Video gaming machine, and a computer readable recording medium storing image processing program

Abstract

A monitor M displays reel images showing that a row of symbols including target symbols are moved and stopped. A CPU ( 100 ) displays an image on the monitor (M) in accordance with a control program stored in ROM ( 110 ). When a respin requirement is fulfilled, the CPU ( 100 ) displays, on the monitor (M), a composite image in which the reel image and masked images are superimposed, wherein the masked images have masked areas and non-masked areas, and a boundary therebetween coincides with the contour of the target symbol.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A video gaming machine including comprising: 
 a display device on which a motion picture is displayed as a result of movement and stoppage of rows of symbols including specific symbols; and    a display controller which, 
 generates motion picture data representing the motion picture in which a plurality of symbols including a specific symbol are moved and stopped,  
 generates mask data representing a mask image having a masked area and a non-masked area, in which a boundary between the masked area and the non-masked coincides with a contour of the specific symbol,  
 generates composite image data representing for displaying a composite image based on the motion picture and the mask data, in which the composite image is formed by superimposing the motion picture on the mask image having the non-masked area located at a winning position, and  
 displays the composite image on the display device on based on the composite image data.  
   
     
     
         2 . The video gaming machine according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the motion picture includes a plurality of reel images,    the plurality of symbols are provided on each of the reels, and    a winning combination is established when a combination of predetermined symbols are aligned along the winning line extending across the reels.    
     
     
         3 . The video gaming machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the mask image is translucent in the masked area and transparent in the non-masked area.  
     
     
         4 . The video gaming machine according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the display controller determines as to whether a predetermined requirement is satisfied, and    the composite image is displayed on the display device on the basis of the composite image data when the predetermined requirement is satisfied, and the motion picture is displayed on the basis of the motion picture data when the predetermined requirement is not satisfied.    
     
     
         5 . The video gaming machine according to  claim 4 , wherein the display controller generates the composite image data only when the predetermined requirement is satisfied.  
     
     
         6 . The video gaming machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the display controller: 
 generates selecting data for specifying the symbols which come to a standstill at the winning line;    determines as to whether the value of the selecting data is a predetermined value; and    determines, on the basis of a result of determination, as to whether the composite image is to be displayed on the display device by generating the composite image data or the motion picture is to be displayed on the display device on the basis of the motion picture data.    
     
     
         7 . The video gaming machine according to  claim 6 , wherein the display controller: 
 generates the selecting data so as to assume a random value; and    determines the winning combination on the basis of the selecting data.    
     
     
         8 . The video gaming machine according to  claim 6 , wherein 
 the mask data are set for each of a plurality of the specific symbols, and    the display controller generates the composite image data on the basis of the selecting data through use of the mask data selected from the plurality of mask data sets.    
     
     
         9 . The video gaming machine according to  claim 8 , wherein the display controller displays the composite image on the display device on the basis of the composite image data while an image having the potential for establishing a combination of symbols corresponding to a certain winning combination is displayed on the display device, and 
 the selected mask data correspond to the specific symbols constituting the winning combination.    
     
     
         10 . The video gaming machine according to  claim 6 , wherein the display controllers includes: 
 a storage section for storing respective-symbol data sets representing the respective symbol images and the mask data; and    the motion picture data are generated on the basis of the selecting data and the respective symbol data sets.    
     
     
         11 . The video gaming machine according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the motion picture data are of bit map format and specify an image on a per-pixel basis,    the mask data are for specifying a value on a per-pixel basis, and    a value of data is set so that a distinction between the masked area and the non-masked area can be made; and    the display controllers determine, on a per-pixel basis and on the basis of the mask data, whether a pixel is in the masked area or the non-masked area;    the composite image data are generated by computing the mask data and the motion picture data when the pixel is determined to be in the masked area, and the motion picture data are generated as the composite image data when the pixel is determined to be in the non-masked area.    
     
