RANDOMIZED MARBLE RACING GAME AND REMOTE PLAY OF THE SAME

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally, but not exclusively, to the field of amusement games, including those that may be wagered on and live streamed for remote gameplay.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Casinos and other gaming locations are designed to offer a wide variety of experiences to provide excitement to the many different users who may travel to a casino for entertainment. Card games, dice games, table games, slot games, sports betting games, and many other games that take place on physical media are a staple of casinos. To attract and entertain a wider variety of users, games have been re-created within electronic and virtual environments. For example, users can often play video poker or video blackjack, which are traditionally offered with physical playing cards on a table.

New types of game are constantly being offered for play that may be preferable for some users, including games that do not involve traditional playing cards or dice. For example, amusement games may be offered for play, such as toy horse racing games or virtual fishing games. These electronic alternatives may be offered at physical stations within a casino where one or more players may sit at a station and play a game through a player station.

Traditionally, players must physically go to a casino or a gaming location to participate. However, this may not always be possible, and when players are unable to play at a casino, the casino does not receive the business and the player misses out on the gaming experience. Although online gaming platforms provide one way for players to remotely participate in casino games and other gaming events, the online experience is very different than in-person and live gaming events at an actual location. Many players enjoy playing at a particular casino or gaming location, or a particular machine, and online gaming platforms cannot provide a comparable experience and familiarity. Players at a gaming location may also take breaks from gameplay. Players may stop playing at a physical gaming machine or a live table game in order to eat, grab a drink, rest, or meet up with others. In some cases, the player may still wish to play despite being unable to physically be at the gaming machine.

Additionally, players have many game types, options, and platforms available. Casinos and gaming providers must continuously innovate to attract and retain players, maintain profitability, and improve player experience.

SUMMARY

An embodiment is directed to a system for operation of an amusement game comprising a track to facilitate a plurality of game elements to engage in a race from a start of the track to an end of the track, wherein the plurality of game elements are ranked in a final order of completing the race. One or more randomization elements are configured to randomize an initial order of the plurality of game elements. A server device is configured to accept, from one or more user devices participating in the amusement game, one or more guesses of the final order of the plurality of game elements before establishment of the final order occurs, wherein the server device is further configured to send an indication to each user device of the one or more user devices based on the final order and a guess associated with the user device. A presentation mechanism located at the end of the track is configured to preserve the final order of the plurality of game elements for a period of time after completion of the race. A reset mechanism is configured to transport the plurality of game elements from the presentation mechanism to an area at the start of the track to facilitate engagement of another race.

An embodiment is directed to a plurality of cameras capturing live video images of the game elements as the game elements move within the track and the final order of the plurality of game elements. A server controls processing the captured live video images for transmission to one or more user devices so that the one or more user devices participate in the amusement game by guessing the final order of the plurality of game elements prior to the game finishing.

These and other features will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims. This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a first perspective view of an amusement game, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 1B is a second perspective view of an amusement game, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a close-up view of a finishing area of the amusement game described in FIG. 1A, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a close-up view of a finishing area of the amusement game described in FIG. 1A, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a view of an example gaming area of the amusement game, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a view of an example gaming area of the amusement game, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a view of an example gaming area of the amusement game, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a view of the amusement game in progress, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 8A is a first view of an example amusement game, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 8B is a second view of the example amusement game, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of an example method of operating an amusement game, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a larger track amusement game involving marbles, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an example of a randomizing element of the amusement game of FIG. 10, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an example of an upper portion of a ball elevator of the amusement game of FIG. 10, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an example of a first view of a transition area of the amusement game of FIG. 10, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an example of a portion of a track of the amusement game of FIG. 10, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 15 is an example of a lower portion of the ball elevator of FIG. 12, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an example of track randomizers of the amusement game of FIG. 10, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 17 is an example of a second view of the transition area of the amusement game of FIG. 13, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 18 is an example of a fixed camera position for streaming video of the amusement game of FIG. 10, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart for live remote gaming operations, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 20 is an example of a computing system, in accordance with an embodiment, in which aspects of the methods and systems disclosed herein or portions thereof may be incorporated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure describes particular embodiments and their detailed construction and operation. The embodiments described herein are set forth by way of illustration only and not limitation. Those skilled in the art will recognize, in light of the teachings herein, that there may be a range of equivalents to the exemplary embodiments described herein. Most notably, other embodiments are possible, variations can be made to the embodiments described herein, and there may be equivalents to the components, parts, or steps that make up the described embodiments. For the sake of clarity and conciseness, certain aspects of components or steps of certain embodiments are presented without undue detail where such detail would be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the teachings herein and/or where such detail would obfuscate an understanding of more pertinent aspects of the embodiments.

Disclosed herein are systems and method for presenting an amusement game for users to participate with. For example, the disclosure herein is directed to a racing game, in which a group of gaming elements, such as marbles, are released onto a track and travel down the track to a finish line and collection area. The marbles may travel down from an upper beginning section to a lower ending section by gravity. The marbles may be transported back to the top of the device to be ready to start another game. To comply with requirements of gaming organizations around the world, the marbles must be sufficiently randomized from game to game such that a user interacting with the marble racing game cannot logically deduce a finishing order of the marbles based on any conditions associated with the marbles. The marbles may be randomized to prevent a deterministic outcome of the final order of the marbles upon completion of any particular game. The marbles may be randomized before the game begins, during the game, after the game begins, or before, during and after the game begins. The race may be viewed and played by users that are at the physical location of the marble racing device, the race may be viewed and played by users that are located remotely from the marble racing device, or the race may be viewed and played by both local and remote users.

Cameras may be installed on or around the marble racing device to provide live video images of the marble races. The cameras may provide live images to be displayed on or around the marble racing device, or the cameras may provide the live images to be transmitted to users viewing the race remotely and/or at player stations. The marble racing device may be partially manually operated, fully manually operated, or fully automatically operated. The marble racing device may comprise hardware that supports the marble races. The hardware may comprise elements to facilitate the automatic or manual implementation of the marble racing. The hardware may comprise computer hardware used to implement software for management and transmission of the racing.

The cameras may be controlled by software of a computing system, such as that shown in FIG. 10, associated with the marble racing device. A server device of the computing device may be implemented to manage sending video images and other information about the marble racing games to users located remotely from the marble racing device or to player stations. The games may be livestreamed to the remote users and player stations. The server may implement a host system to electronically manage the device and/or the livestreaming of the games to audiences.

FIG. 1A shows an example marble racing device 100. The device may comprise a track 104 that the marbles traverse during each game. The device may be best suited for a group of ten marbles. However, any number of marbles greater than one may be used. For example, the game may race four marbles, five marbles, six marbles, seven marbles, eight marbles, nine marbles, 15 marbles, 20 marbles, or the like. Users may be able to select individual marbles that the users believe will finish a game before each of the other marbles. Users may be able to guess marbles that will finish with the top three marbles. Users may be able to guess a particular order of multiple marbles of the group of marbles. To provide for a fair system for the users to guess particular orderings of marbles finishing the race, the marbles may be initially released from a start area into a randomizer 102 to sufficiently randomize the marbles during each race. The randomizer 102 may comprise a series of obstacles, such as bumps, ramps, pegs, corridors, bumpers, or the like to re-order the marbles racing down the track 104. The randomizer 102 may introduce sufficient chaos to the marble ordering to prevent a deterministic outcome of the order of the marbles in any particular game.

