Abstract:
A method of operating an arcade game device having a video display is described in which revenue is obtained from an advertiser. An arcade game device is provided with advertising programming adapted and constructed to appear on the video display. The arcade game device is placed in a publicly accessible location, and members of the public are permitted to play games on the arcade game device without requiring payment.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    None. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The first popular “arcade games” were early amusement park midway games such as Shooting galleries, ball toss games, and simple coin-operated machines, such as those which claim to tell a person their fortune or played mechanical music. The old midways of 1920s-era amusement parks (such as Coney Island in New York) provided the inspiration and atmosphere of later arcade games. 
         [0003]    In the 1930s, the earliest coin-operated pinball machines were made. These early amusement devices were distinct from their later electronic cousins in that they were made of wood, did not have plungers or lit-up bonus surfaces on the playing field, and used mechanical instead of electronic scoring readouts. By around 1977, most pinball machines in production switched to using solid state electronics for both operation and scoring. [1]   
         [0004]    Operators purchase game systems and place them into public (semi-private) locations as a source of income. Examples of typical locations include bars, restaurants, fast food establishments, pizza shops, convenience stores, movie theatres, arcades, truck stops and gas stations. Game systems in the public are coin-operated (arcade style) equipment. These game systems can be provided as video games, touch screen product, redemption and even casino style gambling machines. Some pinball machines and other traditionally mechanical amusement devices are often provided with video screens. 
         [0005]    As has been the case since their inception, payment for arcade-style games is almost universally made via coins, tokens, paper currency, or credits via play card. It has been proposed to provide a mechanism for game play payment via credit cards. However, the additional costs of paying credit card companies, minimum charge policies, and the costs of the card readers themselves, make this form of payment impractical at present. 
         [0006]    Traditional coin-operated arcade games are essentially safes with amusement devices attached. The coin retention mechanism must be built to be strong and durable enough to safeguard the contents against thieves. These currency acceptance and vault mechanisms are exceedingly costly, and add significantly to the weight and unwieldiness of the game units. 
         [0007]    In addition, an operator must service the game systems on a regular basis to collect the money. These collection calls must be performed at least several times a month, and a location that gets extensive game play may have to be collected multiple times a week. In addition to collection calls to the game systems, the operator must repair any problems with coin and dollar validator jams and malfunctions. An operator must drive to each location to make the repairs or collections. With the high price of gasoline, these collections take and enormous of time and are considered a high overhead. Furthermore, the collection of money from games requires extensive training and screening of employees. The operator must trust that the collector is not stealing any of the funds. Since the games are played on a cash basis, the exact amount of money inside a machine is difficult to monitor, making theft difficult to detect, much less prove. 
         [0008]    It is widely reported that the coin-op industry is in decline. The internet, mobile phones, home game systems, consumer hand-held devices, and other non-coin op game devices are taking business away from the coin-op market. Prices for game play had increased over 100% in some cases over the last 6 years. Player/Game value had been diminished over the years. Most coin-op games are played for 3 or 4 minutes for a paid play. A console or home game is purchased by the consumer for a one time price. Usually, they can play the game as often as they wish at their convenience on a hardware system that is owned/purchased by the consumer. 
         [0009]    Some games are free play based and can be found on the internet. These games are sponsored by a website and played upon the persons home or notebook computer system. Most of these games are “trial versions” having limited playable dates and a sample or have reduced game features. Players are encouraged to purchase the full version of software that can be purchased in a retail store or downloaded from the website to their home computer systems. It is not unusual for websites that host these games to contain advertising or promotional materials from the game&#39;s manufacturer, advertisers on the website, or the owner of the website on which the game appears. 
         [0010]    Various schemes to provide information in video games have been developed, and are represented in the patent literature. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,200,853 to Kawai is directed to a system to distribute electronic information contents containing advertisement to a user, and process advertisement information at the user side. This system comprises an information distribution apparatus for distributing advertisement information to the user; and a plurality of information processing apparatuses for receiving and storing the electronic information contents distributed from the information distribution apparatus, reading out the electronic information contents according to the user operation, and processing the electronic information contents, thereby outputting the advertisement video image and its audio. With this configuration, after receipt of advertisement information, the user can see and hear an advertisement video image or audio freely processed with respect to an advertisement by the information processing apparatuses in unreal time (asynchronously) like playing a game. In this manner, there can be constructed a electronic advertisement medium which reverses a concept of an advertisement of big four mass media, the advertisement having been supplied one-sidedly conventionally, and which performs an advertisement interactively. 
