Volcano target game with scoring mechanism

Abstract

A target game device played with a ball or other projectile for use in places such as amusement parks, arcades or the home is disclosed. An essential element of the game device is that a variety of special effects are used to add excitement as a player gets closer to winning and continue after winning. The game device consists of one or more targets at which a projectile such as a ball is tossed or rolled by one or more players of the game. In the preferred embodiment, the main target is the open-ended top of a cylinder in the center of a volcano-shaped game housing. The balls or projectiles are collected in the cylinder as players of the game successfully toss the balls into the target opening at the top of the housing. As the balls pass into the target, a game status display tabulates the score of the game. When the players successfully throw a certain number of balls within a determined time limit, they essentially “win” the game causing the device's game controller to activate a propulsion mechanism at the bottom of the cylinder which propels the collected balls in the cylinder upward and out of the cylinder, creating an “eruption” of balls. Coinciding with this “eruption” smoke, fire, glowing lights, sound, and vibration are generated to simulate a real eruption, adding to the entertainment value of winning the game. The device can also be programmed with different sets of game rules in other embodiments. Various shapes and sizes of this game as well as the number and types of targets allow flexibility such that the game can be played indoors and outdoors, including arcades. Another embodiment of the game has a flat surface with a caricature of a devil whose mouth and eyes are the targets. When a player wins the game, smoke comes out of the mouth and the eyes light up. In other embodiments, the surface of the game device can be made to allow players to roll balls into the target or targets.

What I claim is:  
     
         1 . A target game device that accommodates one or more players wherein each player attempts to acquire one or more targets in accordance with game rules by propelling projectiles at said targets comprising: 
 a game housing incorporating one or more targets;    a plurality of said projectiles;    a target sensor for each of said targets that generates a target signal each time said target sensor detects that said target is acquired in accordance with game rules;    a game status display for each of said players;    an special effects generator; and    a game controller that receives said target signal, controls game sequence in accordance with game rules, control said game status display and activates said special effects generator when a player wins the game.    
     
     
         2 . A target game device as described in  claim 1  further comprising a projectile return means.  
     
     
         3 . A target game device as described in  claim 1  wherein said game controller is programmable.  
     
     
         4 . A target game device as described in  claim 3  wherein said programmable game controller is programmed with one or more selectable games.  
     
     
         5 . A target game device as described in  claim 4  wherein said selectable games include more than one level of play.  
     
     
         6 . A target game device as described in  claim 1  wherein said game status display comprises: 
 a means for displaying the scores of players in previous games; and  
 a means for displaying the scores of players in a game currently being played.  
 
     
     
         7 . A target game device as described in  claim 1  wherein said special effects generator comprises: 
 a means for producing sound;  
 a means for producing smoke;  
 a means for producing fire;  
 a means for producing light;  
 a means for propelling objects into the air; and  
 a means for producing vibration.  
 
     
     
         8 . A target game device that accommodates one or more players wherein each player attempts to acquire one or more targets in accordance with game rules by propelling projectiles at said targets comprising: 
 a game housing incorporating one or more targets;    a plurality of said projectiles;    a projectile return means;    a target sensor for each of said targets that generates a target signal each time said target sensor detects that said target is acquired in accordance with game rules;    a game status display for each of said players;    an special effects generator that produces sound and light, generates smoke and fire, propels objects into the air, and vibrates when it is activated; and    a programmable game controller that receives said target signal, controls the game sequence in accordance with game rules, controls said game status display, and activates said special effects generator.    
     
     
         9 . A target game device as described in  claim 8  wherein said programmable game controller is programmed with one or more selectable games.  
     
     
         10 . A target game device as described in  claim 9  wherein said selectable games include more than one level of difficulty.  
     
     
         11 . A target game device that accommodates one or more players wherein each player attempts to win a game by acquiring one or more targets comprising: 
 a game housing incorporating one or more of said targets;    a plurality of said projectiles;    a predetermined set of game rules;    a target sensor for each of said targets that generates a target signal;    a game status display;    an special effects generator; and    a game controller that receives said target signal, controls game sequence, controls said game status display and activates said special effects generator.    
     
     
         12 . A target game device as described in  claim 11  wherein said game rules for a multi-player game comprise: 
 each player of said game propelling said projectiles at one or more of said targets;  
 sending a target signal to said game controller each time said projectile activates one of said target sensors;  
 accumulating the number of target sensor activations for each player; and  
 activating said special effects generator indicating which of said players was the first to accumulate a predetermined number of target sensor activations.  
 
     
     
         13 . A target game device as described in  claim 11  wherein said game rules for a multi-player game comprise: 
 each player of said game propelling said projectiles at one or more of said targets;  
 sending a target signal to said game controller each time said projectile activates one of said target sensors;  
 accumulating the number of target sensor activations for each player; and  
 activating said special effects generator and indicating which of said players accumulated the greatest number of target sensor activations in a predetermined time.  
 
     
     
         14 . A target game device as described in  claim 11  wherein said game rules for a multi-player game comprise: 
 each player of said game propelling said projectiles at one or more of said targets;  
 sending a target signal to said game controller each time said projectile activates one of said target sensors;  
 accumulating the sequence in which each of said target sensor activations occurred for each player; and  
 activating said special effects generator and indicating which of said players was first to activate said target sensors in a predetermined order.  
 
     
     
         15 . A target game device as described in  claim 11  wherein said game rules for a multi-player game comprise: 
 each player of said game propelling said projectiles at one or more of said targets;  
 sending a target signal to said game controller each time said projectile activates one of said target sensors;  
 accumulating the sequence in which each of said target sensor activations occurred for each player; and  
 activating said special effects generator and indicating which of said players accumulated the greatest number of target sensor activations in a predetermined order within a predetermined time.  
 
