GB2251558A

GB2251558A - Gaming machine of the Derby type

Info

Publication number: GB2251558A
Application number: GB9126883A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin Graham Kirby
Original assignee: K W SYSTEMS Ltd
Current assignee: K W SYSTEMS Ltd
Priority date: 1990-12-18
Filing date: 1991-12-18
Publication date: 1992-07-15
Also published as: GB9126883D0; GB9027335D0

Abstract

A gaming machine of the Derby type has one or more pin tables 10 connected to display means 30. Each player accumulates his own score and contributes to a single cumulative target score, according to which apertures on the pin table a ball passes through. All of the players cumulative scores and the target cumulative score are displayed on the display means so player's can compete against one another or the target score. The display means preferably comprises markers 32 representing horses moving along a track 31. <IMAGE>

Description

Gamins Machine The invention relates to gaming machines, and in particular to gaming machines of the Derby type.

Gaming machines of the Derby type are well known.

Machines of this type comprise two or more pin tables, and a display means. The pin tables are of a known type in which a ball is propelled onto the pin table, and leaves the table through one of a plurality of apertures. When the ball passes through an aperture a score is awarded to the player. The size of the score awarded depends upon the position of the aperture on the pin table. The display means displays each of the player's cumulative scores and allows them to directly compete against one another. Often the display means comprise model racehorses (hence the name Derby), which move along a track as the players' scores accumulate. The winner of the game is the player whose horse first passes a winning post along the track.

A disadvantage of a machine of this type is that it can not be played by a single player. The present invention seeks to provide a gaming machine of the Derby type that can be played by one or more players.

According to the invention there is provided a gaming machine comprising gaming means on which one or more players accumulate one or more first scores and one or more second scores, both of which are displayed by display means.

In a preferred arrangement, said first scores are players' cumulative scores which represent the players' skill in operating the gaming means, and said second scores are target cumulative scores against which the players can match their cumulative scores.

In order that the invention and its other features may be understood more easily an embodiment thereof will now be described by way of an example only, with reference to the drawings, wherein: Fig.l is a perspective view of the gaming machine; and Fig.2 is a plan view of a pin table comprising part of the gaming machine.

The gaming machine comprises four pin tables 10, display means 30, and electronic scoring means (not shown in Figures).

The pin tables 10 are of a known type that are actuated by a player placing a coin or token in a slot 11. The pin table comprises a firing mechanism which propels a ball 12 onto the table. The firing mechanism comprises a spring loaded plunger 13 (not shown in Fig.2) that is operated by the player, and guideways 14. Barriers 15 are positioned on the pin table and define eight apertures 16-19 through which a ball can pass. The surface of the pin table is inclined. A return path 20 is provided to return used balls to the firing mechanism. Sensing elements (not shown) are incorporated into the each of the barriers 15. These detect a ball passing through any aperture 16-19 and relay a signal to the electronic scoring means.

The display means 30 comprises five tracks 31 along which markers 32 move. Typically, the markers are in the form of racehorses. The movement of the markers along the track is controlled by the electronic scoring means. A marker is provided for each player and a further target marker is also provided.

The electronic scoring means is of a known type which takes signals from the pin tables 10 and converts them into an output for display by the display means.

To use the gaming machine one or more players activates one of the pin tables 10. This allows the firing mechanism to be operated. The player then fires a ball 12 between the guideways 14 and onto the uppermost part of the pin table. The ball rolls down the pin table and passes through one of the apertures 16-19. This causes two of the sensing elements to send a signal to the electronic signalling means. The magnitude and type of the signal depends upon the location of the aperture on the pin table.

When the ball 12 passes through an aperture 16,17 or 19 the player's cumulative score increases and this is registered on the display means 30. If the ball passes through one of apertures 19 the cumulative score increase by three points. If the ball passes through apertures 16 or 17 the score increases by one or two points respectively. If the ball passes through one of apertures 18, the player's cumulative score increases by one point and, in addition, the standard target cumulative score is also increased. Each of the players contributes to the target cumulative score.