         [0011]    U.S. Patent Publication No. 20080113794 to Cole describes a gaming machine having a first gaming device component and a second display device component and particularly suited to presentation of wagering games. The gaming device is a first housing with associated player input devices and a game controller. The display device has a second housing with at least one game information display. The display device may be mounted to the gaming device to create a unitary device, or it may be mounted or set apart from the gaming device. The display device may also be connected to the gaming device in a number of orientations to create different gaming machine configurations. The display device also supports various display configurations, such as video displays and spinning reels. 
         [0012]    U.S. Patent Publication No. 20080098420 to Khivesara shows a system and associated apparatus and methods for the distribution, selection and display of advertising content for devices operating in a network. The devices need not initiate a point-to-point communication with an ad server to provide the ability to filter received advertising content and enable the display of advertisements that are targeted to a device&#39;s user. The invention enables a service provider or network operator to control the policy used to specify the selection, timing, and display of an advertisement stored in a cache of a client device. A modification to the policy can be broadcast and implemented in real-time by the device. Advertisements stored in the cache may be filtered both by the service provider or network operator and by the device itself so as to provide the best selection of ads tailored to the user of the device. The device implements cache management processes to determine how best to maintain the advertisements of greatest relevance to the user of the device. The invention also provides mechanisms for the reporting of statistics that can be used for billing purposes and to better filter the selection of advertisements cached at each device. 
         [0013]    U.S. Patent Publication No. 20080033795 to Wishnow deals with a system and method for distributing advertising content. The system includes a central unit capable of communicating with one or more remote systems. The remote systems may be amusement devices, and each one may be associated with a particular venue. The method for distributing advertising content comprises receiving registration information from an advertiser, receiving advertising content from the advertiser, receiving at least one advertising preference from the advertiser, and distributing the advertising content to at least one remote system based on the advertising preferences. 
         [0014]    U.S. Patent Publication No. 20070265090 to Barsness sets forth a system in which advertisements may be selected for display to a user in a computer game environment based at least in part on one or more of a personality trait of the user as determined from monitoring a behavior of the user as the user is participating in the computer game environment, a user affinity for a subject of another advertisement as determined from monitoring activity of the user after the user views the other advertisement while the other advertisement is displayed in the computer game environment, and a characteristic of the user as determined from a username selected by the user. 
         [0015]    U.S. Patent Publication No. 20070101365 to Cark involves systems and methods of processing data from a plurality of entertainment devices are provided. The method may include: receiving user interaction information, said user interaction information comprising information regarding user interaction with an advertisement displayed on an entertainment device, said entertainment device being configured to perform entertainment content; and associating the user interaction information with venue information regarding a venue in which the entertainment device is located. The system may include: an entertainment device database including information regarding a plurality of entertainment devices configured to perform entertainment content; a storage system storing user interaction information received from the plurality of entertainment devices, said user interaction information comprising information regarding user interaction with an advertisement displayed on an entertainment device; and a processor configured to associate the user interaction information for one of the plurality of entertainment devices with venue information regarding a venue in which the one of the plurality of entertainment devices is located. 
         [0016]    U.S. Patent Publication No. 20070010330 to Cooper discloses a play along television system including a plurality of questions and answers to be used as part of an interactive game to be played over a network. A main server stores a plurality of questions and answers, the questions are displayed to the users who answer the questions. The users are scored based on whether they answer the questions correctly, and how fast they answer the questions. The users may also receive hence about claim I mean answering the question and those hence are displayed when the user takes longer than a certain time to answer the question. After answering the question, the correct answer is displayed along with a fun fact about the question. All users playing everywhere are globally scored according to the scoring criteria. 
