GB2159423A - Game apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus comprises playing pieces, random number generators, means along which the pieces are moved and which defines steps to be taken, and tokens which a player can use to modify the number of steps moved by his or an opponent's piece. The tokens may be cards or dice marked with letters or +/-1, +/-2 and +/-3-further tokens may be used which, if played, prevent a move being modified. The number generators may be dice, spinners or bowls with numbered sectors in which a top-like member is spun to indicate a sector, certain sectors 24 being marked to correspond with said further tokens (Fig. 6) so as to indicate possible play thereof. An eight-sectored bowl (Fig. 2) is used to indicate which of eight pieces is to be moved. The said means may be a board having penalty/reward positions represented by movable pieces or by markings, means being provided to select a penalty or reward. Alternatively, the pieces may be moved along cards or boards or an illuminated or electronic "board" may be used with electronic number generators. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Game Field of the Invention The present invention concerns games in which pieces or markers are moved in response to move indications generated by a random number generator.

Background ofthe Invention Some games are known wherein the players throw dice and move pieces along a board. To make these games more interesting, some of the positions along paths on the board are marked with rewards or penalties; a well known game of this type is "Snakes and Ladders". Some games are designed to incorporate an element of skill. Thus in "Monopoly", the players have artificial money and can buy the squares they land on and charge subsequent players landing on bought squares rent; the aim of the game is to end up with all the money.

The present invention aims at providing a game of mixed skill and chance differing from known games.

Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a game having pieces or markers, a random number generator and means along which the pieces or markers are to be moved and having markings or other means defining steps to be taken as a result of the random number generated characterised by a restricted plurality of tokens which a player can use to modify the number of steps taken by him or an opponent as a result of the random number generator.

Normally the game would be played on a board marked with steps usually with some of them marked to denote penalties or rewards. However in one embodiment, the pieces are mounted on cords or bands extending between supports which can be releasably attached to the ends of a table such as a snooker table or other rectangular surface or which could be wall mounted. Penalty positions could be indicated in this said one embodiment by using a suitably marked cloth or plastic sheet behind or below the pieces or by having coloured or other marked segments on the cords or bands.

A dice can be used as the random number generator but it is preferred to use a spinner either in the form of a wheel with numbers marked on it either turning about a fixed axis in conjunction with a pointer or spinning like a top with the selected number indicated by the bit of the rim onto which it topples over or in the form of a top with the selected number indicated by the base coming to rest on a marked spinning-base. There are two main reasons for preferring to use a spinner; first, the best form of the game uses a random selection of which piece is to be moved and uses eight such pieces and so a dice cannot be used to select which piece and secondly as will be described later it is desired to have some random check on the use of the move modification tokens and this is most easily achieved by having a large number of markings on the random number generator.

The move modification tokens can be in the form of cards or discs or anything else. The main type of such tokens would permit a move by the player or by an opponent to be modified by a number of steps indicated on the token either forward or backwards with one-third of the tokens permitting a one-step modification, another one-third a two-step and a further one-third a three-step modification. The rules of the game prevent more than a certain number of tokens being used to modify the movement of any one piece. In addition, each player can be given a further token which if played prevents a move being modified.This further token can be used only if the random number generator so indicates and only if the pieces is near the end of the game as signified either by two of the main type of token already having been used against the piece or by the piece being within a predetermined number of steps of the finish. A yet further series of move modification tokens can be provided; for example each player can be given a joker representing any one of the main type of tokens. Another form of move modification token would be a dice marked with two each of "+1", "+2" and "+3" which the players could throw in turn.

Brief Description ofthe Drawings Figure lisa view of the layout of a board for simulating a racing game, Figure 2 is a view ofthe markings on a stationary part of a first number generator, Figure 3 is a view showing the markings on a stationary part of a second number generator, Figure 4 is a perspective view of a movable part of the number generator of Figure 2 or Figure 3, Figure 5 illustrates one of a pack of tokens, Figure 6 illustrates one of a plurality of token discs, Figure 7 illustrates a playing piece, and Figure 8 illustrates the mounting of one playing piece in a modified arrangement of the game.

Description of Embodiments Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings.

The embodiments to be described simulate racing games wherein the object is to get from a start 11 to a finishing line 12. There are eight playing pieces 14 representing horses or other runners (Fig. 7) and the board (Fig. 1) is divided by lines 15 representing steps or strides of the runners and by lines 16 dividing the board into lanes one for each piece.

Each player is allocated one or more pieces possibly by means of a random number generator or by a deal of cards. Some of the rectangles or squares defined by the lines 15 and 16 are marked as penalty positions such as fences or water jumps.

