Amusement device having time-based operating modes

Abstract

An amusement device has a display and an input device and includes a memory and a controller. The memory stores a plurality of games and a system control program. The controller is operatively coupled to the memory, the input device and the display. The controller controls the display based upon the system control program retrieved from the memory and based upon inputs from the input device. The controller is configured to grant a user a block of time for accessing the amusement device; permit the user to selectively retrieve from the memory and play a first game from the plurality of games during the block of time; and permit the user to selectively retrieve from the memory and play a second game from the plurality of games that is different than the first game during the block of time.

1 . An amusement device having a display and an input device, the amusement device comprising: 
 (a) a memory that stores a plurality of games and a system control program; and    (b) a controller operatively coupled to the memory, the input device and the display, the controller controlling the display based upon the system control program retrieved from the memory and based upon inputs from the input device,    the controller being configured to: 
 (i) grant a user a block of time for accessing the amusement device;  
 (ii) permit the user to selectively retrieve from the memory and play a first game from the plurality of games during the block of time; and  
 (iii) permit the user to selectively retrieve from the memory and play a second game from the plurality of games that is different than the first game during the block of time.  
   
   
   
       2 . The amusement device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller grants the user the block of time in advance of a payment or a credit by the user.  
   
   
       3 . The amusement device of  claim 2 , wherein the controller must receive an authorization prior to granting the block of time.  
   
   
       4 . The amusement device of  claim 3 , wherein the authorization is one of a pin code entry, card code data, a network signal and a remote control signal.  
   
   
       5 . The amusement device of  claim 1 , wherein the amusement device includes an operating mode and a setup mode, 
 when the operating mode is selected, a user is selectively permitted to play games, and    when the setup mode is selected, an operator is permitted to make system setup adjustments.    
   
   
       6 . The amusement device of  claim 5 , wherein the setup mode includes a software selection for selecting between a first time based mode and a second time based mode, the first time based mode permitting the controller to grant the user the block of time in advance of a payment or a credit by the user, and the second time based mode permitting the controller to grant the user the block of time only after a payment or a credit by the user.  
   
   
       7 . The amusement device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller grants the user the block of time only after a payment or a credit by the user.  
   
   
       8 . The amusement device of  claim 1 , wherein the display is a touchscreen video display.  
   
   
       9 . The amusement device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 (c) a software selection for selecting between a first mode and a second mode, the first mode permitting the controller to grant the user the block of time in advance of a payment or a credit by the user, and the second mode permitting the controller to grant the user the block of time only after a payment or a credit by the user.    
   
   
       10 . The amusement device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 (c) an operator adjustable software selection field that adjusts the duration of the block of time.    
   
   
       11 . The amusement device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 (c) an operator adjustable software selection field that adjusts the associated cost of the block of time.    
   
   
       12 . The amusement device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a currency acceptor and a card reader.  
   
   
       13 . The amusement device of  claim 1 , wherein the input device is one of a touchscreen, a touchpad, a trackball, a mouse, a joystick, a foot-pedal, a voice-recognition system, a keypad and a keyboard.  
   
   
       14 . An amusement device having a display and an input device, the amusement device comprising: 
 (a) a memory that stores a plurality of games and a system control program; and    (b) a controller operatively coupled to the memory, the input device and the display, the controller controlling the display based upon the system control program retrieved from the memory and based upon inputs from the input device,    the controller being configured to: 
 (i) grant a user a block of time for accessing the amusement device;  
 (ii) permit the user to selectively retrieve from the memory and play a first game from the plurality of games during the block of time; and  
 (iii) permit a user to selectively retrieve from the memory and play a second game from the plurality of games that is different than the first game during the block of time; and  
   (c) a selector for selecting between a first mode and a second mode, the first mode permitting the controller to grant the user the block of time in advance of a payment or a credit by the user and the second mode permitting the controller to grant the user the block of time only after a payment or a credit by the user.    
   
   
       15 . A method of playing an amusement device having a display, an input device, a memory that stores a plurality of games and a system control program, and a controller operatively coupled to the memory, the input device and the display, the controller controlling the display based upon the system control program retrieved from the memory and based upon inputs from the input device, the method comprising: 
 (a) granting a user a block of time for accessing the amusement device;    (b) selecting and playing a first game from the plurality of games during the block of time; and    (c) selecting and playing a second game from the plurality of games that is different than the first game during the block of time.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the controller grants the user the block of time in advance of a payment by the user.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the controller grants the user the block of time only after a payment or a credit by the user.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the amusement device comprises a selector for selecting between a first mode and a second mode, the first mode permitting the controller to grant the user the block of time in advance of a payment by the user and the second mode permitting the controller to grant the user the block of time only after a payment or a credit by the user.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to prompt the user to purchase another block of time just before the block of time elapses.  
   
   
       20 . A method of playing an amusement device having a display, an input device, a memory that stores a plurality of games and a system control program, and a controller operatively coupled to the memory, the input device and the display, the controller controlling the display based upon the system control program retrieved from the memory and based upon inputs from the input device, the method comprising: 
 (a) providing the amusement device an authorization to grant a user a block of time for accessing the amusement device;    (b) granting the user the block of time;    (b) selecting and playing a first game from the plurality of games during the block of time;    (c) selecting and playing a second game from the plurality of games that is different than the first game during the block of time; and    (d) allowing the user to continue playing the second game until the second game ends even after the block of time has elapsed.    
   
   
       21 . An amusement device having a display and an input device, the amusement device comprising: 
 (a) a memory that stores a plurality of games and a system control program; and    (b) a controller operatively coupled to the memory, the input device and the display, the controller controlling the display based upon the system control program retrieved from the memory and based upon inputs from the input device,    the controller being configured to: 
 (i) grant a user a block of time for accessing the amusement device;  
 (ii) permit the user to selectively retrieve from the memory and play a first game from the plurality of games during the block of time; and  
 (iii) allow the user to continue to play the first game continuously until the block of time expires.