Arcade game for stacking directed playing pieces

A game apparatus comprising:

• a playing surface having a player end and a target end;
• a target provided at said target end of said playing surface, said target being receptive to a plurality of playing pieces directed by a player on said playing surface from said platter end to said target end, wherein said target includes a guide which supports said playing pieces above said playing surface at said target end such that said playing pieces engage said target without touching said playing surface at said target end, and wherein playing pieces received by said target are displayed to said player as engaged with said target and arranged in a predetermined configuration;
• and
• a collector provided at said target end and receptive to said plurality of playing pieces that are not received by said target, wherein playing pieces received by said collector are not displayed to said player.

An apparatus for playing a game, the apparatus comprising:

• target means for simultaneously engaging a plurality of playing pieces directed by a player, said target means receiving said playing pieces in a plurality of positions in a predetermined linear configuration that is displayed to said player and that causes said player to engage each additional playing piece with said target means with greater difficulty due to the presence of previously-directed playing pieces engaged with said target means;
• means for directing said plurality of playing pieces from said player to said target means;
• means for sensing said playing pieces engaged with said target at each of said positions of said target means;
• means for determining when a game is over so that no additional playing pieces are sensed at said target means during said game;
• and
• means for returning said directed playing pieces to said player.

A method for implementing a game, comprising:

• providing a playing surface and a target at one end of said playing surface;
• receiving a first ball on said playing surface, said first ball being directed by a player towards said target;
• receiving said first ball at said target in a first position of said target if said first ball has a requisite trajectory, wherein said first ball remains engaged with said target and is observable by said player;
• detecting said first ball at said first position with a first sensor device when said first ball is engaged with said target;
• receiving a second ball on said playing surface, said second ball being directed by said player towards said target;
• receiving said second ball at said target in a second position of said target and engaged with said first ball if said second ball has a requisite trajectory;
• and
• detecting said second ball at said second position with a second sensor device when said second ball is engaged with said target.

A game apparatus comprising:

• a playing surface having a player end and a target end;
• a target provided at said target end of said playing surface, said target being operative to simultaneously engage a plurality of playing pieces directed from said player end to said target end by a player, said target receiving said playing pieces in a predetermined configuration that causes each additional playing piece to be engaged with said target with greater difficulty by said player due to the presence of previously-directed playing pieces engaged with said target;
• and
• a plurality of sensors, each of said sensors provided at a corresponding position on said target where a playing piece may engage said target, said sensors detecting a presence of a playing piece engaged with said target at said corresponding position.

A method for implementing a game, comprising:

• providing a playing surface and a target at one end of said playing surface;
• receiving a first ball on said playing surface, said first ball being directed by a player towards said target;
• receiving said first ball on a linear guide of said target if said first ball has a requisite trajectory, wherein said first ball remains engaged with said target and is observable by said player and wherein said first ball does not touch a surface supporting said linear guide when engaged with said target;
• receiving a second ball on said playing surface, said second ball being directed by said player towards said target;
• and
• receiving said second ball on a linear guide of said target and engaged with said first ball if said second ball has a requisite trajectory, wherein said second ball remains engaged with said target and is observable by said player, and wherein said second ball does not touch a surface supporting said linear guide when engaged with said target.

A game apparatus comprising:

• a playing surface having a player end and a target end;
• a ramp provided at said target end of said playing surface, said ramp causing a playing piece directed from said player end to said target end to move off said playing surface in a direction against said influence of gravity;
• and
• a target provided near said target end of said playing surface, said target receiving said playing piece that has moved off said playing surface, said target being operative to simultaneously engage a plurality of playing pieces directed from said player end to said target end by a player, said target receiving said playing pieces in a predetermined configuration that causes each additional playing piece to be engaged with said target with greater difficulty by said player due to the presence of previously-directed playing pieces engaged with said target, wherein each additional playing piece engaged with said target contacts one previously directed playing piece engaged with said target.