GB2381469A

GB2381469A - A coin pushing machine and method of increasing player appeal

Info

Publication number: GB2381469A
Application number: GB0126096A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Wilson
Original assignee: Bell Fruit Games Ltd
Current assignee: Bell Fruit Games Ltd
Priority date: 2001-10-31
Filing date: 2001-10-31
Publication date: 2003-05-07
Anticipated expiration: 2021-10-31
Also published as: GB0126096D0; GB2381469B

Abstract

An entertainment machine of the coin pusher type comprises a playing surface 102 which supports a plurality of playing pieces, a dispenser 106 arranged to dispense playing pieces onto the surface 102 and a controller 314 arranged to cause the dispenser to dispense playing pieces onto the playing surface for predetermined situations and thus increase the perceived player appeal of the machine. The coin pusher may also include a timer 118, playing piece counter (302 figure 3), coin hopper (300 figure 3) and a tilt detection mechanism 116 where the timer can be arranged to tell the controller the elapsed time since the coin pusher was last played or when playing pieces were last dispensed onto the playing surface. The controller being arranged to tell the playing piece dispenser to dispense playing pieces when a predetermined time has elapsed since a player last played the machine and thus load the playing surface with coins to make the coin pusher more appealing. The controller will also tell the dispenser to dispense a predetermined number of playing pieces onto the playing surface if the coin pusher is tilted, knocked, turned on, or when given a predetermined command.

Description

AN ENTERTAINMENT MACHINE This invention relates to an entertainment machine, and a method of improving the player appeal of an entertainment machine. In particular, but not exclusively, the entertainment machine is of the type referred to as a pusher.

Pushers are machines that contain a plurality of playing pieces provided on a roughly horizontal surface, and which are arranged to periodically disturb the playing pieces such that playing pieces periodically fall from the surface. Such playing pieces falling from the surface are paid directly to the player, or cause a prize to be awarded to the player.

It is known that a player can disturb by hitting, tipping, etc. the machine such as to cause playing pieces to fall from the surface and obtain a prize fraudulently. This not only causes that player to gain but can make the machine less appealing for subsequent players; such pusher machines rely on the appeal of having a number of playing pieces which are apparently close to falling from the surface. Therefore, if a player fraudulently causes playing pieces from the surface the player appeal of the machine may be lost.

Previously, machines have been proposed which include a closed loop in which playing pieces are recirculated within the machine, and are never paid to the player. An example of such a machine is shown in GB 2 303 309. Before the advent of machines such as that shown in GB 2 303 309, coins paid in to the machine by the player were directly passed on to the playing surface, and the coins functioned as the playing pieces.

It is an aim of the present invention to overcome, or at least reduce, the problems of the prior art.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an entertainment machine comprising a playing surface arranged to support a plurality of playing pieces, a dispenser arranged to dispense playing pieces on to the surface, and a controller arranged to control the dispenser, the controller being arranged to cause the dispenser to dispense playing pieces onto the playing surface in predetermined situations to increase the perceived player appeal of the machine.

An advantage of such a machine is that it may help to ensure that the playing surface is populated with a sufficient number of playing pieces to help ensure that the machine is enticing to a player.

The machine may further comprise a timer, which is preferably arranged to time the time elapsed since the last time that a player played the machine. Preferably, the timer is arranged to pass the elapsed time to the controller. Such an arrangement can be convenient because it help to allow the controller to determine whether the playing surface is enticing to players. Generally, if people are regularly playing the machine it is likely that they believe they have a good chance of winning and that the playing surface is therefore enticingly loaded. Conversely, if players are not playing the machine for long periods it may be inferred that they believe they have a low chance of winning and that therefore, the playing surface is not enticingly loaded. The time that a player last played the machine may be determined by the detection of a coin paid into the machine, may be by a coin validator.

Alternatively, and perhaps in the preferred embodiment the time that a player last played the machine may determined by arranging the timer to

time from the last time that a playing pieces was released onto the playing surface. Such an arrangement is advantageous, because it may be possible for a player to insert a plurality of credits into the machine, such that a game may last for some time after the last credit/coin was paid to the machine.

