Method and apparatus for a board game

Abstract

A board game uses a board (1) which is marked with centre (2) middle (3) and outer (4) playing circuits and player tokens (107, 108, 109, 111, 112, 113) which move on the board (1). The game ends when a player's token (107, 111) lands on an End of Game square (6, 7) and that player also holds an End of Game card which has been obtained by the player's token (107, 111) landing on a square that is marked with a star (12, 13, 14, 16). Player tokens (108, 112) moving on the middle circuit (3) may land on mystery (17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25), Score (34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48), and Question squares (27, 28, 29, 31, 32 and 33). Player tokens (109, 113) moving on the outer circuit (4) may land on mystery (57, 58, 59, 61), decision (62, 63, 64, 66) and Question squares (67, 68, 69 and 71). Player tokens may also land on six squares (49, 51, 52, 53, 54, 56) which are marked with the words “Miss a Turn”. These six squares (49, 51, 52, 53, 54, 56) are located at points where the middle circuit (3) coincides with the centre circuit (2) or the outer circuit (4).

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2006906084 in the name of G.A.T.E.Ways Publications Pty Ltd, which was filed on 1 Nov. 2006, entitled “A Board Game” and, Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2006906085 in the name of G.A.T.E.Ways Publications Pty Ltd, which was filed on 2 Nov. 2006, also entitled “A Board Game” and Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2007905175 in the name of G.A.T.E.Ways Publications Pty Ltd, which was filed on 21 Sep. 2007, also entitled “A Board Game” and the specifications thereof are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and for all purposes.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to games in which players move tokens around a playing path on a playing board. Such games are commonly known as “board games”. In one form, the present invention relates to board games in which the playing and / or participation thereof, may be facilitated by el...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0067]at least two playing positions each of which bears indicia to the effect that the landing of a player token on it results in the awarding to that player of a token which contributes to the ending of a game.

[0092]It is unlike other board games that have a designated start and finish position on the board. In the presently described game the players can seek to prolong the game until they are in a winning position. In preferred embodiments, three discrete pathways are provided where the player tokens on each pathway are restricted to moving only along their respective playing circuit and each respective player token has its own unique functions and objectives. Further, plural random number generating means, such as dice, may be incorporated such that the movement of each player token corresponding to it own respective playing path is controlled by its respective random number generating means at each turn. For example, with three discrete playing paths it is preferred that three separate random number generating means such as three dice are activated and moving all three of a player's tokens in correspondence to each respective random number generating means. A further advantage is provided in preferred embodiments where particular game control cards may be provided to increase the complexity of the game, such as for example the use of question cards which allow for questions that may be more intellectually demanding and take longer to answer than other questions but these question cards do not hold up the game whilst they are answered. There is also an advantage offered in preferred embodiments where decision making cards are provided to give greater control over the direction and development of the game as it is played out.

Problems solved by technology

U.S. Pat. No 5,607,160 (Stevens at al) identifies a problem in a number of prior art games that facilitate movement of playing pieces around a board by players either answering questions, drawing or, acting out a word or object but do not combine any or all three of the skills involved in questions, drawing and acting.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,375 (Bernstein et al) identifies a problem with known life choice and career games in that they do not address the myriad of career and family choices available to girls and young women.

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