VIDEO SLOT MACHINE, SERVER SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER SYSTEM

When a stopped symbol group satisfies a winning combination establishment condition, a video slot machine sets a stopping order of at least one reel having stopped symbols including a symbol required for the winning combination to be the last. When the stopped symbol group is one short of the symbol to satisfy the winning combination establishment condition, the stopping order of a reel involving the missing symbol is set to be the last. Display control is performed in such a manner that the reels that are spinning displayed stop spinning in accordance with the stopping orders thus set.

Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-010393 filed on Jan. 24, 2017 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Video slot machines are slot machines with symbol (graphic) columns in spinning reels, in a mechanical slot machine, implemented with video images. The video slot machines have gained popularity with behaviors of reels and payout patterns that would have been unachievable by mechanical slot machines.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-36163 discloses a technique of achieving a wide variety of scatter payouts, based on combinations of symbols in reels and background colors of the reels. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-66396 discloses a technique of implementing the background of a reel with a video reel and using graphic, formed for the second reel, for payout patterns.

Among various aspects that can make the video slot machines distinguishable from other machines and more attractive, a process before a stopped symbol group (the outcome which is a combination of the graphics (symbols) at the timing when the reels have stopped) is determined and variation of the payout patterns are of particularly important. This is because the wait time, before the stopped symbol group is determined, is when the player has increased expectations and feels thrill and excitement.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a video slot machine comprising: at least one processor or circuit programmed to execute as:

determining stopped symbols, in symbol column of reels scroll displayed, to be stopped in a reel display area, by performing a predetermined lottery process in response to a predetermined start operation; and

controlling stopping orders of the reels based on the stopped symbols.

According to the second aspect of the invention, there is provided a server system comprising: at least one processor or circuit programmed to execute as:

causing a user terminal to control progress of a video slot game in which symbol columns of reels are scroll displayed in response to a predetermined start operation;

determining stopped symbols, in the symbol columns of the reels, to be stopped in a reel display area, by performing a predetermined lottery process in response to the start operation; and

controlling stopping orders of the reels based on the stopped symbols.

According to the third aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer system including a user terminal on which a user inputs an operation and a server system,

the server system comprising: at least one processor or circuit programmed to execute as:

causing a user terminal to control progress of a video slot game in which symbol columns of reels are scroll displayed in response to a predetermined start operation;

determining stopped symbols, in the symbol columns of the reels, to be stopped in a reel display area, by performing a predetermined lottery process in response to the start operation; and

controlling stopping orders of the reels based on the stopped symbols.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

According to one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a video slot machine comprising: at least one processor or circuit programmed to execute as:

determining stopped symbols, in symbol column of reels scroll displayed, to be stopped in a reel display area, by performing a predetermined lottery process in response to a predetermined start operation; and

controlling stopping orders of the reels based on the stopped symbols.

The video slot machine may further comprise determining whether or not a predetermined winning condition is satisfied based on the stopped symbols,

the controlling the stopping orders of the reels may include making, when the winning condition is satisfied, a reel involving a stopped symbol required for satisfying the winning condition to be stopped last.

With this configuration, the stopping orders of the reels can be changed in accordance with the content of the stopped symbol group to be stopped in the reel display area when the reels stop. In a conventional configuration where the stopping orders of the reels are determined in advance, a player might immediately realize that his or her expectation has been disappointed immediately after the reels start stopping, and might have nothing to do but wait until the remaining reels stop. In the present embodiment, the reel stopping orders are changed so that a reel involving a stopped symbol required for satisfying the winning condition is stopped last. Thus, the period in which the player can enjoy the excitement and thrill can be maintained longer than in the conventional configuration, whereby an attractive video slot machine can be implemented.

The video slot machine may further comprise determining whether or not an only one missing condition is satisfied with the winning condition failed to be satisfied due to only one missing symbol based on the stopped symbol, the only missing symbol may be a missing symbol in a case where the winning condition is not satisfied due to only one symbol missing,

the controlling the stopping orders of the reels may include making, when the only one missing condition is satisfied, a reel involving the only missing symbol to be stopped last.

With this configuration, when the winning condition is not satisfied but when the “one missing condition” (“only one symbol missing to satisfy the winning condition”) is satisfied, the reels are also controlled to be stopped as in the case where the winning condition is satisfied. Thus, an attractive video slot machine featuring a longer period of time for the player to enjoy the excitement and thrill regardless of whether or not he or she has won a jackpot can be implemented.

In the video slot machine, a special symbol may be included in the symbol columns of M (N>M≥2) reels of the reels including N (N≥3) reels,

the winning condition may include a condition satisfied when the stopped symbols in the M reels include the special symbol.

With this configuration, the winning condition can be satisfied when the stopped symbols include the special symbol set to be in reels less than all the reels.

In the video slot machine, the controlling the stopping orders of the reels may include making, when the stopped symbols include at least one symbol required for satisfying the winning condition, a reel involving the symbol to be stopped first.

With this configuration, when the stopped symbols include at least one symbol required for satisfying the winning condition, a reel involving the symbol is stopped first. As a result, the player can be quickly excited feeling “Hey, I might have won”.

In the video slot machine, the N may be N≥4,

the controlling the stopping orders of the reels may include determining, when the winning condition is satisfied, reels involving stopped symbols required for satisfying the winning condition to be a first stopped reel and a last stopped reel, and randomly determining reels to be stopped after the first stopped reel and before the last stopped reel.

In the video slot machine, the winning condition may include a plurality of types of winning conditions with different payouts,

the controlling the stopping orders of the reels may include making, when a plurality of the winning conditions are satisfied, a reel involving a stopped symbol required for satisfying one of the winning conditions with largest payout, to be stopped last.

Players feel larger anticipation and excitement for a jackpot with a larger payout. Thus, in the present embodiment, the reel involving the stopped symbol required for satisfying the winning condition with the largest payout is stopped last to further enhance the excitement and thrill of the player.

In the video slot machine, the controlling the stopping orders of the reels may include controlling number of reels to be stopped last at one time.

With this configuration, the number of reels to be stopped last at one time is variable so that a variety of reel stopping patterns can be achieved.

According to another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a server system comprising: at least one processor or circuit programmed to execute as:

causing a user terminal to control progress of a video slot game in which symbol columns of reels are scroll displayed in response to a predetermined start operation;

determining stopped symbols, in the symbol columns of the reels, to be stopped in a reel display area, by performing a predetermined lottery process in response to the start operation; and

controlling stopping orders of the reels based on the stopped symbols.

With this configuration, a server system having the effects described above can be implemented as a server system that enables a video slot game to be played with a user terminal.

According to another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a computer system including a user terminal on which a user inputs an operation and a server system,

the server system comprising: at least one processor or circuit programmed to execute as:

causing a user terminal to control progress of a video slot game in which symbol columns of reels are scroll displayed in response to a predetermined start operation;

determining stopped symbols, in the symbol columns of the reels, to be stopped in a reel display area, by performing a predetermined lottery process in response to the start operation; and

controlling stopping orders of the reels based on the stopped symbols.

The “computer system” as used herein may be a system including a single computer, and may be a system including a plurality of computers that are connected to each other to be capable of performing data communications with each other through a communication line.

According to this configuration, a computer system that can achieve the effects described above can be implemented.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described below. It is a matter of course that modes to which the present invention can be applied are not limited to the embodiments described below.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1is a front outer view illustrating an example of a configuration of a video slot machine1300according to the present embodiment. The video slot machine1300includes a casing1301having a lower portion provided with an operation board1302having an upper surface provided with a spin button1304.

The video slot machine1300further includes a token input device1340, a paper money input device1342, and a medium reading device1344. The token input device1340, serving as a playing fee input section, is provided to be farther than the operation board1302, and is used for inputting a token98. The medium reading device1344reads information, required for paying the playing fee, from an electronic payment medium99.