The marbles may exit the randomizer 102 onto a first ramp 104a of the track 104, and the marbles may traverse the track 104 through curve 104b, to curve 104c, and finally around a curve and into straightaway 104d. Alternatively, randomizers similar to that of randomizer 102 may be introduced along the track 104 at different points to further randomize the game or to randomize the game in place of or in addition to randomizing the game at the start and the finish. The length of the racing portion of the track may be wide enough to accommodate several marbles abreast to allow for marbles to change order throughout the race. The end of the track may be narrowed to a finish line 106 that is only wide enough for the marbles to enter single-file. The finish line 106 may extend into a presentation area 108 that is also substantially one marble-width. Thus, as the marbles in a particular race finish one after the other, the marbles will stack up along the presentation area 108 in a single-file line and in an order indicative of a final order of the marbles. Due to the relatively constant width of the finish line 106 and the presentation area 108, users participating in the game may be able to easily determine a final ordering of the marbles for each particular race. Users may win varying prizes based on an accuracy of a guess. For example, a user may correctly guess which marble finished first, which is worth more than a user correctly guessing that a particular marble would finish in the top three of the order. The marbles may be maintained in the presentation area 108 by a stopper at the end of the presentation area 108 that can be moved out of the way to allow the marbles to pass through the end of the presentation area 108.

After a sufficient period of time has passed with the marbles lined up in the presentation area 108, the stopper may disengage to allow the marbles to traverse farther along the path of the marble racing device. For example, an electronic pulse may be sent to an actuator to cause the stopper to disengage and move out of the way of the marbles in the presentation area 108. Alternatively, or in addition, a human game host may manually actuate the stopper to allow the marbles to pass. The marbles may pass through the end of the presentation area 108 and may traverse farther along the track to a collection area 110 to be reset for another game.

For example, the collection area 110 may be a funnel. The funnel may cause the marbles to circle around a central hole for a variable period of time before each marble drops through the central hole of the funnel. The varying period of time serves as a method of randomizing the order of the marbles passing through the central hole of the funnel 110. The marbles may pass through the funnel 110 and enter a mechanism for returning the marbles to a starting area of the marble racing device. The mechanism may be an elevator, for example elevator 112. The elevator 112 may hoist the marbles and deposit the marbles into gathering area prior to the start of the raceway. The elevator 112 may comprise a belt, a series of steps, a vacuum tube, a gripper, or any other mechanical means for lifting an item. The elevator 112 may deposit the marbles into another funnel 114 at the top of the elevator 112. The funnel 114 may cause the marbles to circle around a central hole for a variable period of time before each marbles drops through the central hole of the funnel. The varying period of time may serve as yet another method of randomizing the order of the marbles passing through the system. The marbles may pass through the funnel 114 and enter a starting area of the marble racing device. The marbles may immediately pass through to the randomizer 102 and begin traversing the track 104 to the finish line 106. Alternatively, the marbles may enter the starting area of the marble racing device and be collected in the starting area before allowing the marbles to pass through to the randomizer 102 together.

Users may be able to make guesses about the final order of the marbles before the marbles are released to the randomizer 102 and/or the track 104. The users may be able to make guesses about the final order of the marbles after the marbles are released into the randomizer 102 and for a period of time after releasing the marbles into the randomizer 102. The users may be able to make guesses for a fixed period of time after the marbles are released into the randomizer 102, or the users may be able to make guesses until one or more of the marbles pass a certain point in the randomizer 102. The closing of the guessing portion of each race may be handled automatically by a host system associated with the marble racing device.

FIG. 1B shows an alternative perspective view of the marble racing device 100 shown in FIG. 1A. The view is from an opposite side of the device as FIG. 1A and shows many of the same features as noted in FIG. 1A. FIG. 1B shows the randomizer 102, which allows for marbles to be randomized and passed onto the track 104, for example at an initial ramp section 104a. The marbles may pass through the rest of the track during a race, flowing from 104b, to 104c, and through a last curve to the final straightaway 104d. The marbles reach finish line 106 and are arranged in the presentation section 108 in the order of crossing the finish line 106 for presentation to users participating in the amusement game. The marbles may be presented for a determined period of time, and the marbles may be passed through the presentation device 108 to the funnel 110 to be mixed and returned to a starting area of the marble racing device 100. The marbles may exit the funnel 110 through a hole in the center of the funnel, and the marbles may pass into an elevator 112 and returned to a top of the marble racing device 100, dropping into another funnel 114. The another funnel 114 may further mix the marbles and send the marbles back to a starting portion of the marble racing track, immediately before the randomizer 102.

The track may be made of any suitable material. The material or materials may be durable enough to stay operable over the course of dozens, hundreds, thousands, or even more repetitions of the marble racing game, but the material or materials may also be aesthetically pleasing to users to maintain a desirability of the game and entice users to play the game. For example, the track 104 may be made of metal, such as stainless steel, aluminum, copper, carbon steel, titanium, brass, nickel, or a chrome-plated metal, or the like. The track 104 may be made of wood, plastic, resin, or any other suitable material compatible with the marbles used in the game. The track 104 may comprise a single large piece of material. The track 104 may comprise a plurality of sections locked together to form the track 104 or the rest of the marble racing device 100. Individual pieces of the device may be switched periodically to maintain durability or to maintain the appearance of the marble racing device 100.

The marbles may comprise any type of marble known in the art. For example, the marbles may be made of resin, plastic, glass, stone, metal, or rubber. The marbles may comprise a phenolic resin. The phenolic resin may comprise a density of 1.3 g/cm³. The phenolic resin may comprise a density of 1.7 g/cm³. The phenolic resin may comprise a substantially similar density to 1.3 g/cm³or 1.7 g/cm³, or the like. The phenolic resin marbles may be durable and resist scratching, denting, or otherwise deforming during repeated races on the track 104. The phenolic resin marbles may be resistant to deformation to maintain uniformity among each of the marbles used in a particular device to reduce any deterministic outcomes to the marble racing game. The marbles may be periodically switched with new marbles to reduce the variability of the marbles due to wear and tear or other factors.

FIG. 2 shows a closer view of an embodiment similar to the marble racing device 100 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The view shows a portion of the track 104 that marbles 202 race down to the finish line 106. The marbles 202 cross the finish line 106 in a particular order that may be maintained due, in part, to a width of the finish line 106 and the presentation area 108. The marbles 202 may be lined up in the presentation area 108 for a period of time to allow sufficient time for users to view the final order of the marbles 202 in a particular race. The marbles 202 may be released from the presentation area 108 and flow into the funnel 110. The funnel 110 may mix the order of the marbles 202 to change the order of the marbles 202 from the final order of the previous race. The funnel 110 may pass the marbles 202 to elevator 112 to facilitate resetting the marbles to a start point of the marble racing device 100.

FIG. 3 shows another portion of the disclosed marble racing device similar to the embodiment described by device 100 in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The view shows a portion of the track 104 that marbles 202 race down to the finish line 106. The marbles 202 cross the finish line 106 in a particular order that may be maintained due, in part, to a width of the finish line 106 and the presentation area 108. The finish line 106 may also have higher metal barriers that act to filter the marbles 202 into a single-file line. The higher metal barriers, for example, may prevent marbles 202 from being able to bump into one another and cause one marble 202 to jump over another marble 202 after reaching the finish line 106. The marbles 202 may be lined up in the presentation area 108 for a period of time to allow sufficient time for users to view the final order of the marbles 202 in a particular race. The presentation area 108 may have lower acrylic barriers with built in or overlaid LED lights. The lower acrylic barriers may improve visibility of the final order of the marbles 202 in the presentation area 108, allowing more users to successfully see the final order from a large range of viewing points. The LED lights may indicate the marbles 202 are at a finish of the race. The LED lights may be lit up with varying colors or varying brightnesses to induce excitement of the final order of the marbles 202. For example, the color of the LED lights may correspond to the final order of the marbles 202. For example, the LED lights may be lit up in a color associated with the first marble 202 in the final order, or the LED lights may be lit up in a gradient of colors corresponding to the final order of the marbles 202. The marbles 202 may be released from the presentation area 108 and flow into the funnel 110. The funnel 110 may mix the order of the marbles 202 to change the order of the marbles 202 from the final order of the previous race. The funnel 110 may pass the marbles 202 to elevator 112 to facilitate resetting the marbles to a start point of the marble racing device 100.

