GB2380417A

GB2380417A - Appearance changing playing pieces for use in an entertainment machine

Info

Publication number: GB2380417A
Application number: GB0123950A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Wilson; Ian Griffiths
Original assignee: Bell Fruit Games Ltd
Current assignee: Bell Fruit Games Ltd
Priority date: 2001-10-05
Filing date: 2001-10-05
Publication date: 2003-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 2021-10-05
Also published as: GB2380417B; GB0123950D0

Abstract

Playing pieces 40 for use in an entertainment machine where the entertainment machine has an appearance controlling means that is able to control the appearance of the playing pieces. The playing piece may contain electronics such as a Radio Frequency Identity (RFID) tag, LED 44, LCD display or any other electronically controlled display means that may flash or give out light. The internal electronics of the variable playing piece may be controlled independently of each other and capable of transmitting a signal which is received by the appearance controlling means and externally the playing pieces may have a heat sensitive coating which changes colour. The appearance controlling means may comprise one or more transmitters 60 or receivers 62,64,66,68,70,72,74,76,78 so arranged to transmit and receive signals to and from the playing pieces. Alternatively the appearance controlling means may be one or more electromagnetic radiation sources such as a visible, coloured or UV light, so arranged to be incident on one or more playing pieces within the machine. The entertainment machine may be of the coin pusher type where the playing surface 2 has a plurality of regions each arranged to alter the appearance of the playing pieces as they pass over surface. Also included is a method for increasing the player appeal of the machine.

Description

AN ENTERTAINMENT MACHINE This invention relates to an entertainment machine and a method of increasing player appeal of an entertainment machine. The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with a type of entertainment machine commonly referred to as a coin pusher entertainment machine.

Traditionally, such entertainment machines have one or more surfaces arranged to hold coins and a coin pusher for pushing the coins along the, or each, surface. In some embodiments coins can be pushed off an edge of the surface into a win chute to be paid directly to a player. In use, a player inserts coins into the machine, which are deposited onto the surface in the hope that a greater number of coins are pushed from the surface by the coin pusher.

One prior art coin pusher provides a playing piece re-circulation loop, which forms a closed loop inside the machine and such a machine is shown in GB 2 303 309. A player inserts a coin into the machine to play and a playing piece is dispensed onto the surface from an internal store.

If any playing pieces are knocked from the surface, over a win edge region, a device detects the number pushed off the surface and dispenses to the player the same number of coins from a store of coins. The playing pieces may or may not themselves be coins.

It will be appreciated that the entertainment machines must provide an incentive to a player playing the machine. There is therefore, an ongoing requirement to provide new games that increase the player appeal of the machine. The machine shown in GB 2 303 309 is aimed at making the pusher type of machine more secure, but it does not try to increase the player appeal of the machine. Indeed, it does not fundamentally change

the player perception of game provided by the machine when compared to the machines that were known before its conception.

It is an object of the invention to provide an entertainment machine that has increased player appeal when compared to prior art entertainment machines.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an entertainment machine arranged to provide a game involving one or more playing pieces wherein the machine is provided with an appearance controlling means arranged to control the appearance of at least one variable appearance playing piece within the machine.

Varying the visual appearance of playing pieces during a game is advantageous because it may increase the player appeal of the machine.

Further, the visual appearance of the playing piece may be used to convey information about the playing piece to a player, such as its value, which can be used to enhance the game.

The machine may comprise a pusher type machine arranged to contain a plurality of playing pieces provided on a surface, or playing field, arranged such that playing pieces are periodically caused to fall from the playing field. However, in alternative embodiments the machine may comprise any other type of entertainment machine. For example the machine may be any one or more of the following types of machine: a pinball machine, or the like.

Preferably, the entertainment machine may comprise a playing piece dispensing means for dispensing playing pieces onto the surface. Such an arrangement conveniently allows playing pieces to be placed onto the surface.

The playing piece dispensing means may be arranged to dispense playing pieces onto the playing field in response to a player inserting a predetermined amount of credit into the machine. The credit can be purchased by any means common in the art such as coins, tokens, credit cards, etc.

Conveniently the machine comprises a transfer means to transfer playing pieces which have passed over the at least one edge of the surface to the playing piece dispensing means. The transfer means may be an escalator such as a coin escalator.

The machine may further comprise a playing piece counter arranged to count playing pieces passing over the edge of the surface.

