance result of the specific performance based on the operation of the performance switch 56. When the connection between the S-unit 2 and the CU 3 is cut during the execution of the specific performance and the display result has not been derived by the stop operation, the main control board 16 invalidates the bet number setting operation after the display result is derived by the stop operation, while enabling the operation of the performance switch 56. The main control board 16 causes the performance control board 15 to notify the specific performance result image Rs1 based on the operation of the performance switch 56. This allows the results of a special effect to be notified even if the connection with CU3 is cut off during the special effect, preventing a decrease in interest in playing the special effect.

[Regarding gaming programs and non-gaming programs]
The main control unit 161 of the S-unit 2 in this embodiment executes a game program and a non-game program. The game program is a program in which instructions related to the progress of the game, such as an internal lottery process, are written. The non-game program is a program in which instructions that are not directly related to the progress of the game, such as data output processing to a winning combination monitor, are written. If data is unintentionally mixed between the game program and the non-game program, a malfunction may occur. For example, if data in the non-game RAM area is rewritten despite the fact that it should be rewritten by an instruction from the game program, this may result in a malfunction of the program. In order to prevent such malfunctions, the main control unit 161 distinguishes between the game program and the non-game program, executes the program, and progresses the game.

The areas in which non-game programs and game programs are stored are described below with reference to Figure 64. Figure 64 is an address map of the memory area used by the main control unit 161. As shown in Figure 64, the memory area used by the main control unit 161 includes a memory area (0000H to EFFFH) allocated to ROM 161b and a memory area (F000H to FFFFH) allocated to RAM 161c.

The memory area of ROM 161b consists of a program/data area where programs and fixed data are stored, an unused area where access is prohibited, and other areas. The other areas include a ROM comment area where any data such as the program title and version can be set, a vector table area where the upper addresses of the subroutines of the CALLV instruction and the top address of the timer interrupt process (main) are set, a HW parameter area where parameters for setting the internal functions of the main control unit 161 in hardware terms are set, and an unused area where access is prohibited.

The memory area of RAM 161c consists of a usable area (F000H to F400H) that can be used as a work area, and other areas (F401H to FFFFH). The other areas include an internal function register area (FE00H to FEACH) that stores registers for controlling each function mounted in the main control unit 161. Each function mounted in the main control unit 161 includes, for example, the function of the serial communication circuit described below. In other words, the internal function register area of RAM 161c includes a storage area for setting the functions of the serial communication circuit.

The program/data areas in ROM 161b include a game program area in which game programs related to the progress of the game are stored, a game data area in which game data used by the game programs is stored, unused area 1, a non-game program area in which non-game programs not related to the progress of the game are stored, a non-game data area in which non-game data used by the non-game programs is stored, and unused area 2.

The progression of a game refers to the progression of a series of processes that make up the game. In the case of a slot machine, this refers to the progression of the stages: setting the amount of bet and allowing the game to begin, starting the game and spinning the reels, stopping the reels to derive a display result, and awarding value such as medals according to the display result.

Note that in the above, "before" or "after" a storage area refers to the relationship between the address values assigned to the storage areas, with the smaller address being the front and the larger address being the back. Therefore, a storage area assigned behind a certain storage area corresponds to a storage area with a larger address value than that storage area, and a storage area assigned ahead of a certain storage area corresponds to a storage area with a smaller address value than that storage area.

RAM 161c includes a game RAM area used by game programs as a work area, unused area 3, a stack area to which game programs save data, a non-game RAM area used by non-game programs as a work area, unused area 4, and a stack area to which non-game programs save data.

The game RAM area is made up of areas A to D. Areas A to D are referred to as the areas to be fully initialized, areas B to D are referred to as the areas to be initialized when a setting change ends, areas C to D are referred to as the areas to be initialized when a bonus (BB) ends, and area D is referred to as the area to be initialized when each game ends. The areas to be fully initialized are areas that are initialized by performing a specified operation when a RAM error occurs. The areas to be initialized when a setting change ends are areas that are initialized when a setting change ends. The areas to be initialized when a bonus ends are areas that are initialized when a bonus ends. The areas to be initialized when each game ends are areas that are initialized every time a game ends.

In the following, the game program area, game data area, and game RAM area may be collectively referred to as the game area, and the non-game program area, non-game data area, and non-game RAM area may be collectively referred to as the non-game area.

The non-game RAM area is made up of areas E and F. Area E is called the area to be initialized at the end of each game, and area F is called the area to be initialized when the power is turned on. The area to be initialized at the end of each game in the non-game RAM area (area E) is an area that is initialized every time a game ends, like the area to be initialized at the end of each game in the game RAM area (area D). The area to be initialized at the time of power turning on (area F) is an area that is initialized when the power is turned back on after the power to S-machine 2 is cut off. Area F stores variables used in the safety device processing described below. Area E stores a play stop flag used in the safety device processing described below.

[Instructions used in programs]

The programs executed by the main control unit 161 include a main routine that manages the progress of the entire program, and subroutines that are called while other programs are being executed.

The LD instruction is included as an instruction to the main control unit 161 to read data stored in the program/data area. The LD instruction is an instruction to read one byte of data stored at an address specified in the main routine or subroutine into a specified register. The main control unit 161 reads the data stored at the address specified by the LD instruction and stores the read data in the register specified by the LD instruction.

The LD instruction includes a normal LD instruction and a special LD instruction, the LDQ instruction. The normal LD instruction is an instruction that specifies both an upper address and a lower address, and reads data stored in a specific area of ROM 161b or RAM 161c using the specified upper address and lower address. In contrast, the LDQ instruction is an instruction that specifies only the lower address, and reads data stored in a specific area of ROM 161b or RAM 161c using the upper address and the specified lower address that are preset in a special register (Q register) in the internal function register area of RAM 161c, and stores the read data in the specified register. This makes it possible to store specified data in a specified register with a smaller amount of data than the normal LD instruction.

When reading data stored in a specific area of ROM 161b or RAM 161c in a main routine or subroutine, it is possible to use the LDQ command, which is a special LD command, to specify only the lower part of the address and read the data in the specific area, rather than specifying all the addresses (upper and lower parts) that indicate the specific area. By using the LDQ command, it is possible to read a smaller amount of data compared to a normal LD command that specifies both the upper and lower addresses to read data, and it is possible to reduce the amount of program waste required to specify addresses when reading data.

Furthermore, among the game data stored in the game RAM area of RAM 161c, particularly frequently used game data is stored in an area of the game RAM area whose top address is a specific value, and this specific value is set as the upper address of the game data in a special register (Q register). When the main control unit 161 reads the game data, the game data is read by specifying only the lower address using the LDQ command. In this case, it becomes possible to read a smaller amount of data than with a normal LD command that reads data by specifying both the upper and lower addresses, and it is possible to reduce the waste of programs for specifying addresses when reading this game data.

The main control unit 161 can change the value set in the special register (Q register) in the main routine or subroutine, and as described below, when setting the built-in register in the initial setting process performed at startup, a specific value indicating the top address of game data that is used frequently by the game program is set in the special register (Q register). In this embodiment, the special register (Q register) includes two registers, the first Q register and the second Q register, but below, the first Q register and the second Q register are collectively referred to simply as the "special register (Q register)". For example, "F0" is stored in the special register (Q register). As a result, when the game program is being executed, a specific value indicating the top address of game data that is used frequently by the game program is set in the special register (Q register), and the game program can read out the frequently used game data using the LDQ command.

The upper address used when reading with the LDQ instruction as a special LD instruction may be set in a specified storage area other than a special register (e.g., the Q register), such as a vector table area. A part of the address is specified using a value stored in a specified storage area such as the vector table area, and the remaining part of the address is specified by the program, so that the storage address of the data can be specified. In this case, the waste of the program for specifying the address when reading data can be reduced. In addition, even if a special LD instruction is used, for example, an identification value with a data amount smaller than the address is assigned to each of the multiple areas constituting the vector table area, and the storage address of the data stored in each of these multiple areas is set and an identification value is specified, the waste of the program for specifying the address when reading data can be reduced.

The main control unit 161 also includes a CALL instruction (call instruction) as an instruction for causing the main control unit 161 to execute a program stored in the program/data area. The CALL instruction is an instruction for calling and executing a subroutine stored at a specified address in a main routine or subroutine. When calling a subroutine with a CALL instruction, the main control unit 161 stores the address of the caller in the stack area, and calls and executes the subroutine stored at the specified address. Then, when the subroutine ends, a RET instruction (return instruction) is used to return to the address of the caller stored in the stack area, i.e., the main routine or subroutine program that executed the CALL instruction.

Furthermore, a CALLEX instruction is included as an instruction for causing the main control unit 161 to execute a program stored in the program/data area. The CALLEX instruction not only calls a subroutine stored at an address specified in the main routine or subroutine, but also switches register banks. Figure 65 is a diagram for explaining the register banks included in the CPU 161a of the main control unit 161. As shown in Figure 65, the CPU 161a has a first register bank R1 and a second register bank R2.

The first register bank R1 includes ten registers: a first Q register, a first U register, a first A register, a first B register, a first C register, a first D register, a first E register, a first F register, a first H register, and a first L register. Similarly, the second register bank R2 includes ten registers: a second Q register, a second U register, a second A register, a second B register, a second C register, a second D register, a second E register, a second F register, a second H register, and a second L register.

In this embodiment, the main control unit 161 uses the first register bank R1 when executing instructions according to a program written in the game program area, and uses the second register bank R2 when executing instructions according to a program written in the non-game program area. In other words, the main control unit 161 does not use the second register bank R2 when executing instructions according to a program written in the game program area, and does not use the first register bank R1 when executing instructions according to a program written in the non-game program area. This prevents data from being unintentionally mixed between game programs and non-game programs in the S-machine 2 in this embodiment, which would cause malfunctions. In the following, the program written in the game program area is simply referred to as the "game program", and the program written in the non-game program area is simply referred to as the "non-game program".

That is, when the main control unit 161 is executing a game program as a main routine, it uses the first register bank R1, but when a non-game program is called as a subroutine by a CALLEX command, it switches from the first register bank R1 to the second register bank R2. More specifically, when the main control unit 161 calls a non-game program area as a subroutine by a CALLEX command, it stores the address of the caller in the stack area, calls and executes the subroutine stored at the specified address. Then, at the end of the subroutine, it returns to the address of the caller stored in the stack area, i.e., the game program that executed the CALLEX command, by a RETEX command (return command), and switches from the second register bank R2 to the first register bank R1. As a result, in the S unit 2 in this embodiment, different register banks can be used when a game program is being executed and when a non-game program is being executed, and it is possible to prevent the processing contents in the game program area and the processing contents in the non-game program area from being mixed on the register.

Each register in the first and second register banks is assigned a role and function. The first A register and second A register are general-purpose registers called accumulators and have a variety of functions. The first B register, second B register, first C register, and second C register are also general-purpose registers, but have fewer specific functions than the A register.

The first F register and the second F register are called flag registers. The flag registers are configured to change depending on the result of an operation. Each of the first F register and the second F register is composed of 8 bits, and a flag for determining whether an overflow has occurred is stored in the second bit. If an overflow occurs as a result of an operation in the first register bank R1 and the second register bank R2, a "1" is stored in the second bit of the flag register. Hereinafter, the storage of a "1" in the second bit of the flag register due to an overflow is referred to as "the flag register being in the on state."

Overflow includes both overflow due to addition and overflow due to subtraction. Overflow due to subtraction is sometimes called underflow. This allows the main control unit 161 to use the flag register to detect whether an overflow has occurred in the calculation result. Because the overflow detection process can be performed using the register functions, the processing speed is faster and the processing load is smaller than if the overflow were detected by a program.

[Q register setting]
66 is a flow chart showing the start-up process of the main control unit 161. The main control unit 161 is realized as a control computer such as a microcomputer. In the main control unit 161, a start-up process is executed to set, for example, the hardware functions of the microcomputer before the user program is executed. The user program is a program for controlling the progress of the game, is a program stored in the ROM 161b, and means a program designed by a gaming machine manufacturer or the like. On the other hand, the start-up process is a process provided in the main control unit 161 itself, and is executed automatically when the main control unit 161 is started.

The main control unit 161 executes the startup process of the main control unit 161 shown in FIG. 66, also based on the supply of power to the main control unit 161. In FIG. 66, as an example of a setting process related to the hardware functions of the main control unit 161, initial values are set in the first Q register and the second Q register (step Sj1). After executing step Sj1, although not shown, the main control unit 161 may perform a setting process related to the hardware functions of the main control unit 161. The setting process related to the hardware functions may, for example, set the functions of a serial communication circuit.

In step Sj1 of this embodiment, the initial value of the first Q register is, for example, "F0", and the initial value of the second Q register is, for example, "F3". This allows the main control unit 161 to reduce waste of programs for specifying addresses when calling a game RAM area that is frequently referenced and written to when executing a game program. Similarly, the main control unit 161 can reduce waste of programs for specifying addresses when calling a non-game RAM area that is frequently referenced and written to when executing a non-game program. This allows the main control unit 161 of this embodiment to reduce the program capacity when executing instructions in both game programs and non-game programs.

In step Sj1, the main control unit 161 sets initial values in the first Q register and the second Q register, and then executes the user program (step Sj2). The user program includes an initial setting process described later in FIG. 67 and a main process described later in FIG. 68. In this way, before the user program starts controlling the game, an initial value is set in the first Q register and an initial value is also set in advance in the second Q register. As a result, the main control unit 161 can set initial values in the first Q register and the second Q register in advance before starting control of the game, simplifying the processing. In addition, with this configuration, it is not necessary to set values in the first Q register and the second Q register in the user program. In other words, the processing performed in the user program can be reduced. In this embodiment, the initial values of the first Q register and the second Q register are different values, but the same value may be set as the initial value.

[Initial setting process of main control board 16]
67 is a diagram for explaining the initial setting process performed by the main control board 16. The initial setting process is included in the user program and is described in the game program area of the ROM 161b.

When power supply to S-unit 2 begins, the main control board 16 starts up with timer interrupts set to prohibited due to a reset, and performs various processes according to the programs stored in the ROM 161b of the main control board 16. After starting up, it first initializes all output ports 0 to 9 and performs the initial setting process included in the game program.