FIG. 4 shows an overhead view of one embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, the central portion of FIG. 4 shows an overhead view of the randomizer 102, though the randomizer 102 shown in FIG. 4 may only be one such embodiment. Randomizer 102 may comprise a series of barriers, for example barriers 402a, 402b, 402c, and 402d. However, the shape of the particular barriers, and the layout of the particular barriers, is variable. Randomizer 102 may be replaceable with other randomizer portions that are made up of different configurations of barriers. Upon activation of the amusement game, marbles may be released from a start area 404 and into the randomizer 102. The marbles may flow through the randomizer 102 and the marbles may collide with any number of the barriers located within. The collisions between the marbles and the barriers may act to randomize an order of the marbles passing onto the initial section of the track 104a. Thus, a marble that exits the start 404 fastest may ultimately collide with the barriers in such a way that the marble enters the track 104a last. The randomizer 102 may introduce sufficient chaos into the ordering of the marbles to reduce a possibility for a user to make a deterministic prediction of the final order of the marbles based on an ordering of the marbles at the start of the race. The randomizer 102 may be open for users to view. The randomizer 102 may be covered and act as a “black box” to randomize the racing marbles out of view of users.

FIG. 5 shows an overhead view of the finish line 106 and the presentation area 108 of an embodiment of the present disclosure. Marbles 202 are shown lined up in a final order upon completion of a particular race. The presentation area 108 may comprise a viewing section that users may look into to see the final order of the marbles 202, and the presentation area 108 may comprise LED lights to provide entertainment or to provide indications related to the final order of the marbles 202. Though the marbles 202 in FIG. 5 are shown in a uniform color, the marbles may comprise a variety of colors. Each marble 202 may be a different color. One or more marbles 202 may be one color and one or more other marbles 202 may be a different color. The varied colors of the marbles 202 may improve usability of the marble racing device 100 by easily allowing users to determine the order of the marbles 202 at a glance. The marbles 202 may also be of the same color and only identified by other markings, such as internal radio frequency identification devices (RFIDs) or other types of devices. Players may place guesses for an RFID or other identifier associated with a particular marble 202 before the race begins and wait to see if the particular marble 202 associated with the RFID or other identifier wins, which will not be discernable from viewing the marbles 202 but only based on the posted results at the end of the race.

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary embodiment of a broader player area comprising the marble racing device 100. The area 600 shows a plurality of player stations 606 and seats 608. Users can sit at seats 608 to participate in the marble racing amusement game. Users can interact with the player station 606 to place guesses on the marble racing games by guessing portions of a final order of marbles. The marble racing device may be encased in a display 602. The display may be made of acrylic, plastic, glass, or any other suitable material. The display 602 may be transparent to allow users to easily view through the display 602 and watch marbles racing on the marble racing device. The top of the display 602 comprises a screen 604. The screen may comprise a video screen. The screen 604 may comprise a scoreboard. The screen 604 may show advertising materials, promotional materials, or other materials to induce excitement in the marble racing game. The screen 604 may present live video image views of the marbles as the marbles race down the track during games. The screen 604 may be visible from a farther distance away, allowing more users to view the game and to be enticed to participate. The screen 604 may display scoring information or ordering information related to final orders of marbles after each race.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the present disclosure with a race in progress. The view primarily shows portions of the track 104, for example, track 104a, 104b, 104c, and 104d, in which marbles 202 are actively traversing from a start of the track to an end of the track. As shown, the marbles 202 are not uniform in appearance. The marbles 202 may comprise different colors from one another to improve users' abilities to delineate between two different marbles 202. The marbles 202 may race down the track to reach the end of the track. For example, marble 202a may have advanced further than any other marbles in the race. Marble 202a may have advanced further along the track 104 than marble 202b.

FIG. 8A shows an example view of the marble racing device with a display 602 and a screen 604. The marble racing device may be encased in a display 602. The display may be made of acrylic, plastic, glass, or any other suitable material. The display 602 may be transparent to allow users to easily view through the display 602 and watch marbles racing on the marble racing device. The top of the display 602 comprises a screen 604. The screen may comprise a video screen. The screen 604 may comprise a scoreboard. The screen 604 may show advertising materials, promotional materials, or other materials to induce excitement in the marble racing game. The screen 604 may present live video image views of the marbles as the marbles race down the track during games. The screen 604 may be visible from a farther distance than the marbles traversing the track, allowing more users to view the game and to be enticed to participate. The screen 604 may display scoring information or ordering information related to final orders of marbles after each race.

FIG. 8B shows an example end view of the marble racing device with the display 602 and the screen 604. The marble racing device may be encased in the display 602. The display may be made of acrylic, plastic, glass, or any other suitable material. The display 602 may be transparent to allow users to easily view through the display 602 and watch marbles racing on the marble racing device. The top of the display 602 comprises the screen 604. The screen may comprise a video screen. The screen 604 may comprise a scoreboard. The screen 604 may show advertising materials, promotional materials, or other materials to induce excitement in the marble racing game. The screen 604 may present live video image views of the marbles as the marbles race down the track during games. The screen 604 may be visible from a farther distance than the marbles traversing the track, allowing more users to view the game and to be enticed to participate. The screen 604 may display scoring information or ordering information related to final orders of marbles after each race.

FIG. 9 provides a flowchart of a marble racing game operation, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations may be carried out by a marble racing device, for example marble racing device 100. The operations may be carried out by a computing device. The computing device may be integrated into the marble racing device. The computing device may be separate from the marble racing device. For example, the computing device may be a server device configured to communicate with components of the marble racing device. The computing device may execute instructions that cause the actions described in FIG. 9.

At block 902, an amusement game may be operated, wherein the amusement game comprises a plurality of game elements engaging in a race along a track. The amusement game may comprise the marble racing device, and the plurality of game elements may comprise marbles. The track may be a portion of the amusement game traversable by the marbles.

At block 904, an initial order of the plurality of game elements may be randomized. It may be desirable to ensure the game elements are randomized from one race to the next. The randomization may increase diversity in results of the race, which may improve engagement and excitement by users of the amusement game. The randomization may be required by licensing bodies to allow the amusement game to be provided to users for play. The randomization may occur after a start of the game and before an end of the game. For example, the elements may be randomized by randomizer 102. The elements may pass through a starting gate of the amusement game to initiate a new game, and the elements may enter the randomizer. The randomizer may introduce sufficiently random ordering of the elements before the elements pass out of the randomizer. The elements may pass through the gaming device and end in a final order at a finish line of the device. Alternatively, or additionally, the gaming elements may be randomized after an ending of a race and before a beginning of a next race. For example, the gaming elements may be deposited into one or more funnels to randomize an order of the gaming elements.

At block 906, one or more guesses may be received from users, and the one or more guesses may be associated with a final ordering of the gaming elements at an end of a game. The users may guess a final order of each one of the gaming elements, a plurality of the gaming elements, or just a single gaming element. The users may guess one or more gaming elements to end in a particular portion of the final order. The users may be allowed to enter guesses before initiation of a race. The users may be allowed to enter guesses after initiation of the race. The users may be allowed to enter guesses for a specified period of time or for a specified portion of the race.

At block 908, the game elements may be presented in a final order. The game elements may traverse the marble racing device from a beginning to an end, and at the end the marbles may be ordered corresponding to the order the marbles finished the race. The marbles may be presented for a period of time in the final order to provide users with a period of time to view the order and determine a success or failure of guesses made by the users.

