JP2024098301A - Gaming Machines - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a highly amusing unprecedented game machine.SOLUTION: A game machine includes: first game control means capable of executing a first game for deriving a first pattern combination formed by multiple reels on the basis of completion of a game as a game; second game control means capable of executing a second game for deriving a second pattern combination formed by multiple reels in addition to derivation of the first pattern combination during execution of the first game; and stop operation means operable by a player. The second game control means includes: second pattern derivation control means capable of executing control for deriving the second pattern combination on the basis of operation of the stop operation means; and variation display direction control means capable of changing a variation display direction in a predetermined reel during a variation display on the basis of operation of the stop operation means before deriving the second pattern combination.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 16

Description

The present invention relates to an amusement machine.

Conventionally, there has been known a gaming machine that is equipped with a variable display device capable of variably displaying a plurality of identification information, runs a variable display game involving a variable display on the variable display device, and derives the result of the variable display game by stopping the variable display through a stop operation by the player, and generates a specific gaming state advantageous to the player depending on the derived result of the variable display game.
Furthermore, in recent gaming machines, there are also known machines that allow the changing display to be stopped multiple times in a single changing display game, thereby giving the player multiple opportunities to perform the stopping operation (Patent Document 1).

JP2014-083374A

However, there was room for improvement in conventional gaming machines.

In order to solve the above problem, the present invention provides a gaming machine that has multiple reels each showing multiple symbols, and that executes a game involving a variable display of the multiple reels based on the player's operation, and that can award a bonus in relation to the execution of the game, and that includes a first game control means capable of executing a first game in which a first symbol combination formed by the multiple reels is derived based on the end of the game, a second game control means capable of executing a second game in which a second symbol combination formed by the multiple reels is derived in addition to the first symbol combination during the execution of the first game, and a stop operation means operable by the player, and the second game control means includes a second symbol derivation control means capable of executing control to derive the second symbol combination based on the operation of the stop operation means, and a variable display direction control means capable of changing the variable display direction of a specified reel during the variable display based on the operation of the stop operation means prior to the derivation of the second symbol combination.

1 is a schematic front view showing the appearance of the gaming machine. 2 is a block diagram showing the control configuration of the gaming machine. 1 is a diagram for explaining the arrangement of symbols on each reel. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an internal lottery table used when drawing lots for roles in the main control device. This is a chart to explain the benefits that are awarded when each role is won. 1 is a diagram for explaining the transition of game states in a gaming machine. 13 is a diagram showing a CZCZ state lottery table used when drawing lots for the CZCZ state in the main control unit. This is a diagram showing a favorable zone end lottery table used when conducting a lottery for the end of the favorable zone in the main control device. 13 is a diagram showing an AT state lottery table used when performing a lottery for an AT state in the main control device. 13 is a diagram showing a pseudo bonus state lottery table used when drawing lots for a pseudo bonus state in the main control device. 13 is a diagram showing a pseudo-stop symbol lottery table used when drawing lots for pseudo-stop symbols in the main control device. 11 is a diagram showing a pseudo-game rotation pattern lottery table used when a lottery for a pseudo-game rotation pattern is performed by the main control device. A diagram to explain the transition of the game state and game area corresponding to a winning combination. 11A to 11C are diagrams for explaining the effects on the main display during each game state. 13 is a diagram for explaining the rotational state of the reels and the presentation of the main display when a pseudo game is played with rotation pattern 1. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the rotational state of the reels and the presentation of the main display when a pseudo game is played with rotation pattern 2. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the rotational state of the reels and the presentation of the main display when a pseudo game is played with rotation pattern 3. FIG. A diagram to explain the reel rotation pattern and main display presentation when pseudo-play is performed when the AT state is not won.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Here, a slot machine will be described as an example of a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, the overall configuration of the slot machine 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The slot machine 1 is installed in an amusement park or the like.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the slot machine 1 is equipped with a front door 1a, a bet button 2a, a return button 2c, a performance button 2d, an upper performance button 2f, a medal insertion slot 2, a start lever 3, a reel 4, a stop button 5, a display window 6, a medal payout device 7, a medal payout outlet 7b, a main display 8, a sub-display 17, a speaker 9, a front panel 19, a lamp 11, a navigation lamp 12, an advantageous zone lamp 13, a probability setting device 14, a display decorative frame 15, a drum unit 4d, an external output terminal 18, a main control device 10, and a sub-control device 20.

The main control unit 10 and the sub-control unit 20 each have a memory unit and a control unit, and are devices capable of various calculation processes and various controls, and are included in the concept of a computer. Each memory unit has a storage device such as a semiconductor memory element that stores programs, information, etc. necessary for the operation of the slot machine 1. Each control unit has a CPU, etc. Each control unit realizes the various functions of this embodiment by appropriately reading and executing various programs, etc. stored in each memory unit.

[Schematic front view showing the appearance of the gaming machine]
As shown in FIG. 1, a slot machine 1 is provided with a front door 1a at its front.
The front door 1a is pivotally attached to one side (left side as seen from the front) of a main body (not shown) that is disposed behind the front door 1a and attached to an island equipment (not shown), and is configured to be able to be opened and closed forward in a single-opening manner. Note that, hereinafter, the left and right directions are shown when the slot machine 1 is viewed from the front side.

A main display 8 is disposed at the center of the upper part of the front door 1a in the left-right direction when the slot machine 1 is viewed from the front side. The main display 8 is configured with a liquid crystal display or the like capable of displaying a plurality of pieces of information, such as information related to effects (effect images), as will be described later, and constitutes a display means.
A display decorative frame 15 having an opening in the center is disposed above the front door 1a and in front of the main display 8, and the main display 8 is disposed with its display surface facing forward through the opening of the display decorative frame 15.

A speaker 9 is disposed on each of the left and right sides of the main display 8, and is capable of outputting, for example, sound effects corresponding to the effects displayed on the main display 8.
In addition, lamps 11 consisting of LEDs or the like are provided on each of the left and right sides of the main display 8, and are capable of outputting, for example, light when a winning combination is achieved or light of an illumination mode corresponding to the effects displayed on the main display 8.

An upper performance button 2f, which is an example of an operating means, is provided on the right side of the main display 8.
The upper performance button 2f is a push button that moves in the forward and backward directions, and the pushing operation of the upper performance button 2f is detected by a non-contact sensor or the like and output as operation information of the upper performance button 2f to the sub-controller 20. In addition, a light-emitting source (not shown) consisting of an LED or the like is provided inside the upper performance button 2f, and the light emitted by the light-emitting source can notify that the operation of the upper performance button 2f is valid.

A flat front panel 19 having decorations and various function indications on its surface is disposed in the vertical center of the front door 1a of the slot machine 1.
Behind the front panel 19, there is disposed a drum unit 4d having a reel 4 as a variable display means.
Further, in the approximate center of the front panel 19, a display window 6 made of a light-transmitting material is formed, through which the symbols on the reels 4 can be seen from the front.

The reels 4 are composed of a left reel 4a, a center reel 4b, and a right reel 4c arranged side by side in the left-right direction, and the rotation axis of each of the reels 4a to 4c extends in the left-right direction, and the rotation center is set to be the same. The reels 4 (4a to 4c) have continuous patterns (identification information) on the periphery, and these patterns are configured to be identifiable from outside the machine through the display window 6, and as the reels 4 rotate in one direction, the patterns can be displayed in a variable manner, for example, from top to bottom, within the display window 6. Each of the reels 4a to 4c shows multiple patterns (for example, 21 patterns), and the types of patterns are, for example, "replay,""watermelon,""cherry,""bell,""red7,""blue7,""gold7," etc.
The shape of the reel 4 is not limited to this, and for example, the number of symbols on the periphery may be other than 21.

Above the display window 6 on the front panel 19, navigation lamps 12a, 12b, and 12c capable of indicating the stopping sequence of the stop buttons 5, which will be described later, are disposed in correspondence with the reels 4a, 4b, and 4c.
Also, a favorable zone lamp 13, for example, composed of an LED, is disposed on the lower left side of the display window 6 on the front panel 19. The favorable zone lamp 13 is controlled to light up during a favorable zone (described later). Note that, instead of the favorable zone lamp 13, the slot machine 1 may provide a "dot" portion on a seven-segment display (also called "7-seg") constituting a payout number display unit that displays the number of medals paid out, and control this to light up.

A sub-display 17 is disposed on the front panel 19 to the right of the display window 6 (reels 4).
The sub-display 17 is composed of a liquid crystal display or the like capable of displaying multiple pieces of information, such as information related to the performance (performance image) as described below, and constitutes a display means.
The sub-display 17 has a smaller display area than the main display 8, but is disposed closer to the reel 4 than the main display 8, making it easy to visually recognize the displayed image while watching the reel 4 rotate and stop.
The sub-display unit 17 may be provided on the left side of the display window 6 (the reels 4). The sub-display unit 17 may be configured as a touch panel type display unit.

A step protruding forward is formed below the front panel 19, and a coin insertion slot 2, a bet button 2a, and a performance button 2d, which are exemplified as operating means, are disposed on the upper surface of the step.
The medal insertion slot 2 is a portion where a player inserts a medal (game medium). Inside the medal insertion slot 2, a medal selector 2b (medal detection means) which is a sensor or the like that detects a medal inserted into the medal insertion slot 2 is provided.
The bet button 2a is a push button that allows the player to input the number of bets required to start a game, and allows the player to input the maximum number of bets permitted by the slot machine 1 with one operation.

The performance button 2d is a push button that moves up and down, and the pressing of the performance button 2d is detected by a non-contact sensor or the like and output to the sub-controller 20 as operation information of the performance button 2d. In addition, a light-emitting source (not shown) such as an LED is provided inside the performance button 2d, and the light emitted by the light-emitting source can notify that the operation of the corresponding performance button 2d is valid. The performance button 2d is disposed in a position closer to the reel 4 than the upper performance button 2f described above.

A start lever 3, a return button 2c, and a stop button 5, which is exemplified as a stop operation means, are disposed on the front surface of the stepped portion.
The start lever 3 is a lever that the player operates to start the game. After the number of bets is input, the start lever 3 becomes active and the game can start.
The return button 2c is configured as a push button that moves back and forth, and is a button that is operated when canceling the set bet number or when paying out medals stored as credit medals.
The stop buttons 5 are buttons for stopping the spinning reels 4 and are composed of push-type buttons that move back and forth, with the left stop button 5a, center stop button 5b, and right stop button 5c being arranged at predetermined intervals horizontally to correspond to the left reel 4a, center reel 4b, and right reel 4c.

Below the front door 1a of the slot machine 1, there is a medal payout outlet 7b through which medals paid out from the medal payout device 7 are ejected.

[Block diagram showing the control configuration of the gaming machine]
FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a control system in the slot machine 1 according to this embodiment.
2, the slot machine 1 is equipped with a main control device 10 which performs the drawing of winning roles and the control of the progress of the game, and a sub-control device 20 which is configured to be able to communicate with the main control device 10 and performs various presentation controls based on control information from the main control device 10. The transmission of control information between the main control device 10 and the sub-control device 20 is limited to one direction only, from the main control device 10 to the sub-control device 20, to prevent the input of unauthorized signals from the sub-control device 20 to the main control device 10.

The main control device 10 is connected to the bet button 2a, medal selector 2b, return button 2c, start lever 3, stop button 5, probability setting device 14 (setting means), external output terminal 18, medal payout device 7, drum unit 4d, and advantageous zone lamp 13 by communication cables, and is capable of controlling each device. The main control device 10 also includes a memory unit (storage means) and a control unit.

The probability setting device 14, as a setting means, changes the probability (probability of winning) of transitioning to a specific game state (e.g., AT state) into multiple stages (e.g., six stages), thereby allowing the degree of advantage for the player to be set in multiple stages, and the main control unit 10 performs a process of setting the probability of transitioning to a specific game state to one of multiple probability values with different probabilities based on the probability setting operation in the probability setting device 14.
The setting values set by the probability setting device 14 are: setting 1 has the lowest probability value, the higher the number, the higher the probability value, and setting 6 has the highest probability value. Therefore, setting 1 is the most disadvantageous setting to the player (the setting with the lowest degree of advantage), the higher the number, the more advantageous it is to the player, and setting 6 is the most advantageous setting to the player (the setting with the highest degree of advantage).

In addition, the probability of transitioning to a specific game state may be controlled by a fixed probability value without being affected by the setting value of the probability setting device 14.
In addition, the probability of transitioning to the CZ state or pseudo bonus state may be changed by changing the setting value in the probability setting device 14, making it possible to change the player's degree of advantage in multiple stages.
In addition to the specific game state, the probability of winning a predetermined small role (for example, a bell role) may be made variable in multiple stages (for example, six stages).

The external output terminal 18 outputs information related to playing on the slot machine 1 to a management device (not shown) or a calling device (not shown) installed in the gaming establishment, and outputs information under the control of the main control device 10 to collect various data such as the number of games played on the slot machine 1, the number of medals inserted, the number of medals paid out, the number of times a game state advantageous to the player occurs (for example, the pseudo bonus state and AT state described below) and the transition period.

The drum unit 4d is a device integrally including the reels 4a to 4c and stepping motors (not shown) for rotating the reels 4a to 4c.
The medal payout device 7 has a medal storage section (not shown) that collects medals inserted into the medal selector 2b as medals before being paid out, and is a device that pays out the medals stored in the medal storage section to a medal payout outlet 7b. The medal payout device 7 is equipped with a sensor that detects the paid-out medals.
The medal selector 2 b is provided downstream of the medal insertion port 2 and is equipped with a sensor that detects medals inserted through the medal insertion port 2 .