The initial setting process starts with timer interrupts prohibited, and as shown in FIG. 67, the initial setting process first refers to a specific area of the input port (Sa1) and determines whether the power interruption detection signal output from the power interruption detection circuit is ON (Sa2). If the power interruption detection signal is ON, the process waits until the power interruption detection signal is OFF. After that, when the power supply voltage of S-unit 2 becomes normal and the power interruption detection signal is OFF, the main control unit 161 sets values in the first Q register and the second Q register (Sa2Q). In step Sa2Q, "F0" is set in the first Q register, and "F3" is set in the second Q register. That is, in step Sa2Q, the same process as step Sj1 in FIG. 66 is performed. In other words, the same value is reset in the first Q register and the second Q register.

In this way, the main control unit 161 sets a value in the first Q register and also in the second Q register not only in the startup process but also in the user program. This allows the main control unit 161 to set any value in the first Q register and the second Q register in the user program. Even if an abnormality occurs in the startup process of the main control unit 161 and initial values are not set in the first Q register and the second Q register in step Sj2, values are set in the first Q register and the second Q register in the user program, so that it is possible to prevent an abnormality from occurring in the user program due to values not being set in the first Q register and the second Q register. In the S unit 2 of this embodiment, values are set in the first Q register and the second Q register in both the process of step Sj1 in FIG. 66 and the process of step Sa2Q in FIG. 67, but the S unit 2 may be configured to perform only one of the processes of step Sj1 in FIG. 66 and step Sa2Q in FIG. 67.

Then, the main control unit 161 calculates the parity of a specified area of the RAM 161c (Sa3) and sets a predetermined initial address to the stack pointer (Sa4). Then, it is determined whether the parity calculated in step Sa3 is normal (Sa5). If the parity is normal, it acquires fixed data for RAM destruction diagnosis that was set in a specified area of the RAM 161c at the time of power outage (Sa6), and diagnoses whether the memory contents of the RAM 161c have been destroyed based on the fixed data for RAM destruction diagnosis (Sa7).

If it is determined in step Sa5 that the parity is normal, and if the contents stored in RAM 161c are diagnosed in step Sa7, it is determined whether or not there is an abnormality in RAM 161c based on the RAM parity calculated in step Sa3 and the result of the diagnosis in Sa7 (Sa8). Note that there is an abnormality in RAM 161c when the parity is not normal, or when the parity is normal but the stored contents are diagnosed as abnormal.

If there is an abnormality in the RAM 161c, the value of the flag register in which the calculation result is stored among the registers provided in the main control board 16 is saved by storing it in a predetermined order in the game stack area of the game RAM area, and then the non-game RAM area initialization process included in the non-game program is called and performed (Sa10). That is, the process of step Sa10 is a process of calling a non-game program from a game program. Therefore, the process name of step Sa10 is preceded by the word "(non-game)". In the initial setting process shown in FIG. 67 and the main process shown in FIG. 68, the process name of the process of calling a non-game program from a game program is preceded by the word "(non-game)". Specifically, steps Sa10, SaF1, and Sa30 in FIG. 67 and steps Sb2, Sb13, Sb36, and Sb50 in FIG. 68 correspond to the process of calling a non-game program from a game program. Hereinafter, such a process of calling a non-game program from a game program will be referred to simply as a "non-game program call process." The above-described CALLEX command can be used for the non-game program call process.

When a non-game program call process such as the non-game RAM area initialization process shown in step Sa10 is executed, the main control unit 161 executes a process of switching the register bank used by the CPU 161a from the first register bank R1 to the second register bank R2 and a process of setting the value of the second Q register at the beginning of the process corresponding to the non-game program call process. At this time, "F3" is set in the second Q register. In other words, in the non-game program call process, the value of the second Q register is reset, similar to step Sj1 in FIG. 66 and step Sa2Q in FIG. 67.

In this way, the main control unit 161 sets a value in the first Q register in step Sj1 in FIG. 66 and step Sa2Q in FIG. 67 before game control is started, and sets a value in the second Q register each time a non-game program call process is executed to call a non-game program from a game program. As a result, in the S-machine 2 in this embodiment, even if an unintended value is set in the second Q register of the second register bank R2, the value of the second Q register of the second register bank R2 can be reset each time a non-game program is called, thereby ensuring prevention of malfunctions. Note that the main control unit 161 does not have to set a value in the second Q register each time a non-game program is called. That is, as described above, in this embodiment of the invention, before the progress of the game is controlled on S-machine 2, values are set in the first Q register and the second Q register in advance by the processing of step Sj1 in FIG. 66 and the processing of step Sa2Q in FIG. 67, so there is no need to set the value of the second Q register each time a non-game program is called up, as the value is already set in the second Q register.

In addition, in the process of step Sj1 in FIG. 66 and the process of step Sa2Q in FIG. 67, the main control unit 161 may set a value only in the first Q register without setting a value in the second Q register, and set the value of the second Q register when a non-game program is called. In this case, the main control unit 161 may set the value of the second Q register only when a non-game program is called for the first time after power-on. In other words, as described above, in order to ensure prevention of malfunctions, the value of the second Q register is not reset every time a non-game program is called, but the value of the second Q register is set only when a non-game program is called for the first time after power-on, thereby simplifying the process.

Then, the non-game RAM area is initialized, which is the purpose of the non-game RAM area initialization process. More specifically, the main control unit 161 specifies the start address (the first address of the unused area) and end address (the last address of the non-game RAM area) of the RAM to be initialized, and repeatedly executes a process of clearing the data of the specified address with the start address as the initial value of the specified address, and then updating the specified address to the next address until the specified address becomes the specified address, thereby initializing the area from the start address to the end address of the RAM to be initialized (in this embodiment, the area from the beginning of the unused area to the end of the non-game RAM area). Then, a process is executed to switch the register bank used by the CPU 161a from the second register bank R2 to the first register bank R1. After initializing the non-game RAM area of the RAM 161c, the process returns to the initial setting process.

In addition, in the non-game RAM area initialization process, the capacity of the RAM to be initialized may be calculated by specifying the start address and end address of the RAM to be initialized, and the RAM area of that capacity may be sequentially cleared from the start address of the RAM to be initialized, thereby initializing the area from the start address to the end address of the RAM to be initialized.

If it is determined in step Sa8 that there is no abnormality in RAM 161c, the fixed data for RAM destruction diagnosis set in RAM 161c is cleared (Sa12), and a RAM destruction initialization start address is set to specify the address of the game RAM area that is to be subjected to initialization processing if there is an abnormality in RAM 161c (Sa13).

Next, in this embodiment, in S-machine 2, an area F initialization process, which is a non-game program calling process, is executed (SaF1). The area F initialization process is a process for initializing area F included in the non-game RAM area shown in FIG. 64. Details of the area F initialization process will be explained later. After that, the input port 2 is referenced to determine whether the setting key switch 37 is in the ON state (Sa14).

If it is determined in step Sa14 that the setting key switch 37 is in the ON state, a gaming machine installation information command is sent to the medal count control board 17 (Sa14a) and setting change processing is performed. In the setting change processing, the reset/setting switch 38 and the start switch 7 are operated in a predetermined procedure to confirm the setting value, and when it is detected that the setting key switch 37 has been turned OFF, the setting change processing is terminated and the game is moved to a state in which it can proceed. In addition, in the setting change processing, when the setting change processing is started, a setting command (start) indicating that the setting change processing is to be started is sent to the performance control unit 151, and when the setting change processing is ended, a setting command (end) indicating that the setting change processing is to be ended is sent. In addition, in the setting change processing, when the setting change processing is ended, the top address of the RAM area to be initialized at the time of the setting change is specified, and the process returns to step Sb47 of the main processing described later. Then, the RAM initialization process is performed in step Sb47, so that the area from the first address of the RAM area to be initialized when the settings are changed to the last address of the game RAM area, i.e., all game RAM areas, are initialized. Note that it is also possible to configure the system to initialize all game RAM areas except for the stack area in use in RAM 161c.

If it is determined in step Sa14 that the setting key switch 37 is not ON, it is determined whether or not there is an abnormality in the RAM 161c based on the RAM parity calculated in step Sa3 and the diagnosis result in Sa7 (Sa15). If it is determined that there is no abnormality in the RAM 161c, the output buffer for outputting the external output signal is cleared (Sa16). In addition, a reel error counter that is set in a predetermined area of the RAM 161c and that counts the number of times a reel rotation error is detected in the main processing described below is cleared (Sa17). Then, the stack pointer SP is set to the address at the time of the power outage based on the memory contents of the RAM 161c, thereby restoring the stack pointer to the state at the time of the power outage (Sa18). Then, a gaming machine installation information command is sent to the medal count control board 17 (Sa15a), and the port input processing is performed twice in succession (Sa19, Sa20).

The port input process is a process that updates input state data (input data indicating the current input state of the various switches, confirmed data indicating that the previous and current input data are the same state, and edge data indicating that the confirmed data has changed since the previous time) relating to the input state of the detection signals of the various switches input to the parallel input port. Port input buffers 0 to 2 that store the input state data of the various switches are provided in a specified area of the game RAM area of RAM 161c, and the input state data of the various switches updated by the port input process is stored in a specified bit of the port input buffer that is predetermined for each type. In the port input process, it is set to input ports 0 to 2 of the parallel input port.

The detection state (ON state or OFF state) of various switches is stored as input data in a specified bit of the port input buffer. Also, the detection state (ON state or OFF state) in the previous and current port input processing is compared, and if the current and previous input data are the same, the confirmed data is updated to indicate the detection state of the current input data, while if the current and previous input data are different, the previous confirmed data is maintained. Also, the current and previous confirmed data are compared, and if the confirmed data changes from an OFF state to an ON state, ON edge data indicating that the confirmed data has changed from an OFF state to an ON state is stored in a specified bit of the port input buffers 0 to 2, and if the confirmed data changes from an ON state to an OFF state, OFF edge data indicating that the confirmed data has changed from an ON state to an OFF state is stored in a specified bit of the port input buffers 0 to 2. The input data, confirmed data, and edge data of various switches stored in the port input buffer can be referenced from game programs and non-game programs.

In addition, by performing the port input process twice in succession in the initial setting process, when the port input process is performed thereafter, input state data related to the input state of the detection signals of the various switches is created based on the input state of the various switches after the initial setting process, i.e., the input state of the various switches after the power supply to the S unit 2 is resumed, so that it is possible to prevent unintended input situations from being identified. In addition, the port input process may be configured to create finalized data based on input data acquired by three or more port input processes (for example, input data from the current, previous, and previous-previous times). In such a configuration, by performing the port input process in the initial setting process one consecutive time less than the number of port input processes required to create finalized data, when the port input process is performed after the initial setting process, input state data can be created based on the input state of the various switches after the initial setting process.

After the port input process is performed in steps Sa19 and Sa20, a specific input port is referenced (Sa21) to determine whether the reset/setting switch 38 is ON (Sa22), and if the reset/setting switch 38 is ON, status data indicating that the reset/setting switch 38 is ON is set in a specific area of RAM 161c (Sa23).

If it is determined in step Sa22 that the reset/setting switch 38 is not ON, and after the status data is set in step Sa23, a recovery command indicating that the control state before the power outage has been restored is sent to the performance control unit 151 (Sa24), and then in the command sending process of the timer interrupt process (main), a door command sending flag indicating that a door command indicating the detection state of the door open detection switch 25 is to be sent is set in a predetermined area of the RAM 161c (Sa25). In the command sending process, a door command is normally sent when the detection state of the door open detection switch 25 has changed, but if the door command sending flag is set in the predetermined area of the RAM 161c, a door command indicating the detection state of the door open detection switch 25 is sent regardless of whether the detection state of the door open detection switch 25 has changed.

After setting the door command transmission flag in step Sa25, all registers are restored to the state before the power outage stored in RAM 161c (Sa26), the timer interrupt is set to enabled (Sa27), the initial setting process is terminated and the process transitions to timer interrupt process (main), and then the process returns to the main process that was being executed before the power supply to S stand 2 was stopped.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step Sa15 that the RAM 161c is abnormal, a gaming machine installation information command is sent to the medal count control board 17 (Sa15b), a gaming RAM initialization process is performed (Sa28), and the area from the RAM destruction initialization start address set in step Sa13 to the end of the gaming RAM area of the RAM 161c is initialized. Thereafter, similar to the process of Sa10, the main control unit 161 executes a non-gaming RAM area initialization process, which is a non-gaming program call process (Sa30). That is, at the beginning of the process, the main control unit 161 executes a process of switching the register bank used by the CPU 161a from the first register bank R1 to the second register bank R2, and a process of setting the value of the second Q register. Next, after initializing the non-gaming RAM area, the main control unit 161 executes a process of switching the register bank used by the CPU 161a from the second register bank R2 to the first register bank R1. Next, the main control unit 161 sets the door command transmission flag (Sa32), sets the timer interrupt to enabled (Sa33), prepares a RAM abnormality error number indicating that there is an abnormality in the RAM 161c in a specified register (Sa34), ends the initial setting process, and transitions to error processing.

Error processing is a process that controls the game to an error state in which game progress is disabled. An error command that can identify an error number prepared in a specified register is sent to the performance control unit 151, and the error number is set in a specified area of the RAM 161c as an error flag that can also be referenced in other processes (for example, the sensor monitoring process described later). The error number is also controlled to be displayed on the game auxiliary display 12. After that, the error state is controlled until it is identified that the condition for releasing the error state corresponding to the error number prepared in the specified register has been established. When the RAM abnormality error number is prepared in the specified register and the game is moved to an error state, the setting key switch 37 is turned ON and the power switch is turned on to move to a setting change state and initialize all game RAM areas, thereby reliably eliminating the abnormality in the data of the RAM 161c and releasing the error state. On the other hand, if the power switch is turned ON without turning the setting key switch 37 ON, the abnormality in the RAM 161c is detected again and the game is again in an error state.

In this way, after the power supply to S-stand 2 is started, the main control board 16 executes the startup process of the main control unit 161 shown in FIG. 66, and then executes a user program including the initial setting process. In the initial setting process, depending on the state of the main control board 16 when the power supply to S-stand 2 is started, the main control board 16 transitions to either timer interrupt processing (main), setting change processing, or error processing. When transitioning to these processes, a command capable of identifying the type of processing to transition to is sent to the performance control unit 151. When transitioning to timer interrupt processing (main), that is, when returning to the control state before the power supply to S-stand 2 was stopped, a return command is sent to the performance control unit 151, when starting the setting change processing and transitioning to the setting change state, a setting command (start) is sent to the performance control unit 151, and when starting error processing and transitioning to the error state due to an abnormality in RAM 161c, an error command is sent to the performance control unit 151.

