WO2001012280A1

WO2001012280A1 - Board game apparatus and a method of playing a board game

Info

Publication number: WO2001012280A1
Application number: PCT/CZ2000/000048
Authority: WO
Inventors: Josef HNÍK
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-08-16
Filing date: 2000-06-30
Publication date: 2001-02-22
Anticipated expiration: 2002-02-16
Also published as: AU5519700A

Abstract

A board game with a game board with marked playing fields, at least one die, playing cards, playing tokens and paper banknotes comprises a board plan (1) with periphery playing fields which are linked to one another and comprise periphery playing fields (2), corner fields (4) and fields (3) of chance, with internal fields (5), arranged on the area between periphery playing fields, playing tokens (6) for each player, the die (7) for movement of individual tokens on playing fields, negotiable cards (8) with indications of face values and text of the theme, cards (9) of chance with questions and answers concerning at least one theme and paper banknotes (10) with indications of face values. The method of playing the board game includes the steps of choosing the banker, distributing to each player initial capital, assigning to one player the right to control the token, casting the die (7), delivering the start fee from the bank to the player, payment of compensation, purchasing a negotiable card,(8) selling to and buying from another player negotiable cards (8), paying the value indicated on the face of the field by the player who enters the field whose negotiable card (8), payment of the value indicated on the face of the negotiable cards (8), optional borrowing money from the bank, drawing cards (9) of chance from the pack by the player on the right hand side of the player who enters the field (3) of chance, reading the question and checking the answer, resignation of the player and forfeiture of his remaining money and negotiable cards to the bank if he is unable to pay the required amounts to the bank or the other players when the sale of his negotiable cards (8) or their security cannot cover the required amounts.

Description

Board game apparatus and a method of playing a board game

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a board game apparatus and a method of playing a board game, with a game board with marked playing fields, at least one die, playing cards, playing tokens and paper banknotes.

Background of the invention

Known board games, i.e. board games of the Monopoly™ type, consist of a game board with playing fields marked on its periphery. Individual fields represent movable or immovable objects with price indications. These objects may be purchased during the game with stocks and/or money belonging to the game. Known board games furthermore include playing tokens at the disposition of individual players, the movements of which are determined by the casting of one or more six- sided dies whose faces indicate the numbers from one to six or signs corresponding to values from one to six. The object of such games is to amass as much property and/or money as possible in accordance with predetermined rules; such games end when a given time limit is reached, when at least one player is forced out, etc. Individual playing fields may comprise additional playing fields with various instructions to the player who may enter them during the game or with allocated cards with individual instructions for forward or backward movement of the token on the field. This resembles the arrangement of board games which simulate a sporting event, i.e. football, where the periphery playing fields are used for the forward movement of the players ' tokens determined by the casting die, with and the area between the periphery fields indicating sporting fields demarkating players' positions. The periphery playing fields may also represent different types of penalties to the players, i.e. penalty shooting, etc. In some cases question-and-answer cards are allocated to some of the periphery playing fields; the player who enters such fields then moves forward on the internal sporting fields by correcting answering questions printed on the cards and related to the theme of the game. Individual types of known games focus only on one theme and are non-specific. Furthermore, the arrangement and amounts of their playing fields unclear recessitutes a relatively large board plan. Another disadvantage inherent to these types of the games is the lack of visible distinction between individual playing fields on the periphery whose content relates to one another despite the fact that they may be marked, i.e. in the same color.

Summary of the invention

The purpose of this invention is to create board game designs enabling players to obtain and strengthen their knowledge of various themes and fields, or areas of life, i.e. human activities, sporting events, flora and fauna, the universe, etc. Another purpose is to allow players to increase their capital by using such knowledge. Another purpose is the creation of a game with different playing fields related to different themes, or areas of life. Another purpose is to permit a reduction in the size of the game board compared to games with the same amount of playing fields. It is a further purpose of this invention to create a simple, entertaining and educational method for playing the said board game.