Figures 2 to 4 illustrate two random number generators of a preferred form. Figures 2 and 3 show the markings on bowls 18 with flat bottoms but with a peripheral containing flange 19. The flat bottom of the bowl in Figure 2 is divided by lines 20 which are preferably slightiy proud as by the thickness of paint defining the lines into eight main sectors marked 1 to 8 and has a circle in the centre marked by a line 21. The bowl of Figure 3 is divided by lines 22 into six main sectors and has a circle in the centre. The sectors in each bowl are of equal size. At least one bowl has further lines 23 dividing each main sector into say three; the sub-sectors 24 so formed are specially marked.

Each player before a game starts is dealt three cards (Figure 5) from a pack of shuffled token cards.

Each card represents the ability to alter a number generated by the six-sector number generator (Figure 3) by plus or minus the number on the card; there being eight cards each representing "+1", "~2" and "l3". He is also given one token disc (Figure 6) marked to tally with the markings of the subsectors 24. The players have to select which lane and piece they are to play by lot possibly by being dealt tokens marked 1 to 8; for example, the token discs could be marked on their reverse sides with the lane numbers.

To play the game, someone, possibly the players taking it in turn, spins the top-like movabie parts (Figure 5) of both numbers generators starting in the central circles of the bowls. The numbers are indicated by the bottom tips of the top-like parts when the parts topple over and come to rest (if on the lines 20 or 22, the sector in the clockwise direction is taken as indicated). The top-like part in the eight-sector bowl indicates the piece to be moved and that in the six-sector bowl the number of steps. Thus if the first two sets of numbers generated are 6 and 6 and 6 and 2, the piece 6 is moved first six positions forward and then a further two with the other pieces left at the starting line. If a piece lands near a penalty position, the opponents can use one oftheirtoken cards to move the piece back or forward into the penalty position.If a piece lands in a penalty position other than by use of a token card, a player has the option of using one of his token cards to avoid the penalty but, since the normal penalty will be merely the need to generate a predetermined number, say a four, five or a six, possibly with the assistance of a move modification, they will not normally squander one of the tokens.

On getting out of a penalty position, the piece will move to the position following the penalty position.

Preferably, there is a rule that no more than three moves by any piece can be modified by token cards to avoid seven players ganging up on one. When two token cards have been played against any piece, if the number generated includes the subsector 24 the player can use his token disc to prevent another player interfering with any subsequent move or possibly just the immediate move.

Figure 8 shows an embodiment for use in a social club or bingo hall. The pieces 27 are each mounted on a cord or band 28 stretched between two end parts 29 adapted to be attached to the ends of a snooker or other table orto a wall. The pieces can be slid manually along the cords or bands which are marked with the penalty positions or which have associated with them a cloth or plastics material sheet marked with the lanes and penalty positions.

Obviously the pieces could be moved mechanically.

With a large gate of spectators, the number generators should be in the form of large wheels with suitable markings spun by a Master of Ceremonies.

It is felt that eight players give a game of reasonable length with twenty-four positions in each lane. However this can be modified. The rules of the game can be adapted to give faster or slower games. For example, the game could simulate racing over the flat with the penalty positions being treated as normal positions or steps; preferably the token discs would be removed from play.

Alternatively there could be more or fewer pieces with each player still having three token cards, more or less, and a token disc; it would be necessary for the lane selector number generator to be replaced with a suitable lane generator having a number of sectors corresponding to the number of pieces or each player could play in turn generating only a step indication. Indeed the game could be played with eight pieces with the players playing in turn rather than having a random selection of the piece to be moved. Moreover electronic number generators could be used and it would even be possible that the entire game be made as an electronic game with the pieces merely being representations on a visual display screen.

A desirable rule is that a move cannot be modified by more than one token card.

To add further interest to a series of games, the series can include a card of a race meeting with various prizes for each race. The races could differ in length by having the course laid out in circuits around the board so a race could be one or more laps and further modified by having part-laps, by having boards laid end-to-end for the longer races, or by having the rectangles or squares subdivided so thatforthe shorter races each square or rectangle would represent one stride but for the longer races each of the subdivisions would represent one stride.With the longer races, it would be possible at the predetermined option of the players to have more move modificationn tokens or to have a second deal of the tokens at a midway stage or to stay with the original tokens, it would also be possible to have further move modification tokens to speed up the game allowing the moves to be modified by four, five and six places. Even further interest could be added by having the penalty positions spreading over more strides and being movable; it is proposed to have representations of various obstacles such as hurdles, fences, ditches and water jumps which can be placed on the board covering varying numbers of rectangles or squares.