For example, the electronic payment medium99may be implemented with an admission ticket issued by a manager of the video slot machine1300, credit card, prepaid card, integrated circuit (IC) card, smartphone, a wearable computer, or the like. In the example illustrated inFIG. 1, the electronic payment medium99is illustrated to be a card type and the medium reading device1344is illustrated to have a card insert port. Note that the electronic payment medium99and the medium reading device1344may establish connection via near field communications so that the medium reading device1344can write and read information to and from the electronic payment medium99.

The video slot machine1300further includes a touch panel1306and a speaker1310in an upper portion of the casing1301. The touch panel1306functions as an image display device and a contact position input device. The casing1301incorporates a control board1350.

The control board1350is a board dedicated for the video slot machine1300. The control board1350includes a microprocessor of various types (such as a central processing unit (CPU)1351, a graphics processing unit (GPU), and a digital signal processor (DSP)), an IC memory1352of various types (such as a video random access memory (VRAM), a RAM, and a read only memory (ROM)), an interface (I/F) controller1357, and the like.

For example, the I/F controller1357includes 1) a driver circuit for the touch panel1306, 2) a circuit that receives a signal from the spin button1304, 3) an output amplifier circuit that outputs a sound signal to the speaker1310, 4) a signal input/output circuit for playing fee input sections such as the token input device1340, the paper money input device1342, and the medium reading device1344, and the like.

These elements of the control board1350are electrically connected to each other via a bus circuit, to be capable of exchanging data and signals. The control board1350may be partially or entirely implemented with an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or a System on a Chip (SoC).

The control board1350executes a predetermined program to perform a calculation process, and enables slot play by controlling the components of the video slot machine1300in accordance with an operation input using the spin button1304and the touch panel1306. The video slot machine1300has a required program and various types of setting data stored in advance in the IC memory1352. Note that the program and data can be downloaded from an external device every time the machine is started. In such a configuration, the video slot machine1300may include a communication device1353.

The control board1350performs control so that the video slot machine1300generates an image on a game screen of a slot game based on a result of the operation input using the spin button1304, the touch panel1306, or the like, causes the touch panel1306to display the image, generates a sound signal corresponding to sound effects and operation sounds, and causes the speaker1310to emit the sound. Thus, the player can enjoy the slot game by operating the spin button1304while watching the game screen displayed on the touch panel1306and listening to the game sound from the speaker1310.

One or two of the token input device1340, the paper money input device1342, and the medium reading device1344may be omitted. Furthermore, a playing fee input section other than these may be employed. The video slot machine1300includes a power source device (not illustrated) and the like as appropriate.

FIG. 2is a diagram illustrating an example of a game screen according to the present embodiment. A game screen W2according to the present embodiment is displayed on the touch panel1306. The game screen W2according to the present embodiment includes a reel display area20and an information display section30.

The reel display area20includes two or more symbol stop positions for each of N reels (N≥3). In the present embodiment, N=5. In the reel display area20, symbol columns of the reels are displayed in a scrolling manner so that an image displayed replicates actual spinning reels.

In the present embodiment, a design illustrated inFIG. 3is employed where five video reels (first video reel21to fifth video reel25) are arranged in a left and right direction. Three of continuous symbols (general symbols8and special symbols10(10s,10a,10b, . . . )) in a column of symbols (symbol column), set to each video reel, are designed to be displayed on the reel display area20. Thus, in the present embodiment, a total of 15 (5×3) symbol stop positions7(areas sectionalized with broken lines inFIG. 3) are prepared.

Symbols to be stopped in the reel display area20, that is, symbols to be stopped at the symbol stop positions7are hereinafter referred to as “stopped symbols”.

Edges of the reels, clearly illustrated inFIG. 3, are not actually displayed in the reel display area20as illustrated inFIG. 2. The number of symbols, in the symbol column of each reel, to be displayed on the reel display area20can be appropriately set. In other words, the number of symbol stop positions7can be appropriately set. For example, the number of the symbol stop positions7may be three in each of the first reel21and the second reel22and may be four in each of the third reel23to the fifth reel25. The number of the symbol stop positions7may be variable.

Symbols set in the video reels (first reel21to fifth reel25) according to the present embodiment include a plurality of types of special symbols10(10s,10a,10b, . . . ) that are less than the general symbols8(alphabet symbols in the illustrated example).

A reward is given to the player when the “content of the stopped symbol group”, that is, the “reel outcome” includes a predetermined number of or a predetermined arrangement of the special symbols10(10s,10a,10b, . . . ) stopped at the symbol stop positions7to satisfy a given winning combination establishment condition. The video slot machine1300determines the stopped symbol group through a predetermined lottery process, and thus the winning combination establishment condition can also be referred to as a “winning condition”.

The “winning combination” is a combination of the stopped symbol group required for the payout after the reels have stopped.

The winning combination establishment condition is a condition satisfied when a combination of the stopped symbol group is determined to match a winning combination, and can be appropriately set. In the present embodiment, two types of the condition are prepared. More specifically, an individual payout line determination type and an entire symbol stop positions collective determination type are prepared.

The “payout line” is an array of the symbol stop positions7that is a target of the betting, that is, an array of a plurality of the symbol stop positions7picked up from the symbol stop positions7set to be arranged in a matrix form based on a predetermined direction or a geometric pattern. In the present embodiment, the payout lines are set to be three linear arrays of the symbol stop positions7in the left and right direction and on upper, middle, and lower rows, for the sake of description. However, how the payout lines are set is not limited to this, and the lines can be appropriately set.

The winning combination establishment condition of the individual payout line determination type is defined based on the types and the consecutive number of symbols, stopped at the symbol stop positions7, sequentially picked up along each payout line at which the bet is set (set as the betting target). The “consecutive number” is the number of the same type of stopped symbols arranged over a plurality of continuously adjacent reels, with no symbol of a different type provided in between.

The winning combination establishment condition of the individual payout line determination type is a condition of determining whether or not the winning combination is established for each payout line, and the type and the consecutive number of symbols may be appropriately set. For example, the condition may be set to be satisfied with a mixture of different types of symbols, with the consecutive number intentionally set to be “1”, or with a certain symbol stopped at a certain reel (for example, the third reel23). A large symbol that occupies two or more symbol stop positions in an upper and lower direction may be employed, and the condition may be satisfied when such a large symbol stops.

The winning combination establishment condition of the entire symbol stop positions collective determination type is defined based on the type and the appeared number of special symbols in all of the symbols that have stopped at all the symbol stop positions7.

The special symbols10(10s,10a,10b, . . . ) according to the present embodiment include a scatter symbol10s, a wild symbol10w, a first small jackpot symbol10a, a second small jackpot symbol10b, and a third small jackpot symbol10c. Note that the types of the special symbols are not limited to these.

The scatter symbol10sis a symbol that may lead to a special event occurring as a reward, and is associated with the winning combination establishment condition of the entire symbol stop positions collective determination type. In the present embodiment, the second reel22, the third reel23, and the fourth reel24are each set as a “special reel” and have a symbol column including at least one scatter symbol10s. The illustrated combination is determined to be a jackpot under the winning combination establishment condition set to be satisfied when the appeared number is “3” and the number of scatter symbols10sin the stopped symbols at all the symbol stop positions7is “3” or more.

Note that how the special reels are set is not limited to this. The special symbol may be included in the symbol column of each of M (N>M≥2) reels of N (N≥3) reels. In the example of the present embodiment, the scatter symbol10sserving as the special symbol is included in each of the second to the fourth reels22,23, and24(N=5 and M=3). However, this should not be construed in a limiting sense. For example, three reels including the first reel21, the third reel23, and the fifth reel25may be set to be the “special reels”. Furthermore, all the five reels may be set to be the special reels (N=M). In such a case, the appeared number in the winning combination establishment condition is preferably set to be “3 or more” or “5”.

