GAME MACHINE
A game machine comprises a housing, a user access panel having a controller, a money acceptor and a redemption dispenser that dispenses an award, a rotating field having a surface with a plurality of objects situated thereon, a retriever that is movable along a track that is supported by the housing for enabling movement of the retriever relative to the rotating field, an object return path having an object receiving area, a delivery guide, and an outlet, wherein an award is dispensed from the redemption dispenser upon the retriever retrieving an object from the rotating field and delivering it to the object receiving area.
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This application claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 61/250,488, filed Oct. 9, 2010, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to arcade game machines in general, and more specifically to a retrieval and redemption game that is aesthetically pleasing and exciting to play.
BACKGROUNDArcade claw-type games haven't changed much throughout the years. Traditional claws include mechanical prong-type grabs that are lowered onto a prize, such as a plush toy, for acquisition of the prize and for delivery of the acquired prize to a prize drop or chute for delivery to the player. Sometimes the plush toy is released from the claw before it is successfully delivered to the prize drop, which contributes to the excitement and anxiety for the player. However, the sole focus of the player is on the toy field and not on the surroundings apart from the toy field.
Another type of claw uses a magnet that is lowered onto a prize and will grab the prize that is aligned directly under the magnet. The prize includes a magnetic element that is attracted to the magnetic claw, which claw can be a magnet or an electromagnet, for example. This type of game usually involves a moving prize field, where the prizes are moving and the player must position the claw above the field at a location perceived to be directly above a prize at the time the player attempts to acquire the prize with the claw. If the player is successful, the magnetic claw will attach to and deliver the prize to the player through a prize chute or the like. With this type of claw game, the environment tends to be more dynamic and distracting to the player, since the player must concentrate on the positioning of the claw relative to the prize. However, while the environment is dynamic and distracting, the player does not directly engage the environment during game play.
In both of the above scenarios, the claw is used to acquire a prize on a game field and deliver the prize directly to the player. In addition, the game ends with the success or failure of the player in acquiring the prize. The fact that the game is short-lived is usually balanced by the amount of the prize relative to the amount of play, where a single or multiple one dollar ($1) plays may be acceptable for a prize worth ten dollars ($10) or over one hundred dollars ($100) or the like. In addition, the player does not interact with the environment of the game other than through a connection between the claw and the prize field.
There is a need, therefore, for a claw arcade game that it is exciting to play, dynamic in appearance and execution, and that engages a player beyond that typically experienced with traditional claw arcade games.
SUMMARYA game machine comprises a housing, a user access panel having a controller, a money acceptor and a redemption dispenser that dispenses an award, a rotating field having a surface with a plurality of objects situated thereon, a retriever that is movable along a track that is supported by the housing for enabling movement of the retriever relative to the rotating field, an object return path having an object receiving area, a delivery guide, and an outlet, wherein an award is dispensed from the redemption dispenser upon the retriever retrieving an object from the rotating field and delivering it to the object receiving area. The award is based on the number of objects retrieved in a given time period, which objects dynamically engage with the field, the delivery guide and the outlet for increased enjoyment and play by the user.
This disclosure describes the best mode or modes of practicing the invention as presently contemplated. This description is not intended to be understood in a limiting sense, but provides an example of the invention presented solely for illustrative purposes by reference to the accompanying drawings to advise one of ordinary skill in the art of the advantages and construction of the invention. In the various views of the drawings, like reference characters designate like or similar parts.
