Drop slot game machine

Abstract

The present invention is a game machine comprising a playing field having an upper interior edge and a lower interior edge with at least one drop zone deflector located adjacent to the upper interior edge of the playing field. The present invention also has a number of exit positions located along the lower interior edge of the playing field. A payline display and a payline symbol selector display are also part of the present invention. Balls passing through the exit positions select symbols for display in the payline display determined in part upon the movement of a ball on said playing field. The game also has a ball ejector capable of propelling a ball in a path that intersects the drop zone deflector.

1 - 12 . (canceled)  
   
   
       13 . An apparatus for gaming, comprising: 
 a playing field;    at least one visible playing element that moves across the playing field from an introduction position toward a plurality of detection positions;    at least one maze upon the playing field that affects the movement of the at least one visible playing element upon the playing field;    a plurality of detection position displays that are controllable to display a plurality of symbols;    a payline display showing a combination of symbols that changes with each play of the gaming apparatus;    and wherein a bonus is awarded based upon particular symbols shown on the payline display in combination with at least one detection position symbol of at least one particular type shown on at least one detection position display which is associated with a detection position that receives at least one visible playing element for detection thereby.    
   
   
       14 . An apparatus according to  claim 13  and further comprising at least one deflector which affects the movement of the at least one visible playing element upon the playing field.  
   
   
       15 . An apparatus according to  claim 13  and further comprising at least one zone deflector which affects the movement of the at least one visible playing element upon the playing field.  
   
   
       16 . An apparatus according to  claim 13  and further comprising at least one zone deflector which is selectable by a player playing the apparatus and affects the movement of the at least one visible playing element upon the playing field.  
   
   
       17 . An apparatus according to  claim 13  and further comprising a plurality of zone deflectors which can affect the movement of the at least one visible playing element upon the playing field.  
   
   
       18 . An apparatus according to  claim 13  and further comprising a plurality of zone deflectors which are selectable by a player playing the apparatus and affects the movement of the at least one visible playing element upon the playing field.  
   
   
       19 . An apparatus according to  claim 13  and wherein said detection position symbol of a particular form is a multiplier symbol that multiples to determine a bonus award being made by the apparatus.  
   
   
       20 . An apparatus according to  claim 13  and further comprising at least one zone wall which divides the playing field into multiple zones.  
   
   
       21 . An apparatus according to  claim 13  and further comprising: at least one zone wall which divides the playing field into multiple zones; 
 at least one zone deflector which controls movement of the at least one visible playing element upon the playing field determining a selected zone into which the at least one visible playing element moves from said multiple zones.    
   
   
       22 . An apparatus for gaming, comprising: 
 a playing field;    at least one visible playing element that moves across the playing field from an introduction position toward a plurality of detection positions;    at least one maze upon the playing field that affects the movement of the at least one visible playing element upon the playing field;    a plurality of detection position displays that are controllable to display a plurality of symbols;    at least one symbol selector for assigning symbols to the plurality of detection position displays;    a payline display showing a combination of symbols that changes with each play of the gaming apparatus;    and wherein a bonus is awarded based upon particular symbols shown on the payline display in combination with at least one detection position symbol of at least one particular type shown on at least one detection position display which is associated with a detection position that receives at least one visible playing element for detection thereby.    
   
   
       23 . An apparatus according to  claim 22  and further comprising at least one deflector which affects the movement of the at least one visible playing element upon the playing field.  
   
   
       24 . An apparatus according to  claim 22  and further comprising at least one zone deflector which affects the movement of the at least one visible playing element upon the playing field.  
   
   
       25 . An apparatus according to  claim 22  and further comprising at least one zone deflector which is selectable by a player playing the apparatus and affects the movement of the at least one visible playing element upon the playing field.  
   
   
       26 . An apparatus according to  claim 22  and further comprising a plurality of zone deflectors which can affect the movement of the at least one visible playing element upon the playing field.  
   
   
       27 . An apparatus according to  claim 22  and further comprising a plurality of zone deflectors which are selectable by a player playing the apparatus and affects the movement of the at least one visible playing element upon the playing field.  
   
   
       28 . An apparatus according to  claim 22  and wherein said detection position symbol of a particular form is a multiplier symbol that multiples to determine a bonus award being made by the apparatus.  
   
   
       29 . An apparatus according to  claim 22  and further comprising at least one zone wall which divides the playing field into multiple zones.  
   