At block 910, the amusement game may be reset to facilitate engagement of another race. The marbles may be returned from a lower, final portion of the marble racing device to a higher, initial portion of the marble racing device. The marbles may be transported vertically using an escalator, an elevator, a vacuum tube, or the like. The marbles may be returned to a starting area of the marble racing device to prepare for initiation of another race.

Further disclosed herein are systems and methods relating to the live streaming of amusement games for remote gaming purposes. An example of a marble racing game is provided but any type of non-traditional casino game of an amusement nature, such as horse racing games, coin pusher games, claw games, fishing games and the like may be used in place of the marble racing game. Each amusement game, if installed in a casino, would need to comply with electrical safety standards, such as Underwriters Laboratory standards in the United States, such as electromagnetic compatibility testing to does not emit electromagnetic inferences that interferes with the operation of other electromagnetic devices nearby. Each amusement game must have one or more randomizing elements that remove player skill from changing game results or being able to make educated guesses instead of pure chance selection of a result. Each game must also meet gaming standards for the game in applicable jurisdictions as well as any electronic gaming machine elements associated with the game.

Each amusement game must also meet certain communication requirements, particularly if the game has an automated mode where there is no dealer assisting with administration of the game. The game must be able to communicate game states to a host system, such as a computing system or game server as shown in FIG. 20 to which the game's controller is connected. Game states include open bets, hurry up to bet, nor more bets, results, faults, etc. Depending on the nature of the game, it may be necessary to communicate intermediate results to the host, such as the position of balls as they traverse a track. The host should also be able to communicate with the game so as to trigger the start of a game.

In order to live stream the games to remote devices, as illustrated in FIG. 18, a number of cameras and associated lighting would need to be positioned at different points, depending on the game involved. It may also be desirable to have a moving camera that follows at least some of the action occurring within a game. As the output of the cameras would be live streamed, the output would need to be real time output to the host system and sequences would be required for transitioning for the images of the different cameras as the game progressed toward a result. The host system would need to process the video data for streaming to remote devices, which in turn would require application software for communicating with the host and presenting a user interface to the end user that enables the end user to play the games from their remote devices.

An exemplary amusement game 1100 is illustrated in FIG. 10. The amusement game 1100 is a marble racing game that includes a start/finish area 1102, a track 1104, a number of curved sections 1106 and straight sections 1108, and a marble elevator 1110. The track 1104 may be built from medium-density fiberboard (MDF), other forms of wood, plastic or even metal, as long as it provides a smooth rolling surface and rails for the marbles and has the ability to have shuffle elements added to the track and for the track to be reconfigured in an efficient and cost-effective manner when changes to the track are desired. The size of the track may fit within a two meter by three meter rectangle, including protective fencing around the perimeter, which would be similar to the size of big wheels and live craps tables, common existing game systems in casinos. The start/finish area 1102 is elevated above the other portions of the track so that the marbles, once released from the start/finish area 1102 or pushed by gravity to roll down the length of the track to marble elevator 1110. The amount of time for the marbles to roll from start to finish would be about 30 second, plus or minus 10 seconds, which permits a number of different designs to be used.

FIG. 11 illustrates further aspects of the start/finish area 1102. A plurality of marbles may be released from a holding area (not shown) above a chute 1202, where they may be gravitational directed into a bowl 1204 including a centrally located drain or exit area 1205. The chute 1202 is arranged so that marbles entering the bowl 1204 are caused to spin around the internal perimeter of the bowl numerous times before entering the exit area 1205. The number of marbles may vary. As illustrated, a total of 20 marbles are used to ensure that there are enough marbles circulating in the bowl 1204 before reaching the drain that some interaction between the marbles is assured, which will generate randomness in terms of which marbles reach the exit area 1205 before other marbles, regardless of the order in which they entered the chute 1202.

As the marbles traverse the exit area 1205 of the bowl 1204 they enter a plink board 1206, such as in a pachinko game, that includes a number of metal pins 1207 distributed around the plink board 1206 such that when marbles enter the board they hit numerous of the metal pins (which causes a plink-like sound) and introduces further randomness to the path of the marbles. The plink board 1206 is tilted away from the bowl 1204 and has an exit 1208 at an end of the plink board that is opposite where the marbles enter the plink board from the exit area 1205 of the bowl 1204. As the marbles enter the exit 1208 of the plink board 1206, they line up in a trough 1209 for the start of the game. To start the game, the trough 1209 may be raised above the track 1104 and tilted forward so the marbles are all simultaneously released onto the track 1104. The trough may already be elevated and tilted forward so that marbles entering the trough are inclined to rest against a gate (not shown) that can be raised or lowered to start the game. Upon entering the track 1104, one or more of the balls may encounter shuffle elements 1210 installed on the track 1104 to cause further randomness to the path of the marbles.

The marbles may be formed of any suitable material, such as glass, metal or plastic, completely or as an outer cover. The marbles may include a core made of powdered metal oxides mixed with resin to add weight. The core may be spherical or have other shapes that cause the marbles to not roll in a completely straight line, such as lightbulb-shaped and elliptical cores and combinations of those shapes. It may be desirable for all of the marbles used in one game to have the same design and construction, so no marble is faster, straighter, smoother than any other model. If players can discern any pattern in a game that appears to favor one marble over another, that can change the game from being one of chance to one of skill and therefore invite cheating. The marbles may each have a different color so as to uniquely identify each marble to players.

The marbles may be any of a number of suitable sizes, such as 16 or 30 mm in diameter and may be laser engraved or custom printed to represent the operator, i.e., the casino, and to further uniquely identify each marble to players, such as with a different number or letter that can be discerned as the marbles roll, like billiard balls. The marbles may include an embedded radio frequency identification (RFID) chip that enables each marble's starting position in the trough, intermediate locations along the track during a game, and position at the finish to be easily identified, although other modes of identification and tracking may be utilized, such as high speed cameras and image recognition of the resulting image data.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, as the marbles 1302 exit the trough onto the track 1104 and pass for this set of shuffle elements 1210, they may encounter a plurality of additional shuffle elements that both route the marbles 1302 around an opening for the upper portion of the marble elevator 1110 and introduce further randomness to the path of each marble 1302. As illustrated in FIG. 13, once the marbles 1302 have passed the marble elevator 1110 they pass a transition area 1402 that may transition from a smooth area 1403 to a finishing area 1802, as further illustrated in FIG. 17. Once passed the transition area 1402 the marbles 1302 enter an extended portion of the track, where the marbles travel along curved sections 1502 and straight sections 1504 as illustrated in FIG. 14 and continue to interact with further shuffle elements such as shuffle element 1404. Betting may be continued from prior to the start of each game through some portion of the initial game, for example for a few seconds, such as just as the marbles pass the shuffle element 1404. Extending the bet close time to this point may add excitement or attraction to the game. To further add excitement and interest, the sound of the marbles travelling around the track could be amplified by microphones embedded in the track or sound effects could be added to replicate the sound of the marbles. Various events or sound effects may also be provided.

At the end of the track, the marbles 1302 proceed to the marble elevator 1110, the lower portion of which is shown in FIG. 15. Pockets 1702 in the marble elevator 1110 capture the marbles 1302 as they exit the extended portion of the track and are carried up to the upper portion of the marble elevator 1110, as shown in FIG. 16. The marble elevator may include a caterpillar drive The marbles 1302 are released from the marble elevator at the same portion of the track shown in FIG. 12, where they started but instead of rolling to the extended portion of the track, they move into the transition area 1402, which has transitioned from a smooth surface to a finishing area 1802 that illustrates the order in which the marbles finished. In a dealer assisted version of the game, the transition area can be transitioned by the dealer. In an embodiment, the transition area 1402 rotates relative to the track so that the smooth area 1403 is on one side of the transition area 1402 and the finishing area 1802 is on an opposite side of the transition area 1402. To transition from one area to the other, the dealer may simply swivel the transition area 1402 relative to the track. In an automated version of the track, a motor (located under the track) may cause the transition area 1402 to rotate from one area to the other. The motor would be electrically connected and controlled by the game server.

