U.S. patent application number 10/678493 was filed with the patent office on 2005-04-07 for pinball game sport simulations.
Invention is credited to Boettcher, William C., Doherty, Thomas M., Oister, Michael J..
Application Number | 20050073092 10/678493 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34393948 |
Filed Date | 2005-04-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050073092 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Oister, Michael J. ; et
al. |
April 7, 2005 |
Pinball game sport simulations
Abstract
The present invention provides a pinball game that simulates a
professional or collegiate sport, such as, for example, football
and basketball. The games have playing surfaces containing indicia
of the regulation game as well as targets that correspond to events
that would take place during the game, such as, field goals and
3-points shots. Similarly, scoring would be along regulation sport
scoring.
Inventors: |
Oister, Michael J.;
(Superior, CA) ; Boettcher, William C.; (Denver,
CO) ; Doherty, Thomas M.; (Golden, CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HOLLAND & HART, LLP
555 17TH STREET, SUITE 3200
DENVER
CO
80201
US
|
Family ID: |
34393948 |
Appl. No.: |
10/678493 |
Filed: |
October 2, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/119R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 7/025 20130101;
A63F 7/0616 20130101; A63F 7/0612 20130101; A63F 7/062 20130101;
A63F 7/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/119.00R |
International
Class: |
A63F 007/00 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A pinball game that simulates a football game, comprising: a
playing surface; a sidewall surrounding at least a portion of the
playing surface; the playing surface comprising a field with
indicia to indicate yardage and an end zone with indicia to
indicate end zone markings in accordance with a regulation football
field; the playing surface further comprising a plurality of
targets, a plurality of bumpers, and at least one ramp; and the end
zone further comprising at least one goal post representative of a
regulation goal post.
2. The pinball game according to claim 1, wherein the at least one
ramp is substantially aligned with the at least one goal posts such
that when the pinball travels the at least one ramp, the pinball
will simulate a field goal kick.
3. The pinball game according to claim 2, wherein the at least one
ramp includes at least a second ramp and the second ramp is aligned
with the at least one end zone target to simulate a touchdown
pass.
4. The pinball game according to claim 3, wherein scoring for the
pinball game is in accordance with regulation football scoring
including awarding touchdown points for a touchdown and field goal
points for a field goal.
5. The pinball game according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of
targets comprises at least one of a defensive playing indication,
an offensive play indication, and a penalty.
6. The pinball game according to claim 5, further comprising a
yardage marker such yardage changes indicated by the plurality of
targets may be recorded and such that points may be awarded when
the yardage indicates a touchdown was scored.
7. The pinball game according to claim 1, further comprising a
stadium coupled to the sidewall.
8. The pinball game according to claim 7, wherein the stadium is
representative of at least one of a professional and collegiate
football team and the indicia in the endzone is indicative of at
least one of a professional and collegiate football team.
9. A pinball game that simulates a basketball game, comprising: a
playing surface; a sidewall surrounding at least a portion of the
playing surface; the playing surface comprising a court with
indicia representative of a regulation basketball court including
sideline markings, a key, a three-point line, and a free throw
line; the key comprising at least one basketball hoop and backboard
mounted towards the sideline; the playing surface further
comprising a plurality of targets; a plurality of bumpers, and at
least one ramp; and the at least one ramp aligned such that a
pinball traveling over the at least one ramp will have a trajectory
generally aligned with the basketball hoop.
10. The pinball game according to claim 9, wherein the at least one
ramp comprises a plurality of ramps and the plurality of ramps are
indicative of at least one of a 3-point shot and a 2-point
shot.
11. The pinball game according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of
targets comprises at least one of a defensive play indication, an
offensive play indication, and a penalty.
12. The pinball game according to claim 9, further comprising a
stadium coupled to sidewall and surrounding at least a portion of
the playing surface indicative of a basketball crowd.
13. The pinball game according to claim 12, wherein the stadium
comprises indicia representative of at least one of a professional
and collegiate team.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to pinball games and, more
particularly, to pinball games that more accurately simulate
professional or collegiate sports.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Pinball arcade games have been popular for sometime. Most of
these games include bumpers, lights, rebounders, and the like.
Players use paddles to cause a pinball to move around the playing
field to hit the bumpers, lights, rebounders, and the like to score
points in some arbitrary manner.
[0003] Certain professional and collegiate sports also have been
popular for sometime. Many of these games include special features
and scoring, such as passing and field goals in football, 3-point
shots and 2-point shots in basketball, and the like.
[0004] Frequently, pinball games title themselves after particular
sports, including professional and collegiate sports. But other
than the titles, these games have little resemblance to the actual
sport being simulated. Moreover, the score and special effects of
the game are based largely on conventional pinball score systems
and conventional pinball designs rather than the simulated
sport.
[0005] Two sport games that have been reasonably well simulated by
pinball games include baseball simulations and golf simulations,
such as those developed by Old Century Classics, Inc. These games
include fields of play similar to the sport being simulated in a
pinball setting. However, even these sport pinball games use
classic holes or ball drops to simulate the game and do not sport
specific types of targets, such as, for example, foul poles in
baseball, golf hole cups and flags, basketball hoops and
backboards, and the like.