After the main control board 16 transitions from the initial setting process to the setting change process, it passes through the setting change state and returns to a state in which the game can be progressed. When returning to the state in which the game can be progressed, it sends a setting command (end) to the performance control unit 151 that can specify that the setting change state has ended, but does not send a return command. Also, after transitioning to error processing due to an abnormality in RAM 161c, it transitions to the setting change process as described above, the error state is cleared, and the game is returned to a state in which the game can be progressed. Even when the error processing is terminated and the game is returned to a state in which the game can be progressed, a return command is not sent to the performance control unit 151.

In this way, the main control board 16 in this embodiment is started when power supply to the S-stand 2 is started, and initializes all output ports 0 to 9. After initializing output ports 0 to 9, the main control board 16 performs an initial setting process included in the game program. If the initial setting process determines that there is an abnormality in the RAM 161c, it calls a non-game RAM area initialization process included in the non-game program to initialize a specified area of the non-game RAM area of the RAM 161c. The initial setting process also calls a RAM initialization process included in the game program to initialize a specified area of the game RAM area of the RAM 161c, and is configured so that the game RAM area is initialized by the game program, and the non-game RAM area is initialized by the non-game program.

[Safety device processing]
In the S machine 2 in this embodiment, once the number of medals awarded to a player starts to increase throughout the day, a safety device process is executed to set an upper limit on the increase in the number of medals awarded and to restrict the player from winning too many medals. The number of medals awarded in the safety device process is a value indicating the number of medals awarded to a player as a result of winning.

The main control unit 161 determines whether the number of medals awarded has started to increase, for example, by determining whether the number of medals awarded within a predetermined number of games (for example, 50 games) is equal to or greater than a threshold value. The main control unit 161 may determine whether the number of medals awarded has started to increase by other methods. The safety device process executed by the main control unit 161 is a process that disables the progress of the game when the number of medals awarded after starting to increase reaches a limit number. By executing the safety device process, it is possible to prevent the number of medals awarded to the player from increasing excessively. As a result, the S machine 2 in this embodiment can prevent excessive medals from being paid out from the slot machine due to fraudulent operation. In addition, if the number of medals awarded increases, it may become a state that is likely to stimulate gambling. Therefore, by setting an upper limit and limiting the number of medals awarded, it is possible to prevent the S machine 2 from becoming a state that stimulates gambling excessively. The safety device process is executed within the safety device-related process of the main process.

Figure 68 is a diagram explaining the control contents of the main processing performed by the main control board 16. The main processing is repeatedly executed for each unit of play (one game). One cycle of the main processing corresponds to one unit of play. The main processing is included in the game program and includes multiple processes. As explained above, even in the main processing shown in Figure 68, the process names that correspond to non-game program call processes are preceded by the word "(non-game)."

As shown in FIG. 68, the main control unit 161 first performs RT information output processing included in the non-game program (Sb2). The main control unit 161 outputs RT information to a test board or the like based on the fact that a game has ended by operating the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R in the previous game. FIG. 69 is a diagram explaining the control content of the RT information output processing performed by the main control board 16. As described above, in the non-game program call processing, the switching of the register bank (SQ4, SQ6) and the setting of the value of the second Q register (SQ2) are executed first.

The main control unit 161 sets the stack pointer in a non-game RAM area (step Si2) and acquires the RT status (step Si3). Specifically, it refers to information about the game status (RT status) of S-machine 2 set in a specified area of the game RAM area, and sets the information about the game status (for example, the RT status) to be output from the output port as an external output signal.

That is, in step Si3, the number of the external output signal to be output is read into a register, and external output signal processing is also performed to output an external output signal to external devices such as a call lamp or hall computer. The external output signal includes, for example, a signal indicating whether or not it is being controlled in a favorable zone. This makes it possible to notify external devices such as a test board and hall computer whether or not it is being controlled in a favorable zone. Furthermore, in the main processing, the external output signal processing for outputting RT information is executed prior to the multiple interrupt wait processing (Sbw1) described below. Furthermore, when the main control unit 161 sends RT information to the test board, it sends the RT information to the test board as a test signal.

Then, the main control unit 161 initializes the play stop flag (step Si4). After that, the register bank is switched to the first register bank R1, and the RT information output process ends. Then, the main control unit 161 executes the multiple interrupt wait process (Sbw1). The multiple interrupt wait process is executed to guarantee the output time of the information output in the RT information output process. That is, the main control unit 161 executes the multiple interrupt wait process for the purpose of delaying the progress of the game for a predetermined period of time. The multiple interrupt wait process is also called a delay process. As a result, the main control unit 161 generates a test signal when the previous game ends, and then waits for a predetermined period of time, thereby ensuring that an external device such as a test board reliably receives the test signal, and preventing information discrepancies from occurring between the external device and the main control unit 161.

Then, the main control unit 161 performs a game start waiting process (Sb5) described later, and performs processing from the end of control of the previous game to the start of the next game. In the game start waiting process, it starts accepting bet setting, performs processing to set the bet according to the bet setting operation, and performs processing to start the next game when the operation of the start switch 7 is detected with the specified number of bets set.

Then, the main control unit 161 performs a ball output control pre-processing (SbPre) that controls the ball output at the start of a game. The ball output control pre-processing is a pre-processing for controlling the ball output within the advantageous zone. Details will be explained later.

Then, an internal lottery process is performed to determine whether or not a winning is allowed to occur (internal lottery) (Sb6). In the internal lottery process, an internal lottery is performed to determine whether or not a winning is allowed to occur (i.e., whether or not derivation of a display result is allowed) based on a preset setting value (1-6) in the S-unit 2 and a random number value for the internal lottery obtained simultaneously with the start of play by detecting the start switch 7.

After that, after the AT lottery and the like are executed, the performance control process (Sb12), the test signal generation process (Sb13), the control state command group transmission process (Sb14), and the freeze control execution process (Sb16) are sequentially performed. In the performance control process, the performance flag that the main control board 16 refers to when performing performance control is set. The test signal generation process corresponds to the non-game program call process. In the test signal generation process, a test signal is transmitted so that information indicating the control state of S-unit 2 can be confirmed by a test device installed outside the gaming machine. The information indicating the control state of S-unit 2 includes the lottery result of the internal lottery process in step Sb6. In the control state command group transmission process, a control state command group including a plurality of commands capable of identifying various control states at the start of one game is transmitted to the performance control unit 151. In other words, the main control unit 161 outputs information regarding the result of the internal lottery and information regarding the game state to the performance control unit 151. In the freeze control execution process, the system checks whether there is a request to perform freeze control, which delays the progress of the game until a specified end condition is met, and if there is a request, sets the type of freeze control and the timing to perform the freeze control in a specified area of RAM 161c.

A freeze execution process is performed to execute freeze control based on the type of freeze control set in RAM 161c and the execution timing of freeze control (Sb16). In the freeze execution process, if it is set in step Sb13 that freeze control is to be performed at the start of a game, freeze control is executed to delay game control for a predetermined period. In addition, if a type of freeze control involving a performance using reels 2L, 2C, and 2R (hereinafter referred to as reel performance) is set as the type of freeze control, a performance acceleration pattern (for example, an acceleration pattern that rotates the reels in a direction different from the rotation of the reels in a game, an acceleration pattern that starts rotation at a speed slower than the rotation of the reels in a game and in the same direction as the rotation of the reels in a game, an acceleration pattern that vibrates the reels, etc.) is set in a predetermined area of RAM 161c as an excitation pattern for exciting the reel motors 32L, 32C, and 32R, and the reel performance is controlled to be performed during the period in which the freeze control is performed. After that, the main control unit 161 executes a process of waiting for multiple interrupts (Sbw2). The multiple interrupt wait process is executed to guarantee the output time of the information output in the test signal generation process. That is, the main control unit 161 executes the multiple interrupt wait process for the purpose of delaying the progress of the game for a predetermined period of time. The multiple interrupt wait process in Sbw2 and the multiple interrupt wait process in Sbw1 are common processes. That is, the main control unit 161 executes the common multiple interrupt wait process when the start switch 7 is operated to start the reel rotation and when the game is ended by operating the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R. This allows the storage capacity to be reduced by standardizing the delay process performed at the start and end of the game. In this embodiment, the multiple interrupt wait process in Sbw2 causes a delay of about 130 ms (0.13 seconds).

In addition, the main control unit 161 does not execute the process of determining whether or not to control the state of S-unit 2 to an error state during the commonly executed multiple interrupt wait process. The process of determining whether or not to control the state to an error state is, for example, the error transition process shown in Sb32. This allows the main control unit 161 to prevent a discrepancy from occurring between the information of the test signal sent to the test board and the information of S-unit 2 that has entered an error state, which would occur if the state were controlled to an error state during the delay process.

After the multiple interrupt wait process is performed in step Sbw2, the single game time management timer set in a predetermined area of the RAM 161c for measuring the elapsed time from the start of the reel rotation in the previous game is referenced (Sb18), and based on the single game time management timer, it is determined whether or not the specified time for one game (4.1 seconds in this embodiment) has elapsed from the start of the reel rotation in the previous game (Sb19). At this time, the main control unit 161 determines whether or not the specified time for one game (4.1 seconds in this embodiment) has elapsed, taking into consideration that the multiple interrupt wait process is performed in Sbw2. The main control unit 161 executes the multiple wait process at a timing when the multiple interrupt wait process ends before the specified time for one game (4.1 seconds) has elapsed, depending on the timing when the start switch 7 is operated. More specifically, if the start switch 7 is operated at a timing when the multiple interrupt wait process can be executed before 3.97 seconds have elapsed since the start of reel rotation in the previous game, the main control unit 161 will start executing the multiple interrupt wait process before at least 3.97 seconds have elapsed.

This makes it possible to properly determine whether 4.1 seconds have elapsed in the specific time from when the reels started spinning in the previous game until the reels can start spinning in the next game, without including the 0.13 seconds that occur due to the delay process. In other words, the main control unit 161 executes the reel spin start command transmission process in a specified game after 4.1 seconds have elapsed since the operation of the start switch 7 in the game prior to the specified game. In addition, after executing the delay process, the main control unit 161 performs the process of step Sb19 in which it is determined whether the specified time for one game has elapsed. In other words, the main control unit 161 executes the delay process so that the delay process ends before the end of the specified time for one game.

If it is determined that the specified time for one game has not elapsed, the process waits until the specified time for one game has elapsed based on the timer for managing one game time, and after the specified time for one game has elapsed based on the timer for managing one game time, the timer for managing one game time is set to a predetermined value (in this embodiment, a value corresponding to 4.1 seconds) to newly start timing the elapsed time from the start of reel rotation (Sb20), the wait lamp 93 is controlled to the OFF state (light-off state) (Sb21), and a reel rotation start command transmission process is performed to transmit to the performance control unit 151 a reel rotation start command that can be specified to start the rotation control of reels 2L, 2C, and 2R (Sb22). On the other hand, if it is determined in step Sb19 that the specified time for one game has elapsed, the process immediately proceeds to steps Sb20 to Sb22. After the predetermined value is set in step Sb20, the timer for managing one game's time is decremented every predetermined time, and becomes 0 when the specified time for one game (4.1 seconds in this embodiment) has elapsed from the start of reel rotation in a game. Whether the timer for managing one game's time is 0 or not can be used to determine whether the specified time for one game has elapsed.

In this manner, the main control unit 161 in this embodiment executes the test signal generation process in Sb13, and then executes the multiple interrupt wait process in Sbw2, which delays the progress of the game for a predetermined period of time. The main control unit 161 also executes the reel rotation start process shown in Sb24, which starts the rotation of the reels after a predetermined period of delay by the multiple interrupt wait process in Sbw2. In this way, the main control unit 161 can ensure that an external device including a test board, for example, receives the test signal reliably by generating a test signal at the start of play, and can prevent information discrepancies from occurring between the external device and the main control unit 161 by entering a waiting state for a predetermined period of time through the delay process.

The main control unit 161 also executes the reel rotation start process shown in Sb24 after executing the control state command group transmission process in Sb14, which outputs information about the internal lottery result and information about the game state to the performance control unit 151. As a result, the main control unit 161 generates a test signal when game play starts, outputs information about the internal lottery result to the performance control unit 151, and then enters a waiting state for a predetermined period of time, thereby ensuring, for example, that external devices including a test board reliably receive the test signal and that the performance control unit 151 reliably receives information about the internal lottery result, and preventing information discrepancies from occurring between the external devices, the main control unit 161, and the performance control unit 151.

After the reel rotation start command transmission process is performed in step Sb22, a normal acceleration pattern that controls the rotation of the reels at a predetermined gaming speed is set in a predetermined area of RAM 161c as the excitation pattern when exciting and controlling reel motors 32L, 32C, and 32R (Sb23), and a reel start process is performed to start the rotation of the reels by exciting and controlling reel motors 32L, 32C, and 32R based on the excitation pattern set in RAM 161c (Sb24). The main control unit 161 performs external signal processing to transmit information such as the gaming machine status to an external device such as a hall management computer (hall computer) or a hall server that performs security management (Sb24a).

Then, the navigation notification process is performed (Sb25). In the navigation notification process, the AT is controlled, and if the notification target role is won in the internal lottery, the game support display 12 is controlled to display a navigation number that can identify a stop pattern that is advantageous to the player according to the notification target role, whereas if the AT is not controlled, the game support display 12 is controlled not to display the navigation number.

A reel stop initial setting process (Sb26) is performed to set various information required for reel stop control according to the RT state and the results of the internal lottery. Then, a freeze control process (Sb27) is performed, and if freeze control is set to be performed at that timing, the set type of freeze control is performed.

After the freeze control process is performed in step Sb27, a reel stop control process is performed to control the stop of the reels (Sb28). In the reel stop control process, it is determined whether the reels under rotation control are rotating at a predetermined constant speed, and if there is a reel that is not rotating at a constant speed, a reel error is detected, and an excitation pattern is set for the relevant reel to accelerate to a constant speed, so that all reels under rotation control are rotated at a constant speed. On the other hand, if all reels under rotation control are rotating at a constant speed, acceptance of a stop operation for the reels under rotation control is enabled, and the process waits until a stop operation is performed by a stop switch. Then, when a valid stop operation is detected for a reel for which a stop operation is enabled (ON edge data is detected for a stop switch for which a stop operation is enabled), a reel stop control is performed for the reel for which a valid stop operation has been performed, so that the reel stop control is performed at a predetermined stop position based on information set in the reel stop initial setting process. This reel stop control is repeated for the reels under rotation control, and the reel stop process is terminated by stopping the rotation of all reels.