The individual contribution can be determined by two alternative modes of operation. The increase in the target cumulative score registered when a ball passes through an aperture 18 can depend on the number of players playing the machine. The scores are, for example: Number of players Target Score increase per ball passing through aperture 4 1 12 points 2 6 3 4 4 3 Alternatively, a fixed score increase may occur when a ball passes through aperture 18, the fixed increasae being independent of the number of players. The mode of operation is selected by a switch (not shown).

Each of the player's cumulative scores and the target cumulative score is displayed on the display means 30.

At the beginning of the game all of the markers 32 start at one end of a track 31, at a START position.

Each player's marker moves along a track as the player's score accumulates. The marker that represents the target cumulative score is referred to as the House Horse. The winner of the game is the player whose marker first reaches the FINISH position at the other end of the track.

If the House Horse reaches the FINISH before any of the player's markers, the game is finished and the contest between the players is void.

How quickly an individual players marker moves along the track depends on their rate of scoring. This depends on the dexterity of the player in making a ball 12 pass through a high scoring aperture, such as 19, rather than through a target 18 scoring aperture, which makes the House Horse progress.

The gaming machine has the advantage that a single player can race his marker against the House Horse.

Also, when a small number of players is using the machine the provision of an extra marker increases competition.

A number of modifications can be made to the gaming machine. Further apertures can be added to each pin table which contribute to the target score. The apertures can be replaced by holes in the table.

A greater number of pin tables can be used on a single machine. Up to twenty pin tables can be used. This increases the excitement of the games.

The House Horse can move along the track continuously throughout the game according to a predetermined programme contained in the electronic scoring means.

In this modification the target cumulative score is superimposed on to the predetermined movement to determine the position of the House Horse along the track. The predetermined movement of the House Horse can be linear. Alternatively, the House Horse can be programmed to move faster near the START and FINISH of the track. This increases the excitement of the game.

Various different types of display means can be used.

A clock face with a number of hands, each representing a player, can be used. Alternatively, a visual display unit can show the cumulative scores in an appropriate graphic form.

Two or more target markers can be used, each being moved by a ball passing through a different aperture in the pin table. Two or more players can move a single marker along the track.

Each pin table can be replaced with another scoring game such as bar billiards, or a device where balls or projectiles are fired at targets of different values.

In a further modification, if the ball passes through one of the apertures 18 only the standard target cumulative score is increased.

The switch that selects the mode of scoring at aperture 18 can be omitted, and the gaming machine permanently configured to operate in one of the two modes described.

Claims

1. A gaming machine comprising gaming means on which one or more players accumulate one or more first scores and one or more second scores, both of which are displayed by display means.

2. A gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein said first scores are players' cumulative scores which represent the players' skill in operating the gaming means, and said second scores are target cumulative scores against which the players can match their cumulative scores.

3. A gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising first scoring areas which incrementally increase the players' cumulative scores, and one or more second scoring areas which incrementally increase the target cumulative score.

4. A gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the magnitude of the incremental increase to the target cumulative score is a function of the number of players.

5. A gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the magnitude of the incremental increase to the target cumulative score is fixed.

6. A gaming machine according to claims 4 and 5, further comprising switch means to allow said incremental increase to be either fixed or a function of the number of players.

7 A gaming machine according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the gaming means comprises one or more pin tables each having a plurality of apertures through which a ball can pass, each aperture constituting either a first or second scoring area, at least one of which constitutes a second scoring area which causes the target cumulative score to increase when a ball passes therethrough.

8. A gaming machine according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the gaming means comprises one or more devices where projectiles are fired at targets of different value which constitute the first and second scoring areas.

9. A gaming machine according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the gaming means comprises one or more bar billiard tables the pockets of which constitute the first and second scoring areas.

10. A gaming machine according to any of claims 2 to 9, wherein each player has an individual cumulative player's score, but all of the players contribute to a single cumulative target score.

11. A gaming machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the display means comprises a plurality of markers that each represent either a cumulative player's or a target score, and which move along a track from a start position to a finish position as the score accumulates.

12. A gaming machine substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.