Number selecting game with skill feature

Abstract

A number selecting game including a skill feature in which a player selects a sub-set of numbers from a pool of numbers for comparing the selected sub-set with a second sub-set of numbers selected from the pool of numbers to determine a prize, in which at least a portion of the second sub-set are chosen with skill by which the player selects the portion of the second sub-set of numbers. An apparatus for playing a number selecting game is disclosed.

1 . A method of playing a game of selecting a sub-set of numbers from a pool of numbers and comparing the selected sub-set with a second sub-set of numbers selected from the pool of numbers to determine a prize, in which at least a portion of the second sub-set are choosen with skill, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) displaying in a first format in a selection field for a number selecting game a pool of discrete numbers;    (b) distinguishing by displaying in a second format in the selection field a first quantity of discrete numbers selected from the pool of numbers by a player of the number selecting game to define a first sub-set of numbers;    (c) displaying in a game field a second quantity of discrete numbers selected randomly from the pool of numbers by a controller operating the selecting game to define a second sub-set of numbers;    (d) enabling the player to select at least one discrete number from the pool of numbers to be included in the second sub-set of numbers; and    (e) determining a prize to be awarded to the player based on a quantity of numbers that match between the first sub-set of numbers and the second sub-set of numbers.    
   
   
       2 . The method of playing a game as recited in  claim 1 , wherein step (b) the first quantity of discrete numbers is selected by the player to be between a minimum quantity and a maximum quantity.  
   
   
       3 . The method of playing a game as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the minimum quantity is 4 and the maximum quantity is 10.  
   
   
       4 . The method of playing a game as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the second quantity for the second sub-set of numbers equals the maximum quantity of the numbers included in the first sub-set.  
   
   
       5 . The method of playing a game as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the prize ranges from a first value for a minimum quantity of matching numbers to a second value for a maximum quantity of matching numbers.  
   
   
       6 . The method of playing a game as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the first value is less then the second value.  
   
   
       7 . The method of playing a game as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising step (f) changing the display of the numbers in the first sub-set of numbers to the first format after step (c) and prior to step (d).  
   
   
       8 . The method of playing a game as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the first format displays the numbers in a first coloring and the second format displays the numbers in a second coloring.  
   
   
       9 . The method of playing a game as recited in  claim 7 , wherein prior to step (f) the display of each of the numbers in the first sub-set of numbers cycles for a predetermined number of times between the second format and a third format.  
   
   
       10 . The method of playing a game as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the number playing game sounds a signal while the display cycles.  
   
   
       11 . The method of playing a game as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising prior to step (a) the player wagering an amount of value tokens against the prize that comprises additional value tokens depending on the quantity of matching numbers.  
   
   
       12 . The method of playing a game as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising the step of maintaining an account of value tokens available to the player for wagering and replenished by the prize after play of a game.  
   
   
       13 . The method of playing a game as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising the step of distributing to the player the quantity of value tokens in the account upon termination of play of the game.  
   
   
       14 . The method of playing a game as recited in  claim 1 , wherein step (b) the player selects the numbers to be included in the first sub-set or the player selects a controller to select randomly the numbers to be included in the first sub-set.  
   
   
       15 . The method of playing a game as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a prize field displays a prize value associated with each quantity of matching numbers.  
   
   
       16 . A game apparatus having a skill feature for playing a game of selecting a sub-set of numbers from a pool of numbers and comparing the selected sub-set with a second sub-set selected from the pool of numbers to determine a prize, in which at least a portion of the second sub-set is chosen by the player as a test of skill, comprising: 
 a display having a selection field in which is displayed in a first format a pool of discrete numbers and of the pool a first quantity selected by a player for display in second format as a sub-set of play numbers and a game field in which is displayed a second quantity of numbers selected from the pool to define a sub-set of game numbers;    a controller for operating the sequence of steps for the player to play the number selecting game in which the player selects the sub-set of play numbers, the controller randomly selects a first portion of the game numbers, the player selects a second portion of the play numbers, and the controller awards the player a prize based on a quantity of numbers that match between the sub-set of play numbers and the sub-set of game numbers;    a selector by which the player selects numbers from the pool of numbers to define the sub-set of play numbers, the selected play numbers displayed in the selection field in the second format; and    an actuator by which the player signals the controller to advance through the sequence of steps to play the game.    
   