After the reel stop process is completed, the freeze control process is performed (Sb29), and if freeze control is set to be performed at that timing, the set type of freeze control is performed.

Then, the RT state check process (Sb30) and the winning determination process (Sb31) are performed. In the RT state check process, it is determined whether or not a combination of RT transition symbols that transitions to the RT state has stopped on the reels, and if a combination of RT transition symbols has stopped, the current RT state set in a specified area of RAM 161c is updated to an RT state corresponding to the combination of RT transition symbols. In the winning determination process, it is determined whether or not an illegal winning has occurred based on the internal lottery result and the symbol combination stopped on reels 2L, 2C, and 2R.

After the winning determination process in step Sa31 is performed, a deposit/withdrawal error check process is performed (Sb32), and data processing for the role ratio monitor, which corresponds to the non-game program call process, is performed (Sb36).

In the data processing for the winning ratio monitor, first, in the same manner as the above-mentioned RT information output processing, the register bank used by the calling game program is switched and the value of the second Q register is set. Each state count process included in the non-game program is performed to update data regarding the number of medals paid out in a predetermined period (for example, the period from the current game to 6,000 games ago, the period from the current game to 175,000 games ago, an area controlled to be advantageous to the player (advantageous area), etc.).

Then, the main control unit 161 performs post-processing of ball output control to control the output of balls at the end of the game (SbPos). Post-processing of ball output control is post-processing for controlling the output of balls within the advantageous zone. Details will be explained later.

Then, the replay LED is controlled to the OFF state (light off state) (Sb39), the replay in progress flag indicating that a replay is in progress is cleared (Sb40), the display of the navigation number on the game support display 12 is cleared (Sb41), an end command is sent to the medal count control board 17 (Sb42a), freeze control processing is performed (Sb43), and if freeze control is set to be performed at that timing, the set type of freeze control is performed.

Then, the device information command is sent to the medal count control board 17 (Sb43a), and the advantageous zone command is sent (Sb43b). After that, the game end setting process is performed (Sb44), and it is determined whether or not the replay symbol combination is stopped on reels 2L, 2C, and 2R. If the replay symbol combination is stopped, the process of setting the number of bets for replaying in the next game is performed (in this embodiment, 3 is set as the replay medal in the replay medal counter set in a predetermined area of the RAM 161c), the process of setting the replay flag in a predetermined area of the RAM 161c, the process of controlling the replay LED to the ON state (lighting state), and the like are performed. In the game end setting process, it is determined whether or not the number of medals acquired during the advantageous zone has reached 2400 (limiter condition). At this time, if the number of medals acquired during the advantageous zone has reached 2400, the main control unit 161 ends the advantageous zone and controls to the normal zone. The main control unit 161 also performs external signal processing to transmit information such as the gaming machine status to an external device such as a hall management computer (hall computer) or a hall server that performs security management (Sb43c).

Then, a payout pulse command (Sb44a) and a jackpot command (Sb44b) are sent to the medal count control board 17. After that, the top address of the area of RAM 161c to be initialized at the end of the game is set (Sb46), RAM initialization processing is performed (Sb47), and the area from the top address to the end of RAM 161c is initialized.

Then, after clearing the winning flag, which is set in a specified area of the RAM 161c and indicates the result of the internal lottery for the game (Sb48), a game end command transmission process is performed to transmit a game end command that can identify the end of one game to the performance control unit 151 (Sb49).

That is, in Sb49, the main control unit 161 outputs information on the result of the internal lottery and information on the game status to the performance control unit 151 based on the end of the game by the operation of the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R. After the game end command transmission process of Sb49 is executed, the main control unit 161 executes the interrupt multiple times waiting process of step Sw1, which delays the progress of the game for a predetermined period. After the predetermined period is delayed by the interrupt multiple times waiting process of step Sw1, the main control unit 161 executes the game start waiting process, which starts accepting the bet number setting. As a result, the main control unit 161 generates a test signal at the end of the game, outputs information on the result of the internal lottery to the performance control unit 151, and then enters a waiting state for a predetermined period, thereby ensuring, for example, that the external device reliably receives the test signal and that the performance control unit 151 reliably receives information on the result of the internal lottery, and preventing information discrepancies from occurring between the external device, the main control unit 161, and the performance control unit 151.

Then, the main control unit 161 executes the safety device related processing as the final processing of the main processing (Sb50). Figure 70 is a diagram explaining the control content of the safety device related processing performed by the main control board 16. The safety device related processing corresponds to the non-game program call processing. Therefore, the main control unit 161 executes the register bank switching processing in steps SQ7 and SQ9, and sets the value of the second Q register in step SQ8. After executing the processing of step SQ8, the main control unit 161 executes the safety device processing (Sk1).

In the safety device processing, the main control unit 161 determines whether the number of medals awarded to the player has started to increase. Specifically, the main control unit 161 determines whether control has been established in the AT1 state. If the main control unit 161 determines that control has not been established in the AT1 state, it ends the safety device processing. If the main control unit 161 determines that control has been established in the AT1 state, it obtains the number of medals won by the player since control was established in the AT1 state.

The main control unit 161 determines whether the number of medals won since control was established in the AT1 state exceeds a predetermined number (e.g., 19,000 medals). If the number of medals won since control was established in the AT1 state does not exceed the limit number (e.g., 19,000 medals), the main control unit 161 ends the safety device processing. If the number of medals won since control was established in the AT1 state exceeds the predetermined number (e.g., 19,000 medals), the main control unit 161 turns on the limit flag and ends the safety device processing.

The main control unit 161 determines whether the striking stop flag is ON (Sk3). That is, the main control unit 161 determines whether the striking stop flag has been updated to ON in Sg21 of the safety device processing. If the striking stop flag is not ON (NO in Sk3), the main control unit 161 returns the register bank to the first register bank R1 (SQ9) and ends the safety device-related processing. If the striking stop flag is ON (YES in Sk3), the RWM abnormality release flag is set to OFF (Sk4). The RWM abnormality release flag is a flag for determining whether or not to allow RAM clearing when RAM clear processing is executed. If the RWM abnormality release flag is OFF, the main control unit 161 cannot clear the RAM even if RAM clear processing is executed. Therefore, when the stop flag is ON, the RWM abnormality release flag is turned OFF to restrict the RAM clear process, thereby preventing the stop flag that was turned ON in Sg21 from being updated to OFF due to a malfunction or fraud.

Then, the main control unit 161 sets a play stop error number (Sk5) and then executes error processing (Sk6). By executing the error processing, the main control unit 161 controls the state of S-machine 2 to a state in which game progress is disabled. In other words, referring to the main processing in FIG. 68, the processing to disable game progress because the number of medals acquired since control to the AT1 state has reached the limit number is performed in the safety device-related processing (step Sb50).

As shown in FIG. 68, the safety device-related processing (step Sb50) is a process that is performed at the end of all other processes, such as the external output signal processing (step Sbw3) that notifies external devices such as hall computers whether or not they are in a favorable zone, and the game end setting processing (step Sb44) that determines whether or not the number of medals won in the favorable zone has reached 2,400 (limiter condition).

In this way, the safety device-related processing (Sb50), which can disable game progress when the number of medals acquired since control to the AT1 state reaches the limit number, is performed at the end of the main processing, and the game end setting processing is performed before controlling the game to a state where game progress is disabled. Therefore, if the limiter condition is met, the game can be controlled to a state where game progress is disabled after being controlled to the normal zone.

In addition, because external output signal processing is performed in step Sb2 before controlling the state to one in which game progress is disabled, it is possible to control the state to one in which game progress is disabled after informing an external device whether or not the game is controlled to an advantageous zone. In this way, even if the main control unit 161 disables game progress because the number of medals acquired since control to the AT1 state has reached the limit, it can disable game progress after appropriately processing information related to the advantageous zone. This makes it possible to prevent inconsistencies from occurring regarding information related to the advantageous zone after the disablement of game progress is lifted.

[Counting process]
The following describes the counting process executed by the medal count control board 17 when the counting operation (pressing the count button 10) is performed. As described above, in this embodiment, either the batch counting process or the single counting process is executed depending on the pressing time of the count button 10.

The medal count control board 17 executes a batch counting process based on a batch counting operation by the player. A batch counting operation is an operation in which the count button 10 is continuously pressed for 500 ms (0.5 seconds) or more. When a batch counting operation is performed, the medal count control board 17 moves 50 credits to CU3. The medal count control board 17 also executes a single counting process based on a single counting operation by the player. A single counting operation is an operation in which the count button 10 is pressed for a period of less than 500 ms (0.5 seconds). When a single counting operation is performed, the medal count control board 17 moves one credit to CU3.

Figure 71 is a diagram for explaining the single counting operation. The horizontal axis shown in Figure 71 indicates time. The vertical axis indicates the pressed state of the counting button 10. The pressed state of the counting button 10 is divided into an ON state and an OFF state. When the pressed state of the counting button 10 is the ON state, the counting button 10 is in a state in which it is pressed by the player's finger or the like. When the pressed state of the counting button 10 is the OFF state, the player's finger or the like is released from the counting button 10 and it is not being pressed.

At timing Tm01, the count button 10 is pressed and turns ON. The player stops operating the count button 10 at timing Tm02, before 500 ms have elapsed from timing Tm01. In other words, the count button 10 turns OFF. In this way, when the count button 10 is pressed for a period of less than 500 ms, the medal count control board 17 executes a single counting process that counts one credit.

Figure 72 is a diagram for explaining the batch counting operation. As in Figure 71, at timing Tm01, the count button 10 is pressed and turned ON. Timing Tm03 is the timing when 500 ms have passed since timing Tm01. The player stops operating the count button 10 at timing Tm04 after timing Tm03. In the example of Figure 72, the count button 10 is operated by the player for 500 ms. In this way, when the medal count control board 17 determines that the count button 10 has been operated by the player for 500 ms, it executes a batch counting process to count 50 credits.

As shown in Figs. 71 and 72, the counting operation includes a single counting operation and a batch counting operation. By performing the batch counting operation, 50 credits are moved from the S-unit 2 to the CU 3. More specifically, 50 credits are subtracted from the number of credits stored in the RAM 171c in the medal count control board 17, and 50 credits are added to the number of medals held stored in the memory managed by the CU control board 32. The batch counting operation is used when moving many credits (for example, 1000 credits) to the CU 3, since it is possible to move multiple credit numbers to the CU 3 in a short time. When performing the batch counting operation for credits exceeding 1000 credits, the batch counting operation is performed continuously by continuing to press the counting button 10. Specifically, since it is possible to move 50 credits by one batch counting operation, in order to move 1000 credits, 20 batch counting operations are performed continuously. At this time, the number of credits stored in the RAM 171c inside the medal count control board 17 is subtracted by 50 every 500 ms. The credit display 11 displays the number of credits stored in the RAM 171c. Below, the updating method by the credit display 11 in this embodiment will be explained using Figures 73 and 74.

Figure 73 is a diagram showing an example of the state of each component when a batch counting operation is performed successively. In Figure 73, the states of the speakers 53, 54 controlled by the performance control board 15, the state of the credit display 11 controlled by the medal count control board 17, the number of credits stored in RAM 171b, the pressed state of the count button 10, and the state of the display 312 controlled by the CU control board 32 are shown in chronological order. The vertical axis in Figure 73 indicates the flow of time.

At timing Tm1, the credit display 11 displays that the player has 1000 credits, and the RAM 171c also stores that the player has 1000 credits. Also, at timing Tm1, the display 312 on the CU3 side displays that the player has 0 medals. At timing Tm1, no sound effects are being output from the speakers 53 and 54.

At timing Tm1, the player holds 1000 credits on S-machine 2 and does not have any medals on the CU3 side. When the player ends the game, he operates the counting button 10 to move the 1000 credits to the CU3 side. Timing Tm2 is the timing when 500 ms have passed from timing Tm1. The player continues to operate the counting button 10 from timing Tm1 to timing Tm2. In other words, the player performs a lump-sum counting operation.

The medal count control board 17 detects that a batch counting operation has been performed at timing Tm2, and executes the batch counting process. That is, the medal count control board 17 subtracts 50 from the number of credits stored in RAM 171c, and sends a command to CU3 to increase the number of held medals by 50. As a result, as shown in FIG. 73, the number of credits stored in RAM 171c at timing Tm2 becomes "950". Also, at timing Tm2, the number of held medals displayed on the display 312 on the CU3 side becomes "50". The 50 credits in S-machine 2 have been converted into 50 held medals in CU3. In this way, 50 gaming values are transferred from S-machine 2 to CU3.

In this embodiment, at timing Tm2, the credit number displayed on the credit display 11 is still "1000". In this embodiment, the medal number control board 17 gradually switches the display on the credit display 11 to indicate that the credit number has been reduced from "1000" to "950".

Figure 74 is a diagram for explaining the update display. Figure 74 shows the state of the credit display 11 from timing Tm2 to timing Tm3 in Figure 73. At timing Tm2, the credit display 11 displays "1000 coins." At timing Tm201, 10 ms after timing Tm2, the credit display 11 displays "999 coins." Then, at timing Tm202, another 10 ms after timing Tm201, the credit display 11 displays "998 coins."

In this way, the medal count control board 17 controls the credit display 11 so that the number of credits displayed on the credit display 11 is subtracted by one every 10 ms. The medal count control board 17 continues to execute the update display, subtracting the number of credits by one every 10 ms, until timing Tm3. At timing Tm248, 480 ms after timing Tm2, the credit display 11 displays "952". At timing Tm249, 10 ms after timing Tm248, the credit display 11 displays "951". At timing Tm3, 10 ms after timing Tm249, the credit display 11 displays "950". Although not shown in the figure, between timing Tm202 and timing Tm248, the credit display 11 subtracts the number of credits by one every 10 ms. Hereinafter, the process of gradually switching and updating the display of the 50 credits counted in the batch counting process will be referred to as batch update display process Ar1. In FIG. 74, the period during which batch update display process Ar1 is being performed is indicated by an arrow.

Returning to FIG. 73, at timing Tm3, the credit display 11 displays "950 coins." The pressed state of the count button 10 is also in the ON state at timing Tm3. In other words, the player continues to operate the count button 10 during the period from timing Tm2 to timing Tm3. The medal count control board 17 executes the batch count process again based on the fact that the count button 10 has been operated during the period from timing Tm2 to timing Tm3, i.e., over a period of 500 ms.