The track configuration show in FIGS. 10-17 is exemplary and may other track configurations, representing different games and having different math models associated with such games, may be utilized. The marble racing amusement game 1100 may be set up in a studio or in a casino, with video of the game live streamed to player stations or devices. Player stations in a casino may be arranged around the track in either a stadium or smart pit format. A smart pit is a combination of different live or automated electronic table games (ETGs) set up in a pit configuration similar to a casino's traditional blackjack, roulette and craps table configuration. Player stations include inputs and outputs that enable players to input/output money or credits, displays, and various controls that enable players to make selections, place bets, and otherwise interact with the game. The player stations may include one or more physical elements such as soft touch gel buttons, gel arm rests, seating, a footrest, and a control button that may be usable for different games. One or more physical elements may be remotely controllable during remote gameplay of the machine.

Other lighting effects that may be provided by the player stations include gel LED modules of different sizes and shapes and an ambient LED that may illuminate a bottom section. The player stations may include speakers that may enable a variety of audio effects, and incorporate a range of speaker types, including but not limited to tweeters, midranges and subwoofers or woofers. The light and/or sound effects may be captured and projected to a remote user device during remote gameplay. Such features may aid in promoting an authentic, real-time experience, even though play may be occurring remotely.

As discussed herein, games may either be dealer assisted or automated. With a dealer assisted game, any manual function, such as loading the marbles into the chute 1202, changing the transition area from the smooth area to the finishing area, checking and announcing the results, and inputting data, is done by the dealer. An automated game may automate all of the functions performed manually by a live dealer but may still have a host or entertainer for hyping the game, explaining how it works, creating energy and enthusiasm for players, start games and announce results. The host or entertainer could also be programmed and visually presented. Artificial intelligence could be utilized to automatically generate the script for the host and to generate the voice. The game could be a stand-alone game in a casino that is surrounded by player stations in the same manner as ETG games, such as blackjack, craps, roulette, etc., or be set up in a stadium configuration with curved rows of player stations set in a tier configuration around the game.

FIG. 18 illustrates an example of a camera 1902 focused on a game 1904 so that the action and results of the game 1904 can be live streamed to remote player/user devices, such as player stations, smart phones, personal computers, and other computerized devices. The camera 1902 may be mounted on a stand or mounted within a ceiling of the building in which the game is located and may further include a camera system that may include one or more cameras, image sensors, and a track system. According to some examples, cameras may provide live video output of one or more areas of the game. Camera may be placed in fixed positions around the track and moving cameras may be used to follow the marbles around the track. One or more cameras may also be controllable by a remote user, so as to enable views of a desired area of the game.

In some examples, input at the user device may select a first camera associated with the game and live video output from the first camera may be viewed at a display associated with the user device, such as a remote operator. Input at the user device may also adjust the camera's video, for example, causing a closer view or zoomed in view of an object within the game, or moving the camera to focus on a different area. Such user device input may also enable live video feed switching between cameras, e.g., from a first camera to a second camera. In various embodiments, input received at the user device may also adjust any or all of the cameras' fields of views, to view a desired region of interest. Changes to camera views may occur before, during, or after gaming events, to promote control and gameplay customization by a player operating a user device.

Some cameras may include an image sensor configured to capture image data on a continuous basis. The at least one image sensor may be configured to capture image data associated with particular game cycles of the games played at a gaming machine. The image sensor may provide the captured image data to a controller associated with the camera as a video stream, a sequence of individual image frames, raw image data, and the like. In an embodiment, a controller (in the form of a computer system, see e.g., FIG. 20) associated with the gaming machine and/or user device may configure the image sensor by specifying a frame-rate, a resolution, a color value, a video stream encoding format, a subset of the image sensor's available pixels to activate and/or deactivate, and the like.

In some examples, image data captured by an image sensor may provide a live video feed of operations happening at a game. The camera may capture image data for a predefined period of time, such as a particular game cycle. For example, such predefined periods may be associated with a betting window, or another event occurring at the game. The image sensor may also be configured to capture image data associated with a particular area of the game, such as the starting area or the finishing area. As discussed herein, the image sensor may be remotely controlled, and the captured image data may correspond to input received at the user device.

FIG. 19 provides a flowchart of a live gaming operation, in accordance with various aspects. Such operations may occur using one or more computing devices, including a processor and memory. Various techniques may utilize one or more cameras, user devices (e.g., cell phone, smartphone, PC, gaming device, etc.), player machines, or applications operating on a user device or other computing device. In some examples, a user device may include a downloadable application, which provides access to the camera and gaming machine(s) and manages one or more operations described herein. In some examples, the application may communicate with one or more remote computing devices, servers, databases, and computing elements to manage communications and operations between various devices.

At block 1190, aspects may stream live video output from a camera to a display associated with a user device, wherein the video output captures a first field of view comprising a game. At least one camera, for example, may be provided on, around, or within the track or game area. The at least one camera may capture a first field of view corresponding to an area associated with the gaming pod, such as an interior portion of the gaming pod. In some examples, the first field of view may be an overall view of the game. The first field of view may also include a live view of other areas of the game from other cameras around the game. The field of view may correspond to a viewable region, which may be provided on a display associated with the user device. In an example, the first field of view captures at least an area within or associated with the game. There may be one or more selectable regions within the first field of view. A selectable region may correspond to an area of the game. In some examples, the selectable region may be generated based on an identification of one or more objects, such as different marbles, different areas of the game, etc., within the first field of view. In some examples, the live video output may be changed based on input received at the user device. For example, the live video stream may switch from a first video output from a first camera to a second video output from a second camera.

In various examples, the first field of view may be adjusted, via input at the user device, to a second field of view. In some examples the second field of view is an area within the first field of view. The first field of view may be an overall view of the game, and the second field of view may be of a certain area of the game, such as a portion of the track or the finishing area. In other examples, the second field of view may be an area adjacent to the first field of view. As discussed herein, the determination may be based on a threshold, such as a visual threshold or a selection threshold. The threshold may, for example, correspond to a size of an object or an area relative to a size of the display of the user device. A user may enlarge or zoom in on an object, such as a display of a player station, and when the player station display size reaches a threshold amount (e.g., 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 100%) of the user device display, the second field of view may be determined to be associated with the game. In other examples, reaching the threshold may initiate a selection of a selectable region within the first field of view. Similar to the first field of view, the second field of view may provide a view of an area or an object in real time.

At block 1192, aspects may receive input from the user device to initiate participation in a game. The input may include a tap, pinch, hold, or other motion or manipulation of live video output. In some examples, the input may enable a zoom in or out on various areas within or surrounding the first field of view. The input may also include a motion performed on the display, the motion indicative of a selection of an area of the game. The motion may be a zooming motion, a circular motion, a screen tap, or a screen hold. According to some aspects, the video output on the display may update in real-time, based on the player input.

In response to player input at the user device, the first field of view may update to a second field of view. In some examples, player input may cause the user device to zoom in to a region within the first field of view. The region may be a selectable region within the first field of view.

At block 1194, aspects may stream live gaming output from the game to the user device. The live gaming output may include video output from the game. Such video output may be similar to video output provided on the device if it were played in-person next to the game.

Video output from the game may correspond to a game module associated with the game. Such video output would otherwise be provided at the player station or gaming machine, such as on the display associated with the gaming machine, during gameplay by a live, in-person player. In some examples, the gaming machine video output may be provided on both the gaming machine and on the display associated with the user device.