In the present embodiment, it is determined that “a large jackpot is established” or “the player has won the large jackpot” when the number of the scatter symbols10sthat have stopped at the symbol stop positions7is equal to or larger than the appeared number in the winning combination establishment condition. As a result, a bonus game stage starts as a reward.

The bonus game stage according to the present embodiment is a game in which the player touches and selects one of a predetermined number of the characters6displayed over the entire screen of a touch panel1506, as illustrated in an example of a game screen W4inFIG. 4for example, and an action operation is performed on the character6thus selected. The characters6are assigned with different bonus credit in advance. The bonus credit is set to be more expensive than the payout for any jackpot.

When the player performs the selection operation, display effect of shooting down the character6thus selected occurs, and the bonus credit assigned to the character6is given to the player. Then, the bonus game ends, and the display returns to the game screen of the slot game (seeFIG. 2).

Referring back toFIG. 3, the wild symbol10w, the first small jackpot symbol10a, the second small jackpot symbol10b, and the third small jackpot symbol10care included in the symbol columns of all of the first reel21to the fifth reel25. The number of each of these symbols is larger than that of the scatter symbol10s, but is set to be much smaller than that of the general symbols8.

The first small jackpot symbol10a, the second small jackpot symbol10b, and the third small jackpot symbol10care each associated with the winning combination establishment condition of the individual payout line determination type. Thus, it is determined that “a small jackpot is established” when the types and the consecutive number of symbols picked up along the payout line set to be the betting target, from the group of symbols that have stopped at the symbol stop positions7(stopped symbol group), satisfy the winning combination establishment condition. The small jackpot involves no bonus event occurring in the case where the scatter symbol10sis involved, but involves a relatively high payout ratio as a reward.

The player receives the payout in the video slot machine1300in various situations. In any situations, the player is definitely interested in where the special symbols10(10s,10a,10b, . . . ) stop in the reel display area20. The player is extremely interested in how many scatter symbols10sappear.

Thus, the scatter symbol10sis picked up as a representative special symbol to facilitate the understanding of the present embodiment. Specifically, how the player feels while patiently waiting for three scatter symbols10sto stop in the reel display area20, that is, while waiting for a large jackpot is considered.

In a conventional video slot machine where a plurality of reels stop one by one from the left as viewed from the player, the player notices that there will be no bonus game stage even when the third reel23to the fifth reel25are spinning, as soon as he or she finds out that the symbols in the second reel22that have stopped in the reel display area20include no scatter symbol10s.

Thus, the player has to meaninglessly wait until the third reel23to the fifth reel25stop, only to be less involved in the game. A chance of winning a large jackpot is generally very low. Thus, in this spin, the player patiently waiting for a large jackpot is excited playing the video slot machine only until the second reel22stops after a spin operation has been performed, meaning that he or she loses interest in most of the time. This only makes the video slot machine less attractive.

In view of this, in the video slot machine1300according to the present embodiment, the stopping order of the reels is not limited to a single stopping pattern. The stopping order of the reels is changed in accordance with the contents of the symbols scheduled to be stopped in the reel display area20, that is, the stopped symbol group. Thus, a period less interesting to the player is set to be short as much as possible, and a period exciting to the player is set to be long as much as possible, whereby the game more attractive than the conventional case is achieved.

Specifically, one or a plurality of reels at least including the last symbol required for the player to determine the content of the stopped symbol group, is set to be the “last” in the stopping order, depending on the content of the stopped symbol group to be determined. This is referred to as “last stopping reel setting”.

Specifically, when the winning combination has been established with the stopped symbol group, at least one of reels that stop with the special symbols10(hereinafter, referred to as “jackpot forming symbols”) forming the winning combination is set to be “stopping order=last”. When none of winning combination is established, but the player is only one jackpot forming symbol short, that is, when the player is only “one short” from winning the jackpot, at least one of reels with the symbol column that includes the jackpot forming symbol but does not stop with the jackpot forming symbol in the display area is set to be “stopping order=last”.

In other words, it is determined whether or not only one missing condition is satisfied with one of symbols required for satisfying a winning condition missing, based on the stopped symbol group. When the only one missing condition is satisfied, a reel involving the only one missing symbol (missing one of symbols required for satisfying the winning condition) is set to be the last reel to be stopped.

When none of the winning combinations is satisfied, the reel set to be “stopping order=last” is randomly determined.

With the last stopping reel thus set, excitement and thrill can be maintained due to the stopped symbol group being not determinable until all of the reels stop, whereby a more attractive video slot game can be achieved.

When the content of the stopped symbol group establishes a winning combination based on the special symbol10(the scatter symbol10sin particular) or is one short from establishing the winning combination, the stopping order of at least one of reels that stop with the jackpot forming symbol as a part of the winning combination included in the display area is set to be the “first”. This is referred to as “first stopping reel setting”. With this first stopping reel setting, the player can feel “Hey, I might have won the winning combination” as soon as the reels start stopping, and thus can feel anticipation for winning the winning combination. The last stopping reel setting further works to enhance excitement and thrill. The first stopping reel may be set based on a given probability so that the player is prevented from knowing that the winning combination is not established or that he or she is not even one short from winning the winning combination, due to the special symbol10not appearing when the first stopping reel stops.

In the “first stopping reel setting”, the stopping order of the reel, involving the jackpot forming symbol, arranged closest to the center of the reel may be set to be the “first”. Thus, the reel involving the special symbol is to be stopped immediately as described above, and with the stopping order of the reel closer to the center of the screen set to be the “first” with a higher priority, a higher visual impact can be achieved to make the player feel higher anticipation for winning a large jackpot.

The last stopping reel setting and the first stopping reel setting are described more in detail based on an example of the stopped symbol group.

FIG. 5is a diagram illustrating an example of the stopped symbol group and an example of the reel stopping order setting according to the present embodiment. In the illustrated case, the player has won a “large jackpot” with the three scatter symbols10sall stopped at the symbol stop positions7.

First of all, the video slot machine1300determines the stopped symbol group and checks the established winning combination. It is a matter of course that the stopped symbol group is determined and the winning combination is checked before the reels stop. One of jackpots, won with established winning combinations, involving the highest payout ratio is set to be a reference for setting the reel stopping order (“stopping order setting reference winning combination”). In the example illustrated inFIG. 5, the stopping order setting reference winning combination is a “large jackpot”.

The stopped symbol group illustrated inFIG. 5is displayed after all the reels stop. In the example illustrated inFIG. 5, the scatter symbol10sthat is a symbol (jackpot forming symbol) forming the large jackpot is a symbol required for the player to recognize that the winning combination is established. A reel that involves one or a plurality of scatter symbols10sand is arranged on a relatively outer side, in the scatter symbols10sof the stopped symbol group, is set to be “stopping order=last (#5)”.FIG. 5illustrates an example where the second reel22is set to be “stopping order=last (#5)”.

Next, a reel that is not the reel set to be “stopping order=last” and is one of the reels stopped with the jackpot forming symbol of the stopping order setting reference winning combination (the scatter symbol10sin this example) arranged closest to the center is set to be “stopping order=#1”. In the example illustrated inFIG. 5, the third reel23is set to be “stopping order=#1”.

Then, the stopping orders of the remaining reels other than the reels set to be “stopping order=#1” and “stopping order=last (#5)” are randomly set.

Another example is described.FIG. 6is a diagram illustrating an example of a stopped symbol group and an example of the reel stopping order setting according to the present embodiment in a case where the player is one scatter symbol10sshort from winning a large jackpot.