     
     
         16 . A target game device as described in  claim 11  wherein said game rules for a multi-player game comprise: 
 randomly designating one or more of said targets;  
 each player of said game propelling said projectiles at one or more of said targets as they are randomly designated targets by said game controller;  
 sending a target signal to said game controller each time said projectile activates one of said randomly designated target sensors;  
 accumulating the number of randomly designated target sensor activations for each player; and  
 activating said special effects generator and indicating which of said players was the first to accumulate a predetermined number of randomly designated target sensor activations.  
 
     
     
         17 . A target game device as described in  claim 11  wherein said game rules for a multi-player game comprise: 
 randomly designating one or more of said targets;  
 each player of said game propelling said projectiles at one or more of said targets as they are randomly designated targets by said game controller;  
 sending a target signal to said game controller each time said projectile activates one of said randomly designated target sensors;  
 accumulating the number of randomly designated target sensor activations for each player; and  
 activating said special effects generator and indicating which of said players accumulated the greatest number of randomly designated target sensor activations within a predetermined time.  
 
     
     
         18 . A target game device as described in  claim 11  wherein said game rules for a multi-player game comprise: 
 each player of said game propelling said projectiles at one or more of said targets;  
 sending a target signal to said game controller each time said projectile activates one of said target sensors;  
 accumulating the number of target sensor activations for each player;  
 generating a game status display signal that indicates which player is closer to winning said game; and  
 activating said special effects generator and indicating which of said players was the first to accumulate a predetermined number of target sensor activations.  
 
     
     
         19 . A target game device as described in  claim 11  wherein said game rules for a multi-player game comprise: 
 each player of said game propelling said projectiles at one or more of said targets;  
 sending a target signal to said game controller each time said projectile activates one of said target sensors;  
 accumulating the number of target sensor activations for each player;  
 said game controller awarding any player bonus time to play said game if said player accumulates a predetermined number of target sensor activations within a predetermined reward time;  
 generating a game status display signal that indicates which player is closer to winning said game; and  
 activating said special effects generator and indicating which of said players accumulated the greatest number of target sensor activations.  
 
     
     
         20 . A target game device as described in  claim 11  wherein said game rules comprise: 
 each player of said game propelling said projectiles at one or more of said targets;  
 sending a target signal to said game controller each time said projectile activates one of said target sensors;  
 accumulating the number of target sensor activations; and  
 activating said special effects generator when a predetermined number of target sensor activations are accumulated.  
 
     
     
         21 . A target game device as described in  claim 11  wherein said game rules comprise: 
 each player of said game propelling said projectiles at one or more of said targets;  
 sending a target signal to said game controller each time said projectile activates one of said target sensors;  
 accumulating the number of target sensor activations; and  
 activating said special effects generator when a predetermined number of target sensor activations are accumulated in a predetermined time.  
 
     
     
         22 . A target game device as described in  claim 11  wherein said game rules comprise: 
 each player of said game propelling said projectiles at one or more of said targets;  
 sending a target signal to said game controller each time said projectile activates one of said target sensors;  
 accumulating the sequence in which each of said target sensor activations occurred; and  
 activating said special effects generator when said target sensors are acquired in a predetermined order.  
 
     
     
         23 . A target game device as described in  claim 11  wherein said game rules comprise: 
 each player of said game propelling said projectiles at one or more of said targets;  
 sending a target signal to said game controller each time said projectile activates one of said target sensors;  
 accumulating the sequence in which each of said target sensor activations occurred; and activating said special effects generator when said target sensors are acquired in a predetermined order within a predetermined time.  
 
     
     
         24 . A target game device as described in  claim 11  wherein said game rules comprise: 
 randomly designating one or more of said targets;  
 each player of said game propelling said projectiles at one or more of said targets as they are randomly designated targets by said game controller;  
 sending a target signal to said game controller each time said projectile activates one of said randomly designated target sensors;  
 accumulating the number of randomly designated target sensor activations; and  
 activating said special effects generator when a predetermined number of randomly designated target sensor activations are accumulated.  
 
     
     
         25 . A target game device as described in  claim 11  wherein said game rules comprise: 
 randomly designating one or more of said targets;  
 each player of said game propelling said projectiles at one or more of said targets as they are randomly designated targets by said game controller;  
 sending a target signal to said game controller each time said projectile activates one of said randomly designated target sensors;  
 accumulating the number of randomly designated target sensor activations; and  
 activating said special effects generator when a predetermined number of randomly designated target sensor activations are accumulated within a predetermined time.  
 
     
     
         26 . A target game device as described in  claim 11  wherein said game rules comprise: 
 each player of said game propelling said projectiles at one or more of said targets;  
 sending a target signal to said game controller each time said projectile activates one of said target sensors;  
 accumulating the number of target sensor activations;  
 said game controller awarding bonus time to play said game if a predetermined number of target sensor activations are accumulated within a predetermined reward time;  
 activating said special effects generator when a predetermined number of target sensor activations have been accumulated.  
 
     
     
         27 . A target game device as described in  claim 11  wherein said game rules comprise: 
 each player of said game propelling a predetermined number of said projectiles at one or more of said targets;  
 said targets having an assigned point value;  
 sending a target signal to said game controller each time said projectile activates one of said target sensors;  
 accumulating the number of target sensor activations with said assigned point values;  
 said game controller tabulating the cumulative score of said game based on the number of said target sensor activations with said assigned point values; and  
 activating said special effects generator when a predetermined score has been reached.