As a result, at timing Tm3, the number of credits stored in RAM 171c becomes "900". Also, at timing Tm3, the number of held medals displayed on the display 312 on the CU3 side becomes "100". The medal count control board 17 executes the batch update display process Ar1 from timing Tm3 to timing Tm4 based on the batch counting operation from timing Tm2 to timing Tm3. Furthermore, as the player continues to operate the count button 10, the medal count control board 17 executes the batch update display process Ar1 from timing Tm4 to timing Tm5 based on the batch counting operation from timing Tm3 to timing Tm4. In this way, the medal count control board 17 repeats the detection of the batch counting operation and the batch update display process Ar1 to perform the counting process for 1000 credits.

In this embodiment, the threshold time for determining whether the operation is a batch counting operation or a single counting operation is 500 ms. The medal count control board 17 controls the credit display 11 so that one credit is subtracted every 10 ms. That is, it takes 500 ms for the credit display 11 to subtract 50 credits. In this embodiment, the time required to execute the batch counting operation is set to be the same as the time required to switch the display of the number of credits counted by the batch counting operation. As a result, as shown in FIG. 73, even if the batch counting operation is performed consecutively, the interval at which the display is switched on the credit display 11 does not change on the credit display 11. That is, in the example of FIG. 73, the credit display 11 switches the number of credits from 1000 to 850 in stages every 10 ms to subtract them.

More specifically, the medal count control board 17 performs a process to subtract 50 from the credits stored in the RAM 171c based on the player's counting operation over 500 ms. After completing the process to update the RAM 171c, the medal count control board 17 causes the credit display 11 to perform a batch update display process Ar1 that gradually updates the 50 credits by one unit at a time. This allows the player to easily recognize how the gaming value is being transferred between the S machine 2 and the CU 3.

As described above, the batch update display process Ar1 ends before the same period of 500 ms, which is the period for detecting the batch counting operation, has elapsed since the start of the batch update display process Ar1. This allows the player to easily recognize how the gaming value is being transferred between the S machine 2 and the CU 3 even when counting operations are performed consecutively.

That is, even if the batch counting operation is performed continuously, the display of the credit display 11 is switched every 10 ms. The player can recognize that the display of the credit display 11 is switched at the same interval without interruption, and can recognize from the update display of the credit display 11 that the counting process is being performed without any problems. If the interval of the update display of the credit display 11 is irregular or the update display is performed at an unnecessarily long interval, the player may have doubts about whether there is a problem with the counting process or whether the counting process is not working at all. In this embodiment, as described above, the update display of the credit display 11 is performed stepwise at the same interval (10 ms) during the entire period in which the batch counting operation is performed continuously, so that the player can recognize that the counting process is being performed without having the above-mentioned doubts.

Returning to FIG. 73, the specific sound output by the speakers 53, 54 will be described. As shown in FIG. 73, the speakers 53, 54 output a specific sound during the period in which the batch update display process Ar1 is being executed. More specifically, the speakers 53, 54 output a first specific sound between timing Tm2 and timing Tm4. FIG. 73 shows the first specific sound output process Ar2. The first specific sound is a sound indicating that credits are being moved to the CU3 side by the batch counting process. In this way, in this embodiment, the player can be made aware by sound that the gaming value is being transferred by the counting operation.

Furthermore, the specific sound output by the speakers 53, 54 changes from the first specific sound to the second specific sound at timing Tm4. FIG. 73 shows the second specific sound output process Ar3. The performance control board 15 outputs the second specific sound based on the fact that a predetermined number of credits have been continuously moved or the first specific sound has been continuously output for a predetermined period of time. In the example of FIG. 73, the predetermined number is 100. In some situations, the predetermined number may be a number other than 100, for example, 300, 500, 1000, 5000, or 9999. In addition, the performance control board 15 may change from the second specific sound to the third specific sound according to the number of credits counted. This allows the player to feel special when moving a number of credits greater than the predetermined number to CU3.

Figure 75 is a diagram showing an example of the state of each component when the connection with the CU3 is cut off while the batch counting operation is being performed continuously. The state of each component from timing Tm1 to timing Tm2 in Figure 75 is the same as the state of each component from timing Tm1 to timing Tm2 in Figure 73. In Figure 75, at timing Tm21, the connection between the S-stand 2 and the CU3 is cut off. As described above, the count button 10 is disabled by at least one of the hardware function and the software function due to the disconnection of the connection between the S-stand 2 and the CU3. The medal count control board 17 maintains the execution of the batch update display process Ar1 even when the connection with the CU3 is cut off. In other words, the medal count control board 17 does not stop the execution of the batch update display process Ar1 due to the disconnection of the connection with the CU3.

More specifically, when S-machine 2 is not connected to CU3, the medal count control board 17 does not transfer any new credits between RAM 171c and CU3 even if a counting operation is detected, but continues the batch update display process Ar1 if the connection between S-machine 2 and CU3 is cut while the batch update display process Ar1 is being executed. This allows the player to recognize the state in which the gaming value is being transferred between S-machine 2 and CU3 even when the connection between S-machine 2 and CU3 is cut.

In addition, even if the connection between S-stand 2 and CU 3 is cut off, the performance control board 15 maintains the execution of the first specific sound output process Ar2 on the speakers 53 and 54. In other words, the performance control board 15 does not stop the execution of the first specific sound output process Ar2 just because the connection between S-stand 2 and CU 3 is cut off. When the second specific sound is being output, even if the connection between S-stand 2 and CU 3 is cut off, the performance control board 15 maintains the execution of the second specific sound output process Ar3 on the speakers 53 and 54.

More specifically, when S-stand 2 is not connected to CU 3, the medal count control board 17 does not transfer any new credits between RAM 171c and CU 3 even if a counting operation is detected, while the speakers 53, 54 continue to output the first specific sound even if the connection between S-stand 2 and CU 3 is cut off while an update display is being executed. This allows the player to recognize the transfer of credits between S-stand 2 and CU 3 by the output of the specific sound, even if the connection to CU 3 is cut off.

[Processing to which update display processing is applied]
In the above, the updating of the credit indicator 11 is explained step by step, one unit at a time, using the "counting process", but in this embodiment, the updating of the credit indicator 11 step by step, one unit at a time, is also applied to processes other than the "counting process". In this embodiment, the processes other than the "counting process" are processes in which the display of the credit indicator 11 changes, and include the lending process, the bet number setting process, and the payout process.

The lending process is executed based on the player's operation of the medal button 324 and the replay button 319. The lending process is a process of moving, for example, 1 to 50 medals to the credits of the S-machine 2. That is, the number of credits stored in the RAM 171c is increased by the lending process. The bet number setting process is executed based on the player's operation of the MAXBET switch 6 and the 1BET switch 20. The bet number setting process is a process of subtracting 1 to 3 credits and setting the bet number. That is, the number of credits stored in the RAM 171c is subtracted by the bet number setting process. The payout process is executed based on the player's stop operation and the occurrence of a win. The payout process is a process of adding, for example, 1 to 8 gaming values as credits. That is, the number of credits stored in the RAM 171c is increased by the payout process.

The number of credits stored in RAM 171c increases or decreases as the counting process, lending process, bet amount setting process, and payout process are executed. Hereinafter, such a process of increasing or decreasing the number of credits stored in RAM 171c is referred to as the "update process of RAM 171c." The medal count control board 17 executes the update process of RAM 171c when a predetermined update condition is met.

In other words, the predetermined update conditions are conditions under which the counting process, the lending process, the bet number setting process, and the payout process are executed by the medal count control board 17. More specifically, the medal count control board determines whether the player has pressed the count button 10 to perform a batch counting process or a single counting operation. The medal count control board 17 also determines whether it has received a command from the CU control board 32 indicating that the player has performed a lending operation. The medal count control board 17 also determines whether it has received a command from the main control board 16 indicating that the player has performed a bet number setting operation. The medal count control board 17 also determines whether it has received a command from the main control board 16 indicating that a win has occurred.

When these update conditions are met, the medal count control board 17 executes the update process for RAM 171c. The medal count control board 17 executes the update process for the RAM 171c as well as the update process for the credit display 11. The update process for the credit display 11 is a process for updating the number of credits displayed by the credit display 11 so as to approach the number of credits stored in RAM 171c. The medal count control board 17 executes the update process for RAM 171c and the update process for the credit display 11 every 2 ms. More specifically, the medal count control board 17 determines every 2 ms whether the update conditions for RAM 171c have been met, and if so, updates the number of credits stored in RAM 171c, and then executes the update process for the credit display 11.

In this way, the medal count control board 17 sets the update conditions for RAM 171c as a lending operation in which held medals stored by CU3 are moved to RAM 171c, a counting operation in which credits stored in RAM 171c are moved to CU3, the occurrence of a winning prize in which gaming value (credits) is awarded, and a bet amount setting operation in which credits are set as a bet amount. The medal count control board 17 updates the number of credits stored in RAM 171c when the update conditions for RAM 171c are met. In this way, in this embodiment, the number of credits stored in RAM 171c can be updated at an appropriate time.

Figure 76 is a flowchart for explaining the update process of the credit display 11. By executing the flowchart shown in Figure 76 by the medal count control board 17, the gradual update of the credit display 11 by one unit can be applied to the lending process, the bet number setting process, and the payout process in addition to the "counting process."

The medal count control board 17 determines whether the set waiting time has elapsed (step S301). The waiting time in FIG. 76 is the waiting time for stopping the execution of updating the credit display 11, and is the value set in steps S306, S310, S315, and S319. The memory area for counting the waiting time may be included in the RAM 171c of the medal count control board 17. When the power is turned on, for example, 2 ms is stored as the initial value of the waiting time.

The medal count control board 17 executes the flowchart in FIG. 76 every 2 ms, so the medal count control board 17 determines that the waiting time has elapsed immediately after power-on (YES in step S301). If it determines that the waiting time has not elapsed (NO in step S301), the medal count control board 17 ends the update process of the credit display 11, determines whether the update condition of the RAM 171c described above has been met, and if so, executes the update process of the RAM 171c.

When it is determined that the waiting time has elapsed (YES in step S301), the medal count control board 17 determines whether the displayed number of credits displayed by the credit display 11 is the same as the number of credits stored in the RAM 171c (step S302). Hereinafter, the displayed number of credits displayed by the credit display 11 may be referred to as the "displayed number of credits," and the number of credits stored in the RAM 171c may be referred to as the "RAM number." Step S302 is a comparison process that compares the displayed number of credits with the RAM number.

If the displayed number of credits and the number of RAM are the same (YES in step S302), the medal count control board 17 does not need to update the credit display 11, so it ends the update process of the credit display 11 and judges whether the update condition of the RAM 171c described above is met, and if so, performs the update process of the RAM 171c. If the displayed number of credits and the number of RAM are not the same (NO in step S302), the medal count control board 17 judges whether the number of RAM is greater than the displayed number of credits (step S303). That is, the medal count control board 17 judges whether the number of RAM was increased or decreased in step S303. When the counting process and the bet number setting process are executed, the number of credits stored in the RAM 171c is subtracted, so the number of RAM is smaller than the displayed number of credits. When the payout process and the lending process are executed, the number of credits stored in the RAM 171c is increased, so the number of RAM is greater than the displayed number of credits.

If the RAM number is smaller than the displayed credit number (NO in step S303), the medal count control board 17 determines whether the difference between the RAM number and the displayed credit number exceeds n (3) (step S304). In this embodiment, n in step S304 is 3. By executing the process of step S304, the medal count control board 17 determines whether the RAM number was subtracted due to the "lump count process" or the "bet number setting process".

The difference between the number of RAM coins and the number of displayed credit coins in step S304 is the absolute value obtained by subtracting the number of RAM coins from the number of displayed credit coins. If the number of displayed credit coins is more than n coins (3 coins) greater than the number of RAM coins, the medal count control board 17 determines that a batch counting process has been performed. In steps S305 to S308 below, a method for updating the credit display 11 when a batch counting process has been performed is explained. In the bet number setting process, the number of credits in the RAM 171c can only be subtracted by a maximum of 3 coins. Therefore, if the difference between the number of displayed credit coins and the number of RAM coins is 4 coins or more, the medal count control board 17 determines that the number of RAM coins has been subtracted by 50 coins at once by the batch counting process, and proceeds to the process of step S305.

If the difference between the number of RAM coins and the number of displayed credit coins exceeds n coins (3 coins) (YES in step S304), the medal count control board 17 subtracts one coin from the displayed number of credit coins (step S305). At this time, the difference between the number of RAM coins and the number of displayed credit coins is four coins or more, but the medal count control board 17 subtracts only one coin from the displayed number of credit coins on the credit display 11. After that, the medal count control board 17 sets a first period as the waiting time, and starts a timer count to determine whether the waiting time has elapsed (step S306). In this embodiment, the first period is 10 ms. The first period is the update interval of the credit display 11 during the counting process.

Then, the medal count control board 17 judges whether the first specific sound is being output by the speakers 53, 54 (step S307). When the medal count control board 17 judges that the first specific sound is not being output by the speakers 53, 54 (NO in step S307), it starts outputting the first specific sound (step S308). That is, the medal count control board 17 transmits a command to start outputting the first specific sound to the performance control board 15. The first specific sound is a sound indicating that the credits are moving to the CU3 side by the batch counting process, as described in FIG. 73. The first specific sound is output continuously for a period of 500 ms. After starting output of the first specific sound, the medal count control board 17 ends the update process of the credit display 11. After that, the medal count control board 17 repeats the execution of the update process of the RAM 171c and the update process of the credit display 11 shown in FIG. 76 every time 2 ms has elapsed.

For example, when a batch counting operation is performed and the number of credits in RAM becomes 50 less than the number of credits displayed, the medal count control board 17 executes the update process for the credit display 11 shown in FIG. 76 for the first time, as described above, in step S305 the number of credits displayed is subtracted by one, and the waiting time is set to 10 ms. After that, as 2 ms have passed, the medal count control board 17 executes the update process for the credit display 11 shown in FIG. 76 again, but since the 10 ms set as the waiting time has not yet passed in step S301, the update process for the credit display 11 is terminated as the waiting time has not yet passed.

