Back to results
US 4,363,485 AGranted
Time based pinball game machine
AssigneeD. Gottlieb & Co.
InventorAllen G. Edwall
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
Loading patent…
AssigneeD. Gottlieb & Co.
InventorAllen G. Edwall
Estimating the term…
A pinball game has game play determined primarily by time rather than the number of ball plays. A specifiable amount of game play time is originally accorded to a given player. The game play time is reduced at an instantaneous rate which changes according to how actively he plays and scores. The more active the ball play, the slower the game play time is reduced. In another feature, the pinball game machine is controlled by a digital processor which also participates as a contestant against the human player. As another feature, upon certain playfield achievements, a given player is entitled to operate a mechanism which alters the playfield conditions of another player. Yet another feature includes the provision of multiple independent playfield areas on a common playfield. Each playfield area is self-contained, having its own captured ball, flipper mechanism, and scoring targets. Preferably, the areas having the captured balls are enabled for ball play only for specified periods of time.
An electronic digital processor controlled pinball game machine for at least two players, comprising:
A pinball game machine in which the game play is defined by a succession of ball plays and the duration of game play is determined by time rather than the number of ball plays, comprising:
A pinball game machine in which the game play is defined by a succession of ball plays and the duration of game play is determined by time rather than the number of ball plays, comprising:
A multiple-player, single-player-at-a-time pinball game machine in which game play for a given player is defined by a succession of ball plays by that player, comprising:
A pinball game machine in which the game play is defined by a succession of ball plays and the duration of game play is determined by time and not the number of ball plays, comprising:
An electronic digital processor controlled pinball game machine where a player plays at least in part against the electronic digital processor, comprising:
A pinball game machine comprising:
A pinball game machine in which the game play is defined by a succession of ball plays and the duration of game play is determined by time rather than the number of ball plays, comprising:
In a pinball game of the type having a playfield, a ball rolling thereon, ball actuable scoring targets on the playfield, visual indicators for manifesting values responsive to actuation of the scoring targets, and a processor for operating the visual indicators in response to actuation of the scoring targets after commencement of, and during, game play, the improvement comprising:
A digital processr controlled pinball game machine comprising:
A pinball game machine in which the game play is defined by a succession of ball plays and the duration of game play is determined at least on part by time rather than the number of ball plays, comprising:
A digital processor controlled pinball game machine comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.