Abstract: An amusement device includes a display having a touchscreen and an input component to receive value in order to establish one or more playable credits. The amusement device also includes a controller configured to select and play at least one electronic game. The at least one electronic game is playable by a player to score a plurality of amusement points. The one or more playable credits are used to permit play of the at least one electronic game, and are different than and not based on the amusement points. The at least one electronic game also has a continue feature that provides the player of the amusement device with an option to automatically continue play of the at least one electronic game. The at least one electronic game is configured to require player input during play of the at least one electronic game in order to score amusement points.

Abstract: An amusement device has a display, an audio output, and an input component. The display includes a touchscreen. The input component receives at least one of currency, coins, and credit cards/debit cards. The amusement device also includes a common controller. The common controller is configured to select and play at least one electronic game and to select and retrieve for playing a music data set from a plurality of music data sets. The electronic game and the music data set may optionally be played simultaneously. In certain embodiments, a reward based on one of either the electronic game or selection of the music data set is applied to the respective other of the electronic game and the selection of the music data. In further embodiments, a content of the electronic game is based on the music data set.

Abstract: A portable amusement device has a display and is configured to operate at least one electronic game. The portable amusement device is operated by a touchscreen and includes a battery and a currency input. The portable amusement device is operable by a user upon receipt by the currency input of at least one of coins, currency, a credit card/debit card, and a Personal Identification Number (PIN). An amusement system includes a portable amusement device configured to operate at least one electronic game and having a display, a touchscreen, and a battery. The system also includes a docking station configured to receive the portable amusement device. The docking station includes a currency input. The portable amusement device is removable from the docking station only upon receipt by the currency input of at least one of coins, currency, a credit card/debit card, and a PIN.

Abstract: An amusement device system includes a first amusement device having a controller and a memory, a shared resource device operatively connected to the first amusement device and a second amusement device having a controller and a memory. The second amusement device is in communication with the first amusement device and is configured to access and control the shared resource device through the first amusement device.

Abstract: An amusement device having interactive advertisements includes a display, an input device, an attract mode, and a game play mode. The amusement device includes a memory that stores a plurality of electronic games. The amusement device also includes a controller operatively coupled to the memory, the input device, and the display. The controller controls the display based upon the system control program retrieved from the memory and based upon inputs from the input device. The controller is configured to (i) permit the user to selectively retrieve from the memory and play one of the plurality of electronic games and (ii) display an interactive advertisement during at least one of the attract mode and the game play mode.

Abstract: An amusement device system includes a first amusement device having a controller and a memory, a shared resource device operatively connected to the first amusement device and a second amusement device having a controller and a memory. The second amusement device is in communication with the first amusement device and is configured to access and control the shared resource device through the first amusement device.

Abstract: An amusement device has a display and an input device. The amusement device includes a memory that stores at least one electronic game and a system control program and a controller operatively coupled to the memory, the input device and the display. The electronic game has at least one virtual character, and the at least one virtual character has animated character traits. The controller controls the display based upon the system control program retrieved from the memory and based upon inputs from the input device. The controller is configured to (i) permit the user to selectively retrieve from the memory and play the at least one electronic game and (ii) modify the animated character traits being exhibited by the at least one virtual character as determined by an intelligence algorithm located in the control program based at least in part on the play of the game.

Abstract: An amusement device that awards prizes has a display and an input device. The amusement device includes a memory that stores at least one electronic game and a system control program. The at least one electronic game has a plurality of play scenarios and is at least partially skill-based. The amusement device also includes a controller operatively coupled to the memory, the input device and the display. The controller controls the display based upon the system control program retrieved from the memory and based upon inputs from the input device. The controller is configured to permit the user to selectively retrieve from the memory and play the at least one electronic game and determine at least one of an optimum series of requisite moves that will result in an optimal achievable score for a particular play scenario selected from a plurality of play scenarios.

Abstract: An electronic card game playable in an amusement device having a display includes an electronic deck of cards having a plurality of cards that each have an associated face value. A first layer of cards is disposed on a playing area and a second layer of cards is disposed in overlying relationship thereto. The rules include scoring points based upon a run of play which is a duration of time when the player can selectively remove cards that are one face value higher or lower than the face value of the last card in the shoe, permitting a card in the first layer to become playable when all the cards of the second layer which were partially covering the card in the first layer have been removed, and allowing three or more cards in the first layer to become playable when one card of the second layer is removed.

Abstract: Amusement device communication system includes a communication link, a first amusement device and a second amusement device. The communication link has a communication medium and a power line communication subsystem. The first amusement device has a video touchscreen, and the second amusement device has a controller and a memory. The second amusement device is coupled to the first amusement device by the communication link, and the first amusement device communicates with the second amusement device using the communication medium. The power line communication sub-system includes a local power grid and first and second power line adapters. The local power grid is configured to supply electrical power to local devices. The first power line adapter is coupled between the first amusement device and the local power grid. The first adapter superimposes communication signals onto the local power grid and decodes superimposed communication signals from the local power grid.

