Patent ID: 8128476

Claim:
A method performed by a computer system having a memory and a processor, for playing a game, the method comprising: with the processor, placing a set of pegs onto a game board according to a layout, the placing comprising, placing a first subset of pegs onto the game board according to the layout, wherein the first subset of pegs corresponds to pegs that are to be cleared to complete the game board, and wherein each of the first subset of pegs is removable; placing a second subset of pegs onto the game board according to the layout, wherein the second subset of pegs corresponds to pegs that need not be cleared to complete the game board, and wherein each of the second subset of pegs is removable; with the processor, receiving a position and direction of a ball launcher that releases balls onto the game board containing the first and second subsets of pegs, wherein the ball launcher has an adjustable direction and a fixed location relative to the game board, wherein each peg can be removed from the game board by causing a ball to contact the peg, and wherein at least one object of the game is to remove the first subset of the set of pegs by causing the ball to contact the first subset of pegs; with the processor, receiving an indication to fire a ball from the ball launcher and release the ball onto the game board; with the processor, determining a trajectory of the ball through the set of pegs on the game board based on the position and direction from which the ball was fired from the ball launcher; with the processor, displaying to a player the ball as it travels a path based on the determined trajectory; with the processor, removing at least one peg from the game board based on the path of the ball; and with the processor, calculating a score based on the pegs contacted by the ball.