Abstract: A game using cards (or other similar elements) in which multiple players engage in play generally involving taking turns with the objective of gaining tokens or other elements representative of point. According to the invention, each turn may include taking actions assocaited with cards in their hands, drawing cards from a deck, discarding cards, and exchanging cards with other players. According to one embodiment of the game, the step of exchanging cards occurs at the end of a player's turn. The game offers flexibility and ease of adaptation since its stucture of play accommodates use of game pieces and other game elements that can be readily customized and tailored to suit consumer interests.

Abstract: A game apparatus determines a contact situation between a player character and an enemy character on a display screen (step S200), identifies a contact pattern for the determined contact situation (step S300), determines an arrangement pattern based on the contact pattern identified (step S400), and displays the characters in a battle scene according to the determined arrangement pattern.

Abstract: A gaming terminal with one or more input devices in the form of a programmable display switch is provided. The programmable display switch is preferably configured to provide different types of labels, legends, unction indications, instructions and the like depending on the state of the game and/or the type of game being played. In this way, a wide variety of game functions, game themes or types of games can be implemented while reducing the total number of switches on the gaming terminal. In some embodiments, programmable display switches replace some or all functions normally provided by less cost-effective devices such as CRTs or touch screens.

Abstract: A swing practicing device trains a hitter, such as a baseball batter, to improve the accuracy and power of his swing. A target is coupled to the terminal end of a target support, the target accepting swing impacts without separating from the target support. The target support extends from a base having a rounded bottom surface, the curves of the rounded surface in rotational engagement with the ground. Swing impacts at the target cause the apparatus to rotate from an upright position to a more horizontal position and then return to the upright position to accept repeated swing impacts. The device can include an inflatable air bladder within the target and target support, and can include an adjustable weight for its base. The device can also include an adjusting mechanism to adjust the vertical height of the target.

Abstract: A gaming system is described which enables parimutuel wagering with instant payoffs on actual past events. The system, in one embodiment, includes a plurality of wager terminals coupled to a game server. The wagering terminals are multi-function terminals which enable a patron to enter a wager, provide high quality video/audio play-back, and can issue payments for winners. The game server is a computer system configured to manage the entire game system. For example, the server maintains databases, controls and accounts for the transactions with the wagering terminals, controls the flow of data from the video server to the terminals, collates pools from all sources and computes winnings, and provides detailed statistics for the disbursement of funds.

Abstract: A new type of side bet or wager which can be made during the game of blackjack or twenty-one is disclosed. The side bet is a secondary bet, which may be placed in addition to the initial (or traditional) bet or ante, and which is preferably made prior to any cards being dealt during the hand. The initial bet is played in the usual manner prior to the dealing of the cards, and at the same time the player decides whether or not to place an additional, or secondary side bet. The player then proceeds to play a conventional game of blackjack, attempting to beat the dealer's hand without busting. The secondary bet only becomes active when the player does not bust, the dealer's hand has a combined point value of less than 21, and the player's hand has a combined point value which is less than that of the dealer's hand.

Abstract: Disclosed is a game system which matches a player's tastes. In a game system operating in time with music, it is possible to select an edit mode for editing timing data which define timings of operations. In the edit mode, an edit window having a predetermined display range is displayed on a screen of a display device in correspondence with information representing a position in a tune. Images in the edit window are scrolled so that the position of a target to be edited set inside the edit window moves forward and backward through the tune. When an operation is performed to provide marks, timing data for showing an operation timing of a control member provided in correspondence with the operation is provided at the position of the edit object in the edit window, and in addition, the timing data during editing is updated so that the position in the tune corresponding to the position of the edit object is defined as a operation timing.

Abstract: A foot switcher includes: a foot switch sheet having a plurality of pressure switches for detecting steps; and a mat placed under the foot switch sheet, and including a mat body having a plurality of divisions, one division being different from another division in hardness, and a specified number of divisions corresponding to the plurality of pressure switches, respectively. The hardness of one division is different from that of another division adjoining the one division. A top layer for covering the plurality of the pressure switches is formed with slip preventer.

Abstract: A system and method for evaluating responses to broadcast programs, such as television programs, include an instructional signal modulated onto a signal transmitted concurrently with the television program, simulcast, or time-multiplexed with a television. At each of a plurality of remote receiving stations, one or more members of a remote audience has the opportunity to respond to a situation presented in the television program by entering a response on a keyboard.

Abstract: The invention is a method of defining the outcome of a plurality of games involving a plurality of participants by a single value. Seed values are assigned to all of the participants. The outcome of each individual event is defined by the seed value assigned to the participant who wins the event. The outcome of all of the events is defined by the sum of the individual seed values of the winning participants of all of the individual events. In one embodiment, the possible single values representing all possible permutations of outcomes are generated. Bettors are permitted to place bets upon particular values. Winners of the betting event are determined by comparing values selected by betters to the actual single value resulting from the outcomes of the games. In one embodiment, the method is applied to a tournament of participants, the tournament having at least one first round including a plurality of games and at lease one second round including a plurality of games.