The machine may comprise a counter, arranged to count the number of playing pieces falling from the playing surface, and preferably, the counter passes the number of playing pieces falling from the playing surface to the controller.

The counter may comprise a coin hopper. Such hoppers are a well-known means for counting coins in the field of entertainment machines.

Alternatively, or additionally, the counter may comprise any other suitable means for counting playing pieces falling from the playing surface. For example any of the following may be suitable: a light beam and associated detector, a reed switch, etc.

The controller may be arranged to cause the dispenser to dispense a predetermined number of playing pieces onto the surface after a predetermined time has elapsed since the last time a player played the machine. Such an arrangement is advantageous because it may help to ensure that the playing surface becomes more enticing to players.

Alternatively, or additionally, the controller may be arranged to cause the dispenser to dispense playing pieces onto the playing surface, after a predetermined time has elapsed since the last time a player played the machine, until the counter has counted a predetermined number of playing pieces falling from the playing surface. Such an arrangement is also advantageous because it helps to ensure that the playing surface is enticingly loaded to players of the machine. This arrangement may be

preferred over dispensing a predetermined number of playing pieces on to the surface because it may be more likely to produce an enticingly loaded playing surface.

The predetermined elapsed since the last time a player played the machine may be roughly any one of the following times, or roughly any time in between the any one of the following times: Imin, 2min, 3min, 4min, 5min, lOmin, 15min, 20min, 25min, 30min, 35min, 40min, 45min, Ihour, 90min, or any other time.

Preferably, the machine further comprises a tilt detection mechanism arranged to detect whether the machine has been tilted, or knocked and generates a tilt signal upon such detection. Preferably, the tilt signal is passed to the controller. An advantage of such a tilt detection mechanism is that the controller is alerted if a player is attempting to fraudulently obtain a prize from the machine by tipping, or knocking, the machine.

In some embodiments the controller is arranged to cause the dispenser to dispense playing pieces on to the playing surface if it receives a tilt signal. The controller may be arranged to dispense a predetermined number of playing pieces onto the surface on receipt of such a tilt signal.

Alternatively, or additionally, the controller may be arranged to cause the dispenser to dispense playing pieces onto the playing surface, after receipt of a tilt signal, until the counter has counted a predetermined number of playing pieces falling from the playing surface. Such an arrangement is also advantageous because it helps to ensure that the playing surface is enticingly loaded to players of the machine. This arrangement may be preferred over dispensing a predetermined number of playing pieces on to the surface because it is more likely to produce a playing surface which is enticing to players/potential players of the machine.

Additionally, or alternatively, the controller may be arranged to dispense an equal number of playing pieces on to the surface as the counter counted falling from the surface upon receipt of a tilt signal. Such an arrangement is advantageous because it is attempting to put the playing surface into the same state that it was in before playing pieces were fraudulently caused to fall from the playing surface.

In alternative, or additional embodiments, the controller may be arranged to dispense playing pieces on to the playing surface when the machine is turned on. Again, the controller may be arranged to dispense a predetermined number of playing pieces on to the playing surface, or it may be arranged to dispense playing pieces until the counter has counted a predetermined number of playing pieces falling from the playing surface.

In yet a further, alternative, or additional embodiment, the controller may be arranged to cause the dispenser to dispense playing pieces on to the playing surface in order to populate the playing surface with playing pieces. Such an arrangement may prove useful when the playing surface is free, or substantially free, of playing pieces. The controller may be arranged to cause the dispenser to dispense playing pieces in this manner, on a predetermined command, or may be automatically, if it determined that the playing surface has less than a predetermined number of playing pieces thereon. Such a feature may for instance be useful when a machine is installed, and commissioned, on site. The machine is likely to be installed with the surface free, or substantially free, from playing pieces, and such an arrangement may prove useful to populate the playing surface. Such a feature may also be useful for test purposes, perhaps during manufacture of the machine.

The controller may be arranged to cause the dispenser to dispense a predetermined number of playing pieces on to the playing surface, or may be arranged to cause the dispenser to dispense coins until the counter has counted a predetermined number of coins falling from the playing surface.

Preferably, the machine further comprises at least one hopper arranged to catch playing pieces falling from the playing surface. Further, the machine may comprise a transfer means arranged to transport playing pieces from the hopper to the dispenser.