The memory unit of the main control device 10 stores various information such as game programs related to the game, tables for drawing lots for minor winnings and AT states, etc.
Furthermore, the main control device 10 operates using a control unit and a storage unit in which programs are stored, thereby carrying out processes related to the progress of play on the slot machine 1 .

The main control device 10 performs processes such as starting the game and sampling random numbers from a random number generator (not shown) based on a signal from the start lever 3. It then performs lottery processing for winning combinations based on the sampled random numbers. It also performs random number generation processing, for example by updating the random numbers at a predetermined timing, according to the control program in the storage unit, and performs lottery processing for transition to a CZCZ state, lottery processing for transition to a CZ state, lottery processing for transition to an AT state, lottery processing for the type of AT state (lottery processing for rotation patterns of pseudo play), lottery processing for transition to a pseudo bonus state, etc., which will be described later, based on the generated random numbers.

That is, the main control device 10 is provided with a lottery means for selecting (determining) whether or not to award a special benefit such as a small win, a pseudo bonus state, or an AT state in response to the execution of a game.
In addition, the selection pattern using random numbers may be other than the patterns described above, and the hand may be selected based on random numbers generated by software, and the transition to a pseudo bonus state or AT state, or an additional selection may be performed based on random numbers generated by a random number generator, or all selections may be performed using random numbers generated by software or random numbers generated by a random number generator.

The main control device 10 also controls the rotation of the reels 4 based on a signal from the start lever 3. The main control device 10 detects the rotational position of each reel 4a, 4b, 4c based on signals from sensors (not shown) provided on each reel 4a, 4b, 4c, and is therefore able to grasp the rotational position of the symbols on each reel 4a, 4b, 4c. Then, based on a signal from the stop button 5, it performs control to stop the desired symbol within the display window 6.

In addition, the main control device 10 realizes the game play of the slot machine 1 by controlling the game progress process involving internal lottery processing, management of various information stored in the memory unit, and devices such as the medal payout device 7 in response to the operation of the operation unit such as the start lever 3.

The sub-controller 20 is connected to the performance button 2d, upper performance button 2f, speaker 9, main display 8, lamp 11, navigation lamp 12, and sub-display 17 via communication cables, and is capable of communicating with them. The sub-controller 20 controls these devices in response to control information from the main control unit 10. The sub-controller 20 also includes a memory unit and a control unit.

The memory unit of the sub-controller 20 stores various information such as programs related to performance, performance image data, audio data, etc.
The sub-controller 20 operates by a control unit and a storage unit in which a program is stored, and performs processing such as effects synchronized with play on the slot machine 1 in response to commands (control information) from the main controller 10. For example, it controls the main display 8, the lamps 11, the speaker 9, etc. to output effect images and sound effects that indicate a transition in the game state, and lamp effects.

In addition, the sub-controller 20 is capable of controlling the switching timing of each effect based on signals from the effect button 2d and the upper effect button 2f.
Either or both of the main control device 10 and the sub-control device 20 constitute the first game control means, the second game control means, the second pattern derivation control means, the variable display direction control means, the bonus award determination means, the bonus type determination means, and the operation assistance means of the present invention.

[Basic gameplay of gaming machines]
Next, basic games in the slot machine 1 realized by the control of the main control device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 3 to FIG.

First, when starting a game, medals are inserted into the medal insertion slot 2, or the number of bets is set from credit medals by operating the bet button 2a.
Then, when the number of bets reaches a predetermined number (for example, three coins), one of the conditions for starting the game is met, and the player enters a state in which the right to play one game is held and the game can be started.

In this state where the game can be started, the operation of the start lever 3 is valid. In this valid state, when the start lever 3 is tilted, all of the conditions for starting the game are met, the game starts, and the reels 4a to 4c on which multiple symbols are displayed start to move, and an internal lottery process is executed to determine in advance, before the reels 4 stop, the lottery results of the current game for multiple roles such as replay roles, small roles, and bonus roles (including misses), as well as for transitions to a pseudo bonus state and an AT state.
In the internal lottery process, a winning combination for the current game is determined by lottery from among a plurality of winning combinations based on a predetermined winning probability. For example, a lottery result such as a replay combination or a bell combination is derived by lottery.

Furthermore, even if the main control device 10 receives a signal from the start lever 3, if the elapsed time from the start of the rotation of the reel 4 in the previous game has not yet passed a predetermined time (e.g., 4.1 seconds), the main control device 10 performs a limiting control to limit the number of games executed per unit time (e.g., one minute) to within a predetermined number (e.g., 14 times) by temporarily waiting (inserting a waiting time) before the start of rotation of the reel 4, thereby delaying the start of rotation of the reel 4. In other words, the main control device 10 is provided with a game number limiting means capable of limiting the number of games executed per unit time to within a predetermined number. With this control, the shortest execution time required for one game is set to a predetermined time (e.g., 4.1 seconds).
In addition, the period for monitoring the above-mentioned shortest execution time may be set based on a point other than the point at which the reel 4 starts to rotate between games. For example, it may be based on the point at which the stop button 5 is activated, or any point may be used as the base as long as it is possible to monitor the number of games per unit time.

Each of the reels 4a to 4c is an example of a display means, and as shown in Figure 3, a number of symbols (replay, bell, watermelon, cherry, BAR, red 7, blue 7, gold 7) are displayed in a predetermined arrangement on the periphery of each of the reels 4a to 4c. The rotation speed gradually increases from a stopped state, and then the reels reach a steady rotation at a constant speed.
When the reels reach this steady rotation, the stop buttons 5a to 5c provided corresponding to the reels 4a to 4c become operable by pressing them.

When each of the stop buttons 5a to 5c is pressed in this state, the reels 4a to 4c are controlled to stop at a symbol combination permitted by the timing of the operation and the lottery result of the internal lottery process.
The stopping control of each reel 4a to 4c has a pull-in range set for it, and a predetermined number (for example, four) of symbols in the reverse rotation direction (upward) from the symbol at the time the stopping operation is performed can be pulled in, and only any of the symbols in this pull-in range can be stopped on an active line (pull-in stop control).

In the stopped state, three consecutive symbols displayed in the vertical direction on each of the reels 4a to 4c stop (stopped display) so that they face outside the machine through the display window 6, and the presence or absence of a win is determined based on the state of the stopped display at this time.
The winning combination is determined based on the symbol combination that stops on the middle winning line connecting the middle symbols of each reel 4 in the display window 6.

Winning of a small win, a replay win, or the like is determined based on the symbol combination on such a winning line.
The small roles include, for example, a push order bell role, a watermelon role, a cherry role, and a one-coin role.

The push order bell role includes six push order bell roles 1 to 6, in which the corresponding symbol combination ("Bell Bell Bell") is displayed when the stop buttons 5a to 5c are operated in one of six push orders (a specific push order) out of six possible push orders (for example, "5a → 5b → 5c", "5c → 5b → 5a", etc.). When the stop buttons 5a to 5c of these push order bell roles 1 to 6 are operated in the other five push orders (push orders other than the specific push order), the corresponding symbol combination ("Bell Bell Bell") is not displayed, and instead, another symbol combination such as "Bell Bell Replay" (called a "Bell Spill") is displayed.

When the push order bell role is won, regardless of which stop button 5 is operated second or third, as long as only the first stop button 5 is operated in a specific push order, the reels 4 may be controlled to stop so that the symbol combination corresponding to the push order bell role stops. Also, the number of push order bells is not limited to six, and three push order bells 1 to 3 may be provided.

The watermelon role is a minor role (rare role) with the corresponding symbol combination being "watermelon, watermelon, watermelon."
The cherry role is a minor role (rare role) whose corresponding symbol combination is “Cherry-ANY-ANY”, and there are a weak cherry role in which “Cherry” stops on the top or bottom row of the left reel 4a, and a strong cherry role in which “Cherry” stops on the middle row of the left reel 4a.
The 1-coin combination is a minor combination that corresponds to the "Bell Bell Replay" symbol combination. Therefore, when the 1-coin combination is won, the same symbol combination as the "Bell Spill" symbol combination will stop.

The replay role is a role in which the corresponding symbol combination is "replay, replay, replay."
The chance role is a minor role in which the corresponding symbol combination is "bell-watermelon-watermelon" (chance eye), and together with the watermelon role and the cherry role, it is set as a so-called rare role with a relatively low probability of winning in the internal lottery process.
In addition, the rare roles are set such that the weak cherry role and the watermelon role, which have a relatively high probability of winning, are weak rare roles, while the strong cherry role and the chance role, which have a relatively high probability of winning, are strong rare roles.
In addition, roles other than the replay role and the 1-coin role require a stopping operation (so-called eye-pressing operation) aimed at the symbol corresponding to the winning combination on a specified reel, and even if a win occurs and pull-in stop control is performed, the corresponding symbol combination does not necessarily stop.

In addition, in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment, in addition to the above-mentioned small winning combinations, a bonus winning combination can also be won.
The bonus role is a role that, when won, transitions the game state to the bonus state. When the bonus role is won, the reel 4 is stopped and controlled to allow a special symbol combination (for example, "7 BAR 7") to appear on an active line. When the special symbol combination stops on an active line and the bonus role is won, the game state transitions to the bonus state.
During the bonus state, the winning combination is selected so that there is almost no increase or decrease in the number of medals (so-called zero bonus).
In addition, the right to win the bonus role is maintained (during bonus carry-over) until the bonus role is won, and in a normal game, the bonus role is played during most of the time during which the bonus role is carried over.

In addition, the main control device 10 and the sub-control device 20 can generate an AT (assist time) as a game state related to the push order bell role. When the push order bell role is won, the AT is a state in which the push order of the winning push order bell role is notified (push order navigation is executed) by the main display 8 and the navigation lamp 12.
Therefore, the occurrence of the AT allows the player to easily win medals, and is controlled during the pseudo bonus state and AT state described below.

In the main control device 10, when each game is executed, a lottery for each of the above-mentioned roles is carried out based on the sampling of predetermined random numbers.
As shown in FIG. 4, for example, when the setting value in the probability setting device 14 is setting 1, the probability of winning each role is set as follows: the replay role is set with a probability of 8982/65536, the 1 coin role is set with a probability of 14400/65536, the weak cherry role is set with a probability of 650/65536, the strong cherry role is set with a probability of 164/65536, the watermelon role is set with a probability of 919/65536, the chance role is set with a probability of 491/65536, each of the push order bell roles 1-2 is set with a probability of 6981/65536, and each of the push order bell roles 3-6 is set with a probability of 6492/65536.
In addition, the winning probability of each role in settings 2 to 6 is set to the values shown in the figure, although detailed explanations will be omitted.

The winning probability of each role shown in Fig. 4 is a value during bonus carryover, but the winning probability is the same even when the bonus role is not won (bonus non-carryover). However, when the bonus is not carried over, the bonus role will be won at the same time as the 1-coin role.
In addition, the push order bell role is set to six different push orders, but the push order bell role may be set to twelve different types by configuring it with symbols that require a push operation in addition to the push order.

Then, based on the symbol combination that stops at the end of the game involving the drawing of each of the above roles, a determination is made as to whether a small role, a replay role, or a bonus role has been won (determination means), and if the result of the determination is that the symbol combination corresponds to each of the above roles, a win is achieved and a game value (benefit) is awarded according to the achievement of each win.
For example, when a symbol combination corresponding to a minor prize such as a bell, a cherry, or a watermelon stops, it is determined that a minor prize has been won, and the medal payout device 7 is driven and controlled to pay out a predetermined number of medals through the medal payout opening 7b.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, when a winning replay role is achieved by the stopped display of a symbol combination corresponding to the replay role, it becomes possible to play (replay) the next game with the same number of bets as the number of bets set in the previous game without inserting medals (without setting the number of bets).
In addition, when a symbol combination corresponding to a 1 coin role, a weak cherry role, a strong cherry role, or a chance role is stopped and displayed, one medal is paid out respectively.
Furthermore, when a symbol combination corresponding to the watermelon role is stopped and displayed, six medals are paid out.

In addition, when push order bell roles 1 to 2 are won, and when the corresponding symbol combinations are stopped and displayed, three medals are paid out, and when push order bell roles 3 to 6 are won, and when the corresponding symbol combinations are stopped and displayed, ten medals are paid out.
In addition, when the push order bell roles 1 to 6 are won, if the stop buttons 5a to 5c are operated in a push order other than the specific push order (five push orders), one medal is paid out.
In addition, for the push order bell roles 3 to 6, the winning probability and the number of medals paid out are set so that the medals held by the player increase during the AT state described below.
In addition, the number of medals paid out when a symbol combination corresponding to each winning combination is stopped and displayed may be other than the above-mentioned number.
In addition, the symbol combinations corresponding to all winning combinations may be configured with symbols that require a pressing operation, or may be configured with symbols that do not require a pressing operation.

[Game state transition]
Next, the transition of the gaming state in the slot machine 1 in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 6, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment is played in multiple game states, including a normal game state, a CZCZ state, a CZ state, an AT state, and a pseudo bonus state. The main control device 10 is capable of controlling the transition from one game state to another game state based on the establishment of a predetermined transition condition.

Furthermore, the main control device 10 of this embodiment is provided with a zone control means capable of controlling the game zone to either a normal zone (non-advantageous zone) or an advantageous zone, separately from the above-mentioned game state.
The normal zone is a game zone in which push order navigation is not executed, and begins when the next game starts after the advantageous zone ends, and ends when the advantageous zone transition conditions are met.
In the normal zone, the favorable zone lamp 13 is controlled to be turned off.

