Amusement game

Abstract

This disclosure is directed to an amusement game and methods for playing the game. The amusement game includes a programmable game device configured to operate under a predetermined set of parameters, which may appear to the players to be random. Players then engage the programmable game device with a plurality of game pieces while moving game markers along a game path from start to finish. The amusement game may be played using one or more game sets, for example a physical board game set and a pair of digital games may be played simultaneously using the Internet. The game sets, including the programmable game devices, are in digital communication with each other so players in different locations can play a single game together. The amusement game includes processors and memory to store and communicate game data between physical game sets and digital games, such as played on mobile electronic devices. The programmable game device may be configured in a variety of forms, including animate and inanimate objects, both real and imagined.

1 . An amusement game comprising:
 a game board, wherein the game board includes:   at least one zone of play, the zone of play including at least one game path, the game path including a start point and a finish point, wherein the start point and the finish point is separated by at least one intermediate step;   at least one marker, wherein the marker engages the zone of play, the game path, the start point, the finish point, the at least one intermediate step;   at least one marker movement device, wherein the marker movement device determines the movement of the marker in the zone of play;   a programmable game device, wherein the programmable game device engages the zone of play and includes:   a processor and a memory for storing instructions,   at least one input for receiving at least one game piece,   a reservoir for storing the at least one game piece,   at least one output for presenting the at least one game piece,   a conveyance to move the at least one game piece within the programmable game device, and   an actuator for selectively moving the programmable game device.   
     
     
         2 . The amusement game of  claim 1 , wherein the programmable game device includes at least one door that selectively engages the programmable game device and secures the reservoir. 
     
     
         3 . The amusement game of  claim 1 , wherein the conveyance of the programmable game device includes a plurality of implements for moving game pieces within the programmable game device. 
     
     
         4 . The amusement game of  claim 1 , wherein the programmable game device includes a control unit for operating the programmable game device. 
     
     
         5 . The amusement game of  claim 1 , wherein the programmable game device includes a control unit for operating a motor, wherein the motor is connected to a rotational element and a platform supporting the programmable game device. 
     
     
         6 . The amusement game of  claim 5 , wherein the platform selectively engages the game board. 
     
     
         7 . The amusement game of  claim 1 , wherein the game board includes at least one tray for receiving and/or storing at least one game piece. 
     
     
         8 . The amusement game of  claim 1 , wherein the marker movement device is a random number value generator corresponding to the number of spaces on the game board. 
     
     
         9 . The amusement game of  claim 1 , wherein the programmable game device includes an exterior housing that is formed in at least one of the shape of an animate and an inanimate object. 
     
     
         10 . An amusement game, the amusement game comprising:
 a board game component and a digital game component, wherein the board game component and the digital game component include   a game board and a digital game board, wherein the game board includes:   a first zone of play, the first zone of play including at least one game path, the game path including a start point and a finish point, wherein the start point and the finish point is separated by at least one intermediate step;   at least one marker, wherein the marker engages the first zone of play, the game path, the start point, the finish point, the at least one intermediate step;   at least one marker movement device, wherein the marker movement device determines the movement of the marker in the first zone of play;   a first programmable game device for the board game component, wherein the first programmable game device engages the first zone of play and includes:   a processor and a memory for storing instructions and digital communication,   at least one input for receiving at least one game piece,   a reservoir for storing the at least one game piece,   at least one output for presenting the at least one game piece,   a conveyance to move the at least one game piece within the first programmable game device, and   an actuator for selectively moving the first programmable game device;   a second programmable game device for the digital game component, wherein the second programmable game device engages a digital zone of play and includes:   at least one digital input for receiving at least one digital game piece,   a digital reservoir for storing the at least one digital game piece,   at least one digital output for presenting the at least one digital game piece,   a digital conveyance to move the at least one digital game piece within the second programmable game device,   a digital actuator for selectively moving the second programmable game device, and   a digital communicator to communicate with the first programmable game device.   
     
     
         11 . The amusement game of  claim 10 , further comprising a first set of cards for use with the board game component and a second set of digital game cards for use with the digital game component. 
     
     
         12 . The amusement game of  claim 11 , wherein the first set of cards and the second set of cards include an electronic component for wireless communication between the board game component and the digital game component. 
     
     
         13 . The amusement game of  claim 10 , wherein the programmable game device of the board game component includes at least one door that selectively engages the programmable game device and secures the reservoir and wherein the conveyance of the programmable game device of the board game component includes a plurality of implements for moving game pieces within the programmable game device of the board game component. 
     
     
         14 . The amusement game of  claim 10 , wherein the programmable game device of the board game component includes a control unit for operating a motor, wherein the motor is connected to a rotational element and a platform supporting the programmable game device, wherein the platform selectively engages the game board, wherein the game boards include at least one tray for receiving and/or storing at least one game piece. 
     
     
         15 . The amusement game of  claim 10 , wherein the marker movement devices are a random number value generator corresponding to the number of spaces on the game boards. 
     
     
         16 . The amusement game of  claim 1 , wherein the programmable game devices include an exterior housing that is formed in at least one of the shape of an animate and an inanimate object. 
     
     
         17 . An amusement game comprising:
 a digital game, wherein the digital game includes:   a digital game board, wherein the digital game board includes:   a programmable game device for the digital game, wherein the programmable game device engages a digital zone of play and includes:   at least one digital input for receiving at least one digital game piece,   a digital reservoir for storing the at least one digital game piece,   at least one digital output for presenting the at least one digital game piece,   a digital conveyance to move the at least one digital game piece within the second programmable game device,   a digital actuator for selectively moving the second programmable game device, and   a digital communicator to communicate with the first programmable game device.   
     
     
         18 . The amusement game of  claim 17 , wherein the digital game includes at least one processor; application logic comprising hardware and/or software to execute, using the at least one processor, at least one application of the digital game. 
     
     
         19 . The amusement game of  claim 18 , the digital game further comprising one or more communication interfaces connected to the at least one application for local and/or two-way communication. 
     
     
         20 . The amusement game of  claim 19 , the digital game further comprising:
 at least one network interface that enables communication with a remote management application via a wide area network; and   storage operatively coupled to the at least one processor, the storage storing instructions that, when executed, configure the at least one processor to:   receive and/or transmit, using the one or more local communication interfaces, digital game data and/or software and/or firmware updates.