The board game related to this invention consists of a game board with a board plan with periphery playing fields, which relate to one another and include periphery fields, corner fields and fields of chance, and with internal fields arranged on the area between periphery playing fields, playing tokens for each player, die for movement of individual tokens on playing fields, negotiable cards with indicated face value and text of the theme, cards of chance with questions and answers on at least one theme, and paper banknotes with indicated face values. The periphery playing fields and internal fields are linked together by paths; playing fields linked by paths are devided into groups of three fields of the same color. The internal fields have the advantage of a circular arrangement. One of the playing tokens is the central token representing the general theme of the game. Negotiable cards are marked on their faces with a color strip indicating the name of the field, the face value of the card and the amount of payment required of other players who enter the field of the card holder; the reverse of the card contains information on the theme used as the basis for questions and answers on the cards of chance. The cards of chance contain questions and answers on the given themes. One part of the questions corresponds to the general theme indicated on the board or package of the game, the second part corresponds to the information on the negotiable cards. Furthermore, the cards of chance contain game instructions. The game board is folding and thereby forms the package of the box for storage of the other game pieces; on the reverse it has the board plan and rules of the game, on the face it has a graphic illustration with information about the theme of the game and text related to the theme which form the basis for questions and answers on one group of the cards of chance.

The invention further provides for a method of playing the board game with a game board with board plan including periphery playing fields linked to one another and comprising periphery playing fields, corner fields and fields of chance, and internal fields, arranged on the area between periphery playing fields, playing tokens for each player, the die for the movement of individual tokens on playing fields, negotiable cards with the indication of face value and text of the theme, cards of chance with questions and answers to one or more themes, and paper banknotes with the indication of face values comprising

- choosing the banker, who is responsible for the care of all negotiable cards and paper banknotes, as well as for enforcing compliance with the rules,

- distributing to each player the initial capital in banknotes,

- assigning to one player by a cast of the die the right to play with the central token, after which the other players may choose from the remaining color playing tokens,

- casting the die; the player casting the highest total number begins the play, players cast one or more die the sum of whose values indicates the number of fields over which the player moves forward,

- delivering the start fee from the bank to the player when his playing token passes the start field; if a player stops in the start field, he receives double the amount,

- compensation if a player enters a field already held by another player, the former pays compensation to the latter, purchasing a negotiable card if a player enters a playing field whose negotiable card has not yet been purchased, this purchase is made from the banker at the face value indicated on the playing field as well as on the face of the negotiable card, selling to and buying from other players negotiable cards which may be resold to the banker, payment of the amount indicated on the face of the field by the player who enters the field whose negotiable card has already been purchased by another player, the former pays to the latter the value indicated on face, the amount of payment increases with the number of cards of the same color held by the latter with a maximum of six cards, a player's option to borrow money from the bank by depositing his negotiable cards in the bank as security and collecting half of their face values, though in the meantime any player who enters the field of the former player pays no fees, and the negotiable cards may be redeemed by the payment of their face value plus 10 % interest, drawing cards of chance of the pack by the player on the right hand side of the player entering the field of chance, reading the question and checking the answer, whereas in case of cards containing more than one question, e.g. six, the player casts the die and answers the question with the number corresponding to the value on the die, for correct answers the player receives money from the bank, while for incorrect answers he pays money to the bank, resignation of a player and forfeiture of his remaining money and negotiable cards to the bank if he is unable to pay any required amounts to the bank or to the other players, occuring if the sale of his negotiable cards or their security cannot cover the required amounts, - ending the game either by the lapse of a time limit or after the bankruptcy of any or all players, where the winner is the player who has the most capital after the addition of his money to the value of his negotiable cards.

The invention also provides a novel use of the board plan with periphery playing fields linked to one another and comprising periphery playing fields, corner fields and fields of chance, and internal fields, arranged on the area between periphery playing fields, playing tokens for each player, the die for movement of individual tokens on playing fields, negotiable cards with the indication of face value and text of the theme, cards of chance with questions and answers concerning one theme, and paper banknotes with the indication of face values as computer game when its individual parts comprise part of a computer programme or other form of virtual reality.

Brief description of the diagrams and illustrations

The enclosed diagrams and illustrations depict aforementioned game, where Fig. 1 is the axiometric view of the game board depicting the board plan and individual parts of the game, Fig. 2 is the view of the board plan with indicated rules of game, Fig. 3 is the view of one possible arrangement of the individual parts of the game, and Fig. 4 is the view of another possible arrangement of the individual parts of the game where the board plan forms at the same time the outer package of the storage box.

