GB2422557A

GB2422557A - Board game with dvd data storage

Info

Publication number: GB2422557A
Application number: GB0502035A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Charles Spittle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-02-01
Filing date: 2005-02-01
Publication date: 2006-08-02
Also published as: GB0502035D0

Abstract

A game playing apparatus comprises at least one optical data storage disc (12). On the data storage disc is stored a plurality of still and/or moving images of birds for display using a DVD player (14) and a television (16). The disc plays the images in a random order.

Description

GA

The present invention relates to a game and, more particularly, to a birdspotting themed board game.

As far as the inventor is aware, at least two board games have been devised in which player's compete to "spOt" birds of different species by moving respective playing pieces along a path marked on a playing board and, at various points along the path, drawing at least one card, at random, from a deck containing a plurality of cards, each printed with an image of a bird of a different species.

However, the known games are limited, in that, due to manufacturing cost constraints and convenience of play, neither provides a sufficiently large number of cards in their respective decks to simulate, to any realistic degree, the actual relative likelihoods of spotting different bird species in the wild.

I have now devised an arrangement which overcomes the limitations of existing bird-spotting games.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a game playing apparatus comprising at least one optical data-storage disc, on which is stored a plurality of still and/or moving images of birds for display using a DVD player and television combination, the disc being authored such that the bird images are presented in a random order.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises further physical elements, preferably including a plurality of playing pieces and a game board, upon which a track is marked, along which the playing pieces may be moved during the course of a game.

Preferably the track is marked such that it traverses a sty]Jsed map comprising different bird habitats.

Preferably the apparatus comprises at least one die or other random selecting means for determining the distance a playing piece may travel along the track.

Preferably the disc is authored to provide an identification of species of the bird shown in each bird image displayed, in response to an input from a user, typically via a remote control handset of the DVD player.

Most preferably the disc is authored such that, for each bird image displayed, a plurality of names of different bird species are presented (including the name of the species of the bird displayed in that image), from which a user must select, typically via the remote control handset of the DVD player, the species which he believes to be that of the bird displayed in the image, and to then provide confirmation of whether the selected species is indeed that of the bird displayed in the image.

The disc may be authored such that, on each of his or her turns, a player is presented with a pre-determined number of bird images or is presented with successive bird images until he/she fails to correctly identify the species of the bird displayed in an image presented to him/her.

Preferably, the disc is authored such that a user can select, typically via the remote control handset of the DVD player, a particular bird habitat or geographical location and to then display, at random, an image or images of at least one bird commonly found in that habitat or geographical location.

Preferably the disc is authored such that the likelihood that a bird of a particular species will be displayed corresponds, substantially, with the likelihood of a bird of that species being spotted in the wild. For example, if the relative population densities of bird species A, B and C in a particular geographic location or habitat are approximately X:Y:Z, then the DVD may store X images of birds of species A, Y images of birds of species B and Z images of birds of species C. Alternatively, the disc may comprise one image of a bird of each of species A, B and C and be authored such that the respective probabilities of each image being selected for display are substantially in the ratio X:Y:Z.

In the former case, the bird images are preferably stored in a random order, to increase the degree of randomness in their selection.

In the latter case, the disc may, for example, be authored such that a number S is first selected at random within the range 0 to N, the image of a bird of species A being displayed if S/N = X/(X+Y+Z), the image of a bird of species B being displayed if X/(X+Y+Z) < S/N = (X+Y)/(X+Y+Z) and the image of a bird of species B being displayed if (X+ Y) < S/N = 1.

The disc is preferably authored such that a respective score is maintained for each player. The disc may be authored such that a value is added to a player's score each time a bird image is displayed on that player's turn, if the player is successful in correctly identifying the species of the displayed bird. Alternatively, the disc may be authored such that a first value is added to a player's score each time a bird image is displayed on that player' s turn and a second bonus" value added to the player's score if he/she is able to correctly identify the species of the displayed bird. In each case, the value(s) added to the player's score is/are preferably proportional to the likelihood that an image of a bird of that particular species will be displayed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical data-storage disc for use in a game, on which disc is stored a plurality of still and/or moving images of birds for display using a DVD player and television combination, the disc being authored such that the bird images are presented in a random order.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for creating an optical data- storage disc for use in a game, the method comprising storing a plurality of still and/or moving images of birds on the disc for display using a DVD player and television combination, such that the bird images are presented in a random order.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for playing a game, the method comprising presenting, in a random order, still and/or moving images of birds from a plurality of such images stored on an optical data-storage disc, using a DVD player and television combination.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of an example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings which is a schematic illustraLion of apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to the drawing, a game-playing apparatus is shown comprising a plurality of playing pieces 2 and a game board 4, upon which a track is marked 6, along which the playing pieces may be moved during the course of a game, the track being marked such that it traverses a stylised map comprising different bird habitats 7, 8, 9, 10.

The apparatus also comprises an optical data-storage disc 12 in the form of a DVD, on which is stored a plurality of moving images of birds for display using a conventional DVD player and television combination 14, 16.

In use of apparatus to play a game, a plurality of players each take it in turn to move their respective playing pieces along the track marked on the game board.

Should a player's move result in him/her landing within a particular region of the playing board corresponding to a particular habitat, the player is then required to operate the DVD player, via a remote control handset 18, to retrieve and display a moving image of a bird from the DVD 12, that might be found in that habitat.

