Entertainment machine
First Claim
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.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
-
Citations
52 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
-
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.
- 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.
-
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.
-
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.
- 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.
- 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.
Specification