   
       30 . An apparatus according to  claim 22  and further comprising: 
 at least one zone wall which divides the playing field into multiple zones;    at least one zone deflector which controls movement of the at least one visible playing element upon the playing field determining a selected zone into which the at least one visible playing element moves from said multiple zones.    
   
   
       31 . An apparatus for gaming, comprising: 
 a playing field;    at least one visible playing element that moves across the playing field from an introduction position toward a plurality of detection positions;    at least one maze upon the playing field that affects the movement of the at least one visible playing element upon the playing field;    a plurality of detection position displays that are controllable to display a plurality of symbols;    a payline display showing a combination of symbols that changes with each play of the gaming apparatus;    and wherein a bonus is awarded based upon at least one particular symbol being shown on the payline display in combination with at least one detection position symbol of at least one particular type shown on at least one detection position display.    
   
   
       32 . An apparatus according to  claim 31  and further comprising at least one deflector which affects the movement of the at least one visible playing element upon the playing field.  
   
   
       33 . An apparatus according to  claim 31  and further comprising at least one zone deflector which affects the movement of the at least one visible playing element upon the playing field.  
   
   
       34 . An apparatus according to  claim 31  and further comprising at least one zone deflector which is selectable by a player playing the apparatus and affects the movement of the at least one visible playing element upon the playing field.  
   
   
       35 . An apparatus according to  claim 31  and further comprising a plurality of zone deflectors which can affect the movement of the at least one visible playing element upon the playing field.  
   
   
       36 . An apparatus according to  claim 31  and further comprising a plurality of zone deflectors which are selectable by a player playing the apparatus and affects the movement of the at least one visible playing element upon the playing field.  
   
   
       37 . An apparatus according to  claim 31  and wherein said detection position symbol of a particular form is a multiplier symbol that multiples to determine a bonus award being made by the apparatus.  
   
   
       38 . An apparatus according to  claim 31  and further comprising at least one zone wall which divides the playing field into multiple zones.  
   
   
       39 . An apparatus according to  claim 31  and further comprising: 
 at least one zone wall which divides the playing field into multiple zones;    at least one zone deflector which controls movement of the at least one visible playing element upon the playing field determining a selected zone into which the at least one visible playing element moves from said multiple zones.    
   
   
       40 . An apparatus for gaming, comprising: 
 a playing field;    at least one visible playing element that moves across the playing field from an introduction position toward a plurality of detection positions;    at least one maze upon the playing field that affects the movement of the at least one visible playing element upon the playing field;    a plurality of detection position displays that are controllable to display a plurality of symbols;    at least one symbol selector for assigning symbols to the plurality of detection position displays;    a payline display showing a combination of symbols that changes with each play of the gaming apparatus;    and wherein a bonus is awarded based upon at least one particular symbol being shown on the payline display in combination with at least one detection position symbol of at least one particular type shown on at least one detection position display.    
   
   
       41 . An apparatus according to  claim 40  and further comprising at least one deflector which affects the movement of the at least one visible playing element upon the playing field.  
   
   
       42 . An apparatus according to  claim 40  and further comprising at least one zone deflector which affects the movement of the at least one visible playing element upon the playing field.  
   
   
       43 . An apparatus according to  claim 40  and further comprising at least one zone deflector which is selectable by a player playing the apparatus and affects the movement of the at least one visible playing element upon the playing field.  
   
   
       44 . An apparatus according to  claim 40  and further comprising a plurality of zone deflectors which can affect the movement of the at least one visible playing element upon the playing field.  
   
   
       45 . An apparatus according to  claim 40  and further comprising a plurality of zone deflectors which are selectable by a player playing the apparatus and affects the movement of the at least one visible playing element upon the playing field.  
   
   
       46 . An apparatus according to  claim 40  and wherein said detection position symbol of a particular form is a multiplier symbol that multiples to determine a bonus award being made by the apparatus.  
   
   
       47 . An apparatus according to  claim 40  and further comprising at least one zone wall which divides the playing field into multiple zones.  
   
   
       48 . An apparatus according to  claim 40  and further comprising: 
 at least one zone wall which divides the playing field into multiple zones;    at least one zone deflector which controls movement of the at least one visible playing element upon the playing field determining a selected zone into which the at least one visible playing element moves from said multiple zones.