Multiple Aspect 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 bumper device.

The claims defining the invention are as follows: 
     
         1 . A scoring device in the form of a single physical bumper assembly for a pinball game including;
 scoringly interactive aspects that register scoring interaction with a pinball on that single physical bumper assembly on at least 2 different playfields spaced vertically within a pinball game;   each scoringly interactive aspect including a sensing element that moves when interacted with by a moving pinball;   each sensing element including an aspect that allows the sensing element to interact with an electrical or electronic sensing and signalling element;   and where the electrical or electronic sensing and signalling element needs no physical contact with the aspect it is sensing during its sensing operation.   
     
     
         2 . A scoring device as claimed in  claim 1 , where each scoringly interactive aspect includes an impulse providing element that can contact a pinball in a driven way and cause movement of it. 
     
     
         3 . A scoring device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein that electrical or electronic sensing and signalling element and that sensing element aspect and that impulse providing element together are so compact as to be housed completely within the outer boundaries of the single bumper assembly and do not impinge on the view of or play on any of the playfields associated with the single bumper assembly. 
     
     
         4 . A scoring device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein any one of the scoringly interactive aspects of that single physical bumper assembly can register interaction with a pinball and each interaction can result in a score without the other scoringly interactive aspect or aspects of that single physical bumper assembly having registered any interaction with a pinball. 
     
     
         5 . A scoring device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein interactions of a pinball may be required by gameplay rules at any time during an active game to be made with specific scoringly interactive aspects of that single physical bumper assembly in sequence to maximise a players' score. 
     
     
         6 . A scoring device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the scoringly interactive aspects of that single physical bumper assembly that allow interaction with a pinball are on more than 2 different playfields. 
     
     
         7 . A scoring device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein interactions of a pinball may be required by gameplay rules at any time during an active game to be made with specific scoringly interactive aspects of that single physical bumper assembly in sequence to maximise a players' score.