Abstract: An electronic card game playable in an amusement device having a display includes an electronic deck of cards having a plurality of cards that each have an associated face value. A first layer of cards is disposed on a playing area and a second layer of cards is disposed in overlying relationship thereto. The rules include scoring points based upon a run of play which is a duration of time when the player can selectively remove cards that are one face value higher or lower than the face value of the last card in the shoe, permitting a card in the first layer to become playable when all the cards of the second layer which were partially covering the card in the first layer have been removed, and allowing three or more cards in the first layer to become playable when one card of the second layer is removed.

Abstract: A game machine includes a tournament mode for conducting automated tournaments. In the tournament mode, a plurality of tournament games are playable by a plurality of players on the game machine. Each of the plurality of tournament games generates a total player score upon completion of game play. The player scores are used to determine the tournament winners. One or more sequences of tournament games are preprogrammed from the plurality of tournament games, and a tournament period is programmed for each tournament game. The preprogrammed tournament game for each sequence is playable during the programmed tournament period for the respective sequence. A plurality of sequences of tournament games may be preprogrammed to run simultaneously. The tournament sequences may either continuously repeat or may end after the last tournament in the sequence is completed.

Abstract: A system is provided for handicapping unranked players in a dart game match, wherein the match includes a plurality of successively played games. Upon initiation of a match, a default average is assigned to an unranked player. An initial handicap is calculated for the unranked player based on the difference between the default average and an actual average of a ranked opponent of the unranked player. The initial handicap is then used for the first game in the match. At the end of the first game, a first new handicap is calculated for the unranked player based at least upon the unranked player's actual average in the first game. The first new handicap is used for the second game in the match. The unranked player's handicap is repeatedly recalculated after completion of each game in the match based at least upon the unranked player's actual average in previous games of the match. The recalculated handicaps are used for the next game in the match.

Abstract: A system for allowing a game operator to individually tailor parameters of a video game machine provides a plurality of user interactive video screen displays for selecting the parameters. The parameters include the currency value to be associated with different currency types accepted by the machine, and the coin/credit ratio of the machine for each different currency type accepted by the machine.

Abstract: A dart game machine that electronically scores dart throws includes a reset mode which allows the game score to be backed up to a previous score state. The dart game machine includes a score data memory which tracks current and previous score data for each player so that the previous scores may be automatically restored upon backing up of the game.

Abstract: A dart game controller and method of controlling a dart game is provided wherein a dart board has a plurality of target areas, each target area corresponding to a target value. A preset number of target values are stored in a memory. A mark detector identifies at a predetermined stage of game play which of the target values stored in the memory have been marked at least once by a player, but have not been marked more than a preset number of times by any of the plurality of players. Next, a number generator selects a replacement target value for each identified target value. The replacement target value is stored in the memory in place of the respective previous target value. The target value in the memory for each target value not identified by the mark detector remains unchanged. The method and apparatus is suitable for use in playing a variation of Random Cricket.

Abstract: A system for allowing a game operator to individually tailor parameters of a video game machine provides a plurality of user interactive video screen displays for selecting the parameters. The parameters include the selection of menu choices of video games from a library of video games which are available for play on the machine.

Abstract: A dart board apparatus including a housing having a spider located therein. The spider is generally circular in shape and has a series of circumferentially and radially extending ribs which define a plurality of target segment openings, and a circumferential center rib which defines a center opening. A plurality of target segments are slidably disposed in the target segment openings. An annular outer bull segment, having a target surface with a center opening, and a generally tubular sidewall with at least two slots therethrough, is also provided. The outer bull is slidably disposed for movement within the center opening in the circumferential center rib. An inner bull segment is slidably disposed within the center opening in the outer bull segment. The inner bull segment includes at least two spokes, in an aligned position with the slots in the outer bull segment sidewall.

Abstract: A detection system for detecting darts which have missed the target in an electronically secored dart game is comprised of first audio sensor circuitry located proximate to the dart board target for detecting sounds created when a dart strikes either the dart board target or the housing in the vicinity of the target and generating an electrical signal upon the detection of such sounds. A second audio sensor circuit located remote from the target is employed for detecting sounds that simulate the sounds created when a dart strikes either the target or the housing in the vicinity of the target and for generating an electrical signal upon the detection of such simulated sounds. The outputs from the audio sensor circuitry are compared and an output comparison signal is generated only when a signal is received from the first audio sensor circuit in the absence of a signal from the second audio sensor circuit.

Abstract: An electronically scored dart game includes a service door for providing access to the interior of the game housing from the front of the housing. The service door is formed of at least a portion of the front housing surface, including the dart board, and has an upper end and a lower end. The service door is hinged to the housing along at least a portion of the lower end. The service door is pivotable about the hinge for movement between a generally vertical operational position and a service position in which the service door extends outwardly from the front surface of the housing at a predetermined angle of less than 180 degrees. In the preferred embodiment, the predetermined angle is approximately 90 degrees. At least one flexible member is provided for preventing the service door from pivoting to a position exceeding the predetermined angle.