Pinball game sport simulations

Abstract

The present invention provides a pinball game that simulates a professional or collegiate sport, such as, for example, football and basketball. The games have playing surfaces containing indicia of the regulation game as well as targets that correspond to events that would take place during the game, such as, field goals and 3-points shots. Similarly, scoring would be along regulation sport scoring.

1 . A pinball game that simulates a football game, comprising: 
 a playing surface;    a sidewall surrounding at least a portion of the playing surface;    the playing surface comprising a field with indicia to indicate yardage and an end zone with indicia to indicate end zone markings in accordance with a regulation football field;    the playing surface further comprising a plurality of targets, a plurality of bumpers, and at least one ramp; and    the end zone further comprising at least one goal post representative of a regulation goal post.    
   
   
       2 . The pinball game according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one ramp is substantially aligned with the at least one goal posts such that when the pinball travels the at least one ramp, the pinball will simulate a field goal kick.  
   
   
       3 . The pinball game according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one ramp includes at least a second ramp and the second ramp is aligned with the at least one end zone target to simulate a touchdown pass.  
   
   
       4 . The pinball game according to  claim 3 , wherein scoring for the pinball game is in accordance with regulation football scoring including awarding touchdown points for a touchdown and field goal points for a field goal.  
   
   
       5 . The pinball game according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of targets comprises at least one of a defensive playing indication, an offensive play indication, and a penalty.  
   
   
       6 . The pinball game according to  claim 5 , further comprising a yardage marker such yardage changes indicated by the plurality of targets may be recorded and such that points may be awarded when the yardage indicates a touchdown was scored.  
   
   
       7 . The pinball game according to  claim 1 , further comprising a stadium coupled to the sidewall.  
   
   
       8 . The pinball game according to  claim 7 , wherein the stadium is representative of at least one of a professional and collegiate football team and the indicia in the endzone is indicative of at least one of a professional and collegiate football team.  
   
   
       9 . A pinball game that simulates a basketball game, comprising: 
 a playing surface;    a sidewall surrounding at least a portion of the playing surface;    the playing surface comprising a court with indicia representative of a regulation basketball court including sideline markings, a key, a three-point line, and a free throw line;    the key comprising at least one basketball hoop and backboard mounted towards the sideline;    the playing surface further comprising a plurality of targets; a plurality of bumpers, and at least one ramp; and    the at least one ramp aligned such that a pinball traveling over the at least one ramp will have a trajectory generally aligned with the basketball hoop.    
   
   
       10 . The pinball game according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one ramp comprises a plurality of ramps and the plurality of ramps are indicative of at least one of a 3-point shot and a 2-point shot.  
   
   
       11 . The pinball game according to  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of targets comprises at least one of a defensive play indication, an offensive play indication, and a penalty.  
   
   
       12 . The pinball game according to  claim 9 , further comprising a stadium coupled to sidewall and surrounding at least a portion of the playing surface indicative of a basketball crowd.  
   
   
       13 . The pinball game according to  claim 12 , wherein the stadium comprises indicia representative of at least one of a professional and collegiate team.