Preferably, the surface, playing piece dispensing means, playing piece counter and transfer means constitute a closed loop for re-circulating playing pieces internally within the entertainment machine. Therefore, the playing pieces are not paid directly to a player and if the machine is tilted or shaken prizes are not dispensed.

In one embodiment the appearance controlling means may comprise one or more transmitters, which are preferably arranged to transmit a radio signal.

Further, the appearance controlling means may comprise one or more receivers arranged to receive signals generated by playing pieces within the machine.

In alternative embodiments the appearance controlling means may comprise one or more electromagnetic radiation sources arranged to

transmit electromagnetic radiation such that it is incident on one or more playing pieces within the machine.

The, or each, electromagnetic radiation source may be a source of visible light. Each light source may be arranged to transmit light of substantially a single colour, or may be of a plurality of substantially single colours. In some embodiments, if a plurality of light sources is provided they may be arranged to transmit light of a variety of substantially single colours.

In an additional, or alternative, embodiment, the electromagnetic radiation source may be a source of UV light, or anther type of electromagnetic radiation.

In further embodiments, the appearance controlling means may comprise one or more heating devices arranged to emit heat such that it changes the temperature of one or more playing pieces within the machine.

The playing field of the machine may have a plurality of regions defined thereon, each arranged to alter the visual appearance of playing pieces capable of having their appearance changed passing thereover in a manner distinct to that region. Such an arrangement provides the possibility of providing different regions, which alter the appearance of playing pieces passing thereover in different ways, which may be utilised in any game provided by the machine.

Alternatively, the visual appearance of the playing pieces may be altered in an area of the machine other than on the playing field.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a combination of an entertainment machine and one or more playing pieces, including at least one variable appearance playing piece, wherein machine

is provided with an appearance controlling means arranged to cause the at least one variable appearance playing piece to alter its visual appearance.

This alteration will preferably be visible from all viewing angles, or the most likely viewing angles.

One or more of the playing pieces may be arranged to emit and/or transmit and/or reflect electromagnetic radiation, which is preferably light. Such an arrangement may be visually striking, especially in low light ambient light environments, which is typical of the environments in which an entertainment machine may be placed.

The colour of one or more of the variable appearance playing pieces may be arranged to change. Such an arrangement is advantageous because it is readily discernible by a player.

Alternatively, or additionally, one or more of the variable appearance playing pieces may be arranged to flash. The rate of the flashing may be controllable.

Alternatively, or additionally, one or more of the variable appearance playing pieces may be arranged to change shape.

Generally, the machine will include a plurality of playing pieces. Only a portion of these playing pieces may be variable appearance playing pieces. An advantage of such an arrangement is that the game provided by the machine can attach different importance to the pieces that can have their appearance changed compared to those which cannot. A further advantage may be to use the state of their variable appearance as a visual indicator of their playing pieces'value, which may change.

The entertainment machine may contain variable appearance playing pieces relative to non variable appearance playing pieces in roughly a ratio of 1: 10 (ten times as many non variable playing pieces as variable playing pieces). In other embodiments the playing pieces may be maintained in roughly any of the following ratios: 1: 5,1 : 7,1 : 12,1 : 15, 1: 20,1 : 25,1 : 50, or any ratio in between these.

It will be appreciated that in entertainment machines, such as pushers, in which a number of playing pieces are used, that the playing pieces may stack on top of one another. Therefore, playing pieces, which are of nonvariable appearance may be made transparent, and/or translucent to allow the varying display of variable display playing pieces to be seen through a stack of playing pieces.

The, or each, variable appearance playing piece may contain electronics arranged to alter the visual appearance of the playing piece. In the preferred embodiment the electronics comprises a Radio Frequency identity (RFID) tag. In such an embodiment the appearance controlling means may comprise radio frequency circuitry capable of communicating with the electronics within the playing piece. However, it will be appreciated that it would be possible to power the electronics by other means, such as batteries, solar cells, etc.

The variable appearance playing piece may include an LED preferably controlled by the electronics. Such an arrangement is capable of changing the visual appearance of the LED by controlling whether or not the LED emits light. Each playing piece may include a plurality of LED's, and each LED within a playing piece may be arranged to be illuminated in a different manner to other LED's within the playing piece.

Other light emitting sources such as lamps, etc. may also be provided within the playing piece.

Alternatively, or additionally, the variable playing piece may include any one or more of the following: a seven segment display, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) or any other electronically controlled display means, preferably controlled by the electronics.

