Arcade game with color sensing apparatus

A game apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of playing pieces, each of said playing pieces having a distinct color associated therewith;
• a plurality of targets arranged to receive said playing pieces, each target being associated with at least one of said distinct colors;
• sensor means arranged to detect the color of a piece received by a designated one of the targets;
• a timer coupled to said scoring means and operative to stop said scoring means from changing said game score after a predetermined period of time;
• and
• dispenser means for dispensing said playing pieces to a player;
• wherein said dispenser means stops dispensing said playing pieces to said player after said predetermined period of time.

An arcade game comprising:

• a plurality of balls, each of said balls having one of a plurality of predetermined colors associated therewith;
• a dispenser operative to allow a player access to said balls;
• a plurality of targets arranged to receive said balls, each target being associated with one of said predetermined colors;
• highlighting means for highlighting a designated one of said targets in a manner that will draw a player's attention to the designated target;
• sensor means coupled to each of said targets and operative to detect the color of a ball received by one of said targets;
• scoring means for changing a game score when the color associated with a particular one of said balls that has been received by said highlighted target matches the color associated with said highlighted target;
• display means for displaying said game score to said player;
• a timer for stopping said dispenser from allowing access to said balls after a predetermined period of time;
• ball return means coupled to said target for guiding a ball to said dispenser;
• an award dispenser operative to dispense an award to said player based upon said game score;
• and
• a frame for supporting said plurality of targets and said dispenser.

A game comprising:

• a plurality of playing substantially spherical pieces each of said playing pieces having one of a plurality predetermined physical attributes associated therewith wherein a one of said plurality of predetermined physical attributes is color;
• a plurality of targets arranged to receive said playing pieces, each target being associated with one of said predetermined attributes;
• highlighting means for highlighting a designated one of said targets in a manner that will draw a player's attention to the designated target;
• sensor means arranged to detect the attribute of a playing piece received by one of said targets;
• processing means for outputting a determination of whether the attribute of a particular one of said playing pieces that has been received by said highlighted target matches the attribute associated with said highlighted target;
• tabulating means coupled to said processing means for changing a game score based upon said determination of said processing means;
• and
• timing means operative to stop said tabulating means from changing said game score after a predetermined amount of time.

A method for operating a game having a plurality of targets and a plurality of playing pieces, each playing piece and each target having a designated color associated therewith, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) highlighting at least one target as a selected target;
• b) detecting said color of each playing piece received by said targets;
• c) for each playing piece received by said selected target, determining whether the color of the playing piece matches a color associated with said selected target;
• d) tabulating points scored by a player, wherein the points scored are based at least in part on whether the playing pieces received by said selected target match the color associated with said selected target;
• e) highlighting a different at least one target as a selected target;
• and
• f) repeating steps b) through d) with respect to said different selected one of the targets.

A method for playing a game comprising:

• a) providing a plurality of playing pieces in a playing piece dispenser, each of said playing pieces having an associated one of a group of predetermined colors;
• b) providing a plurality of targets receptive to said playing pieces, each of said targets having an associated one of said group of predetermined colors;
• c) highlighting one or more selected targets for a predetermined period of scoring time;
• d) changing a game score when a highlighted target receives a playing piece having a color that corresponds to said predetermined color associated with said highlighted target;
• e) guiding playing pieces received by said targets to a playing piece dispenser;
• and
• f) repeating steps c) through e) for a different selected target.

A game with a color sensing apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of playing pieces, each of which is one of at least two different colors;
• at least one means for receiving a playing piece including an elongated tube;
• means for allowing a player to affect the relative position of a playing piece and said means for receiving a playing piece said means for allowing a player to affect the relative position including a player-controlled door associated with an opening to said tube;
• and
• means for determining a color of a playing piece received by said means for receiving a playing piece.

A game apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of playing pieces, each of said playing pieces having a color associated therewith;
• at least one target arranged to receive one of said playing pieces, said target being related to one of said colors;
• a sensor arranged to detect a color of said playing piece received by said target;
• a scorer operative to change a game score when the color of said playing piece received by said target at least approximately matches said color to which said target is related, said scorer arranged to permit scoring when the color of a playing piece received by an illuminated target matches said color to which said target is related;
• and
• a light operative to selectively illuminate a selected one of said targets.

A game apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of playing pieces, each of said playing pieces having a color associated therewith;
• at least one target arranged to receive one of said playing pieces, said target being related to one of said colors;
• a sensor arranged to detect a color of said playing piece received by said target;
• a scorer operative to change a game score when the color of said playing piece received by said target at least approximately matches said color to which said target is related;
• a timer coupled to said scorer and operative to stop said scorer from changing said game score after a period of time;
• and
• a dispenser for dispensing said playing pieces to a player;
• wherein said dispenser stops dispensing said playing pieces to said player after said period of time.

A target game comprising:

• a plurality of playing pieces, each of said playing pieces having one of a plurality of distinct physical attributes associated therewith;
• a plurality of targets arranged to receive said playing pieces, each target being associated with one of said attributes;
• a light for illuminating a designated one of said targets in a manner to indicate that said target is in a special state;
• a sensor arranged to detect the attribute of a playing piece received by one of said targets;
• an analyzer for outputting a determination of whether the attribute of a particular one of said playing pieces that has been received by said illuminated target matches the attribute associated with said illuminated target;
• a tabulator coupled to said analyzer for changing a game score based upon said determination of said analyzer;
• and
• a timer operative to stop said tabulator from changing said game score after a predetermined amount of time.

A game with a color sensing apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of playing pieces, each of which is one of at least two different colors;
• at least one receptor operative to receive a playing piece including an elongated tube;
• a mechanism for allowing a player to affect the relative position of a playing piece and said receptor, said mechanism for allowing a player to affect the relative position comprises a player-controlled door associated with an opening said tube;
• and
• an apparatus for determining a color of a playing piece received by said receptor.