Abstract: The present invention includes a ball shooting mechanism for shooting a PACHINKO ball into a play field, a variable display apparatus capable of variably displaying a plural kinds of identification information, and a starting condition determining means for determining satisfaction of game starting conditions satisfied under such conditions that a coin is deposited and the like in accordance with manipulation of a start button by a player. In response to a determination output of the starting condition determining means, the ball shooting mechanism is driven and controlled to automatically shoot a ball, and the variable display apparatus is, after variation of display thereof is started, is controlled to be stopped so as to draw and display a display result thereof.

Abstract: A flipper ball game apparatus includes: a ball shooting mechanism for shooting a ball into a playfield; starting condition determiner for determining satisfaction of game starting conditions satisfied by operation of a start button by a player under such conditions, for example, that coins are deposited into the apparatus; and a shooting mechanism automatically controller responsive to a determination output of the starting condition determiner for driving the ball shooting mechanism to automatically flip and shoot the ball. This structure enables the pinball to be automatically flipped into the playfield without any shooting operation conducted by the player.

Abstract: A ball-shooting game machine having a starter hole for initiating a separate game when a game ball shot onto a game board enters into the starter hole, and a separate game device for conducting the separate game, is provided with a random number generator to produce a random number when a predetermined number of balls is shot onto the game board and the results of any separate game is determined by the value of the random number generated.

Abstract: In a ball shooting game machine, such as a pachinko game machine having winning holes, controls for permitting the player to obtain winning balls regardless of his skill, wherein the controls effect a first state disadvantageous to the player and then a second state advantageous to the player, the controls including means for detecting shot balls reaching the game board, a random number generator for generating a random number when a preselected number of balls are shot, and means for driving or controlling the winning holes to effect the advantageous state in response to the generation of a preset specific number by the random number generator, and means for maintaining or reversing the advantageous state in response to whether or how many winning balls are achieved.

Abstract: A playing field board for pinball game machines which is assembled with a playing surface thereof inclined, and along the inclined playing surface of which a round ball rolls downwardly by gravity and is driven upwardly by means of kicker apparatus, is made of a steel sheet and a transparent plastic layer of synthetic resin, e.g. urethane, disposed on the surface of the steel sheet. Between the steel sheet and the plastic layer of synthetic resin comprising the playing field, a buffer such as paper sheeting is interposed to dampen the noises made by a ball rolling along the playing surface of the playing field. Such paper sheeting can be in the form of a sandwich of metal foil between two paper sheets. The steel sheet contains a hole which is located beneath the transparent layer of plastic, and the hole is filled by a transparent plug. A metal hole is welded to the underside of the steel sheet. The holder supports an electric light bulb which shines upward through the transparent layer of plastic.

Abstract: An assembly for identifying and separating a cue ball, on a single file ball return run of a billiard table, from a group of object balls with the cue ball being substantially identical in weight and size to the object balls. The assembly includes a cue ball having a metallic core encapsulated by a phenolic resin shell. An electrically produced field (static or electromagnetic) is located in the path of all balls moving along the single file return run. Sensing apparatus is connected to the field-producing element to detect when the field is distorted or otherwise interrupted by passage of the metallic core ball. A signal is produced in the circuitry in response to interruption of the field by the metal core ball. The produced signal is utilized to operate a relay which in turn, completes a circuit to a kicker solenoid. The solenoid is positioned along the return run opposite the opening of a separate cue ball return run.