WO1988009690A1

WO1988009690A1 - Apparatus for playing board games

Info

Publication number: WO1988009690A1
Application number: PCT/GB1988/000444
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jonathan Aldrich Durr
Original assignee: Blockinland Limited
Priority date: 1987-06-11
Filing date: 1988-06-07
Publication date: 1988-12-15
Also published as: DK317688A; IL86503A0; GB2205760A; GB8713716D0; AU1944688A; DK317688D0

Abstract

A board game is concerned with the purchasing of properties and the enhancement of their value so that the winner is the player with the greatest assets both in property value and cash; the apparatus for playing the game in characterised by the board having an endless track which includes compartments (3a) which represent the properties and compartments (3b) which represent enhancements or reductions in property value, each player being represented by a playing piece (15) which is moved round the track on the throw of a pair of dice to give each player in turn the opportunity to purchase and/or enhance a property and subject each player in turn to the risk of property owned by them being devalued and financial burdens being incurred.

Description

APPARATUS FOR PLAYING BOARD GAMES

This invention relates to apparatus for playing board games. More particularly, the invention relates to such apparatus for playing a board game involving chance as well as skill in operating the options permitted within the frame work of the rules particularly described below.

The invention will be described with reference to a game in which players acquire spaces of the board representing properties and by landing on those or other spaces gain or lose properties and/or sums of money, the object of the game being for a_ player to increase his total assets in both property value and cash in hand to become the richest investor on the board.

According to the present invention a board game apparatus comprises the following:

a) A board having a continuous track divided into compartments which are of four kinds namely;

i) a first kind denoting individual properties each having a specified value;

ii) a second kind relating to an enhancement or a reduction in the value of a property;

iii) a third kind relating to financial penalties;

iv) a fourth kind relating to financial gains;

b) a playing piece for each player each playing piece being visually distinguishable from each other playing piece and being adapted to be moved over the track; c) bank notes or like symbols representing money;

d) a set of a first type of card representing each of said properties;

e) a set of a second type of card each card representing a different kind of property improvement;

f) a set of a third type of card representing a mortgage value;

g) a set of a fourth type of card each card representing a financial enhancement or a reduction in the value of a property;

h) a set of counter units each adapted to indicate the current value of a property in reponse to the positive or negative effects on the value of that property expressed on the first type of card by the operation of the other types of card; and

i) a set of tokens each being adapted to be placed on a said first kind of compartment in the event that the player who "owns" that property lands on that compartment as a result of a particular type of predetermined move along the track as indicated by a random number selector device, the presence of the token on that compartment indicating that the said player is prevented from moving along the track for a predetermined number of "turns".

How the invention may be carried out will now be specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the boar ;

Figures 2a to 2f_ illustrate the data shown on various cards used in the game;

Figure 3 shows a bill used as money in the game; Figure 4 shows a playing piece as used in the game;

Figure 5 shows a "show house" token as used in the game;

Figure 6 shows a counter unit as used in the game; and

Figure 7 shows the data included on a "Home Improvements Menu" card used in the game.

Figure 1 shows the board 1 used in the game. The board 1 has an endless track 2 in the form of a square which consists of forty-eight compartments or "squares" 3.

These compartments are of four kinds. The first kind 3a. denotes individual properties and there are twenty-four of these. The second kind 3b relates to an enhancement or reduction in the value of a property and these are labelled "BONUS", "CRISIS" and "PROS & CONS" and there are fourteen of these (six "BONUS", four "CRISIS" and four "PROS & CONS"). The third kind 3c relate to financial penalties and there are four of these. The fourth kind is compartment 6 described later.

The space in the centre of the square track 2 is marked out into three substantially rectangular areas 4a., 4b, and 4c, these rectangles carrying the designation "CRISIS", "BONUS", and "PROS & CONS" respectively.

Each of the property compartments 3a has associated with it a pictorial representation 5 of the property.

There is a single compartment 6 marked "START"/ "FINISH"/ "SALARY"/ "CHEQUE". There is also a single square 7 which is marked "BOND"/ "MORTGAGE"/ " REPAYMENTS".

Associated with the board 1 are a number of sets of cards which are illustrated in Figures 2a to f_..

Figure 2a illustrates one card 3 of a set of a first type of card representing each of the properties 3a shown on the board. Figure 2fc_. illustrates a card 9 belonging to a set of a second type of card each card of which represents a different kind of property improvement. Figure 2c_ illustrates a card 10 which is part of a set of a third type of card representing a mortgage value or bond.

Figures 2d , 2e., and 2f represent examples of cards of a set of a fourth type of card each card of which represents a financial enhancement or a reduction in the value of a property. Specifically figure 2d. illustrates a "BONUS" card 11 by which the value of a property can be enhanced. Figure 2e_ represents a "CRISIS" card 12 by which the value of the property can be reduced. Figure 2f_. represents a "PROS & CONS" type of card 13 which in this case is "FAVOURABLE" and represents an enhancement in the value of the property. Within the sub-set of cards represented by figure 2f. are an equal number of "FAVOURABLE" and "UNFAVOURABLE" cards which represent financial enhancements and reductions respectively in the value of a property.

