Beer pong arcade game method and apparatus

Abstract

A beer pong arcade game apparatus and methods of operation are described. Initially, a new round is started and out limit is set. For each shot, it is determined whether the player has successfully made the ball into one of the plurality of cups. If the user makes the ball into one of the cups, a mechanism is used to indicate that the user has made the ball into one of the cups. Alternatively, if the user fails to make the ball into one of the cups, the out limit is decremented. The game ends if the out limit reaches zero before the player manages to make all of the cups. However, if the player manages to make all cups before exceeding the out limit, then a new round is started with a new out limit and a new set of cups.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for playing a single-player beer pong game, comprising the steps of:
 setting an out limit which represents a maximum number of times a player may unsuccessfully toss or bounce a ball into one of a plurality of cups situated above a surface;   determining whether the player has successfully made the ball into one of the plurality of cups each time the player tosses or bounces the ball;   indicating that the player has successfully tossed the ball into one of the plurality of cups; and   decrementing the out limit each time the player fails to make the ball into one of the plurality of cups.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining whether the player has successfully made the ball into each of the plurality of cups before the out limit has reached zero. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the determination as to whether the player has successfully made the ball into one of the plurality of cups is made by at least one of:
 a first sensing mechanism located in or beneath the plurality of cups;   a second sensing mechanism located on the surface; or   an expiration of a timer mechanism.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of establishing a new round if it is determined that the player has successfully made the ball into each of the plurality of cups before the out limit has reached zero. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising permitting the plurality of cups to be re-racked after a successful shot if is determined that the number of remaining cups for that team is equal to a predetermined number. 
     
     
         6 . A beer pong game apparatus, comprising:
 a plurality of cups situated atop a surface in a predetermined configuration;   a first sensing mechanism configured to detect whether a ball has gone into one of the plurality of cups; and   a second sensing mechanism configured to detect whether the ball has failed to go into one of the plurality of cups;   in response to said first sensing mechanism, a mechanism for indicating that the ball has gone into one of a plurality of cups;   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the mechanism for indicating that a ball has gone into one of a plurality of cups comprises a cup retractor configured to raise and lower each of the plurality of cups below or flush with the surface. 
     
     
         8 . The mechanism of  claim 7 , wherein the cup retractor is further configured to rearrange a configuration of the plurality of cups by selectively raising and lowering the plurality of cups in a predetermined manner. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the mechanism for indicating that a ball has gone into one of a plurality of cups comprises a cup extender configured to upwardly extend and collapse each of a plurality of collapsible cups. 
     
     
         10 . The mechanism of  claim 9 , wherein the cup extender is further configured to rearrange a configuration of the plurality of cups by selectively upwardly extending and collapsing the plurality of said collapsible cups in a predetermined manner. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the mechanism for indicating that a ball has gone into one of a plurality of cups comprises a lighting mechanism configured to light at least one portion of the cups on the table. 
     
     
         12 . The mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein the lighting mechanism is further configured to rearrange a configuration of the plurality of cups by selectively altering the lighted portions of the plurality of said cups in a predetermined manner. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the mechanism for indicating that a ball has gone into one of a plurality of cups comprises an audio mechanism configured to produce at least one sound. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a sloped return ramp for returning a ball to a user. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the apparatus further comprises game selection buttons which allow a user to select whether the apparatus is operated in one player mode or two player mode.