At block 1196, aspects may operate the gaming machine based on gaming input received at the user device. The gaming input may correspond to gameplay on the gaming machine located at the amusement game 1100 and enable operation of the gaming machine from the user device. A remote player may therefore select and play a particular gaming machine at a gaming location without being physically present at the gaming location. Such aspects may increase player choice and entertainment by enabling players to view live streams of a gaming location, select a particular gaming machine, and operate a live game on the gaming station, in real-time. Aspects may therefore simulate live gaming experiences for remote players, and provide a unique gameplay technique, which combines live, virtual, remote gameplay, with a physical gaming device. For example, the gaming input may be a selection, a command, such as a launch command, or an initiation of an operation, such as a seed determination. An external controller connected to the user device may be configured to perform gameplay operations and provide gaming input.

Gaming input may generate one or more commands which are communicated to the gaming machine, to operate the gaming machine in a same manner as a live player at the machine. Live gaming output may, for example, provide a live view of a gaming screen that is reflective of the game provided at the gaming machine. A remote player may toggle between the gaming screen and a view of the gaming machine, and make selections at the user device, just as a live player at the machine would. Gaming input is reflective of the particular game being played, and may include, for example, select one or more marbles, select the finishing position of the one or more marbles, place a bet, cash out, and the like.

In some examples, the live gaming output may reflect a gaming screen associated with the gaming machine and selections at the user device are mapped to the gaming machine. For example, a live player could make one or more selections (e.g., bets) directly on the gaming machine by touching the screen. A selection at a user device may be mapped and communicated to the gaming machine, so that remote gameplay commands operate the machine similar to a live player operating the gaming machine.

To further promote a live gameplay experience, as discussed herein, a user may switch between various views, displays, and gaming output associated with the gaming machine. As such, as user may view live gaming output, the gaming machine, the gaming floor, and operate the gaming machine just as a player would in person.

Each of the blocks of FIG. 20 may be modified as further discussed herein, such that player input at the user device may switch, as desired, between live video output, live gaming output, and various fields of views from each.

For the sake of clarity and conciseness, certain aspects of components or steps of certain embodiments are presented without undue detail where such detail would be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the teachings herein and/or where such detail would obfuscate an understanding of more pertinent aspects of the embodiments.

The techniques described above can be implemented on a computing device associated with a game (e.g., a marble racing game or some other form of amusement game), a plurality of computing devices associated with a plurality of games, a controller in communication with the game(s) (e.g., a controller configured to synchronize the game(s)), or a plurality of controllers in communication with the game(s), such as a GANLOT AMDY-7005, which is designed for gaming applications. The controller module may also provide outputs for the game's lighting, operations, and automated functions.

Additionally, the techniques may be distributed between the computing device(s) and the controller(s). FIG. 20 illustrates an exemplary block diagram of a computing system or game server, for games and player stations, which includes hardware modules, software module, and a combination thereof and that can be implemented as the computing device and/or as the server.

In a basic configuration, the computing system may include at least a processor, a system memory, a storage device, input/output peripherals, communication peripherals, and an interface bus. Instructions stored in the memory may be executed by the processor to perform a variety of methods and operations, including the roulette wheel velocity adjustments and result detection optimization, as described above. The computing system components may be present in the gaming device, in a server or other component of a network, or distributed between some combinations of such devices.

The interface bus is configured to communicate, transmit, and transfer data, controls, and commands between the various components of the electronic device. The system memory and the storage device comprise computer readable storage media, such as RAM, ROM, EEPROM, hard-drives, CD-ROMs, optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, flash memory, and other tangible storage media. Any of such computer readable storage medium can be configured to store instructions or program codes embodying aspects of the disclosure. Additionally, the system memory comprises an operation system and applications. The processor is configured to execute the stored instructions and can comprise, for example, a logical processing unit, a microprocessor, a digital signal processor, and the like.

The system memory and the storage device may also comprise computer readable signal media. A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signal with computer readable program code embodied therein. Such a propagated signal may take any of variety of forms including, but not limited to, electro-magnetic, optical, or any combination thereof. A computer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium that is not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use in connection with the computing system.

Further, the input and output peripherals include user interfaces such as a keyboard, screen, microphone, speaker, other input/output devices, and computing components such as digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital converters, graphical processing units, serial ports, parallel ports, and universal serial bus. The input/output peripherals may also include a variety of sensors, such as light, proximity, GPS, magnetic field, altitude, and velocity/acceleration. RSSI, and distance sensors, as well as other types of sensors. The input/output peripherals may be connected to the processor through any of the ports coupled to the interface bus.

The user interfaces can be configured to allow a user of the computing system to interact with the computing system. For example, the computing system may include instructions that, when executed, cause the computing system to generate a user interface and carry out other methods and operations that the user can use to provide input to the computing system and to receive an output from the computing system.

This user interface may be in the form of a graphical user interface that is rendered at the screen and that is coupled with audio transmitted on the speaker and microphone and input received at the keyboard. In an embodiment, the user interface can be locally generated at the computing system. In another embodiment, the user interface may be hosted on a remote computing system and rendered at the computing system. For example, the server may generate the user interface and may transmit information related thereto to the computing device that, in turn, renders the user interface to the user. The computing device may, for example, execute a browser or an application that exposes an application program interface (API) at the server to access the user interface hosted on the server.

Finally, the communication peripherals of the computing system are configured to facilitate communication between the computing system and other computing systems (e.g., between the computing device and the server) over a communications network. The communication peripherals include, for example, a network interface controller, modem, various modulators/demodulators and encoders/decoders, wireless and wired interface cards, antenna, and the like.

The communication network includes a network of any type that is suitable for providing communications between the computing device and the server and may comprise a combination of discrete networks which may use different technologies. For example, the communications network includes a cellular network, a Wi-Fi/broadband network, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a telephony network, a fiber-optic network, or combinations thereof. In an example embodiment, the communication network includes the Internet and any networks adapted to communicate with the Internet. The communications network may be also configured as a means for transmitting data between the computing device and the server.

The techniques described above may be embodied in, and fully or partially automated by, code modules executed by one or more computers or computer processors. The code modules may be stored on any type of non-transitory computer-readable medium or computer storage device, such as hard drives, solid state memory, optical disc, and/or the like. The processes and algorithms may be implemented partially or wholly in application-specific circuitry. The results of the disclosed processes and process steps may be stored, persistently or otherwise, in any type of non-transitory computer storage such as, e.g., volatile, or non-volatile storage.

In an embodiment, a system for operation of an amusement game comprises a track to facilitate a plurality of game elements to engage in a race from a start of the track to an end of the track, wherein the plurality of game elements are ranked in a final order of completing the race. One or more randomization elements are configured to randomize an initial order of the plurality of game elements. A server device is configured to accept, from one or more user devices participating in the amusement game, one or more guesses of the final order of the plurality of game elements before establishment of the final order occurs, wherein the server device is further configured to send an indication to each user device of the one or more user devices based on the final order and a guess associated with the user device. A presentation mechanism located at the end of the track is configured to preserve the final order of the plurality of game elements for a period of time after completion of the race. A reset mechanism is configured to transport the plurality of game elements from the presentation mechanism to an area at the start of the track to facilitate engagement of another race.

In the embodiment, wherein a plurality of cameras configured to capture live video of the amusement game, in which each camera captures live video of a different portion of the track, wherein the server device is configured to cause presentation of the live video of the amusement game to the one or more user devices participating in the amusement game.

In the embodiment, wherein the one or more randomization elements comprise at least one hidden randomization area, wherein all of the plurality of game elements are configured to pass through the hidden randomization area to cause randomization of the initial order of the plurality of game elements.