The DVD 12 is authored such that the bird image displayed will be chosen, substantially at random, from a plurality of images, such that the likelihood that a bird of a particular species will be displayed corresponds, substantially, with the likelihood of a bird of that species being spotted in the wild, within the habitat to which the location of the player's playing piece corresponds.

For example, if the relative population densities of bird species A, and C in a particular habitat are approximately X:Y:Z, then the DVD 12 may store X images of birds of species A, Y images of birds of species B and Z images of birds of species C. Alternatively, the DVD 12 may comprise one image of a bird of each of species A, B and C and be authored such that the respective probabilities of each image being selected for display are substantially in the ratio X:Y:Z.

Along with each bird image, a plurality of names of different bird species are presented (including the correct name of the species of the bird displayed in that image) from which a player must select, via the remote control handset 18, the species which he believes to be that of the bird displayed in the image.

The player is then provided with confirmation of whether the selected species he/she has selected is indeed that of the bird displayed in the image.

The player may continue to be displayed with bird images until either a pre-determined number of bird images have been displayed, or until the player is incorrect in his identification of a displayed bird.

For the or each bird image displayed to a player, his/her respective score is automatically incremented by a pre-determined amount, proportional to the likelihood that an image of a bird of that particular species will be displayed and, if the player is correct in his/her selection of the name of the displayed bird's species, then a second "bonus" value is added to his/her score, the bonus value also being proportional to the likelihood that an image of a bird of that particular species will be displayed.

It may be decided amongst the players that the game will last for a predetermined period of time, until one of the players has identified a particular number of birds or until one of the players has attained a particular "winning" score.

A display is made periodically and/or at the conclusion of the game of the respective scores of each of the players.

The apparatus and associated game-play methods thus described provide an entertaining means for simulating a bird-spotting exercise.

Claims

Claims 1) A game playing apparatus comprising at least one optical

data-storage disc, on which is stored a plurality of still and/or moving images of birds for display using a DVD player and television combination, the disc being authored such that the bird images are presented in a random order.

2) A game playing apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, comprising a plurality of playing pieces and a game board, upon which a track is marked, along which the playing pieces may be moved during the course of a game.

3) A game playing apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the track is marked such that it traverses a stylised map comprising different bird habitats.

4) A game playing apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, comprising at least one die or other random selecting means for determining the distance a playing piece may travel along the track.

5) A game playing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the disc is authored to provide an identification of species of the bird shown in each bird image displayed, in response to an input from a user.

6) A game playing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the disc is authored such that, for each bird image displayed, a plurality of names of different bird species are presented (including the name of the species of the bird displayed in that image), from which a user must select the species which he believes to be that of the bird displayed in the image, and to then provide confirmation of whether the selected species is indeed that of the bird displayed in the image.

7) A game playing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the disc is authored such that, on each of his or her turns, a player is presented with a pre- determined number of bird images.

8) A game playing apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the disc is authored such that, on each of his or her turns, a player is presented with successive bird images until he/she fails to correctly identify the species of the bird displayed in an image presented to him/her.

9) A game playing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the disc is authored such that a user can select a particular bird habitat or geographical location and to then display, at random, an image or images of at least one bird commonly found in that habitat or geographical location.

10) A game playing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the disc is authored such that the likelihood that a bird of a particular species will be displayed corresponds, substantially, with the likelihood of a bird of that species being spotted in the wild.

11) A game playing apparatus as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the disc is authored such that if the relative population densities of bird species A, B and C in a particular geographic location or habitat are approximately X:Y:Z, then the DVD will store X images of birds of species A, Y images of birds of species B and Z images of birds of species C. 12) A game playing apparatus as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the disc is authored such that if the relative population densities of bird species A, B and C in a particular geographic location or habitat are approximately X:Y:Z, the disc comprises only one image of a bird of each of species A, B and C and be authored such that the respective probabilities of each image being selected for display are substantially in the ratio X:Y:Z.

13) A game playing apparatus as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the bird images are stored in a random order, to increase the degree of randomness in their selection.

14) A game playing apparatus as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the disc is authored such that a number S is first selected at random within the range 0 to N, the image of a bird of species A being displayed if S/N = X/(X+Y+Z), the image of a bird of species B being displayed if X/(X+Y+Z) < S/N (X+Y)/(X+Y+Z) and the image of a bird of species B being displayed if (X+Y) < S/N = 1.

15) A game playing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the disc is authored such that a respective score is maintained for each player.

16) A game playing apparatus as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the disc is authored such that a value is added to a player's score each time a bird image is displayed on that player's turn, if the player is successful in correctly identifying the species of the displayed bird.

17) A game playing apparatus as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the disc is authored such that a first value is added to a player's score each time a bird image is displayed on that player's turn and a second "bonus" value added to the player's score if he/she is able to correctly identify the species of the displayed bird.

18) A game playing apparatus as claimed in Claim 16 or Claim 17, wherein the value(s) added to the player's score is/are proportional to the likelihood that an image of a bird of that particular species will be displayed.

19) An optical data-storage disc for use in a game, on which disc is stored a plurality of still and/or moving images of birds for display using a DVD player and television combination, the disc being authored such that the bird images are presented in a random order.

20) A method for creating an optical data-storage disc for use in a game, the method comprising storing a plurality of still and/or moving images of birds on the disc for display using a DVD player and television combination, such that the bird images are presented in a random order.

21) A game playing apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22) An optical data-storage disc for use in a game, the disc being authored substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

23) A method for creating an optical data-storage disc for use in a game, the method being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.