   
       17 . The game apparatus as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising means for selecting the first quantity of discrete numbers between a minimum quantity and a maximum quantity.  
   
   
       18 . The game apparatus as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the minimum quantity is 4 and the maximum quantity is 10.  
   
   
       19 . The game apparatus as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the second quantity for the sub-set of game numbers equals the maximum quantity of the play numbers.  
   
   
       20 . The game apparatus as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the prize ranges from a first value for a minimum quantity of matching numbers to a second value for a maximum quantity of matching numbers.  
   
   
       21 . The game apparatus as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the first value is less then the second value.  
   
   
       22 . The game apparatus as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising means for changing the display of the numbers in the sub-set of the play numbers to the first format after the controller randomly selects the first portion of the game numbers and before the player selects the second portion of the play numbers.  
   
   
       23 . The game apparatus as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the first format displays the numbers in a first coloring and the second format displays the numbers in a second coloring.  
   
   
       24 . The game apparatus as recited in  claim 22 , further comprising means for cycling the display of the numbers in the sub-set of play numbers a predetermined number of times between the second format and a third format prior to changing the display of the numbers in the sub-set of the play numbers to the first format.  
   
   
       25 . The game apparatus as recited in  claim 24 , further comprising an annunciator that sounds a signal while the display cycles.  
   
   
       26 . The game apparatus as recited in  claim 25 , further comprising means for the player to wager an amount of value tokens against the prize that comprises additional value tokens depending on the quantity of matching numbers.  
   
   
       27 . The game apparatus as recited in  claim 26 , further comprising an account of value tokens available to the player for wagering and replenished by the prize after play of the game.  
   
   
       28 . The game apparatus as recited in  claim 27 , further comprising a dispenser for providing to the player the quantity of value tokens in the account upon termination of play of the game.  
   
   
       29 . The method of playing a game as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the selector enables the player to selectively select the numbers to be in the sub-set of game numbers or authorize a controller to select randomly the numbers to be in the sub-set of the game numbers.  
   
   
       30 . The game apparatus as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the display includes a prize field that displays a prize value associated with each quantity of matching numbers.  
   
   
       31 . The game apparatus as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising an incrementer operated by the player to change selectively the amount of the wager.  
   
   
       32 . The game apparatus as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the display includes an account field that displays the accumulated amount of the value tokens.  
   
   
       33 . The game apparatus as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising a receiver for accepting value tokens from the player for increasing the amount thereof in the account.  
   
   
       34 . A method of playing a game of selecting a sub-set of members from a pool of members and comparing the selected sub-set with a second sub-set thereof to determine a prize, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) selecting by a player of the selecting game a first quantity of discrete members from a pool of members to define a first sub-set of members;    (b) selecting randomly by a controller operating the selecting game a second quantity of discrete members from the pool of members to form a second sub-set of members;    (c) enabling the player to select at least one discrete member from the pool of members to be included in the second sub-set; and    (d) determining a prize to be awarded to the player based on a quantity of members that match between the first sub-set of members and the second sub-set of members.    
   
   
       35 . The method of playing a game as recited in  claim 34 , wherein step (a) the first quantity of discrete members is selected by the player to be between a minimum quantity and a maximum quantity.  
   
   
       36 . The method of playing a game as recited in  claim 35 , wherein the minimum quantity is 4 and the maximum quantity is 10.  
   
   
       37 . The method of playing a game as recited in  claim 35 , wherein the second quantity for forming the second sub-set of members equals the maximum quantity of the members in the first sub-set of numbers.  
   
   
       38 . The method of playing a game as recited in  claim 37 , wherein the prize ranges from a first value to a second value depending on the quantity of matching members.