Figure 3 illustrates a typical bank note 14 used in the game in this case having a denomination of 5000 units. Bank notes are provided having denominations of 50, 1000, 5000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 and 100,000 units. The units could be any unit of currency but in this case are pounds sterling.

Figure 4 illustrates one of the six playing pieces which are adapted to identify each player. These playing pieces are stylistic representations of different animals the one illustrated in figure 4 being a dog 15.

Figure 5 represents a token 16 which is in the form of a house marked "SHOWHOUSE" which is adapted to be placed on a property compartment in order to indicate that the^* player who "owns" that property is obliged to sell it if certain events occur, as decribed later.

Figure 6 illustrates one of twenty-four counter units 17. Each counter unit 17 consists of a housing within which a plurality of wheels 17a can rotate. Each wheel 17a carries the numbers "0" to "9" inclusive sc that the unit as a whole is capable of registerinσ anv number from "2" to "9999999". The way in which the counter units are used will be described later.

Figure 7 illustrates a so-called "HOME IMPROVEMENTS MENU CARD" 18. There is only one of these cards and it lists all the home improvements that are possible within the game. The left hand column lists the improvements themselves, the next column to the right lists the cost of purchasing each improvement, and the next four columns indicate the increase in property value which results from the purchase of the particular home improvement. There are four columns indicating property value increase because there are four different types of property in terms of their initial purchase cost. Generally speaking the investment of a particular sum of money in a particular home improvement will have a greater impact on the value of a more expensive property than on the value of a cheaper property. The four different levels of value of properties are indicated by different colour codes eg pink, blue, green and yellow.

The way in which the game is played will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The game is based on the concept that each player is an investor in property and the object of the game is for each player to increase their total assets in both property value and case in hand in order to become the richest investor on the board.

Before commencement of play the "CRISIS", "BONUS", and "PROS & CONS" cards, are placed in the centre spaces 4a., 4b and 4c respectively on the board as indicated in Figure 1.

One player is nominated to act as the "banker", responsible for the Bank, the Mortgage Bonds and the Title Deeds transactions. The "banker" is also the custodian of the Home Improvement cards 9, the counter units 17 and the "SHOWHOUSE" tokens 16.

The players first select a playing piece 15 and each player is given the same- sum of money from the bank eg £250,000. Each player starts at the "START" square or compartment 16 and is paid £25,000 each time that player passes the square 6.

Each player moves clockwise round the endless track 2 on the throw of two dice.

The properties marked on the board by the squares 3a_. are graded in value and colour coded. Red properties are valued from £250,000, blue properties from £200,000, green properties from £110,000 and yellow properties from £HJ_rO00. A player may only purchase a property after completing one full round of the track 2.

On landing on a property square 3a. a player has the option to buy that property. The purchase is made either from the bank or from another player ie the existing "owner".

∑f the property is owned by the bank the price paid is the property value printed on the Title Deed card 8 and on the board ie square 3a..

If the property is owned by another player the buyer makes an offer to the "owner" . The price is now based on the market value of the property and an offer to purchase can only be refused from any one player on three consecutive occasions. The "owner" of a property must accept a bid at or higher than the property value on the fourth consecutive bid.

Upon purchasing a property the player places a property value counter 17 on the purchased property and takes three "PROS & CONS" cards from the deck 4c_ at the centre of the board. The value of the property, as indicated by the counter device 17 is then adjusted in accordance with the financial enhancement or financial reduction indicated on the "PROS & CONS" cards selected from the top of the stack 4c_..

The three cards are then returned to the deck 4c and that deck is reshuffled. An example of the financial enhancement or financial reduction resulting from the above is given below. Assume that the property involved is "Tullamore" which has a purchase price of £220,OOC. Then assume that the three "PROS & CONS" cards selected have the following indications on them:

1. "Close to schools" increase value £12,000

2. "Noisy freeway nearby" decrease value £15,000

3. "Desirable neighbourhood" increase value £10,000.

The net effect of the above is to adjust the property value counter 17 from £220,000 to read £227,000..

As play moves around the track 2 players will land on "CRISIS" or "BONUS" or "PROS & CONS" squares. When this happens the player will take the appropriate card from the relevant deck in the centre of the board. Should the card affect the value of the player's properties the player will adjust the property value counter 17 accordingly and return the card to the bottom of the deck.

Upon a player landing on any of the squares 3c. which represent payments for utilities, eg water, insurance, electricity and rates, the player will pay the Bank the amount due on all the properties that player owns. Details of the amounts to be paid to the Bank are to be found on the back of the Title Deeds cards 8.