Best mode for carrying out the invention

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows the game board with board plan 1, with a square arrangement and periphery playing fields arranged alongside the sides of the square and including playing fields 2, fields 3 of chance and corner fields 4. Playing fields 2 are marked with a color strip, with their face value and respective picture or logo depicting the theme, i.e. firm, sports club, product, plant, etc. Fields 3 of chance are arranged on individual sides of the board plan 1 between playing fields 2 whose location and number varies according to the number of internal fields 5 in the middle of board plan 1. Corner fields 4 always include one start field; the other corner fields 4 may be used as bonus fields, free round fields, fields indicating receipt of a card of a specific player from the teams involved in the game may also be used as fields of chance, etc. Indicated on the area of board plan 1 are internal fields 5, also marked with a color strip, face values and respective pictures or logos depicting the theme, i.e. firm, sports club, plant, animal, etc. Individual themes of playing fields 2 and internal fields 5 may differ. In the given case internal fields 5 bear the logos of the league sports clubs and playing fields 2 bear the logos of sponsoring firms. Internal fields 5 have a circular arrangement and are related by linking paths 11 (marked with arrows) with playing fields 2. One internal field 5 is always linked to two playing fields 2 marked in the same color, by linking path 11 which leads from the prior playing field 2 to internal field 5 and then to the next playing field 2. In the given case board plan 1 depicts sixteen groups of three playing fields of the same color. The fact that part of the playing fields make internal fields 5 arranged on the area of board plan 1 between the periphery playing fields consisting of playing fields 2, corner fields 4 and fields 3 of chance permits a reduction of the area of board plan 1, in the given case by sixteen fields which would otherwise make part of the periphery playing fields. The division of playing fields into periphery and internal field allows the combination of two themes which have no close relationship, without the player looses orientation in individual themes. Internal playing fields might focus on the theme of, for example sports clubs, while periphery playing fields focus on the theme of animals, i.e. penguins, sharks, etc., or astrology, etc.

Indicated on the reverse of the game board together with board plan 1, if the game board is used as the package of the game, are the rules of the game and indicated on face of the game board is the graphic illustration with information on the theme of the game, i.e. hockey and its rules, football and its history, endangered species of plants, Formulae 1 cars, the text related to the theme is used as the basis for questions and answers related to the specific game. The themes indicated on the face of the game board tend to be themes related to internal playing fields. The graphic illustration with information about the theme of the game, including text on the theme of the game, may be given outside the game board, i.e. on the package of the game, etc. The rules of the game do not reed to be described on the reverse of the game board as they may also be given on the package of the game or on an enclosed leaflet .

The game includes playing tokens 6 allocated to individual players. One of the tokens 6 is the central token indicating the theme of the game, i.e. hockey player, Formule 1 car, bear, sunflower, the remaining tokens having different colors. Tokens 6 are moved on playing fields of the game board 1 by casting the die 7.

Furthermore, the game includes two types of cards, i.e. negotiable cards 8 and cards 9 of chance. The number of negotiable cards 8 is twice the number of playing fields 2 and internal fields 5. However, the number of cards 9 of chance varies according to the requirement of creating an equal number of questions and answers in order to make the game educational, but not boring. Negotiable cards 8 are marked on the reverse with a color strip corresponding with the color of strip of the respective playing field; furthermore, with face values payable by the player to the bank on purchase of the negotiable card, and the name corresponding with respective playing field 2 where no logotype but only name is indicated, i.e. Sparta Praha, Coca-cola, giraffe, etc. A player who enters the field of the holder of playing field 2 who is also the holder of negotiable card 8 of the respective playing field, pays to the latter the different values according to the number of negotiable cards 8 held together by the holder (of the total 6 cards) . These values are also indicated on the reverse of negotiable card 8. Allocated to each playing field are two negotiable cards 8. Therefore a total of six negotiable cards 8 belong to each group of three playing fields. On the reverse of negotiable cards 8 is specific information about the theme belonging to playing field 2 and to the respective negotiable card 8, i.e. about firm, animal, sports club, product, etc., and used as the basis for the creation of questions and answers for cards 9 of chance.