A user access panel 120 is preferably attached to, or otherwise incorporated in the front 112 of the housing 110 and preferably includes a controller 122 such as a joystick having an actuation button 123, a first display 124 such as a score display, a second display 126 such as a timer display, a money acceptor 128 such as a coin, token and/or bill acceptor, and a redemption dispenser 130 that dispenses an award such as tickets 132 or the like. The actuation button 123 described in the present embodiment is shown integrally attached to the controller, although it will be appreciated that it could be separate from the controller in another location on the panel 120 if desired. While separate first and second displays 124, 126 are illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that a single display or more than two displays may be utilized, and such display(s) may be located on the outside on the panel 120, or inside the housing 110, or may be otherwise characterized in a different form. For example, a single digital display 127 (see
The game environment viewable through the windows 113, 115, 117 in the housing 110 as shown in the illustrated embodiment of the game machine 100 is intended to represent a prehistoric scene including dinosaurs and the like. For purposes of illustration, the characters in the game will be shown and described in such a prehistoric setting, although it will be appreciated that any type of setting and imagery can be employed as desired by the user and game developer. For example, while a prehistoric scene is shown for purposes of illustration, other non-prehistoric scenes may be utilized including, but not limited to, an Alaskan wilderness scene, a beach scene, an outer space alien scene, or others.
One aspect of the game environment includes a ground area 200 including a base support 210, a field 220 and a platform 227 that is raised relative to the field 220. The field is preferably a movable, rotating field 220 that is driven by a motor 222 (
As further illustrated in the embodiment of
Another aspect of the game includes the use of a retriever 230 that, in the illustrated embodiment, assumes the image of a bird, or in the prehistoric theme a pterodactyl, that is intended to be used to retrieve one of the objects 226 from the field 220. The retriever 230 may have a two-dimensional image 231 as shown in
In a preferred embodiment, the retriever 230 acquires objects 226 through the use of magnetic attraction. Specifically, the retriever 230 is provided with a magnet 236, or the retriever 230 is otherwise magnetized such as with an electromagnet or the like (not shown), such that when the retriever is positioned adjacent an object 226 on the field 220, the object 226 will be retrieved or captured by the retriever 230. In this regard, it is preferred that at least one, and preferably all of the objects 226 have material properties that are somehow responsive to a magnetic field. Thus, one aspect of the material forming an object 226 could be ferromagnetic or ferromagnetic such as iron, nickel, cobalt and various alloys, which are attracted to a magnet. Such material would allow for capture and retrieval of an object 226 by the retriever 230. In a preferred embodiment of the game, all of the objects 226 on the field 220 would be capable of being acquired by the retriever 230. However, if it is desired to create a challenging field of objects 226, some objects 226 may be formed with paramagnetic materials, such as aluminum and the like, that embody little or no attraction to magnets, which would be impossible to capture with a magnet-laden retriever 230. If it is desired to create an even more challenging environment, some objects 226 could be formed with diamagnetic materials that would be repelled by the magnet 236 on the retriever 230, which would cause the repelled objects to impact other objects on the field 220 and make it more challenging to acquire those objects that are formed using ferromagnetic or ferromagnetic materials. All of the objects 226 could have the same appearance, or a different appearance depending on their material properties.
Once the retriever 230 acquires an object 226 from the field 220, it delivers the object 226 to an object return path 240 (
In
As shown in
It should be appreciated that in the game machine of the present embodiment, the award delivered to the player is not the actual object that is retrieved by the retriever during play, but is instead in the form of a redemption ticket or the like. Thus, the player is able to demonstrate the skills involved in operating an acquisition and retrieval-type game and also benefit by being rewarded. At the same time, the facility that operates the game is able to enjoy revenue from the game with lower maintenance on the game from having to replenish prizes and the like that would normally occur with typical acquisition and redemption games like crane-based arcade games. Thus, the facility owner is able to centralize the award management and distribution while enjoying revenue that is typical from crane-type machines.
It should be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the control system described herein can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. Moreover, the software is preferably implemented as an application program tangibly embodied on a program storage unit or computer readable medium. The application program may be uploaded to, and executed by, a machine comprising any suitable architecture. Preferably, the machine is implemented on a computer platform having hardware such as one or more central processing units (“CPUs”), a memory, and input/output interfaces. The computer platform may also include an operating system and microinstruction code. The various processes and functions described herein may be either part of the microinstruction code or part of the application program, or any combination thereof, which may be executed by a CPU, either in the game unit or remote from the game unit, whether or not such computer or processor is explicitly shown. In addition, various other peripheral units may be connected to the computer platform such as additional data storage units and communications devices.