In the embodiment, wherein the one or more randomization elements are situated after the end of the track and before the start of the track to facilitate randomization of the initial order of the plurality of game elements in between each race.

In the embodiment, wherein the one or more randomization elements are situated in between the start of the track and the end of the track to facilitate randomization of the initial order of the game elements during each race.

In the embodiment, wherein the server device is configured to accept guesses from the one or more user devices at least one of before the game begins or after the game begins but before the plurality of game elements interact with a last randomization element of the one or more randomization elements.

In the embodiment, wherein the amusement game further comprises one or more optical recognition cameras to optically recognize the final order of the game elements and to send a plurality of signals to the server device, wherein the server device is configured to present the final order of the plurality of game elements.

In the embodiment, wherein the plurality of game elements are each embedded with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, further comprising an RFID reader configured to determine, based on each RFID tag, the final order of the plurality of game elements, wherein the RFID reader is configured to cause transmission of the final order to the server device, and wherein the server device is configured to present the final order of the plurality of game elements.

In the embodiment, wherein at least one of the one or more user devices are located proximate to the amusement game or remotely from the amusement game.

In the embodiment, wherein the one or more user devices comprise at least one of a gaming player station, a phone, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet, or a gaming device.

In an embodiment, a method comprising a track to facilitate a plurality of game elements to engage in a race from a start of the track to an end of the track, wherein the plurality of game elements are ranked in a final order of completing the race. One or more randomization elements are configured to randomize an initial order of the plurality of game elements. A server device is configured to accept, from one or more user devices participating in the amusement game, one or more guesses of the final order of the plurality of game elements before establishment of the final order occurs, wherein the server device is further configured to send an indication to each user device of the one or more user devices based on the final order and a guess associated with the user device. A presentation mechanism is located at the end of the track and configured to preserve the final order of the plurality of game elements for a period of time. A reset mechanism is configured to transport the plurality of game elements from the presentation mechanism to an area at the start of the track to facilitate engagement of another race.

In the embodiment, further comprising capturing, by a plurality of cameras, live video of the amusement game, in which each camera captures live video of a different portion of the track, and wherein the server device is configured to cause presentation of the live video of the amusement game to the one or more user devices participating in the amusement game.

In the embodiment, wherein the amusement game further comprises one or more optical recognition cameras to optically recognize the final order of the game elements, further comprising: sending, to the server device, a plurality of signals indicating the final order; and presenting, by the server device, the final order of the plurality of game elements.

In the embodiment, wherein the plurality of game elements are each embedded with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, further comprising: determining, by an RFID reader and based on each RFID tag, the final order of the plurality of game elements; and causing transmission of the final order to the server device, wherein the server device is configured to present the final order of the plurality of game elements.

In the embodiment, wherein at least one of the one or more user devices are located proximate to the amusement game or remotely from the amusement game.

In the embodiment, wherein the one or more user devices comprise at least one of a gaming player station, a phone, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet, or a gaming device.

In an embodiment, an amusement game system facilitating participation, comprises an amusement game having a physical area over which a plurality of game elements move and compete with one another to finish a game in a final order and a plurality of shuffling elements that interact with the plurality of game elements to introduce randomness to the first and last order of the game; a plurality of cameras situated about the physical area to capture live video images of the plurality of game elements as the plurality of game elements move within the physical area and of the final order of the game; and a server for controlling operation of the amusement game and processing the captured live video images for transmission to one or more user devices so that the one or more user devices participate in the amusement game by guessing the final order of the game prior to the game finishing.

In the embodiment, wherein the plurality of cameras include one or more fixed cameras mounted to supports and at least one moving camera configured to follow at least some of the plurality of game elements within the physical area.

In the embodiment, wherein the server streams the captured live video images in real-time to the one or more user devices.

In the embodiment, wherein the one or more user devices are collocated within a building housing the amusement game.

In the embodiment, wherein the one or more user devices are remotely located from a building housing the amusement game.

In the embodiment, wherein the one or more user devices are a player station, a smartphone, a personal computer (PC), or other gaming device.

In the embodiment, wherein the amusement game is a marble racing game that includes a start, a finish and an extended track between the start and the finish, and wherein the plurality of game elements are marbles and each of the marbles has a unique identifier.

In the embodiment, wherein the plurality of cameras include one or more high speed cameras, and wherein the server includes image recognition configured to detect the unique identifier of each marble and track each marble from the captured live video images.

In the embodiment, wherein the unique identifier of each marble is a radio frequency identification (RFID), wherein the extended track includes multiple sensors for detecting each unique identifier and outputting sensor data, and wherein the server is configured to receive the sensor data and identify and track each marble.

In the embodiment, wherein guesses of the final order from the one or more user devices may be received by the server after the start of the game but before the last of the plurality of shuffling elements have interacted with the plurality of game elements.

In an embodiment, a method for facilitating participation in an amusement game, comprises operating the amusement game, the amusement game having a physical area over which a plurality of game elements move and compete with one another to finish a game in a final order and a plurality of shuffling elements that interact with the plurality of game elements to introduce randomness to the first and last order of the game; capturing live video images of the plurality of game elements as the plurality of game elements move within the physical area and of the final order of the game; and controlling operation of the amusement game and processing the captured live video images for transmission to one or more user devices so that the one or more user devices participate in the amusement game by guessing the final order of the game prior to the game finishing.

In the embodiment, wherein controlling operation of the amusement game includes streaming the captured live video images in real-time to the one or more user devices.

In the embodiment, wherein the one or more user devices are collocated within a building housing the amusement game.

In the embodiment, wherein the one or more user devices are remotely located from a building housing the amusement game.

In the embodiment, wherein the one or more user devices are a player station, a smartphone, a personal computer (PC), or other gaming device.

In the embodiment, wherein the plurality of cameras include one or more high speed cameras, and controlling operation of the amusement game includes recognizing unique identifier of each marble and tracking each marble from the captured live video images.

In the embodiment, wherein the unique identifier of each marble is a radio frequency identification (RFID), wherein the extended track includes multiple sensors for detecting each unique identifier and outputting sensor data, and wherein controlling operation of the amusement game includes receiving the sensor data and identifying and tracking each marble.

In the embodiment, wherein guesses of the final order from the one or more user devices may be received after the start of the game but before the last of the plurality of shuffling elements have interacted with the plurality of game elements.

Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without author input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like are synonymous and are used inclusively, in an open-ended fashion, and do not exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations, and so forth. Also, the term “or” is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so that when used, for example, to connect a list of elements, the term “or” means one, some, or all of the elements in the list.