The video slot machine1300determines that the player has failed to win a jackpot due to lacking of the one jackpot forming symbol. Thus, this is a case where the player has failed to win the winning combination due to the lack of a single jackpot forming symbol. The video slot machine1300sets a reel with the symbol column including the jackpot forming symbol as a part of the winning combination failed to be established and does not stop without the jackpot forming symbol displayed to be “stopping order=last (#5)” In the example illustrated inFIG. 6, the second reel22is set to be the last reel to be stopped.

In the first stopping reel setting, the reel involving the special symbol that is not the reel set to be “stopping order=last” and is arranged closest to the center is set to be “stopping order=#1”.FIG. 6illustrates an example where the third reel23is set to be “stopping order=#1”.

Then, the stopping orders of the remaining reels other than the reels set to be “stopping order=#1” and “stopping order=last (#5)” are randomly set.

Next, an effect of the reel stopping order setting is described.

FIG. 7toFIG. 11illustrate an example of how a video slot screen transitions. A sequence in the order ofFIG. 7→FIG. 8→FIG. 9→FIG. 10represents an example of how the screen transitions based on a result of the reel stopping order setting described above with reference toFIG. 5. A popup in the figures is a comment for the description, and is not actually displayed on the video slot screen.

First of all, when a spin operation is input as in an example game screen W7inFIG. 7, the video slot machine1300determines the stopped symbol group and then starts rotation control for the reels, or starts the rotation control for the reels and then determines the stopped symbol group. In any cases, the stopped symbol group is determined before the reels are stopped. Then, the third reel23set to be “stopping order=#1” stops spinning as in an example game screen W8illustrated inFIG. 8. The stopped symbol of this reel includes the scatter symbol10sand thus, a player2immediately gets excited feeling “Hey, I might win a large jackpot!?”. The special symbol (scatter symbol10s) first appears at a portion around the center of the reel display area20in the left and right direction. This is more impressive than in cases where the special symbol appears first in a reel at one end.

Then, the reels stop in the order of “stopping order=#2”→“stopping order #3”→“stopping order=#4” as in an example game screen W9illustrated inFIG. 9. Thus, the player2keeps being excited feeling “Will I win the large jackpot? Will I not?”. The stopped symbols in the fourth reel24set to be “stopping order #3” include the scatter symbol10sto fuel the excitement.

Finally, the second reel22stops spinning as in an example game screen W10illustrated inFIG. 10. The player2can realize that he or she has won the large jackpot with the current stopped symbol group only after the reels have thus stopped. Thus, the player can feel excitement and thrill from the start to the end of the reel spin. The longer the excitement, the larger the joy of winning the winning combination.

A sequence in the order ofFIG. 7→FIG. 8→FIG. 9→FIG. 11represents an example of screen transition based on a result of the reel stopping order setting described with reference toFIG. 6.

Transition up to the middle of a sequenceFIG. 7→FIG. 8→FIG. 9is the same as the example of the transition based on the result of the reel stopping order setting described above with reference toFIG. 5. However, in this transition example, the player2realizes that he or she did not win the largely expected large jackpot only after the last reel has stopped as in an example game screen W11illustrated inFIG. 11. Also in this case, the player2cannot realize whether or not he or she has won the winning combination until the first to the last reels stop, whereby the excitement is maintained for a longer period of time than in conventional cases.

Now, how the stopped symbol group illustrated inFIG. 5is obtained with a conventional slot machine is explained. The conventional slot machine has a fixed reel stopping pattern in which the reels sequentially stop from the reel at the left end. Thus, the player2can start to feel that he or she will win the large jackpot when the second reel22stops. Then, the player2realizes that he or she has won the large jackpot when the fourth reel24stops. Thus, the player2feels excitement only in a period corresponding to three reels, that is, a period in which the second to the fourth reels22,23, and24stop. When the stopped symbol group illustrated inFIG. 6is obtained with a conventional slot machine, the player2realizes that he or she did not win the large jackpot when the second reel22stops. Thus, the player2realizes the result of single spinning without having enough time to feel excitement, and a period in which the third to the fifth reels stop is nothing more than waiting time. The video slot machine1300according to the present embodiment can implement novel display control until the stopped symbol group is determined, whereby much higher interest can be achieved compared with conventional cases.

FIG. 12is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of the video slot machine1300according to the present embodiment. The video slot machine1300according to the present embodiment includes an operation input section100, a processor section200p, a sound output section390, an image display section392, and an information storage section500d. When the video slot machine1300needs to communicate with an external device, the control board1350further includes a communication unit394as appropriate.

The operation input section100is for inputting various operations by the player. This corresponds to the spin button1304and the touch panel1306inFIG. 1.

The processor section200pis implemented with electronic parts such as a microprocessor (e.g., CPU and GPU), an ASIC, and an IC memory. The processor200pperforms input/output control to exchange data with each of the functional sections including the operation input section100and the information storage section500d. The processor section200pexecutes various calculation processes based on a predetermined program or data, an operation input signal from the operation input section100to entirely control the operation of the video slot machine1300.

The processor section200paccording to the present embodiment includes a game management section230, a timer section280, a sound generation section290, and an image generation section292. Note that other functional sections other than these may be included as appropriate. When the video slot machine1300needs to communicate with an external device, a communication control section294may further be provided.

The game management section230performs various processes related to execution and management of the video slot game in which a symbol column of each of N reels (N≥3) is displayed in a scrolling manner in the reel display area20having two symbol stop positions or more. Specifically, the game management section230according to the present embodiment includes a stopped symbol determination section232, a winning determination section234, an only one missing determination section236, and a reel stop control section238.

The stopped symbol determination section232performs a predetermined lottery process in response to a predetermined start operation, to determine symbols to be stopped in a reel display area in symbol columns of reel scroll displayed, that is, to determine a group of stopped symbols stopped at all of the symbol stop positions7.

The winning determination section234determines whether or not the predetermined winning condition is satisfied based on the stopped symbols. A plurality of types of winning conditions with different payouts are prepared and are satisfied when the stopped symbols in the M (the number of reels=N≥3 and N>M≥2) reels include the special symbols. Thus, the winning condition corresponds to the winning combination establishment condition according to the present embodiment. Thus, the winning determination section234can determine whether or not a winning combination has been established according to the present embodiment.

The only one missing determination section236determines whether or not only one missing condition is satisfied based on the stopped symbols. The only one missing condition is satisfied when the player2is one short of the symbols, required for satisfying the winning condition, from satisfying the winning condition.

The reel stop control section238variably controls the stopping order of the reels based on the stopped symbols. Specifically, the reel stop control section238can determine the last stopping reel, the first stopping reel, and intermediate stopping reels.

The reel stop control section238determines the last stopping reel through the following processes.

1) When the winning determination section234has determined that the winning condition is satisfied, the stopping order is determined in such a manner that the reel involving the stopped symbol required for satisfying the winning condition thus determined to be satisfied is stopped last.

2) When the only one missing condition is satisfied, the stopping order is determined in such a manner that the reel involving the only one missing symbol (one symbol missing so that the winning condition is failed to be satisfied) is stopped last.

3) When a plurality of winning conditions are satisfied, the stopping order is determined in such a manner that the reel involving the stopped symbol required for satisfying the winning condition with the largest payout is stopped last.

4) When a winning condition is satisfied, outermost one of the reels, each involving the stopped symbol required for satisfying the winning condition, is determined to be the reel to be stopped last.

5) The number of reels to be stopped last at one time is variably controlled.

The first stopping reel is determined as follows. Specifically, when the stopped symbols includes at least one symbol required for satisfying a winning condition, the reel stop control section238determines the stopping order in such a manner that the reel involving the symbols is stopped first.