In addition, in the normal zone, when the conditions for transition to the advantageous zone are met, for example, when a predetermined role (for example, a replay role or a push order bell role) is won in an internal lottery, it is determined that the player will transition to the advantageous zone.
In addition, although the details will be described later, when the game state is the normal game state and the advantageous zone transition condition is established in a game in the normal zone, the game will transition to the advantageous zone from the next game, but if the bonus is being carried over at this time, the game state will transition to the CZ state, and if the bonus is not being carried over, the game state will maintain the normal game state. Therefore, since the advantageous zone transition condition is easily established, if the bonus is being carried over, the transition to the normal zone will essentially grant the right to transition to the CZ state.
In the normal section, the push order navigation is not executed.
Furthermore, when the main control device 10 is reset, it is controlled to the normal section.
The timing of the transition to the advantageous zone may be other than the above, for example, the end of the game in which the advantageous zone transition condition is satisfied (the moment when the last operation of pressing the stop button 5 is completed, etc.). In this case, the transition to the advantageous zone will occur before the start of the next game.

The advantageous zone is a play zone in which push order navigation may be executed, and is a play zone that is more advantageous to the player than the normal zone because push order navigation may be executed.
In addition, the advantageous zone begins when the next game is started after the advantageous zone transition condition is met in the normal zone, and ends when a predetermined advantageous zone end condition is met.
In the favorable zone, the favorable zone lamp 13 is controlled to be lit.
In addition, after transitioning to the advantageous zone, the advantageous zone lamp 13 may start to light up when a gaming state (e.g., an AT state) is reached in which the number of medals held by the player increases as a result of execution of the push order navigation.

In addition, the advantageous zone will transition to a normal zone based on the establishment of the advantageous zone termination condition within the advantageous zone.
An example of a condition for the end of the advantageous period is when the slot machine 1 (main control device 10) is reset (including when the settings are changed).
In addition, the conditions for the end of the advantageous zone, which will be described in detail later, are met when the lottery for the end condition of the advantageous zone (the lottery for transition to the CZ state) is won during a game in the normal game state or the CZCZ state.
In principle, the advantageous period continues when the AT state ends, but the conditions for ending the advantageous period may be met at a part of the time when the AT state ends, or it may be decided whether or not to end the advantageous period depending on the difference in number of coins at the time when the AT state ends.

Furthermore, the slot machine 1 is provided with a limiter function (hereinafter simply referred to as the limiter) for limiting the number of medals that a player can acquire, and the conditions for ending the advantageous zone are met even when the limiter is activated.
For example, the limiter is activated when the difference in the number of medals (number of medals paid out - number of medals inserted) in one advantageous period reaches the upper limit (for example, +2,400 medals).

In addition to the above, the limiter is set to operate when the number of games played in one advantageous period (advantageous period game number) reaches an upper limit game number (for example, 4,000 games).
Therefore, the limiter will be activated when either the difference in the number of coins in one advantageous period reaches the upper limit number, or the number of games in one advantageous period reaches the upper limit number of games.
In addition, the activation condition of the limiter may be set only when the difference in the number of coins in one advantageous period reaches the upper limit number, and no upper limit may be set on the number of games in one advantageous period.
The advantageous zone will end when any of the above-mentioned advantageous zone ending conditions is met.

In addition to the above-mentioned limiter function as a function for limiting the number of medals acquired by a player, the slot machine 1 of this embodiment is also provided with a so-called complete function (also simply called complete) that limits the number of medals (net increase in number of medals) actually acquired by the player from when the slot machine 1 is turned on to when it is turned off, and when the net increase in number of medals from when the slot machine 1 is turned on to when it is turned off reaches a predetermined number (the complete value of +19,000 medals), the game is placed in an inoperable state, and a game is stopped in which no further games can be played.
Therefore, the number of medals that a player can win is limited while the gaming establishment is open.
Furthermore, even if the difference in the number of medals during one advantageous period during business hours of the gaming establishment is an extremely small value and the player is able to win a very large number of medals before the limiter function is activated, the complete function will be activated before the limiter function is activated, so that even if the difference in the number of medals is an extremely small value, it is possible to prevent the gaming establishment from suffering an extremely large disadvantage.

(Normal gameplay state)
The normal gaming state is a gaming state in which the player remains when the main controller 10 of the slot machine 1 is reset, and is a disadvantageous state for the player.
As shown in Fig. 6, the main control device 10 performs a lottery process for transition to the CZ state or the CZCZ state during the normal gaming state. Depending on the specifications of the slot machine 1, the slot machine may be configured to directly transition from the normal gaming state to the AT state.
In the normal game state, such as when the main control device 10 of the slot machine 1 is reset, the game zone is controlled to the normal zone, and when the advantageous zone transition condition in the normal game state is satisfied, the game zone transitions from the normal zone to the advantageous zone. However, when the main control device 10 is reset, the bonus is not carried over, so the game state will remain the normal game state even if the next game is executed.

・Transition process from normal gaming state to CZCZ state (arrow a in FIG. 6)
Based on the game during the normal gaming state, a lottery for transition to the CZCZ state is held, and if the lottery for transition to the CZCZ state is won, a transition from the normal gaming state to the CZCZ state is made.
In this embodiment, the transition to the AT state is basically set to occur in the following order: normal game state → CZCZ state → CZ state, so the player will first look forward to the transition to the CZCZ state.

FIG. 7 shows a CZCZ state lottery table used in the main control device 10 when performing a CZCZ state transition lottery.
The lottery for transitioning to the CZCZ state is performed based on a random number value (with a selection range of 256 types) extracted during the execution of each game and the extraction result of the hand. If the transition lottery is won, the right to transition to the CZCZ state is granted, and the game state will transition to the CZCZ state from the next game.
As shown in FIG. 7, the transition lottery to the CZCZ state is executed only when a 1-coin role, a weak rare role, or a strong rare role is won, and when a 1-coin role is won, there is a 255/256 probability of a miss and a 1/256 probability of a win, when a weak rare role is won, there is a 192/256 probability of a miss and a 64/256 probability of a win, and when a strong rare role is won, there is a 128/256 probability of a miss and a 128/256 probability of a win.

As described above, a lottery is held to determine whether or not a player will transition to the CZCZ state, so the lower the probability of winning, the higher the probability of transitioning to the CZCZ state.
In addition, the probability of winning the lottery to transition to the CZCZ state may be changed depending on the setting value in the probability setting device 14.

Transition process from normal gaming state to CZ state (arrow d in FIG. 6)
As mentioned above, in order to transition to the CZ state, the game must first be transitioned to the CZCZ state during normal gameplay, but in this embodiment, it is possible to transition directly from the normal gameplay state to the CZ state without transitioning to the CZCZ state.

In this embodiment, when the game zone transitions to a normal zone and then transitions to a favorable zone, the game state transitions to a CZ state.
Therefore, when the game zone transitions to the normal zone during the normal game state or the CZCZ state (when the conditions for the end of the advantageous zone are met), the right to transition to the CZ state is essentially granted. However, if the game zone transitions to the normal zone during a non-carryover bonus period, the game zone will not transition to the CZ state even if it subsequently transitions to the advantageous zone.

The lottery to establish the conditions for ending the advantageous zone in a game during the normal game mode, i.e., the lottery to transition to the actual CZ state during the normal game mode, is held when the replay role is consecutively won during a game during the normal game mode.

Figure 8 shows a favorable zone end lottery table used during the normal game state when the main control unit 10 performs a lottery to establish the conditions for ending the favorable zone (essentially a lottery for transitioning to the CZ state).
The lottery to establish the conditions for the end of the advantageous zone is carried out based on a random number value (with a selection range of 256 types) extracted when the game is being played in the normal game state and the number of consecutive wins of the replay role. If the lottery is won, the game zone will transition to the normal zone from the next game, and if the conditions for transitioning to the advantageous zone are established in a game during this normal zone, the game state will transition to the CZ state from the next game.

As shown in FIG. 8, the lottery for achieving the end condition of the advantageous zone is executed when the consecutive number of replay roles is 2, 3, or 4, and when the consecutive number of roles is 2, there is a 255/256 probability of a miss and a 1/256 probability of a win; when the consecutive number of roles is 3, there is a 192/256 probability of a miss and a 64/256 probability of a win; and when the consecutive number of roles is 4, there is a 0/256 probability of a miss and a 256/256 probability of a win.
Therefore, if a replay role is consecutively won in a game during normal play mode, a lottery is held to determine the end of the advantageous zone, and if this lottery is won, the right to transition to the CZ state is essentially granted, making it possible to increase the anticipation of the transition to the CZ state even in a game during normal play mode.

In addition, a lottery is conducted to determine the conditions for ending the advantageous zone when the replay role is consecutively won, but a lottery may also be conducted to determine the conditions for ending the advantageous zone when other roles are consecutively won.
In addition, the consecutive wins of the replay role that trigger the lottery to establish the end condition of the advantageous zone may be three or less, or five or more.
In addition, the number of consecutive wins of the replay role and the number of consecutive wins of other lottery results (misses, etc.) may be managed separately, and the advantageous zone may be terminated when any of the managed consecutive wins reaches a specified value. In addition, the situation in which two or more types of lottery results are managed may be realized only during a lottery for establishing the conditions for terminating the advantageous zone during the CZCZ state described later.

(CZCZ state)
In the CZCZ state, when the push order bell role is won, push order navigation is not performed, but it is a game state that increases the player's anticipation as it is a preliminary game state to transition to the CZ state described below, which has a high probability of transitioning to the AT state, that is, a chance zone in the chance zone (CZ).
The number of times that can be played in the CZCZ state is basically set to 10 games, but it will continue even after the 11th game until a role other than a replay or rare role is won.

As mentioned above, during the normal game state, a lottery is held to establish the conditions for the end of the advantageous zone when the replay role is won consecutively, but during the CZCZ state, even if the replay role is not won consecutively, a lottery is held to make it easier for the conditions for the end of the advantageous zone to be established depending on the total number of times the replay role is won during the CZCZ state.
Therefore, the CZCZ state is a gaming state with a higher probability of transitioning to the CZ state than the normal gaming state.
During the CZCZ state, control information regarding the CZCZ state is transmitted from the main control unit 10 to the sub-control unit 20, and under the control of the main control unit 10 and the sub-control unit 20, various effects and the remaining number of games during the CZCZ state are displayed on the main display 8.

In addition, when the lottery for transitioning to the CZCZ state is won, instead of transitioning to the CZCZ state from the next game, a delay period of a predetermined period may be set and a premonition effect may be performed during that delay period.
In addition, if a replay role is won in the final game at the end of the delay period, the win may also be considered to have been won during the CZCZ state. In this case, if a replay role is won in the first game during the CZCZ state, it will be considered to have been won twice in a row.
In addition, during the CZCZ state, one win of the replay role may be regarded as multiple wins of the replay role (for example, two wins), so that the expectation of winning the replay role during the CZCZ state is higher than during the normal game state.

Transition process from CZCZ state to CZ state (arrow c in FIG. 6)
The lottery to establish the conditions for ending the advantageous zone in a game during the CZCZ state, i.e., the lottery to transition to the actual CZ state during the CZCZ state, is conducted based on the total number of times the replay role is won during the period of the CZCZ state.

The lottery for satisfying the conditions for the end of the advantageous zone in a game during the CZCZ state is carried out using a table in which the number of consecutive wins of the replay role in the advantageous zone end lottery table (see Figure 8) used in the lottery for satisfying the conditions for the end of the advantageous zone during the normal game state described above is replaced with the number of wins of the replay role during the CZCZ state.
Therefore, the lottery to establish the end condition of the advantageous zone is carried out based on a random number value (with a selection range of 256 types) extracted when the game is executed in the CZCZ state and the number of times the replay role is won during the CZCZ state, and is controlled so that if the total number of wins is 2, there is a 255/256 probability of a miss and a 1/256 probability of a win, if the total number of wins is 3, there is a 192/256 probability of a miss and a 64/256 probability of a win, and if the total number of wins is 4, there is a 0/256 probability of a miss and a 256/256 probability of a win.

In this way, in a game in the normal game state, if the replay role is won consecutively, a lottery is held to determine the end of the advantageous zone, but in the CZCZ state, even if the replay role is not won consecutively, if the replay role is won multiple times during the CZCZ state, a lottery will be held similar to when the replay role is won consecutively during the normal game state, making it possible to increase the sense of anticipation for the transition to the CZ state more than during the normal game state.

・Transition process from CZCZ state to normal gaming state (arrow b in FIG. 6)
If the player does not win the lottery to establish the conditions for ending the advantageous zone during a game in the CZCZ state, but wins a small role other than a replay or rare role in the 11th game or later, the game state will transition to the normal game state from the next game.
In addition, even if a replay role is won after the 11th game, the CZCZ state may be continued, and the winning of the replay role at this time may also be used as an opportunity to draw a lottery to end the advantageous zone.

(CZ state)
In the CZ state, when the push order bell role is won, push order navigation is not performed, but a lottery process for transitioning to the AT state is performed, making this a gaming state that is advantageous to the player.
Although push order navigation is not performed when the push order bell role is won, push order navigation may be executed when the push order bell role is won, or push order navigation may be executed a portion of the time when the push order bell role is won, i.e., with a predetermined probability (for example, 40%) when the push order bell role is won.

While in the CZ state, a lottery process for transition to the AT state is carried out, so the CZ state is positioned as a chance zone in the flow of the game.
The maximum number of games that can be played in the CZ state is 5.
During the CZ state, control information regarding the CZ state is transmitted from the main control unit 10 to the sub-control unit 20, and under the control of the main control unit 10 and the sub-control unit 20, various effects and the number of remaining games during the CZ state are displayed on the main display 8.