The medal count control board 17 determines in step S301 that the waiting time has not elapsed until 10 ms has elapsed, and does not update the displayed number of credits. After that, when the waiting time of 10 ms has elapsed, the medal count control board 17 performs the process of step S305 as described above, and again subtracts one from the displayed number of credits. This allows the medal count control board 17 to subtract one from the displayed number of credits every 10 ms, as explained in FIG. 74.

If the first specific sound has already been output during the batch update display process Ar1, there is no need to re-execute the output, so the medal count control board 17 does not re-output the first specific sound by the process of step S307. In this way, in this embodiment, the medal count control board 17 can subtract one credit from the displayed number of credits for each waiting time by setting the waiting time to 10 ms.

Next, steps S309 to S312 will be used to explain the update of the displayed number of credits when the bet number setting process is executed. If the difference between the RAM number and the displayed number of credits does not exceed n (3) (NO in step S304), the medal number control board 17 determines that the bet number setting process has been executed and subtracts one from the displayed number of credits (step S309). After that, the medal number control board 17 sets a second period as the waiting time and starts a timer count to determine whether the waiting time has elapsed (step S310). The second period in this embodiment is 10 ms, the same as the first period, but may be a period different from the first period. For example, the second period may be 2 ms or 20 ms.

The medal count control board 17 then determines whether or not the first specific sound is being output (step S311). If the medal count control board 17 determines that the first specific sound is not being output (NO in step S311), it starts outputting a bet number setting sound (step S312). That is, the medal count control board 17 sends a command to the performance control board 15 to start outputting a bet number setting sound. The bet number setting sound is a sound that indicates whether or not a bet number is being set.

When the collective counting process described above is performed, the difference between the displayed number of credits and the number of credits in RAM becomes smaller every 10 ms. That is, even when updating the credit display 11 in the collective counting process, the processes of steps S309 to S311 are ultimately performed. Therefore, when the first specific sound is being output in step S311, the medal count control board 17 assumes that the collective counting process is being performed and does not output the bet number setting sound. Whether to output the first specific sound or the bet number setting sound may be managed by a flag not shown.

Next, a case where the number of RAM coins increases in steps S313 to S321 will be described. If the number of RAM coins is greater than the number of displayed credit coins (YES in step S303), the medal count control board 17 judges whether the difference between the number of RAM coins and the number of displayed credit coins exceeds n coins (8 coins) (step S313). In this embodiment, n coins in step S313 is 8 coins. Note that n coins in step S313 corresponds to the maximum number of coins that can be awarded when a prize is won. If the maximum number of coins that can be awarded when a prize is won on S-machine 2 is 15 coins, n coins in step S313 will be 15 coins. By executing the process of step S313, the medal count control board 17 judges whether the increase in the number of RAM coins is due to the "loan process" or the "payout process".

The difference between the RAM number and the displayed credit number in step S313 is the value obtained by subtracting the displayed credit number from the RAM number, and is an absolute value. If the RAM number is more than n (8) credits greater than the displayed credit number, the medal count control board 17 determines that the loan process has been performed. In steps S314 to S315 below, the method of updating the credit display 11 when the loan process has been performed is explained. In the payout process, the credit number in the RAM 171c is only increased by a maximum of 8 credits. Therefore, if the difference between the displayed credit number and the RAM number is 9 or more, the medal count control board 17 determines that the RAM number has been increased by 50 credits at once by the loan process, and proceeds to the processing of step S314.

When the difference between the number of RAM coins and the number of displayed credit coins exceeds n coins (8 coins) (YES in step S313), the medal count control board 17 adds one coin to the displayed number of credit coins (step S314). At this time, the difference between the number of RAM coins and the number of displayed credit coins is nine coins or more, but the medal count control board 17 adds only one coin to the displayed number of credit coins on the credit display 11. The medal count control board 17 sets a third period as the waiting time, and starts a timer count to determine whether the waiting time has elapsed (step S316). The third period in this embodiment is 10 ms, the same as the first period, which is the update interval for the counting process.

Then, the medal count control board 17 judges whether the third specific sound is being output (step S316). The third specific sound is a sound that indicates that the medals held by the CU 3 are being moved to the S-stand 2 as credits by the lending process. If the medal count control board 17 judges that the third specific sound is not already being output (NO in step S316), it starts outputting the third specific sound (step S317). That is, the medal count control board 17 sends a command to the performance control board 15 to start outputting the third specific sound. After starting output of the third specific sound, the medal count control board 17 ends the update process of the credit display 11. After that, the medal count control board 17 repeats the execution of the update process of the RAM 171c and the update process of the credit display 11 shown in FIG. 76 every 2 ms.

As with the lump-sum counting operation, for the lending operation, when the medal count control board 17 executes the update process for the credit display 11 shown in FIG. 76 for the first time, as described above, the displayed credit number is incremented by one in step S314, and the waiting time is set to 10 ms. After that, as 2 ms have passed, the medal count control board 17 executes the update process for the credit display 11 shown in FIG. 76 again, but since the 10 ms set as the waiting time has not yet passed, the update process for the credit display 11 is terminated in step S301, as the waiting time has not yet passed.

Until 10 ms have elapsed, the medal count control board 17 does not update the displayed number of credits, determining in step S301 that the waiting time has not elapsed. When the waiting time of 10 ms has elapsed, the medal count control board 17 performs the process of step S314 as described above, and again adds one credit to the displayed number of credits. This allows the medal count control board 17 to gradually add one credit at a time even during the lending process. If the third specific sound has already been output, there is no need to re-execute the output, so the medal count control board 17 does not re-output the third specific sound by the process of step S316. In this way, in this embodiment, the medal count control board 17 can add one credit to the displayed number of credits for each waiting time by setting 10 ms as the waiting time.

Next, steps S318 to S321 will be used to explain the update of the displayed number of credits when the payout process is executed. If the difference between the number of RAM coins and the displayed number of credits does not exceed n coins (8 coins) (NO in step S313), the medal count control board 17 determines that the payout process has been executed and adds one coin to the displayed number of credits (step S318). After that, the medal count control board 17 sets a fourth period as the waiting time and starts a timer count to determine whether the waiting time has elapsed (step S319). The fourth period in this embodiment is 30 ms.

Then, the medal count control board 17 judges whether or not the third specific sound is being output (step S320). If the medal count control board 17 judges that the third specific sound is not being output (NO in step S320), it starts outputting a payout sound (step S321). That is, the medal count control board 17 sends a command to the performance control board 15 to start outputting a payout sound. The payout sound is a sound that indicates whether or not a payout process is being executed. The payout sound may change depending on the winning combination.

When the lending process described above is performed, the difference between the displayed number of credits and the number of credits in RAM becomes smaller every 10 ms. In other words, even when updating the credit display 11 in the lending process, the processes of steps S318 to S320 are ultimately performed. Therefore, if the third specific sound is being output in step S320, the medal count control board 17 assumes that the lending process is being performed and does not output the payout sound.

After starting to output the first specific sound, the medal count control board 17 ends the update process of the credit display 11. After that, the medal count control board 17 repeats the update process of the RAM 171c and the update process of the credit display 11 shown in FIG. 76 every 2 ms.

For example, when a batch counting operation is performed and the number of credits in RAM becomes 50 less than the number of credits displayed, the medal count control board 17 executes the update process for the credit display 11 shown in FIG. 76 for the first time, as described above, in step S305 the number of credits displayed is subtracted by one, and the waiting time is set to 10 ms. After that, as 2 ms have passed, the medal count control board 17 executes the update process for the credit display 11 shown in FIG. 76 again, but since the 10 ms set as the waiting time has not yet passed in step S301, the update process for the credit display 11 is terminated as the waiting time has not yet passed.

In this way, the medal count control board 17 of this embodiment executes a comparison process in step S302, and if the result of the comparison process shows that the RAM number and the credit display number are different, the medal count control board 17 switches the display of the gaming value amount (credit) by one unit (one medal). More specifically, the medal count control board 17 executes a comparison process in step 302 in which the number of credits stored in the RAM 171c is compared with the number of credits displayed by the credit display 11. If the number of credits stored in the RAM 171c and the number of credits displayed by the credit display 11 are different in the comparison process in step 302, the medal count control board 17 updates the number of credits displayed by the credit display 11 by one unit so as to approach the number of credits stored in the RAM 171c. This allows the credit display 11 to be updated and displayed in an appropriate manner in this embodiment. That is, in this embodiment, the stepwise update display of the credit display 11 by one unit can be applied to all of the counting process, the bet number setting process, the lending process, and the payout process.

Also, as shown in steps S306, S310, S315, and S319 in FIG. 76, if the number of displayed credits and the number of RAM are not the same, a value from the first period to the fourth period is set as the waiting time. The medal count control board 17 does not execute the comparison process of step S302 until the set waiting time has elapsed. More specifically, the medal count control board 17 repeatedly executes the update process of the credit display 11, including the comparison process, every 2 ms. The time interval from the end of the comparison process of step S302 to the execution of the comparison process of the next step S302 is shorter when the number of RAM sheets and the number of displayed credits match than when the number of RAM sheets and the number of displayed credits do not match. For example, when the number of RAM sheets and the number of displayed credits do not match, a waiting time longer than 2 ms is set in steps S306, S310, S315, and S319, but when the number of RAM sheets and the number of displayed credits match, no waiting time is set and the process of step S302 is executed after 2 ms. This makes it possible to quickly detect any discrepancy between the amount of credits stored in RAM 171c and the amount of credits displayed by the credit display 11.

In addition, since the medal count control board 17 updates the displayed number of credits in stages, one at a time, whenever a waiting time longer than 2 ms has elapsed, when an update process of the RAM 171c is performed that increases the difference between the RAM number and the displayed number of credits, such as a batch counting process, it takes time to make the difference between the RAM number and the displayed number of credits zero. Specifically, it takes 500 ms to update the credit display 11 for 50 credits. On the other hand, the medal count control board 17 updates the RAM 171c every 2 ms. In other words, while updating the credit display 11 for 50 credits, a new update condition for the RAM 171c may be met, causing the RAM number to change further.

In this embodiment, even if the update condition of RAM 171c is newly established during the update of the credit display 11 and the number of RAM coins changes further, the further updated number of RAM coins can be compared with the number of credits displayed in step S302. More specifically, when the update condition of RAM 171c is satisfied in a state in which the number of credits stored in RAM 171c and the number of credits displayed by the credit display 11 do not match, the medal count control board 17 updates the number of credits stored in RAM 171c and executes the comparison process of step S302 using the number of credits stored in RAM 171c after the update. As a result, even during the batch update display process Ar1, if the amount of gaming value stored in the value storage means is further updated, the update display of the value display means can be executed in accordance with the update.

Also, as shown in FIG. 76, the fourth period, which is the waiting time during the payout process, is longer than the first and second periods. That is, the time interval from when the comparison process ends until the next comparison process is executed differs depending on whether the number of credits stored in RAM 171c has increased or decreased after the comparison process. This allows the player to recognize whether the number of credits stored in RAM 171c has increased or decreased due to the payout process based on the manner in which the credit display 11 is updated. More specifically, when the number of credits has increased, the credit display 11 is updated more slowly than when the number of credits has decreased, making it easier for the player to understand that the number of credits has increased.

Also, as shown in step S313, the period set as the waiting time differs depending on the difference between the number of RAM coins and the number of displayed credit coins. In other words, the time interval until the next comparison process is executed differs depending on whether the difference between the number of credits stored in RAM 171c and the number of credits stored by the credit display 11 in the comparison process exceeds n coins. This causes the update mode of the credit display 11 to change depending on the difference between the number of credits stored in RAM 171c and the number of credits stored by the credit display 11, so that the player can recognize the difference in the number of credits from the update mode of the credit display 11.

Also, as shown in FIG. 76, the medal count control board 17 changes the command to be sent to the performance control board 15 depending on the difference between the number of credits stored in the RAM 171c and the number of credits displayed. That is, the medal count control board 17 outputs the first specific sound, and changes the type of sound to be output by the performance control board 15 depending on whether the difference between the number of credits stored in the RAM 171c and the number of credits displayed by the credit display 11 exceeds n. This allows the player to recognize whether the difference in the number of credits exceeds n based on the type of sound output from the speakers 53 and 54. Specifically, when the first specific sound is output, the player can recognize that the counting process is being executed. When the bet number setting sound is output, the player can recognize that the bet number setting process is being executed. When the third specific sound is output, the player can recognize that the lending process is being executed. When the payout sound is output, the player can recognize that the payout process is being executed.

[Displaying the setting confirmation screen and disconnecting from CU3]
As described above, in the S machine 2 of this embodiment, when the setting key switch 37 is set to a specific state while a unit game is not being played, the machine transitions to a setting confirmation state in which the setting value can be confirmed. The specific state is a state in which the rotation angle of the setting key switch 37 is held at a predetermined angle. The setting key switch 37 can be operated by a staff member of the gaming establishment. Therefore, the S machine 2 is configured so that it can transition to the setting confirmation state only by a staff member of the gaming establishment. Hereinafter, the operation of setting the setting key switch 37 to a specific state is referred to as a "setting confirmation start operation," and the operation of changing the state of the setting key switch 37 from a specific state to another state is referred to as a "setting confirmation end operation."

Figure 77 is a diagram showing an example of the display of the setting confirmation screen. Figure 77 (A) shows the liquid crystal display 51 in a state where the advantageous zone is normal and a unit game has not started. Character 57 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 51 in Figure 77 (A). In the state of Figure 77 (A), the store clerk performs a setting confirmation start operation. As a result, the setting confirmation screen 350 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 51. The setting confirmation screen 350 is displayed superimposed on the advantageous zone normal screen including the character 57. The setting confirmation screen 350 includes display areas 351 to 354. The setting value being set is displayed in the display area 351. The error history is displayed in the display area 352. The volume detail settings are displayed in the display area 353. The performance settings are displayed in the display area 354. In Figure 77, the contents of each of the display areas 351 to 354 are omitted.

When not omitted from the illustration, for example, a number from 1 to 6 is displayed in display area 351. Display area 352 displays the type of error that has occurred in the past, the date and time of occurrence, etc. Display area 353 displays the maximum output value from speakers 53, 54 of S-stand 2, etc. Display area 354 displays the frequency of occurrence set for each type of effect, etc. A store clerk can check the various information set for S-stand 2 from the setting confirmation screen. Also, when a store clerk performs an operation to end the setting confirmation, the liquid crystal display 51 returns to the state shown in FIG. 77 (A).