The intermediate stopping reels are determined as follows. Specifically, when the winning condition is satisfied, the reel stop control section238randomly determines reels to be stopped after the first stopped reel and before the last stopped reel from four or more reels not including the reel, involving the stopped symbol required for satisfying the winning condition, determined to be the first stopped reel and the reel to be stopped last.

The timer section280uses a system clock to obtain the current date and time, a time limit, and the like.

The sound generation section290is implemented with an integrated circuit (IC) or by executing software that generates sound data and performs decoding, and generates or decodes sound data on a sound related to the video slot, background music (BGM), and a character voice.

The sound output section390outputs sound based on the input sound signal. The sound output section390corresponds to the speaker1310inFIG. 1.

The image generation section292can generate a game screen and the like. The image signal for displaying the game screen can be output to the image display section392.

The image display section392displays the game screen based on the image signals input from the image generation section292. The image display section392may be implemented with an image display device such as a flat panel display, a cathode ray tube (CRT), a projector, or a head-mounted display. The image display section392corresponds to the touch panel1306in the example illustrated inFIG. 1.

The communication control section294performs a data communication process for data communications, and exchanges data with an external device through the communication section394.

The communication section394connects to a communication line to implement communications. The communication section394is implemented with a transceiver, a modem, a terminal adapter (TA), a jack for a communication cable, a control circuit, and the like.

The information storage section500dstores a program and various types of data for implementing various functions of the processor section200pfor controlling the video slot machine1300. The information storage section500dis used as a work area for the processor section200p, and temporarily stores the results of calculations performed by the processor section200pbased on various programs. The function of the information storage section500dis implemented with an IC memory (e.g., RAM and ROM), a magnetic disk (e.g., hard disk), an optical disk (e.g., CD-ROM and DVD), an online storage, or the like corresponding to the IC memory1352in the control board1350in the example illustrated inFIG. 1. When the video slot machine1300can communicate with an external device, the function may be implemented with an external storage prepared on a network.

FIG. 13is a diagram illustrating an example of a program and data stored in the information storage section500daccording to the present embodiment. The information storage section500dstores a slot game program507, first reel symbol column data511, second reel symbol column data512, third reel symbol column data513, fourth reel symbol column data514, fifth reel symbol column data515, winning combination defining data530, and bonus game stage data550in advance.

The information storage section500dstores therein data, sequentially generated and managed, including play data700and current date and time800. The information storage section500dmay further store therein various types of information such as a timer, a counter, and various flags.

The slot game program507is a program read and executed by the processor section200pfor implementing functions of the game management section230. The program may include programs for implementing the functions of the sound generation section290, the image generation section292, and the communication control section294.

The first reel symbol column data511to the fifth reel symbol column data515respectively define the symbol column for the first reel21to the fifth reel25(seeFIG. 3).

The winning combination defining data530is prepared for each winning combination and includes various types of data related to the winning combination.FIG. 14is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of one winning combination defining data530, and illustrates an example where the winning combination establishment condition of the individual payout line determination type is set.FIG. 15illustrates an example where the winning combination establishment condition of the entire symbol stop positions collective determination type is set.

As illustrated inFIG. 14andFIG. 15, one winning combination defining data530includes a winning combination name531, a winning combination establishment condition532, and payout rate defining data535. Note that other data can be included as appropriate.

The winning combination establishment condition532includes a condition type533and a jackpot forming symbol condition534. Note that other data can be included as appropriate.

The condition type533indicates the type of the winning combination establishment condition532of the winning combination. In other words, the condition type533indicates which symbols in the symbols stopped at the symbol stop position7are to be used for determining whether or not the winning combination has been established. In the present embodiment, one of two types, including “individual: individual payout line determination type” and “collective: entire symbol stop positions collective determination type”, is set. When the former is set, the symbols are selected (picked up) for each payout line set to be the betting target from all of the symbols in the stopped symbol group for determining whether or not the winning combination is established. When the latter is set, all the symbols in the stopped symbol group are selected (picked up) for determining whether or not the winning combination is established.

The jackpot forming symbol condition534defines a combination of symbols defining the winning combination. For example, for a condition for determining that the player2has won a jackpot when the consecutive number of the same type of symbols for satisfying the condition appear regardless of the reel in which the symbols appear, the jackpot forming symbol condition534may be described with a single symbol type and the number of symbols for satisfying the condition. A mixture of different types of symbols may be employed. In such a case, a more difficult condition with the appearance order on the payout line is further limited. For such a condition, the order of the symbol, forming the jackpot, in a row or the left and right direction may be defined.

The payout rate defining data535defines the payout rate applied when the winning combination is determined to have established. When the payout rate is changed depending on the stopped symbol group, a plurality of pieces of the payout rate defining data535may be prepared. In the present embodiment, the largest payout rate is set for a “large jackpot” obtained when three scatter symbols10sappear.

Referring back toFIG. 13, the bonus game stage data550includes various types of data for implementing the bonus game stage (seeFIG. 4).

The play data700includes various types of data describing a progress status of the video slot game.

In the present embodiment, the data includes a betting target payout line list702, stopped symbol group data710, a jackpot list718, a stopping order determination reference winning combination name720, stopping order determining symbol pick up data730, reel stopping order setting data740, reel display control data750, and bonus game control data760. Note that other data can be included as appropriate. For example, the data may further include a parameter value displayed on display sections of the information display section30(seeFIG. 2) as appropriate.

The betting target payout line list702is a list of identification information on a payout line set to be a betting target. In the present embodiment, three rows of upper, middle, and lower rows of the symbol stop positions7are prepared as the payout lines, and thus serve as betting target candidates. Before the spinning starts, the list is reset to a predetermined value indicating that only the “middle row” is set as the betting target. Then, each time predetermined betting target adding operation input on the touch panel1306is detected, the identification information on the payout line is added one by one, in the order of the “upper row” and the “lower row”.

The stopped symbol group data710is a list of symbols that are each displayed at a corresponding one of the symbol stop positions in the reel display area20when the reels stop. As illustrated inFIG. 16, symbol stop position coordinates 712 and a stopped symbol type714stopped at the stop position are stored with one set of coordinates associated with one type.

Referring back toFIG. 13, before the spinning starts, the stopping order determination reference winning combination name720is reset to a predetermined value indicating “no name”. Then, any one of the winning combination names531(seeFIG. 11) of the winning combinations determined to have been established after the stopped symbol group has been determined is set as the name. In the present embodiment, the name of one of the winning combinations with the highest payout rate is set.

The stopping order determining symbol pick up data730is a list of symbols picked up from the determined stopped symbol group, for setting the reel stopping order. Specifically, as illustrated inFIG. 17andFIG. 18, setting frames in a matrix form of all the symbol stop positions are prepared. An initial value of each setting frame is a predetermined value (NULL) indicating “not set”. Information on a symbol selected (=picked up) from the stopped symbol group data710(seeFIG. 13) is set for a corresponding setting frame, based on the condition type533(seeFIG. 14andFIG. 15) of the winning combination defining data530matching the stopping order determination reference winning combination name720. An example illustrated inFIG. 17corresponds to an example illustrated inFIG. 14, and an example illustrated inFIG. 18corresponds to an example illustrated inFIG. 15andFIG. 5.

Referring back toFIG. 13, the reel stopping order setting data740defines the stopping order of each reel. Specifically, a stopping order742is stored for each reel identification information741as illustrated inFIG. 19. Before the spinning starts, the stopping order742is reset to a predetermined value indicating “not determined”.

Referring back toFIG. 13, the reel display control data750is a data set describing statuses of the reels displayed in the reel display area20, and is a list in which the position and the type of the symbol displayed in the reel display area20are associated with each other. The control data sequentially changes while the reels are spinning, and provides a result matching the stopped symbol group data710when the reels stop spinning.

The bonus game control data760includes various types of control data for playing the bonus game stage.

Next, operations of the video slot machine1300according to the present embodiment are described.