-Transition process from CZ state to AT state (arrow f in FIG. 6)
In the CZ state, a lottery process for transition to the AT state is performed in each game.
The probability of winning the lottery process for transition to the AT state is set to a different value depending on the number of games played during the CZ state and the winning combination of each game, and if the transition lottery is won, the right to transition to the AT state is granted.
Although details will be described later, a pseudo-game is executed in the next game based on the result of the AT state transition lottery process, and in this pseudo-game, whether or not the AT state transition lottery has been won and the type of win (the type of AT state to transition to) is notified. If the AT state transition lottery has been won, the game state will then transition to the AT state.

FIG. 9 shows an AT state lottery table used when the main control device 10 draws a transition lottery to the AT state during the CZ state.
The lottery for transitioning to the AT state is carried out based on a random number value (with a selection range of 256 types) extracted when the game is played during the CZ state (at the start or end of the game) and the results of the lottery for the role in that game, and if the lottery is won, the right to transition to the AT state is granted.
In addition, the AT state transition lottery has types of winnings, and a lottery is held to see whether or not the player will win win 1, win 2, or win 3. Details will be described later, but if the player wins the AT state transition lottery, a lottery will be held to determine the type of AT state that is more advantageous to the player, with win 2 being more advantageous than win 1, and win 3 being more advantageous than win 2.

First, FIG. 9(a) shows an AT state lottery table used during transition lottery in the first to fourth games in the CZ state.
As shown in FIG. 9(a), in the first to fourth games in the CZ state, if a role other than a weak rare role or a strong rare role is won, there is a 128/256 probability of a miss, a 128/256 probability of winning win 1, and a 0/256 probability of winning win 2; if a weak rare role is won, there is a 250/256 probability of a miss, a 0/256 probability of winning win 1, and a 6/256 probability of winning win 2; and if a strong rare role is won, there is a 224/256 probability of a miss, a 0/256 probability of winning win 1, and a 32/256 probability of winning win 2.

Next, FIG. 9(b) shows an AT state lottery table used at the time of the transition lottery in the fifth game in the CZ state.
As shown in FIG. 9(b), in the fifth game in the CZ state, if a role other than a weak rare role or a strong rare role is won, there is a 128/256 probability of a miss, a 128/256 probability of win 2, and a 0/256 probability of win 3; if a weak rare role is won, there is a 0/256 probability of a miss, a 224/256 probability of win 2, and a 32/256 probability of win 3; and if a strong rare role is won, there is a 0/256 probability of a miss, a 128/256 probability of win 2, and a 128/256 probability of win 3.

Therefore, during the CZ state, the fifth game will result in a lottery that is more advantageous to the player than the first to fourth games.
In addition, since the fifth draw is more advantageous, it is highly likely that a non-winning draw will be more advantageous for the player in the first through fourth draws. However, since the probability of a winning draw being made even if a rare role is drawn in the first through fourth draws is lowered, the draws are made to heighten the player's expectations.
In addition, for the highly anticipated wins 2 and 3, the lottery is held in such a way that it is advantageous for those who win the rare role, which has a low probability of winning, so that a highly interesting lottery can be held and the player's expectations can be increased.

As described above, in this embodiment, under the control of the main control unit 10, an AT state transition lottery is conducted to determine whether or not an AT state (benefit) will occur, based on the number of games played during the CZ state and the winning role of each game, and if this transition lottery is won, the AT state is generated.
That is, the main control device 10 is provided with a bonus awarding determination means capable of determining whether or not to award a bonus (AT state) based on the execution of the game.

In addition, each winning probability may be other than those mentioned above as long as the above trend can be formed.
In addition, when a specific role (for example, a strong cherry role) is won, it may be always treated as a loss, or a specified win (for example, win 2) may always be treated as the winning role.
In addition, the same table may be referenced regardless of the number of games played during the CZ state, or different tables may be referenced for some or all of the games played.

・Transition process from CZ state to normal gaming state (arrow e in FIG. 6)
If five games are completed during a game in the CZ state without winning the lottery for transitioning to the AT state, the game state will transition to the normal game state from the next game.

(AT state)
The AT state in this embodiment is a game state in which it is easy to win medals, as push order navigation for the push order bell role is performed to notify the player of an operation mode that is advantageous to the player during the game in the AT state.
During the AT state, control information regarding the AT state is transmitted from the main control unit 10 to the sub-control unit 20, and under the control of the main control unit 10 and the sub-control unit 20, various effects and the number of remaining games during the AT state are displayed on the main display 8.

During the AT state, a predetermined number of games (e.g., 32 games) granted at the time of the initial transition to the AT state is managed as the remaining number of games that can continue the AT state, and the remaining number of games is subtracted each time a game is played, and the AT state continues until there are no remaining games.
In addition, during the AT state, a lottery for transition to the pseudo bonus state is held, and if the lottery for transition to the pseudo bonus state is won, the AT state is temporarily interrupted and transition to the pseudo bonus state occurs, and then transition to the AT state occurs again after the pseudo bonus state ends. Therefore, as long as the transition to the pseudo bonus state occurs during the AT state, the AT state will continue.
In addition, if the player wins the lottery to transition to the pseudo bonus state during the AT state, the number of remaining games at that time will be reset, and if the player transitions to the AT state again after the pseudo bonus state ends, the AT state will resume from the number of remaining games (32 games) granted at the beginning.

There are three types of AT states: normal AT state, higher AT state, and special AT state. When the right to transition to an AT state is granted, the player will be assigned to one of the AT states based on the type of winning (1 to 3) in the AT state transition lottery described above.
The normal AT state is an AT state in which, when the push order bell role is won, push order navigation is executed with a probability of 1/4.
The higher AT state is an AT state in which push order navigation is executed with a 1/2 probability when the push order bell role is won.
The special AT state is an AT state in which push order navigation is executed with a 1/1 probability when the push order bell role is won.
Therefore, the number of medals that a player can acquire during an AT state is greater in a higher AT state than in a normal AT state, and greater in a special AT state than in a higher AT state.

The manner in which the type of AT state is differentiated may be other than the above. For example, it may be possible to execute a partial navigation that notifies only the first reel to be operated when the push order bell role is won, and a full navigation that notifies all push orders. In the normal AT state, the partial navigation is executed with a probability of 3/4 and the full navigation is executed with a probability of 1/4. In the higher AT state, the partial navigation is executed with a probability of 1/2 and the full navigation is executed with a probability of 1/2. In the special AT state, the partial navigation is executed with a probability of 1/1 and the full navigation is executed with a probability of 1/1.

-Transition process from AT state to pseudo bonus state (arrow h in FIG. 6)
In the AT state, a lottery process for transitioning to a pseudo bonus state is performed in each game.
The pseudo bonus state transition lottery process is performed based on the lottery results of the role in the game during the AT state, and specifically, the transition lottery is performed when a rare role is won or when the push order bell role is won three times in a row (not won, but won). The same transition lottery is also performed when four or more consecutive wins are won.

FIG. 10 shows a pseudo bonus state lottery table used when the main control device 10 performs a lottery for transition to the pseudo bonus state during the AT state.
The lottery for transitioning to the pseudo-bonus state is carried out based on a random number value (with a selection range of 256 types) extracted when the game is played during the AT state and the result of the lottery for the role in that game, and if the lottery is won, the right to transition to the pseudo-bonus state is granted.

As shown in FIG. 10, when the push order bell role is won three times in a row during a game in the AT state, there is a 128/256 probability of a miss and a 128/256 probability of a win; when a weak rare role is won, there is a 128/256 probability of a miss and a 128/256 probability of a win; and when a strong rare role is won, there is a 64/256 probability of a miss and a 192/256 probability of a win.
If the result of the lottery is a win, the player is granted the right to transition to the pseudo bonus state, and the gaming state will transition to the pseudo bonus state from the next game.

Transition process from AT state to normal gaming state (arrow g in FIG. 6)
In a game during the AT state, if the remaining number of games (initial number is 32 games) ends without winning or losing the lottery for transition to the pseudo bonus state, the game state will transition to the normal game state from the next game.
The number of remaining games at which the AT state ends may be other than the above.

(pseudo bonus state)
The pseudo bonus state is a game state in which it is easy to win medals, as push order navigation for the push order bell role is executed as a notification of an operation mode advantageous to the player during the game in the pseudo bonus state.
In addition, during the pseudo bonus state, if the push order bell role is won, the push order navigation is executed with a probability of 1 in 1. Therefore, during the pseudo bonus state, the push order navigation mode similar to the special AT state is executed, which is an extremely advantageous gaming state for the player.
Furthermore, the pseudo bonus state will continue for a predetermined period of time (for example, 40 games) and will end after the end of that period.
After the pseudo bonus state ends, the game state returns to the AT state (arrow i in Figure 6).
The transition control of the gaming state is carried out as described above.

[Pseudo-game]
Next, a pseudo game in the slot machine 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
As described above, in this embodiment, a lottery is held to determine whether to transition to the AT state during the CZ state, and based on the results of this lottery to determine whether to transition to the AT state, a pseudo-play (pseudo-game) can be performed mainly on reel 4.

A simulated game is a form of game execution in which multiple game results are derived in a single game under the control of the main control device 10.

Specifically, in a normal game, the main control device 10 rotates the reel 4 by operating the start lever 3, and derives the result of one game by stopping the rotating reel 4 by operating the stop button 5, but in a game in which a pseudo play is performed, the reel 4 is pseudo-stopped before the final game result (first pattern combination) is derived, as in a normal game, so that a pseudo game result (pseudo stopping pattern: second pattern combination) can be derived even in the middle of the game.
In other words, when a pseudo game is executed, multiple game results are derived by consuming medals (betting input) for executing one game.

The pseudo games are classified into operational pseudo games that require player operations and non-operational pseudo games that do not require player operations.
The pseudo game is executed by first operating the start lever 3 to spin the reels 4, and then operating the stop button 5 during the game to pseudo-stop (temporarily stop) the spinning reels 4 and derive a pseudo game result. After the pseudo game result has been derived, the reels 4 are respun by operating the start lever 3 again, and the game is executed in the same manner as in a normal game.

When the player operates the stop button 5 to artificially stop the spinning reel 4, the pull-in stop control in a normal game is not performed, and a predetermined pattern is always artificially stopped regardless of the stop timing, ignoring the pull-in range.
In addition, when reel 4 is pseudo-stopped, the pull-in stop control in a normal game may be performed so that in a pseudo-game operation in which a specific symbol combination, which will be described later, can be pseudo-stopped, a symbol combination other than the specific symbol combination will stop unless a stop operation is performed at a specific timing.
In the non-operation pseudo game, the reels 4 are automatically stopped in a pseudo manner without the need to operate the stop button 5 when the reels 4 are stopped in a pseudo manner during game execution.
In this embodiment, the above-mentioned pseudo-game operation is adopted. Therefore, hereinafter, when the term "pseudo-game" is used, it refers to the "pseudo-game operation."

In other words, the main control device 10 is equipped with a first game control means capable of executing a first game in which a first symbol combination (symbol combination at the end of the game) formed by the reels 4 is derived based on the end of the game, and a second game control means capable of executing a second game (pseudo play: pseudo game) in which, during the execution of the first game, a second symbol combination (pseudo stopping symbol) formed by the reels 4 is derived in addition to the derivation of the first symbol combination.

In this embodiment, in each game during the CZ state, a lottery for transition to the AT state is held as described above, and based on the result of this lottery for transition to the AT state, a pseudo-game is played in the first half of the next game after the lottery is held.
Therefore, if the result of the lottery for transition to the AT state is a win (any of wins 1 to 3), a pseudo game is executed in the next game, and a specific pattern combination (winning pseudo stop pattern: second pattern combination) that can notify transition to the AT state in this pseudo game will pseudo-stop.
On the other hand, even if the result of the lottery for transition to the AT state is a miss, a pseudo game is executed in the next game, and a pattern combination other than the specific pattern combination that can notify that the AT state will not be transitioned to in this pseudo game (miss pseudo stop pattern: second pattern combination) will be pseudo stopped.

In addition, in this embodiment, when the player wins the lottery for the transition to the AT state in the game during the CZ state, the next game is not immediately transitioned to the AT state, but a preliminary game in which the AT state waits in the next game is executed, and a pseudo game is executed in the first half of this preliminary game. After the pseudo game in the preliminary game ends, a symbol combination (first symbol combination) based on the lottery result of the role in the preliminary game is derived.
On the other hand, in the case where the lottery for the transition to the AT state is not won in the game during the CZ state, the preliminary game is not executed, and a pseudo game in which a losing pseudo stop symbol is derived in the first half of the next game during the CZ state is executed. In this case, the result of the next game (first symbol combination) is derived in the main game (main game) executed after the pseudo game. In this case, if the lottery for the transition to the AT state in the fifth game in the CZ state is not won, it is preferable to execute a pseudo game in which the lottery result is announced in the first half of the first game in the normal game state after the end of the CZ state.

In addition, a preliminary game may be executed even if the lottery for shifting to the AT state is not won.
In addition, the preliminary game may be executed only if the lottery for transitioning to the AT state in the fifth game (final game) during the CZ state is won.
Also, even if the lottery for transition to the AT state is won, the preliminary game may not be executed, and a pseudo game may be executed in the first half of the next game. For example, if the lottery for transition to the AT state of the first game in the CZ state is won, a pseudo game may be executed in the first half of the second game in the CZ state, and if the lottery for transition to the AT state of the fifth game (final game) in the CZ state is won, a pseudo game may be executed in the first half of the first game in the AT state.