While the present invention has been described at some length and with some particularity with respect to the several described embodiments, it is not intended that it should be limited to any such particulars or embodiments or any particular embodiment, but it is to be construed with references to the appended claims so as to provide the broadest possible interpretation of such claims in view of the prior art and, therefore, to effectively encompass the intended scope of the invention. Furthermore, the foregoing describes the invention in terms of embodiments foreseen by the inventor for which an enabling description was available, notwithstanding that insubstantial modifications of the invention, not presently foreseen, may nonetheless represent equivalents thereto.
Claims
1. A game machine comprising:
- a) a housing and a redemption dispenser that dispenses an award;
- b) a movable field having a surface with a plurality of objects situated thereon;
- c) a retriever that is movable along a track that is supported by the housing for enabling movement of the retriever relative to the movable field; and
- d) an object return path having an object receiving area and an outlet;
- e) wherein an award that is not the same as the object retrieved by the retriever is dispensed from the redemption dispenser upon the retriever retrieving an object from the movable field and delivering it to the object return path for return of the object to the movable field through the outlet.
2. The game machine of claim 1, further comprising a score display and a timer display.
3. The game machine of claim 2, wherein the score and timer displays are incorporated into a digital video display.
4. The game machine of claim 3, wherein the digital video display is positioned on a back of the housing.
5. The game machine of claim 1, wherein the award is a redemption ticket.
6. The game machine of claim 1, wherein the retriever includes a magnet or is magnetized, and at least one of the plurality of objects is capable of being magnetically retrieved by the retriever.
7. The game machine of claim 6, wherein the at least one object is spherical and formed from ferromagnetic or ferromagnetic material.
8. The game machine of claim 1, wherein the retriever includes a two-dimensional or three-dimensional image of a bird.
9. The game machine of claim 1, wherein the surface is a contoured surface that has a three-dimensional contour that causes the plurality of objects to exhibit erratic movement during a rotation of the field.
10. The game machine of claim 1, wherein the movable field rotates in a unidirectional manner, a bidirectional manner, or in a combination of the two.
11. The game machine of claim 1, wherein the movable field rotates continuously, intermittently, or in a combination of the two.
12. The game machine of claim 1, wherein the object receiving area further comprises a bird nest.
13. The game machine of claim 1, wherein the object return path is substantially hidden from view during play of the game machine.
14. The game machine of claim 1, wherein the outlet is positioned above or adjacent to the field.
15. The game machine of claim 14, wherein the outlet is positioned in between the legs of a figure situated on a platform above the field.
16. The game machine of claim 1, further comprising a processor connected to a network for remote operation or maintenance of the game machine.
17. A method of playing a game comprising:
- a) retrieving an object from a plurality of objects located on a rotating field using a retriever and delivering the retrieved object to an object return path;
- b) receiving an award upon the retrieved object being received in the object return path;
- c) wherein the award is not the same as the retrieved object;
- d) wherein the retrieved object is returned to the field upon exiting the object return path; and
- e) repeating steps (a) through (d) for a predetermined period of time.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the object is magnetically retrieved by the retriever.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein the object is a ball and the award is a ticket.
20. A game machine comprising:
- a) a housing, a timer and a redemption dispenser that dispenses an award;
- b) a rotating field having a surface with a plurality of objects situated thereon;
- c) a magnetic retriever movable along a track that is supported by the housing for movement of the magnetic retriever relative to the rotating field; and
- d) an object return path having an object receiving area and an outlet positioned above or adjacent the rotating field;
- e) wherein an award that is not the same as the object retrieved by the magnetic retriever is dispensed from the redemption dispenser upon the magnetic retriever retrieving an object from the rotating field and delivering the object to the object return path for return of the object to the rotating field through the outlet; and
- f) wherein the magnetic retriever is operable to retrieve objects from the rotating field during a predetermined time period indicated by the timer.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 8, 2010
Publication Date: Apr 14, 2011
Applicant: ELAUT USA, INC. (Lakewood, NJ)
Inventor: Jack Guarnieri (Jackson, NJ)
Application Number: 12/900,947
International Classification: A63F 9/24 (20060101); A63F 9/00 (20060101);