Conveniently the variable appearance playing piece may be individually addressable by the appearance controlling means. Such an arrangement is advantageous because it allows variable appearance playing pieces to be controlled independently of each other.

The electronics within the variable appearance playing piece may be capable of transmitting a signal receivable by the appearance controlling means.

The appearance controlling means may comprise a plurality of receivers capable of receiving signals transmitted by the or each variable appearance playing piece. Providing a plurality of receivers is advantageous for at least two reasons: firstly, it may be used to increase the area that can receive a signal from a single variable appearance playing piece; and secondly it may allow positional information to determined for a variable appearance playing piece emitting a signal.

In some embodiments the appearance controlling means may be arranged to track the position of one or more of the variable appearance playing pieces. Such an arrangement is convenient because it allows the game provided by the machine to be effected by the position of the or each variable appearance playing piece which is having its appearance tracked.

Alternatively, or additionally, the or each, variable appearance playing piece may comprise a transparent, and/or reflective, and/or translucent region. Indeed, the variable appearance playing piece may be substantially completely made from a transparent, and/or reflective and/or translucent material.

The appearance controlling means may comprise a light emitter. The machine may be arranged to allow the variable appearance playing pieces to pass adjacent to the controlling means such that the light emitted by the emitter passes through, or is reflected by, the variable appearance playing piece.

A plurality of light emitters may be provided of different colours, such that as variable appearance playing pieces pass adjacent different emitters the light passing through, or reflected by, the or each playing piece changes colour. Such an arrangement provides playing pieces that are different colours in different parts of the machine.

In a further embodiment the variable appearance playing pieces may comprise a portion arranged to emit light, or fluoresce when exposed to a source of electromagnetic radiation. In particular the electromagnetic radiation may be UV light.

In a further embodiment, the variable appearance playing piece may comprise a heat sensitive portion or coating, which changes colour, shape or otherwise alters in appearance in response to the temperature of its environment. The appearance controlling means may be a heating device. The machine may be arranged to allow the variable appearance playing pieces to pass adjacent to the appearance controlling means such that the heat emitted by the heating device causes the variable appearance playing piece to vary in appearance.

In an additional embodiment, the variable appearance playing piece may consist of a material which will, when subjected to predetermined conditions, change its appearance and maintain that appearance permanently, or until subjected to other predetermined conditions, or may gradually revert to its original state.

The appearance controlling means may provide these predetermined conditions. The machine may be arranged to allow the variable appearance playing piece to pass through, or collect in, a region in which the predetermined conditions are created.

In some embodiments the machine may be arranged to provide a game having an outcome dependent upon the position of the, or each, variable appearance playing piece within the machine. For example variable appearance playing pieces may score more highly in some regions of the game when compared to others. The different scoring regions may be denoted by any one or more of the following: a different colour emitted and/or transmitted by the playing piece; flashing; rate of flashing; pattern of flashing, or any other visibly discernible means.

The machine may comprise a pusher type machine arranged to contain a plurality of playing pieces provided on a surface, or playing field, arranged such that playing pieces are periodically caused to fall from the playing field.

The playing piece dispensing means may be arranged to dispense playing pieces onto the surface in response to a player inserting a predetermined amount of credit into the machine. The credit can be purchased by any means common in the art such as coins, tokens, credit cards, etc.

Conveniently the machine comprises a transfer means to transfer playing pieces which have passed over the at least one edge of the surface to the playing piece dispensing means. The transfer means may be an escalator, such as a coin escalator.

A playing piece detection means may be arranged to detect playing pieces passing over a win edge region of the surface. The win edge region preferably comprises a front edge region. It is traditional in coin pushers for coins falling over the front edge region of the surface to result in a win, and therefore such an arrangement is advantageous because it will be familiar to players of such machines. (The playing piece detection means may or may not be the same as the playing piece counter).

The machine may also be arranged to allow playing pieces to fall over losing edge regions of the surface, in which no prize is given for playing pieces falling thereover. The losing region preferably comprises edge regions of the surface. Again, it is traditional in coin pushers for coins

falling over edge regions to be lost from the game in progress, and such a machine will therefore be advantageous because it will be familiar to players of such machines.

Generally, the playing pieces will be roughly disc shaped, but may be spherical, or any other shape or of variable shape and the playing piece detection means may be arranged to monitor any one or more of the following dimensions: diameter, depth, shape, presence of milling, presence of a groove.