In the preferred embodiment, the machine may comprise a closed loop, which comprises the playing surface, the hopper, the transfer means, and the dispenser. Such an arrangement is convenient because it separates coins paid into the machine by a player from the playing pieces on the playing surface. Of course, the machine may be arranged to use coins as the playing pieces.

The playing surface may comprise at least one winning edge. The machine may be arranged such that playing pieces falling over the winning edge cause a prize to be awarded to the player.

Further, the playing surface may comprise at least one losing edge. The Machine may be arranged such that playing pieces falling over the losing edge do not result in a prize being awarded to the player.

Preferably, either the counter is arranged to count playing pieces falling over the winning and the losing edges, or separate counters are provided to count playing pieces falling over the win and the lose edges. An advantage of counting both the playing pieces falling over the win and

lose edges is that the controller can determine the number of playing pieces that are actually on the playing surface.

In embodiments in which the controller is arranged to cause the dispenser to dispense a predetermined number of playing pieces onto the surface the predetermined number may be roughly any one of the following, or any number in between any of the following: 1, 2,3, 4,5, 10, 15,20, 25, 50, 100, or any other number.

In embodiments in which the controller is arranged to cause the dispenser to dispense playing pieces onto the playing surface until a predetermined number of playing pieces have fallen therefrom, the predetermined number may be roughly any one of the following, or any number in between any of the following: 1,2, 3,4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50, 100, or any other number. In the preferred embodiment, the predetermined number is roughly ten.

Preferably, the machine can be freed for play using any mechanism that allows a player to input credits to the machine. Such mechanisms commonly include coins, credit cards, tokens, or the like.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a machine according to the first aspect of the invention in which there are provided a plurality of playing pieces for use in the machine.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of increasing the player appeal of an entertainment machine comprising causing the machine to dispense playing pieces onto a playing surface thereof in order to increase the player appeal of the arrangement of the playing pieces supported by the playing surface.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a machine readable medium containing instructions to cause an entertainment machine to perform the method of the third aspect of the invention.

The machine readable medium may comprise any one or more of the following: a floppy disk, a CDROM, a DVD ROM/RAM, a magneto optical disk, a transmitted signal (which may be an internet download, or any other transmission between two or more computing devices).

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following drawings :- Figure 1 shows a pusher type entertainment machine; and Figure 2 shows a flow diagram of the functions of the controller within the machine of Figure 1 ; Figure 3 schematically shows the components of the machine of Figure 1.

The machine of Figure 1 is of the type known as a pusher and is housed in a cabinet 100. A playing surface 102 is provided by a generally flat horizontal surface on which a plurality of playing pieces (not shown) are distributed. A pusher 104, in the form of a stage or box is provided, which moves reciprocally over at least a portion of the playing surface 102.

The playing surface 102 comprises a winning edge 99, comprising the front edge thereof. Any playing pieces caused to fall over this winning edge 99 cause a prize to be awarded to a player. The playing surface 102 further comprises two losing edges 97,98. If a playing pieces fall over a

losing edges 97, 98 then a player is not awarded a prize. Side walls 95, 96 limit the length of the losing edges 97,98.

A dispenser, which in this case is a directional playing piece dispenser 106 is provided above the playing surface 102 and is arranged to oscillate over an arc of roughly 90 . When playing pieces are released from the dispenser 106, they fall from a random point towards the playing surface 102. The playing pieces are released into a substantially vertical transparent region 108. The transparent region 108 comprises, in this embodiment, a sheet of transparent material substantially parallel to a back wall 107 of the cabinet spaced such that there is a gap between the sheet of transparent material and back wall 107 just larger than a playing piece's thickness. At its lower end, the transparent region 108 is open to allow playing pieces to fall onto playing surface 102. The playing surface 102, pusher 104, playing piece dispenser 106 and transparent region 108 are enclosed by a transparent screen 109. which has the effect of isolating the playing pieces from the player. Thus, a player can view playing pieces falling from the dispenser 106 onto the playing surface 102, through both the screen 109 and the transparent sheet.