In addition, if the player wins the lottery to transition to the AT state during the CZ state, a further lottery will be held during the execution of the game (for example, at the end of the game) to determine the type of AT state depending on the type of win (Win 1 to Win 3).
Then, the type of winning pseudo stop symbol in the pseudo game is determined according to the result of determining the type of the AT state.
Therefore, the pseudo stopping pattern in the pseudo game during the CZ state will indicate whether or not a transition to an AT state will occur, and the type of AT state to which the transition will occur.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, as will be described in detail later, during the rotation of the reel 4 before the pseudo stop pattern in the pseudo game is derived, the operation of the stop button 5 is enabled, and the rotation direction of the rotating reel 4 can be changed by operating the stop button 5.
Therefore, a plurality of rotation modes (spinning patterns) of the reel 4 in the pseudo game are provided in advance, and the reel 4 during the pseudo game will spin in any one of these rotation modes.
The rotation pattern of the reel 4 in the pseudo game is determined based on the result of a lottery for transition to the AT state and the result of determining the type of the AT state, which are determined in advance.
In other words, the pseudo stopping pattern in the pseudo game will ultimately indicate whether or not there will be a transition to an AT state and the type of AT state to which it will be transitioned, but prior to that, the rotation pattern of reel 4 during the pseudo game will suggest in advance whether or not there will be a transition to an AT state and the type of AT state to which it will be transitioned.

The pseudo game during the CZ state is executed as described above, but first, the determination of the type of AT state, i.e., the determination of the pseudo stopping pattern in the pseudo game, will be explained with reference to Figure 11.
Figure 11 shows a lottery table used by the main control unit 10, which is a lottery table for pseudo-stopping patterns used to determine the type of AT state (winning pseudo-stopping pattern in pseudo play) when the AT state transition lottery is won.
The type of AT state (the winning pseudo stopping pattern in the pseudo game) is selected based on a random number (with an extraction range of 256 types) extracted when the game is played during the CZ state (for example, at the end of the game), the type of winning (Win 1 to Win 3) if the AT state transition lottery is won, and the number of games played in the CZ state.

First, the case where the AT state transition lottery is Win 1 will be explained with reference to Figure 11 (a).
As shown in Figure 11 (a), for example, if the AT state transition lottery for the first game (first time) during the CZ state results in a winning number 1, there is a 240/256 probability that the normal AT state will be entered, i.e., the winning pseudo stopping symbol in the pseudo game will be set to "red 7", there is a 16/256 probability that the higher AT state will be entered, i.e., the winning pseudo stopping symbol in the pseudo game will be set to "blue 7", and there is a 0/256 probability that the special AT state will be entered, i.e., the winning pseudo stopping symbol in the pseudo game will be set to "gold 7".

Also, for example, if the AT state transition lottery for the fourth game (fourth time) during the CZ state results in a winning number 1, there is a 128/256 probability that the normal AT state will be entered, i.e., the winning pseudo stopping symbol in the pseudo game will be set to "red 7", there is a 112/256 probability that the higher AT state will be entered, i.e., the winning pseudo stopping symbol in the pseudo game will be set to "blue 7", and there is a 16/256 probability that the special AT state will be entered, i.e., the winning pseudo stopping symbol in the pseudo game will be set to "gold 7".
Although detailed explanation is omitted, the type of AT state (the winning pseudo stop pattern in the pseudo game) is determined by each probability as shown in the figure for the second game (second time) to the fourth game (fourth time) during the CZ state. Also, for the fifth game during the CZ state, the result of Win 1 is not derived, so no lottery is held here.

Next, the case where the lottery for transition to the AT state is Win 2 will be described with reference to Figure 11 (b). In the case of Win 2, a common table is used for all games in the CZ state.
As shown in Figure 11 (b), if the AT state transition lottery results in a win 2 in a game (1st game to 5th game) during the CZ state, there is a 0/256 probability that the normal AT state will be entered, i.e., the winning pseudo stopping symbol in the pseudo game will be set to "red 7", there is a 128/256 probability that the higher AT state will be entered, i.e., the winning pseudo stopping symbol in the pseudo game will be set to "blue 7", and there is a 128/256 probability that the special AT state will be entered, i.e., the winning pseudo stopping symbol in the pseudo game will be set to "gold 7".

Next, the case where the lottery for transition to the AT state is Win 3 will be described with reference to Fig. 11 (c). In the case of Win 3, the table is used only in the fifth game during the CZ state.
As shown in Figure 11 (c), if the AT state transition lottery in a game during the CZ state (the fifth game) results in a winning number 3, there is a 0/256 probability that the normal AT state will be entered, i.e., the winning pseudo stopping symbol in the pseudo game will be set to "red 7", there is a 0/256 probability that the higher AT state will be entered, i.e., the winning pseudo stopping symbol in the pseudo game will be set to "blue 7", and there is a 256/256 probability that the special AT state will be entered, i.e., the winning pseudo stopping symbol in the pseudo game will be set to "gold 7".

As described above, if a player wins the lottery to transition to the AT state during a game in the CZ state, a lottery is held to determine the type of AT state depending on the type of win (Win 1 to Win 3).
In other words, the main control device 10, which serves as a bonus awarding determination means, is equipped with a bonus type determination means capable of determining the type of bonus to be awarded (normal AT state, higher AT state, special AT state).
In addition, if the result of the lottery for transition to the AT state is win 1, a lottery is also held to determine the type of AT state based on the number of games in the won CZ state.

Then, in the next game after the type of AT state is determined, a preliminary game is executed, and in the simulated play in the first half of this preliminary game, the winning pseudo-stop pattern corresponding to the determined type of AT state will be pseudo-stopped.
On the other hand, if the player does not win the lottery to transition to the AT state, a predetermined losing pseudo-stopping pattern (for example, "red 7, red 7, and a pattern other than red 7") will pseudo-stop in the pseudo-play in the first half of the next game in the CZ state.
For example, if the result of the AT state transition lottery for the second game during the CZ state is win 1, a transition to a higher AT state will be determined with a probability of 32/256, and in the simulated play in the first half of the preliminary game of the next game, based on the player's operation of the stop button 5, the winning pseudo-stop pattern of ``Blue 7'' corresponding to the higher AT state, that is, the pattern combination of ``Blue 7, Blue 7, Blue 7'' will pseudo-stop on one of the lines of the reel 4.

Next, the rotation mode (rotation pattern) of the reel 4 during a pseudo game when the pseudo game is executed in a game during the CZ state will be described.
As described above, in this embodiment, the operation of the stop button 5 is enabled during the rotation of the reel 4 before the pseudo stop pattern in the pseudo game is derived, and the rotation direction of the rotating reel 4 can be changed by operating the stop button 5.
For example, at the start of the simulated game, the reel 4 rotates in a forward direction from top to bottom, and when the player operates the stop button 5, the direction of rotation of the reel 4, which had been rotating in a forward direction, is changed and the reel 4 is controlled to rotate in the reverse direction from bottom to top.
Therefore, the player operates the stop button 5 to stop (temporarily stop) the spinning reel 4, but this operation does not cause the reel 4 to stop, and instead the direction of rotation changes, resulting in an unexpected rotation pattern.

In this embodiment, the reel 4 has three rotation patterns during the pseudo game, and one of the rotation patterns is selected according to the type of pseudo stop symbol (symbol combination) that is determined in advance. At the start of the pseudo game, the reels 4a to 4c all rotate in the normal direction from top to bottom, just like at the start of a normal game.
In the rotation pattern 1, all the reels 4a to 4c rotate in the forward direction until the end of the pseudo game. Therefore, when the player operates the stop button 5a to 5c, the reel 4a to 4c corresponding to the operation does not change the rotation direction, and the symbol 1 constituting the pseudo stop symbol is pseudo-stopped.

In rotation pattern 2, when the player operates the stop buttons 5a-5c on the reels 4a-4c that are rotating forward at the start of rotation, the reels 4a-4c corresponding to the operation change their rotation direction and start rotating in the reverse direction. Therefore, in this case, operating the stop buttons 5a-5c in the first stage (first stage) does not result in the derivation of a pseudo stop symbol, but rather changes the rotation direction of the reels 4a-4c, and operating the stop buttons 5a-5c in the next stage (second stage) causes the reels 4a-4c, which are rotating in the reverse direction, to come to a pseudo stop (provisional stop) and derivation of the pseudo stop symbol.

In rotation pattern 3, when the player operates the stop buttons 5a-5c in the first stage (first stage) for each of the reels 4a-4c that are rotating forward at the start of rotation, the reels 4a-4c corresponding to that operation change their rotation direction and start rotating in the reverse direction, and then when the player operates the stop buttons 5a-5c in the next stage (second stage) for each of the reels 4a-4c that are rotating in the reverse direction, the reels 4a-4c corresponding to that operation change their rotation direction and start rotating forward again. Therefore, in this case, the operation of the stop buttons 5a-5c in the first and second stages does not derive a pseudo stop symbol, but the rotation direction of the reels 4a-4c is changed, and the operation of the stop buttons 5a-5c in the third stage causes the reels 4a-4c that are rotating forward to come to a pseudo stop (provisional stop), and the pseudo stop symbol is derived.

In addition, the types of rotation patterns may be other than those described above. For example, in addition to the above, a rotation pattern may be provided in which, when the stop buttons 5a to 5c are operated in the first stage (first stage), no pseudo stop symbol is derived, but the rotation direction of the reels 4a to 4c is changed (from forward rotation to reverse rotation), and then, after a predetermined time has elapsed while the acceptance of operation signals from the stop buttons 5a to 5c is disabled, the rotation direction of the reels 4a to 4c is automatically changed (from reverse rotation to forward rotation) and the acceptance of operation signals from the stop buttons 5a to 5c is enabled, and the forward rotating reels 4a to 4c are pseudo-stopped (temporarily stopped) by the operation of the stop buttons 5a to 5c in the next stage (second stage), thereby deriving a pseudo stop symbol. Also, a rotation pattern in which the above pattern is repeated twice may be provided.
The rotational manner of the reel 4 during the pseudo game will be described in detail later (FIGS. 15 to 18).

Figure 12 shows a lottery table used by the main control unit 10, which is a pseudo-game rotation pattern lottery table used to determine the rotation pattern (rotation pattern) of reel 4 during pseudo-game when a pseudo-game is executed in a game during the CZ state.
The rotation pattern in the pseudo game is selected based on a random number value (with a selection range of 256 types) extracted at a predetermined timing before the start of the pseudo game (for example, at the end of the game), the result of the lottery for transition to the AT state (miss) and the type of winning pseudo stopping pattern (red 7, blue 7, gold 7).

First, a case where a pseudo game is executed in response to the lottery of the first game (first time) to the fourth game (fourth time) during the CZ state will be described with reference to Fig. 12 (a). Note that the actual pseudo game is executed in the game following the lottery game.
As shown in Figure 12 (a), if the result of the AT state transition lottery is a "miss," rotation pattern 1 is determined with a probability of 224/256, rotation pattern 2 is determined with a probability of 32/256, and rotation pattern 3 is determined with a probability of 0/256.
In addition, when the winning pseudo-stop pattern is determined to be "red 7" (normal AT state), rotation pattern 1 is determined with a probability of 256/256, rotation pattern 2 is determined with a probability of 0/256, and rotation pattern 3 is determined with a probability of 0/256.

In addition, when the winning pseudo-stop pattern is determined to be "Blue 7" (higher AT state), rotation pattern 1 is determined with a probability of 96/256, rotation pattern 2 is determined with a probability of 160/256, and rotation pattern 3 is determined with a probability of 0/256.
In addition, when the winning pseudo-stop pattern is determined to be "Gold 7" (special AT state), rotation pattern 1 is determined with a probability of 0/256, rotation pattern 2 is determined with a probability of 32/256, and rotation pattern 3 is determined with a probability of 224/256.

Next, a case where a pseudo game is executed in response to the drawing of the fifth game (fifth time) during the CZ state will be described with reference to Fig. 12 (b). Note that in the fifth game during the CZ state, the winning pseudo stop symbol of "red 7" is not selected, so the corresponding item is deleted.
As shown in Figure 12 (b), if the result of the AT state transition lottery is a "miss," rotation pattern 1 is determined with a probability of 0/256, rotation pattern 2 is determined with a probability of 256/256, and rotation pattern 3 is determined with a probability of 0/256.

In addition, when the winning pseudo-stop pattern is determined to be "Blue 7" (higher AT state), rotation pattern 1 is determined with a probability of 0/256, rotation pattern 2 is determined with a probability of 128/256, and rotation pattern 3 is determined with a probability of 128/256.
In addition, when the winning pseudo-stop pattern is determined to be "Gold 7" (special AT state), rotation pattern 1 is determined with a probability of 0/256, rotation pattern 2 is determined with a probability of 96/256, and rotation pattern 3 is determined with a probability of 160/256.

Since the rotation patterns are selected as described above, the rotation direction is not changed for rotation pattern 1, but is changed for rotation patterns 2 and 3. However, if the AT state transition lottery is won, the probability that rotation pattern 2 or 3 will be selected is higher than if the transition lottery is not won. Therefore, if the AT state transition lottery is won, the probability that the rotation direction of reel 4 will be changed during simulated play is higher than if the transition lottery is not won.
Furthermore, the more advantageous the AT state transition is for the player, the higher the probability that the rotation pattern during the simulated game will be selected in the order of rotation pattern 1 → rotation pattern 2 → rotation pattern 3. Therefore, the more advantageous the AT state is, the higher the probability that the number of times the rotation direction of reel 4 will change will be.

As described above, in this embodiment, in a game during the CZ state, a pseudo game (pseudo game) involving the rotation and stopping of reel 4 can be executed, and when this pseudo game is executed, reel 4 is pseudo-stopped (temporarily stopped) based on the player's operation of stop button 5, making it possible to derive a pseudo stop pattern.
In addition, even during the pseudo game before the pseudo stopping pattern is pseudo-stopped, the stop button 5 is enabled, and the rotation mode (rotation direction) of the reel 4 can be changed based on the operation of the stop button 5 by the player during this period.

