Method and apparatus for tournament play of coin operated games

A coin operated game playing machine is operated by a microprocessor so as to permit tournament play among a number of players. Names of top ranking players are displayed and a portion of the playing receipts is allocated to an award fund for distribution to the tournament winners as determined by numerical scoring.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to the field of games and 
particularly to such games where numerical scoring provides a basis for 
competition among players. 
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A wide variety of numerically scored video games are commonly played in 
commercial entertainment settings such as arcades and lounges. The games 
include card favorites such as solitaire, poker and blackjack as well as a 
great number of sports games such as bowling and baseball and other types 
of action games. It is only natural that competition should arise between 
skilled players. In order to stir these competitive juices, high levels of 
game difficulty have been introduced, sometimes accompanied by 
jackpot-like payoffs to the rare player who overcomes great odds. 
On occasion, an arcade operator will post the top scores for a game in an 
effort to encourage game activity. Such competition has heretofore been 
subject to the discretion and diligence of individual arcade operators. If 
considered at all, monetary awards have been allocated arbitrarily rather 
than being optimized for best game yield. 
An object of the present invention therefore, is to provide method and 
apparatus for conducting controlled tournament play of arcade-type games. 
A second object is to create recognition for contenders and foster 
competition so as to increase game activity and a third object is to 
provide for an optimized payout of playing revenues in awards to winners 
and maximize game yield. 
the present invention achieves these objectives through the creation of 
game information and tournament award account files which may reside in a 
single game machine or may be shared by a plurality of machines in a 
network. Each game score is compared to previously recorded high scores so 
that top ranking scores and players names are recorded and displayed. The 
challenge of surpassing the posted scores and/or the incentive of winning 
an award, serves to attract more players. A confidential personal 
identification code is also entered so that, when the tournament is over, 
only verifiable winners can claim an award. The awards are allocated as a 
preset percentage of playing revenues, which may be adjusted so as to 
maximize yield in a trade off between increasing total playing revenue vs. 
yield per tournament.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of one type of coin operated game 
machine 20, which is capable of utilizing the present invention. In 
accordance with known prior art, power supply 22 is connected to a 
conventional 110 VAC line and supplies power to reduced voltage supply 24, 
high voltage supply 26 and beam deflection system 28. Video display tube 
30 is connected to high voltage supply 36 at connection 29 and also to 
power supply 22 so as to emit an electron beam at base 32. Deflection 
system 28 is connected to deflection yoke 34 so as to sweep this electron 
beam across screen 31 in a regular, rapidly repeating raster pattern. 
Microprocessor 36, with non-volatile memory 37, is programmed to conduct a 
player-active video game. The game credits deposited in credit slot 46 are 
retained in box 47 and a preset percentage of these receipts is added to a 
tournament award account maintained in microprocessor 36. Receipt of the 
required credits in the form of currency or a token at credit slot 46 
sends a signal to microprocessor 36 for starting a game or a game series, 
depending upon the tournament scoring system. The type of game played is 
not critical to the present invention so long as it includes a sequence of 
actions or events which are subject to numerical scoring on the programmed 
game data is transmitted by microprocessor 36, through amplifier 35, and a 
modulated electron beam sweeping screen 31 creates the field of play on 
display screen 31. Play is conducted by ball, joystick or other manual 
input 39 of planar controller 38, which maneuvers a cursor in display 
screen 31. The cursor is moved by directional signals from control lines 
40, 41 & 42 and their selective connection to controller power line 43. 
Controller 38 also includes switch 44, for sending command signals which, 
in conjunction with the directional signals, command game actions. Network 
connection 48 may be provided to permit sharing of tournament score and 
award information among a plurality of like machines, so that a greater 
number players may participate. 
FIG. 2 shows computer logic diagram 50 for a preferred embodiment of the 
present invention for a general case wherein sets of a given number of 
games are played for a tournament score and the games are scored on both 
successful completions and speed. In this example, five game sets are 
played, but more or fewer may be required. As an alternative, unranked 
games may be played in the normal manner, without tournament entry. The 
player deposits a prescribed playing fee, which may be coins, bills or 
tokens, at "INSERT CREDITS" 52 and, when "CREDITS RECEIVED" 54 shows a 
positive result, the player is prompted to select either "REGULAR GAME" 58 
or "TOURNAMENT GAME" 68 at "SELECT PLAY" 56. 