Cards 9 of chance are divided into three groups. The first group includes questions and answers concerning the general theme of the game, i.e. history of hockey, endangered species of animals, history of beer production, etc., indicated on the face of the game board. The cards in the second group of cards 9 of chance contain questions and answers based on information on the reverse of negotiable cards 8, i.e. about specific clubs, firms, products, animals, plants, etc. The third group of cards 9 of chance provides additional instructions for the player which may be to his benefit of detriment, i.e. movement forward, back to a certain field, payment of various fees to the bank, etc.

Furthermore, the board game includes paper banknotes 10 of different face values: USD 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 50,000, 100,000.-

The essential attributes of the game are the division between the periphery and the internal playing fields in order to improve application of the game and to reduce the size of the board plan; furthermore, the use of more than one theme to obtain and retain knowledge, with individual themes indicated on the game board or the package of the game or an enclosed leaflet, and on the reverse of negotiable cards 8. The use of the second type of cards, i.e. cards 9 of chance with questions and answers concerning at least two themes of the game, is another attribute of the same. Both themes of the game may concern the same area of life, the first theme being more general and the second one concernig more specific questions; i.e. the first theme concerns the history of beer production and the second one concerns beer producers worldwide.

Individual parts of the board game may be put together with the board plan into a two-part box, made up of a separate cover and a separate bottom, as shown in Fig. 3. However, it is possible to use the game board as the folding cover of the box which includes a pressed polystyrene unit with several departments for storage of the other pieces of the game, as shown in Fig. 4.

The board game according to this invention is played in the following way:

The players choose the banker who is responsible for all negotiable cards 8 and paper banknotes 10 and enforces the compliance with the rules.

Each player receives initial capital in banknotes 10 whose value depends on the number of playing fields.

The players determine by a cast of the die 7, the player who will play with the central token; the others choose from the remaining color playing tokens 6.

Each player casts the die 7; the player with the highest total number begins play. The players cast one or more die 7 the sum of whose values gives the number of fields over which the player moves forward.

When playing token 6 passes the start field the player receives the start fee from the bank; if a player stops in the start field, he receives double the amount.

If a player enters a field already held by another player, the former pays compensation to the latter.

If a player enters playing field 2 whose negotiable card has not yet been purchased, he may purchase it from the banker at the face value indicated on playing field 2 as well as on the face of negotiable card 8.

The players may sell to and buy from one another negotiable cards 8 or they may resell the cards to the banker.

If a player enters a field whose negotiable card 8 has already been purchased by another player, the former pays to the latter the value indicated on its face. This value increases with the number of cards of the same color held by the latter with a maximum of six cards.

A player may borrow money from the bank by depositing his negotiable cards 8 in the bank as security and collecting half of their face values. In the meantime any player who enters the field of the former player pays no fees. Negotiable cards 8 may be redeemed by the payment of their face value plus 10 % interest . When a player enters field 3 of chance, the player on the former player's right hand side draws card 9 of chance of the pack, reads the question and checks the answer. In case of more than one question on card 9 of chance, i.e. six, the player casts the die 7 and answers the question with the number corresponding with the value on the die 7. For a correct answer he receives money from the bank, for an incorrect answer he pays money to the bank.

If any player is unable to pay the required amounts to the bank or to the other players or cannot cover the required amounts by the sale of negotiable cards 8 or their security, that player must resign and passes the rest of his money and negotiable cards 8 to the bank.

The game ends according to agreement either by lapse of a time limit or with the bankruptcy of any or all players where the player who has the most capital after the addition of his money to the value of his negotiable cards is the winner.

It is also possible to use this game as a computer game where its individual parts comprise a computer programme or other form of virtual reality.

Claims

Claims :

1. A board game apparatus with a game board with marked playing fields, at least one die, playing cards, playing tokens and paper banknotes, c h a r a c t e r i s e d b y board plan (1) with periphery playing fields which are linked to one another and comprise periphery playing fields (2) , corner fields (4) and fields (3) of chance, with internal fields (5) arranged on the area between periphery playing fields, with playing tokens (6) for each player, the die (7) for movement of individual tokens on playing fields, negotiable cards (8) with the indications of face value and text of the theme, cards (9) of chance with questions and answers to at least one theme and paper banknotes (10) with the indication of face values.

2. The board game according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d b y the periphery playing fields (2) and internal fields (5) linked to one another by paths (11), the playing fields linked by paths (11) comprising groups of three fields of the same color.

