Pinball machines are described. A method includes detecting an event during a game played at least in part over a surface of a playfield in a pinball machine. The playfield has first and second playfield portions. In response to the event, a playfield reducer located between the first and second portions is electronically activated in a manner sufficient to prevent a pinball from traveling between the first and second playfield portions. A pinball machine includes a playfield reducer that is operable to be in and transition between first and second positions during normal gameplay. When the playfield reducer is in the first position, the pinball is capable of rolling into and out of a portion of the playfield surface, and when the playfield reducer is in the second position, the playfield reducer prevents the pinball from accessing or from leaving the portion of the playfield surface.

A board game system comprises a game board, having a surface adapted to receive a board game overlay, a detector array adapted to detect the respective positions of a plurality of game pieces placed on top of the board game overlay, and a transmitter adapted to transmit data indicating the respective positions to an entertainment device; and an entertainment device, having a receiver adapted to receive from the game board data indicating the respective positions of the plurality of game pieces, a game state analyser operable to update the state of a game in dependence upon the indicated respective positions of the plurality of game pieces, and an image generator operable to generate an image for output to a display, the content of the image being responsive to the detected state of the game.

A wheel for an amusement game is disclosed that is rotated by a motor at a constant speed and has a plurality of apertures, wherein each aperture is provided with a sensor that positioned on the wheel and consequently, when a game piece or ball falls passes though the aperture it is immediately read by the sensor and therefore the wheel element can provide a signal to a processor to provide immediate feedback to a player reflecting the detection such as by providing sound effects, lighting effects and the activation of a ticket dispenser.

The invention provides a device for outputting an acoustic and/or optical effect (a decision sequence) comprising a basic body comprising a basic element with a cover which can be attached in a form- and/or force-closed manner, at least one optical and/or at least one acoustic stimulating element, a power supply, a circuitry comprising a microprocessor, a random generator and a storage medium, and at least one switch, wherein a decision sequence can be activated by the at least one switch, wherein the decision sequence being selectable by random generator from a plurality of decision sequences provided and with said sequence being outputtable by the stimulus elements in the form of an optical and/or acoustic stimulus (decision sequence). In this way a magic sphere is provided that may help the user to take decisions.

A cube puzzle solver includes: a position sensing element; at least one user interface (UI) output; and a controller that receives position information from the position sensing element, determines a suggested move, and directs the at least one UI output to provide an indication associated with the suggested move. An automated method of determining a position of a cube puzzle solver includes: monitoring a set of sense pins; identifying rotation based on a change in state of at least one sense pin; identifying a face associated with the identified rotation; and updating a state of the cube puzzle solver based on the identified face and the identified rotation. A cube puzzle system includes: a cube puzzle device including: a wireless communication interface; and a user device communicatively coupled to the cube puzzle solver over the wireless communication interface.

The invention provides a three-dimensional apparatus for problem solving, learning and presentation for modeling, teaching and illustrating exemplary problem solving or thinking. Some embodiments provide a puzzle-like form. Another preferred embodiment of the present invention provides for the building of a problem or topic or situation specific or custom learning or problem solving or investigatory or presentation aid. Embodiments of the invention may also incorporate or use electronic, digital, electro-mechanical, mechanical, electric or other devices, processors, controllers, or mechanisms, or input or output to or from such or similar elements, and wired or wireless or other networks or interfaces.

The present invention relates to a device for assisting in electronic gaming, the device comprising a scanning device. The scanning device comprises a scanning surface, wherein the scanning surface is arranged for throwing a die or dice thereon, the flatbed scanning device being configured for scanning instantaneously an image of the scanning surface. The device also comprises a processor configured for receiving scanning information regarding the image of the scanning surface upon which a die or dice are thrown and programmed for deriving, based on said image, data regarding the dice thrown. The scanning device comprises a detection system whereby the detection area span by the detection elements is maximally 10% smaller than the area span by the scanning surface.

A portal device for a video game includes a pad with different zones that can be illuminated by selectable colors, a toy sensor (e.g., an RFID tag sensor) associated with each zone, a controller and a communications port for communicating with a video game process executing on a game machine. The colors of each zone can be configured to one or a combination of three primary colors during game play, based on the game process. The portal device reacts to placement of tagged toys on zones and the color of the zones during play, and provides sensor data to the game process. The game process controls the game state in part based on data from the portal device and in part on other user input.

A prompting device for prompting state information of a physical game character includes a smog machine and a control circuit. The smog machine include a smog chamber, a heating element, and an air-blowing device. The smog chamber has a receiving cavity for receiving smog fluid, an inlet, and an outlet. The inlet and the outlet are in communication with the receiving cavity. The heating element is mounted within the receiving cavity and generates heat to vaporize the smog fluid after an electric current is applied. The air-blowing device is disposed corresponding to the outlet for blowing an air flow towards the receiving cavity. The air flow generated by the air-blowing device enters into the receiving cavity from the inlet and discharges smog within the receiving cavity from outlet. The control circuit is configured to control the smog machine to generate the smog that characterizes the state information.

A lottery device includes: a drawing body having medium entrance units which are provided along a circumferential direction thereof, and into each of which a game medium can enter; a driving mechanism driving the drawing body in the circumferential direction; a dividing device dividing a periphery of a path of the medium entrance units, in which path the medium entrance units travel, into lottery segments in the circumferential direction; a medium introduction mechanism introducing the game medium individually into each lottery segment; an entrance unit detection device detecting a medium entrance unit into which the game medium has entered; a displacement amount detection device detecting an amount of displacement in the circumferential direction; and a lottery segment distinguishing device distinguishing from which of the lottery segments the game medium has entered into the medium entrance unit based on a result of detection by the displacement amount detection device.