Entertainment machine

• US 20030073479A1
• Filed: 09/05/2002
• Published: 04/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bell-Fruit Games Ltd. (Novomatic AG)
• Original Assignee: Bell-Fruit Games Ltd. (Novomatic AG)
• Inventors: Griffiths, Ian, Wilson, Richard, Wain, John Laurence
• Granted Patent: US 7,172,197 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3297 Fairground games, e.g. Tivoli, coin pusher machines, cranes

Abstract

An entertainment machine (100), for example a pusher-type entertainment machine is provided with one or more special features. These special features may be taken from the following examples: using in the machine (100) a playing piece (40, 40i) for which higher awards are made when compared to other playing pieces (40, 40i); using in the machine(100) playing pieces (40, 40i) of variable appearance; using in the machine(100) playing pieces (40, 40i) which may be locatable within the machine(100); providing the machine (100) with a mechanism to detect when it may be unattractive to the prospective players thereof and a mechanism to allow it to introduce further playing pieces into the field of play at that time; providing the machine (100) with a payout controlling mechanism, which may be arranged to keep the percentage payout of the machine within predetermined limits; providing a prize dispenser arranged to dispense non-monetary prizes.

Claims

1. An entertainment machine comprising a surface arranged to support at least one playing piece including at least one first playing piece and at least one second playing piece wherein said at least one second playing piece is discernible from said at least one first playing piece, said surface having at least one edge over which playing pieces pass, and a playing piece detection means arranged to detect at least first playing pieces within said playing pieces passing over the at least one edge of said surface.

2. The machine according to claim 1 which further comprises at least one prize dispensing means arranged to dispense a first prize when said playing piece detection means detects a predetermined number of said first playing pieces passing over the at least one edge of said surface.

3. The machine according to claim 2 in which said at least one prize dispensing means is arranged to dispense a second prize when said playing piece detection means detects a predetermined number of said second playing pieces passing over the at least one edge of said surface.

4. The machine according to claim 1 in which said playing piece detection means is arranged to monitor at least one of the following properties of playing pieces passing over the at least one edge of said surface:

colour of said playing pieces, material from which said playing pieces are constructed, presence of a tag associated with said playing pieces, dimensions of said playing pieces.

5. An entertainment machine containing at least a plurality of first and a plurality of second playing pieces discernible from one another, said machine comprising a surface arranged to support said first and said second playing pieces and having an edge over which playing pieces pass and a playing piece detection means arranged to detect at least said first playing pieces within playing pieces passing over the edge of said surface.

6. The machine according to claim 5 in which said playing piece detection means is arranged to detect said second playing pieces within playing pieces passing over the at least one edge of said surface.

7. The machine according to claim 6 which further comprises a prize dispensing means arranged to dispense a first level of prize when the playing piece detection means detects a predetermined number of said first playing pieces, and a second level of prize when the playing piece detection means detects a predetermined number of said second playing pieces.

8. A method for increasing player appeal of an entertainment machine comprising the steps of providing a surface arranged to support at least one playing piece, said surface having at least one edge over which playing pieces pass, providing at least one first and at least one second playing piece, wherein said at least one first playing piece is discernible from said at least one second playing piece and said method comprising detecting at least said first playing pieces within said playing pieces passing over the at least one edge of said surface.

9. The method of claim 8 which further comprises providing further types of playing pieces in addition to said at least one first and at least one second playing pieces, identifying the type of playing piece and providing a prize dispenser which dispenses a predetermined level of prize for each type of playing piece passing over the at least one edge of said surface.

10. An entertainment machine arranged to provide a game involving at least one playing piece wherein said machine is provided with an appearance controlling means arranged to control the appearance of at least one variable appearance playing piece within the machine.

11. The entertainment machine according to claim 10 in which said appearance controlling means comprises at least one of the following:

at least one transmitter of radio signals, at least one source of visible light, at least one source of UV light, at least one heat source.

12. The entertainment machine according to claim 10 which comprises a playing field arranged to support at least one playing piece said playing field comprising at least one region, each of said at least one regions being arranged to alter the visual appearance of a playing pieces passing thereover in a manner distinct to that region.

13. The entertainment machine according to claim 10 in which the appearance controlling means comprises at least one receiver arranged to receive signals generated by playing pieces within said machine.

14. A combination of an entertainment machine and at least one playing piece comprising a set of playing pieces including at least one variable appearance playing piece, wherein the machine is provided with an appearance controlling means arranged to cause the at least one variable appearance playing piece to alter its visual appearance.

15. The combination of the machine and playing pieces according to claim 14 in which said variable appearance playing pieces is capable of transmitting a signal receivable by said appearance controlling means.

16. The combination of the machine and playing pieces according to claim 15 in which said appearance controlling means is arranged to track the position of at least one of said variable appearance playing pieces.

17. The combination of the machine and playing pieces according to claim 14 in which the, or each, variable appearance playing piece comprises a material which when subjected to predetermined conditioning changes its appearance and maintains that appearance permanently or until subjected to other predetermined conditions or gradually reverts to its original state.

18. A variable display playing piece for use in an entertainment machine, said playing piece being capable of having its visual appearance altered.

19. A playing piece for use in an entertainment machine, said playing piece being capable of producing sound.

20. An entertainment machine playing piece for use in an entertainment machine, said playing piece having an identifier providing the playing piece with an identity.

21. The playing piece according to claim 20 which is arranged such that said identity can be read remotely from the playing piece.

