GB2118444A

GB2118444A - Amusement machine for playing dominoes

Info

Publication number: GB2118444A
Application number: GB08211109A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Barry Noble
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-04-16
Filing date: 1982-04-16
Publication date: 1983-11-02
Also published as: ES8403732A1; ES521538A0; BE896435A; GB2118444B; JPS58190472A

Abstract

The machine is microprocessor controlled and comprises means such as, a video screen (10) for displaying selected dominoes and a random selector for selecting from a stored notional set of twenty-eight dominoes seven dominoes to be allotted to each of the player (16) and the machine (18). Selection buttons (24) enable the player in his turn to select from those allotted to him a domino to be played, and the machine likewise selects in its turn, the state of play being presented on the screen. Selection buttons (26, 28) enable the player to choose where to place a domino played. The machine may be arranged to allot a next domino from a remainder stack (22) should either of the machine and the player be unable to play in turn. Instead of the video screen, the display may be effected by means of a row of reels or discs bearing symbols on their peripheries, flip-card units, cards or illuminated symbols. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Amusement machines This invention is concerned with amusement machines, of the kind to be found in amusement arcades, clubs and public places, arranged to present a variable display to a player in order that a game, involving the display, can be played when the machine has been put into credit. The machine may be put into credit by insertion of one or more coins or tokens, or by remote control from a supervisory control desk. The variable display may be achieved in any of various ways, such as, for example, by means of a row of reels or discs bearing symbols on their peripheries (as in a conventional fruit machine), a video screen, flip-card units, cards or illuminated symbols.

The invention provides in one of its aspects, an amusement machine whereby a player can play a game of dominoes against the machine, the machine comprising means whereby from a notional set of dominoes certain dominoes can be allotted to the player and certain dominoes allotted to the machine for a game to be played, means whereby pictorial representations of the dominoes allotted to the player and to the machine can be displayed to the player, means whereby the player can in his turn select from those allotted to him a dominoe to be played next, means whereby the machine can in its turn select from those allotted to it a dominoe to be played next, and means whereby a pictorial representation of the state of play can be displayed to the player as play proceeds.

There now follows a description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawing, of an amusement machine which illustrates the invention by way of example.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a video screen 10 and playing console 12 of a microprocessor-based machine for use in playing a game of dominoes.

Before play commences, there appears on the screen 10 a pictorial representation of a notional set of twenty-eight dominoes. Upon a player inserting a coin into a coin-entry slot 14, the representation on the screen changes to present seven dominoes 16 across the bottom of the screen, which represent the dominoes allotted to the player, and seven dominoes 18 across the top of the screen, which represent the dominoes allotted to the machine; the machine is programmed to select, from the set, the dominoes allotted to each, the dominoes being selected at random. The "double-six" dominoe 20 is presented in a state-of-play section in the middle of the screen, and the remainder of the pack, consisting of thirteen dominoes, is presented as a stack 22 down one side of the screen.

The machine is programed to give an evens chance game. The player plays first and selects which dominoe he wishes to place, of the seven allotted to him, by pressing a selection button opposite that dominoe; a row 24 of selection buttons is provided on the console 12, one button being opposite each dominoe presented. He can choose (where the option is open to him) whether to place the dominoe to the left or to the right, of the dominoes already placed, by means of left and right selection buttons 26 and 28, respectively, of the console. After selection, the state of play is presented on the screen, with the dominoe just selected shown in position adjacent the "double-six".

The player having placed his first dominoe, the machine then selects a dominoe from the seven allotted to it, and places itto left or right, as open to it and chosen, of the dominoes already placed. The state of play is again updated on the screen.

The game continues, with the player and the machine playing alternately, and the state of play being presented continuously on the screen, until eitherthe player or the machine has placed all the dominoes allotted to him or one of them is without a suitable dominoe to place. The game ends there, the winner being the one with the lowest score (face value) of dominoes remaining out of those initially allotted.

For a single coin inserted, four games can be played.

In an alternative, the machine could be so arranged that in the event that the player, or the machine, is unable to place a dominoe, a next dominoe from the stack 22 is added to the dominoes remaining of those originally allotted. Once the stack was exhausted, the game would proceed as before.

Other machines in accordance with the invention may be arranged to allow bets to be placed on the outcome of a game. There would preferably be separate coin entries for playing and betting, though alternatively there could be a single coin entry (or common coin entries for different coin denominations) for playing and betting, and selection buttons for use in placing bets taken from the credits accumulated by coin insertions.

Whereas in the machine hereinbefefore described the dominoes initially allotted to the player are selected by the machine, the skill element can be increased by providing for the player himself to select those dominoes to be allotted to him. The machine would still select those dominoes to be allotted to itself. For this purpose the machine could be arranged to present on the screen the full set of twenty-eight dominoes, and an illuminated dot adjacent one dominoe of the set. By depressing one of the left and right selection buttons on the console the dot would be caused to travel leftwards or rightwards alongside the dominoes presented, until the button was released. Release of the button would cause that dominoe alongside the dot when it stopped to be allotted to the player. The player would proceed to select six more dominoes in a similar manner, though the machine would select a dominoe for itself between each two selections by the player (and also make a final selection for itself after final selection by the player).