In other words, the main control device 10 as the second game control means is equipped with a second pattern derivation control means capable of executing control to derive a second pattern combination (pseudo stop pattern) based on the operation of the stop operation means (stop button 5), and a variable display direction control means capable of changing the variable display direction of a specified reel during a variable display based on the operation of the stop operation means before the derivation of the second pattern combination.

Therefore, multiple symbol combinations can be derived from the reel 4 in one game, which increases the entertainment value of the game and heightens the player's expectations.
Furthermore, during simulated play, the rotation direction of the reel 4 may change when the player operates the stop button 5. This means that even if the player operates the stop button 5 to stop the reel 4, the rotation direction of the reel 4 may change, greatly increasing the element of surprise and excitement in the game.

In addition, the selection of the rotation pattern is controlled based on the result of the AT state transition lottery, and if the AT state transition lottery is won, the probability of selecting rotation patterns 2 and 3, which result in a change in the rotation direction, is higher than if the lottery is not won.
That is, the main control device 10 as the variable display direction control means can change the variable display direction of a predetermined reel based on the determination result of the bonus granting determination means (main control device 10).
Therefore, a change in the rotation direction of reel 4 during simulated play provides an indication of the possibility of winning the lottery to transition to the AT state, so when the rotation direction of reel 4 changes, the possibility of winning the lottery to transition to the AT state increases, thereby making it possible to heighten the player's sense of anticipation.

In addition, when a transition to an AT state is determined, the type of AT state is determined by the bonus type determination means (main control unit 10). The more advantageous the AT state transition to the player is, the higher the probability that the rotation pattern during the simulated game will be selected in the order of rotation pattern 1 → rotation pattern 2 → rotation pattern 3. Therefore, the more advantageous the AT state that is won, the higher the probability that the number of times the rotation direction of reel 4 will change.
That is, the main control device 10 as the variable display direction control means can change the variable display direction of a predetermined reel based on the result of the determination by the benefit type determination means (main control device 10).

Therefore, when the rotation direction of the reel 4 is changed in a pseudo game, the possibility of an AT state advantageous to the player occurring increases, thereby making it possible to heighten the player's sense of expectation.
In addition, the number of times the rotation direction of reel 4 is changed during the simulated game suggests the type of AT state that has been won. The more times the rotation direction of reel 4 is changed during the simulated game, the higher the possibility that an AT state that is advantageous to the player will occur. Therefore, when the rotation direction is changed many times, it is possible to greatly heighten the player's sense of anticipation.

In this embodiment, when changing the rotation direction of the reel 4 during a pseudo game, the rotation direction of the reel 4 is changed using the same relationship between the stop button 5 and the reel 4 as in a normal game (main game). For example, the rotation direction of the left reel 4a is changed by operating the left stop button 5a, and the rotation direction of the center reel 4b is changed by operating the center stop button 5b. However, the reel 4 may be stopped in a manner different from the above-mentioned relationship, for example, by changing the rotation direction of the center reel 4b or the right reel 4c by operating the left stop button 5a. In addition, the rotation direction of multiple reels 4 (for example, all of the reels 4a to 4c) may be changed by operating one stop button 5.

In addition, the types of rotation modes (rotation patterns) during simulated play may be other than those described above. For example, it may be possible to execute three rotation patterns in which the rotation directions of each of rotation patterns 1 to 3 are completely reversed, and some or all of these may be replaced with rotation patterns 1 to 3, or three completely reversed rotation patterns may be added.
In addition, for example, in rotation patterns 2 and 3, a rotation pattern may be provided in which, when the first stop button 5 is operated, the corresponding reel 4 is temporarily stopped, and when the next stop button 5 is operated, the rotation direction of the corresponding reel 4 is changed and the first reel 4 that was paused is also re-spinned in the same direction, and a rotation pattern may be provided in which, when the first stop button 5 is operated and when the second stop button 5 is operated, the two corresponding reels 4 are temporarily stopped, and when the final stop button 5 is operated, the rotation direction of the corresponding reel 4 is changed and the two paused reels 4 are also re-spinned in the same direction.

In addition, the rotation direction of the reel 4 in the pseudo game is changed based on the operation of the stop button 5, but if the stop button 5 is not operated even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the pseudo game or the previous operation of the stop button 5, the rotation direction of the corresponding reel 4 may be automatically changed.
Also, rotation pattern 1 is not selected in the fifth game in the CZ state, but it may be selectable.
In addition, the CZ state ends if the player fails to win the lottery to transition to the AT state in all five games in the CZ state. In this case, the CZ state may be continued (extended) until the player wins the lottery to transition to the AT state.
The pseudo game is carried out as described above.

[Changes in game state and game area corresponding to winning combinations]
Next, with reference to FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, a description will be given of the transition of the game state and the game section corresponding to the winning combination in the slot machine 1 in this embodiment.
FIG. 13 shows the transition of game states and game zones as the game progresses when a winning combination that triggers a transition to each game state is won.
FIG. 14 also shows presentation images corresponding to each game state on the main display 8, which are displayed under the control of the sub-controller 20 based on control information from the main controller 10.

First, FIG. 13(a) shows the transition of the gaming state and gaming section when the replay role is won four times in a row in a game during the normal gaming state.
As shown in Figure 13 (a), when the game state is the normal game state and a replay role is won four times in a row in a game in which the game zone is in the advantageous zone (the fourth to seventh games shown), the condition for ending the advantageous zone will definitely be met as described above, so the game zone will transition to the normal zone (the eighth game shown), and the right to transition to an effective CZ state will be granted.
During the normal gaming state, a normal gaming state image 30 is displayed in the main part of the screen of the main display 8 to notify that the game is in the normal gaming state, as shown in FIG. 14(a).

Thereafter, if the push order bell role is won in a game during the normal zone (the 8th game shown), the conditions for transition to the advantageous zone are met and the game state will transition to the CZ state from the next game (the 9th game shown).
In addition, when the game zone transitions to the normal zone, as shown in FIG. 14(c), a normal zone image 32 is displayed in the main part of the screen of the main display 8 to notify that the game zone is in the normal zone in the normal game state, and a transition notification image 34 consisting of text information saying "Good job" is displayed in the lower part of the screen to notify that the game zone will transition to the CZ state.
In addition, if the replay role is won four times in a row during a game in the normal game mode, the condition for the end of the advantageous zone will always be met, but even if the lottery for meeting the condition for the end of the advantageous zone when the replay role is won three or less times in a row is won, the same progression and presentation as described above will occur.

Next, FIG. 13(b) shows the progress of the game state and game period when the replay role is won a total of four times during the duration of the CZCZ state.
As shown in Figure 13 (b), when the gaming state is in the CZCZ state and the replay role is won a total of four times in games in the favorable gaming zone (the second game, and the fifth to seventh games shown in the figure), the condition for ending the favorable gaming zone will definitely be met as described above, so the gaming zone will transition to the normal zone (the eighth game shown in the figure), and the player will be granted the right to transition to the effective CZ state.
Furthermore, when the game state is in the CZCZ state, as shown in FIG. 14(b), a CZCZ state image 31 is displayed in the main part of the screen of the main display 8 to notify that the game state is in the CZCZ state.

Thereafter, if the push order bell role is won in a game during the normal zone (the 8th game shown), the conditions for transition to the advantageous zone are met and the game state will transition to the CZ state from the next game (the 9th game shown).
When the game zone shifts to the normal zone, the effect image shown in FIG. 14(c) is displayed in the same manner as described above.
In addition, if the replay role is won a total of four times during the duration of the CZCZ state, the condition for the end of the advantageous zone will always be met; however, even if the lottery for meeting the condition for the end of the advantageous zone is won when the replay role is won a total of three or less times, the same progression and presentation as described above will occur.

Next, Figure 13 (c) shows the transition of the game state and game zone when the lottery for transitioning to the AT state is won in a game during the CZ state, and in particular when the lottery for transitioning to the AT state is won in the fifth game.
As shown in Figure 13 (c), in the first half of games other than the first game during the CZ state, a pseudo-game corresponding to the lottery result for transition to the AT state in the previous game is executed.
In the example shown in FIG. 13(c), the lottery results for transition to the AT state in the first to fourth games are non-winning, so in the pseudo-game executed during the second to fifth games, after symbol combinations other than the specific symbol combination are pseudo-stopped, the normal game (main game) is executed in the latter half of the game.
Also, when the game state is in the CZ state, as shown in FIG. 14(d), a CZ state image 33 is displayed in the main part of the screen of the main display 8 to notify that the game state is in the CZ state.

If the result of the lottery for transition to the AT state in the fifth game is a winning result, the next game (the sixth game shown in the figure) will enter a standby state for the AT state in which a preliminary game will be executed, and in the pseudo game executed during the preliminary game, after the winning pseudo-stop pattern is pseudo-stopped, the normal game (main game) will be executed in the latter half of the game.
The gaming state will transition to the AT state from the game following the preliminary game (the seventh game shown).
As described above, the game state and game period change in response to the winning combination.

[Reel rotation during simulated play]
Next, the rotational manner of the reels during a simulated game in the slot machine 1 of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 15 to FIG.

First, with reference to FIG. 15, the manner in which the reels rotate during a simulated game when the rotation pattern 1 is selected and the accompanying effects on the main display 8 will be described.
Figure 15 shows a case where the type of AT state is determined to be a normal AT state in a game during a CZ state in which the player has won the AT state transition lottery, i.e., the winning pseudo-stop pattern in the pseudo game is determined to be "red 7."

First, when a game is executed during the CZ state, a lottery is held to determine whether to transition to the AT state at a specified timing (at the start of the game, at the end of the game, etc.), and if the lottery is won, a lottery is held to determine the type of AT state and the rotation pattern of reel 4 during the simulated game.
Then, at the end of the game (main game) in the CZ state, a symbol combination based on the lottery results of the role executed at the start of the game will stop on reel 4, as shown in FIG. 15(a).
During the CZ state, a CZ state image 33 is displayed in the main part of the screen of the main display 8. In addition, sound effects are output from the speaker 9 in response to the performance, and decorative light is emitted from the lamp 11.

When the next game (preliminary game) following the game that won the AT state transition lottery is started, a pseudo game is executed in the first half of the game, as shown in Figure 15 (b), and at the start of the pseudo game, all of the reels 4 begin to rotate in the positive direction from top to bottom, just like in a normal game.
Furthermore, at the beginning of the pseudo game, a pseudo game image A35a is displayed in the main part of the screen of the main display 8 to notify the player that the pseudo game has started, and a stopping pattern instruction image A37a consisting of text information "Aim for red 7 and blue 7!" is displayed in the lower part of the screen to encourage the player to perform a stopping operation aimed at the consecutive "red 7" and "blue 7" patterns on the reel 4.
In addition, sound effects are output from the speaker 9 in response to the performance, and decorative light is emitted from the lamp 11.

When the pseudo game is executed, the stop buttons 5 are activated, and the player operates one of the stop buttons 5 to stop the reels 4 at the location where the consecutive "red 7" and "blue 7" symbols are displayed.
For example, as shown in FIG. 15(c), when a player operates the left stop button 5a to stop, the left reel 4a, which has been rotating forward, comes to a pseudo-stop, and symbols in the range of "red 7", "blue 7", and "bell" (from top to bottom) come to a pseudo-stop on the left reel 4a within the display window 6.
Next, as shown in FIG. 15(d), when the player operates the middle stop button 5b to stop, the middle reel 4b, which had been rotating forward, comes to a pseudo-stop, and symbols in the range of "Blue 7", "Red 7", and "Replay" (from top to bottom) come to a pseudo-stop on the middle reel 4b in the display window 6.

Next, as shown in FIG. 15(e), when the player operates the right stop button 5c to stop, the right reel 4c, which had been rotating forward, comes to a pseudo-stop, and the symbols in the range of “Replay”, “Blue 7”, and “Red 7” (from top to bottom) come to a pseudo-stop on the right reel 4c within the display window 6.
In other words, when the rotation pattern 1 is selected, the rotation direction of the reels 4 is not changed, so that the player's first stage stopping operation causes a pseudo stop of all the reels 4.
It should be noted that even if the operation sequence of the stop buttons 5 is different from that described above, the corresponding reels 4 will stop in the same manner as described above.
Also, as mentioned above, during simulated play, the pull-in stop control that is performed in a normal game is not performed, so the target symbol will be pseudo-stopped regardless of the stop timing, ignoring the pull-in range.

Then, when the pseudo game ends, a winning pseudo stopping pattern (second pattern combination) consisting of a combination of "red 7, red 7, red 7" stops on a diagonally downward line of the reel 4, and it is announced that the lottery for transition to the normal AT state has been won.
When the winning pseudo-stop symbol consisting of a combination of "red 7, red 7, red 7" pseudo-stops, a red 7 stop image 36a is displayed in the main part of the screen of the main display 8. In response to the performance, sound effects are output from the speaker 9, and decorative light is emitted from the lamp 11.

Although not shown in the figure, after a predetermined time (e.g., 5 seconds) has elapsed since the pseudo-stop of the winning pseudo-stop pattern, the start lever 3 is activated, and when the player operates the start lever 3, all of the reels 4 start to rotate in the forward direction, and the game is executed. Note that even if the start lever 3 is not operated for a predetermined time (e.g., 10 seconds), all of the reels 4 automatically start to rotate in the forward direction, and the game is executed.

