Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
  • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
  • G07F17/3244—Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
  • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Definitions

• the invention relates to a coin-operated entertainment machine with an entertainment device and a central control device.
• Entertainment machines are used in a wide variety of designs. They are designed as play equipment with or without the possibility of making money, as so-called pinball machines, as billiards, as throwing dice play equipment, as video game devices or the like. Various measures have already been taken to encourage a user or player to use such entertainment devices and to help them to achieve an appropriate entertainment experience during the game.
• An entertainment machine for example from DE 38 22 636 AI.
• the entertainment machine there consists of a game device with a symbol game device.
• Symbol game devices usually have three revolving bodies, which can be designed as rollers, disks or folding card carousels. On the surface that can be seen from the outside through the window, the circulating bodies have symbols of profit.
• the revolving bodies are stopped one after the other and after all the revolving bodies have come to a standstill, the symbol combinations shown in the reading windows decide on profit or loss. In different amounts are promised money and / or point and / or special game winnings. In the case of the special game winnings, a winning key with a higher chance of winning than the normal game is used.
• Actuators for the player for example buttons or levers, are attached to many of these game devices. These actuators generally act on the run of the individual circulating bodies. The player can thus be able to start one or more recirculating bodies by actuating such an actuating element, for example a start button, which gives the player a real influence on the game. Stop buttons are also arranged in order to give the player the opportunity to stop a rotating rotating body, which gives the player the impression that he can influence the game action and thus the symbol combination resulting from the game.
• the entire game flow is controlled by a microprocessor.
• preludes are provided there, which take place before the main game regardless of the actual game setup and which have a different character than the main game. For example, as a prelude, a point of light runs in a circle that simulates a roulette wheel. Depending on where the light point remains at random, the player receives more or less large amounts of money credited to his account held in the gaming machine. These preludes are a change, they increase the tension and the entertainment value of the game device.
• a disadvantage of this game device is that the prelude is only started when the player throws higher-value coins into the machine.
• the object of the invention is to improve the entertainment process and the design options for an under shark Automatic machines of the type mentioned at the outset to be varied and with greater play incentive in order to increase the entertainment value for the user.
• This object is achieved in that the central control device controls the entertainment machine so that the entertainment device can be used at reduced costs at certain times of the day or week.
• This measure enables the player to take part in a game at reduced costs, even if he does not intend to spend a large amount of money. He can enjoy the game without the usual amount of costs, the entertainment value is increased during the discounted period.
• an alternative solution to the problem is that the central control device controls the entertainment machine in such a way that each time the entertainment device is used, a randomly controlled competition starts automatically which, in the event of a win, gives the user one or more free uses for the entertainment facility awards.
• the object is alternatively also achieved according to the invention in that the central control device controls the entertainment machine in such a way that, before the use of the entertainment device begins, a selection switch can be used to select whether certain events in the entertainment or whether the end of one predetermined period of time should determine the end of the conversation.
• each user of the entertainment machine can freely determine whether he wants to use the entertainment machine according to time or after the entertainment process. If the machine contains, for example, a game device, the player can decide whether the use of the machine should be ended when the corresponding game has ended or whether the use should have ended after a predetermined time. This increases the user's scope for action and thus increases the entertainment value of the entertainment machine. With this measure, the user can also bring new elements into the game; he can set himself the task of achieving certain goals within the predetermined time. The user can thereby create a new entertainment experience himself, which also increases the incentive to use and the entertainment value of the machine. The user can alternately use the amusement machine in one way and in the other way to entertain themselves through the different conditions, and he can, for example, use the time to study the game and to determine certain game sequences to practice.