3. The board game according to claim 1 and 2, c h a r a c t e r i s e d b y a circular arrangement of internal fields (5).

4. The board game according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d b y one of the playing tokens (6) being the central token representing the general theme of the game.

5. The board game according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d b y the negotiable cards (8) marked on the face with a color strip indicating the name of the field, the face value of the card and the amount of payment for the other player who enters the field of the card holder, while bearing on the reverse side information about the theme used as the basis for questions and answers on cards (9) of chance.

6. The board game according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d b y the cards (9) of chance indicating questions and answers concerning the given themes.

7. The board game according to claim 6, c h a r a c t e r i s e d b y one part of the questions corresponding to the general theme indicated on the game board or package of the game and the other part of the questions corresponding to specific information on negotiable cards (8) and cards (9) of chance indicating game instructions.

8. The board game according to claims 1 through 7, c h a r a c t e r i s e d b y the game board being in the form of a folding board which makes the package of the box for storage of the other pieces of the game.

9 . The board game according to claim 8 , c h a r a c t e r i s e d b y the game board indicating on the reverse side the board plan and rules of the game, with the graphic part on the face with information on the theme of the game and text related to the theme and used as a basis for questions and answers on one group of cards (9) of chance.

10. A method of playing the board game with a game board with board plan (1) with periphery playing fields linked to one another and comprising periphery playing fields (2), corner fields (4) and fields (3) of chance, and internal fields (5), arranged on the area between periphery playing fields, playing tokens (6) for each player, the die (7) for movement of individual tokens on playing fields, negotiable cards (8) with the indication of face value and text of the theme, cards (9) of chance with questions and answers to at least one theme and paper banknotes (10) with the indication of face values comprising the steps of

- choosing the banker who is responsible for all negotiable cards (8) and paper banknotes (10) and enforces the compliance with the rules,

- distributing to each player initial capital in banknotes (10) whose value depends on the number of playing fields,

- assisting to one player by casting the die (7), the right to play with the central token; after which the other players choose from the remaining color playing tokens (6),

- casting the die (7); the player with the highest total number begins to play, the players cast one or more die (7) the sum of whose values gives the number of fields over which the player moves forward,

- delivering the start fee from the bank to the player when his playing token (6) passes the start field; if a player stops in the start field, he receives double the amount, payment of compensation if a player enters a field already held by another player, the former pays compensation to the latter, purchasing a negotiable card if a player enters playing field (2) whose negotiable card has not yet been purchased, from the banker at the face value indicated on playing field (2) as well as on the face of negotiable card (8), selling to and buying from another player negotiable cards (8) which may be resold to the banker, paying the value indicated on the face of the field by the player who enters the field whose negotiable card (8) has already been purchased by another player, the former pays to the latter the value indicated on the face, the amount of the payment increases with the number of cards of the same color held by the latter with a maximum of six cards, optional borrow of money by a player from the bank by depositing his negotiable cards (8) in the bank as security and collecting half of their face values, though in the meantime any player who enters the field of the former player pays no fees, and the negotiable cards (8) may be redeemed by payment of their face value plus 10 % interest, drawing cards (9) of chance from the pack by the player on the right hand side of the player entering the field (3) of chance, reading the question and checking the answer, whereas in case of cards containing more than one question i.e. six, the player casts the die (7) and answer the question with the number corresponding to the value on the die (7) for correct answers the player receives money from the bank, for incorrect answers he pays money to the bank ,

- resignation of a player and forfeiture his money and negotiable cards (8) to the bank if he is unable to pay any required amounts to the bank or to other players, or if the sale of his negotiable cards (8) or their security cannot cover the required amounts,

- ending the game either by the lapse of a time limit after the bankruptcy of any or all players where the winner is the player who has the most capital after the addition of his money to the value of his negotiable cards.

11. Use of the board plan (1) with periphery playing fields linked to one another and comprising periphery playing fields (2), corner fields (4) and fields (3) of chance, and internal fields (5) , arranged on the area between periphery playing fields, playing tokens (6) for each player, the die (7) for movement of individual tokens on playing fields, negotiable cards (8) with indications of face values and text of the theme, cards (9) of chance with questions and answers concerning at least one theme and paper banknotes (10) with the indication of face values, as computer game when its individual parts comprise a computer programme or other form of virtual reality.