[0006] Thus, it would be desirable to produce a pinball game having
visual effects, targets, and scoring that simulated the visual
effects, targets, and scoring of the simulated sport.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] To attain the advantages and in accordance with the purpose
of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a
pinball game simulation of football is provided. The simulation
comprises a pinball game having a pinball surface, a goal post,
ramps, and targets. The ramps simulate passes and kicks (kickoffs,
field goals, and punts). The targets represent yardage and
touchdowns obtained by running and passing. Some of the targets are
penalty targets, such as interception, and holding.
[0008] The present invention further provides a pinball game
simulation of basketball. The basketball simulation contains a
pinball surface, ramps, and targets. The ramps may simulate shots
or possibly a tip off, the target may represent a basketball hoop,
offensive plays, defensive plays, or penalties.
[0009] The foregoing and other features, utilities and advantages
of the invention will be apparent from the following more
particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention
as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0010] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of
the present invention, and together with the description, serve to
explain the principles thereof. Like items in the drawings are
referred to using the same numerical reference.
[0011] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a pinball football game
consistent with the present invention; and
[0012] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a pinball basketball game
consistent with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] The present invention will be further explained with
reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Referring first to FIG. 1, a football
simulation pinball game 100 is shown. Pinball game 100 includes a
playing surface 102 surrounded by a sidewall 104. As pinball game
100 exemplifies a football simulation, playing surface 102
incorporates traditional football markings, including yard lines
120, an end zone 130 with goal posts 132, sidelines 140 (which in
this example are simply where the playing surface 102 and sidewall
104 abut), and a generic stadium 150. Generic stadium 150 could be
team specific, such as, for example, a stadium indicative of the
football stadium for the Washington Redskins or the like. Stadium
150 could be removed, but provides a catch for aerial targets that
are missed during game play, aerial targets are explained further
below.
[0014] Sidelines 140 could include figure representative of
football players, coaches, and cheerleaders (not shown). Sidelines
140 could also include a yardage marker 142. Possible uses for
yardage marker 142 are explained below, including a use for
scoring.
[0015] Strategically placed about playing surface 102 are a
plurality of targets 106, 108, 110, and 112. While targets can be a
number of devices, in this example, targets 106 includes holes or
bumpers representative of offensive events that take place in the
game, such as, targets 106r may be a running play, target 106t is a
passing play, target 106s is a score, target 106p may be a penalty,
such as holding or pass interference, target 106c may be a change
of possession, and the like. Targets may have multiple functions,
for example target 106t also indicates a score. Targets 106 may
indicate yardage gains or losses, such as, for example, a +5 yard
running play, a -10 yard holding penalty, or the like.
[0016] Targets 108 include ramps 108r to simulate the aerial action
of the ball, including for example, a passing play to touchdown
reception in target 134 or a field goal through goal posts 132.
[0017] Targets 110 may be defensive plays, such as tackles, sacks,
pass defenses, and interceptions. Targets 110 may indicate yardage
gains or losses, such as, for example, a -12 yard sack, a .+-.10
yard pass defense, or the like.
[0018] Targets 112 may, for example, be more traditional pinball
targets. For example targets 112 may be, as shown, bumpers or
rebounders.
[0019] Scoring would be similar to traditional football games as
well. For example, if a player hit ramp 108r such that the pinball
goes through goal posts 132, 3 points maybe awarded. If the player
hits ramp 114 with the pinball such that the pinball goes through
end zone target 134, 7 points maybe awarded. If the player hits
targets (for passing, running, and penalties) to accumulate
sufficient yardage on yardage marker 142 to score a touchdown, 7
points maybe awarded. Plays having yardage gains and losses (such
as from targets 106 and 110) could be automatically or manually
tracked by yardage market 142, which is shown as an analog slide,
but could be digital.
[0020] Playing pinball game would be similar to playing a
conventional pinball game, but with the added benefit of football
specific activities. Such activities include passing, penalties,
change of possession, touchdowns, and field goals.
[0021] Referring now to FIG. 2, a basketball simulation pinball
game 200 is shown. Basketball simulation pinball game 200 include a
court 202 and stands 204 surround the court 202. A number of ramps
206, basketball hoops 208, and backboards 210 are strategically
positioned around the court to simulate various types of shots. For
example, ramp 200m which projects a pinball towards basketball hoop
208m (being the middle ramp and hoop) may simulate a two point
shot, while side ramps 206s which projects a pinball towards
basketball hoops 206s may simulate a three point shot. Other
features of a basketball game, including shot clock violations,
backcourt violations, penalties and the like would be represented
by traditional pinball targets such as holes, bumpers, rebounders,
and the like similar to those described in accordance with FIG.
1.
[0022] Court 202 further would have indicia indicative of
regulation basketball. For example, court 202 may have a key 212, a
three point shot line 214, and a foul line 216.
[0023] One aspect of basketball not captured by pinball games is
the unique one on one play potential. To capture this feature,
basketball pinball game 200 is designed as a two player version,
thus another court 250 is attached to the first court 202. Court
250 includes stands, which may be separate or a continuation of
stands 204 as desired, and would have ramps 254, basketball hoops
256, and backboards 258 similar to court 202. Moreover, other
traditional basketball features could be simulated by traditional
pinball devices.
[0024] Using the one on one aspect, the player on court 202 may
miss a basket or other target causing his ball to land in court
250. This would provide the player on court 250 an extra ball to
use for scooting and scoring. This feature would be akin to a steal
leading to an extra score for a regulation basketball game.
[0025] While the invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to particular embodiment(s) thereof, it
will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other
changes in the form and details may be made without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention.
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