Volcano target game with scoring mechanism

Abstract

A target game device played with a ball or other projectile for use in places such as amusement parks, arcades or the home is disclosed. An essential element of the game device is that a variety of special effects are used to add excitement as a player gets closer to winning and continue after winning. The game device consists of one or more targets at which a projectile such as a ball is tossed or rolled by one or more players of the game. In the preferred embodiment, the main target is the open-ended top of a cylinder in the center of a volcano-shaped game housing. The balls or projectiles are collected in the cylinder as players of the game successfully toss the balls into the target opening at the top of the housing. As the balls pass into the target, a game status display tabulates the score of the game. When the players successfully throw a certain number of balls within a determined time limit, they essentially “win” the game causing the device's game controller to activate a propulsion mechanism at the bottom of the cylinder which propels the collected balls in the cylinder upward and out of the cylinder, creating an “eruption” of balls. Coinciding with this “eruption” smoke, fire, glowing lights, sound, and vibration are generated to simulate a real eruption, adding to the entertainment value of winning the game. The device can also be programmed with different sets of game rules in other embodiments. Various shapes and sizes of this game as well as the number and types of targets allow flexibility such that the game can be played indoors and outdoors, including arcades. Another embodiment of the game has a flat surface with a caricature of a devil whose mouth and eyes are the targets. When a player wins the game, smoke comes out of the mouth and the eyes light up. In other embodiments, the surface of the game device can be made to allow players to roll balls into the target or targets.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.