Multi-Faceted Arcade Game Device

Abstract

With the introduction of multi-level playfields all playfields being of a significant area within the gaming cabinet there is an as yet unrealised opportunity to develop scoring devices that each serve all or at least more than one playfield. These scoring devices can be specifically designed to only obstruct the view of and the playing on of a minimal proportion of playable area. That they serve more than one level also provides the chance to construct elaborate game rules involving scoring in sequence on various parts of the devices. The scoring device embodied here is specifically a new target device.

1 . A scoring device in the form of a single physical target assembly for a pinball game including;
 scoringly interactive aspects positioned on at least 2 different playfields spaced vertically within a pinball game;   a target element that presents an associated scoring face into all scoringly interactive aspects;   each scoring face being moveable when urged by contact with a moving pinball;   and where movement of one scoring face produces a corresponding movement in its associated target element and a further corresponding movement in any other scoring faces connected to that associated target element.   
     
     
         2 . A scoring device as claimed in  claim 1  where the moving target element pivots. 
     
     
         3 . A scoring device as claimed in  claim 2  where the moving target element includes an aspect allowing its movement to be sensed. 
     
     
         4 . A scoring device as claimed in any preceding claim where movement of the target element aspect can be sensed without physical contact with it. 
     
     
         5 . A scoring device as claimed in  claim 4  where the target element can be prevented from moving by a catch mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . A scoring device as claimed in  claim 5  where the target element can be freed from the catch mechanism by a release means. 
     
     
         7 . A scoring device as claimed in any preceding claim where there is a plurality of target elements and catch mechanisms. 
     
     
         8 . A scoring device as claimed in  claim 7  that is physically configurable within a single gameplay to require all targets to be scored on at one scoringly interactive aspect before scoring on another alternative scoringly interactive aspect is enabled by a catch mechanism and release means. 
     
     
         9 . A scoring device as claimed in any preceding claim where the availability for scoring or priming of any particular scoring face can be adjusted by operation of the catch mechanisms and release means during an active game. 
     
     
         10 . A scoring device as claimed in  claim 9 , that is configurable during an active game so that any one of the target elements of that single physical target assembly can register interaction with a pinball alternately and continuously on each of its alternately primed scoring faces and each interaction can result in a score without the other target elements of that single physical target assembly having registered any interaction with a pinball by operation of the catch mechanism and release means. 
     
     
         11 . A scoring device as claimed in any preceding claim that is physically configurable within an active gameplay to change the scoring strategy available to a player by operation of the catch mechanism and release means. 
     
     
         12 . A scoring device in the form of a single physical target assembly for a pinball game including;
 a scoringly interactive aspect positioned on a playfield within a pinball game;   a double sided or paired set of scoring faces presented to this scoringly interactive aspect;   the pair or set of scoring faces being associated with a supporting target element;   any particular primed scoring face being scoringly moveable in its associated scoring direction by way of contact by a pinball appropriately directed towards that face;   and that scoring movement creating a simultaneous movement of the associated target element that can be sensed by a sensor and generate a score for the player;   and where after this scoring movement and unless reset that particular scoring face can no longer move in its associated scoring direction and so is not primed until a similar but opposite movement has been completed as a result of a scoring contact being made on its other primed double sided or paired scoring face by a pinball appropriately directed in relation to that other face.   
     
     
         13 . A scoring device as claimed in  claim 12  where the target element can be prevented from moving by a catch mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . A scoring device as claimed in  claim 13  where the target element can be freed from the catch mechanism by a release means. 
     
     
         15 . A scoring device as claimed in  claim 14  where there is a plurality of target elements and catch mechanisms. 
     
     
         16 . A scoring device as claimed in  claim 15  that is configurable within an active gameplay to change the scoring strategy available to a player by operation of the catch mechanism and release means. 
     
     
         17 . A scoring device in the form of a single physical target assembly for a pinball game including;
 scoringly interactive aspects positioned on at least 2 different playfields spaced vertically within a pinball game;   a double sided or paired set of scoring faces presented to all scoringly interactive aspects;   each pair or set of scoring faces being associated with a supporting target element;   any particular primed scoring face being scoringly moveable in its associated scoring direction by way of contact by a pinball appropriately directed towards that face;   and that scoring movement creating a simultaneous movement of the associated target element that can be sensed by a sensor and generate a score for the player;   and where after this scoring movement and unless reset that particular scoring face can no longer move in its associated scoring direction and so is not primed until a similar but opposite movement has been completed as a result of a scoring contact made on its other primed double sided or paired scoring face by a pinball appropriately directed in relation to that other face.   
     
     
         18 . A scoring device as claimed in  claim 17  where the target element can be prevented from moving by a catch mechanism. 
     
     
         19 . A scoring device as claimed in  claim 18  where the target element can be freed from the catch mechanism by a release means. 
     
     
         20 . A scoring device as claimed in  claim 19  where there is a plurality of target elements and catch mechanisms. 
     
     
         21 . A scoring device as claimed in  claim 20  that is configurable by operation of the catch mechanism and release means within a single gameplay to require all targets to be scored on at one scoringly interactive aspect before scoring on another alternative scoringly interactive aspect is enabled. 
     
     
         22 . A scoring device as claimed in  claim 21  that is configurable within an active gameplay to change the scoring strategy available to a player by operation of the catch mechanism and release means.