Arcade game in combination with an electronic game of chance

Abstract

An entertainment apparatus comprising an arcade game in combination with an electronic game of chance.

1 . An entertainment apparatus, comprising:
 an arcade game;   a video display device in communication with said arcade game;   an electronic game module in communication with said video display device and, comprising:   a processor;   a computer readable medium in communication with said processor;   microcode encoded in said computer readable medium, wherein said processor utilizes said microcode to operate said game module;   instructions written to said computer readable medium, wherein said instructions encode a game of chance; and   wherein said processor utilizes said instructions to display results of said game of chance on said visual display device.   
   
   
       2 . The entertainment apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a speaker, wherein said speaker is in communication with said processor. 
   
   
       3 . The entertainment apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing, wherein:
 said processor and said computer readable medium are disposed within said housing; and   said visual display device is disposed on an outer surface of said housing.   
   
   
       4 . The entertainment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said processor, said processor, said computer readable memory, said microcode, and said instructions, are embodied in an application specific integrated circuit. 
   
   
       5 . The entertainment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said instructions comprise a cycle counter and a maximum cycle count;   every time said processor utilizes said instructions to display said game of chance said cycle counter is incremented by unity; and   when said cycle count equals said maximum cycle count said processor cannot utilize said instructions to execute said game of chance.   
   
   
       6 . The entertainment apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said arcade game comprises a medal game. 
   
   
       7 . The entertainment apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said game of chance comprises a card game. 
   
   
       8 . A method to promote the use of an arcade game, comprising:
 providing an entertainment apparatus comprising an arcade game comprises a plurality of performance levels, a video display device in communication with said arcade game, and an electronic game module in communication with said video display device and comprising: a processor, a computer readable medium in communication with said processor, microcode encoded in said computer readable medium, instructions written to said computer readable medium, wherein said processor utilizes said microcode to operate said game module, and wherein said instructions encode a game of chance;   initiating said arcade game by a user;   achieving a next performance level on said arcade game by said user;   executing said instructions by said processor to generate results from said game of chance;   displaying said results on said video display device.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said entertainment apparatus further comprises a speaker, further comprising emitting sounds from said speaker when displaying said results on said video display device. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 operative if said results entitle said player to an award of cash, proffering to said player said award of cash; and   operative if said results entitle said player to an award of merchandise, proffering to said player said award of merchandise.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said entertainment apparatus further comprises a housing, wherein:
 said processor and said memory are disposed within said housing; and   said visual display device is disposed on an exterior surface of said housing.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said processor, said memory, said microcode, and said instructions, are embodied in an application specific integrated circuit. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 said instructions comprise a cycle counter and a maximum cycle count;   every time said processor utilizes said instructions to display said game of chance said cycle counter is incremented by unity;   when said cycle count equals said maximum cycle count said processor cannot utilize said instructions to execute said game of chance.   
   
   
       14 . An entertainment apparatus comprising a computer readable medium having computer readable program code disposed therein, an arcade game comprising a plurality of performance levels, a video display device in communication with said arcade game, and an electronic game module in communication with said video display device and comprising: a processor, a computer readable medium in communication with said processor, microcode encoded in said computer readable medium, instructions written to said computer readable medium, wherein said processor utilizes said microcode to operate said game module, and wherein said instructions encode a game of chance, the computer readable program code comprising a series of computer readable program steps to effect:
 receiving a signal from said arcade game indicating that a player has achieved a next higher performance level,   executing said instructions to generate results from said game of chance;   displaying said results on said video display device.   
   
   
       15 . The entertainment apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a speaker in communication with said processor, the computer readable program code further comprising a series of computer readable program steps to effect emitting sounds from said speaker when displaying said results on said video display device. 
   
   
       16 . The entertainment apparatus of  claim 14 , the computer readable program code further comprising a series of computer readable program steps to effect displaying results that entitle said player to an award of cash. 
   
   
       17 . The entertainment apparatus of  claim 14 , the computer readable program code further comprising a series of computer readable program steps to effect displaying results that entitle said player to an award of merchandise. 
   
   
       18 . The entertainment apparatus of  claim 14 , the computer readable program code farther comprising a series of computer readable program steps to effect displaying results that entitle said player to a free arcade game play. 
   
   
       19 . The entertainment apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein:
 said instructions comprise a cycle counter and a maximum cycle count;   every time said processor utilizes said instructions to display said game of chance said cycle counter is incremented by unity;   when said cycle count equals said maximum cycle count said processor cannot utilize said instructions to execute said game of chance.