The machine may be arranged to allow a plurality of players to play the machine at any one time (a multi-player game). However, in an alternative embodiment a single player machine may be provided.

In alternative embodiments the machine may be any other form of entertainment machine. The machine may be a machine such as a pinball machine or the like.

According to a third aspect of the machine there is provided a variable display playing piece that is capable of having its visual appearance altered for use in an entertainment machine.

Most preferably, the alteration shall be visible from all viewing angles, or preferably from all likely viewing angles.

In the preferred embodiment the playing piece includes a Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID).

The visual display playing piece may include an LED and a power source.

The power source may be electromagnetic induction or may be another means such as a battery, a solar cell, or other similar means.

The machine may be arranged to charge the, or each, visual display playing piece in a charging region of the machine, different to a region of the machine in which the playing piece can be viewed by a user. The machine may utilise HDX technology provided by Texas Instruments.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of increasing the player appeal of an entertainment machine comprising causing at least one variable appearance playing piece provided within the machine to change its visual appearance.

Such a method may increase the player appeal of a game provided by the machine, allowing game features to be introduced based upon the appearance of the at least one playing piece.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a playing piece for use in an entertainment machine that is capable of producing a sound.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following drawings: Figure 1 shows an entertainment machine according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows a playing field and pusher of the machine according to the embodiment of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a surface divided into regions controlled by transmitters beneath the surface according to a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4 shows a playing piece containing electronics according to the second embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 shows a coil in a transmitter and the playing piece of Figure 4 adjacent the transmitter; Figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the machine to that shown in Figure 3; and Figures 7 and 8 shows a further embodiment of a playing piece for use in the entertainment machine of Figure 1.

The machine of Figure 1 is of the type known as a coin pusher and is housed in a cabinet 1. A playing field 2 is provided by a generally flat horizontal upper surface on which a plurality of playing pieces (not shown) are distributed. A playing piece pusher 4, in the form of a stage or box, is provided which moves backwards and forwards across at least a part of the playing field. At a front edge 6 of the playing field 2 there are provided three"win"chutes 8, 10a, lOb, and at each of the side edges 12 of the playing field 2 there is provided a"lose"chute 14a, 14b. The win 8, 10a, 10b and lose 14a, 14b chutes are each arranged to catch playing pieces falling over an edge. Side walls 15 are provided at edge regions of the playing surface to contain the playing pieces where there is no chute to collect them.

A directional playing piece dispenser 16 is provided above the playing field 2 and an outlet thereof is arranged to oscillate over an arc of roughly 900, such that when playing pieces are released therefrom they fall from a random point towards the playing field 2. A player presses a playing piece release button 18 to release a playing piece from the

dispenser, which falls into a substantially vertical transparent region 20, comprising, in this embodiment, two parallel sheets of material spaced such that there is a gap between them just larger than a playing piece's thickness. At its lower end, the transparent region 20 is open to allow playing pieces to fall onto playing field 2.

The win 8, 10a, lOb and lose 14a, 14b chutes are connected to hoppers 22, such that playing pieces falling from the playing field pass through the chutes and into the relevant hopper. Each of the hoppers connected to a chutes 8,, lOa lOb, 14a, 14b include a counting means and/or a detecting means for counting and/or detecting playing pieces entering into the hopper. The hoppers are connected to a transfer means, in this case, an escalator unit 24, which raises the playing pieces to a storage container 26 connected to the playing piece dispenser 16.

A coin slot 28 for receiving coins is connected to a coin validator 30. A coin store 32 is also connected to the coin validator 30 so as to allow coins to pass from the coin slot 28 through the coin validator 30 and into the store 32.

The validator 30 determines the value of the coins entered into the coin slot 28 and converts this value into a number of credits which are displayed in a display window 34. When the playing piece release button 18 is pressed, the number of credits displayed in the display window 34 is decremented by a predetermined amount.

A"win"button 35 is provided to allow a player to collect his/her winnings.

Figure 4 shows a disc like variable appearance playing piece 40 containing a receiving coil 42, a light emitting diode (LED) 44 and

additional electronics (not shown) to control the function of the LED. An LED 44 is associated with both sides of the playing piece so that the

output of at least one of the LED's is visible no matter which way up the playing piece is lying.

