Mechanical projectile and target game

A beer pong game comprising:

• a base with a playing surface that has (i) a first end with a first designated area for cups and (ii) a second end;
• a game piece;
• a tether that attaches the game piece to the base so as to permit the game piece to move freely within the tether's range, wherein the tether's range comprises a three-dimensional space that is defined by a length of the tether and a location on the base to which the tether is anchored;
• a first launcher that includes a mechanism to launch the game piece as a projectile, the first launcher being positioned at or around the second end to launch the game piece toward the first designated area for cups, wherein the first designated area for cups and at least a portion of the first launcher are within the tether's range;
• one or more base magnets that are affixed to or embedded within the base;
• and
• a tether magnet to which a first end of the tether is affixed, a second end of the tether being affixed to the game piece, wherein the tether magnet is magnetically coupled to the base at the location via the one or more base magnets.

A game apparatus comprising:

• an elongated and planar game surface that defines one or more first recesses and one or more second recesses, wherein the first recesses and the second recesses are sized and shaped to each hold one or more arrangements of cups;
• a ball;
• a tether that connects the ball to the elongated and planar game surface, the tether including a first end that is attached to the game surface at a location between the one or more first recesses and the one or more second recesses, and a second end that is attached to the ball, and wherein the tether has a length that is shorter than a length of the elongated and planar game surface;
• a first launcher that is located near a first end of the elongated and planar game surface, the first launcher including a first launching mechanism that is configured to launch the ball as a projectile toward the one or more second recesses;
• and
• a second launcher that is located near a second end of the elongated and planar game surface, the second end being opposite the first end, the second launcher including a second launching mechanism that is configured to launch the ball as a projectile toward the one or more first recesses;
• wherein the first recesses comprises a central recess and a plurality of recesses arranged in a generally circular pattern around the central recess, the plurality of recesses including a first recess and a second recess that overlaps the first recess;
• and
• wherein the central recess is defined by a first protrusion, the first protrusion further defining, together with a second protrusion, at least in part, the first recess and the second recess.