22. The playing piece according to claim 20 in which said playing piece further comprises a memory.

23. The playing piece according to claim 20 which further comprises an information generating means, arranged to generate information perceivable by a player of a machine in which said playing piece is being used.

28. The combination of said at least one playing piece and said entertainment machine according to any of claim 24 in which said at least one playing piece has the features of the playing piece according to claim 20.

24. The combination of at least one playing piece and an entertainment machine, said at least one playing piece having an identifier providing the playing piece with an identity, and said entertainment machine containing at least one such playing piece, said machine being provided with a reader capable of reading the identifier of said at least one playing piece.

25. The combination of said at least one playing piece and said entertainment machine according to claim 24 in which said reader comprises at least one receiver capable of receiving a signal generated by said at least one playing piece.

26. The combination of said at least one playing piece and said entertainment machine according to claim 24 in which said reader is capable of determining roughly the position of at least one playing piece.

27. The combination of said at least one playing piece and said entertainment machine according to claim 26 in which said entertainment machine is arranged to provide a game which is influenced by the position of at least one of the at least one playing piece.

29. An entertainment machine capable of receiving at least one playing piece having an identifier associated therewith, said machine comprising a playing piece identifier reading means.

30. An entertainment machine comprising a playing surface arranged to support a plurality of playing pieces, a dispenser arranged to dispense playing pieces on to the surface, and a controller arranged to control the dispenser, said controller being arranged to cause said dispenser to dispense playing pieces onto said playing surface in predetermined situations to increase the perceived appeal of said machine to a player of said machine.

31. The machine according to claim 30 which further comprises a timer, arranged to time the time elapsed since the last time that a player played said machine and in which said timer is arranged to pass the elapsed time to said controller.

32. The machine according to claim 31 in which said controller is arranged to cause said dispenser to dispense playing pieces onto said playing surface after a predetermined time has been timed by said timer.

33. The machine according to claim 30 in which playing pieces may be caused to fall from said playing surface and which further comprises a counter arranged to detect playing pieces falling from said playing surface, in which machine said controller is arranged to cause said dispenser to dispense playing pieces onto said playing surface after a predetermined time has elapsed since the last time a player played said machine, until said counter has counted a predetermined number of playing pieces falling from said playing surface.

34. The machine according to claim 30 which further comprises a tilt detection mechanism arranged to detect whether said machine has been tilted, or knocked and generates a tilt signal upon such detection.

35. The machine according to claim 34 in which said tilt signal is passed to the controller.

36. The machine according to claim 35 in which said controller is arranged to cause said dispenser to dispense playing pieces on to said playing surface if it receives a tilt signal.

37. The machine according to claim 35 in which said controller is arranged to cause said dispenser to dispense a predetermined number playing pieces on to said playing surface if it receives a tilt signal.

38. The machine according to claim 35 in which said controller is arranged to cause said dispenser to dispense playing pieces onto said playing surface after receipt of a tilt signal, until a predetermined number of playing pieces have fallen from said playing surface.

39. The machine according to claim 30 in which said controller is arranged to dispense playing pieces on to said playing surface when said machine is turned on.

40. The machine according to claim 30 in which said controller is arranged to cause said dispenser to dispense playing pieces on to said playing surface in order to populate said playing surface with playing pieces.

41. The machine according to claim 30 in which said controller is arranged to cause said dispenser to dispense playing pieces -if it determined that said playing surface has less than a predetermined number of playing pieces thereon.

42. A method of increasing player appeal of an entertainment machine, said machine comprising a playing surface and said method comprising causing said machine to dispense playing pieces onto said playing surface in order to increase the player appeal of the arrangement of said playing pieces supported by said playing surface.

43. An entertainment machine arranged to provide a payout, the machine comprising a payout controlling means arranged to control said payout, a playing surface arranged to support at least one playing piece and further arranged to allow playing pieces to fall therefrom, thereby optionally contributing to said payout, a relationship determining means arranged to determine a relationship between said payout and at least one other variable and further arranged to generate a signal, a controller arranged to receive said signal and to control said payout controlling means in order that said relationship tends towards a predetermined value.

44. The entertainment machine according to claim 43 wherein said payout controlling means comprises at least one of the following:

at least one wall of adjustable length, a hinged lip, a playing surface of adjustable slope and/or variable contour, a protruding stud, a variable motion pusher, a variable payout determination method.

45. An entertainment machine comprising a playing surface arranged to support a plurality of playing pieces, at least one counter arranged to detect playing pieces falling from the playing surface and generate a detection signal of a predetermined type that is passed to a controller, and at least one prize dispenser, said machine being arranged such that said controller is arranged to allow said prize dispenser to dispense a prize when at least one detection signals of a particular predetermined type have been received thereby.

46. The machine according to claim 45 in which said prize dispenser is arranged to dispense non-monetary prizes.

47. The machine according to claim 45 in which said prize dispenser contains a plurality of containers.

48. The machine according to claims 45 in which said prize is selected from a range of prizes held within said prize dispenser.

49. The machine according to claim 48 in which a player selects the prize he/she desires.

50. The machine according to claim 46 which is arranged such that the player is able to chose between having a cash or non-cash prize paid to him/her.

51. A method of increasing the player appeal of an entertainment machine, said machine comprising a playing surface and a plurality of playing pieces distributed upon said playing surface such that said playing pieces are capable of being dislodged from said surface, said method comprising causing the machine to dispense non-monetary prizes after a predetermined number and/or value of playing pieces have fallen from said playing surface.

52. The method of claim 51 which further comprises associating a predetermined value with a playing piece and further comprising providing playing pieces of at least two predetermined values on said playing surface.