The receiving coil 42 and the additional electronics can be combined to provide a decoder that can receive instructions to a specific playing piece, or group of playing pieces. Providing the ability to issue instructions to a specific playing piece allows that playing piece to be controlled in a different manner to others. The machine also contains a plurality of playing pieces that have roughly the same physical dimensions and appearance as the variable appearance playing pieces 40, but which do not contain the LED.

An appearance controlling means can be provided using known Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) technology (shown schematically in Figure 5 for one of the transmitters 38) in which a current in a coil 46 produces a local magnetic field, providing a power signal, to which a playing piece 40 placed above the transmitter can take power therefrom (the magnetic field inducing a current in an inductor within the playing piece). Suitable RFID transponders for use in the playing pieces can be obtained from companies such as Destron-Fearing, Temic, Texas Instruments, etc.

To use the additional electronics a high frequency signal is modulated onto the power signal produced by the coil 46. This high frequency signal is filtered from the power signal by the electronics within the playing piece 40 and can be decoded to control the LED 44 as desired. The frequency of the high frequency signal may itself provide the instructions; i. e. a signal received at a predetermined first frequency may indicate a first action should be performed, and a signal received at a

second predetermined frequency may indicate that a second action should be performed. In a second embodiment the high frequency signal may include instructions and allow individual playing pieces to be specifically addressed, and provided with individual instructions.

In one embodiment, which can be seen in Figure 3, the playing field 2 is divided into a high value region 52, and two low value regions 50,54. The high value region 52 is associated with a high value transmitter 38 transmitting a power signal modulated at a first frequency, and the two low value regions 50,54 are associated with low value transmitters transmitting a power signal modulated at a second frequency. The transmitters are constructed so that the signals transmitted therefrom provide regions above them have of the desired shape.

When a variable appearance playing piece 40 receives the signal from the high value transmitter 38 it flashes, whereas when a playing piece 40 receives a signal transmitted from a low value transmitter 36a, 36b it continuously lights. Therefore, it is the frequency of the modulated signal that is used to contain the instructions for any playing piece 40 receiving that signal. The different lighting of the playing pieces provides a difference of appearance that indicates to a player that the respective playing pieces will have different values when they fall from the playing field 2.

It will be seen from the shape of the regions in Figure 3 that playing pieces progressing generally towards"lose"chutes 14a, 14b are not lit as there is no transmitter directly beneath the playing field 2 in those areas, and therefore, the machine is arranged such playing pieces in these regions do not receive a power, nor signal modulated onto the power signal.

Another embodiment relying on addressing individual playing pieces is described in relation to Figure 6. Parts are the same as those described elsewhere are referred to with the same reference numerals. Underneath the playing field 2 there is provided a single transmitter 60 capable of transmitting a power signal to power any variable appearance playing pieces 40 present on the playing field 2. Control circuitry 80 is provided and controls the signal being transmitted by the transmitter 60. Further, nine separate receivers 62,64, 66,68, 70,72, 74,76, 78, provided underneath the playing field 2.

Each receiver 62-78 is connected to the control circuitry 80, and passes signals that have been received thereto, together with a measure of the strength of each signal.

In use, each variable appearance playing piece 40 has an individual, unique, address. The control circuitry 80 can modulate the power signal transmitted by the transmitter 60 to be specific to a predetermined one of the individual variable appearance playing pieces 40. That is, the signal is modulated according to a predetermined protocol, such that the signal contains a unique address, followed by a command. Further, as is known in the field of RF identity tags, each variable appearance playing piece can transmit its own signal, which can be received by any one of the receivers 62-78. (The energy obtained from the transmitted power signal is used by the electronics within the playing piece to drive the coil 42 to transmit a signal. The signal transmitted by a playing piece 40 contains the unique address of the playing piece, so that control electronics can determine from which playing piece 40 the signal has been received from.) Because there are a plurality of receivers signals transmitted from a variable appearance playing piece 40 will be received by more than one

receiver 62-78. The control circuitry 80 determines from the identity imposed on the received signal together from the signal strength of each received signal the identity and location of the variable appearance playing piece 44 that transmitted the signal. Therefore, as that variable appearance playing piece 44 moves across the playing field 2 its location can be tracked.

The high value region 52 and the two low value regions 50,54 of the bed that were described in relation to Figure 3 are shown in Figure 6. In the embodiment of Figure 6 as a variable appearance playing piece 40 moves into a region instructions are issued to that particular playing piece by the control circuitry 80 to cause it flash, or illuminate appropriately. For example as a variable appearance playing piece 40 moves into a low value region 50, or 54 then it is caused to continuously light, whereas if a variable appearance playing piece 40 moves into the region 52 it is caused to flash.