     
         12 . A video gaming machine including a display device for displaying on respective reels a motion picture showing that a plurality of symbols including specific symbols are moved and stopped, in which when a specific number of specific symbols come to a standstill at a winning line extending across the respective reels, the reel or reels on which the specific,symbol is stopped are fixed, the remaining reels are spun again, and a winning combination is established when the specific symbols on the other reels come to a standstill at the winning line, the video gaming machine comprising: 
 a storage section for storing respective symbol data sets to be used for displaying images of the respective symbols and mask data which have a masked area and a non-masked area and in which a boundary between the masked area and the non-masked area coincides with the contour of the specific symbol;    a first selecting section which assumes a random number and generates first selecting data used for specifying respective symbols which are to stop at the winning line;    a first image processing section which generates, on the basis of the first selecting data and the respective symbol data sets, first motion picture data representing a motion picture, the picture showing that the symbols are moved and come to a standstill on the respective reels;    a determination section for determining at to whether to spin the remaining reels again, on the basis of the first selecting data;    a second selecting section which generates second selecting data for specifying the respective symbols on the other reels; which come to a standstill at the winning line, when the result of determination indicates a respin operation;    a second image processing section which generates second motion picture data representing a respin motion image on the basis of the second selecting data and the respective symbol data sets;    a composite image processing section which generates composite image data for display a composite image, in which the image is formed by superimposing the motion picture on the mask image having the non-masked area located at the winning position, on the basis of the second selecting data and the mask data; and    a control section for displaying an image on the display device on the basis of the first motion picture data and the composite image data.    
     
     
         13 . A video gaming machine including a display device for displaying on respective reels a motion picture showing that a plurality of symbols including specific symbols are moved and stopped, in which when a specific number of specific symbols come to a standstill at a winning line extending across the respective reels, the reel or reels on which the specific symbol is stopped are fixed, the remaining reels are spun again, and a winning combination is established when the specific symbols on the other reels come to a standstill at the winning line, the video gaming machine comprising: 
 a storage section for storing respective symbol data sets to be used for displaying images of the respective symbols and mask data which have a masked area and a non-masked area and in which a boundary between the masked area and the non-masked area coincides with the contour of the specific symbol;    a selecting section which assumes a random number and generates selecting data used for causing a game to proceed;    a first image processing section which generates, from the selecting data and the respective symbol data sets, first motion picture data representing a motion picture, the motion picture showing that the symbols are moved and come to a standstill on the respective reels;    a determination section for determining whether to spin the remaining reels again, on the basis of the selecting data;    a second image processing section which generates second motion picture data representing a respin motion image on the basis of the selecting data and the respective symbol data sets when a result of determination instructs a respin operation;    a composite image processing section which generates composite image data for displaying a composite image, the image being formed by superimposing the respin motion picture on the mask image having the non-masked area located at the winning position, on the basis of the second motion picture data and the mask data; and    a control section for displaying an image on the display device on the basis of the first motion picture data and the composite image data.    
     
     
         14 . A computer readable recording medium storing a program to control a video gaming machine which includes a display device for displaying thereon a plurality of reel images as if a row of symbols including specific symbols were moved and stopped and a controller for controlling the display device, the image display program causing the controller to; 
 generate motion picture data which represent a motion picture showing that the plurality of symbols are moved and come to a standstill;    generate mask data which have a masked area and a non-masked area and in which a boundary between the masked area and the non-masked area coincides with the contour of the specific symbol;    generate composite image data for displaying a composite image from the motion picture data and the mask data, the composite image being formed by superimposing the motion picture on the mask image having the non-masked area located at the winning position; and    display the composite image on the display device on the basis of the composite image data.    
     
     
         15 . The computer readable recording medium according to  claim 14 , wherein the controller is caused to: 
 determine whether or not predetermined requirements are satisfied; and    display, on the display device, the composite image on the basis of the composite image data when the requirements are satisfied, and display the motion picture on the basis of the motion picture data when the requirements are not satisfied.    
     
     
         16 . The computer readable recording medium according to  claim 15 , wherein the controller is caused to generate the composite image data only when the requirements are satisfied.  
     
     
         17 . The image display program according to  claim 15 , wherein the controller is caused to generate selecting data which assume a random number and specify the respective symbols which are to come to a standstill at the winning line; and determine whether or not the requirements are satisfied on the basis of a result of whether or not the value of the selecting data is a predetermined value.  
     
     
         18 . The computer readable recording medium according to  claim 17 , wherein 
 the mask data a reset for each of a plurality of the specific symbols, and    the controller generates the composite image data on the basis of the selecting data through use of the mask data selected from the plurality of mask data sets.    
     
     
         19 . The computer readable recording medium according to  claim 14 , wherein 
 the motion picture data are of bit map format and specify an image on a per-pixel basis;    the mask data are for specifying a value on a per-pixel basis, and a value of data is set so that a distinction can be made between the masked area and the non-masked area;    the controller is caused to 
 determine, on a per-pixel basis, whether or not a pixel is in the masked area or the non-masked area, on the basis of the mask data; and  
 generate the composite image data by means of computing the mask data and the motion picture data when the pixel is determined to be in the masked area and generate the motion picture data as the composite image data when the pixel is determined to be in the non-masked area.