Next, the rotation mode of the reels during the pseudo game when the rotation pattern 2 is selected and the accompanying effects on the main display 8 will be described with reference to FIG.
Figure 16 shows a case where the type of AT state is determined to be a higher AT state in a game during a CZ state in which the player has won the AT state transition lottery, i.e., the winning pseudo-stop pattern in the pseudo game is determined to be "blue 7."
In addition, rotation pattern 2 is the same as rotation pattern 1 until the player performs the initial (first stage) stop operation of the stop button 5 in the preliminary game, so Figure 16 shows the state from the point when the player performs the initial (first stage) stop operation of the stop button 5 after the reel 4 has rotated forward in the preliminary game.

As shown in FIG. 16(a), when a pseudo game is started and the reel 4 is rotating forward, for example, when a player operates the left stop button 5a to stop the reel, the direction of rotation of the left reel 4a, which had been rotating forward, changes and the reel starts to rotate in the reverse direction from bottom to top.
In addition, together with the change in the rotation direction of the left reel 4a, the pseudo game image A35a displayed on the screen of the main display 8 is switched to a reel reverse rotation image A38a, which indicates that the reel 4 has been changed from forward rotation to reverse rotation, thereby notifying the user that the first change in rotation direction has been made. In response to the presentation, sound effects are output from the speaker 9, and decorative light is emitted from the lamp 11.

Next, as shown in FIG. 16(b), for example, when the player operates the center stop button 5b to stop, the rotation direction of the center reel 4b, which had been rotating forward, changes and begins to rotate in the reverse direction from bottom to top.
Next, as shown in FIG. 16(c), for example, when the player operates the right stop button 5c to stop, the rotation direction of the right reel 4c, which had been rotating forward, changes and begins to rotate in the reverse direction from bottom to top.
In this way, in rotation pattern 2, after the start of the simulated game, the first operation (first stage operation) by the player of the stop button 5 does not result in a pseudo stop of the reel 4, but rather the rotation direction of the reel 4 changes and all of the reels 4 begin to rotate in the reverse direction.

Thereafter, the stop button 5 is enabled again, allowing the player to operate the stop button 5 a second time (second-stage operation).
In addition, a pseudo game image B35b is displayed in the main part of the screen of the main display 8 to notify the start of the second stage of the pseudo game, and a stopping pattern instruction image B37b consisting of text information "Aim for blue 7 and gold 7!" is displayed in the lower part of the screen to encourage the player to perform a stopping operation aimed at the consecutive "blue 7" and "gold 7" symbols on the reel 4.
When the second stage of the simulated game is executed, the player operates one of the stop buttons 5 to stop the reels, aiming at the location of the consecutive "blue 7" and "gold 7" symbols on the reels 4.
It should be noted that even if the operation sequence of the stop buttons 5 is different from that described above, the rotation direction of the corresponding reels 4 will be changed in the same manner as described above.

Then, for example, as shown in FIG. 16(d), when the player operates the left stop button 5a to stop, the left reel 4a, which has been spinning in reverse, comes to a pseudo-stop, and the symbols in the range of "blue 7", "gold 7", and "watermelon" (from top to bottom) appear pseudo-stopped on the left reel 4a within the display window 6.
Next, as shown in FIG. 16(e), when the player operates the middle stop button 5b to stop, the middle reel 4b, which had been spinning in reverse, comes to a pseudo-stop, and symbols in the range of “Gold 7”, “Blue 7”, and “Replay” come to a pseudo-stop on the middle reel 4b in the display window 6, from top to bottom.

Next, as shown in FIG. 16(f), when the player operates the right stop button 5c to stop, the right reel 4c, which had been spinning in reverse, comes to a pseudo-stop, and the symbols in the range of “watermelon”, “gold 7”, and “blue 7” (from top to bottom) appear pseudo-stopped on the right reel 4c within the display window 6.
In other words, when rotation pattern 2 is selected, the first stage operation of the stop button 5 by the player does not result in a pseudo-stop of the reel 4, but instead changes the rotation direction of the reel 4, and the second stage stop operation by the player results in a pseudo-stop of all reels 4.

Then, when the pseudo game ends, a winning pseudo stopping pattern (second pattern combination) consisting of a combination of "blue 7, blue 7, blue 7" stops on a diagonally downward line of reel 4, and it is announced that the player has won the lottery for transition to a higher AT state.
When the winning pseudo-stop symbol consisting of the combination of "blue 7, blue 7, blue 7" pseudo-stops, a blue 7 stop image 36b is displayed in the main part of the screen of the main display 8. In response to the performance, a sound effect is output from the speaker 9, and a decorative light is emitted from the lamp 11.

Although not shown in the figure, after a predetermined time (e.g., 5 seconds) has elapsed since the pseudo-stop of the winning pseudo-stop pattern, the start lever 3 is activated, and when the player operates the start lever 3, all of the reels 4 start to rotate in the forward direction, and the game is executed. Note that even if the start lever 3 is not operated for a predetermined time (e.g., 10 seconds), all of the reels 4 automatically start to rotate in the forward direction, and the game is executed.

Next, the rotation mode of the reels during the pseudo game when the rotation pattern 3 is selected and the accompanying effects on the main display 8 will be described with reference to FIG.
Figure 17 shows a case where the type of AT state is determined to be a special AT state in a game during a CZ state in which the player has won the AT state transition lottery, i.e., the winning pseudo stopping pattern in the pseudo game is determined to be "Gold 7."
In addition, rotation pattern 3 is the same as rotation pattern 2 until the player performs the second-stage stop operation of the stop button 5 in the preliminary game, so Figure 17 shows the state from the point when the player performs the second-stage stop operation of the stop button 5 after the reel 4 has rotated in reverse in the preliminary game (Figure 16 (c)).

As shown in FIG. 17(a), after the player operates the stop button 5 in the first stage, when the player operates the left stop button 5a to stop the reel 4 which is spinning in reverse, the direction of rotation of the left reel 4a which had been spinning in reverse changes and it starts to spin forward from top to bottom.
In addition, together with the change in the rotation direction of the left reel 4a, the pseudo game image B35b displayed on the screen of the main display 8 is switched to a reel reverse rotation image B38b, which indicates that the reel 4 has been changed from reverse rotation to forward rotation, thereby notifying the player that a second change in rotation direction has been made. In response to the presentation, sound effects are output from the speaker 9, and decorative light is emitted from the lamp 11.

Next, as shown in FIG. 17(b), for example, when the player operates the center stop button 5b to stop, the rotation direction of the center reel 4b, which had been rotating in the reverse direction, changes and begins to rotate forward from top to bottom.
Next, as shown in FIG. 17(c), for example, when the player operates the right stop button 5c to stop, the rotation direction of the right reel 4c, which had been rotating in the reverse direction, changes and begins to rotate in the forward direction from top to bottom.
In this way, in rotation pattern 3, after the start of the simulated game, the first operation (first stage operation) by the player of the stop button 5 does not result in a pseudo stop of the reel 4, but rather changes the rotation direction of the reel 4 and all of the reels 4 begin to rotate in the reverse direction, and then, the second operation (second stage operation) by the player of the stop button 5 does not result in a pseudo stop of the reel 4, but rather changes the rotation direction of the reel 4 and all of the reels 4 begin to rotate in the forward direction.

Thereafter, the stop button 5 is enabled again, allowing the player to operate the stop button 5 a third time (third-stage operation).
In addition, a pseudo game image C35c is displayed in the main part of the screen of the main display 8 to notify the user that the third stage of the pseudo game has begun, and a stopping pattern instruction image B37b consisting of text information "Aim for Blue 7 and Gold 7!" is displayed in the lower part of the screen to encourage the player to perform a stopping operation aimed at the consecutive "blue 7" and "gold 7" symbols on the reel 4.
When the third stage of the simulated game is executed, the player operates one of the stop buttons 5 to stop the reels, aiming at the location of the consecutive "blue 7" and "gold 7" symbols on the reels 4.
It should be noted that even if the operation sequence of the stop buttons 5 is different from that described above, the rotation direction of the corresponding reels 4 will be changed in the same manner as described above.

Then, for example, as shown in FIG. 17(d), when the player operates the left stop button 5a to stop, the left reel 4a, which has been rotating forward, comes to a pseudo-stop, and the symbols in the range of "blue 7", "gold 7", and "watermelon" (from top to bottom) appear pseudo-stopped on the left reel 4a within the display window 6.
Next, as shown in FIG. 17(e), when the player operates the middle stop button 5b to stop, the middle reel 4b, which had been spinning in reverse, comes to a pseudo-stop, and the symbols in the range of "cherry,""gold7," and "blue 7" from top to bottom come to a pseudo-stop on the middle reel 4b in the display window 6.

Next, as shown in FIG. 17(f), when the player operates the right stop button 5c to stop, the right reel 4c, which had been spinning in reverse, comes to a pseudo-stop, and the symbols in the range of “watermelon”, “gold 7”, and “blue 7” (from top to bottom) appear pseudo-stopped on the right reel 4c within the display window 6.
In other words, when rotation pattern 3 is selected, the first and second stage operation of the stop button 5 by the player does not result in a pseudo-stop of the reel 4; instead, the rotation direction of the reel 4 is changed, and the third stage stop operation by the player results in a pseudo-stop of all reels 4.

Then, when the simulated game ends, a winning pseudo stopping pattern (second pattern combination) consisting of a combination of "gold 7, gold 7, gold 7" pseudo-stops on the middle line of reel 4, and it is announced that the player has won the lottery for transition to the special AT state.
In addition, when the winning pseudo-stop symbol consisting of the combination of "Gold 7, Gold 7, Gold 7" pseudo-stops, a Gold 7 stop image 36c is displayed in the main part of the screen of the main display 8. In addition, sound effects are output from the speaker 9 in response to the performance, and decorative light is output from the lamp 11.

Although not shown in the figure, after a predetermined time (e.g., 5 seconds) has elapsed since the pseudo-stop of the winning pseudo-stop pattern, the start lever 3 is activated, and when the player operates the start lever 3, all of the reels 4 start to rotate in the forward direction, and the game is executed. Note that even if the start lever 3 is not operated for a predetermined time (e.g., 10 seconds), all of the reels 4 automatically start to rotate in the forward direction, and the game is executed.

Next, with reference to FIG. 18, a description will be given of the pseudo stop symbols in the case where the AT state transition lottery is not won, and the associated presentation on the main display 8.
FIG. 18 shows a case where rotation pattern 1 is selected.
As shown in FIG. 18(a), at the beginning of the pseudo game, a pseudo game image A35a is displayed in the main part of the screen of the main display 8 to notify the player that the pseudo game has started, and a stopping pattern instruction image A37a consisting of text information "Aim for red 7 and blue 7!" is displayed in the lower part of the screen to encourage the player to perform a stopping operation aimed at the consecutive "red 7" and "blue 7" patterns on the reel 4.
If the player does not win the lottery for transition to the AT state, the reel 4 will spin in rotation pattern 1 during the simulated game, and then when the player operates the stop button 5 (first stage operation), a predetermined pseudo-missing stop pattern will pseudo-stop.
The pseudo-missing stop symbol, for example, is a pseudo-stopping combination of "red 7, red 7, watermelon" on a diagonally downward line of the reel 4. That is, a symbol combination that is not recognized as a pseudo-missing stop symbol until the operation of the right reel 4c is performed is pseudo-stopped.
Thereafter, when the player operates the start lever 3, all of the reels 4 begin to rotate in the forward direction, and if the CZ state continues, a CZ state image 33 will be displayed on the main display 8, as shown in Figure 18 (b).
If the AT state transition lottery is not won, spin pattern 2 may also be selected. In this case, the first stage stop operation causes the reel 4 to rotate in reverse, and the player's subsequent operation of the stop button 5 will cause, for example, a combination of "blue 7, blue 7, bell" or "gold 7, gold 7, bell" to be pseudo-stopped on a specified line on the reel 4.

As described above, the main control device 10, which serves as the second pattern derivation control means, enables a pseudo game (second game) to be executed in the next game (first game) after the AT state transition lottery has been conducted, and when the pseudo game is executed, derives a pseudo stop pattern (second pattern combination) based on the player's operation of the stop button 5 (stop operation means).
Therefore, multiple symbol combinations can be derived from the reel 4 in one game, which increases the entertainment value of the game and heightens the player's expectations.

In addition, when the rotation pattern in the pseudo game is rotation pattern 2 or rotation pattern 3, the main control device 10, which serves as a variable display direction control means, changes the variable display direction of a specified reel during variable display based on the operation of the stop button 5 by the player before deriving the pseudo stop pattern (second pattern combination) in the pseudo game.
Therefore, during a simulated game, the rotation direction of the reel 4 may change when the player operates the stop button 5. Therefore, even if the stop button 5 is operated to stop the reel 4, the rotation direction of the reel 4 may change, which can greatly increase the unexpectedness and excitement of the game.

Furthermore, by deriving the pseudo stop pattern, it becomes possible to notify whether or not an AT state will occur and the type of AT state that will occur in an unprecedented novel and clear manner.
In addition, various effects are executed by the main display 8 etc. in response to the simulated game, so that it is possible to increase the player's interest during the simulated game and his/her anticipation for the occurrence of the AT state.
In addition, since the game (main play) is being executed while the reel 4 is pseudo-stopped, the reel 4 may be repeatedly rotated up and down within a small range.
As described above, the reel 4 rotates during the pseudo game.

[Variations]
Next, a modification of this embodiment will be described.
During the simulated gaming state, when the player changes the rotation direction of the reels 4 by operating the stop button 5, the main control device 10 may temporarily pseudo-stop a specified symbol when the rotation direction is changed.
For example, during a simulated game with rotation pattern 2, when the first stage stop button 5 (e.g., left stop button 5a) is operated, the left reel 4a, which is rotating forward, is not instantly rotated in reverse, but rather one of the red 7, blue 7, or gold 7 is selectively pseudo-stopped (the pseudo-stop is always achieved by drawing in a specified symbol) at a specified position (e.g., the top row) of the left reel 4a, and then after a specified time (e.g., 0.5 seconds) has elapsed, the reel 4 begins to rotate in reverse.

