Patent ID: 9576421
Date: 2017-02-21
CPC Classifications: G07F

Claim:
1. A gaming machine comprising: a plurality of gaming terminals each having a terminal display on which a plurality of symbols are provided and an associated terminal controller programmed to execute step (a1); a plurality of upper displays which are provided in a parallel manner independently from the gaming terminals so as to form a single common effect display screen which is constituted by a plurality of gaming terminal areas each corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of gaming terminals; and a center controller which includes an image storage unit storing a common game start effect image displayed on the common effect display screen and is programmed to execute steps (b1) and (b2), the terminal controller of each of the plurality of gaming terminals executing the step of: (a1) displaying an effect image on the terminal display with which the terminal controller is associated based on a common game start effect image display command transmitted from the center controller, and the center controller executing the steps of: (b1) when a predetermined common game condition is established, starting and running a common game in which at least one of the plurality of gaming terminals is synchronized with at least another one of the plurality of gaming terminals; and (b2) when the common game starts, displaying the common game start effect image on the common effect display screen and transmitting a common game start effect image display command to the plurality of gaming terminals so that the common game start effect image divided among the plurality of gaming terminal areas is displayed on the terminal display of each of the plurality of gaming terminals corresponding to the gaming terminal areas; wherein the common game start effect image shows a plurality of predetermined characters that pass through the common game start effect image from one side of the common game start effect image to another side of the common game start effect image; and the terminal display of each of the plurality of gaming terminals shows, as part of the common game start effect image divided among the plurality of gaming terminal areas, a set of the plurality of predetermined characters that is identical to a set of the plurality of predetermined characters shown in the gaming terminal area of the common effect display screen corresponding to the gaming terminal associated with the terminal display.