FIG. 20is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a main process performed by the video slot machine1300. The process steps for paying playing fee/betting fee, setting the betting rate, adding the payout line to be the betting target, and the like are omitted.

The video slot machine1300performs a lottery process to determine the stopped symbol group (step S12) when an operation on the spin button1304, that is, a spin operation is detected (step S10).

How the stopped symbol group is determined can be selected as appropriate. For example, five random numbers corresponding to the first reel21to the fifth reel25are generated. Then, ranges each set for extracting three continuous symbols from the symbol column are determined based on the random numbers, in such a manner that the ranges do not overlap with each other. The ranges for extracting the symbols correspond to the ranges to be displayed on the reel display area20when the reels are stopped. The result of this setting is stored in the stopped symbol group data710(seeFIG. 16).

Next, the video slot machine1300starts spinning displaying of the reels (circulating scroll displaying of the symbol columns) (step S14). As a result, the displaying involves sequential change in the reel display control data750(seeFIG. 13).

Then, the video slot machine1300performs a reel stopping order setting process (step S20). In the reel stopping order setting process, first of all, the reel stopping order setting data740(seeFIG. 19) is reset (step S22). Then, the last stopping reel determination process is performed (step S24).

FIG. 21toFIG. 22are flowcharts illustrating a flow of the last stopping reel determination process. In this process, first of all, the video slot machine1300refers to the winning combination defining data530(seeFIG. 14andFIG. 15) and the stopped symbol group data710(seeFIG. 16) to determine whether or not the winning combination is established with the content of the current stopped symbol group (step S40).

When any one of the winning combinations is established (YES in step S40), the video slot machine1300sets one of the winning combinations, which have been determined to be established, with the highest payout rate to be the “stopping order determination reference jackpot”, and stores the winning combination name531(seeFIG. 15) of this jackpot in the stopping order determination reference winning combination name720(seeFIG. 13) of the play data700.

Then, the video slot machine1300selects (picks up) the symbols from the stopped symbol group data710based on the condition type533in the winning combination defining data530corresponding to the stopping order determination reference jackpot and stores the type information on the selected symbols in the stopping order determining symbol pick up data730(seeFIG. 17andFIG. 18) (step S44).

In this process, when the stopping order determination reference jackpot is a large jackpot (YES in step S46), the video slot machine1300randomly determines the number of reels L to be stopped last to be “1” or “2” (step S48). When the reference jackpot is not a large jackpot (NO in step S46), the number of reels L is set to be “1” (step S50).

Then, the video slot machine1300sets the number of reels L to be “stopping order=last” (step S52). Specifically, the symbols that have been picked up in step S44are searched for a symbol corresponding to the jackpot forming symbol of the stopping order determination reference jackpot. Then, L reels are randomly selected or selected from the outer side, from reels involving the symbol found by the search, and the L reels are set to be “stopping order=last”. Then, the last stopping reel setting process is terminated.

When no winning combination is established with the stopped symbol group in the first place (NO in step S40), the process proceeds toFIG. 22, and the video slot machine1300determines whether or not the stopped symbol group is one short from establishing a winning combination (step S70). In other words, it is determined whether or not there is a winning combination that would have been established if only one more jackpot forming symbol would have appeared.

When there is such a winning combination (YES in step S70), the video slot machine1300sets one of the winning combinations with the highest payout rate to be the stopping order determination reference jackpot (step S72). Then, the symbols are selected (picked up) from the stopped symbol group data710based on the condition type533corresponding to the stopping order determination reference jackpot (step S74).

Then, the video slot machine1300sets any one of the reels with the symbol columns including the jackpot forming symbol, missing from the winning combination that would have been established, to be “stopping order=last” (step S76). Then, the last stopping reel setting process is terminated.

When there is no winning combination that is not established due to one symbol missing (NO in step S70), any one of the reels is set to be “stopping order=last” (step S78), and the last stopping reel setting process is terminated.

Referring back to the flowchart inFIG. 20, after the last stopping reel setting process is terminated, the video slot machine1300performs the first stopping reel determination process (step S90).

FIG. 23is a flowchart illustrating a flow of the first stopping reel determination process. In this process, when a large jackpot is obtained with the content of the current stopped symbol group or when the content of the current stopped symbol group is one symbol short from obtaining a large jackpot (YES in step S100), the video slot machine1300sets one of the reels involving the jackpot forming symbol of the large jackpot at or closest to the center of the five reels arranged to be “stopping order=#1” (step S102). Then, the first stopping reel determination process is terminated.

When a winning combination other than the large jackpot is established (YES in step S104), any one of the reels involving the jackpot forming symbol of the winning combination the stopping orders of which are “not determined” is set to be “stopping order=#1” (step S108). Then, the first stopping reel determination process is terminated.

When no winning combination is established or no winning combination failed to be established due to one symbol missing (NO in step S104), any one of the reel involving the jackpot forming symbol of the winning combination the stopping orders of which are “not determined” is set to be “stopping order=#1” (step S110). Then, the first stopping reel determination process is terminated.

Referring back to the flowchart inFIG. 20, after the first stopping reel setting process has been terminated, the video slot machine1300performs the intermediate stopping reel determination process (step S120). Specifically, the stopping order, between the stopping order=#1 and the stopping order=last (#5 in the present embodiment), is randomly assigned to each of the reels the stopping order on which is still “not determined”.

When the stopping order of all of the reels has been determined, the video slot machine1300controls the reels that are displayed while spinning to be stopped based on the stopping order thus set, so that the stopped symbol group is displayed (step S130). Then, a payout process is performed (step S132).

Next, the video slot machine1300determines whether or not a bonus game stage start condition is satisfied (step S140). In the present embodiment, the start condition is determined to be satisfied when the stopped symbol group includes three scatter symbols10s. Note that the start condition can be appropriately set.

When the start condition is satisfied (YES in step S140), the video slot machine1300performs play control for the bonus game stage (step S142), and performs bonus payout based on a result of playing the bonus game stage (step S144). Then, the process returns to step S10to be prepared for the next spin to start.

In the present embodiment described above, the stopping orders of the reels can be changed in accordance with a group of stopped symbols to be stopped in the reel display area20. Thus, for example, the timing at which the content of the stopped symbol group is determined to be realized by the player can be delayed so that the excitement can be maintained as long as possible.

In conventional cases where the stopping orders of the reels is fixed, the player realizes that his or her expectation was disappointed shortly after the reels start stopping depending on the content of the stopped symbol group. In such a case, the player might have nothing to do but wait until the remaining reels stop. In the present embodiment, the stopping orders of the reels are changed so that the reel involving the stopped symbol required for satisfying the winning condition stops last. Thus, an attractive slot machine enabling the player to feel excitement and thrill for a longer period of time can be achieved.

Second Embodiment

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention is described. In the present embodiment, the video slot game is implemented as an online game. Components that are the same as the counterparts in the first embodiment are denoted with the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. The difference from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

First of all, an example of a hardware configuration according to the present embodiment is described.

FIG. 24is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a game system according to the present embodiment. A game system1000according to the present embodiment is a computer system including a server system1100and a user terminal1500that can be connected to a communication line9to communicate with each other to exchange data. The example illustrated inFIG. 24includes a single user terminal1500. However, in an actual operation, a plurality of user terminals1500of different users who play the game (hereinafter, referred to as “players”) may each be connected to and communicate with the server system1100. The game system1000as a whole may be referred to as a computer system, or the server system1100and the user terminal1500may each be referred to as an individual computer system.

The communication line9is a communication channel that enables data communications. Specifically, the communication line9includes a communication network such as a local area network (LAN) using a private line (private cable) for direct connection, Ethernet (registered trademark), and the like, a telecommunication network, a cable network, and the Internet. The communication method may be a cable communication method or a wireless communication method.