As can be seen from Figure 3 the machine also comprises a win chute 300 arranged such that a playing piece falling from the winning edge 99 of the playing surface 102 fall thereinto. The win chute 300 is connected to a hopper, or playing piece counter 302, which is arranged to count the number of playing pieces passing therethrough. The machine further comprises lose chutes 304,306, which are arranged to catch playing pieces falling over the losing edges 97,98 of the playing surface 102. A further hopper, or playing piece counter 308 is provided to count playing pieces falling into the lose chutes 304,306 from the losing edges 97, 98. Both to the playing piece counters 302,308 empty into a transfer means, which in this case is a coin escalator 310. The

transfer means 310, is arranged to elevate playing pieces to the directional playing piece dispenser 106.

The machine provides a coin slot 110, for providing payment which in this embodiment, is in the form of coins. The coin slot 110 is connected to a coin validator 312 which in turn is connected to a controller 314.

The machine further provides a playing piece release button 112, which, when pressed, allows playing pieces to be released from directional playing piece dispenser 106. The playing piece release button provides an input to the controller 314.

A payout collection box 114, from which a player may collect their winnings, if any, is also provided. A coin store 316 is provided between the coin validator 312 and the payout collection box 114 such that coins paid into the coin slot 110 can later be used to award a prize to a player. The coin store 316 has a release mechanism, which is under the control of the controller 314. The coin slot 110, playing piece release button 112 and payout collection box 114 are situated at a convenient user operable height.

Inside to the cabinet, there is further provided a tilt detection mechanism 116, which is arranged to detect when the machine is tilted.

In this embodiment, the tilt detection mechanism 116 comprises a wire coil 318 forming the first arm of a switch, with a wire pendulum 320 hanging therethrough. Should the coil 318 and the pendulum 320 come into contact then a tilt is detected. In other embodiments, the tilt detection mechanism could comprise mercury tilt switches, or the like.

The controller 314 also comprises timer 118, which is arranged to record the time that has elapsed since the last time that the machine was played.

The last time that the machine was played is taken, in this embodiment, to be the time elapsed since a playing piece was released on to the playing surface 102.. (The timer 118 would of course generally be provided by software running on the controller 314.) In predetermined situations the controller 314 is arranged to cause the dispenser 106 to release playing piece onto the playing surface 102.

In use, a player inserts one or more coins into the coin slot 110 until a desired total payment is made. This will determine the number of playing pieces that can be released from the directional coin dispenser 106 by pressing the playing piece release button 112. Once the player presses the playing piece release button 112 playing piece are released from the directional coin dispenser 106 into the transparent region 118 and onto the playing surface 102 (as long as the player has sufficient credits). The playing piece release button 112 is connected to the controller 314, which has determined how may coins have been inserted into the coin slot 110 through its connection to the coin validator 312. Thus, the controller only causes the dispenser 106 to release playing pieces if the player has sufficient credit.

One or more playing pieces are released onto the playing surface 102 in the hope that the action of the playing piece pusher 104 on that playing pieces, and on the body of playing pieces already dispersed on the playing surface 102, will cause one or more playing pieces to fall from the winning edge 99 of the playing surface 102 into the hopper 300. Playing pieces which fall into the win chute 300 are counted by the counter 302. The number of playing pieces counted by the counter 302 is used to calculate an award, such as a cash equivalent of the playing pieces, which will form a part of a payout to the player. The objective of a player is to

cause more coins to be paid from the payout collection box 114, than they pay into the coin slot 110.

Once the playing pieces have been counted, they will be transferred to the transfer means 310, ready for reuse in the machine, by recirculation to the dispenser 106.

In normal use, the player continues to press the playing piece release button 112 until no more playing pieces will be released from the directional playing piece dispenser 106. The player may then either insert more coins into the coin slot 110, or may collect his winnings, if any, from the payout collection box 114.

It is easy to understand that, given the player's objective of obtaining payouts, he/she will be attracted to a machine which looks like it may make a payout with the addition of relatively few playing pieces to the playing surface 102. There are circumstances through which the playing surface 102 or, more particularly a region near the win edge 99 of the playing surface 102, may be sparsely populated with playing pieces, and as such, the machine is likely to seem un-enticing to players. For example, when the machine has first been loaded with playing pieces, their dispersion on the playing surface 102 may not be particularly enticing. Another alternative situation may result if a player tries to physically tilt the cabinet to displace playing pieces from the playing surface. Although many machines are fitted with tilt detection mechanisms 116. and may withold playing pieces caused to fall in this way, the playing pieces which fall are likely to be those which were in a region of the win edge 99 of the playing surface 102 at the time of the tilting. With these removed, the machine is likely to become unattractive.