As described above, the setting confirmation screen 350 displays the frequency of occurrence set for each type of effect in the display area 354. The frequency of occurrence set for each type of effect can be set by the amusement store's staff. The setting confirmation screen 350 allows the amusement store's staff to set the effects. Therefore, on the S-machine 2, the state in which the setting confirmation screen 350 is displayed may be referred to as the effect setting state. In other words, the setting confirmation start operation corresponds to the effect setting start operation, and the setting confirmation end operation corresponds to the effect setting end operation.

In this way, the main control board 16 displays the setting confirmation screen 350 when it detects that a setting confirmation start operation has been performed, and ends the display of the setting confirmation screen 350 when it detects that a setting confirmation end operation has been performed. More specifically, the main control board 16 starts displaying the setting confirmation screen 350 for checking the setting values set in S-machine 2 based on the setting confirmation start operation being performed in a non-play state as shown in FIG. 77(A) where no unit game is being played. In addition, the main control board 16 ends the display of the setting confirmation screen 350 based on the setting confirmation end operation being performed while the setting confirmation screen 350 is being displayed.

Figure 78 is a diagram for explaining the processing that is performed when the connection with CU3 is disconnected while the setting confirmation screen is being displayed. Figure 78 (A) shows the LCD display 51 in a state in which the advantageous zone is normal and a unit game has not yet started, similar to Figure 77 (A). As shown in Figure 78, the connection between S-stand 2 and CU3 is disconnected. After that, as shown in Figure 78 (B), an unconnected notification image Un1 is displayed. The unconnected notification image Un1 is displayed by the performance control board 15 that has received the unconnected notification command.

As shown in FIG. 78(B), after the unconnected notification image Un1 is displayed, a setting check start operation is performed by a staff member at the gaming facility. In this embodiment, when the connection with CU3 is disconnected, the main control board 16 does not display the setting check screen 350 even if the setting check start operation is performed. In other words, when the main control board 16 is in a non-play state where no unit game is being played and the connection between S-machine 2 and CU3 is disconnected, the main control board 16 does not display the setting check screen 350 even if the setting check start operation is performed. This makes it possible to prevent setting check from being performed when CU3 is not connected.

Figure 79 is a diagram for explaining the processing when the connection with CU3 is disconnected while the setting confirmation screen 350 is displayed. Figure 79 (A) shows the LCD display 51 in a state where the advantageous zone is normal and unit play has not started, similar to Figure 77 (A). As shown in Figure 79, a setting confirmation start operation is performed by a staff member of the gaming facility. As shown in Figure 79 (B), the main control board 16 displays the setting confirmation screen 350 in response to the setting confirmation start operation. After that, the connection between S-machine 2 and CU3 is disconnected. As shown in Figure 79 (C), a non-connection notification image Un1 is displayed. The non-connection notification image Un1 is displayed superimposed on the setting confirmation screen 350.

After that, by performing the setting check end operation, as shown in FIG. 79 (D), the display of the setting check screen 350 ends, and only the unconnected notification image Un1 is displayed. Furthermore, if the setting check start operation is performed again in the state of FIG. 79 (D), the setting check screen 350 is not displayed, as described in FIG. 78. That is, when the connection between the S-unit 2 and the CU 3 is disconnected while the setting check screen 350 is displayed, the main control board 16 ends the display of the setting check screen 350 and controls it to a non-playing state based on the setting check end operation being performed. Subsequently, even if the setting check start operation is performed after being controlled to a non-playing state, the main control board 16 does not display the setting check screen 350. This makes it possible to prevent the S-unit 2 from becoming uncontrollable when the connection to the CU 3 is disconnected in a state different from the normal state of the S-unit 2, such as the setting check screen 350.

Also, as shown in FIG. 79(C), if the connection between CU3 and S-stand 2 is disconnected while the setting confirmation screen 350 is displayed, the main control board 16 notifies the player that CU3 is not connected. This allows the player to understand that CU3 is not connected even when the setting confirmation screen 350 is displayed.

[Displaying the menu screen and disconnecting from CU3]
In the S-machine 2 of this embodiment, the menu screen 360 is displayed by operating the performance switch 56 when the unit game is not being played. FIG. 80 is a diagram showing an example of the display of the menu screen 360. More specifically, if no operation is performed on the S-machine 2 for a predetermined period of time when the unit game is not being played, the performance control board 15 displays an image 330. The image 330 is an image suggesting a display method of the menu screen 360. After the image 330 is displayed, the player presses the performance switch 56 to display the menu screen 360 shown in FIG. 80(B). The menu screen 360 is a screen on which the player sets various performance settings, and is also called a performance setting screen.

Figure 80 (A) shows the liquid crystal display 51 in a state where the unit game has not started in the normal advantageous zone, similar to Figure 77 (A). In the state of Figure 80 (A), the player operates the performance switch 56. As a result, the menu screen 360 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 51. The menu screen 360 is displayed superimposed on the screen of the normal advantageous zone including the character 57. The menu screen 360 includes display areas 361 to 363 and a button 364. The payout table is displayed in the display area 361. The volume information is displayed in the display area 362. The login information is displayed in the display area 363. The button 364 is a button for ending the display of the menu screen 360. The volume information displayed in the display area 362 displays information about the volume that can be changed by the player, and is different from the information about the volume that can be changed by the staff of the game arcade displayed in the display area 353.

Figure 81 is a diagram for explaining the processing that is performed when the connection with CU3 is disconnected while the menu screen 360 is being displayed. Figure 81 (A) shows the LCD display 51 in a state where the unit game has not started yet and it is in the normal advantageous zone, similar to Figure 80 (A). As shown in Figure 81, the connection between S-stand 2 and CU3 is disconnected. After that, as shown in Figure 81 (B), the unconnected notification image Un1 is displayed. The unconnected notification image Un1 is displayed by the performance control board 15 that has received the unconnected notification command.

As shown in FIG. 81(B), after the unconnected notification image Un1 is displayed, a staff member at the gaming facility performs an operation to start checking the settings. In this embodiment, even when the connection with the CU3 is cut off, the main control board 16 displays the menu screen 360 based on the operation of the performance switch 56. This allows the player to set information that can be set even when the CU3 is not connected.

In this way, the presentation control board 15 can display the menu screen 360 based on the player's operation in a non-play state where no unit game is being played as shown in FIG. 80(A). When the connection between the CU 3 and the S-unit 2 is disconnected in a non-play state, the presentation control board 15 displays the menu screen 360 in response to the player's operation. On the other hand, when the connection between the CU 3 and the S-unit 2 is disconnected in a non-play state, the main control board 16 does not control the presentation setting state even if a presentation setting start operation is performed. This makes it possible to prevent the S-unit 2 from being controlled to a presentation setting state that requires control based on the operation of a store clerk when the CU 3 is not connected.

[Displaying the setting change screen and disconnecting from CU3]
As described above, in the S-machine 2 of this embodiment, the setting change state is controlled by turning on the power of the S-machine 2 after turning on the setting key switch 37 while no unit game is being played. The setting key switch 37 can be operated by a staff member of the gaming establishment, so the S-machine 2 is configured so that it can be shifted to the setting change state only by a staff member of the gaming establishment. Hereinafter, the operation of turning on the power by turning on the setting key switch 37 is referred to as the "setting change start operation," and the operation of turning off the setting key switch 37 is referred to as the "setting change end operation."

Figure 82 is a diagram showing an example of the setting change screen. Figure 82 (A) shows the LCD display 51 in a state where no information is displayed because the power is not applied to S-machine 2. In the state shown in Figure 82 (A), an arcade staff member performs an operation to start changing the settings. This causes the LCD display 51 to display a setting change screen 370. The setting change screen 370 shows, for example, the current setting value and a method for changing the setting value, but this is omitted from Figure 82.

In this way, when the main control board 16 detects that a setting change start operation has been performed, it displays the setting change screen 370. Also, when the main control board 16 detects that a setting confirmation end operation has been performed, it ends the display of the setting change screen 370 and transitions to a non-play state as shown in FIG. 77(A).

Figure 83 is a diagram for explaining the processing when the connection with CU3 is disconnected while the setting change screen 370 is displayed. Figure 83 (A) shows the liquid crystal display 51 in the same state as Figure 82 (A), but with the power not being applied to S-stand 2. In addition, in the state of Figure 83 (A), the connection between S-stand 2 and CU3 has already been disconnected. That is, in Figure 83 (A), S-stand 2 is not powered on and is not connected to CU3. As shown in Figure 83, the store clerk performs a setting change operation. That is, the store clerk sets the setting key switch 37 to the ON state and then starts supplying power to S-stand 2.

As a result, the main control board 16 controls the state of S-machine 2 to the setting change state. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 83(B), the setting change screen 370 is displayed. Furthermore, since the connection between S-machine 2 and CU3 has been cut off, the main control board 16 causes the performance control board 15 to display the unconnected notification image Un1. In other words, the main control board 16 sends an unconnected notification command to the performance control board 15. Thereafter, a setting change end operation is performed by a staff member of the gaming facility. As shown in FIG. 83(C), a screen is displayed in which the unconnected notification image Un1 is superimposed on the normal screen of the advantageous zone in the non-playing state.

In this way, the main control board 16 controls to the setting change state when a setting change start operation is performed, and ends control of the setting change state when a setting change end operation is performed in the setting change state. Also, the main control board 16 controls to the setting change state when a setting change operation is performed, even if the CU 3 and S unit 2 are not connected when the power is turned on to the S unit 2. Furthermore, the main control board 16 ends control to the setting change state even if the CU 3 and S unit 2 are not connected when the setting change end operation is performed. This allows settings to be changed even when the CU 3 and S unit 2 are not connected.

In addition, if CU3 and S-unit 2 are not connected in the setting change state, the main control board 16 notifies the performance control board 15 that CU3 is not connected. This allows the staff of the gaming establishment to understand that CU3 and S-unit 2 are not connected even in the setting change state.

[Main components]
The above describes the S table 2 according to the present embodiment. The main configuration of the S table 2 according to the present embodiment will now be described.

(A (Fig. 71, 72))
In a gaming machine (for example, S machine 2 in FIG. 1),
A value storage means capable of storing game value owned by a player (for example, the RAM 171c of the medal count control board 17 in FIG. 2 );
A unit capable of storing game value owned by a player (e.g., CU3 in FIG. 1 ), and value control means for transferring game value between the value storage means (e.g., CPU 171 a of the medal count control board 17 in FIG. 2 ),
a value display means (for example, the credit display 11 in FIGS. 1 and 2) for displaying the gaming value amount stored by the value storage means;
The value control means includes:
based on a specific operation by the player (for example, a counting operation on the counting button 10 in Figs. 1 and 2, or a lending operation on the medal button 324 held by CU 3 in Fig. 1) over a specific period (for example, 500 ms as shown in Figs. 71 and 72), an update process (for example, an update process on RAM 171c) is performed to increase or decrease the amount of game value stored in the value storage means by a specific number (for example, 50 coins),
After the update process is completed, the value display means performs an update display (for example, batch update display process Ar1 in FIG. 74) for updating the specific number of gaming value amounts by one unit.

This allows the player to easily understand how gaming value is transferred between the gaming machine and the unit.

(A1 (Figs. 73, 74))
The update display is completed within a period equal to the specific period from the start of the update display (for example, as shown in FIG. 73 and FIG. 74, the update display of 50 sheets is completed within 500 ms).

This allows the player to easily see how the gaming value is transferred between the gaming machine and the unit even when counting operations are performed continuously.

(A2 (Fig. 73))
Further provided with sound output means (speakers 53, 54);
The sound output means outputs a specific sound based on the execution of the update display (for example, a first specific sound is output by speakers 53, 54 as shown in FIG. 73).

This allows the player to be made aware that gaming value is being transferred through the counting operation by outputting electronic sounds or the like.

(A3 (Fig. 73))
The sound output means changes the manner of the specific sound depending on the duration of execution of the update display (for example, as shown in FIG. 73, the output of the speakers 53, 5 changes from a first specific sound to a second specific sound).

This allows the player to feel special when transferring more than a predetermined amount of gaming value.

(A4 (Fig. 75))
The value control means includes:
When the gaming machine is not connected to the unit, even if the specific operation (for example, the lump-sum counting operation in FIG. 72) is detected, the gaming value is not transferred between the value storage means and the unit (for example, the counting button is disabled as shown in FIG. 75),
When the update display is being executed, even if the connection between the gaming machine and the unit is disconnected, the update display is continued (for example, the batch update display process Ar1 is executed as shown in FIG. 75).

This allows the player to recognize how gaming value is being transferred between the gaming machine and CU3 even if the connection with CU3 is cut off.

(A5 (Fig. 75))
The value control means includes:
When the gaming machine is not connected to the unit, even if the specific operation is detected, the gaming value is not transferred between the value storage means and the unit (for example, the count button is disabled as shown in FIG. 75 );
The sound output means includes:
When the update display is being executed, even if the connection between the gaming machine and the unit is disconnected, the output of the specific sound continues (for example, the first specific sound output process Ar2 is executed as shown in FIG. 75).

This allows the player to be made aware of the game value being transferred between the gaming machine and the unit through sounds even if the connection to the unit is cut off.

(B (Fig. 76))
The value control means includes:
Executing a comparison process (for example, step S302 in FIG. 76) for comparing the amount of gaming value stored by the value storage means with the amount of gaming value displayed by the value display means;
If the comparison process finds that the amount of gaming value stored by the value storage means differs from the amount of gaming value displayed by the value display means (for example, NO in step S302 of FIG. 76), the amount of gaming value displayed by the value display means is updated by one unit so as to approach the amount of gaming value stored by the value storage means (for example, steps S305, S309, S314, S318 of FIG. 76).

This allows the value display means to be updated and displayed in an optimal manner.

(B1 (FIG. 76))
The value control means includes:
The update conditions are a lending operation in which the game value stored by the unit is transferred to the value storage means, a counting operation in which the game value stored by the value storage means is transferred to the unit, the occurrence of a winning to which a game value is awarded, and a bet amount setting operation in which the game value is set as a bet amount,
When the update condition is satisfied (for example, if the flow proceeds to NO in step S302 of FIG. 76), the gaming value amount stored in the value storage means is updated.

This allows the gaming value amount stored in the value storage means to be updated at an appropriate time.