The server system1100includes a main body device1101, a keyboard1106, a touch panel1108, and a storage1140. A control board1150is provided in the main body device1101.

The control board1150includes microprocessors of various types (e.g., a CPU1151, a GPU, and a DSP), an IC memory1152of various types (e.g., a VRAM, a RAM, and a ROM), and a communication device1153. The control board1150may partially or entirely be implemented with an ASIC, a FPGA, and an SoC.

Through a calculation process performed by the control board1150based on a predetermined program and data, the server system1100implements1) a user management function of managing a process related to user registration and the like and user-related information, 2) an online shopping function of selling tokens in the video slot game to the user online, and 3) a game management function of providing data required to play the slot play with the user terminal1500, to manage play control on the game played with the user terminal1500. Thus, the video slot game according to the present embodiment is implemented as one type of client-server games.

The server system1100is illustrated/described as a single server. Alternatively, a plurality of blade servers, in charge of various functions, may be installed while being connected to each other via an internal bus to be capable of performing data communications with each other. Furthermore, a plurality of independent servers, disposed in locations distant from each other, may perform data communications with each other via the communication line9to function as the server system1100as a whole.

The server system1100is not limited to a configuration managed by a single administrator, and may be a system in which servers managed by different administrators are connected to each other in such a manner as to be able to communicate with each other. For example, the video slot game and the online shopping may be managed by different administrators and implemented by difference servers connected to each other in such a manner as to be able to communicate with each other to function as an integrated server system.

The user terminal1500is a computer system, usable by a registered user serving as a player to play the slot play, and is an electronic device (electronic apparatus) that can access the server system1100via the communication line9to implement the game. The user terminal1500according to the present embodiment is a device known as a smartphone. The user terminal1500may also be a personal computer, a tablet computer, a wearable computer, or the like.

The user terminal1500includes an arrow key1502, a button switch1504, the touch panel1506that functions as an image display device and a touch position input device, a built-in battery1509, a speaker1510, a microphone1512, a control board1550, and a memory card reader1542that can write and read data to and from a memory card1540that is a computer readable storage medium. The user terminal1500further includes a power button, a volume control button, and the like (not illustrated). Furthermore, the user terminal1500may be provided with an IC card reader that can implement contactless writing and reading of data to and from an IC card as a credit card or a prepaid card usable for payment involved in playing the slot.

The control board1550includes a microprocessor of various types (e.g., the CPU1551, a GPU, and a DSP), an IC memory1552of various types (e.g., a VRAM, a RAM, and a ROM), a wireless communication module1553for performing wireless communications with a mobile phone base station, a wireless LAN base station, or the like connected to the communication line9, an interface circuit1557, and the like.

The interface circuit1557includes circuits such as a driver circuit that drives the touch panel1506, a circuit that receives signals from the arrow key1502and the button switch1504, an output amplifier circuit that outputs a sound signal to the speaker1510, an input signal generation circuit that generates a signal corresponding to the sound collected by the microphone1512, and a signal input-output circuit that inputs and outputs a signal to and from the memory card reader1542.

The elements mounted on the control board1550are electrically connected with each other via a bus circuit or the like to be capable of exchanging data and signals. The control board1550may partially or entirely be implemented with an ASIC, an FPGA, or a SoC. The control board1550stores a client program and various types of data, for implementing a function as a user terminal of the video slot game according to the present embodiment, in the IC memory1552.

The client program and various types of setting data are downloaded by the user terminal1500from the server system1100in the present embodiment. The program and the data may also be read from a storage medium such as the memory card1540additionally provided.

FIG. 25is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the server system1100according to the present embodiment. The server system1100according to the present embodiment includes an operation input section100s, a server processing section200s, a sound output section390s, an image display section392s, a communication section394s, and a server storage section500s.

The operation input section100sis for inputting various operations for management. The keyboard1106inFIG. 24corresponds to this section.

The server processing section200sis implemented with electronic parts such as a microprocessor (e.g., a CPU and a GPU), an ASIC, and an IC memory. The server processing section200scontrols data exchanged between functional sections including the operation input section100sand the server storage section500s, and performs a calculation process based on a predetermined program, data, the operation input signal from the operation input section100s, data revived from the user terminal1500, and the like to entirely control the operation of the server system1100.

The server processing section200saccording to the present embodiment includes a user management section202, an online shopping management section210, a game management section230, a timer section280s, a sound generation section290s, an image generation section292s, and a communication control section294s. Note that other functional sections other than these may be included as appropriate.

The user management section202performs a process related to a user registration procedure and manages the data of each user associated with the account (user ID). In the present embodiment, the section has various functions including: 1) issuing an account to a registered user; 2) registration information management for registering and managing personal information for each account; 3) book keeping management for a payment medium consumed for paying for a charged element related to the video slot game (in the present embodiment, purchase of a token, playing fee for the slot game); and 4) play history management for managing login/logout history. Note that any other appropriate management function for other data associated with the account can be included.

The online shopping management section210is in charge of control related to the online shopping that is one of the charged elements, and can be implemented with a known online shopping technique. In the present embodiment, the player can purchase tokens of a video slot through online shopping. Any other elements may be set as appropriate to be sold in the online shopping.

The timer section280suses a system clock to obtain the current date and time, a time limit, and the like.

The sound generation section290sis implemented with an integrated circuit (IC) or by executing software that generates sound data and performs decoding, and generates or decodes sound data on a sound related to system management for the server system1100or related to the slot play, background music (BGM), and a character voice. The resultant sound signal related to the system management is output to the sound output section390s.

The sound output section390sreceives the sound signal to emit the corresponding sound, and corresponds to a speaker (not illustrated) of the main body device1101or the touch panel1108in the example illustrated inFIG. 24.

The image generation section292scan generate an image related to the system management for the server system1100, a game image (or data for displaying the game image on the user terminal1500), and the like. The image related to the system management can be output to the image display section392s.

The image display section392sdisplays various images for system management based on the image signals input from the image generation section292s. The image display section392smay be implemented with an image display device such as a flat panel display, a cathode ray tube (CRT), a projector, or a head-mounted display. The image display section392scorresponds to the touch panel1108in the example illustrated inFIG. 24.

The communication control section294sperforms a data process related to the data communication, and exchanges data with an external device through the communication section394s. In the present embodiment, a process related to the data communications with the user terminal1500is performed.

The communication section394sconnects to the communication line9to implement communications. The communication section394sis implemented with a transceiver, a modem, a terminal adapter (TA), a jack for a communication cable, a control circuit, and the like. In the example illustrated inFIG. 24, the communication device1153corresponds to the communication section394s.

The server storage section500sstores a program and various types of data for implementing various functions of the server processing section200sfor entirely controlling the server system1100. The server storage section500sis used as a work area for the server processing section200s, and temporarily stores the results of calculations performed by the server processing section200sbased on various programs. The function of the information storage section500sis implemented with an IC memory (e.g., RAM and ROM), a magnetic disk (e.g., hard disk), an optical disk (e.g., CD-ROM and DVD), an online storage, or the like corresponding to a storage medium such as the IC memory1152and hard disk mounted in the main body device1101and the storage1140, in the example illustrated inFIG. 24.

FIG. 26is a diagram illustrating an example of a program and data stored in the server storage section500saccording to the present embodiment. The server storage section500sstores therein in advance, a server program503, a distribution game client program505, online product defining data509, first reel symbol column data511, second reel symbol column data512, third reel symbol column data513, fourth reel symbol column data514, fifth reel symbol column data515, winning combination defining data530, and bonus game stage data550.

The server storage section500sstores data, sequentially generated and managed, including user management data600, play data700, and current date and time800. Furthermore, the server storage section500smay store information on a timer, a counter, various flags, and the like as appropriate.