Abstract: A control method for controlling execution of processing in a video game, the game being made to progress with display of an image timed to a reference signal supplied every unit cycle.

Abstract: A system for the accurate electronic detection and location of missiles, such as darts, is disclosed in which electromagnetic radiation is transmitted through a dart board to signal receiving elements positioned on the side of the dart board opposite the target face and the change in electromagnetic signal is detected when a dart is embedded in one of the dart board target areas. The larger signal receiving elements of the dart board are divided into signal sensing portions which are electrically distinct from adjacent smaller signal receiving elements of the target and also the remainder of the total area of the larger signal receiving element, and the sensing portions are located adjacent the smaller signal receiving elements of the target to improve the accuracy and reliability of the electrical scoring of the darts which become embedded in or close to the smaller signal receiving elements.

Abstract: When a lower component being different size is selectively and removably connected to an upper component, mechanical and electrical connecting means of the upper component is commonly used, and simultaneously they are connected by mechanical and electrical connecting means being the size corresponding to the size of the lower component.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package which has a flexible circuit that covers an integrated circuit. The flexible circuit contains a conductive line which prevents a probe from accessing the integrated circuit. The conductive line of the flexible circuit can be attached to the power lines, synchronization line, memory erase line, or any other line that will disable, erase or otherwise prevent access to the integrated circuit if the flexible circuit conductive line is broken. The integrated circuit can be mounted to a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board, integrated circuit and flexible circuit can all be enclosed within the package.

Abstract: An evaluation system for the fairness about the judgment of referees and the management of coaching staffs in a sports game via internet and providing data thereof is provided, in which the data of the judgments of referees who control games and managements of coaching staffs are provided, scenes which are doubtful of the fairness are stored in an additional database to be transmitted in real time when information is requested from each terminal, game management records of the referees and the coaching staffs are continuously monitored, evaluation result values about the fairness and pertinency of the records are stored as data.

Abstract: A suite of construction toy systems in which mechanical connection is provided by hermaphroditic and functionally identical (genderless) connectors. Both hub-and-rod and building-block construction toy systems are disclosed. In the hub-and-rod construction systems, the use of genderless connectors allows: rods to connect directly to rods by the same means rods connect to hubs (longer rods can be directly formed out of shorter rods); hubs to connect to hubs by the same means that rods connect to hubs; and, in some assemblies hubs to be substituted for rods. An additional useful feature of the genderless connectors used and of the overall design of these toy systems is that many of the different construction toy systems disclosed herein will inter-connect. By the application of this invention, a very wide range of very different and independent toy systems can be designed that freely inter-connect.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a gaming device generates an initial hand of five cards. The first hand defines thirty-two draw strategies (each card held or not held), and at least one draw strategy is an optimum draw strategy having the maximum expected value of all draw strategies. The gaming device then selects a hand grouping that cannot result from the optimum draw strategy. For example, for an initial hand “10-clubs, 10-spades, 5-diamonds, 2-diamonds, 4-diamonds”, the hand grouping “Flush” cannot result from a draw strategy that results in holding two or more cards with different suits. The payout ratio of the selected hand grouping is increased by adding a bonus amount thereto. The gaming device thus provides an incentive for a player to select a suboptimum draw strategy, yet the expected value of the optimum strategy is unaffected by the increased payout.

Abstract: A battery operated gyroscopic entertainment device is powered from a mating cradle, or from a battery supply within the device. The device includes an egg-shaped housing in which is disposed a high speed DC motor whose motor shaft preferably extends from each end of the motor. A hub member is attached to each shaft end, and a weighted belt is attached to each hub member. A central portion of the motor housing is fixedly attached to the device housing such that upon application of operating potential to the motor, the motor shaft, and the weighted hub members rotate at high speed, which imparts a gyroscopic action to the device. A cradle may be provided containing a power source, with power connections that mate to the device housing when the housing is placed within the cradle.

Abstract: In a gaming system, a central computer generates a plurality of game win-loss outcome stacks, each stack having at least one “win” (preferably, large-prize) outcome. Sub-stacks, from among the plurality of stacks, are transmitted to casino or other group controllers or computers, each casino controller being coupled to a plurality of gaming terminals. In response to placing a large-prize wager, in addition to normal, local game wager, a gaming terminal requests a large-prize outcome from the sub-stack which is stored in the casino controller. Whenever a casino controller's sub-stack is depleted, it requests a new sub-stack from the central computer. Preferably the central computer selects a new sub-stack for transmission according to a selection process which is weighted so as to maintain the ratio of winning outcomes to all outcomes in a predetermined range. When all sub-stacks of a given stack have been transmitted, the central computer generates a new stack to replace the depleted stack.

Abstract: A motion toy includes a body member and a head member mounted on the body member. A head drive system is operable to rotate the head member simultaneously up-and-down and side-to-side relative to the body member.