Network driven board game instruction generator and methods for interaction with participant

Abstract

Interaction between a telephone system in a multiplayer board game providing real time input to game play in a multi player board game during the course of game play. Players make telephone calls to a special game play service provider at a remote phone number at the start of the game. The service provider then initiates a series of calls to the players' telephones during the course of game play. These calls provide game play input which could impact the outcome of the game. For example while playing a Monopoly board game, players may receive telephone calls during a forty five-minute period. The calls would provide instructions for various game effects, similar to Community Chest or Chance cards. Telephonic instructions also provide additional play experience during game play by occasionally dictating moves and instructions to game players, e.g., to improve the play experience and accelerate the game by driving property into the game and by driving money out of the game.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION[0001]The present invention in general relates to board game methods that involve providing instruction generators via an electronic content information interface. More particularly, the invention relates to telephonic and other electronic interfaces for use with board games to provide content for playing a multiplayer game linked or suited for telephonic interactions utilizing the communications capabilities of telephones and the like.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Various types of board games are known in the art. Board games typically provide a playing surface with a particular playing path marked out, upon which the game players move individualized game pieces. These games often incorporate game die, and one or more card sets that determine exclusively or under particular circumstances how game pieces are moved on the game board. For example, the well known game of Monopoly TM includes a playing path upon which the players moves game pieces where each player ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]The present invention provides electronic communications network content and instruction information receipt in a multiplayer board game environment using or including a conventional land-line or cellular telephone, including such systems and processes for receipt of random or pseudo-random selections with a plurality of game content items provided for game play. A method for an interaction between a player and the game uses a call in telephone service which allows users to call in before starting a board game to trigger a series of calls to be received during the game. The calls create various game effects designed to improve the play experience and accelerate the game, including providing random telephone input during the course of a multiplayer game using a dedicated phone service. Moreover options include initiating the call from a cellular phone that can receive multimedia downloads and utilizing multiple cellular phones in a single game play experience.

[0009]In a described embodiment while playing the Monopoly board game, players receive calls during a forty five-minute period. The telephone calls would provide instructions for simple game effects, similar to Community Chest or Chance cards. However, the instructions are designed to provide additional play experience during game play.

Problems solved by technology

Single player lottery games are known to provide telephone input for lottery gaming purposes via telephone communication systems, however such is neither suitable for input during the course of multiplayer games nor for the provision of random telephone input during the course of a multiplayer board game.

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