CLAIMS (Filed on 8/4/83) 1. An amusement machine whereby a player can play a game of dominoes against the machine, the machine comprising means whereby from a notion

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Amusement machines This invention is concerned with amusement machines, of the kind to be found in amusement arcades, clubs and public places, arranged to present a variable display to a player in order that a game, involving the display, can be played when the machine has been put into credit. The machine may be put into credit by insertion of one or more coins or tokens, or by remote control from a supervisory control desk. The variable display may be achieved in any of various ways, such as, for example, by means of a row of reels or discs bearing symbols on their peripheries (as in a conventional fruit machine), a video screen, flip-card units, cards or illuminated symbols. The invention provides in one of its aspects, an amusement machine whereby a player can play a game of dominoes against the machine, the machine comprising means whereby from a notional set of dominoes certain dominoes can be allotted to the player and certain dominoes allotted to the machine for a game to be played, means whereby pictorial representations of the dominoes allotted to the player and to the machine can be displayed to the player, means whereby the player can in his turn select from those allotted to him a dominoe to be played next, means whereby the machine can in its turn select from those allotted to it a dominoe to be played next, and means whereby a pictorial representation of the state of play can be displayed to the player as play proceeds. There now follows a description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawing, of an amusement machine which illustrates the invention by way of example. The accompanying drawing illustrates a video screen 10 and playing console 12 of a microprocessor-based machine for use in playing a game of dominoes. Before play commences, there appears on the screen 10 a pictorial representation of a notional set of twenty-eight dominoes. Upon a player inserting a coin into a coin-entry slot 14, the representation on the screen changes to present seven dominoes 16 across the bottom of the screen, which represent the dominoes allotted to the player, and seven dominoes 18 across the top of the screen, which represent the dominoes allotted to the machine; the machine is programmed to select, from the set, the dominoes allotted to each, the dominoes being selected at random. The "double-six" dominoe 20 is presented in a state-of-play section in the middle of the screen, and the remainder of the pack, consisting of thirteen dominoes, is presented as a stack 22 down one side of the screen. The machine is programed to give an evens chance game. The player plays first and selects which dominoe he wishes to place, of the seven allotted to him, by pressing a selection button opposite that dominoe; a row 24 of selection buttons is provided on the console 12, one button being opposite each dominoe presented. He can choose (where the option is open to him) whether to place the dominoe to the left or to the right, of the dominoes already placed, by means of left and right selection buttons 26 and 28, respectively, of the console. After selection, the state of play is presented on the screen, with the dominoe just selected shown in position adjacent the "double-six". The player having placed his first dominoe, the machine then selects a dominoe from the seven allotted to it, and places itto left or right, as open to it and chosen, of the dominoes already placed. The state of play is again updated on the screen. The game continues, with the player and the machine playing alternately, and the state of play being presented continuously on the screen, until eitherthe player or the machine has placed all the dominoes allotted to him or one of them is without a suitable dominoe to place. The game ends there, the winner being the one with the lowest score (face value) of dominoes remaining out of those initially allotted. For a single coin inserted, four games can be played. In an alternative, the machine could be so arranged that in the event that the player, or the machine, is unable to place a dominoe, a next dominoe from the stack 22 is added to the dominoes remaining of those originally allotted. Once the stack was exhausted, the game would proceed as before. Other machines in accordance with the invention may be arranged to allow bets to be placed on the outcome of a game. There would preferably be separate coin entries for playing and betting, though alternatively there could be a single coin entry (or common coin entries for different coin denominations) for playing and betting, and selection buttons for use in placing bets taken from the credits accumulated by coin insertions. Whereas in the machine hereinbefefore described the dominoes initially allotted to the player are selected by the machine, the skill element can be increased by providing for the player himself to select those dominoes to be allotted to him. The machine would still select those dominoes to be allotted to itself. For this purpose the machine could be arranged to present on the screen the full set of twenty-eight dominoes, and an illuminated dot adjacent one dominoe of the set. By depressing one of the left and right selection buttons on the console the dot would be caused to travel leftwards or rightwards alongside the dominoes presented, until the button was released. Release of the button would cause that dominoe alongside the dot when it stopped to be allotted to the player.The player would proceed to select six more dominoes in a similar manner, though the machine would select a dominoe for itself between each two selections by the player (and also make a final selection for itself after final selection by the player). CLAIMS (Filed on 8/4/83)

1. An amusement machine whereby a player can play a game of dominoes against the machine, the machine comprising means whereby from a notion al set of dominoes certain dominoes can be allotted to the player and certain dominoes allotted to the machine for a game to be played, means whereby pictorial representations of the dominoes allotted to the player and to the machine can be displayed to the player, means whereby the player can in his turn select from those allotted to him a dominoe to be played next, means whereby the machine can in its turn select from those allotted to it a dominoe to be played next, and means whereby a pictorial representation of the state of play can be displayed to the player as play proceeds.

2. A machine according to claim 1 comprising means whereby the player can in his turn choose where to place a selected dominoe relative to dominoes already placed.

3. A machine according to either of claims 1 to 2 comprising means whereby a next dominoe from a remainder stack can be added to the dominoes initially allotted to the player or the machine upon the player or the machine, respectively, being unable in turn to place a dominoe.

4. A machine according to any one of claims 1,2 and 3 wherein said dominoe-allotting means comprises means whereby the player can himself select those dominoes to be allotted to him.

5. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said dominoe-displaying means comprises a video screen on which pictorial representations of dominoes can be presented.

6. An amusement machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.