         [0017]    U.S. Patent Publication No. 20060205483 to Meyer includes methods and systems for conducting wagers, such as pari-mutual wagers. In one exemplary embodiment a series of events, such as horse races, dog races, etc. is identified for which a plurality of bettors may each place at least one wager, and a wagering activity thereon is structured as a contest. Bettors may each be provided with a “play money” bankroll for use in wagering, and play against one another competitively to achieve one or more winning outcomes for the contest as defined by the operator. Alternatively, bettors may have their conventional, live wagers entered into the contest. The prize pool for the contest, which may be multi-tiered, is fixed based on the number of participants and allocated to winners independent of the live wager prize pool, thus not affecting odds for the live wager. The contest wagering activity may be run in parallel with live wagering, and utilizing the same wagering system for administration of both. Wagering systems and a wagering network are also disclosed. 
         [0018]    U.S. Patent Publication No. 20060229130 to Bender has methods and systems for inserting customizable content into a computer game designed to operate in a personal computer environment that has been converted to operate in an arcade-style environment. According to the present invention, a computer game designed to operate in a personal computer environment is operated in the personal computer environment using a computer operating system and compatible software. An arcade style environment is created by securing the personal computer environment to prevent unwanted computer programs from running in the personal computing environment. Arcade-style environment features are added to the computer game. Communications between the computer game and the operating system are monitored and game relevant data can be communicated between the arcade-style environment and the personal computer environment. Customizable content can be inserted into the communication between the computer game and the operating system. 
         [0019]    U.S. Patent Publication No. 20030103644 to Klay details a method for presenting advertising to a person, comprising storing plural advertisements in a memory, detecting the presence of a person adjacent a display apparatus, selecting one of the plural advertisements, and displaying the selected advertisement via the display apparatus upon detection of the person adjacent the display apparatus. 
         [0020]    Although the arrangements described in these patents provide certain advantages, they present certain deficiencies as well. For example, many known devices require relatively complicated information processing arrangements. Further, many of these devices are simply impractical for application in arcade-style environments, and none is capable of eliminating the collection of funds from the game user. It can thus be seen that the need exists for a simple, efficient, and easily manufactured arcade game adapted for free play through the use of advertising revenue. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    A method of operating an arcade game device having a video display is described in which revenue is obtained from an advertiser. An arcade game device is provided with advertising programming adapted and constructed to appear on the video display. The arcade game device is placed in a publicly accessible location, and members of the public are permitted to play games on the arcade game device without requiring payment. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic view of an arcade game system in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic view of an example of a network employing arcade systems as shown in the  FIG. 1  embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    In the following description, specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. Without departing from the generality of the invention disclosed herein and without limiting the scope of the invention, the discussion that follows, will refer to the invention as depicted in the drawings. 
         [0026]    An embodiment of an arcade system  10  in accordance with the principles of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . The arcade system  10  includes an audio/video display  12 , a user control mechanism  14 , and a data connection  16 , each of which is operatively connected to a central processor  18 , such as a CPU. The CPU  18  contains operational programming for the arcade system  10 , permitting games to be played by a user via the controller  14  and audiovisual display  12 , in a conventional fashion. The controller/display can be embodied in a single device having a user interface such as a touchscreen. The CPU  18  is also programmed with advertising information adapted to be presented on the audiovisual display  12 . The advertising programming is developed and paid for by advertisers, and is input to the CPU  18  via the data connection  16 . Revenue from the advertiser is sufficient to permit the user to play games on the system  10  without additional payment required of the user. 