• the time at which the machine can be used at reduced costs is indicated on the entertainment machine, and the entertainment machine is particularly illuminated at the times when it can be used at reduced costs, or it emits special acoustic signals.
• the randomly controlled game consists of a circle which simulates a rotary boiler and around which a point of light runs, which finally stops in a randomly controlled manner, one point of the circle being marked as a profit segment.
• this embodiment also conveys an optical stimulus and attracts attention and is at the same time particularly easy to use with the central control unit.
• the design options for the entertainment process are particularly varied. This results in a correspondingly high entertainment value.
• the entertainment machine is designed as a gaming device with a game device and, for example, the gaming machine is designed as a gaming device without money
• the proposed measures for increasing the entertainment value of entertainment machines come into effect particularly well.
• the single figure shows a perspective view of an entertainment machine according to the invention 1. It is in this embodiment a dart 1 game device 2.
• the dart game device 2 consists of a base 3 with an attachment 4, which carries the dice 1 be 5.
• Coin entry slots 9 and coin returns 10 are accommodated on the side of the base 3 for use of the game device.
• the litter disc 5 is divided into different segments 11 and sections 12. These segments 11 and sections 12 are movably supported on a rubber plate, not shown. A switch matrix, also not shown, is attached behind the rubber plate. If one of the segments 11 or one of the sections 12 of the dice 1 disc 5 is hit by a dart, then this segment 11 or section 12 moves toward the rubber plate, presses it in and actuates one or more of the switches in the scarf matrix.
• the throwing game device is operated by a central control unit which controls the entire game process.
• This control unit continuously queries the switch matrix behind the dartboard 5. As soon as one of the switches in the switch matrix is actuated, the control unit uses the stored program to calculate the number of points on the game selector switch 7, depending on the type of game selected, and displays it this number of points for the right player in the point display 8.
• a lettering "Happy Hour” 14 is attached and the picture of a clock 15, which shows a certain time.
• the central control unit of the litter box 1 game device 2 is set up in such a way that the litter box 1 game device 2 can be used at reduced costs at the times indicated.
• the lettering "Happy Hour” 14 can be illuminated. This lighting is switched on automatically by the central control unit as soon as the time of reduced usage costs has been reached and is extinguished again when the time of reduced usage costs has expired. Accordingly, the central control unit can generate a certain melody during this time and send it out in simple loudspeakers.
• a selection button 16 is also embedded in the surface on the board 13. This selection button 16 is designed as a changeover switch. Before starting the use of the throwing device, it can be used to select whether certain events in the course of the game, for example the end of the game according to a certain game rule or whether the end of a certain period of time should determine the end of the use of the throwing device. If the time game is selected in contrast to the game control game, the central control unit is set up in such a way that it can divide the available time in many small pieces or in larger individual pieces between two or more players.
• a circle 17 consisting of individual illuminable points 18 or segments is also set up on the table 13.
• This circle 17 runs every time the throwing game device automatically a randomly controlled competition which, in the event of a win, awards the user one or more free uses of the throwing game device.
• the circle simulates a roulette wheel.
• the illuminable points 18, controlled by the central control unit light up one after the other in rapid succession, so that the impression of a circumferential point of light arises.
• the speed of rotation of the light spot slows down until the light spot, switched by the central control unit, stops at one of the illuminable points 18 under random control.
• One of the illuminable points 18, in this case by an arrow 19, is marked as the winning point. If the randomly controlled light point remains on the illuminable point 18 marked by the arrow 19, then one or more free spins are issued by the central control unit.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Coin-Freed Apparatuses For Hiring Articles (AREA)
• Slot Machines And Peripheral Devices (AREA)
• Pinball Game Machines (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=6419947

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (78)

Family Cites Families (11)

• 1990
  • 1990-12-10 DE DE4039317A patent/DE4039317A1/de not_active Ceased
• 1991
  • 1991-12-06 EP EP92900388A patent/EP0561870B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1991-12-06 US US08/075,501 patent/US5370306A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1991-12-06 WO PCT/DE1991/000960 patent/WO1992010818A1/de active IP Right Grant
  • 1991-12-06 DE DE59107595T patent/DE59107595D1/de not_active Expired - Fee Related

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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