EP0333338A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Improvements in and relating to video game machines
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1989-02-23
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-02-23
Abstract
Abstract A video game machine wherein a user plays a card game on payment of money. It is not possible to win money by playing the card game as the return from the machine has a maximum value of the user payment to play the game. In the card game, a number of cards are displayed and a score is given for the combination according to the rules of poker. If a sufficiently good "hand" is achieved the game is continued in the form of a card value game where a user guesses the value of a comparison card displayed face down relative to an initial card displayed face up.
Inventors
- 👤 James Phillips Mc Cann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 16:06
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/32; G07F17/3244; G07F17/326; G07F17/3267; A; A63; A63F; A63F1/00; A63F2001/008; A63F9/00; A63F9/18; A63F2009/186
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
62 words
A game playing method for a video game machine comprising the steps of:- receiving a user payment (20) of currency or tokens representing currency; directing the playing of a video game (21); dispensing a refund (23) of value up to but not exceeding that of the user payment according to user success at the video game; and ending the video game (24).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
62 words
A game playing method for a video game machine comprising the steps of:- receiving a user payment (20) of currency or tokens representing currency; directing the playing of a video game (21); dispensing a refund (23) of value up to but not exceeding that of the user payment according to user success at the video game; and ending the video game (24).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
115 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the video game includes a combination card game and the step of playing the combination card game comprises the sub-steps of:- displaying a plurality of playing cards (21a); assigning a score (21b) to the displayed cards according to the combination of cards; displaying a drawn card in place of one of the cards (21c); assigning a score (21b) to the displayed cards including the drawn card; repeatedly displaying (21c) a drawn card in place of a displayed card a number of times up to a pre-set maximum number of times; and assigning a score (21b) to the displayed cards each time a drawn card is displayed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 further comprising the steps of initiating and playing a card value game (21f) if a pre-set score is achieved by a user at the combination card game.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
84 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein playing the card value game (21f, 21g) comprises the sub-steps of:- displaying an initial playing card face up; displaying a comparison playing card face down; receiving a user guess as to the value of the comparison card relative to the initial card; ending the game if the guess is wrong or, if the guess is correct, incrementing the user score and initiating another card value game by displaying a further initial card and a comparison card.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 comprising the further steps of continuing the card value game by assigning a score to a set of cards displayed in the card value game according to the combination of cards displayed.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5 in which the combination card game is played according to the rules of poker.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in any of claims 3 to 6 in which the card value game is played according to the rules of poker.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the video game is a quiz game.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the video game is of the fruit machine type.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
A video game machine (1) having a video display unit (2), a user control panel (3), reception means (5) for reception of a user payment and a control unit (4) for directing the playing of a video game and the dispensing of a refund of maximum value up to, but not exceeding that of the user payment according to user success at the video game.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
65 words
A video game machine (1) having a video display unit (2), a user control panel (3), reception means (5) for reception of a user payment and a control unit (4) for directing the playing of a video game and the dispensing of a refund of maximum value up to, but not exceeding that of the user payment according to user success at the video game.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
84 words
A video game machine as claimed in claim 10 in which the video game is a combination card game in which a set of playing cards is displayed (21a) on the video display unit (2) and a score is assigned (21a) to the cards according to the combination of cards; and in which a user may replace a card with a drawn card (21c) up to a maximum pre-set number of times, the machine assigning a score (21c) to each set of cards displayed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A video game machine as claimed in claim 11 in which the machine initiates a card value game (21e, 21f) if a pre-set score is achieved by a user at the combination card game.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
77 words
A video game machine as claimed in claim 12 in which an initial card is displayed face-up and a comparison card is displayed face down and a user guess may be received as to the value of the comparison card relative to the initial card, and in which the game is ended (21h) if the guess is wrong or, if the guess is correct, the user score is incremented and another card value game may be initiated.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
A video game machine as claimed in claim 12 in which the control unit (4) comprises means for assigning a score (21j) to a set of cards displayed face-up in the card value game.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A video game machine as claimed in claim 11 in which the combination card game is played according to the rules of poker.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A video game machine as claimed in claim 12 in which the card value game is played according to the rules of poker.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A video game machine as claimed in claim 10 in which the video game is a quiz game.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
A video game machine as claimed in claim 10 in which the video game is of the fruit machine type.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
88 words
A video game machine comprising:- a video display unit (2); a user control panel (3); acceptance means (15) for accepting currency or tokens representing currency; and a control unit (4) having means for directing the playing of at least two mutually separate and independent video games, including a non-payment game which is initiated without user payment of currency or tokens representing currency and a payment game which is initiated only with user payment of currency or tokens representing currency; and means for judging user success at each game.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
88 words
A video game machine comprising:- a video display unit (2); a user control panel (3); acceptance means (15) for accepting currency or tokens representing currency; and a control unit (4) having means for directing the playing of at least two mutually separate and independent video games, including a non-payment game which is initiated without user payment of currency or tokens representing currency and a payment game which is initiated only with user payment of currency or tokens representing currency; and means for judging user success at each game.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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