Upon completing one circuit of the track 2 after purchasing a property each player may effect home improvements to the property only when it is their turn. When this happens the player consults the Home Improvements "menu", 18 and selects one of the twenty-five home improvements available and purchases the desired Home Improvements card 9 from the Bank with either cash or a bond.

The property value counter 17 is then adjusted according to the scales printed on the Home Improvement cards. Home Improvement cards are held by the "Property Owner" player together with the Title Deeds and Bonds.

Mortgage Bonds are available from^' the Bank for up to fifty percent of the value reflected on the property value counter 17. Home Improvements may also be Durchased in this manner. Should a player wish to buy a property or home improvement they will be issued with a Mortgage Bond card reflecting the value of the loan from the Bank.

The Bank then issues the value of the Bond in cash to the seller who ^'also receives the balance of the property purchase price in cash from the buyer.

All players who hold Mortgage Bond cards will be required to pay ten percent interest on each Mortgage Bond card they hold each time they pass the square 7 marked "Mortgage Repayments".

If a player is unable to pay the interest they will forfeit one property at fifty percent of its original purchase price as reflected on the Title Deed. In addition the player will forfeit fifty percent of the original purchase price of all home improvements made to the property. The Bank may resell the property at its Title Deed value.

When a player throws a double number with the two dice and lands on a property which that player already owns this results in a penalty to that player. The penalty takes the form of that particular property being declared a "SHOWHOUSE" and in order to indicate this the "SHOWHOUSE" token 16 is placed on that property square. The player concerned may not then move for three turns and each other player landing on that property square may bid to purchase it. If the property is sold before three turns have taken place the seller may move on. Bids may only be higher than the "For Sale" price reflected on the property value counter 17. The seller need not accept bids from the first two players landing on the "SHOWHOUSE"; however the player must accept the third bid.

For each property on the board there is one Title Deed card 8. This card is sold by the Bank and is held by the owner of the property. The reverse side of each card will show Town Rates, Electricity, Insurance and Water accounts to be paid on all properties owned by that player when landing on the particular square.

The players may agree at the beginning of the game on the criteria to be satisfied in order to determine the "winner". For example the game could be played for a predetermined time at the end of which the "winner" is the player having the greatest assets which would be the sum of the property values plus cash in hand. Alternatively a financial target could be the determinant of the winner of the game eg it could be decided that the first player to attain a total asset value of £2,000,000 is the winner.

Claims

A board game apparatus which comprises:

a) A board having an endless track divided into compartments which are of four kinds namely:

i) a first kind denoting individual properties having a specified value;

ii) a second kind relating to an enhancement or a reduction in the value of a property.

iii) a third kind relating to financial penalties;

iv) a fourth kind relating to financial gains;

b) a playing piece for each player each playing piece being visually distinguishable from each other playing piece and being adapted to move over the track; c) bank notes or like symbols representing money; d) a set of a first type of card representing each of said properties; e) a set of a second type of card each card representing a different kind of property improvement- f) a set of a third type of card representing a mortgage value; g) a set of a fourth type of card each card representing a financial enhancement or a reduction in the value of a property; h) a set of counter units each adapted to indicate the current value of a property in response to the positive or negative effects on the value of that property expressed on the first type of card by the operation of the other types of card; i) a set of tokens each being adapted to be placed on a said first kind of compartment in the event that the player who "owns" that property lands on that compartment as a result of a particular type of predetermined move along the track as indicated by a random number selector device, the presence of the token on that compartment indicating that the said player is prevented from moving along the track for a predetermined number of "towns".

2. A board game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the set of the fourth type of card is made up of three sub-sets which comprise:

i) a first sub-set in which all the cards represent financial enhancements of a property value;

ii) a second sub-set in which all the cards represent financial reductions of a property value;

iii) a third sub-set in which some of the cards represent enhancements and the remainder represent reductions of a property value.

3. A board game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which each said first kind of compartment has associated with it and marked on the board a picture representing that particular property each of the pictures showing a property which is architecturally different from each of the other properties.

4. A board game apparatus as claimed in any previous claim in which the endless track encloses a space which is marked to accommodate the said fourth type of card.

5. A board game apparatus as claimed in any previous claim which includes a single fifth type of card on which is marked a "menu" of all the possible property improvements which are marked individually on the individual cares comprising the set of the second type of card.

6. A board game apparatus as claimed in any previous claim in which each counter unit comprises a housing containing a plurality of side-by-side rotatable wheel elements, each wheel element being marked with the numbers "0" to "9" inclusive so that the wheel elements can be rotated to positions which will represent the instantaneous value of a property.

7. A board game apparatus as claimed in any previous claim in which each of the said set of tokens comprises a representation of a house.

8. A board game apparatus as claimed in any previous claim in which each of the playing pieces is a representation of an animal.

9- A board game apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.