Instead of the move modification tokens being merely marked "~1" "+ j2" etc. they can be marked with a cross marked with "U" for up, "D" for down, "F" for forward, and "B" or "R" for reverse, or backward. Representations of prizes and prize and place money can be provided suitable for races called say The Diamond Necklace Stakes, The Crystal Bowl, The Gold Cup, The Silver Shieid, The Sapphire Pendant, The National and/or The Aintree Thriller. The game can be varied to make each race on a card different by having the penalty positions marked by loose position markings placed on the board at the discretion of the players both as to their number and position along the lanes.Some lanes can be favoured as in actual races by having some lanes marked by further position markings which give an indication that a piece landing on them should be moved back or advanced a number of strides; with these markings would be associated a symbol of whether the going was good or soft denote whether the pieces should be moved back (soft going) or advanced (hard or good going). The favoured lanes could be selected by the players before they were allocated lanes or used to penalise adults in favour of children. Selection, of whether the going was to be taken as good or soft, could be by having a disc marked on one side with "good going" and on the other with "soft going" which disc could be tossed to make the selection. With so many variants, the game could be used as a gambling game with one player acting as a bookie fixing odds on the basis of the lanes, the going, and the move modifications cards dealt to each player with some weight being given to the skill of the players.

Another form the game could take especially for use in social clubs and other large venues is an illuminated board having say a pattern of horses in various colours illuminated from the back by lamp bulbs and with a panel indicating when a player plays a move modification. The electronics would be rather simple requiring only an adder/subtractor for each player with means for feeding in random numbers and move modifications.

Claims (23)

1. A game having pieces or markers, a random number generator, and means along which the pieces and markers are to be moved and having markings or other means defining steps to be taken as a result of the random number generated characterised by a restricted plurality of tokens which a player can use to modify the number of steps taken by him or an opponent as a result of the random number generated.

2. A game according to claim 1 wherein the random number generator is a dice.

3. A game according to claim 1 wherein the random number generator is a spinner.

4. A game according to claim 3 wherein the spinner is a top-like member with a bowl in which the spinner is spun.

5. A game according to claim 4 wherein the bowl is marked with the various numbers that can be generated, the number generated being indicated by where the spinner comes to rest.

6. A game according to claim 5 wherein the markings form sectors of the bowl.

7. A game according to claim 6 wherein the sectors are subdivided with one sub-division in each sector or in some of the sectors being for the purpose of allowing an inhibition of the tokens.

8. A game according to claim 7 having a limited plurality of blocking tokens, use of which when a number is generated with an inhibition sub-division indicated prevents another player using a move modification token.

9. A game according to any one of the preceding claims wherein some of the markings defining steps represent penalty positions requiring numbers to be generated for the players to escape from such penalty positions.

10. A game according to any one of the preceding claims wherein some of the markings defining steps represent penalty or reward positions calling for the pieces or markers to be moved back or forward either a predetermined number of steps or a number of steps determined by a random number generation.

11. A game according to claim 10 wherein the markings are arranged in lanes and the penalty or reward positions vary from lane-to-lane.

12. A game according to claim 10 or 11 further having means for selecting whether the penalty or reward positions represent a penalty (poor going) or a reward (firm going).

13. A game according to any one of claims 9 to 12 wherein the markings for said positions are loose pieces which can be used to vary the game by being placed anywhere.

14. A game according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a second random number generates a number corresponding to a piece or lane to determine the order of play; thus if the second random number generator keeps generating the same number, the same piece is moved by the numbers generated by the first random number generator.

15. A game according to any one of the preceding claims having means for allocating pieces to players at random.

16. A game according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the means along which the pieces are to be moved is a board.

17. A game according to claim 16 wherein the board is marked out with straight lanes and moves along those straight lanes.

18. A game according to claim 16 wherein the board is marked out with a lap of a course, the lap being divided into lanes and moves along those lanes.

19. A game according to any one of claims 16 to 18 wherein the board is marked out so a plurality of boards can be abutted against each other so the game can be played on a longer course.

20. A game according to any one of the claims 1 to 15 wherein the means along which the pieces are to be moved comprises cords or bands.

21. A game according to any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein the means along which the pieces are to be moved comprises an illuminated visual display screen.

22. A game according to claim 21 wherein the visual display screen is of the type having a sequence of fixed representations of the pieces which sequence is back illuminated to show the position of the piece.

23. A game substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.