Patent Application
20130035155
A preferred embodiment of the present invention relates generally to an amusement device and a method of playing an amusement device, and more particularly, to an amusement device and a method of playing where a player can obtain features for use during play of games using virtual currency associated with a player account.
Amusement devices having electronic games for computers and touchscreen video displays or other types of amusement devices are generally known in the art. Amusement devices, such as game machines, which allow a user to select games from a video display are known in the art, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,856,787 (“Itkis”), U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,717 (“Houriet, Jr., et al.”), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,799 (“Houriet, Jr., et al.”), each of which is incorporated herein by reference and shows a touchscreen display for making a game selection from a menu of games. Such game machines or amusement devices typically operate upon input of currency (i.e., coin, token, paper money, voucher, credit/debit cards or the like) and are installed in locations such as bars, restaurants, airports, shopping malls, video arcades, casinos or the like. The game choices may include card games, sports games, games of skill, games of chance, action games, trivia games, or the like.
Some amusement devices permit the player to purchase upgrades, power-ups, extra lives, weapons features, ability features, enhancements, or other features for games played thereon. These purchases are made with cash, typically deducted from the value input into the machine. For example, a player may purchase a special bowling ball for one dollar ($1), which may be debited from five dollars ($5) the user placed into the machine to play the games. Although amusement devices have in recent years been connected to networks, due to the nature of the coin-op industry, cash cannot travel with a player's account. For example, a player cannot put cash into a first operator's machine and use it to purchase features on a second operator's machine. To do so would rob the second operator of revenue. Similarly, amusement devices typically offer free games or free credits as prizes for completing certain tasks in games played on the amusement device. Such a system penalizes the amusement device operators. For example, if the player earns a free game, the amusement device is occupied for free, and the operator is losing an opportunity to collect revenue from another player, the same player continuing to pay for game play or other players who would otherwise be paying to use the amusement device.
It is therefore desirable to provide a way for players to obtain upgrades or other features on any amusement device in the network, but prevent operators of the amusement devices from losing revenue as part of the transaction. It is further desirable to provide players with rewards that do not prejudice the operator of the amusement device.
Briefly stated, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is directed to an amusement device including a touchscreen display, an input component and a controller, the input component receives value in order to establish a playable credit. The playable credit is used to permit play of an electronic game. The controller is configured to select and play the electronic game, access a first player account having a balance of virtual currency associated therewith, display a first upgrade feature and a second upgrade feature on the touchscreen display, receive a selection of the first upgrade feature from the touchscreen display, and debit the first player account by a first amount of virtual currency in exchange for use of the first upgrade feature during play of the at least one electronic game. The virtual currency is different than the playable credit and is usable with two or more of the plurality of electronic games. The first and second upgrade features provide a first player associated with the first player account with an advantage in the electronic game to collect more virtual currency for the balance of virtual currency associated with the first player account, to gain a higher score in the game being played, to complete an in-game challenge, to lower the difficulty of the game or to make the game more fun for the player.
Another preferred embodiment is directed to a method of playing an amusement device, wherein the amusement device includes a touchscreen display, an input component, a memory and a controller. The memory stores a plurality of electronic games. The method includes receiving, by the input component, value and establishing, by the controller, a playable credit based on the value. The method also includes selecting and playing, by the touchscreen display, an electronic game, accessing a first player account, by the memory, having a balance of virtual currency associated therewith, and debiting, at the memory, the first player account by a first amount of virtual currency in exchange for use by a first player associated with the first player account of a first upgrade feature during play of the at least one electronic game. The virtual currency is different than the playable credit and is usable with two or more of the plurality of electronic games. The playable credit is used to permit play of at least one of the plurality of electronic games. The first upgrade feature provides the first player with an advantage in the electronic game to collect more virtual currency for the balance of virtual currency associated with the first player account, to gain a higher score in the game being played, to complete an in-game challenge, to lower the difficulty of the game or to make the game more fun for the player.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustration, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:
Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “right”, “left”, “lower”, and “upper” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the apparatus and designated parts thereof. The terminology includes the above-listed words, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import. Additionally, the words “a” and “an”, as used in the claims and in the corresponding portions of the specification, mean “at least one.” Further, the terms “coin” or “currency” should not be construed as limiting and can be used herein to mean all forms of coin and paper currency from any country as well as proprietary tokens, game cards, credit cards, debit cards, chits, or other representative forms of credit and/or payment.
Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like reference numerals indicate like elements throughout, there is shown in
The amusement device 10A of the first preferred embodiment also includes at least one input component 14A that receives value in order to establish one or more playable credits or a playable credit. The value received may be at least one of currency, coins, tokens, chits, credits, credit cards/debit cards or the like. A playable credit may be defined by any value used to describe the cost of playing or accessing application programs, such as electronic games, on the amusement device 10A and is used to permit play of the electronic game. The amount of playable credits received as a result of a particular value is preferably determined or established by the controller U1. Although two input components 14A are shown, the amusement device 10A may include any number of input components 14A to give a player an option for payment, for permitting multiple players, or the like. Preferably, the amusement device 10A is made operable upon actuation of the input component 14A, for example, the player may only select and play an electronic game once value is received at the input component 14A and/or one or more playable credits are established by the controller U1 and issued to the player. However, free selections may be offered at the discretion of an operator of the amusement device 10A. The input component 14A may also be comprised of the touchscreen display 12A in the preferred embodiment, by permitting the player or user to input value, credits or access a player account to pay for access to the application programs. The touchscreen display 12A is also preferably utilized to select the game that the user wishes to play from the plurality of electronic games stored in the amusement device 10A.
For convenience, the amusement devices 10A, 10B, 10C of the first, second and third preferred embodiments will be referred to hereinafter simply as “amusement device 10.”
Turning now to the operation of the amusement device 10, the memory U2 stores one or more application programs, such as electronic games, a music or video jukebox program, or the like, and a system control program. However, the one or more application programs may also be stored remotely, such as on a server 50 (
The amusement device 10 includes an operating mode and a setup mode. When the operating mode is selected, a player or user is selectively permitted to access the application programs. When the setup mode is selected, the owner/operator is permitted to make system setup adjustments. To switch from the operating mode to the setup mode, a mode selector pushbutton (hardware not shown) is provided that is typically concealed from the players. The mode selector pushbutton may be implemented as a hidden software feature, but preferably the mode selector pushbutton is a simple pushbutton that is disposed inside a housing of the amusement device 10. In the setup mode, the owner/operator may make adjustments to the game features as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.
In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the controller U1 controls the touchscreen display 12 based upon the system control program retrieved from the memory U2 and based upon inputs of the player or user. The touchscreen display 12 preferably has a “widescreen” aspect ratio, but is not so limited and may have nearly any variety of aspect ratio that may be customized for the type of game played on the amusement device 10 or the particularized tasks typically performed by the amusement device 10. Such ratios may include, for example, 16:9, 16:10, 1.85:1, 2.35:1, or the like. The touchscreen display 12 is also preferably configured to receive a plurality of touch inputs simultaneously, i.e., one or more players may touch the touchscreen display 12 in multiple locations, each of which is simultaneously accepted and acted upon by the amusement device 10, as if the touch inputs were separately received, but is not so limited. The touchscreen display 12 is preferably, therefore, of the projected capacitive type or the like for supporting multi-touch input.
In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the controller U1 controls the touchscreen display 12 based upon the system control program retrieved from the memory U2 and based upon inputs of the player. Alternatively, the touchscreen display 12 may be controlled by a central server 50 and the system control program may be retrieved from the central server 50. The controller U1 is preferably configured to select and play at least one of a plurality of electronic games. The selection is preferably received at the touchscreen display 12 and is input by a first player of a plurality of players.
In addition, the one or more playable credits necessary to permit play are different than and not based on the amusement points. For example, the total number of amusement points are not used to award additional playable credits. However, the amusement device 10 may offer a bonus round or replay to a user for achieving a high score, a predetermined winning percentage in play of a series of head-to-head games or the like. The free bonus round differs from a playable credit in that the user does not have a choice of game or the ability to reclaim value. The bonus round is another chance to play the same game, a similar game or a specific portion of a game without having to input a playable credit. The conditions for awarding a bonus round are preferably set by an operator when the amusement device 10 is in the setup mode.
The player preferably has an established player account with a unique identifier, such as an account name, number, or the like. The player account may store detailed information about the player, the player's history of playing games on one or more amusement devices 10, prize or award history, preferences, stored value for initiating the game, stored score amusement points 102 from previous game play, stored virtual currency associated with the player and the like. Information associated with the player account is preferably stored in the server 50 connected to a network of one or more amusement devices 10, and may be retrieved for use by an amusement device 10 when the player logs in. However, the player account may also be stored in the memory U2 locally on the amusement device 10. Storing the player account on the memory U2 may be beneficial if the amusement device 10 is unable to communicate with the server 50. The player may preferably log into the player account from any amusement device 10 on the network using a predetermined pass code, biometric information, a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) key, card key, or other conventional methods of secure entry. Preferably, the player may also log into the player account from other devices capable of connecting to the network, such as a PC, personal data assistant (PDA), smart phone, or the like for accessing at least some functionality, such as account balance review, reward redemption, player history review, stored value, stored score amusement points 102, add value, virtual currency value review, or the like.