         [0027]    The data connection  16  can be provided in any suitable format. For example, the connection  16  can be provided as a simple dataport which can be accessed physically to update game and advertising data, and collect any data from the machine regarding usage. It is also contemplated that the data connection  16  can be provided as a hardwired or wireless data terminal, capable of accessing communications networks such as the internet or LAN networks. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , a network  20  includes a plurality of game locations  22 ,  24 ,  26  connected to a central operational hub  28 , which is in turn connected to a plurality of advertising sources  32 ,  34 ,  36 . The advertising sources (examples of which include individual businesses, community organizations, and the like, or advertising aggregators or agencies) provide ad content and payment to the central hub  28 , the “operator” of the game locations  22 ,  24 ,  26 . The hub  28  then communicates the ads to the game locations  22 ,  24 ,  26 , where they are viewed by game players. The game locations  22 ,  24 ,  26  are public places, that is, places accessible to a desired target market. Although the locations may be open to the general public without restriction, such access is not a necessary element of the term “public”. The connections between the various elements of the network  20  can be via electronic communications such as the internet. For example, an internet connection would allow ads to be viewed directly from the arcade game systems on a limited number of web sites controlled by the advertiser. The arcade game system would thus not be a web browser, but rather would use the internet as a means to access predesignated information. As shown these connections can be two-way conduits of information. The game locations can be programmed to collect demographic information from individual users, or to merely tabulate game play times, durations, and counts. This information can be transmitted through the hub  28  to the advertising sources  32 ,  34 ,  36 , to help advertisers in targeting the type and amount advertising to be used in the future. Servers at the hub  28  can be used for downloading ad media, sound files, data, text related to the advertisement being shown. Audit information can be collected to report the location and advertisement metrics. This metric data is used as a proof of ad play, time of play, number of plays, location of play, location demographics, status of the game machine etc. Audit information may be saved by the advertising/game player and sent to the server as needed or the game player may report directly to the server. In a closed system, the audits will be maintained by the game/ad player and collected manually or until the system is connected to the advertising server. The Server can also inform the ad player that new data is available. The new data can be sent via the ad server or the ad player can be redirected to get media/data/schedule from a network location(s) that contains some the new game and ad information. 
         [0029]    It is contemplated that when a patron plays games in a restaurant or bar location, they will tend to stay at the location, order more food or drink and increases the number of return visits and provides a more pleasant experience. A game located in a sports bar, for example, could offer a live feed of scores along with advertising. Movie theaters in the vicinity of the game system location can advertise show times and specials. All of these factors increase the locations sales and provide advertisers with targeted demographic consumers. 
         [0030]    The programming provided to the arcade systems can be tailored to a specific location in a variety of ways. Different games appeal to different age groups and genders. The characteristics of the game location and the type of game will usually determine the type of demographic present. For example, games are typically placed in waiting areas for restaurants and other businesses. It can be expected that pet lovers can be reached at a veterinarian&#39;s office, young families at a pediatrician office, and young adults at taverns and sports bar, to give a few examples. The advertising and game types can be specifically chosen to appeal to the demographics of the audience present. The specific location (neighborhood, city, region) can also present a likely demographic. For example, ski equipment can be more effectively marketed in a ski resort than in a large city. The advertising can be tailored to take geographic location into account as well. This is known as narrow casting—target the consumer at the point of purchase. Narrowcasting via free video games can be adapted to new advertising campaigns, game play software, data, and sound tracks. Ads can be dynamic and have a specific run length (# of impressions), until the end of a specific campaign, or can loop until ads are replaced. Advertising can be branding information as well. Restaurants can place specials or the day, menus or upcoming events on the ad space. This localized advertising can be valuable to large restaurant chains as well as smaller venues. Local branding can be a large value ad to any location. The location (local) ad/brand can be fixed in the ad player memory, locally updated or downloaded via open network system. Ad player systems can be video systems that have interactive controls (such as buttons, touch screens and motion camera systems), may be fixed to a table or bar, can be portable if operating from battery. The game system can also offer multiple games on a single platform. 
         [0031]    Although the present invention allows users to play arcade-style games without requiring payment, it is also contemplated that a system employing the principles of the present invention could facilitate a combination of free play and paid play while still eliminating coin-box or other conventional payment modes. For example, a game system could allow advertising-financed play of games to a certain level, and then prompt the player to access a web site via a dedicated connection to enter credit card information for enhanced play, tournament play, head-to-head play, sweepstakes, and the like. It is contemplated that methods of payment can include the ability to communicate with a dedicated site or server to implement a subscription service (prepaid play or membership) that may allow enhanced features and game play. 
         [0032]    While this invention has been described in connection with the best mode presently contemplated by the inventor for carrying out his invention, the preferred embodiments described and shown are for purposes of illustration only, and are not to be construed as constituting any limitations of the invention. Modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and all modifications that do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0033]    The invention resides not in any one of these features per se, but rather in the particular combinations of some or all of them herein disclosed and claimed and it is distinguished from the prior art in these particular combinations of some or all of its structures for the functions specified. 
         [0034]    With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, including variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification, that would be deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
         [0035]    Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.