Interactive play for a pinball game

A pinball game comprising:

• an inclined playfield for supporting at least one game ball thereon;
• a first shooting position on the playfield;
• a second shooting position on the playfield spaced from said first shooting position;
• a target spaced apart from said first and second shooting positions;
• first and second shooting mechanisms responsive to input from a player for propelling the game ball from the respective first and second shooting positions toward the target, wherein the game ball normally follows a first shooting path of travel from said first shooting position to said target when propelled by the first shooting mechanism, and the game ball normally follows a second shooting path of travel from said second shooting position to said target when propelled by the second shooting mechanism;
• first and second passing mechanisms responsive to input from a player for propelling the game ball between the respective first and second shooting positions, wherein said game ball normally follows a passing path of travel between said first and second shooting positions when propelled by either one of the first and second passing mechanisms;
• a blocking member adapted to move between a first blocking position wherein a horizontally extending portion of said blocking member obstructs the first shooting path of travel to prevent said game ball from reaching the target from the first shooting position, and a second blocking position wherein said blocking member obstructs the second shooting path of travel to prevent said game ball from reaching the target from the second shooting position.

A pinball game comprising:

• an inclined playfield for supporting at least one game ball thereon;
• a first ejection hole formed in the playfield to retain the game ball in a fixed first shooting position;
• a second ejection hole formed in the playfield to retain the game ball in a fixed second shooting position spaced from said first shooting position;
• a receptacle positioned above the playfield and horizontally spaced from said first and second ejection holes, said receptacle having an open top elevated above the playfield to act as a basket for receiving the game ball;
• a first curved guide rail extending upwardly from the first ejection hole and curving toward the receptacle to define a first shooting path of travel and guide the game ball from the first shooting position to the receptacle;
• a second curved guide rail extending upwardly from the second ejection hole and curving toward the receptacle to define a second shooting path of travel and guide the game ball from the second shooting position to the receptacle;
• first and second shooting mechanisms responsive to input from a player for propelling the game ball generally upwardly from the respective first and second shooting positions toward the receptacle, wherein the game ball normally follows the first shooting path of travel from the first shooting position to the receptacle when propelled by the first shooting mechanism, and the game ball normally follows the second shooting path of travel from the second shooting position to the receptacle when propelled by the second shooting mechanism;
• first and second passing mechanisms responsive to input from a player for propelling the game ball between the respective first and second shooting positions, wherein the game ball normally follows a passing path of travel between said first and second shooting positions when propelled by either one of the first and second passing mechanisms;
• a blocking member adapted to move between a first blocking position wherein a horizontally extending portion of said blocking member obstructs the first shooting path of travel to prevent the game ball from reaching the receptacle from the first shooting position, and a second blocking position wherein said horizontally extending portion of the blocking member obstructs the second shooting path of travel to prevent the game ball from reaching the receptacle from the second shooting position;
• a moving mechanism positioned underneath the playfield for moving the blocking member between the first and second blocking positions, said moving mechanism including a motor having a pivot arm, wherein the blocking member extends upwardly from an end of the pivoame ball has reached one of the first and second shooting positions, whereupon the blocking member is actuated to move into the corresponding blocking position;
• and
• a magnet mounted on the playfield and positioned generally in the passing path of travel, said magnet adapted to be energized in response to a blocked shot and in response to the expiration of a predetermined time limit to thereby intercept the game ball in the passing path of travel, whereupon the magnet is de-energized to allow the game ball to roll out of the field of play of the interactive play feature.

A pinball game comprising:

• an inclined playfield for supporting at least one game ball thereon;
• first, second and third shooting positions on the playfield;
• a target spaced apart from said first, second and third shooting positions;
• first, second and third shooting mechanisms responsive to input from a player for propelling the game ball from the respective first, second and third shooting positions toward the target, wherein said game ball normally follows a first shooting path of travel from said first shooting position to said target when propelled by the first shooting mechanism, a second shooting path of travel from said second shooting position to said target when propelled by the second shooting mechanism, and a third shooting path of travel from said third shooting position to said target when propelled by the third shooting mechanism;
• a first passing mechanism responsive to input from a player for propelling the game ball between the first and second shooting positions, wherein said game ball normally follows a first passing path of travel between said first and second shooting positions when propelled by the first passing mechanism;
• a second passing mechanism responsive to input from a player for propelling the game ball between the second and first shooting positions, wherein said game ball normally follows said first passing path of travel between said second and first shooting positions when propelled by the second passing mechanism;
• a third passing mechanism responsive to input from a player for propelling the game ball between the second and third shooting positions, wherein the game ball normally follows a second passing path of travel between said second and third shooting positions when propelled by passing mechanism;
• a fourth passing mechanism responsive to input from a player for propelling the game ball between the third and second shooting positions, wherein said game ball normally follows said second passing path of travel between said third and second shooting positions when propelled by the fourth passing mechanism;
• a blocking member adapted to move between a first blocking position wherein said blocking member obstructs the first shooting path of travel to prevent said same ball from reaching the target from the first shooting position, a second blocking position wherein said blocking member obstructs the second shooting path of travel to prevent said game ball from reaching the target from the second shooting position, and a third blocking position wherein said blocking member obstructs the third shooting path of travel to prevent said game ball from reaching the target from the third shooting position;
• and
• a sensor adapted to detect when the game ball is approaching one of the first, second and third shooting positions, whereupon the blocking member is actuated to move into the corresponding blocking position;
• whereby a player has an option of shooting the game ball or passing to the second shooting position when the game ball is in the first shooting position, an option of shooting the game ball or passing to either the first or second shooting positions when the game ball is in the second shooting position, and an option of shooting the game ball or passing to the second shooting position when the game ball is in the third shooting position.