It will be appreciated that because the location of each variable appearance playing piece 40 on the playing field 2 is known there is no need to have a plurality of win chutes as was necessary in the embodiment of Figure 3. A single win chute 82 is provided, and the control circuitry determines whether the variable appearance playing piece 40 fell from the playing field 2 from the high 52 or either of the low value 50,54 regions according to its known position.

In use, a player places a coin into coin slot 28, which is validated and sorted for pay out by coin validator 30. The player is provided with a credit displayed in display window 34. If the credit level is above a predetermined amount, an extra playing piece is released from the playing piece dispenser 16 when playing piece release button 18 is pressed. The

playing piece passes through transparent region 20 and drops onto playing field 2.

This additional playing piece is introduced in the hope that it will cause a playing piece near front edge 6 to fall into a"win"chute through the motion of the pusher 4 pushing the extra playing piece into those already on the playing field 2. Playing pieces progress generally towards the front edge 6, but may also progress towards side edges 12 and fall into "lose"chutes 14a, 14b.

In embodiments where the playing field 2 is divided into regions the front edge 6 is divided into score regions such that playing pieces which fall into"win"chute 8 score more credits than those that fall into"win" chutes lOa, lOb. To heighten the player's anticipation of a scoring event, playing pieces are visibly distinctive in a first manner, e. g. flash if it seems more likely from their position on playing field 2 that they will fall into"win"chute 8 and visibly distinctive in a second manner, e. g. continuous illumination, if it seems more likely that they will fall into "win"chutes lOa, lOb.

Any playing piece which falls into a"win"chute is counted and converted into credits at a predetermined conversion rate. The conversion rate is higher for playing pieces which have fallen into"win" chute 8 than for playing pieces which have fallen into"win"chutes lOa or lOb. The credit level displayed in display window 34 is increased by a corresponding amount.

Playing pieces which fall into any chute are, after counting, transferred to escalator unit 24 and into the storage container 26, ready for recirculation.

The game ends either when the player has insufficient credits to exchange for a playing piece or the player chooses to cash out by pressing button 35 and collecting the coins dispensed from the store 32.

The RFID technology discussed above provides the possibility of instructing an individual playing piece or group of playing pieces to behave in a particular way. The decoder can either respond differently to different signal frequencies or can respond only when that playing piece is specifically addressed. From time to time, all or a portion of the playing pieces on the playing field could be caused to flash, if they are variable appearance playing pieces, or change their appearance in another way.

In a further example, a playing piece may be visibly identifiable from the time it falls onto the playing field 2 and may maintain that identity whilst it traverses the field until if falls from an edge of the playing field 2, rather than having its visual appearance change as it moves through different regions of the playing field 2, or temporal periods.

In alternative embodiments, which may utilise RFID technology, the LED may be replaced by a seven-segment display, an LCD, or some other electronically controllable display means. An example of such a playing piece is shown in Figure 8 wherein a variable appearance playing piece 800 has two seven segment displays 802 at a central region thereof.

In alternative embodiments, which do not necessarily rely on RFID technology, the playing pieces on the playing field may be made to have a different visual appearance from one another. For example, the playing field 2 is wholly or partially translucent, and is lit from beneath by different coloured lights. Translucent or partially translucent playing pieces, as shown in Figure 7, are used, and thus the light visible through

the playing piece or portion of playing piece depends on their position on the playing surface. The playing piece 700 has a transparent, or translucent window 702 at a central region thereof.

Different regions of the playing field may be illuminated with different coloured lights. Further, only some of the playing pieces may allow light to pass therethrough, or may contain different coloured filters so that different playing pieces appear a different colour within the same region.

In some embodiments there may be translucent playing pieces, which contain a red light filter, so that, when lit with white light it appears red.

Other playing pieces may contain blue light filters and so appear blue.

In some embodiments the variable appearance playing pieces comprise reflective portions and the playing field is lit from above by light sources emitting visible light. Other non variable appearance playing pieces which do not contain reflective portions are also provided. Therefore, the appearance of the variable appearance playing pieces may be controlled by the controlling the light sources, which provide an appearance controlling means.

The playing field need not be divided in any way and the whole surface may be associated with a single transmitter or light source.

