Competitive game simulation machine

• US 6,019,369 A
• Filed: 08/05/1996
• Issued: 02/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Nakagawa, Toshiaki, Yamaguchi, Takashi, Hayashida, Kohichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin-Wallace, Valencia
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US08/692,211
• Time in Patent Office: 1,275 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/6, 463/16, 463/25, 463/29-31, 463/35-37, 463/40, 273/236-237, 273/246, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/139, 273/459-461, 700/90-92
• US Class Current: 273/246
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/143 electric
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 18/16 Control of vehicle drives by interaction between vehicle and track; Control of track elements by vehicles

Abstract

A competitive game simulation machine includes a plurality of moving objects; a game board on which the plurality of moving objects are to be placed; and a controller for controlling motions of the moving objects on the game board. The game board includes a main area used for moving objects to compete a specified game and an auxiliary area wherein the moving objects are movable between the main area and the auxiliary area.

Claims

1. A competitive game simulation machine comprising:

a plurality of moving objects;

a game board on which the plurality of moving objects are to be placed;

the game board including;

a main area used for moving objects to compete a specified game;

an auxiliary area with moving objects which will not compete in the specified game, the moving objects movable between the main area and the auxiliary area;

a controller for controlling motions of the moving objects on the game board.

2. A competitive game simulation machine according to claim 1, wherein the controller is set such that those of the moving objects which will participate in the specified game move into the main area and the rest of the moving objects stay within said auxiliary area.

3. A competitive game simulation machine according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary area has a sufficient space such that the auxillary permits a change in orientation of the moving objects.

4. A competitive game simulation machine according to claim 1, wherein a track is formed in the main area to allow moving objects to compete the specified game.

5. A competitive game simulation machine according to claim 2, wherein the auxiliary area has a waiting zone in which moving objects not participating in the specified game can be kept in a standby state.

6. A competitive game simulation machine according to claim 5, wherein a passageway is formed between the playing area and the auxiliary area and through the passageway the moving objects can move between the playing area and the auxiliary area.

7. A competitive game simulation machine according to claim 6, wherein said waiting zone is arranged parallel to a linear boundary between the main area and the auxiliary area and includes a plurality of waiting spaces in which the moving objects not participating in the specified game can be aligned side by side in a longitudinal direction of the waiting zone, and a loop paddock course surrounding the waiting zone is formed in the auxiliary area and said paddock course includes an exit-side portion which is closer to the boundary between the main area and the auxiliary area and an entrance-side portion located opposite to the exit-side portion, wherein the controller is set such that moving objects leaving the waiting zone proceed to the main area by way of the exit-side portion of the paddock course and moving objects returning to the waiting zone proceed thereto by way of the entrance-side portion of the paddock course.

8. A competitive game simulation machine according to claim 7, wherein the moving object controller is set such that the moving objects returning to the waiting zone sequentially enter those waiting spaces which are empty and closest to the center of the waiting zone.

9. A competitive game simulation machine according to claim 8, wherein the moving objects are formed in shapes resembling actual racehorses.

10. A competitive game simulation machine according to claim 9, wherein the specified game is a horse racing game.

11. A competitive game simulation machine according to claim 1, wherein the controller is set such that moving objects in the auxiliary area are capable of moving at different speeds from each other.