US 6,296,568 B1Granted

Pyramid-style video game method and device

OwnerMark E. Tracyinventor

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Abstract

A video game complete with player wagering includes a processor and a display controlled by the processor. Said display is a game board in the form of a pyramid having an apex, a base and a plurality of pins displayed on the game board. Also displayed at the base is a plurality of locations each defining an outcome for the game. During play, a character is displayed falling from the apex to the base being directed by contact with the pins. The game payout is dependent upon the base location ultimately occupied by the character. In a preferred embodiment the pins can be programmed as stop pins, lateral shift pins or bonus pins. Upon contact with the character the stop pin will end the game with no payout, the lateral shift pin will move the character to the left or right and the bonus pin will cause a bonus payout.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A method for playing a pyramid style electronic game comprising:

a processor;
a player entering a wager;
said processor displaying a video display pyramid shaped game board, said game board including an upper apex and a lower base including distinct locations defined along the base;
the processor further displaying pins on the game board distributed between the apex and base and at least one of said pins denoted as lateral shift pin;
the player prompting play of the game whereupon the processor controls a display to show a game character falling from the apex toward the base on the game board, said character deflected to the right or to the left upon encountering said pins and said character shifting one pin to the right or left upon encountering a lateral shift pin and said character ultimately falling to one of said locations;
the processor determining the location which received said character and comparing the location to a pre-determined schedule of winning and losing locations and whereupon said game character has encountered a winning location issuing a reward to the player.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.