If a tilt is detected the controller is arranged to cause the dispenser 106 to dispense playing pieces onto the playing surface 102 until, in this embodiment, ten playing pieces have fallen from the winning edge 99 of the playing surface 102, and are counted by the counter 302. This helps to ensure the playing surface is returned to an enticing state, as it may have been before coins were fraudulently caused to fall from the playing surface.

To safeguard against prolonged periods of unattractiveness, the controller 314 is arranged to release playing pieces onto the playing surface 102, which may be at a steady rate, until a total of, in this example, ten playing pieces fall from the playing surface 102 into the win chute 300, once a predetermined time has elapsed since the machine was played. In this embodiment the predetermined time is thirty minutes.

The controller 314 is connected to the counter 302 and thus can determine how many playing pieces have fallen from the win edge 99 and into the win chute 300.

Further, the controller 314 is arranged to detect when the machine is first powered up. After such power up the controller 314 is arranged to cause the dispenser 106 to release playing pieces onto the playing surface 102 until the counter 302 has counted, in this case ten, playing pieces falling over the win edge 99.

Further, an operator can press a button 322 on the controller to cause the controller to fill the playing surface 106 with playing pieces. Once the button 322 is pressed then the controller 314 causes the dispenser 106 to release playing pieces onto the playing surface 102 until, in this embodiment, ten playing pieces have been counted by the counter 302. Such a loading feature may be particularly useful if there are no playing

pieces on the playing surface 102, but the machine is loaded with playing piece, which are generally held in the transfer means 310.

Figure 2 shows a flow chart showing some of the processes running on the controller 314. If the machine has been tilted 200 and/or the machine has had playing pieces added (I. e the button 322 has been pressed) 206 and/or the machine has just been turned on 202 and/or if no coins have been paid into the coin slot 204 then the controller causes 208 the dispenser 106 to dispense playing pieces on to the playing surface 102.

Once the counter 302 has counted ten playing pieces the controller 312 ceases to cause the dispenser 106 to dispense playing pieces. Playing pieces which fall from the playing surface in this manner will not contribute to a payout, i. e. the awarding of a prize to a player. The loop shown in Figure 2 continuously runs whilst the machine is in operation, and aims to keep a sufficient number of playing pieces on the playing surface 102 to keep the machine enticing to players.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An entertainment machine comprising a playing surface arranged to support a plurality of playing pieces, a dispenser arranged to dispense playing pieces on to the surface, and a controller arranged to control the dispenser, the controller being arranged to cause the dispenser to dispense playing pieces onto the playing surface in predetermined situations to increase the perceived player appeal of the machine.
2. The machine according to Claim 1 which further comprises a timer, arranged to time the time elapsed since the last time that a player played the machine and in which the timer is arranged to pass the elapsed time to the controller.
3. The machine according to Claim 2 in which the controller is arranged to cause the dispenser to dispense playing pieces onto the playing surface after a predetermined time has been timed by the timer.
4. The machine according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 in which the timer is arranged to time from the last time that a playing pieces was released onto the playing surface in order to determine the time that a player last played the machine.
5. The machine according to any of the preceding Claims which further comprises a counter arranged to count the number of playing pieces falling from the playing surface.
6. The machine according to Claim 5 in which the counter is arranged to pass the number of playing pieces falling from the playing surface to the controller.