The player account also preferably has a balance of virtual currency associated therewith. The virtual currency is different than the one or more playable credits and is usable with two or more of the electronic games. Referring to
The player is preferably given the option to obtain additional tokens from the screenshot 200 of
The player may exchange virtual currency for special or upgrade features, such as power-ups, upgrades, enhancements, or the like, during games. For example,
Preferably, the upgrade window 302 includes a token indicator 310, which in
Some of the electronic games may limit the number of features a player is allowed to acquire during gameplay. Other games may permit the player to obtain as many upgrade features as desired, with the only limitation being the amount of virtual currency associated with the player account. The upgrade window 302 also preferably provides the player with a button 312 linking to a screen, such as that shown in
In operation, the amusement device 10 runs, via the controller U1 and/or the central server 50, an executable player menu program 72 and a game 74 selected by the player, as shown in
The system may operate as an amusement device network 11 including a plurality of amusement devices 10 connected to the server 50. The plurality of amusement devices 10 preferably include at least a first amusement device 10a and a second amusement device 10b. Each of the amusement devices 10a, 10b in the amusement device network 11 preferably including a touchscreen display 12, an input component 14, a memory U2 and a controller U1. The server 50 stores a plurality of electronic games, including a first electronic game 74a and a second electronic game 74b, and a plurality of player accounts associated with players 60 of the network 11. The server 50 preferably stores more electronic games than the first and second electronic games 74a, 74b. The server 50 preferably transmits a signal to the appropriate amusement device 10a, 10b to display the player menu program 72a, 72b that is associated with the particular game 74, 74a, 74b and/or the player 60 who is logged into the amusement device network 11.
The server 50 preferably receives a signal from the amusement device 10a, 10b related to playable credits when the player inputs value into the input component 14. The playable credit permits the player to play at least one of the electronic games 74a, 74b of the plurality of electronic games. The plurality of electronic games include at least the first and second electronic games 74a, 74b and preferably more electronic games for play by the player 60. The server 50 also preferably receives, from a first player 60, a selection of one of the plurality of games, such as the first electronic game 74a, from the amusement device 10a, preferably from the touchscreen display 12. The server 50 accesses the first player account of the first player 60. The first player account preferably includes a balance of virtual currency that is different than the playable credit and is usable with two or more of the plurality of electronic games 74a, 74b. The player 60 may elect to utilize the virtual currency to utilize a first upgrade feature that is exchanged for a predetermined amount of the player's virtual currency. The first upgrade feature is preferably utilized by the first player during play of the electronic game 74a, 74b that is selected for play. The first upgrade feature provides the first player 60 with an advantage in the selected electronic game 74a, 74b to collect more virtual currency associated with the first player account. Accumulation of additional virtual currency permits the purchase of additional upgrade features and the additional virtual currency is preferably updated to the first player's account during gameplay or at the conclusion of the player's 60 gaming session. Alternatively, the advantage may be utilized to gain a higher score in the game being played, to complete an in-game challenge, to lower the difficulty of the game or to make the game more fun for the player
Referring to
The central server 50 is capable of storing multiple player accounts and virtual currency balances associated with each. It is contemplated that more than one player may log-in to one of a plurality of the amusement devices 10 at one time in order to play games in head-to-head, tournament, cooperative, or other multi-player modes. Accordingly, player account information and respective virtual currency balances for each player with a verified log-in will be sent to the amusement device 10 from the central server 50.
The amusement device 10 may also include other functionality and features such as music jukebox, video jukebox, multimedia player, Internet browsing, broadcast media viewing, time based rental mode, non-prize tournaments, prize-based tournaments, head-to-head competitions, prize-based lotteries, ticket dispensing, prize dispensing, debit/credit card charging, phone card dispensing, e-mail, photography, placing customer orders, communicating with other amusement devices, and the like.
The amusement device 10 may also provide for remote or local access for accounting and/or bookkeeping purposes. The amusement device 10 may include a local connector for uploading to a hand-held or portable computer or removable memory for receiving accounting or other data. The amusement device 10 may include accounting and bookkeeping screens accessible by an operator through set up screens and/or through password protection.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/515.157, filed on Aug. 4, 2011, entitled “Amusement Device Featuring Virtual Currency Support Across Multiple Games,” the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61515157 | Aug 2011 | US |
