Amusement system for skill-based games and methods directed to the same

A method for operation of a skill-based amusement system, comprising:

• presenting a plurality of identifiable targets moving about a playfield shown on a display associated with the skill-based amusement system,
• directing movement of each target about the playfield in a substantially non-random, substantially predictable trajectory or path based on instructions stored in a memory,
• wherein one or more of the targets are associated with one or more different meta or sub-games each defined by a series of game instructions or rules stored in a memory associated with the skill-based amusement system and accessible by a player of the skill- based amusement system;
• receiving one or more game play input signals from one or more player controls of an active player station, and in response, directing one or more objects toward one or more targets moving about the playfield;
• wherein a player at the active player station is enabled to use strategy or skill to direct the one or more objects at select ones of the targets;
• and
• if at least one target is engaged by the one or more objects, determining whether the active player station should receive an award based on game rules or instructions associated with the at least one target engaged by the one or more objects, to achieve a return to player of greater than 100% of a play amount or level input by the player at the active player station upon capturing or obtaining the at least one target in accordance with the game rules or instructions associated with the at least one target;
• wherein, responsive to a target being engaged by the one or more objects, the engaged target is moved along a secondary, non-random predictable path that is independent from the substantially non-random, substantially predictable path or trajectory, and wherein responsive to the engaged target being engaged by one or more additional objects, the engaged target is moved along an additional, non-random, predictable path or returned to the substantially non-random, substantially predictable path or trajectory.

A skill-based amusement system, comprising:

• a cabinet including a display adapted to display a playfield of a skill-based game, and a plurality of player stations linked to the display, each of the player stations having a plurality of player controls;
• and
• one or more game control systems, each including at least one processor configured to access and execute gaming logic instructions stored in at least one memory to cause the amusement system to:
• move a plurality of targets about the playfield according to one or more substantially non-random sequences or patterns, at least some of the targets comprising targets having different sizes, configurations, types, classes, colors, or combinations thereof;
• receive player selected play options for one or more game plays of the skill-based game from at least one active player station of the plurality of player stations;
• receive a selection of a cost for a play of the skill-based game from the at least one active player station;
• upon receipt of an input responsive to operation of one or more of the plurality of player controls of the at least one active player station, initiating a game play of the skill-based game and directing an object along the playfield from the at least one active player station toward the plurality of targets;
• if the object engages a target, determine whether a threshold criterion for obtaining the target has been met during the game play;
• change a feature associated with objects during selected game plays;
• determine a feature match by comparing the features of the objects fired to a feature of the target;
• and
• if a feature match percentage is at or above a predetermined threshold, providing an award or a bonus to the at least one active player station from which the object was directed.

A method for play of a skill-based game, comprising:

• presenting a plurality of differently identifiable targets on a playfield shown on a display of an amusement system;
• moving or directing each of the targets about the playfield in accordance with a non-random, identifiable sequence or pattern of movement;
• setting one or more player selected play options for at least one game play of the skill-based game at one or more player stations;
• upon receipt of an input from one or more of a plurality of a player controls of the one or more player stations, initiating a play of the skill-based game, including directing one or more objects at one or more of the targets moving across the playfield from the one or more player stations;
• if an object engages a target, determining whether a threshold criterion for obtaining an award for the target has been met;
• changing a color of an indicator associated with the object;
• determining a feature match percentage by comparing a current color of the object, when the object engages the target, to a color of the indicator;
• and
• if the feature match percentage is at or above a predetermined threshold, providing a bonus to a player station from which the object was directed;
• wherein a player of the skill-based game is enabled to increase the award obtained through application of skill during the play of the skill-based game according to a series of player accessible game rules or instructions for the skill-based game by recognizing the sequence or pattern of movement of targets and engaging targets with increased award values or bonus values associated therewith.