A display signal associated with a pinball machine display is received. The display signal is interpreted. A network message is transmitted via a network interface based at least in part on the interpretation of the display signal. A network message is received via a network interface. A maintenance signal associated with the network message is submitted via a communication interface, wherein the communication interface is coupled to a pinball machine coin door panel driver board.

A setting device for a claw machine is disclosed. The setting device includes: a cabinet, containing therein prizes; a movable gantry assembly, being installed at a top of the cabinet; a claw member, attached to the gantry assembly from below through a string; and a control device, installed outside the cabinet. The control device has a control circuit module, a joystick, a color liquid crystal display, a music player, and a button. After putting one or more coins, a player is allowed to operate the joystick of the control device to displace the gantry assembly and the claw member. The cabinet has a collection hole communicating with the exterior. The color liquid crystal display displays a setting interface. The disclosed device allows a machine owner to easily set relevant setting items through the setting interface so as to provide players with variable playing experiences and in turn increasing revenues of the claw machine.

An arcade-type crane game has a vacuum pick-up device for capturing a target such as a laminated card that has ticket values printed prominently on each side of the card, and moves the captured card to a reader such as a barcode reader or RFID reader to read the card's information, e.g., value. The game then returns the card directly to the playing field, and a ticket dispensing machine delivers the proper number of tickets to the player. The use of cards reduces the space needed to display the targets, and the return of the cards to the playing field means that the proprietor rarely if ever needs to access the targets or the playing field. By placing the card reader inside the playing area, the entire process after capture can be completed in a matter of seconds, from capture to transport to reading to returning and ticket dispensing. The bar code is preferably printed on both sides of the card, so that vacuum pick-up device can acquire the card on the top surface and present the bottom surface of the card to the reader for examination.

A crane-style arcade game has an enclosed prize chamber wherein the prizes comprise RFID tags with assigned point values. an RFID reader reads the RFID tag on a captured prize as the captured prize is moved past the RFID reader. A recording device is connected to the RFID reader to record the assigned point values of the RFID tags of captured prizes read by the RFID reader. A rotary table mechanism is used to move a captured prize past the RFID reader and then to a storage area below the enclosed prize chamber.

A dual gaming unit or machine is configured to implement both one or more traditional casino-style wagering games, such as games having outcomes determined primarily by chance and not skill, and one or more games which are traditionally not casino style games, such as amusement-type games or games having amusement-type game components, such as games where the outcome is determined substantially by skill. The wagering game portion of the gaming machine may award monetary awards to the player for winning wagering game outcomes, and the amusement portion of the gaming machine may be used to award promotional prizes to the player. A player rewards system may include such dual gaming units or other award dispensing mechanisms.

A dual gaming unit or machine is configured to implement both one or more traditional casino-style wagering games, such as games having outcomes determined primarily by chance and not skill, and one or more games which are traditionally not casino style games, such as amusement-type games or games having amusement-type game components, such as games where the outcome is determined substantially by skill. The wagering game portion of the gaming machine may award monetary awards to the player for winning wagering game outcomes, and the amusement portion of the gaming machine may be used to award promotional prizes to the player. A player rewards system may include such dual gaming units or other award dispensing mechanisms.

A dual gaming unit or machine is configured to implement both one or more traditional casino-style wagering games, such as games having outcomes determined primarily by chance and not skill, and one or more games which are traditionally not casino style games, such as amusement-type games or games having amusement-type game components, such as games where the outcome is determined substantially by skill. The wagering game portion of the gaming machine may award monetary awards to the player for winning wagering game outcomes, and the amusement portion of the gaming machine may be used to award promotional prizes to the player. A player rewards system may include such dual gaming units or other award dispensing mechanisms.

A crane game is provided with a gantry supporting a claw mechanism for grabbing bundles of tickets having RFID tags. A solid playing floor supports the bundles of tickets. An internal housing unit is supported on the playing floor and defines a prize chute. A claw mechanism grabs a bundle of tickets. The claw mechanism is lowered into the internal housing unit where a shielded RFID reader reads the RFID tag of the bundle of tickets. The internal housing unit has internal first, second, and third deflection walls that meet with one another at a peak and they slope in a direction towards the playing floor. If a bundle of tickets falls out of the claw mechanism while it is in the internal housing unit, then the bundle of tickets hit one of the first, second, or third deflection walls and exits through first, second, or third internal housing unit exits.

A setting device for a claw machine is disclosed. The setting device includes: a cabinet, containing therein prizes; a movable gantry assembly, being installed at a top of the cabinet; a claw member, attached to the gantry assembly from below through a string; and a control device, installed outside the cabinet. The control device has a control circuit module, a joystick, a color liquid crystal display, a music player, and a button. After putting one or more coins, a player is allowed to operate the joystick of the control device to displace the gantry assembly and the claw member. The cabinet has a collection hole communicating with the exterior. The color liquid crystal display displays a setting interface. The disclosed device allows a machine owner to easily set relevant setting items through the setting interface so as to provide players with variable playing experiences and in turn increasing revenues of the claw machine.

A coin funnel spinning well device includes upper and lower sections connected by a midsection suspension system configured for accommodating oscillating movement in three dimensions between the sections. The upper section includes an observation dome mounted on a funnel with a lower funnel discharge. A coin launch assembly is mounted in the observation dome and receives coins through a coin insert opening in the observation dome. A pair of handles are mounted on opposite sides of the upper section and enable an operator to manipulate movement of the upper section to maintain a coin on a spiral trajectory. The coin funnel spinning well device can be automated with a computerized control system for controlling Internet access, lighting, coin sensing, timer, and input and output device functions.