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7. The machine according to Claim 5 or Claim 6 in which the counter comprises a coin hopper.
8. The machine according to Claim 5 or Claim 6 in which the counter comprises a light beam and associated detector.
9. The machine according to Claim 5 or Claim 6 in which the counter comprises a reed switch.
10. The machine according to any of Claims 5 to 9 in which the controller is arranged to cause the dispenser to dispense playing pieces onto the playing surface after a predetermined time has elapsed since the last time a player played the machine, until the counter has counted a predetermined number of playing pieces falling from the playing surface.
11. The machine according to any of the preceding Claims which further comprises a tilt detection mechanism arranged to detect whether the machine has been tilted, or knocked and generates a tilt signal upon such detection.
12. The machine according to Claim 11 in which the tilt signal is passed to the controller.
13. The machine according to Claim 12 in which the controller is arranged to cause the dispenser to dispense playing pieces on to the playing surface if it receives a tilt signal.
14. The machine according to Claim 12 or 13 in which the controller is arranged to cause the dispenser to dispense a predetermined number playing pieces on to the playing surface if it receives a tilt signal.

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15. The machine according to Claim 12 or 13 as they depend directly or indirectly from Claim 5 in which the controller is arranged to cause the dispenser to dispense playing pieces onto the playing surface, after receipt of a tilt signal, until the counter has counted a predetermined number of playing pieces falling from the playing surface.
16. The machine according to Claim 12 or 13 as they depend directly or indirectly from Claim 5 in which the controller is arranged to dispense an equal number of playing pieces on to the surface as the counter counted falling from the surface upon receipt of a tilt signal.
17. The machine according to any of the preceding Claims in which the controller is arranged to dispense playing pieces on to the playing surface when the machine is turned on.
18. The machine according to Claim 17 in which the controller is arranged to dispense a predetermined number of playing pieces on to the playing surface when the machine is turned on.
19. The machine according to Claim 17 as it depends directly or indirectly from Claim 5 in which the controller is arranged to dispense playing pieces on to the playing surface when the machine is turned on until the counter has counted a predetermined number of playing pieces falling from the playing surface.
20. The machine according to any of the preceding Claims in which the controller is arranged to cause the dispenser to dispense playing pieces on to the playing surface in order to populate the playing surface with playing pieces.

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21. The machine according to Claim 20 in which the controller is arranged to cause the dispenser to dispense playing pieces on a predetermined command.
22. The machine according to Claim 20 in which the controller is arranged to cause the dispenser to dispense playing pieces if it determined that the playing surface has less than a predetermined number of playing pieces thereon.
23. The machine according to any of Claims 20 to 22 in which the controller is arranged to cause the dispenser to dispense a predetermined number of playing pieces on to the playing surface.
24. The machine according to any of Claims 20 to 22 as they depend directly or indirectly from Claim 5 in which the controller is arranged to cause the dispenser to dispense playing pieces until the counter has counted a predetermined number of playing pieces falling from the playing surface.
25. The machine according to any of the preceding Claims which further comprises at least one hopper arranged to catch playing pieces falling from the playing surface
26. The machine according to Claim 25 which further comprises a transfer means arranged to transport playing pieces from the hopper to the dispenser.
27. The machine according to Claim 26 which comprises a closed loop, which comprises the playing surface, the hopper, the transfer means, and the dispenser.

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28. The machine according to any of the preceding Claims in which the playing surface comprises at least one winning edge.
29. The machine according to Claim 28 which is arranged such that playing pieces falling over the winning edge cause a prize to be awarded to the player.
30. The machine according to Claim 28 or Claim 29 in which the playing surface comprises at least one losing edge.
31. The machine according to Claim 30 which is arranged such that playing pieces falling over the losing edge do not result in a prize being awarded to the player.
32. The machine according to Claim 29 or 30 as they depend directly or indirectly from Claim 5 in which the counter is arranged to count playing pieces falling over the winning and the losing edges.
33. The machine according to any of Claims 29 to 31 as they depend directly or indirectly from Claim 5 which comprises an additional counter and in which the separate counters are arranged to count playing pieces falling over the win and the lose edges.
34. The machine according to any of the preceding Claims which is freed for play using any mechanism that allows a player to input credits to the machine.
35. A machine according to any of the preceding Claims in which there are provided a plurality of playing pieces for use in the machine.

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36. A method of increasing player appeal of an entertainment machine comprising causing the machine to dispense playing pieces onto a playing surface thereof in order to increase the player appeal of the arrangement of the playing pieces supported by the playing surface.
37. A machine readable medium containing instructions to cause an entertainment machine to perform the method of Claim 36.
38. The machine substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
39. A method of increasing player appeal of an entertainment machine substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.