Other embodiments may use electromagnetic radiation other than visible light, and ultra-violet (UV) light may be particularly suitable. Where the light source is a UV light source, a further type of playing piece that responds to UV light, such as by glowing, is included in the machine.

Playing pieces that respond to other types of electromagnetic radiation, such as by fluorescing, may be used together with that type of radiation a seven-segment display, an LCD screen, or some other means.

Further embodiments may use thermal radiation from a heating device, and a further type of playing piece, which changes its appearance, such as colour or shape, in response to the temperature of the surroundings.

In yet further embodiments playing pieces having the electronics discussed in relation to Figure 4 may be used and RFID controlled playing pieces could maintain a single display for the duration of their time on the playing surface e. g. continuously flash at a predetermined rate.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An entertainment machine arranged to provide a game involving one or more playing pieces wherein the machine is provided with an appearance controlling means arranged to control the appearance of at least one variable appearance playing piece within the machine.
2. The entertainment machine according to claim 1 in which the appearance controlling means comprises one or more transmitters of radio signals.
3. The entertainment machine according to claim 1 in which the appearance controlling means comprises one or more sources of visible light.
4. The entertainment machine according to claim 1 in which the appearance controlling means comprises UV light.
5. The entertainment machine according to claim 1 in which the appearance controlling means comprises one or more heat sources.
6. The entertainment machine according to any of the preceding claims which comprises a playing field arranged to support one or more playing pieces and further comprising one or more regions, each region being arranged to alter the visual appearance of a playing pieces passing thereover in a manner distinct to that region.
7. The entertainment machine according to any of the preceding claims in which the appearance controlling means comprises one or more receivers arranged to receive signals generated by playing pieces within the machine.

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8. The entertainment machine according to any of the preceding claims which comprises a pusher type machine arranged to contain a plurality of playing pieces provided on a surface arranged such that playing pieces can periodically fall from the surface.
9. The entertainment machine according to claim 8 which comprises a playing piece dispensing means arranged to dispense playing pieces onto the surface.
10. The entertainment machine according to claim 9 in which the playing piece dispensing means is arranged to dispense playing pieces onto the surface in response to a player inserting a predetermined amount of credit into the machine.
11. The entertainment machine according to claim 10 which comprises a transfer means arranged to transfer playing pieces which have fallen from the surface to the playing piece dispensing means.
12. The entertainment machine of claim 11 in which the transfer means is a coin escalator.
13. The entertainment machine according to any one of claims 8 to 12 which further comprises a playing piece counter arranged to count playing pieces that have fallen from the surface.
14. The entertainment machine according to any one of claims 8 to 13 which comprises a closed loop for the recirculation of playing pieces therein, said closed loop comprising one or more of the following: the surface; the playing piece dispensing means; the playing piece counter; the transfer means.

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15. A combination of an entertainment machine and one or more playing pieces, including at least one variable appearance playing piece, wherein the machine is provided with an appearance controlling means arranged to cause the at least one variable appearance playing piece to alter its visual appearance.
16. The combination of the machine and playing pieces according to claim 15 in which one or more of the variable appearance playing pieces are arranged to emit and/or transmit and/or reflect electromagnetic radiation.
17. The combination of the machine and playing pieces according to claim 15 or claim 16 in which one or more of the variable appearance playing pieces are arranged to change colour.
18. The combination of the machine and playing pieces according to any of claims 15 to 17 in which one or more of the variable appearance playing pieces are arranged to flash.
19. The combination of the machine and playing pieces according to any of claims 15 to 18 in which one or more of the variable appearance playing pieces are arranged to change shape.
20. The combination of the machine and playing pieces according to any of claims 15 to 19 in which, in use of the machine, the state of a piece's visual appearance is used to indicate the playing piece's value.
21. The combination of the machine and playing pieces according to any of claims 15 to 20 in which the, or each, variable appearance playing

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pieces contains electronics arranged to alter the visual appearance of the variable appearance playing piece.
22. The combination of the machine and playing pieces according to claim 21 in which the electronics comprise a Radio Frequency Identity Device (RFID) tag.
23. The combination of the machine and playing pieces according to claim 21 or claim 22 in which the, or each, variable appearance playing piece includes an LED controlled by the electronics.
24. The combination of the machine and playing pieces according to any of claims 21 to 23 in which the, or each, variable appearance playing piece includes an electronically controlled display means controlled by the electronics.
25. The combination of the machine and playing pieces according to any of claims 21 to 24 in which the, or each, variable appearance playing piece is individually addressable by the appearance controlling means.
26. The combination of the machine and playing pieces according to any of claims 21 to 25 in which the variable appearance playing pieces is capable of transmitting a signal receivable by the appearance controlling means.
27. The combination of the machine and playing pieces, according to any of claims 15 to 26 in which the appearance controlling means comprises one or more receivers capable of receiving signals transmitted by the or each variable appearance playing piece.