The terms and descriptions used above are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in the art will recognize that those and many other variations, enhancements and modifications of the concepts described herein are possible without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. The scope of the invention should therefore be determined only by the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A system, comprising: an amusement game comprising a track to facilitate a plurality of game elements to engage in a race from a start of the track to an end of the track, wherein the plurality of game elements are ranked in a final order of completing the race;one or more randomization elements configured to randomize an initial order of the plurality of game elements;a server device configured to accept, from one or more user devices participating in the amusement game, one or more guesses of the final order of the plurality of game elements before establishment of the final order occurs, wherein the server device is further configured to send an indication to each user device of the one or more user devices based on the final order and a guess associated with the user device;a presentation mechanism located at the end of the track and configured to preserve the final order of the plurality of game elements for a period of time; anda reset mechanism configured to transport the plurality of game elements from the presentation mechanism to an area at the start of the track to facilitate engagement of another race.
2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of cameras configured to capture live video of the amusement game, in which each camera captures live video of a different portion of the track, wherein the server device is configured to cause presentation of the live video of the amusement game to the one or more user devices participating in the amusement game.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more randomization elements comprise at least one hidden randomization area, wherein all of the plurality of game elements are configured to pass through the hidden randomization area to cause randomization of the initial order of the plurality of game elements.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more randomization elements are situated after the end of the track and before the start of the track to facilitate randomization of the initial order of the plurality of game elements in between each race.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more randomization elements are situated in between the start of the track and the end of the track to facilitate randomization of the initial order of the game elements during each race.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the server device is configured to accept guesses from the one or more user devices at least one of before the game begins or after the game begins but before the plurality of game elements interact with a last randomization element of the one or more randomization elements.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the amusement game further comprises one or more optical recognition cameras to optically recognize the final order of the game elements and to send a plurality of signals to the server device, wherein the server device is configured to present the final order of the plurality of game elements.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of game elements are each embedded with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, further comprising an RFID reader configured to determine, based on each RFID tag, the final order of the plurality of game elements, wherein the RFID reader is configured to cause transmission of the final order to the server device, and wherein the server device is configured to present the final order of the plurality of game elements.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more user devices are located proximate to the amusement game or remotely from the amusement game.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more user devices comprise at least one of a gaming player station, a phone, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet, or a gaming device.
11. A method, comprising: operating an amusement game comprising a track to facilitate a plurality of game elements to engage in a race from a start of the track to an end of the track, wherein the plurality of game elements are ranked in a final order of completing the race;randomizing, via one or more randomization elements, an initial order of the plurality of game elements;receiving, by a server device and from one or more user devices, one or more guesses of the final order of the plurality of game elements before establishment of the final order occurs, wherein the server device is configured to send an indication to each user device of the one or more user devices based on the final order and a guess associated with the user device;presenting, via a presentation mechanism located at the end of the track, the final order of the plurality of game elements for a period of time; andresetting, via a reset mechanism configured to transport the plurality of game elements from the presentation mechanism to an area at the start of the track, the amusement game to facilitate engagement of another race.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising capturing, by a plurality of cameras, live video of the amusement game, in which each camera captures live video of a different portion of the track, and wherein the server device is configured to cause presentation of the live video of the amusement game to the one or more user devices participating in the amusement game.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more randomization elements comprise at least one hidden randomization area, wherein all of the plurality of game elements are configured to pass through the hidden randomization area to cause randomization of the initial order of the plurality of game elements.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more randomization elements are situated after the end of the track and before the start of the track to facilitate randomization of the initial order of the plurality of game elements in between each race.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more randomization elements are situated in between the start of the track and the end of the track to facilitate randomization of the initial order of the game elements during each race.
16. The method of claim 11, wherein the server device is configured to accept guesses from the one or more user devices at least one of before the game begins or after the game begins but before the plurality of game elements interact with a last randomization element of the one or more randomization elements.
17. The method of claim 11, wherein the amusement game further comprises one or more optical recognition cameras to optically recognize the final order of the game elements, further comprising: sending, to the server device, a plurality of signals indicating the final order; andpresenting, by the server device, the final order of the plurality of game elements.
18. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of game elements are each embedded with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, further comprising: determining, by an RFID reader and based on each RFID tag, the final order of the plurality of game elements; andcausing transmission of the final order to the server device, wherein the server device is configured to present the final order of the plurality of game elements.
19. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the one or more user devices are located proximate to the amusement game or remotely from the amusement game.
20. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more user devices comprise at least one of a gaming player station, a phone, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet, or a gaming device.
21. An amusement game system facilitating participation, comprising: an amusement game having a physical area over which a plurality of game elements move and compete with one another to finish a game in a final order and a plurality of shuffling elements that interact with the plurality of game elements to introduce randomness to the first and last order of the game;a plurality of cameras situated about the physical area to capture live video images of the plurality of game elements as the plurality of game elements move within the physical area and of the final order of the game; anda server for controlling operation of the amusement game and processing the captured live video images for transmission to one or more user devices so that the one or more user devices participate in the amusement game by guessing the final order of the game prior to the game finishing.
22. The amusement game system of claim 21, wherein the plurality of cameras include one or more fixed cameras mounted to supports and at least one moving camera configured to follow at least some of the plurality of game elements within the physical area.
23. The amusement game system of claim 21, wherein the server streams the captured live video images in real-time to the one or more user devices.
24. The amusement game system of claim 23, wherein the one or more user devices are collocated within a building housing the amusement game.
25. The amusement game system of claim 23, wherein the one or more user devices are remotely located from a building housing the amusement game.
26. The amusement game system of claim 21, wherein the one or more user devices are a player station, a smartphone, a personal computer (PC), or other gaming device.
27. The amusement game system of claim 21, wherein the amusement game is a marble racing game that includes a start, a finish and an extended track between the start and the finish, and wherein the plurality of game elements are marbles and each of the marbles has a unique identifier.
28. The amusement game system of claim 27, wherein the plurality of cameras include one or more high speed cameras, and wherein the server includes image recognition configured to detect the unique identifier of each marble and track each marble from the captured live video images.
29. The amusement game system of claim 27, wherein the unique identifier of each marble is a radio frequency identification (RFID), wherein the extended track includes multiple sensors for detecting each unique identifier and outputting sensor data, and wherein the server is configured to receive the sensor data and identify and track each marble.
30. The amusement game system of claim 21, wherein guesses of the final order from the one or more user devices may be received by the server after the start of the game but before the last of the plurality of shuffling elements have interacted with the plurality of game elements.
31. A method for facilitating participation in an amusement game, comprising: operating the amusement game, the amusement game having a physical area over which a plurality of game elements move and compete with one another to finish a game in a final order and a plurality of shuffling elements that interact with the plurality of game elements to introduce randomness to the first and last order of the game;capturing live video images of the plurality of game elements as the plurality of game elements move within the physical area and of the final order of the game; andcontrolling operation of the amusement game and processing the captured live video images for transmission to one or more user devices so that the one or more user devices participate in the amusement game by guessing the final order of the game prior to the game finishing.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein the plurality of cameras include one or more fixed cameras mounted to supports and at least one moving camera configured to follow at least some of the plurality of game elements within the physical area.
33. The method of claim 31, wherein controlling operation of the amusement game includes streaming the captured live video images in real-time to the one or more user devices.
34. The method of claim 33, wherein the one or more user devices are collocated within a building housing the amusement game.
35. The method of claim 33, wherein the one or more user devices are remotely located from a building housing the amusement game.
36. The method of claim 31, wherein the one or more user devices are a player station, a smartphone, a personal computer (PC), or other gaming device.
37. The method of claim 31, wherein the amusement game is a marble racing game that includes a start, a finish and an extended track between the start and the finish, and wherein the plurality of game elements are marbles and each of the marbles has a unique identifier.
38. The method of claim 37, wherein the plurality of cameras include one or more high speed cameras, and controlling operation of the amusement game includes recognizing unique identifier of each marble and tracking each marble from the captured live video images.
39. The method of claim 37, wherein the unique identifier of each marble is a radio frequency identification (RFID), wherein the extended track includes multiple sensors for detecting each unique identifier and outputting sensor data, and wherein controlling operation of the amusement game includes receiving the sensor data and identifying and tracking each marble.
40. The method of claim 31, wherein guesses of the final order from the one or more user devices may be received after the start of the game but before the last of the plurality of shuffling elements have interacted with the plurality of game elements.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C § 119(e) of Provisional U.S. Application No. 63/693,124, filed on Sep. 10, 2024, and of Provisional U.S. Application No. 63/616,319, filed on Dec. 29, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Provisional Applications (2)

	Number	Date	Country
	63693124	Sep 2024	US
	63616319	Dec 2023	US

RANDOMIZED MARBLE RACING GAME AND REMOTE PLAY OF THE SAME

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CPC

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Abstract

Description

Claims

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Provisional Applications (2)