If a non-tournament game is selected, payment is accepted at "DEDUCT 
CREDIT" 59 and game count is revised and stored at "STO" 64. The game is 
conducted and scored in the usual manner through "PLAY" 60 and "KEEP 
SCORE" 62. The scores for successful completions and time bonuses are 
recorded, calculated and added. The player's score may be shown in a 
running display during the game if so desired, but in any case, is shown 
at "DISPLAY SCORE" 66, when the game ends. The score is then shown along 
with those of the tournament high scores and leaders names at "DISPLAY 
SCORE" 90, until the next game begins. 
When tournament play is selected, a higher game charge may be exacted or a 
multiple game set may be required. Either way, it will tend to provide 
larger and more attractive awards. Multiple games may be more desirable 
for short duration type games, or if a high degree of chance is perceived, 
while a higher per-game cost may be more appropriate with longer lasting, 
skill intensive games. This preferred embodiment accommodates a set of 
multiple games (five) for tournament play at $0.25 per game, but obviously 
could be adapted to a higher per-game cost or to one or any other number 
of games/set. After selection of "TOURNAMENT" 68, the number of credits 
received is verified at "5 CREDITS RECEIVED?" 70 before deduction of the 
requisite charge for five game set tournament play at "DEDUCT CREDITS" 71. 
If insufficient credits are on deposit, the computer program goes to 
"SHORT?" 57 to calculate and display the shortage as the program loops 
back to "INSERT CREDITS" 52. Otherwise, credits for the tournament set are 
received at "DEDUCT CREDITS" 71 and the tournament count in "STO" 67 is 
increased by one. The incremental adjustment for the award account is 
calculated at "ALLOCATE" 72 where the designated percentage of payments 
for tournament play at "AWARD %" 75 is applied. This award account 
increment is added to the account total registered in "STO" 74 at "AWARD 
TOTAL" 73 and tournament play starts at "PLAY 5" 76. The five game set is 
played in sequence according to the conventional game format, accumulating 
score for successful completions and playing time for the five game series 
at "KEEP SCORE" 77. The player's score may be shown in a running display 
during each game if desired, but in any case, is shown at "DISPLAY SCORE" 
78, when the game is finished. "STO" 79 is recalled to bring the previous 
three highest scores for comparison with the current score at "TOP SCORE?" 
80. If the instant score does not place in the top three, it is displayed 
on the screen separate from the leaders at "SCORE DISPLAY" 82 as the 
program loops back for the next game. If the score is within the top 
three, an alpha-numeric form is displayed so that the player can enter his 
or her name and a confidential, three or four digit, Personal 
Identification Number (PIN) as prompted at "ENTER NAME & PIN" 86. The 
scores are reordered at "RANK HIGH SCORES" 88 and stored at "STO" 79. 
"SCORE DISPLAY" 90 then displays the new tournament "leader board" and 
this display remains in place as the program returns for another round. 
A count has been added to the number of games played at "STO" 64 and, in a 
similar manner, a count has been added to the number of tournaments played 
at "STO" 67. These counts are readily converted back into revenue figures. 
The data stored in storage registers "STO" 64, "STO" 67, "STO" 74 AND 
"STO" 79 can only be displayed by opening the game machine case and 
pushing an unobvious button or inserting a key in a locked switch. This 
secured access maintains confidentiality as to the number of games played 
and total game revenue, the number of tournaments played and total 
tournament revenue, the current status of the award account and Personal 
Identification Numbers as needed for validation of award claimants. 
A comparison of the activity information to earlier records allows an 
operator to adjust "AWARD %" 75 at INPUT 69 in order to optimize machine 
revenues. Microprocessor 36 may be programmed to implement this 
adjustment, in the same "cut and try" manner as followed by the operator. 