In this case, the main control device 10 may determine the type of pattern to be temporarily quasi-stopped depending on the type of quasi-stop pattern (type of AT state) that has been determined in advance.
For example, when it is decided to pseudo-stop the winning pseudo-stop pattern of "red 7", the temporary pseudo-stop pattern is set to "red 7" with 80% probability, "blue 7" with 20% probability, and "gold 7" with 0% probability. Also, when it is decided to pseudo-stop the winning pseudo-stop pattern of "gold 7", the temporary pseudo-stop pattern is set to "red 7" with 10% probability, "blue 7" with 60% probability, and "gold 7" with 30% probability, suggesting the type of winning pseudo-stop pattern depending on the type of the temporary pseudo-stop pattern.

When the rotation direction of the center reel 4b and the right reel 4c is changed, the specified symbol is temporarily pseudo-stopped in the same manner as when the rotation direction of the left reel 4a is changed, but the specified symbol may be temporarily pseudo-stopped only when the rotation direction of the left reel 4a is changed.

In other words, when the variable display direction on a specified reel is changed, the main control unit 10, as a variable display direction control means, is capable of deriving an intermediate pattern (a pattern that is temporarily pseudo-stopped) on the specified reel, and is capable of determining the type of intermediate pattern based on the determination result of the bonus type determination means (main control unit 10).
In this way, the type of winning pseudo-stop pattern that will ultimately pseudo-stop is suggested as the rotation direction of reel 4 changes, making it possible to increase the player's sense of expectation while improving the interest of the game.
In this case, when the rotation direction of reel 4 is changed in rotation pattern 3, a specific symbol will be temporarily pseudo-stopped as in rotation pattern 2. However, when selecting a symbol to be temporarily pseudo-stopped in rotation pattern 3, the selection of the symbol may be controlled so as to have a higher reliability in suggesting the type of winning pseudo-stop symbol than in the case of rotation pattern 2.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, when changing the rotation direction of the reel 4 during a simulated game, the main control device 10 changes the rotation direction of the reel 4 regardless of when the player operates the stop button 5, but it may be configured to change the rotation direction of the reel 4 only when the player operates the stop button 5 at a specified timing.

For example, the rotation direction of reel 4 may be changed only when an accurate stopping operation aimed at any one of the symbols "red 7", "blue 7", or "gold 7" is performed during a simulated game before the rotation direction of reel 4 is changed, that is, when a stopping operation capable of stopping any one of the symbols "red 7", "blue 7", or "gold 7" is performed under four-frame pull-in stop control.
In this case, if no stopping operation capable of stopping any of the "red 7,""blue7," or "gold 7" is performed under the pull-in stop control, the rotation direction of the reel 4 may not be changed, but may continue to rotate as is and move to the next stage of rotation direction change control, or the next stage of pseudo stop control, or the rotation direction of the reel 4 may be changed instantly.

In other words, the main control device 10, which serves as a variable display direction control means, makes it possible to change the variable display direction on a specified reel when a stop operation means (stop button 5) is operated for a specified reel at a specified timing.
In this way, it becomes possible to change the rotation direction of the reel 4 depending on the skill of the player, thereby increasing the player's sense of expectation and giving the player a sense of satisfaction.
In addition, when an accurate stopping operation is performed aiming at either the "red 7,""blue7," or "gold 7," as described above, the aimed symbol may be temporarily pseudo-stopped as an intermediate symbol when the rotation direction of the reel 4 is changed.

In this case, the timing at which any of the "red 7", "blue 7" and "gold 7" can be stopped may be set based on pull-in stop control of three frames or less (for example, so-called "vita push"), and the rotation direction of the reel 4 may be changed only when the player has a higher level of skill.
In addition, the direction of rotation of the reel 4 may be changed only when an accurate stopping operation is performed aiming at one of the symbols (e.g., "gold 7") rather than all of the symbols "red 7", "blue 7", and "gold 7", or symbols other than "red 7", "blue 7", and "gold 7" may be targeted.

In addition, when a pseudo winning stop symbol of "red 7" is to be pseudo-stopped, the rotation direction of reel 4 may be changed only when an accurate stopping operation aimed at the "red 7" symbol is performed. Similarly, when a pseudo winning stop symbol of "blue 7" is to be pseudo-stopped, the rotation direction of reel 4 may be changed only when an accurate stopping operation aimed at the "blue 7" symbol is performed, and when a pseudo winning stop symbol of "gold 7" is to be pseudo-stopped, the rotation direction of reel 4 may be changed only when an accurate stopping operation aimed at the "gold 7" symbol is performed. In this way, the rotation direction of reel 4 is changed only when the type of pseudo winning stop symbol that the player expects (desires) and the accurate stopping operation are performed, which further increases the interest of the game.

In addition, when changing the direction of rotation of reel 4 only when an accurate stopping operation is performed aiming at either "red 7,""blue7," or "gold 7" during a simulated game before changing the direction of rotation of reel 4, the device may assist with the aimed stopping operation (timing).
For example, during simulated play, the sub-control device 20 can control the main display 8 to display an indication image that can periodically indicate the timing at which the "Gold 7" can be stopped, such as an analog-type indication image that resembles a meter, to assist in the timing at which the "Gold 7" can be stopped.

That is, the main control device 10 or the sub-control device 20 is provided with an operation assist means for assisting in the operation of the stop operation means at a predetermined timing.
In this way, even players with a relatively low level of skill can change the direction of rotation of the reel 4, which provides a sense of satisfaction to many players.

Also, the assist means may be operated only when the reel 4 is rotating in the reverse direction.
In other words, reverse rotation of the reel 4 is a rotation pattern that is not performed in normal games and is unfamiliar to players, but even when changing the rotation direction in such a case, by activating the assist means, it is possible to change the rotation direction of the reel 4 without any problems.

As explained above, in the present invention, a gaming machine (slot machine 1) that executes a game involving a plurality of reels (4) each displaying a plurality of symbols, and a variable display of the plurality of reels based on the operation of a player, and that can award a bonus in connection with the execution of the game, includes a first game control means (main control unit 10) that executes a first game in which a first symbol combination formed by the plurality of reels is derived based on the end of the game, and a second symbol combination (pseudo stop symbol) formed by the plurality of reels during the execution of the first game. The game includes a second game control means (main control device 10) capable of executing a second game in which the second symbol combination is derived in addition to the first symbol combination, and a stop operation means (stop button 5) that can be operated by a player. The second game control means includes a second symbol derivation control means (main control device 10) capable of executing control to derive the second symbol combination based on the operation of the stop operation means, and a variable display direction control means (main control device 10) capable of changing the variable display direction of a specified reel during a variable display based on the operation of the stop operation means before the second symbol combination is derived.

Therefore, multiple symbol combinations can be derived from the reel 4 in one game, which increases the entertainment value of the game and heightens the player's expectations.
Furthermore, during the second game (simulated game), the rotation direction of the reel 4 may be changed by the player's operation of the stop operation means (stop button 5). Therefore, even if the player operates the stop operation means to stop the reel 4, the rotation direction of the reel 4 may change, which can greatly increase the element of surprise and interest in the game.
The “predetermined reel” may be all or a part of the reels 4. Also, it may be the reels 4 corresponding to the stop button 5, or it may be the reels 4 not corresponding to the stop button 5.

The game also includes a bonus awarding decision means (main control unit 10) that can decide whether or not to award the bonus based on the execution of the game, and the variable display direction control means is configured to be able to change the variable display direction of the specified reel based on the decision result of the bonus awarding decision means.
Therefore, since the change in the rotation direction of reel 4 during the second game (simulated game) provides an indication of the result of the decision on whether or not a bonus will be awarded, when the rotation direction of reel 4 changes, the possibility that the bonus will be awarded increases, thereby making it possible to heighten the player's expectations.

In addition, the bonus awarding decision means is equipped with a bonus type determination means (main control unit 10) capable of determining the type of bonus to be awarded, and the variable display direction control means is configured to be able to change the variable display direction on the specified reel based on the decision result of the bonus type determination means.
Therefore, when the rotation direction of the reel 4 is changed in the second game (simulated game), the possibility of the player being awarded a special benefit that is advantageous to the player increases, which can heighten the player's expectations.
In addition, the number of times the rotation direction of reel 4 is changed during the second game (simulated game) indicates the type of bonus that will be awarded. The more times the rotation direction of reel 4 is changed in the second game, the higher the chance that a bonus advantageous to the player will be awarded. Therefore, if the rotation direction is changed many times, it is possible to greatly heighten the player's expectations.

In addition, the variable display direction control means is configured to be able to derive an intermediate pattern (a pattern that is temporarily pseudo-stopped) on the specified reel when changing the variable display direction on the specified reel, and to be able to determine the type of the intermediate pattern based on the determination result of the bonus type determination means.
Therefore, the type of benefit to be awarded is indicated as the rotation direction of the reel 4 changes, making it possible to increase the player's excitement while also enhancing the entertainment value of the game.

The variable display direction control means is configured to be able to change the variable display direction on the specified reel when the stop operation means is operated on the specified reel at a specified timing.
Therefore, it becomes possible to change the rotation direction of the reel 4 depending on the skill of the player, which increases the player's expectations and gives the player a sense of satisfaction.

The apparatus is also configured to include an operation assist means (main control device 10 or sub-control device 20) that assists in the operation of the stop operation means at the predetermined timing.
Therefore, even players with a relatively low level of skill can change the rotation direction of the reel 4, so that many players can obtain a sense of satisfaction.

The above-mentioned first game control means, second game control means, second symbol derivation control means, variable display direction control means, bonus award determination means, bonus type determination means, and operation assistance means may be provided by the main control device 10 or the sub-control device 20. Also, they may be configured by the main control device 10 and the sub-control device 20 working together.

On the other hand, Patent Document 1 discloses a gaming machine in which the variable display can be stopped multiple times in one variable display game, thereby giving the player multiple opportunities to perform a stopping operation.
However, conventional gaming machines have not been sufficient in terms of increasing the entertainment value of the game or enhancing the player's expectations.
In this way, the slot machine 1 of the present invention can solve all or part of the problems that need to be improved in conventional gaming machines.

The above describes a preferred embodiment of the gaming machine of the present invention. However, it goes without saying that the gaming machine of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention.
For example, in this embodiment, the AT state (AT) is granted as a privilege, but it is also possible to grant ART or RT.

In addition, in this embodiment, the type of AT state is one that ends when there are no more games remaining in the AT state, but the AT state may also be one that ends based on the number of medals paid out during the AT state or the number of times a specified role is won.
In addition, the awarding of a bonus is assumed to be the occurrence of an AT state, and the expectation of the bonus being awarded or the size of the bonus to be awarded is indicated by a change in the rotation direction of reel 4 during simulated play. However, the expectation of the awarding of other bonuses (the occurrence of a CZ state, the occurrence of a pseudo bonus state, an increase in the number of games during the AT state, etc.) or the size of the bonus to be awarded may also be indicated by a change in the rotation direction of reel 4 during simulated play.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, when it is expressed that "one is more probable than the other" or "one is less probable than the other", the probability of one includes 0% and the probability of the other includes 100%.
In the present embodiment, the numerical values defined in the various tables are merely examples, and may be numerical values with a range (2 or more) or numerical values without a range (1).

Furthermore, although the present invention is applied to a slot machine, it can also be applied to other gaming machines such as pachinko (for example, ball slot).
The present invention can also be applied to so-called enclosed gaming machines that can execute games using pseudo gaming media in the form of data, without using actual gaming media such as medals or gaming balls.

1: Slot machine 2: Bet button 4: Reels 5: Stop button 8: Main display 10: Main control device 17: Sub display 20: Sub control device

Claims (6)

A gaming machine that has a plurality of reels each showing a plurality of symbols, executes a game involving a variable display of the plurality of reels based on a player's operation, and can award a bonus in relation to the execution of the game,
a first game control means for executing a first game in which a first symbol combination formed by the plurality of reels is derived based on the end of the game;
a second game control means for executing a second game in which a second symbol combination formed by the plurality of reels is derived in addition to the first symbol combination during execution of the first game;
A stop operation means operable by a player;
Equipped with
The second game control means includes:
A second symbol derivation control means capable of executing control to derive the second symbol combination based on the operation of the stop operation means;
A variable display direction control means for changing a variable display direction of a predetermined reel during a variable display based on an operation of the stop operation means before deriving the second symbol combination;
A gaming machine comprising: a bonus award determination means for determining whether or not to award the bonus based on execution of the game;
The variable display direction control means
2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein a direction of the variable display on the predetermined reel can be changed based on a result of the determination by the bonus determination means. The benefit granting determination means
A benefit type determination means is provided for determining the type of benefit to be provided;
The variable display direction control means
3. The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein a direction of a variable display on the predetermined reel can be changed based on a result of the determination by the bonus type determination means. The variable display direction control means
When changing the variable display direction of the predetermined reel, a mid-way symbol can be derived on the predetermined reel;
4. The gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the type of the intermediate symbol can be determined based on a result of the determination by the bonus type determination means. The variable display direction control means
2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein a direction of the variable display on the predetermined reel can be changed when the stop operation means is operated on the predetermined reel at a predetermined timing. 6. The gaming machine according to claim 5, further comprising an operation assist means for assisting the operation of the stop operation means at the predetermined timing.

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