GB2221400A - Amusement machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A video amusement machine, comprising a screen on which sequences of images are presented by the machine in the course of games played by players on the machine, is arranged to play dominoes games of skill. In the event that a player loses a game the machine can show the player how the game could have been won, by playing the game right through from beginning to end with the player winning.

Description

AMUSEMENT MACHINES This invention relates to amusement machines of the kind comprising a screen on which sequences of images are presented by the machine in the course of games played by players on the machine, and such machines are referred to hereinafter as amusement machines of the kind referred to.

The games played on such machines are commonly referred to as video games. The machines are usually microprocessor-controlled, for formulation of the images in accordance with a stored program but responsive to input from a player.

The games played on such machines may be games of chance, or they may be games of skill in which in every game played there is the opportunity for a skilled player to win against the machine. The present invention relates solely to games of the latter kind, being referred to hereinafter as games of skill.

The invention provides an amusement machine of the kind referred to arranged to play games of skill and arranged to disclose to the player after each game won by the machine how the player could have won.

The invention could find application in a variety of games of skill, of which there are many already being played, to increase the appeal of the machine by satisfying the player that it had been possible for him to win.

For example, the invention can be applied to amusement machines for playing games of dominoes, such as have been described in patent applications GB-A-2 118 444 and GB-A-2 177 610. Whilst those publications described various ways in which hands of dominoes might be allotted to the player and to the machine for games to be played, the machine preferably comprises means recording a register of notional suitable pairs of hands of dominoes and means whereby one pair can be selected for a game to be played. Such a machine form is described in application GB-A-2 177 610, though it may be preferred that the selection of the pair to be played is made by the machine without player involvement after the machine has been put into credit by the player.

Once a pair of hands has been allotted, the game may be played out in a manner as described in the two published applications hereinbefore referred to.

However, at the end of a game, should the player have lost, the machine can (automatically or at the player's choice) show the player how he could have won, ordinarily by showing the game played right through from beginning to end, with the player winning.

Claims (4)

1. An amusement machine of the kind referred to arranged to play games of skill and arranged to disclose to the player (automatically or at the player's choice) after each game won by the machine how the player could have won.

2. An amusement machine according to claim 1 arranged to show how the player could have won by showing the game played right through from beginning to end.

3. An amusement machine according to either of claims 1 and 2 arranged to play dominoes games.

4. An amusement machine substantially as hereinbefore described.