(B2 (Fig. 76))
The value control means repeatedly executes the comparison process,
The time interval from when the comparison process is completed until the next comparison process is executed is shorter when the gaming value amounts match than when they do not match (for example, if the answer is NO at step S302 in FIG. 76, waiting times are set at steps S306, S310, S315, and S319, and therefore the time interval for repeating step S302 is shorter than if the answer is YES at step S302 in FIG. 76).

This makes it possible to quickly detect any discrepancy between the amount of gaming value stored in the value storage means and the amount of gaming value displayed by the value display means.

(B3 (Fig. 74, 76))
The value control means includes:
When the update condition is met in a state in which the amount of gaming value stored by the value storage means and the amount of gaming value displayed by the value display means do not match, the amount of gaming value stored in the value storage means is updated, and the comparison process is executed using the updated amount of gaming value. (For example, even during the batch update display process Ar1 shown in FIG. 74, if the update condition for RAM 171c is met, the comparison process is executed using the number of credits after RAM 171c has been newly updated.)

Accordingly, even if an update display is in progress, if the gaming value amount stored in the value storage means is updated, the update display of the value display means can be executed in accordance with the update.

(B4 (Fig. 76))
The time interval from when the comparison process is completed until the next comparison process is executed varies depending on whether the amount of gaming value stored in the value storage means has increased or whether the amount of gaming value stored in the value storage means has decreased after the comparison process (for example, the period set as the waiting time varies depending on the branch at step S303 in FIG. 76. More specifically, if the number of RAM sheets is greater than the number of credits, the waiting time may be set to 30 ms, whereas if the number of RAM sheets is less than the number of credits, the waiting time is set to 10 ms).

This allows the player to recognize whether the amount of gaming value stored in the value storage means has increased or decreased based on the manner in which the value display means is updated.

(B5 (Fig. 76))
The time interval from when the comparison process is completed until the next comparison process is executed varies depending on whether the difference between the amount of gaming value stored in the value storage means in the comparison process and the gaming value stored by the value display means exceeds n (for example, the period set as the waiting time varies depending on the branching of step S313 in FIG. 76. More specifically, if the difference between the number of RAMs and the number of credits exceeds n, the waiting time may be set to 10 ms, whereas if the difference between the number of RAMs and the number of credits does not exceed n, the waiting time is set to 30 ms).

By this, the manner in which the value display means is updated changes according to the difference between the amount of gaming value stored in the value storage means and the gaming value stored by the value display means, so that the player can recognize the difference in gaming value from the manner in which the value display means is updated.

(B6 (Fig. 76))
The sound output means outputs a specific sound based on the execution of the update display, and changes the manner in which the specific sound is output depending on whether the difference between the amount of gaming value stored in the value storage means and the gaming value displayed by the value display means exceeds n (for example, the specific sound output differs depending on the branch of step S304 in FIG. 76. More specifically, if the difference between the number of RAM coins and the number of credits exceeds n coins, a first specific sound is output, while if the difference between the number of RAM coins and the number of credits does not exceed n coins, a bet number setting sound is output).

This allows the player to recognize whether the difference in gaming value exceeds n based on the characteristics of the specific sound.

(C (Fig. 59, Fig. 60, Fig. 61))
Further comprising a game control means (for example, the main control board 16 of FIG. 2) for controlling the progress of the game;
The game control means includes:
When the connection between the gaming machine and the unit is cut off while the bet number setting operation is available for acceptance (for example, the connection of CU3 shown in FIG. 59 is cut off), the acceptance of the bet number setting operation is invalidated (for example, the bet number setting operation is not accepted as shown in FIG. 59 ),
If the connection between the gaming machine and the unit is disconnected after the bet number setting operation has been accepted but before the unit game has started (for example, the connection of CU3 shown in FIG. 60 is disconnected), the acceptance of the operation to start the unit game is invalidated (for example, the operation of the start switch is not accepted as shown in FIG. 60),
If the connection between the gaming machine and the unit is disconnected while a unit game is being executed (for example, the connection of the CU shown in FIG. 61 is disconnected), a stop operation is accepted, and after the display result is derived by the stop operation, acceptance of the bet number setting operation for starting the next unit game is invalidated (for example, after the stop operation is accepted as shown in FIG. 61, the bet number setting operation is invalidated).

This means that if the CU is disconnected during a unit game, the player can continue playing until the unit game ends.

(C1 (Fig. 59, Fig. 60, Fig. 61))
The value control means includes:
If the connection between the gaming machine and the unit is disconnected in any of the following states: a state in which the bet number setting operation can be accepted (for example, the state before the connection with CU3 shown in FIG. 59 is disconnected), a state in which the bet number setting operation has been accepted but a unit game has not started (for example, the state before the connection with CU3 shown in FIG. 60 is disconnected), and a state in which a unit game is being executed (for example, the state before the connection with CU3 shown in FIG. 61 is disconnected), acceptance of the counting operation is invalidated (for example, the counting operation is not accepted as shown in FIGS. 59, 60, and 61).

This prevents counting operations from being performed when the connection between CU3 and the gaming machine is cut off.

(C2 (Fig. 59, Fig. 60, Fig. 61))
The game control means includes:
When the connection between the gaming machine and the unit is disconnected in a state where the acceptance of the bet number setting operation is valid and in a state where the unit game has not started after the acceptance of the bet number setting operation, a notification that the unit is not connected is started (for example, as shown in FIG. 59 and FIG. 60, a command is sent to start a notification that the unit is not connected based on the fact that the connection of CU3 has been disconnected),
If the connection between the gaming machine and the unit is disconnected while a unit game is being played, a notification that the unit is not connected is initiated after the display result is derived by the stop operation (for example, a command is sent to initiate a notification that the unit is not connected after the third stop operation as shown in Figure 61).

According to this, if the CU is disconnected during a unit game, the player can continue playing until the unit game ends, at which point the player can be notified that the CU is no longer connected.

(C3 (Figs. 62, 63))
Further comprising a performance control means (for example, the performance control board 15 of FIG. 2) for controlling the performance;
The presentation control means is capable of prompting a player to operate a presentation operation unit (e.g., the presentation switch 56 in FIG. 2) after a display result is derived by a stop operation in a unit game, and notifying a presentation result of a specific presentation based on the operation of the presentation operation unit;
The game control means includes:
If the connection between the gaming machine and the unit is disconnected while the specific presentation is being executed and the display result has not been derived by a stop operation (for example, the connection of CU3 shown in FIG. 62 is disconnected), after the display result is derived by the stop operation, the bet number setting operation is invalidated while the operation of the presentation operation unit is enabled, and the presentation result of the specific presentation (for example, the specific presentation result image Rs1 in FIG. 63) is notified to the presentation control means based on the operation of the presentation operation unit (for example, the specific presentation result notification shown in FIG. 62).

This allows the result of a special presentation to be notified even if the connection with CU3 is cut off during the special presentation, preventing a decrease in interest in the special presentation.

(C4 (Figure 2))
The game control means controls the acceptance of the bet amount setting operation, the unit game start operation, and the stop operation,
The value control means controls acceptance of the counting operation,
Each of the game control means and the value control means receives a signal capable of identifying the connection status between the game machine and the unit (for example, as shown in Figure 2, information indicating the connection status with CU3 is input to each of the medal count control board 17 and the main control board 16).

This allows both the game control means and the value control means to quickly detect that CU3 has become disconnected from S-machine 2.

(C5 (Figure 2))
The operation button that accepts the specific operation is configured so as not to output a signal even if it accepts an operation from the player when the unit and the gaming machine are not connected (for example, the counting button shown in Figure 2 is configured so as not to output a signal by a hardware function when the connection with CU3 is cut off).

This allows the counting button 10 to be quickly disabled if the CU3 becomes disconnected.

(D (Figs. 77 and 78))
The game control means includes:
In a non-game state where a unit game is not being played (for example, the state of FIG. 77(A)), based on a setting confirmation start operation being performed, start displaying a setting confirmation screen for confirming the setting values set in the gaming machine (for example, transition from FIG. 77(A) to FIG. 77(B)),
When the setting confirmation screen is displayed, the display of the setting confirmation screen is ended based on a setting confirmation end operation being performed (for example, transition from FIG. 77(B) to FIG. 77(A)),
When the gaming machine is in a non-playing state where no unit game is being played and the connection between the gaming machine and the unit is disconnected (for example, the connection with CU3 shown in FIG. 78 is disconnected), the setting confirmation screen will not be displayed even if the setting confirmation start operation is performed (for example, as shown in FIG. 78 (C), the setting confirmation screen is not displayed).

This prevents settings from being checked when CU3 is not connected.

(D1 (Fig. 77, 79))
The game control means includes:
In a non-game state where a unit game is not being played (for example, the state of FIG. 77(A)), based on a setting confirmation start operation being performed, start displaying a setting confirmation screen for confirming the setting values set in the gaming machine (for example, transition from FIG. 77(A) to FIG. 77(B)),
When the setting confirmation screen is displayed, the display of the setting confirmation screen is ended based on a setting confirmation end operation being performed (for example, transition from FIG. 77(B) to FIG. 77(A)),
If the connection between the gaming machine and the unit is disconnected while the setting confirmation screen is displayed (for example, the CU connection is disconnected as shown in FIG. 79), the display of the setting confirmation screen is terminated and the non-gaming state is entered based on the setting confirmation end operation being performed (for example, a transition from FIG. 79(C) to FIG. 79(D)), and after being controlled to the non-gaming state, the setting confirmation screen is not displayed even if the setting confirmation start operation is performed (for example, the setting confirmation screen is not displayed as shown in FIG. 79(E)).

This prevents the gaming machine from becoming unable to be controlled if the CU connection is disconnected when the gaming machine is in a state other than the normal state, such as the settings confirmation screen.

(D2 (Fig. 79))
When the setting confirmation screen is displayed and the connection between the unit and the gaming machine is disconnected (for example, the connection with CU3 shown in Figure 79 is disconnected), the gaming control means notifies the user that the unit is not connected (for example, the unconnected notification image Un1 shown in Figure 79 (C)).

This allows the player to understand that CU3 is not connected even when the setting confirmation screen is displayed.

(D3 (Fig. 77, 80))
The performance control means includes:
In a non-play state where a unit game is not being played (for example, the state of FIG. 80(A)), a performance setting screen (for example, the menu screen 360 of FIG. 80(B)) can be displayed based on the player's operation.
The game control means includes:
In a non-play state where a unit game is not being played,
Based on a performance setting start operation (for example, a setting confirmation start operation in FIG. 77 ) by a staff member of the gaming establishment, the performance setting can be controlled to a performance setting state in which the performance setting can be changed (for example, a state in which the display area 354 of the setting confirmation screen in FIG. 77 (B) is displayed),
Based on an operation to end the effect setting by a staff member of the game establishment (for example, an operation to end the setting confirmation in FIG. 77), the control to the effect setting state is ended (for example, a state in which the state transitions from FIG. 77(B) to FIG. 77(A) and the display area 354 is no longer displayed),
When the unit and the gaming machine are disconnected in the non-play state, the performance control means displays the performance setting screen in response to a player's operation (for example, as shown in FIG. 81, a menu screen 360 is displayed in FIG. 81(C)),
When the connection between the unit and the gaming machine is disconnected in the non-play state, the gaming control means does not control the game to the performance setting state even if a performance setting start operation is performed (for example, the setting confirmation screen is not displayed as shown in Figure 79 (E)).

This makes it possible to prevent the device from being controlled to a performance setting state that can be controlled based on the operation of a store clerk when CU3 is not connected.

(D4 (Fig. 82, 83))
The game control means includes:
When a setting change start operation is performed when the power is turned on to the gaming machine, the gaming machine is controlled to a setting change state (for example, YES in step Sa14 of FIG. 67 );
When a setting change end operation is performed in the setting change state, the control of the setting change state is ended;
Even if the unit and the gaming machine are not connected when the power is turned on to the gaming machine, when the setting change operation is performed, the setting change state is entered (for example, a setting change screen 370 is displayed as shown in FIG. 83(B) ),
Even if the unit and the gaming machine are not connected when the setting change end operation is performed, control to the setting change state is ended (for example, the display of the setting change screen 370 is ended as shown in FIG. 83 (C)).

This allows settings to be changed even when CU3 and the gaming machine are not connected.

(D5 (Fig. 83))
If the unit and the gaming machine are not connected in the setting change state, the game control means notifies the user that the unit is not connected (for example, a non-connection notification image Un1 shown in Figure 83 (B)).

This allows the store attendant to know that CU3 and the gaming machine are not connected even when the settings have been changed.

[Modification]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and applications are possible. Modifications of the above-described embodiment that can be applied to the present invention will be described below.

[Application to Pachinko Machines]
In this embodiment, the number of credits is displayed by gradually subtracting it from the number of credits for the S machine 2 which is a slot machine, but the present invention can also be applied to a pachinko game machine.

[Application to credit display segment 7S]
In this embodiment, in addition to the credit indicator 11, a credit display segment 7S is provided as a configuration for displaying the number of credits. The batch update display process Ar1 described above may also be applied to the credit display segment 7S. More specifically, the medal count control board 17 transmits a command indicating the number of credits stored in the RAM 171c to the performance control board 15 at predetermined intervals. If there is a difference between the number of credits stored in the RAM 171c stored in the command and the number of credits displayed in the credit display segment 7S, the performance control board 15 updates the number of displayed credits in the credit display segment 7S one by one to approach the number of credits in the RAM 171c.

Although an embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and it goes without saying that modifications and additions that do not deviate from the spirit of the present invention are also included in the present invention.

The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims, not by the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

2 S machine, 2L, 2C, 2R reels, 6 MAXBET switch, 7 start switch, 8L, 8C, 8R stop switches, 51 LCD display, 15 performance control board, 16 main control board, 17 medal count control board.

Claims (1)

In a gaming machine for playing a game,
A game control means for controlling the progress of a game;
a value storage means capable of storing gaming value owned by a player;
a unit capable of storing a gaming value owned by a player, and a value control means for transferring the gaming value between the value storage means;
A performance control means for controlling the performance,
The performance control means includes:
In a non-play state in which a unit game is not being played, a performance setting screen can be displayed based on a player's operation;
In a non-game state where a unit game is not being played, the game can be controlled to a performance setting state in which the performance setting can be changed based on a performance setting start operation by a store clerk at the game store;
When the unit is disconnected from the gaming machine in the non-play state, the effect setting screen is displayed when a player performs an operation;
When the unit and the gaming machine are disconnected in the non-play state, the gaming machine is not controlled to the effect setting state even if the effect setting start operation is performed.