United States Patent [191 [11] 4,375,286 Seitz et al. [45] Mar. 1, 1983 [54] ELECTRONIC GAME APPARATUS OTHER PUBLICATIONS [75] Inventors: Adolf Seitz, West Chicago; John “Volcano (Game #667) Instruction Manual”, Gottlieb West Buras, Chicago, both of 111. Amusement Games, pp. 1—42, 1981. [73] Assignee: D. Gottlieb & C0., Northlake, Ill. “New York, NY. Instruction Manual”, Gottlieb Amusement Games, 1980. [21] Appl. No.: 288,491 Primary Examiner—Vance Y. Hum [22] Filed: Jul. 30, 1981 Assistant Examiner-Mary Ann Stoll Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Arnold, White & Durkee [51] Int. Cl.3 ......................... .. A63F 7/02; A63F 9/22 [52] US. Cl. ..................... .. 273/121 A; 273/DIG. 28; [57] ABSTRACT 273/313 An electronic game apparatus comprising both video [5 8] Field of Search ................. .. 273/DIG. 28, 121 A, game play and pinball game play. Operation of the 273/54 C video game play is enabled by game play conditions of [56] References Cited the pinball game play and visa versa. Video game play is implemented using a CRT supported by a housing U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS common to the pinball game. 4,131,948 12/1978 Kaenel ............................ .. 273/54 C 4,239,219 12/1980 Hae?iger ...................... .. 273/121 A 13 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures US. Patent Mar. 1, 1983 Sheet 1 of3 4,375,286 W‘ “@ J US. Patent Mar.1, 1983 Sheet2 of3 4,375,286 GREEN DRAGON H/T SOOREIOOO + ALL DRAGONS ADD BONUS TURN BLUE r5329”, 3 GR ALL DRAGONS DRAGONS __. OMPLET TURN GREEN v REASSEMBLE A m/N 5537,25,; 5SEc. < YELLOW ) STOP DRAGON H/T ScORE 7000 + IBONUS ( DRAGONDLL/E H/T ) T/MES MULI SCORE 7000+ LIGHT ADD BONUS ' SPEC/AL BL. DRAGONS Y COMPLETE (/SCREEN) US. Patent Mar. 1, 1983 Sheet 3 of3 4,375,286 LEAvE V/DO GA M TURN OFF PLAYF/ELD CHANGE ALL BLUE r0 GREEN J KICK P/NBALL F" 4. ON TO A 6’ v ’ PL AYF/ELD ENTER VIDEO GAME START YELLOW DRAGON TIME R r \ Y CHANGE ALL TIME our YELLOW DRAGONS 7 STOP RED N SUBTRACT T/ME 4,375,286 1 2 ejected from the captive area and re-enters the pinball ELECTRONIC GAME APPARATUS play?eld. In a preferred embodiment, the pinball play ?eld is then activated for the player who has not been BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION defeated in the video portion. For the player who has 1. Field of the Invention been defeated in the video game, the pinball play?eld is The present invention relates in general to electronic not activated, when video play is concluded. game apparatus, and, more particularly, to such appara tus comprising both pinball and video games. - BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 2. Description of the Prior Art In the accompanying drawings: Designers of electronic games constantly strive to FIG. 1 is a perspective view of game apparatus in provide innovations to continue the interest of the pub accordance with the present invention. lic in playing such games. In the case of pinball games, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the captive new drop-target and roll-over switch designs and new areas of the pinball play?eld shown in FIG. 1. game strategies in general have been developed for FIGS. 3 and 4 are ?ow diagrams which illustrate the attracting players and continuing the high interest in operation of subroutines which are executed by a sys pinball. Recently, there have been proposals to innovate tem controller during video play. the play?eld itself in an attempt to provide new attrac tions to the pinball player. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED Video games are also available in the marketplace EMBODIMENT and have gained a substantial amount of popularity. 20 It will be appreciated that the present invention can Video games include a cathode ray tube (CRT) which provides the play?eld for the game. Typical video take many forms and embodiments. One embodiment of games display a number of targets on the CRT which the invention is illustrated and described to give an are engaged by a video ball, which is under the control understanding of the invention. It should be understood of the player. 25 that the following description is intended to be illustra No known game apparatus has combined the features tive, and not limiting, of the invention. of pinball and video into a single game. This novel and With reference now to FIG. 1, game apparatus 100 is useful result is provided by the present invention. constructed and arranged according to the present in vention. Apparatus 100 includes a pinball portion hav SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION ing play?eld 102 for supporting a ball 101, which is The present invention provides new and improved sloped upward from the usual player position 103 for a electronic game apparatus which integrates the features pinball game. A cabinet 104 is provided for supporting of pinball and video games into a single game. Such the play?eld 102, and a set of supporting legs 105 is combination permits the player of the game to derive provided for elevating the cabinet 104 to a height con the recreational bene?ts of pinball and video games 35 venient to the player. A plunger or shooter 107 and a set from a single integrated game. of ?ipper control switches 108 are disposed in the cabi According to one aspect of the invention, the pinball net 104 near the player position 103. Sets of pop-bump portion of the apparatus has a ball supporting play?eld ers 109, ?ipper mechanisms 110, and other ball propel which de?nes a player position adjacent to the play?eld ling devices such as sling shots, etc. are disposed in a and which is sloped upwardly away from the player 40 conventional manner on the play?eld 102. A conven position. The play?eld has one or more ?ipper mecha tional solenoid-operated outhole (not shown) is pro nisms disposed on it for propelling a ball or surface vided to return the ball to the shooter 107 when the ball projectile away from the player to engage one or more is lost in play between the ?ipper mechanisms 110 or targets on the pinball play?eld. As the player engages when the ball is returned to the pinball play?eld after the targets on the play?eld, the apparatus operates to 45 completion of unsuccessful video play as described accumulate and display a score. below. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, A back glass assembly 112 is supported at the end of means are provided for participating in video play, cabinet 104 opposite the player position 103. The back dependent on the ball achieving a selected pinball con glass assembly 112 has the usual pinball assemblies such dition during pinball play. In a presently preferred em 50 bodiment of the invention, such aspect is implemented as scoring displays 113, game tally display 114, and by the player directing the ball into one of two captive ball-in-play display 115. areas on the play?eld. Each captive area includes a Still referring to FIG. 1, apparatus in accordance detection element, e.g. a switch, which the ball engages with the present invention also comprises a video por while in the captive area. In this presently preferred 55 tion. As an outstanding feature of the invention, the embodiment, the game apparatus responds to engage pinball game and the video game are integrated physi ment of the switch to disable the pinball portion of the cally into a single cabinet. Similarly the game play for game, when the player is participating in video play. the pingame and the video game is integrated so that The player then participates in video play by using an one depends upon the other. The player is thus pro operator actuable control, which may, for example, vided with the advantages and challenges of each game comprise a “joy stick”. The operator-actuable control is in a single game. used to guide the video ball to engage targets on the A cathode ray tube (CRT) 120 forms the play?eld for video play?eld and thereby accumulate score. the video portion. The CRT 120 is disposed on the In accordance with another aspect of the invention, play?eld 102 at the opposite end of the cabinet 104 from means are provided for the player to again participate in 65 the player position 103. The video portion of the appa pinball play responsive to the video ball achieving a ratus in accordance with the present invention also selected video condition during video play. When such includes an operator-actuable control for controlling video condition is achieved by the player, the ball is video play and such operator-actuable control prefera 4,375,286 3 4 bly takes the form of a manual “joy stick” 130, as shown destroy the video ball. If the video ball is caught by a in FIG. 1. dragon of the second color at any time, the video ball is The play?eld 102 includes two captive areas 121 and consumed, and video play is terminated. The pinball is 122 for the ball 101, which captive areas are located then kicked from the captive hole by ejector 119. In this near the CRT 120 as shown. It will be appreciated that situation the pinball play?eld 102 preferably remains the captive areas 121 and 122 may be located at other deactivated, and the ball 101 exits the play?eld 102 suitable locations in the play?eld 102. through an outhole (not shown).