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28. The combination of the machine and playing pieces according to claim 27 in which the appearance controlling means is arranged to track the position of one or more of the variable appearance playing pieces.
29. The combination of the machine and playing pieces according to any of claims 15 to 28 in which the, or each, variable appearance playing pieces comprise a transparent and/or reflective and/or translucent region.
30. The combination of the machine and playing pieces according to claim 29 in which the appearance controlling means comprises a light emitter and is arranged such that variable appearance playing pieces pass adjacent the appearance controlling means such that light emitted by the emitter passes through, or is reflected by, the variable appearance playing piece.
31. The combination of the machine and playing pieces according to any of claims 15 to 30 in which the, or each, variable appearance playing pieces comprise a portion arranged to emit light, or fluoresce, when exposed to a suitable source of electromagnetic radiation.
32. The combination of the machine and playing pieces according to any of claims 15 to 31 in which the appearance controlling means comprises a source of suitable electromagnetic radiation, and the machine is arranged to allow the variable appearance playing pieces to pass adjacent to the appearance controlling means such that the radiation emitted by the source of radiation is incident on the variable appearance playing pieces and causes them to flouresce.
33. The combination of the machine and playing pieces according to any of claims 15 to 32 in which the, or each, variable appearance playing piece comprise a heat sensitive portion or coating which changes colour,

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shape, or otherwise alters its appearance in response to the temperature of its environment.
34. The combination of the machine and playing pieces according to claim 33 in which the appearance controlling means comprises a heating means, and the machine is arranged to allow the variable appearance playing pieces to pass adjacent to the appearance controlling means such that the heating means causes the variable appearance playing pieces to vary in appearance.
35. The combination of the machine and playing pieces according to any of claims 15 to 34 in which the, or each, variable appearance playing piece comprises a material which when subjected to predetermined conditioning change its appearance and maintains that appearance permanently or until subjected to other predetermined conditions or gradually reverts to its original state.
36. The combination of the machine and playing pieces according to claim 35 in which the appearance controlling means is arranged to provide predetermined conditions to cause the playing piece to change appearance.
37. The combination of the machine and playing pieces according to any of claims 15 to 36 in which the machine is arranged to provide a game having an outcome dependent upon the position of the, or each, variable appearance playing piece.
38. The combination of the machine and playing pieces according to any of claims 15 to 37 in which the machine is a pusher type machine arranged to contain a plurality of playing pieces provided on a surface

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arranged such that playing pieces are arranged such that they can be periodically caused to fall from the surface.
39. The combination of the machine and playing pieces according to any of claims 15 to 39 which further includes one or more playing pieces of substantially non-variable appearance.
40. A variable display playing piece for use in an entertainment machine that is capable of having its visual appearance altered.
41. The playing piece of claim 40 in which the playing piece includes a Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID).
42. The playing piece of claim 40 or claim 41 which includes a light emitting means and a power source.
43. The playing piece of claim 42 in which the power source is a coil arranged to have power included therein.
44. A method of increasing the player appeal of an entertainment machine comprising causing at least one variable appearance playing piece provided within the machine to change its visual appearance.
45. A playing piece is provided for use in an entertainment machine that is capable of producing sound.
46. An entertainment machine substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying Figures 1 to 8.

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47. A combination of an entertainment machine and one or more playing pieces substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying Figures 1 to 8.
48. A variable display playing piece substantially as described herein and with reference to accompanying Figures 4 and 5.
49. A variable display playing piece substantially as described herein and with reference to accompanying Figures 7 and 8.
50. A method of increasing player appeal of an entertainment machine substantially as described herein and with reference to the accompanying Figures 1 to 8.
51 A machine readable medium containing instructions, which are capable of making an entertainment machine function according to any of claims 1 to 39 when programmed thereinto.
52. A machine readable medium containing instructions which are capable of making an entertainment machine perform the method of claim 44 when programmed thereinto.