FIG. 3 shows screen display 100 of a video game machine using the preferred 
embodiment of the present invention with a game program for playing 
solitaire, a game selected to show the general applicability of the 
present invention. Display 100 appears in the inactive mode between games 
and shows the scores of the three tournament leaders 102. In this case, 
the tournament purse 104 has been designated to be $1,000.00, so the 
tournament will continue until the "STO" 74 award account reaches that 
amount. Another tournament scenario might be calendar based, running 
through a given date. 
FIG. 4 shows a tournament game in progress on screen 106. Cursor 107 is 
used, by means of controller 38 (FIG. 1) to select and move cards 108 in 
the field of play. Game number display 112 shows that the game in progress 
is the second game of a tournament set and score display 110 indicates an 
accumulated tournament score of 2,920 points. The time required to 
recognize and effect a move, such as three of spades 103 to four of 
diamonds 105, is scored as an inverse function, so that faster play is 
rewarded with a higher score. Fast play bonus points may be scored on the 
basis of time elapsed at each play, or on the basis of elapsed time for 
each game, or for the entire tournament set. 
FIG. 5 shows the completion of a high scoring tournament set on screen 114. 
The cards have been played and game number display 116 shows that it is 
the fifth game in the tournament set. Score display 118 indicates an 
accumulated tournament score of 20,510 points. Inasmuch as this is a top 
three ranking score, alphanumeric form 120 is displayed for entry of 
Player's Name 121 and PIN 122. In this example, PLAYER'S NAME 121 is JIM 
B. and his PIN 122 is 6119, the letters and numbers having been selected 
and moved from matrix 123 using cursor 107. The player moves cursor 107 to 
"ENTER" box 124 and signal completion by "clicking" switch 44 (FIG. 1). 
FIG. 6 shows the confidential records display 125 on screen 126. Records 
display 125 is accessible only from inside of the case of the video game 
machine, and then by secured or unobvious means, so that the information 
is protected. The information seen here is, Games, Number & Revenue 127; 
Tournaments, Number & Revenue 128; Award accumulation 129 (@30% rate); and 
Tournament Leaders 130, with scores 131, names 132, P.I.Ns. 133 and award 
distribution 134. While top scores and player's names are displayed 
externally, records display 125 is the only point of access to PIN 
information. 
Some games, such as one-hand, draw poker, will always be purely games of 
chance, where the luck of the draw is all that matters. In other games, 
such as the solitaire game of FIGS. 3-6, skill is a factor, especially 
when playing time bonuses contribute to the score. The very nature of 
tournament play diminishes the influence of luck as a deciding factor by 
broadening the statistical base so that, so long as some degree of skill 
is involved in achieving good game scores, the better players will tend to 
win. Tournament play can be conducted either under random or identical 
conditions. Under random conditions, luck my influence the outcome of play 
because of the limited number of games. Although only a few games can be 
scored in tournament play, standardization of all game influencing 
conditions serves to remove the element of chance. 
Depending upon the nature of a given game, luck, skill or both my be 
factors in scoring. A pure game of chance, having no skill factor, becomes 
a "non-game" when game influencing conditions are made identical because, 
in the absence of chance, outcomes are also identical. (ie. the 
abovementioned draw poker game if played with identical card deck 
sequences) However, any individually played "game of chance", which 
embodies an element of skill, becomes a pure test of player skill in 
tournament play under identical, standardized conditions. An example of 
standardized conditions for the solitaire game of FIGS. 3-6 would be an 
identical series of card deck sequences for every tournament player. 
Standardization is inherent in games such as checkers or chess, where play 
is against the same machine program for all players. Action games like 
computerized golf incorporate variables for realistic simulation of actual 
play. Tournament play of such games becomes a pure test of skill when all 
such variables are identical, ie. when play takes place on the same golf 
course with the same conditions of wind and turf etc, for each player. 
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the 
disclosed embodiments but, within the spirit of the invention, may also be 
expressed in other embodiments through rearrangement, modification or 
substitution of parts or steps.