US 10,357,708 B2 · Systems and methods for non-synchronous cooperative and competitive play on multiple connected pinball machines

Abstract

The present invention is directed at enhancing pinball gameplay through non-synchronous multiplayer competitive and cooperative play. In the primary embodiment this is achieved by treating the logic and circuitry of an individual pinball machine as a “Client,” that is connected to a server or “Host”. The Host is in bidirectional communication with the individual pinball machines or Clients. The status of the Client, such as score, progress on completing features and other game metrics may be communicated to the Host at predetermined intervals. These game metrics may be communicated by the Host to all Clients. When a gameplay objective is completed on a client, the player is presented with a gameplay choice. This choice may be to change the status of his Client or change the status of another player's Client.

Claims4

Dependent claims

A multiplayer competitive and/or cooperative pinball machine system comprising:

a. a plurality of pinball machines, known as Clients, wherein logic and circuitry control gameplay,
b. logic and circuitry that controls a subset of the pinball machines' gameplay, wherein said logic and circuitry is not located in the pinball machines, said logic and circuitry known as a Server or Host,
c. logic and circuitry that digitally allows bidirectional communication between the Host and the Clients, wherein the status of a Client is updated to the Host at predetermined intervals,
d. logic and circuitry on each Client that monitors progress on gameplay objectives on the Client and upon a Client achieving a gameplay objective:
1. Presents a gameplay choice to the first player,
2. Accepts the gameplay choice of the first player,
3. If the gameplay choice chosen by the first player only affects the first player's client, the client changes the game status of the first player's client,
4. If the gameplay choice chosen by the player affects a second player's client, the first player's client communicates the choice to the Host, and the Host changes the game status of a second player's client,
5. The gameplay choice chosen by the first player is communicated to the Host and the Host changes the game status on the first's player's Team status or the Host changes the game status on the second player's Team status.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems and methods for non-synchronous cooperative and competitive play on multiple connected pinball machines

Life of this patent

Systems and methods for non-synchronous cooperative and competitive play on multiple connected pinball machines

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims4