GB1604561A

GB1604561A - Apparatus for playing a game

Info

Publication number: GB1604561A
Application number: GB2228578A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Westland J R
Current assignee: Westland J R
Priority date: 1978-05-25
Filing date: 1978-05-25
Publication date: 1981-12-09

Description

(54) APPARATUS FOR PLAYING A GAME (71) I, JAMES ROBERTSON WESTLAND, a British subject, of 6, Hallams Lane, Chilwell, Nottingham, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- The invention relates to apparatus for playing a game.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for playing a game comprising a board marked with a series of locations, a plurality of alternating useable paths or routes comprising series of discrete marks or steps interconnecting the locations, route selecting apparatus for use in determining the path or route to be followed by each player during play, a random number selecting device, playing pieces for movement along the paths or routes in accordance with the operation of the random number selecting device, and question presenting apparatus incorporating questions which require to be answered by players at predetermined times during play as determined by the rules of the game.

The board may take the form of a map, the locations comprising towns marked at appropriate places on the map and interconnected by said paths or routes, said marks or steps determining the number of moves of the playing pieces between adjacent towns. Alternatively the routes may represent air or sea routes interconnecting the locations. In yet a further arrangement the board may comprise a plan of a town the locations comprising buildings or other points of interest and the routes representing streets interconnecting the locations.

Preferably said route selecting apparatus comprises a set of location cards each bearing the name of one of the locations, whereby a predetermined number of the cards may be dealt to each player at the commencement of the game for use in determining the route to be followed by his playing piece.

Preferably also said question presenting apparatus comprises a set of question cards bearing questions relating to the locations whereby a predetermined number of such cards may be dealt to each player at the commencement of the game, the players being entitled to ask other players to answer the questions at predetermined times during play as determined by the rules. A leaflet bearing answers to the questions may be provided or the answers may be obtained by consulting suitable reference works.

Preferably also a set of 'forfeit' cards is provided containing directions regarding penalty or bonus moves of the playing pieces over the board. The routes may incorporate marked sections requiring players to select 'forfeit' cards when their playing pieces land on the marked regions.

The number selecting device preferably comprises a die or dice and the playing pieces preferably comprise representations of vehicles, aircraft, pedestrians or the like related to the nature of the locations and routes on the board, An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a board suitable for playing one version of the game.

The board represents a map of the United Kingdom on which a number of towns and cities are marked at appropriate locations.

Routes or roads interconnect the towns or cities and comprise series of holes in the board. Alternatively they could comprise markings on the surface of the board. The playing pieces comprise representations of motor vehicles having downwardly depending peg-like projections adapted to engage in the holes in the board as the playing pieces are moved along the routes. Movement of the playing pieces is determined by the throw of dice.

A set of thirty-two location or "town" cards (half of which are red and half black) are provided, each card bearing the name of a town corresponding to a town on the map.

Eight town cards are dealt to each player at the beginning of the game. The object of the game is for each player to travel from the starting point (London) to the finishing point (London) passing through all eight of the towns represented on the cards dealt to him.

The cards of one colour bear the names of towns remote from London and those of the other colour bear the names of towns nearer to London. The dealing of four cards of each colour to each player ensures that no one player has to travel over a much longer route than any of the other players. In the initial move each player examines the town cards in his hand and determines a route to be followed; he then places the cards face down in front of him. The player must then move his playing piece along this route in accordance with the throw of the dice.

A second set of twelve question cards is provided, each card bearing a question which can be related to any of the towns on the map. Samples of the questions appearing on these cards are as follows: What is the distance between the town you are in and the previous one? Are you in a cathedral city? Does the town you are in stand on a river, or on more than one river? If so, which? What is the population of the town you are now in (within 5,000)? Name one M.P. for the town you are in How far is the town from London? Does the two have its own radio station? Name one of the town's football clubs At the commencement of play each player is dealt three question cards. The player must dispose of his three question cards before reaching the finishing point by asking other players to answer the questions on the cards.

Each player can at any time ask any other player to answer the question on one of his cards provided the other player's playing piece is located at a town. If the player questioned does not know the answer to the question or gives the wrong answer he misses one turn. If the player asking the question does not know the answer or gives the wrong answer he misses the next two turns. A leaflet is provided giving the answers to all the questions related to each of the towns concerned and numbered for easy reference.

A chart setting out distances in miles and/or kilometres between the various towns is also provided. No player may be asked to answer more than four questions in any one game.

A set of twenty "forfeit" cards is also provided, each card containing instructions affecting the movement of the playing pieces over the board. These cards are placed on the board in a pile face down. Selected holes along the routes are coloured black (the remainder being red) and when a player's playing piece stops in a black hole he must pick up a forfeit card and proceed as directed. The following are samples of the type of instructions appearing on the forfeit cards: You have been caught for speeding, go back to the town you have just left.

You have broken down. miss two turns.

You have assisted a motorist in trouble, move to the next town on your route.

You have run out of petrol. go back five places.

Your car is running very well. This is a cancel' question card enabling you to avoid answering the next question you are asked. Retain this card until then.

You have lost your way, go to the next nearest town which is not on your route.

You have stopped for a meal. miss one turn.

Your engine is overheating. miss one turn whilst it cools down.

You have a flat tyre, go back three places.

Your insurance has run out, go back two towns, or to the starting point in London to collect it.

Your licence has expired, go back to the nearest town to have it renewed.

There has been an accident and you have been held up, miss one turn.

You have had a burst of speed, go forward three places.

You have been slowed down by fog either miss a turn or go back four places.

Your driving is exemplary, move to the next town.

After carrying out the instructions on the forfeit card the card is replaced at the bottom of the pile.

A player need not stop at each town along his route if the throw of the dice takes him past that town, but must throw the correct number before entering London. In the event that the throw of the dice takes a player's playing piece to a location already occupied by another player's playing piece, the former player's piece is placed in the hole nearer to the town he has just left. Since the town cards are placed face downwards in front of the players, each player must remember his route and turn up the cards in turn as he reaches the towns concerned. If he is found to have gone to the wrong town he must use his subsequent turns to move his playing pieces to the correct town before continuing with his route.

The game may be adopted to suit players of different ages, for example young children, older children or adults. In the simplest form of the game, which is suitable for young children, the question cards are not utilised and the town cards may be placed face upwards in front of the players.

It will be appreciated that the accompanying drawing is purely illustrative and the actual playing board will be coloured and may show a considerable amount of geographical detail. Although the roads may be stylised other features will preferably be as nearly as possible to scale. Certain detail may be included in relief to produce a realistic effect.

Many variations may, of course, be made both to the board and to the rules of the game. For example the number of cards in the various packs may be varied and the players moves may be determined by number selecting means other than dice. The forfeit cards could be omitted entirely if desired and the number and selection of towns incorporated may be varied. Other locations may be included instead of or in addition to towns, for example, mountains, lakes or the like.

The invention may also be applied to games utilising quite different playing boards. For example maps of many different countries could be utilised and the locations marked on the maps may comprise towns, mountains, lakes or other features as desired.

The routes instead of comprising roads may comprise rail or air routes within one country or between a group of countries or marked on a map of the world. Alternatively the routes could comprise shipping routes around or between countries. In a further alternative the board could comprise a map of a town or city, the locations comprising buildings or other places of interest and the routes representing streets interconnecting the various locations. In a further variation the board could comprise a map of the solar system or universe with routes linking various stars or planets. Many other variations may also be made within the scope of the invention and it is envisaged that a series of similar games could be produced covering different countries or the like.

It will be appreciated that games according to the invention in addition to being entertaining and exciting are also educational or instructive and involve both knowledge of geography and general knowledge.

WHAT I CLAIM IS:- 1. Apparatus for playing a game comprising board marked with a series of locations, a plurality of alternatively useable paths or routes comprising series of discrete marks or steps interconnecting the locations, route selecting apparatus for use in determining the path or route to be followed by each player during play, a random number selecting device, playing pieces for movement along the paths or routes in accordance with the operation of the random number selecting device and question presenting apparatus incorporating questions which require to be answered by players at predetermined times during play as determined by the rules of the game.

2. Apparatus according to claim I wherein said route selecting apparatus comprises 9 set of location cards each bearing a name of one of the locations, whereby a predetermined number of the cards may be dealt to each player at the commencement of the game for use in determining the route to be followed by that player's playing piece.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said question presenting apparatus comprises a set of question cards bearing questions relating to the locations, whereby a predetermined number of such cards may be dealt to each player at the commencement of the game, the players being entitled to ask other players to answer the questions at predetermined times during play as determined by the rules.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein a leaflet or the like bearing answers to the questions is provided.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein a set of 'forfeit' cards is provided containing directions regarding penalty or bonus moves of the playing pieces over the board.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein selected ones of said marks or steps are marked with indications requiring players to select 'forfeit' cards when their playing pieces land thereon.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein said locations are marked with the names of towns or cities and said routes are marked to represent land, air or sea routes between the towns or cities.

8. Apparatus according to any of claims I to 6 wherein said locations are marked with names of mountains, lakes or other natural geographical features and said routes are marked to represent land or air routes between the geographical features.

9. Apparatus according to any of claims I to 6 wherein said locations are marked with names of places of interest within a single town or city and said routes are marked to represent roads between the places of interest.

10. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein said random number selecting device comprises a die or dice.

11. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein said marks or steps comprise holes in the board.

12. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein said playing pieces comprise representations of vehicles, aircraft, pedestrians or the like related to the nature of the locations and routes on the board.

13. Apparatus for playing a game comprising a board substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing and playing pieces moveable over the board in accordance with rules substantially as hereinbefore described.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. Many variations may, of course, be made both to the board and to the rules of the game. For example the number of cards in the various packs may be varied and the players moves may be determined by number selecting means other than dice. The forfeit cards could be omitted entirely if desired and the number and selection of towns incorporated may be varied. Other locations may be included instead of or in addition to towns, for example, mountains, lakes or the like. The invention may also be applied to games utilising quite different playing boards. For example maps of many different countries could be utilised and the locations marked on the maps may comprise towns, mountains, lakes or other features as desired. The routes instead of comprising roads may comprise rail or air routes within one country or between a group of countries or marked on a map of the world. Alternatively the routes could comprise shipping routes around or between countries. In a further alternative the board could comprise a map of a town or city, the locations comprising buildings or other places of interest and the routes representing streets interconnecting the various locations. In a further variation the board could comprise a map of the solar system or universe with routes linking various stars or planets. Many other variations may also be made within the scope of the invention and it is envisaged that a series of similar games could be produced covering different countries or the like. It will be appreciated that games according to the invention in addition to being entertaining and exciting are also educational or instructive and involve both knowledge of geography and general knowledge. WHAT I CLAIM IS:-

1. Apparatus for playing a game comprising board marked with a series of locations, a plurality of alternatively useable paths or routes comprising series of discrete marks or steps interconnecting the locations, route selecting apparatus for use in determining the path or route to be followed by each player during play, a random number selecting device, playing pieces for movement along the paths or routes in accordance with the operation of the random number selecting device and question presenting apparatus incorporating questions which require to be answered by players at predetermined times during play as determined by the rules of the game.