The server program503is read out and executed by the sever processing section200sfor implementing functions of the user management section202, the online shopping management section210, and the game management section230(seeFIG. 25).

The distributed game client program505is an original of a game client program provided to the user terminal1500.

The online product defining data509is data defining a product purchasable through the online shopping implemented by the online shopping management section210(seeFIG. 25).

The user management data600is prepared for each registered user, that is, for each player, and includes various types of data associated with the user account. In other words, the data is first play information on a player related to the video slot game. For example, one user management data600includes a unique user account601, payment medium accounting data602, play history data603, and remaining possessed token604. Note that other data can be included as appropriate.

The payment medium accounting data602serves as what is known as an account book storing therein information on a charged/consumed amount of the payment medium associated with the user, information on a reason for the charging/consumption, and information on changed date and time in association with each other. This data can also be referred to as charge history data or charge information.

The play history data603is data in which the past game played timings are stored in series, and is automatically updated at a login/logout timing.

The play data700according to the present embodiment basically includes the same configuration as that in the first embodiment (seeFIG. 10), and additionally includes a player account701that indicates the player to which the play data is related.

FIG. 27is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of the user terminal1500according to the present embodiment. The user terminal1500according to the present embodiment includes an operation input section100t, a terminal processing section200t, a sound output section390t, an image display section392t, a communication section394t, and a terminal storage section500t.

The operation input section100toutputs an operation input signal, based on various operations input by the player, to the terminal processing section200t, and can be implemented with a push switch, a joystick, a touch pad, a track ball, an accelerometer, a gyro, a CCD module, or the like. The operation input section100tcorresponds to the arrow key1502, the button switch1504, and the touch panel1506inFIG. 24.

The terminal processing section200tis implemented with electronic parts such as a microprocessor (e.g., CPU and GPU), an ASIC, and an IC memory. The terminal processing section200tperforms input/output control to exchange data with each of the functional sections including the operation input section100tand the terminal storage section500t. The terminal processing section200texecutes various calculation processes based on a predetermined program or data, the operation input signal from the operation input section100t, and various types of data received from the sever system1100to control the operation of the user terminal1500. The terminal processing section200tcorresponds to the control board1550inFIG. 24. The terminal processing section200taccording to the present embodiment includes a user terminal calculation section270, a timer section280t, a sound generation section290t, an image generation section292t, and a communication control section294t.

The user terminal calculation section270includes an operation signal transmission control section271, a game screen display control section272, and a sound play control section273.

The operation signal transmission control section271performs a process of transmitting various types of data and a request to the sever system1100in accordance with an operation on the operation input section100t.

The game screen display control section272performs control for displaying a game screen of the video slot game based on various types of data received from the server system1100. In this configuration, the server system1100generates the image of the game screen. Alternatively, a configuration where the user terminal1500generates the image may also be employed.

The sound play control section273performs control to emit a sound (for example, sound effects, a BGM, and the like) based on various types of sound data received from the server system1100.

For example, the sound generation section290tis implemented with a processor such as a DSP or a sound synthesizing IC, an audio codec for playing a sound file, or the like, and generates a sound signal for sound effects, a BGM, various types of operation sounds, and the like related to the video slot game, and outputs the signal thus generated to the sound output section390t.

The sound output section390tis implemented with a device that outputs sound such as sound effects, a BGM, or the like, based on the sound signal received from the sound generation section290t. The sound output section390tcorresponds to the speaker1510inFIG. 24.

For example, the image generation section292tis implemented with a processor (e.g., a GPU or a DSP), a video signal IC, a program (e.g., video codec), a drawing frame IC memory (e.g., frame buffer), and the like.

The image generation section292tgenerates an image of one game screen every frame (e.g., 1/60th of a second) based on the various types of data received from the server system1100, and outputs the generated image signal of the game screen to the image display section392t.

The image display section392tdisplays various game images based on the image signals input from the image generation section292t. The image display section392tmay be implemented with an image display device such as a flat panel display, a cathode ray tube (CRT), a projector, or a head-mounted display. In the present embodiment, the touch panel1506illustrated inFIG. 24corresponds to the image display section392t.

The communication control section294tperforms a data process related to the data communication, and exchanges data with an external device through the communication section394t. The communication section394tconnects to the communication line9to implement communications. For example, the communication section394tis implemented by a transceiver, a modem, a TA, a jack for a communication cable, a control circuit, and the like, and corresponds to the wireless communication module1553inFIG. 24.

The terminal storage section500tstores therein a system program for implementing various functions for causing the terminal processing section200tto entirely control the user terminal1500, a program and various types of data required for the video slot game, and the like. The terminal storage section500tis used as a work area for the terminal processing section200t, and temporarily stores a result of calculation performed by the terminal processing section200tin accordance with various programs, input data received from the operation input section100t, and the like. These functions are implemented by an IC memory (e.g., RAM and ROM), a magnetic disk (e.g., hard disk), an optical disk (e.g., CD-ROM and DVD), or the like, and correspond to the IC memory1552and the memory card1540in the control board1550illustrated inFIG. 24. The terminal storage section500tmay be implemented with an online storage.

The terminal storage section500taccording to the present embodiment stores therein a game client program504. Note that other data can be included as appropriate. The game client program504is application software that implements a function of the user terminal calculation section270when read and executed by the terminal processing section200t, and may be embedded as a part of the terminal system program. In the present embodiment, the game client program504is a copy of the distributed game client program505(seeFIG. 26) provided from the server system1100.

The game client program504may be implemented with a dedicated client program or with a web browser program and a plugin that implements an interactive image display, depending on a technique and a method for implementing the video slot game.

The operation of the game system1000may be regarded as being executed by the server system1100through the flowcharts inFIGS. 20 to 23.

The present embodiment can provide the same advantageous effect as the first embodiment through the online game.

Third Embodiment

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention is described.

The present embodiment is implemented to be basically the same as the second embodiment, but is different from the second embodiment in that the user terminal1500controls the progress of the video slot game. The following mainly describes differences from the second embodiments. Components that are the same as the counterparts in the first and second embodiments are denoted with the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 28is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a user terminal1500B according to the present embodiment. The user terminal1500B according to the present embodiment is a terminal in which the game screen display control section272and the sound play control section273are omitted and the game management section230is provided instead. Specifically, the user terminal1500B according to the present embodiment independently performs a calculation process related to the game progress and generates images of the game space.

FIG. 29is a diagram illustrating an example of a program and data stored in the terminal storage section500of the user terminal1500B according to the present embodiment. The terminal storage section500according to the present embodiment stores therein a game program508. The game program508is a program that causes the terminal processing section200to implement the user terminal calculation section270and the game management section230according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, as the game management section230is implemented with the user terminal1500B, data from the first reel symbol column data511to the current date and time800not including the user management data600is stored in the terminal storage section500t.

A flow of the process according to the present embodiment is basically the same as the flow of the process performed by the sever system1100according to the second embodiment, that is, the flowcharts inFIG. 20toFIG. 23according to the first embodiment. The user terminal1500B implements the game management section230, and thus the subject of each step may be changed to the server system1100or the user terminal1500B as appropriate. When the user terminal1500B performs a process requiring the user management data600to be referred to, such as login, the server system1100is requested to provide required data or perform matching, or may be requested to perform the entire process.

The present embodiment can provide the same advantageous effect as the first and second embodiments.

The user terminal1500B may be partially in charge of the functions of the game management section230in a limited manner, instead of being entirely in charge of the functions.

The embodiments to which the present invention is applied have been described above. Note that the present invention is not limited thereto. Various modifications may be made as appropriate, such as adding other elements, omitting some of the elements, or changing some of the elements.

For example, the theme and the game world of the video slot game can be set differently as appropriate, and the design of the game screen can be changed accordingly.